GE2015: Workers' Party unveils first four candidates, campaign theme
The Workers' Party has unveiled its first four candidates for the General Election 2015 with its campaign theme “Empower Your Future.”
They are Daniel Goh Pei Siong, 42, NUS associate professor of sociology; Redzwan Hafidz, 30, engineer; Dylan Ng Foo Eng, 40, wealth manager at RHB Bank; and Koh Choong Yong, 42, software engineer.
Speaking at media conference on Wednesday (26 Aug), WP chief Low Thia Khiang said, “Our theme is you have a choice. In 2011, we moved towards a first world parliament. We have reached a milestone in Singapore after 50 years of nation-building. It is time to look forward to the future.”
Referring to the ruling party’s model of governance for Singapore, Low said, “What we have relied on for success in the last 50 years may or may not be the same formula for the future. The important question the voters will have to think about – ‘will it continue to be a good model where the political leaders cast a long shadow over every aspect of life in Singapore’?”
New candidate Goh gave his reasons for wanting to contest in the GE, “I seek to empower my son's future and the future of all Singaporeans. I hope his generation will have the space to dream in the very first place. We need democracy of the rational, respectable and responsible kind.”
Koh also touched on the same issue, “The reason I started on politics is that I would like to help in my small little way to reduce the imbalance in parliament. There's a lot of talk of national politics, but to me what matters is the people.”
On the bread and butter issues, Redzwan said housing is a key focus for him. “One of the issues that I would like to raise is housing. I feel the pinch, as with many young families, in servicing my housing loan.”
Ng said, "I believe in offering Singaporeans alternative viewpoints, and Singapore can benefit from more robust policy-making platforms. Elections are about the people. There are still many issues that can be improved upon, (like) the bread and butter issues and the population policy at the national level."
While WP has been bolstered by new high-calibre members, Low said among Singaporeans, there is still a lingering climate of fear of repercussions if they join the opposition parties. “Perhaps the legacy of the past also has something to do with this. We need to build a confident people, rather than taking the lead from the government. It's a psychological baggage that we have inherited from the past, that we have to put down and move on.”
WP did not state which wards the candidates will be contesting. It will be unveiling more candidates tomorrow.
The party has said that it is contesting 28 seats. It held nine seats in the previous Parliament including five MPs in Aljunied GRC, two MPs in Hougang and Punggol East SMCs and two NCMPs. Apart from the constituencies, WP has said it is also competing in Marine Parade, East Coast, Jalan Besar and Nee Soon GRCs, and Fengshan, MacPherson and Sengkang West SMCs.
