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GE2015: PAP will ‘checkmate us’ if no alternative voice in Parliament, says Roy Ngerng

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Reform Party candidates speaking at their rally in Yio Chu Kang Stadium, for Ang Mo Kio Group Representative Constituency (Photo: Andre Frois)

By Andre Frois

Reform Party (RP) candidate Roy Ngerng asked voters in Ang Mo Kio Group Representative Constituency (GRC) to bring him into Parliament, in a rally by the opposition party at Yio Chu Kang Stadium Friday (4 Sep).

He said that he and the other candidates in RP’s Ang Mo Kio team will continue checking on the Singapore government led by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

“If we do not check the PAP, the PAP will checkmate us,” he insisted.

The blogger, who had been sued by PM Lee for defaming him in a blogpost on CPF matters, stated his commitment to fight for the people’s rights, including increasing CPF interest rates and capping CPF withdrawal age at 55.

“Your policies have to be equal. The responsibility of the government is to take care of the people. I will go into Parliament. I will research on policies and I will debate on them,” he said.

Other RP candidates for the ward raised concerns that the PAP were out of touch with Singaporeans. RP’s Osman Sulaiman said that the party’s stance on instituting a minimum wage was necessary to protect older workers.

“Some people are collecting cardboard boxes and tin cans just to have three meals a day – people who contributed to 50 years of nation building. The Reform Party wants an old age pension so that Singaporeans can have a dignified retirement. The PAP compares Singapore to Greece, but Greece overspends while Singapore underspends,” he said.

RP’s Gilbert Goh rang warning bells, saying that the influx of foreign talent into Singapore has made Singaporeans as “second-class citizens” .

“Why does (hardship) still exist in Singapore? Our economic success is not being shared with people. Singapore is not about high-rise buildings, but about taking care of people,” echoed RP candidate Siva Chandran.

Many candidates spoke of coming from tough backgrounds. While Sulaiman had to scrimp to survive after his father went bankrupt, RP candidate Andy Zhu said that going to a neighbourhood school came with its set of challenges.

“My daughter asked me, “Daddy, why do you want to run in Ang Mo Kio GRC and face ‘the Dragon’”? I answered because I believe that our party has substance and courage,” Goh spoke of his motivations to run for political office.

“I’m more sad than angry. You do not vote just for yourself. You also vote for your children.”

The GRC is currently held by a team led by PM Lee.