Sunday Times: Once a problem child, MP changed ways in Chung Cheng

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOW THIA KHIANG
Mr Low and his wife Han Mui Keow returned to their alma mater Chung Cheng High School for their wedding photos. They met at the school and got married in 1982.

Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang was a problem child in Chung Cheng High School 40 years ago.

But he made a dramatic turnaround after a teacher took him under his wings.

The school was also where he met the girl who later became his wife.

Mr Low, who has been MP for Hougang since 1991 and is also the Workers’ Party secretary-general, is one of 41 former students featured in a book, written in Chinese, to mark the school’s 70th anniversary.

Others include banker Wee Cho Yaw, architect and urban planner Liu Thai Ker and former Education Ministry senior parliamentary secretary Ho Kah Leong.

Mr Low, who lost his mother at a young age, had little interest in his studies.

A teacher once flung his school bag out of the classroom to make him come to his senses, but this did not change his attitude. His grades continued to lag behind those of his classmates.

His Secondary 2 results were so poor that his elder sister had to plead with the school principal for him not to be retained at the same level for another year.

Mr Low, now 52, is quoted in the article as saying: “I certainly was a problem student. I caused trouble during lessons, didn’t hand in my homework, came late to school, played truant and committed almost all the offences, big and small.

“Many teachers shook their heads when they saw me. They thought I was a hopeless case. Only my biology teacher, Mr Liao Rong Sheng, didn’t think so.”

Mr Liao was patient with him. He never lectured the boy. Instead, he would give him lifts home in his Volkswagen and chat with him along the way.

And when Mr Liao and his family went to the movies, he invited the boy to go along.

This teacher’s care for him made all the difference: He stopped being rebellious and bucked up in his studies.

His school days took on a different hue in his fifth year at Chung Cheng when a girl by the name of Han Mui Keow became his classmate.

He liked her but her seniors warned her that he was a bad hat. She was undeterred.

Nine years later, in 1982, they tied the knot and returned to their alma mater for their wedding picture.

Mr Low went on to teach at Pei Dao Secondary School and later became the supervisor of a commercial school.

His wife is now a housewife while he runs a signage business.

He said: “I especially cherish the school’s philosophy of excellence of education for all kinds of people. Without that, my life would not have turned out for the better.”

Straits Times: Win or lose, more voice for opposition

PROPOSED CHANGES TO NCMP SCHEME

Whatever the election outcome, there will be at least nine opposition voices in House – one-tenth of 84 elected MPs

BY AARON LOW

SENDING VOTERS WRONG SIGNAL
“Voters may just think, why vote for them since we are sure to get at least nine in? This is wrong as NCMPs do not have full powers and cannot be said to truly represent the people without constituencies.”
Mr Eric Tan from the Workers’ Party, criticising the new idea

IF A change to the political system that was proposed yesterday, had taken place before the previous General Election, Parliament today might look very different from what it is now.

For one thing, former Non-Constituency MP Steve Chia might still be around.

Several other Workers’ Party (WP) candidates might also be in Parliament, such as Dr Tan Bin Seng and Mr Lian Chin Way, debating alongside WP chief Low Thia Khiang and current NCMP Sylvia Lim.

This is because changes mooted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday to the NCMP scheme will see no fewer than nine opposition members in Parliament from the next General Election onwards, instead of the current three.

To do this, two key pieces of legislation will be amended.

The Constitution will be changed to allow up to nine NCMPs, up from six currently.

The NCMP scheme allows the best-scoring opposition candidates to get non-constituency seats in Parliament.

Likewise, the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) will be amended to provide for at least nine opposition voices – whether elected or NCMPs – in Parliament.

These moves will bring the number of opposition voices – at nine – equal to that of Nominated MPs.

“Therefore, whatever the election outcome, opposition members, directly elected or non-constituency members, will form at least one-tenth of the 84 directly elected Members of Parliament who have constituencies,” said Mr Lee.

To distinguish between the winners and losers in a GRC fight, no more than two NCMPs will be allowed from each group representation constituency (GRC), said Mr Lee.

“This will spread out the NCMPs more evenly and make them more representative of those voters who have voted for the opposition nationwide in a General Election,” he added.

In effect, if the changes had been made prior to the 2006 elections, the Workers’ Party team contesting in Aljunied GRC might have had two NCMPs, instead of just one, Ms Sylvia Lim.

WP’s Dr Tan Bin Seng, who contested in Joo Chiat, and Mr Lian Chin Way, who lost in Nee Soon South, would also be debating in Parliament, noted PM Lee.

In fact, the opposition might have a total of seven NCMPs and two elected MPs now, with the WP taking seven of the nine opposition seats.

