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GE2015: PM Lee says ‘heart has to be right’ in politics, in first rally

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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong assured voters that the ruling People’s Action Party has candidates with the correct mindset to lead Singapore (Photo: Alvin Ho)

By Hadi Lee

The opening People’s Action Party (PAP) rally Wednesday (2 September) saw Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and fellow party candidates for Tanjong Pagar Group Representative Constituency (GRC) downplaying efforts by opposition parties to enter Parliament.

Speaking to a fiery crowd at Delta Hockey Pitch, PM Lee assured voters that PAP has the best candidates with the correct mindset to lead Singapore.

“In politics, the heart has to be right. You have to be honest, have integrity. (You) cannot just cover up and “elak” and expect to solve the problem,” PM Lee commented. He added that the party could be facing “opponents with flawed character” who “shouldn’t be in politics”.

Turning to the issue of home ownership, he highlighted that policies implemented will cater to all income groups, including those in the lower-income bracket.

“If you are a low-income family and you want to buy a two-room flat, the net price is now $30,000,” Lee added. The policy seemed to resonate well among party supporters, receiving fiery cheers and roars of support.

In his speech, Minister Chan Chun Sing echoed PM Lee’s sentiments about the state of Singapore’s opposition parties. He was bullish about PAP’s winning chances in the face of stiff competition from opposition parties.

Chan added that Singaporeans should consider voting in “people who have walked the journey with us… helping our residents” instead of “someone who turns up every four years and says ‘I will take care of you’”.

The 2015 General Elections sees seats in Tanjong Pagar GRC being contested by opposition party Singaporeans First (SingFirst), the first time the ward has been contested since 1991.

Pockets of the crowd consisting of middle-aged and senior citizens were especially vocal in expressing their approval of Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas SMC’s proposed plans to further improve the lives of Singaporeans.

Some of these plans include setting up the new Outram Community Hospital next to the Singapore General Hospital by 2020.

Indranee Rajah also lambasted the oppositions’ approach towards the upcoming elections, claiming that those candidates “do not know you like we do”.

“They will not care for you the way we do. We care for the people under our charge,” she said.