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[h=1]We will move on: WP's Low Thia Khiang[/h]
<CITE class="byline vcard">By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo! Newsroom – <ABBR title=2012-05-27T16:20:01Z>17 minutes ago</ABBR></CITE>
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The Workers’ Party (WP) will move on from the recently-concluded by-election in Hougang to focus on upgrading the district, said its secretary-general Low Thia Khiang.
“The Prime Minister has said there are many pressing long-term issues ahead… and I think the Workers’ Party will move on from this election, and work together with the ruling party for the betterment of Singapore,” Low said.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning on the sidelines of the party’s victory parade for its candidate, Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Png Eng Huat, Low steered clear of responding to Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s latest statements.
After Low on Saturday evening slammed "baseless attacks" that characterised the Hougang by-election campaign, Teo said Saturday evening that Low was welcome to take legal action.
In light of PM Lee’s announcement that the government’s estate renewal programme will be extended to Hougang, Low, an MP for Aljunied, said on Sunday his town council, now expanded to include Png holding co-vice chairmanship, will “start looking at things we want to do”.
“We are looking seriously at what we want to do on the ground, and what is most beneficial to the residents,” he said, stressing that upgrading the estate is his main priority.
On Saturday evening, Png defeated Desmond Choo of the People’s Action Party (PAP) in the polls with a strong showing of 62.1 per cent of the valid vote, which was widely seen as the residents’ ringing endorsement of the opposition party.
Commenting on Png’s performance on the campaign trail, Low said one thing Png did right was “be his own man despite the twists and turns (of the by-election campaign process)”.
Asked also about suggestions that cracks were forming in the WP’s armour, Low said he runs an “open system” in the party, and despite having personal experience of being played out before, he says he continues to trust his party members.
“I will respect what you want to do, but I keep my conscience clear… What’s important is what you’re doing in the party, what is your motivation, what do you want to do?” he asked. “I do trust people in the party, because you can’t work if you don’t trust them.”
“We believe in ‘agree to disagree’—that’s what a first world society should be. The WP practices that, and we may disagree, but when the time comes, we should move together as a team, and as a nation,” he continued.
He also voiced his belief that the party has emerged stronger from the tests they were put through during the by-election.
“Everyone in the WP, regardless of what position they hold—leadership, members or volunteers—have shown that they will unite and fight for a common cause. This, to me, is a good sign for the party’s future,” he said.
A hero’s welcome in Hougang
Members of the WP received a hero’s welcome when they returned to the ward for their victory parade between Sunday morning and afternoon.
Party chief Low carried a “huat” cake with a WP flag stuck into its middle, while fellow Aljunied MP Pritam Singh regaled residents with an impressive Hokkien song over the lorry’s speakers, as the entire Aljunied team, veteran members and NCMPs Gerald Giam and Yee Jenn Jong accompanied MP-elect Png Eng Huat on the more than five-hour-long ride around the ward.
During the parade, WP members took turns thanking residents for their support, as hordes of excited supporters and residents ran out of their homes or stuck their heads and arms out of their windows to greet Png, Low and the other WP members as they passed in the lorry.
Particularly populated was the stretch of road along Hougang Avenue 5, where several hundreds gathered in front of the coffee shop at Block 322, facing the block where weekly Meet-the-People sessions are held, a scene reminiscent of the one just hours before.
They flooded onto the road as the WP lorry passed, chanting “Huat ah!” and “Workers’ Party!” as residents ran forward to greet Low, Png and the other WP members.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the parade, MP-elect Png said he is thankful for the chance to serve residents, promising to do his best.
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View Photo Workers' Party Low Thia Khiang on Sunday talked about the party's focus after the Hougang by-election. (Yahoo! photo).
<!-- START article --><!-- yog-5u -->
<ROOT></ROOT>
The Workers’ Party (WP) will move on from the recently-concluded by-election in Hougang to focus on upgrading the district, said its secretary-general Low Thia Khiang.
“The Prime Minister has said there are many pressing long-term issues ahead… and I think the Workers’ Party will move on from this election, and work together with the ruling party for the betterment of Singapore,” Low said.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday morning on the sidelines of the party’s victory parade for its candidate, Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Png Eng Huat, Low steered clear of responding to Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s latest statements.
After Low on Saturday evening slammed "baseless attacks" that characterised the Hougang by-election campaign, Teo said Saturday evening that Low was welcome to take legal action.
In light of PM Lee’s announcement that the government’s estate renewal programme will be extended to Hougang, Low, an MP for Aljunied, said on Sunday his town council, now expanded to include Png holding co-vice chairmanship, will “start looking at things we want to do”.
“We are looking seriously at what we want to do on the ground, and what is most beneficial to the residents,” he said, stressing that upgrading the estate is his main priority.
On Saturday evening, Png defeated Desmond Choo of the People’s Action Party (PAP) in the polls with a strong showing of 62.1 per cent of the valid vote, which was widely seen as the residents’ ringing endorsement of the opposition party.
Commenting on Png’s performance on the campaign trail, Low said one thing Png did right was “be his own man despite the twists and turns (of the by-election campaign process)”.
Asked also about suggestions that cracks were forming in the WP’s armour, Low said he runs an “open system” in the party, and despite having personal experience of being played out before, he says he continues to trust his party members.
“I will respect what you want to do, but I keep my conscience clear… What’s important is what you’re doing in the party, what is your motivation, what do you want to do?” he asked. “I do trust people in the party, because you can’t work if you don’t trust them.”
“We believe in ‘agree to disagree’—that’s what a first world society should be. The WP practices that, and we may disagree, but when the time comes, we should move together as a team, and as a nation,” he continued.
He also voiced his belief that the party has emerged stronger from the tests they were put through during the by-election.
“Everyone in the WP, regardless of what position they hold—leadership, members or volunteers—have shown that they will unite and fight for a common cause. This, to me, is a good sign for the party’s future,” he said.
A hero’s welcome in Hougang
Members of the WP received a hero’s welcome when they returned to the ward for their victory parade between Sunday morning and afternoon.
Party chief Low carried a “huat” cake with a WP flag stuck into its middle, while fellow Aljunied MP Pritam Singh regaled residents with an impressive Hokkien song over the lorry’s speakers, as the entire Aljunied team, veteran members and NCMPs Gerald Giam and Yee Jenn Jong accompanied MP-elect Png Eng Huat on the more than five-hour-long ride around the ward.
During the parade, WP members took turns thanking residents for their support, as hordes of excited supporters and residents ran out of their homes or stuck their heads and arms out of their windows to greet Png, Low and the other WP members as they passed in the lorry.
Particularly populated was the stretch of road along Hougang Avenue 5, where several hundreds gathered in front of the coffee shop at Block 322, facing the block where weekly Meet-the-People sessions are held, a scene reminiscent of the one just hours before.
They flooded onto the road as the WP lorry passed, chanting “Huat ah!” and “Workers’ Party!” as residents ran forward to greet Low, Png and the other WP members.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the parade, MP-elect Png said he is thankful for the chance to serve residents, promising to do his best.
