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PAP MPs work for residents: Dr Ng Eng Hen
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SINGAPORE — Noting that by-elections are always susceptible to “big swings” in votes, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen yesterday disagreed with Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang’s assertion — made at the WP’s press conference after the result was announced — that a stronger Opposition presence in Parliament will make the PAP Government work harder.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a bursary award ceremony in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Dr Ng said: “I’ve been an MP (in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) for nearly 11 years and I must honestly say that that never crossed my mind. We serve here week in, week out, because you know the residents ... entrusted us and really it’s they who are our prime motivators to make sure that their lives are better.”
For Dr Ng and his fellow Members of Parliament in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, the lesson from the by-election outcome “is very clear — the voters decide who is the better party to serve them”. “Once they have decided, their faith is entrusted in us as MPs ... and we have to work very hard to serve our residents here,” he said.
The fact that Punggol East residents chose the WP as the “better party to serve them” is “democracy”, said Dr Ng. He also congratulated WP’s newly-elected MP, Ms Lee Li Lian.
On whether the Punggol East by-election outcome is a report card on the PAP’s performance, Dr Ng reiterated that it was a contest in one constituency.
Separately, at his “thank you” parade, PAP candidate Koh Poh Koon reiterated that he will continue to serve alongside PAP grassroots activists in Punggol East — however, he was non-committal on whether he will stand in the Single Member Constituency in the next General Election, which is due by 2016.
“Obviously after this we’ll need to sit down and ... think deeper, so I will await what PM has decided before seeing where else I can contribute,” said Dr Koh, 40. “We need to see what the PM has decided for the constituency as well as for myself ... but regardless, I think I’ll continue to serve the residents here and the activists will continue to serve the residents here.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had said in a statement released after the result was announced that he intends to field Dr Koh in the next GE.
Dr Koh — who was joined by Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Teo Ser Luck and grassroots activists for the parade — received 43.7 per cent of the vote.
On his performance, the colorectal surgeon said it was “not too bad”, taking into account that he had worked the ground for two weeks.
After the by-election, observers have noted that Dr Koh came across as being “elitist” and a video clip of him saying that “everyone has a car” — and that he and his wife both have a car each, in response to a reporter’s question — also counted against him.
Dr Koh said: “Some of these things were taken out of the context in which they were asked so I leave the voters to make their own judgment ... Those (who have) contact with me will know the person that I am and I’d like to leave it at that.”
PAP MPs work for residents: Dr Ng Eng Hen
.
SINGAPORE — Noting that by-elections are always susceptible to “big swings” in votes, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen yesterday disagreed with Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang’s assertion — made at the WP’s press conference after the result was announced — that a stronger Opposition presence in Parliament will make the PAP Government work harder.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a bursary award ceremony in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Dr Ng said: “I’ve been an MP (in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) for nearly 11 years and I must honestly say that that never crossed my mind. We serve here week in, week out, because you know the residents ... entrusted us and really it’s they who are our prime motivators to make sure that their lives are better.”
For Dr Ng and his fellow Members of Parliament in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, the lesson from the by-election outcome “is very clear — the voters decide who is the better party to serve them”. “Once they have decided, their faith is entrusted in us as MPs ... and we have to work very hard to serve our residents here,” he said.
The fact that Punggol East residents chose the WP as the “better party to serve them” is “democracy”, said Dr Ng. He also congratulated WP’s newly-elected MP, Ms Lee Li Lian.
On whether the Punggol East by-election outcome is a report card on the PAP’s performance, Dr Ng reiterated that it was a contest in one constituency.
Separately, at his “thank you” parade, PAP candidate Koh Poh Koon reiterated that he will continue to serve alongside PAP grassroots activists in Punggol East — however, he was non-committal on whether he will stand in the Single Member Constituency in the next General Election, which is due by 2016.
“Obviously after this we’ll need to sit down and ... think deeper, so I will await what PM has decided before seeing where else I can contribute,” said Dr Koh, 40. “We need to see what the PM has decided for the constituency as well as for myself ... but regardless, I think I’ll continue to serve the residents here and the activists will continue to serve the residents here.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had said in a statement released after the result was announced that he intends to field Dr Koh in the next GE.
Dr Koh — who was joined by Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Teo Ser Luck and grassroots activists for the parade — received 43.7 per cent of the vote.
On his performance, the colorectal surgeon said it was “not too bad”, taking into account that he had worked the ground for two weeks.
After the by-election, observers have noted that Dr Koh came across as being “elitist” and a video clip of him saying that “everyone has a car” — and that he and his wife both have a car each, in response to a reporter’s question — also counted against him.
Dr Koh said: “Some of these things were taken out of the context in which they were asked so I leave the voters to make their own judgment ... Those (who have) contact with me will know the person that I am and I’d like to leave it at that.”
