SINGAPORE : He has been called the Workers' Party's 'secret weapon', but corporate lawyer Chen Show Mao said the true weapon would be the votes of Singaporeans during Polling Day.
He wants to help build a strong opposition to provide checks and balances on the government.
Mr Chen made a public appearance at a walkabout in the single ward of Joo Chiat on Sunday.
Moving from coffeeshops to cafes, the Workers' Party eagerly showed off its much-talked about candidate - Chen Show Mao - to residents in the suburban neighbourhood of Siglap.
Even though he has lived abroad for some 30 years, Mr Chen had little trouble connecting with the residents.
Based in China, the Taiwan-born lawyer plans to relocate to Singapore.
The 50-year-old took up citizenship in 1986 and has degrees from Harvard, Oxford and Stanford Universities.
Mr Chen said he disagreed with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's comments that Singapore should pool its best political talents into one team.
Mr Lee had likened this to how countries only fielded their best team to compete in the World Cup.
Mr Chen said: "The team that we are sending to the World Cup is the national team. It is the team that wears red and white, it is not the team that wears white and white. The government certainly has a big part to play on Team Singapore, but they are not all of Singapore.
"We feel that to have the best kind of policy, it is no good to put all of our talent, however limited they may be, into one team and have the rest just watch them warm up, because this team is not going to be able to play matches and improve."
Mr Chen said a team only improves and sharpens its skills if it plays against strong opposing teams.
When asked if the Workers' Party planned to unveil another 'secret weapon', Mr Chen said this is in the hands of Singaporeans.
He said: "The votes of Singaporeans will become the Workers' Party secret weapon...our greatest secret weapon."
The Workers' Party's secretary-general, Low Thia Khiang, also took issue with the role of the People's Association, saying he will disband it if the Workers' Party comes to power.
Mr Low said the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) uses the PA to do its outreach work to residents.
He said: "We will first of all remove the PA, because the PA is basically part of the PAP's grassroots mechanism. We would want to see a more level-playing field in political competition and I am sure as a party, you have to reach out to the ground rather than depend on a mechanism which is funded by the government in the name of grassroots."
The Workers' Party has been busy working the ground and meeting residents from constituencies like Nee Soon, Moulmein-Kallang, Hougang and now Joo Chiat. This is a strong indication that they plan to field over 20 candidates to contest these areas in the coming General Election.
He wants to help build a strong opposition to provide checks and balances on the government.
Mr Chen made a public appearance at a walkabout in the single ward of Joo Chiat on Sunday.
Moving from coffeeshops to cafes, the Workers' Party eagerly showed off its much-talked about candidate - Chen Show Mao - to residents in the suburban neighbourhood of Siglap.
Even though he has lived abroad for some 30 years, Mr Chen had little trouble connecting with the residents.
Based in China, the Taiwan-born lawyer plans to relocate to Singapore.
The 50-year-old took up citizenship in 1986 and has degrees from Harvard, Oxford and Stanford Universities.
Mr Chen said he disagreed with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's comments that Singapore should pool its best political talents into one team.
Mr Lee had likened this to how countries only fielded their best team to compete in the World Cup.
Mr Chen said: "The team that we are sending to the World Cup is the national team. It is the team that wears red and white, it is not the team that wears white and white. The government certainly has a big part to play on Team Singapore, but they are not all of Singapore.
"We feel that to have the best kind of policy, it is no good to put all of our talent, however limited they may be, into one team and have the rest just watch them warm up, because this team is not going to be able to play matches and improve."
Mr Chen said a team only improves and sharpens its skills if it plays against strong opposing teams.
When asked if the Workers' Party planned to unveil another 'secret weapon', Mr Chen said this is in the hands of Singaporeans.
He said: "The votes of Singaporeans will become the Workers' Party secret weapon...our greatest secret weapon."
The Workers' Party's secretary-general, Low Thia Khiang, also took issue with the role of the People's Association, saying he will disband it if the Workers' Party comes to power.
Mr Low said the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) uses the PA to do its outreach work to residents.
He said: "We will first of all remove the PA, because the PA is basically part of the PAP's grassroots mechanism. We would want to see a more level-playing field in political competition and I am sure as a party, you have to reach out to the ground rather than depend on a mechanism which is funded by the government in the name of grassroots."
The Workers' Party has been busy working the ground and meeting residents from constituencies like Nee Soon, Moulmein-Kallang, Hougang and now Joo Chiat. This is a strong indication that they plan to field over 20 candidates to contest these areas in the coming General Election.
