Murali to work with co-operative on affordable healthcare in Bukit Batok
Murali Pillai, PAP’s candidate for the Bukit Batok by-election, accompanied by ex-Hong Kah GRC MP Ang Mong Seng and Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng, talking to a family during his walkabout in the constituency. Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Singapore.
Murali Pillai, the People’s Action Party candidate for the 7 May Bukit Batok by-election, unveiled more details about his healthcare plans for the residents in the constituency on Monday (2 May).
Speaking to reporters after a morning walkabout that ended in front of St Luke’s Community Hospital at Bukit Batok Street 11, Murali said that there are plans to partner the Good Life Co-operative to help residents meet their healthcare needs and make medical costs affordable.
The lawyer, who is known as “Ah Mu” to many residents, said that he has been working with the co-operative since he was serving in the Paya Lebar ward and started the Wellness Bus Programme in July 2015.
Murali, who is running against Chee Soon Juan, the chief of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), said that his plans were conceived after numerous discussions with residents.
“Residents are concerned with medical costs, especially the elderly and those with long-term medical needs. The idea is to address the issue of cost, particularly for the sandwich class that do not receive (the same level of) benefits as compared to the needy families,” he said.
Plans to raise medical literacy
Murali said that there is also a need to raise medical literacy and he wants to reach out to as many residents in Bukit Batok as possible to do so.
For him to implement his ideas, Murali said that he wants the support from the residents and promised to do what is necessary to ensure that the needs of the community are met.
Accompanying Murali were former Member of Parliament (MP) Ang Mong Seng and current MPs Rahayu Mahzam and Ang Wei Neng, and the PAP members mingled with residents near the wet market at Block 154, Bukit Batok Street 11.
Working with community leaders for the community
The chairman of Good Life, Dr Carol Tan, was on hand to explain about the co-operative.
Murali Pillai introducing Dr Carol Tan (third from left), Chairman of the Good Life Co-operative. Photo: Safhras Khan/Yahoo Singapore
Tan said that the co-operative has been working with community leaders in reaching out to the residents. She said that there is currently a pool of volunteer doctors and nurses who have been working with Murali since last year.
“When it comes to helping the community we engage community leaders and there is no need for us to consider the race, religion or political affiliation of a person,” she added.
As a co-operative, she said that Good Life is able to buy medical supplies at a discounted rate, which in turn means selling them to residents at lower prices.
Not riding on coattails of PAP heavyweights
Meanwhile, Murali reiterated that he is his own man as he stands against SDP’s Chee.
SDP has said that Murali needed PAP’s heavyweight ministers, such as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, to garner support from the residents for him.
But Murali disagreed, pointing out that he is the one who will take care of Bukit Batok residents.
“I’m the candidate and I’m here to persuade the residents of my plans. I appreciate their presence (during the walkabouts) but I will have to do what is necessary for the needs of Bukit Batok residents,” said Murali.
