Source:
The Real Singapore
DEAR TRS, NMP NOMINEE IS THE SISTER OF AN ACTIVE PAP MEMBER
Post date: 16 May 2014 - 8:24am
Dear TRS, I came across an article about the ongoing NMP nominations (
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/two-more-emerge-contenders-nmp-post). One of them was Ms Chia Yong Yong, president of the Society for the Physically Disabled.
I was quite impressed that there were people who were willing to represent the disabled in parliament. The name "Chia Yong Yong" sounded familiar. I felt sympathy when I realized that she herself was disabled. It was impressive how she and her family managed to overcome the challenges they faced. (
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/lifestyle/story/lawyer-chia-yo...)
It's true. We need someone to represent the less fortunate in society and groups like the disabled deserve a representative. It would be best to have someone who is also in the same situation to represent them.
However, when I checked further, I realized that she was the sister of Eunice Chia-Lim, a PAP activist in East Coast GRC. Both of them have photos on facebook with many PAP MPs and ministers.
This link confirms the relationship between the two:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201194760530483&set=a.14785546...
The next two links shows the two of them together at an event with a PAP minister and Mdm Ho Ching:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201696462352715&set=bc.Abq1kcN...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201695289643398&set=a.14785546...
The next two links confirm the PAP membership of Eunice Chia:
(
https://www.facebook.com/lim.eunice/media_set?set=a.4838045108393.194735...)
(
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203651495787329&set=a.14785546...)
She was appointed South East District Representative in 2012.
I’m not sure if Ms Chia Yong Yong is a PAP member like her sister, but she has been active in PAP initiated events such as Our Singapore Conversation (reference is the 3rd link in this article) and she received a PBM in 2013.
At that point, I started wondering if anyone with any sort of affiliation to the ruling party can be a non-partisan NMP. I remembered the former NMP Calvin Cheng who used to be a YPAP member before he was nominated as a NMP.
In parliament, he praised the PAP many times and even attacked the opposition WP. In a debate about the NMP scheme, in response to the opposition criticizing the NMP scheme, he instead argued that NCMPs were unnecessary because he believed alternative views did not mean opposing views. (Link:
http://likedatosocanmeh.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/run-of-the-mill-ex-nmp-...)
So, my question is this? Are NMPs with links to PAP, be they direct or indirect links, willing to take the PAP to task for their failings?
If Ms Chia gets nominated, I hope she will argue against the typical PAP line on issues like the high cost of living, CPF withdrawal age and scholarships for less privileged Singaporeans' tertiary education.
She could also talk about the MRT problems these days. I don't see how the overpopulation created by the PAP policies does not affect the disabled. With the large number of foreigners taking the train alongside locals, will there be space for a wheelchair in the MRT?
Will she speak up on the issue of empowering the disabled to find jobs? Will she speak up on the issue of affordableprosthetics for amputees? So that they can find jobs and get their livelihood back. Will she speak for amputees who ended up hawking tissue papers at MRT stations?
While we may feel gratitude to the PAP of the past, the PAP of today is not the same. And this is the view shared by a significant number of Singaporeans.
We do not want people to get into parliament to gush endless praise for the 'great' ministers and MPs. We want MPs to force change on the PAP and government to improve our lives. No less should be expected from NMPs either. I hope that if nominated, Ms Chia will truly represent alternative voices in parliament.
Just an ordinary Singaporean
TRS Contributor