In announcing the changes, Mr Lee said NCMPs have made their contribution to national debate by expressing opposition views in Parliament.

“They have let Singaporeans compare the policies and programmes of the Government and the opposition,” he said.

“And they’ve enabled Singaporeans to evaluate the performance of parties and MPs through the continuing debate in Parliament day in, day out, during the whole term of the Government, not just during the short period of the campaign during the General Election.”

As such, the scheme has achieved its purpose and has been accepted by the public, he said.

Started in 1984, the NCMP scheme aimed to give the opposition more voice in a Parliament dominated by the People’s Action Party (PAP) since the 1968 elections.

Since then, there have been no more than four elected opposition members in Parliament – a high reached in 1991.

Today, there are just two elected opposition MPs in Parliament: Hougang MP Low Thia Khiang and Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong.

Over the years, Mr Lee noted, the NCMP scheme has allowed opposition members such as the late Dr Lee Siow Choh and the late Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam, both from WP, and Singapore Democratic Alliance’s Mr Steve Chia to enter Parliament.

NCMPs do not have the full rights of an elected MP.

Among other things, they cannot vote on amendments to the Constitution, on a Supply Bill, nor in a vote of no-confidence against the Government.

But they can vote on changes to legislation and raise motions to pass new Bills.

The WP’s treasurer, Mr Eric Tan, said he was glad the Government was recognising the people’s desire for more opposition.

At the same time, however, he warned that the new move could be counter-productive for the opposition.

Mr Tan, who contested in East Coast GRC in 2006 and would have been an NCMP had the changes been effected then, said the move might seduce voters to not vote for the opposition.

“Voters may just think, why vote for them since we are sure to get at least nine in? This is wrong as NCMPs do not have full powers and cannot be said to truly represent the people without constituencies,” he said.

PAP MP Charles Chong dismissed such “conspiracy theories”.

The Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP said that the move to allow more opposition in Parliament was a generous one.

“The bottom line is that the Government is allowing more opposition members who have contested in an election, who know the ground, into Parliament, regardless of whether they won or lost,” said Mr Chong.

“I think that is a win-win situation for the opposition.”

aaronl@sph.com.sg

Straits Times: Only elected opposition offers ‘effective checks’

Best way is to have external checks & balances on ruling party: Low Thia Khiang

BY ZAKIR HUSSAIN
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

CRITICAL TEST
“Can we withstand the political crisis that accompanies a government’s downfall, like what happened in Indonesia or the Philippines? Would we be able to survive? I’m not sure.”
Mr Low, MP for Hougang

THE ruling party says the effectiveness of Singapore’s political system lies in its internal checks and its ability to serve the people, but only an elected opposition can provide effective checks and balances, Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) declared yesterday.

The leader of the Workers’ Party said this is because the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) currently dominates the House, can amend the Constitution freely, and controls key levers of power in the country.

What if one day it were to abuse its powers, trample on people’s rights or become corrupt? “What can the people do then?” asked Mr Low.

“Maybe CPIB (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau) has a role to play. But if the CPIB is under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Office, how can it play a checking role?” he asked.

Speaking in Mandarin, he noted that some believed the ruling party would be able to check itself, that it was not “a nest of snakes and rats”, and that even if it were to break up, the remaining half could still run the country.

Mr Low argued, however, that the best way was to have external checks and balances in the system, in the form of a more effective opposition presence.

He was commenting on remarks by President SR Nathan last Monday on how Singapore politics had to evolve over time as the world and society changed.

Stressing that changes to the political system should express the will of the people, Mr Low noted that Singapore’s political system had yet to undergo “the real test”.

He mused: “Can we withstand the political crisis that accompanies a government’s downfall, like what happened in Indonesia or the Philippines? Would we be able to survive? I’m not sure.”

With few Singaporeans willing to join the opposition parties to contest elections, Singapore’s democracy resembled a “one-legged duck”, he said.

As for the PAP’s often-made argument that it is not responsible for helping the opposition grow, he said this smacked of a “winner takes all, loser is a bandit’ mindset.

“But we cannot blame the ruling party,” he hastened to add, noting that Singaporeans returned the PAP to power at every poll.

Turning to arguments that losing opposition candidates can still be appointed Non-Constituency MPs, he said this was not enough as the role of the opposition is “not merely to reflect views and feelings of its people”.

Only by having a geographical constituency would an opposition party be able to grow its support base and strengthen its competencies, he said.

Also, only through weekly Meet-The-People Sessions would these MPs be able to appreciate people’s real concerns as well as assess the effectiveness of government policies, Mr Low said.

