GE2015: DPM Teo has no sense of humour: Sylvia Lim

Workers Party chairman Sylvia Lim brushed off recent barbed comments by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, and said all of the party's elected MPs will remain in their respective wards to defend their seats in the coming election.

Teo took issue with Lim's maiden Instagram post published last week, which had prompted speculation that she might be contesting Fengshan Single Member Constituency.

In a recent interview with ChannelNews Asia, Teo had said, “Now we see the chairman of the town council saying that Fengshan SMC looks quite delicious. What’s going to happen? You’re going to swallow up Fengshan? For what purpose? To serve the residents of Fengshan? Or is Fengshan delicious because you want to add it to the pot? And help the town council with the deficit?”

But in response to questions from reporters during the party's walkabout at Chong Pang Market and Food Centre this morning (16 August), Lim said with a laugh, "Well, I just would like to say that it’s a pity that DPM Teo doesn’t seem to have a sense of humour."

Lim also quelled speculation that some of the Aljunied GRC MPs might step out to contest other wards.

"Throughout this period, there have been residents who have inspired us by coming forward to give us encouragement, because they believe in us. So, on consideration, we have decided that it is meaningful for us to remain as a team to seek their mandate for the term," said Lim.

Lim, who is an MP for Aljunied GRC, added, "All the elected MPs will be staying put in their constituencies. We’ll be defending our constituencies."

The Workers Party currently has nine Members of Parliament, including five in Aljunied. Punggol East MP Lee Li Lian, Hougang MP Png Eng Huat and Non-Constituency MPs Gerald Giam and Yee Jenn Jong make up the rest.

Ms Lim also addressed recent reports that the Workers Party would not be attending the National Day Rally on 23 August. She said, "We planned our dinner – which is a special SG50 National Day dinner – last year, in fact. The date was already chosen, and we think that it’s meaningful for us, especially as an opposition party, to rally our supporters to remind everyone that what we want is betterment for Singapore as a whole.

"I think sometimes people get confused – they can’t distinguish between national interest and ruling party interest. And we want to underscore the point that even if you’re an  opposition supporter, you can be as loyal to Singapore as any PAP supporter."