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Murali eyes mentoring programmes for Bukit Batok youth

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Murali wants to do more to help students in the Bukit Batok area. (Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Singapore.)

Murali Pillai, the People’s Action Party candidate for the upcoming Bukit Batok by-election, revealed his plans to help students from the lower income families in the area on Tuesday (3 May).

The lawyer, who is contesting in the May 7 by-election against Singapore Democratic Party’s chief Chee Soon Juan, told reporters of his plans to have a youth mentoring programme in the constituency, after a walkabout at a park near Block 104 Bukit Batok Central.

He pointed out that he had been involved in a number of initiatives to help students of Bukit Batok and cited the Dr Ong Chit Chung Bursary Award that was started in 2008.

Thousands reap benefits of bursary

Named after the late Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bukit Batok ward, the bursary is meant to help children from the lower income background, especially students who do not qualify for Edusave.

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The PAP candidate spent the morning greeting residents at a park near Bukit Batok Central (Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Singapore.)

Murali said that thousands of students, from primary schools to universities, have already benefited from the programme. “But we want to do more, and this is where the mentoring programme comes in. It will help to ensure our students remain on the path to maximise their potential.”

Murali added that a number of voluntary welfare organizations such as the Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Community have offered to help him with his plans.

He would like to bring Loving Heart’s Sports, Tuition and Mentoring Programme (STAMP) to Bukit Batok and also tailor the programme to fit residents of the area.

The programme, according to Murali will reach out to students in schools and impart correct and positive values through sports, tuition and mentoring.

‘Interchange incident’ involving Chee

Meanwhile, Murali also commented on an incident that allegedly happened at the Bukit Batok bus interchange involving a PAP supporter who made a remark about Chee.

Facebook user Ridhuan Abdullah on Sunday (1 May) posted that a PAP volunteer had asked him why is he supporting Chee, pointing out that the SDP candidate is unemployed and “worthless”.

Murali asked for more details on the incident and said that such things are not something that he subscribed to. “Do check the source and as far as I am concerned I put the residents in the centre of what we do,” said Murali.