Also speaking yesterday, Dr Amy Khor (Hong Kah GRC) noted that the assumption that a system dominated by one party cannot be robust remains untested.

Past changes to the parliamentary system indicate “we will continue to experiment, but in a cautious way”, she said.

zakirh@sph.com.sg

Straits Times: Low Thia Khiang defends export-driven economy

MPs offer ways to keep economy strong, seek help for SMEs to grow

BY SUE-ANN CHIA

THE Government’s export-oriented economic growth model, which has come under attack recently, received support from an unexpected source yesterday – opposition leader Low Thia Khiang.

The Workers’ Party chief and Hougang MP defended the long-held growth model, saying in Mandarin: “I believe it is correct to attract foreign investments to encourage competition in a free market, to open up our market and to go global and…integrate with the global economy.”

While acknowledging the strategy would make Singapore vulnerable to the ups and downs in the world economy, he believes the country will continue to prosper when the current economic storm blows over.

“Hence, I believe our economic model is basically correct,” he said.

Mr Low was among 15 MPs who spoke yesterday on the President’s Address, which mapped out the Government’s priorities for the remaining legislative term.

President SR Nathan had stressed that a key focus was to sustain economic growth, which had been viewed as a rebuff to critics who had questioned the “grow-at-all costs” economic strategy.

In his address, the President also called for new ideas to tackle the crisis.

Yesterday, several MPs offered ways to strengthen Singapore’s economy.

Mr Low urged the Government to focus on growing local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He pinpointed the knowledge-based and creative sector, describing them as “sunshine industries”.

Helping the SMEs was also a call of Mr Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who said it was “timely” to review Singapore’s growth model to reduce dependence on multinationals (MNCs).

He noted that the resources allocated to growing SMEs were a “far cry” from what was invested in the MNC strategy, resulting in weaker local enterprises.

“I cannot shake the feeling that this is because we have not been wholehearted in wanting to create our future Singapore MNCs, contented as we are with the foreign MNCs coming to Singapore,” said the vocal businessman MP and long-time champion of the SME cause.

Other MPs such as Mr Alvin Yeo (Hong Kah GRC) suggested boosting consumer spending here as a way to reduce Singapore’s dependence on exports.

Some ways to do so, he said, were snipping personal income taxes, scrapping the 10 per cent service charge in restaurants and subsidising the goods and services tax by giving out GST vouchers.

But one MP, Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC), questioned if the growth-at-all-cost model was realistic.

Singapore should aim for “modest, sustainable economic growth”, he said, adding: “We need to feel proud of Singapore for what it is, and to take care of it, to protect overexploitation, overcrowding and unsustainable growth.”

Two MPs – Dr Amy Khor (Hong Kah GRC) and Mr Singh – also renewed their calls for the Government to set up an Economic Review Committee to plot new strategies for growth.

sueann@sph.com.sg

Straits Times: MPs call for checks and balances

Parliament

Move-on order and restrictions on filming are most contentious

BY JEREMY AU YONG

(From left) Mr Low Thia Khiang, Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Siew Kum Hong raised objections to two provisions in the new Public Order Act, saying they curbed civil liberties excessively.

THREE Members of the House yesterday opposed the new public order rules, arguing that these gave overarching powers to the police without sufficient checks and balances.

The trio were Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang), Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim and Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong.

At the heart of their objections were the two most contentious provisions in the new Public Order Act: the move-on order and restrictions on filming of certain security operations.

The first enables the police to order a person to leave a designated area if they determine that he is about to break the law.

The second allows the police to stop people from filming, distributing or exhibiting films of security operations.

Both provisions, the trio said, went too far in curtailing civil liberties, while leaving the door open to abuse.

Both Ms Lim and Mr Siew cited the case of Mr Ian Tomlinson to illustrate the potential pitfalls of filming restrictions.

Mr Tomlinson, a 47-year-old newspaper vendor, died from a heart attack two weeks ago, after getting caught up in a protest while on the way home.

The incident took place in London on the eve of the G-20 summit.

Ms Lim pointed out that British police initially said he had not clashed with them. This claim was disproved by a passer-by’s video clip showing a policeman shoving him in the back.

This triggered an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Ms Lim asked: “If the above case were to happen here, how does this Government expect truth and justice to prevail without the presence of footage recorded by public-spirited citizens?”

She also said the wording of the law was too broad when it was meant only to target security operations and not activities such as crowd control and other routine police action.

Similarly, Mr Siew and Ms Lim argued that the move-on powers were unnecessary and did not come with sufficient checks.

Mr Siew contended that there was not enough recourse for those who felt they were wrongly targeted. He felt the possibility of complaining to a commanding officer was not enough.

