http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/sing...d-opposition-contest-20110416-092951-235.html
PAP walkover in Sembawang?
By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene – Sun, Apr 17, 2011 12:29 AM SGT
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PAP new face Ong Teng Koon says he and his team are staying focussed on serving Sembawang residents. (Yahoo! photo)
PAP new face Ong Teng Koon says he and his team are staying focussed on serving Sembawang residents. (Yahoo! p …
New People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Ong Teng Koon says the Sembawang group representation constituency (GRC) team is staying focussed on serving residents' needs.
Rather than being distracted on if and which opposition party will contest the ward come Nomination Day, he told Yahoo! Singapore, "For us, we are not so concerned. We prefer to just focus on what we are doing and to do it well which is serving the needs of the residents."
The 34-year-old commodities trader was responding to questions about a potential walkover at Sembawang GRC.
Despite the opposition revealing they intended to contest all 87 seats in the coming Election, none have expressed interest in Sembawang GRC.
In the 2006 election, the PAP defeated the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) by a large margin, winning 76.7 per cent of the votes in Sembawang.
Unperturbed, Ong says he and his team are staying grounded.
"We continue to do our walkabouts, we continue to do our Meet-the-People Sessions, and we continue to have events. So we prefer to focus on what we are doing instead of what the opposition is doing," he said.
However, Sembawang MP Ellen Lee shared that the team will be "disappointed" if there is no challenge from the opposition.
"It means they are not giving voters a choice in that sense. Whereas for us, we are anticipating a contest because we think that it will be good for voters and residents to have a choice," she said.
But she added that they are not taking any chances as the opposition could field a team on Nomination Day.
"Yes, in fact we are prepared for that eventuality, nothing is certain until Nomination day itself so we'll wait to see what happens."
Khaw Boon Wan (centre) with his team that's expected to represent Sembawang GRC. (Yahoo! photo)
Khaw Boon Wan (centre) with his team that's expected to represent Sembawang GRC. (Yahoo! photo)
The group was unveiling the new PAP Community Foundation (PCF) branch in the Woodgrove division on Saturday morning.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who was the event's guest-of-honour, said that following the recent electoral boundaries report, the PCF is expanding its branches from 84 to 87, which he said, reflects the population growth nationwide.
Upon announcing Ong's new appointment, Khaw, who is also the anchor Minister for the ward, said, "While he is a new candidate, he is not new to community work at all. He is a heartlander at heart."
Ong is widely tipped to contest in the GRC together with fellow new candidate, lawyer Vikram Nair, 33.
The rest of the team are incumbent Member of Parliaments (MPs) Ellen Lee, Hawazi Daipi and Mr Khaw.
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PAP walkover in Sembawang?
By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene – Sun, Apr 17, 2011 12:29 AM SGT
PAP new face Ong Teng Koon says he and his team are staying focussed on serving Sembawang residents. (Yahoo! photo)
PAP new face Ong Teng Koon says he and his team are staying focussed on serving Sembawang residents. (Yahoo! p …
New People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Ong Teng Koon says the Sembawang group representation constituency (GRC) team is staying focussed on serving residents' needs.
Rather than being distracted on if and which opposition party will contest the ward come Nomination Day, he told Yahoo! Singapore, "For us, we are not so concerned. We prefer to just focus on what we are doing and to do it well which is serving the needs of the residents."
The 34-year-old commodities trader was responding to questions about a potential walkover at Sembawang GRC.
Despite the opposition revealing they intended to contest all 87 seats in the coming Election, none have expressed interest in Sembawang GRC.
In the 2006 election, the PAP defeated the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) by a large margin, winning 76.7 per cent of the votes in Sembawang.
Unperturbed, Ong says he and his team are staying grounded.
"We continue to do our walkabouts, we continue to do our Meet-the-People Sessions, and we continue to have events. So we prefer to focus on what we are doing instead of what the opposition is doing," he said.
However, Sembawang MP Ellen Lee shared that the team will be "disappointed" if there is no challenge from the opposition.
"It means they are not giving voters a choice in that sense. Whereas for us, we are anticipating a contest because we think that it will be good for voters and residents to have a choice," she said.
But she added that they are not taking any chances as the opposition could field a team on Nomination Day.
"Yes, in fact we are prepared for that eventuality, nothing is certain until Nomination day itself so we'll wait to see what happens."
Khaw Boon Wan (centre) with his team that's expected to represent Sembawang GRC. (Yahoo! photo)
Khaw Boon Wan (centre) with his team that's expected to represent Sembawang GRC. (Yahoo! photo)
The group was unveiling the new PAP Community Foundation (PCF) branch in the Woodgrove division on Saturday morning.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who was the event's guest-of-honour, said that following the recent electoral boundaries report, the PCF is expanding its branches from 84 to 87, which he said, reflects the population growth nationwide.
Upon announcing Ong's new appointment, Khaw, who is also the anchor Minister for the ward, said, "While he is a new candidate, he is not new to community work at all. He is a heartlander at heart."
Ong is widely tipped to contest in the GRC together with fellow new candidate, lawyer Vikram Nair, 33.
The rest of the team are incumbent Member of Parliaments (MPs) Ellen Lee, Hawazi Daipi and Mr Khaw.
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.