“That would trigger an internal investigation at most, which is not transparent and may not be perceived as being fair and independent,” he said.

In response, Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam noted that he and Mr Siew appeared to be coming from different starting points.

For example, on the issue of the police potentially abusing their powers in stopping a person from filming, he said: “Mr Siew’s perception is that all police officers will behave illegally. They’ll be smart and they’ll direct deletion because they don’t want a record of what they have just done.

“I come from the opposite perspective. I think we come from the perspective that our officers are fundamentally honest…”

Where abuses may occur, he said the Act requires the officer to give reasons to justify why he directed the deletion.

As for Ms Lim’s concern that the wording of the law could be read to cover the filming of routine police acts, the minister said he would relook the definition.

But he stressed the main idea was to give the police the powers to act to prevent situations that could compromise their work, and without people being able to argue about it.

Separately, opposition MP Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir) had a more personal concern about the new law.

He noted how at the end of his election rallies, supporters often carried him and “off they go” – a move he feared could amount to holding a procession without a permit.

Mr Shanmugam assured him that such an incident would not run afoul of the law.

“The fact that Mr Chiam has not been charged so far shows he’s probably not breached the law and he should not have to worry,” he said.

jeremyau@sph.com.sg

TODAY: It’s the message, not the platform

The Workers’ Party (WP) lays claim to being the first political party here to use Twitter to send out updates and mobilise supporters. According to WP’s Twitter page, its first message was posted on Nov 10 – 11 days before the Singapore Democratic Party.

The potential of Twitter – which allows followers to receive near-instantaneous updates and messages – “is not so much how many people have joined, but the convenience it gives mobilisers as a platform to galvanise support,” WP organising secretary Yaw Shin Leong told TODAY.

Apart from Facebook accounts and blogs maintained by its members, the WP can also count on an unofficial website – set up by a WP member earlier this year – to spread its political messages. Called “Hammersspeed”, the website aggregates online content related to the party.

Reiterating that these initiatives are part of a continuous process and “not an end in itself”, Mr Yaw said: “The idea is to enhance communication, to reach out to the people via more channels … These are mere instruments. It’s still about the message, not the platforms.” LOH CHEE KONG

Straits Times: MPs express reservations over scope, ambiguous wording

BY AARON LOW

CHANGES made to the Films Act did not go far enough, according to Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong and Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim.

Ms Lim, chairman of the opposition Worker’s Party, called the changes a “giant step backwards”, while Mr Siew voted against the changes as he believed they represented “a bad law”.

Yesterday, Parliament amended the law to lift a blanket ban on films deemed to be “party political” by allowing some of them through, as long as they fulfilled specified criteria.

When proposing the changes, Senior Minister of State (Information, Communications and the Arts) Lui Tuck Yew said the changes were a step forward.

“They will widen the space for political discourse and engagement, particularly through the medium of film and videos,” said Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui.

Six MPs spoke on the issue and expressed several reservations. But it was Mr Siew who launched an attack on the Bill.

Instead of opening up more space, Mr Siew said the amendments on party political films actually narrow the space for such films.

He cited a provision in the old Films Act which allowed political films that were made for the purpose of news reporting.

With the amendments, the exception applied only to licensed broadcasters, whereas previously, it could apply to anyone, he said.

He also said that the ban on recording of events that are unlawful may lead to “a nation of innocent criminals”.

Bystanders watching a procession may whip out their mobile phones to record videos of the event without knowing whether it was legal or not, said Mr Siew.

“It is a bad law, it would not fix the problems that need to be fixed, and I cannot in good conscience support such a piece of legislation,” he said.

Ms Lim echoed similar sentiments adding: “Any unrelated bystander caught filming a protest could be prosecuted. To me, this does not make sense.”

She called for the repeal of the law as there were other pieces of legislation, such as defamation laws and the Sedition Act, that regulated political films as well.

Other MPs, such as Ms Penny Low (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) and Nominated MP Thio Li-ann took issue with ambiguous wording of the law.

They questioned what several terms used in the amended version of the Films Act meant and wanted a clearer definition of the terms used.

For instance, Dr Thio said that the definition of “party political films” in the law was problematic as it included the term “partisan”.

“Can a party political film be unbiased? Does not a film-maker have a message to convey, which is driven by his or her opinions and values?” she asked.

Addressing their concerns, RADM Lui said the reason for the way the law was worded is that the Government cannot be overly prescriptive of what can or cannot be allowed.

“But beyond being descriptive, we must also describe the intent of the Bill, what we hope that it would do and what kind of guidance this will give to the people who eventually have to exercise judgment on whether a film is a party political film.”

He also rejected suggestions by Mr Zaqy and Mr Siew that Section 35 of the Films Act be amended.

Section 35 of the Films Act empowers the Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts to ban a film deemed to be contrary to the public interest.

RADM Lui said that Section 35 was not meant to be a backdoor way for banning films that might have been passed by the new amendments.

It would be used only to ban films that present a threat to national security or is against the public interest, and not political ones, he said.

Straits Times: Opposition plans battle formation

Insight

Opposition parties are starting to rally their troops amid talk of an earlier-than-scheduled election. Aaron Low, Jeremy Au Yong, Kor Kian Beng and Sue-Ann Chia look at the tactics, targets, people and places that could shape the strategies they adopt.

ON MONDAY night, laughter emanated from the Workers’ Party (WP) headquarters in Syed Alwi Road as members mingled with curious Singaporeans keen to find out more about the opposition party.

The occasion was its weekly open house, and WP chief Low Thia Khiang was seated at a table talking to one of the visitors, a university student.

He was flanked by two central executive committee members – deputy treasurer Ng Swee Bee and organising secretary Lee Li Lian.

Clearly in a jovial mood, he remarked: “Wow, (it’s been) so long since the last election and people still come down to our open house.”

There are fewer visitors these days than was the case immediately after the May 2006 polls, but talk of an early election appears to have sparked the public’s interest in the opposition.

The parties themselves have also begun stepping up preparations.

But Mr Low remains relaxed amid the speculation that polls will be held earlier than the February 2012 due date.

One reason for his calmness, say party sources and observers, stems from his belief that preparations are well in hand.

The WP has canvassed the heartland regularly, with members going on constituency walkabouts and door-to-door visits weekly.

They have also been spotted on their “Hammer outreach” – selling the WP newsletter, The Hammer, in areas such as Bukit Panjang, Bukit Timah and Yishun.

The WP, which had the best showing among opposition parties in the 2006 polls with 38.4 per cent of the vote share, remains the opposition party to watch at the next election.

But Mr Low, well known for his reluctance to speak openly to the media about its plans, continues to keep his cards close to his chest. “We are everywhere. Our party goes around Singapore,” he tells Insight, when asked how the WP is seeking to expand its turf.

“The PAP has accused us of being a fly-by-night opposition. But we have been doing our work since 2001 and the last GE. We go around to convince people that the political system needs checks and balances.”

His remarks were a reference to the People’s Action Party’s first assistant secretary-general Wong Kan Seng who, during the 2001 General Election, described the opposition as “fly-by-night” operators who popped up only at election time.

But the WP has kept up its visits to the constituencies that it contested in 2006, including the neighbouring wards – just in case electoral boundaries change.

Will they return to fight in these areas?

“We are looking at the previous constituencies. That is quite natural,” says Mr Low. But there could be surprises as informal negotiations between parties to slice up the electoral landscape have already started with WP targeting new areas, such as Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

The rest of the opposition are not sitting still, with several also making moves to stake their claims on constituencies.

Places to watch

ONCE again, the “hot spot” is expected to be Aljunied GRC – if it remains intact on the electoral map.

It provided the closest contest in the 2006 election, with the WP’s “A” team led by chairman Sylvia Lim securing almost 44 per cent of the valid votes. It took on the PAP’s five-man team helmed by Foreign Minister George Yeo.

The contest provided Ms Lim with her ticket to Parliament, as the top loser gets to be a Non-Constituency MP.

With such a showing, the party is certain to stage a Round 2 contest in a bid to increase its margin there.

“I think they should go back there and I hope they will. If not, whatever they have done there will be wasted,” says political observer Eugene Tan.

“Also, people will perceive it as a lack of strategy if you move at every election – unless the voters have decisively said they don’t want you there.”

But it will be a different WP team that heads to Aljunied GRC, as two of the five original members are not around: Mr Goh Meng Seng has switched to join the National Solidarity Party (NSP), and Mr Tan Wui Hua is working overseas.

Despite the change in line-up, analysts expect it to remain the WP’s main challenger for a GRC, with Ms Lim leading the charge.

The other constituency to watch is Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, helmed by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng.

It was uncontested in the last three general elections, but at least three parties are now keen to vie for it.

Opposition sources say the escape of terrorist leader Mas Selamat Kastari from detention last year is an issue they intend to play up. But whether this issue will resonate with the ground is another matter.

Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) chairman and Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong has been the first to make public his intention to gun for the GRC.

It borders the single-seat constituency that he has helmed since 1984.

Sources close to the SDA say Mr Chiam hopes there will be a “spillover effect” of his popularity in Potong Pasir to voters in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. If he does take on the team led by DPM Wong – whose one and only contest was when he entered politics and stood in the 1984 polls – it will be a match not to be missed.

The other party which has targeted the GRC is the WP. It says it has been working the ground there for some time now. So, too, has the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

Insight understands that Mr Chiam has informed the WP’s Mr Low of his intention to contest the GRC.

Should Mr Low relent, the trade-off with Mr Chiam’s SDA will be for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

The SDA has “first claim” among the opposition parties to Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC as its team stood there in 2006. And sources say that SDA secretary-general Desmond Lim, who led that team, does not want to give it up, having invested time and effort working the ground there.

The WP – which is likely to contest again in Aljunied GRC and East Coast GRC – is believed to be scouting for at least one more GRC. This is because the party may not head back to contest in Ang Mo Kio GRC and take on the constituency led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

With possible changes to the electoral boundaries, a new GRC may be created in the north that could absorb two single-seat constituencies – Nee Soon East and Nee Soon Central.

The WP had contested unsuccessfully in both in 2006. If a new GRC is indeed formed there, it would provide the WP with the third GRC that it seeks.

While the action seems concentrated around the north-eastern parts of Singapore, a contest could also emerge in the west – particularly in Jurong GRC.

The five-member GRC is anchored by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Lim Boon Heng, and includes Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

The NSP, sources say, is interested in the GRC, which was not targeted by any opposition party in 2006.

It will be in addition to the NSP’s regular sparring ground: Jalan Besar GRC and Tampines GRC.

One issue that the NSP aims to exploit in Jurong GRC is the belief that residents, particularly in the Bukit Batok ward, may be upset that no by-election was held following the death last year of their MP, Dr Ong Chit Chung.

The Government said there is no requirement under the law for a by-election to be held in a GRC unless all members vacate their seats.

As for showdowns in single seats, the two opposition-held wards of Hougang and Potong Pasir are expected to see the fiercest fights.

The WP’s Mr Low will aim for his fifth win in Hougang since 1991.

And it is widely speculated that Mr Chiam’s wife, Lina, will step up to the plate in Potong Pasir should he move to helm a GRC team to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh.

People to watch

MR CHIAM is said to be cobbling together a “team of veterans” for his GRC bid. Names that have been tossed up include accountant David Chew, medical doctor Wong Wee Nam and lawyer S. Kunalen.

Mr Chew contested first in Paya Lebar in 1988, under the banner of the SDP, which was then led by Mr Chiam. He garnered almost 48 per cent of the valid votes. He however faded away, and did not contest again till 1997, when he stood in Jalan Besar GRC. The SDP team won close to 32 per cent of the votes.

The other two men entered the fray in 1997, Dr Wong under the banner of the NSP in Hong Kah GRC (getting 31 per cent of the votes); and Mr Kunalen with the SDP in Aljunied GRC (winning 33 per cent of the votes).

Among the trio, only Mr Kunalen is still active in the opposition. He is a member of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) – one of three parties under the SDA – which is led by Mr Chiam.

The fifth candidate is likely to be drawn from the Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS), another constituent party of the SDA. Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC requires a Malay minority candidate.

Why is Mr Chiam, who suffered a stroke last year, letting go of Potong Pasir to gamble on a GRC?

Having been in politics for 33 years and an MP for 25, the decision to leave Potong Pasir would not be an easy one.

A source close to SDA puts it this way: “He could stay on in Potong Pasir and probably have a good shot at winning, but how long more would he have? Another term, at most, if his health permits.”

To Mr Chiam, it is his last big gamble. “The opposition currently holds two seats. If I win a GRC, it will more than double the numbers, and it could lead to more in the following election,” he says.

Insight dropped by his Meet-the-People session on Thursday, which happened to be his 74th birthday.

As he blew out the candles on his cake at a celebration with members and helpers at a coffee shop later, a stronger-looking Mr Chiam could have made a birthday wish – to grow the opposition.

With new faces likely to join the opposition, such a wish may just come true.

One name on many lips now is that of former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian, who a few months ago expressed interest to contest either the presidential or parliamentary elections.

Mr Tan made the headlines last year as an activist on financial issues linked to the sale of structured investment products.

Besides organising regular rallies and educational talks at the Speakers’ Corner, he also advised investors and wrote letters to government agencies calling for more oversight on such investments.

Sources close to Mr Tan say he is considering running in the next General Election. To do so, he could join the WP, which is seen as having the best brand name among opposition parties.

But will the party take him in? WP’s Mr Low does not give a straight answer.

“That’s putting the cart before the horse,” he says, when asked by Insight.

Mr Low could be wary of taking in a candidate who may not follow the party’s agenda or leadership, some speculate.

As one source close to WP puts it: “Their visions may not be aligned.”

Another option for Mr Tan would be to join the SDA. Sources say SDA members have sussed him out, but he is non-committal as he is also sought after by other opposition figures.

He also has option three – being an independent.

He could go solo in a single seat, but this is tricky as he would have to negotiate with opposition parties, which usually contest single seats, to avoid three-cornered fights.

Mr Tan declined to speak when Insight called him.

Another name that pops up is that of the late Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam’s older son, Kenneth. He has made speeches at events organised by opposition parties, in particular, the SDP, in memory of his father. Some within the opposition hope that he will join their cause.

But they should not hold their breath. “Kenneth is more interested in preserving his father’s legacy than entering politics,” says a source.

Mr Ng Teck Siong, a close ally of the late Mr Jeyaretnam and now chairman of the Reform Party (RP), also dismisses such speculation. The former opposition MP’s two sons – Kenneth and Philip – will not follow in their father’s footsteps. “Philip is definitely not interested in politics. Kenneth is back in London with his family,” he says.

Another source of opposition candidates could come from the online world. Sources say some parties have approached bloggers like Chia Ti Lik, Ng E-Jay and members of the sociopolitical website, The Online Citizen (TOC).

Indeed, Mr Chia was a former WP member, while Mr Ng has written for the NSP newsletter.

Trends to watch

WILL opposition candidates from different parties band together to contest a GRC?

WP’s James Gomez, part of its Aljunied GRC team in the last election, says: “There is talk between party members of forming a mix-and-match GRC. We are so used to thinking party-centric, this is a new model. But both can co-exist.”

Whether such cooperation will come about depends on current party leaders.

A possible scenario, say sources from various parties, is the NSP’s Mr Goh Meng Seng teaming up with Mr Tan Kin Lian, to form an alliance of five or six people from various opposition parties.

When contacted, Mr Goh insists nothing is confirmed. But he adds that it is better to stand under a party banner than as independents. “History shows that independents stand a higher chance of losing their (election) deposits,” he notes.

Opposition unity could also take the form of NSP returning to the SDA fold, which it left after the 2006 polls.

Another link-up between parties could be RP and SDP.

SDP looks to be at most a minor factor in the next election, as its key leaders are bankrupt and will be unable to contest.

Members who are eligible to stand include its assistant secretary John Tan, and treasurer Jeffrey George.

Political observers believe the WP will remain the party to watch in the next election.

“Like it or not, the hammer is the most recognisable symbol after the lightning,” says law lecturer Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University.

“How well they do will depend on whether they are able to bring new candidates and raise the calibre of candidates.”

WP’s Mr Low’s reply? “There are more faces, but as to who and where we field them, I prefer to leave it to Nomination Day.”

aaronl@sph.com.sg
jeremyau@sph.com.sg
kianbeng@sph.com.sg
sueann@sph.com.sg

Straits Times: ‘Nursing home in JB’ remark only a suggestion

Budget debate

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Khaw says he just wanted middle-income families to know that such an option exists

BY SALMA KHALIK
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan had a suggestion on Monday for Singaporeans: Consider staying at a nursing home in neighbouring Johor where prices are lower.

Yesterday, it received flak from two opposition MPs.

Workers’ Party (WP) chairman and Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim said the suggestion was “quite a bad indication of affordability of our own health-care services here and also a reflection of our national values”.

Fellow WP member Low Thia Kiang (Hougang) asked: “Is the minister suggesting that Singaporeans who cannot afford medical treatment or step-down care here should now consider such facilities in Johor?”

If so, is the minister “outsourcing the Government’s responsibility to provide affordable health-care service to Malaysia?” he asked.

Their remarks riled Mr Khaw.

“I’m not saying that if you are poor, I will put you in an ambulance, send you across the Causeway to a Johor nursing home. That is not what I said and please don’t twist my words,” he said.

In fact, the Johor option is not for the poor, who are heavily subsidised in Singapore. “Everybody can afford health care in Singapore, whether acute care or long-term care,” he pointed out.

The suggestion was aimed at middle-income families who need to pay for the care themselves. It gives them a choice.

“I just wanted to point out to Singaporeans that there are options like this,” Mr Khaw said.

Cost of nursing home care will always be more expensive in Singapore, as doctors and nurses are paid more and construction cost is higher, he said.

He had said on Monday that since many people visit the elderly in homes only on weekends, it makes little difference whether the person is housed here or in nearby Johor.

It is part of globalisation and is happening with Singaporeans going to Bangkok for Lasik to treat short-sightedness and Americans and Russians coming here for treatment, he noted.

It is also not something that should, or can, be prevented, he added.

Singaporeans are crossing the Causeway for cheaper petrol and medicine.

“By allowing the flexibility of consumers walking across the Causeway…they benefit. I don’t think we should constrain them from doing so.”

Pointing to the United States, where 40 million to 50 million people cannot even afford health insurance, the minister said that in Singapore, even the unemployed or those with low incomes can afford a standard of care comparable to that in the US.

To a question from Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) on whether more can done to make health care affordable in these difficult times, Mr Khaw said cheap, or even free, health care was always possible.

But what standard of care would that provide, he asked.

“To keep health-care costs affordable is the easiest thing in the world, but to keep it also of a high standard and yet affordable, very few countries have done so.

“I like to believe that we are one of them. We are not perfect but I think we have done a fairly good job.”

He referred to a story in this month’s Japan Echo on the country’s health-care system, which “screamed that it is on the verge of collapsing”.

Said Mr Khaw: “I felt sorry for Japan because for a long time, it was among the best health-care systems in the world.”

He recalled a recent newspaper story about a seriously ill pregnant woman in Tokyo who died because several hospitals said they were too full to take her in.

He added that in the Echo report, the Japanese Health Minister blamed all the problems on pandering to politically populist measures.

“My job is to make sure we don’t walk into that hole,” Mr Khaw said.

Singapore has already “done a lot” for long-term care.

“If it’s not enough, we will do much more,” he promised.

He also said that people must do their part too, by staying healthy and, if necessary, changing their lifestyles.

salma@sph.com.sg

Channel NewsAsia: Dipping into reserves needed to deal from position of strength

By Asha Popatlal

SINGAPORE: Dipping into Singapore’s reserves for the Budget is necessary as it allows the government to deal with the current economic crisis from a position of strength.

Without doing so, the government might not have been able to do as much as it did, explained Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam as he wrapped up three days of debate on the Budget Statement

The government’s decision to tap on past reserves was a hot issue during the debate.

Members of Parliament raised a host of questions: Why dip into the reserves now? Why not use existing funds first? How was it done? What benchmarks were being set?

Explaining, Mr Tharman said the move was to signal Singapore’s intention to deal with the situation with all the resources at its disposal, without the need to borrow.

Without the confidence of additional resources, the government may have had to curtail the help measures.

Mr Tharman also laid out the principles for seeking the President’s approval.

“First, a government should only draw on past reserves in very exceptional situations, for example, when external events or crises pose a threat to Singapore’s economy or society. Second, the measures to be funded should be of a temporary nature,” he said.

But the minister stressed that it was not possible to define strict indicators for drawing on reserves as it was not possible to define rules that meet all circumstances.

He also did not rule out the possibility of the government of the day needing to tap on reserves again in this lifetime.

As a precautionary measure, the President’s nod is needed as the second key to open the reserves after the government turns the first key. The process to do this was another hot issue.

Mr Tharman said: “Did the President have the full opportunity to properly evaluate the proposal? Or was it a fait accompli?”

Revealing details for the first time, Mr Tharman said the Budget was finalised a fortnight before Budget Day.

The Cabinet approved it one week before Budget Day. But before that, the Prime Minister met the President informally to sound him out and to give him time to think about it.

The Ministries of Finance, and Trade and Industry, followed up with detailed briefings for the President and his Council of Presidential Advisers.

Once the numbers were finalised, a formal request was sent so that the President and the Council could come to a decision.

But, questions remained.

“The concern arises over the way the 2-key system operates. It seems the 2-key system operates simultaneously at the same time. When the government key says “unlock”, the other key unlocks automatically,” said Low Thia Khiang, MP for Hougang.

Mr Tharman said: “This is not a ‘wayang’ (show)… The point is: the President, advised by the CPA (Council of Presidential Advisers), makes an independent and careful judgement on the government’s case.”

MP for Tampines GRC, Irene Ng, said: “Can I ask the minister whether the process can be refined and improved further so that in future we can make the process more transparent – that the public knows that the institution of the President is one that is strong, and that it can exercise an independent turn of the key.”

Inderjit Singh, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, said: “What’s missing is the process that the President took after he got briefed by the government. If we could get a sense of what they discussed and what process they went through to decide, then this may clear many of these questions.”

But Mr Tharman said: “I’m not sure why it is relevant. At the end of the day, this is a system that is different from Norway and Australia, where as much detail as possible is provided.

“This is a system that relies on trust in the individuals who are in charge, including those appointed to the CPA and the Elected President. Do you trust them? Have they made decisions wisely? Has the government been acting responsibly?”

Mr Tharman said once Parliament approves the Budget, the government will seek the President’s formal approval to draw from the reserves. The President’s decision will then be gazetted, as required under the Constitution.

- CNA/ir