PM Lee set on retaking Aljunied
He tells party they will not abandon GRC
By Teo Wan Gek
THE People's Action Party (PAP) will fight to win back Aljunied GRC.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also PAP secretary-general, made the pledge yesterday to party activists at its annual convention.
'We will not abandon Aljunied. We will not abandon our activists in Aljunied GRC, in the five branches,' he said.
The PAP will be the opposition in Aljunied for the next five years, he said, but the PAP will keep in touch with residents there, especially those who support the party.
He said: 'Our party leaders have been talking to the branch chairmen and the key activists on how we can win back ground support in Aljunied.'
In the May General Election, PAP candidates and party activists worked hard and fought fiercely, but the mood was against them, he noted.
The five-member PAP team helmed by then foreign minister George Yeo was ousted by the Workers' Party (WP) with 54.7 per cent of the valid votes.
PM Lee said yesterday: 'The PAP does not intend to give the Workers' Party team in Aljunied a free run... We will fight on and eventually we will win back Aljunied.'
He also acknowledged the uphill task faced by PAP activists in neighbouring opposition-held Hougang.
WP chief Low Thia Khiang built up strong loyalties there in the 20 years that he held the seat, he noted, which current WP MP Yaw Shin Leong inherited.
However, the PAP branch in Hougang continues to put up a fight. It has new helpers joining it, and others who have stayed on for more than 20 years, despite knowing the tough fight facing them to win back voters.
Said PM Lee: 'And I think that's the way - never say die.'
This 'never say die' attitude and fighting spirit saw the PAP team in Potong Pasir steadily tilling the ground for 27 years, culminating in a win for the party at the recent May polls, he noted.
He commended Mr Sitoh Yih Pin - who won Potong Pasir on his third try - for his efforts, and highlighted his refusal of an offer to be moved to another constituency: 'I fielded him in Potong Pasir. He fought. He won. And he came here to tell you about it.'
Mr Sitoh, one of the speakers at the convention, shared with activists the importance of having the right strategy and coach.
'When a candidate goes campaigning, it is like stepping into the boxing ring. At the sound of the bell, ding ding, he steps forward to throw his punches. The more punches he throws, the more shiok he becomes. But he can get carried away and that is when he starts making mistakes. So the coach at the ringside is very important and must guide him,' he said.
He paid tribute to his election adviser S. Chandra Das, a former MP under whom Mr Sitoh served as branch secretary for many years. Mr Sitoh also highlighted a Potong Pasir branch member, Mr Ng Chong Kiat, who passed away last year.
'When my branch members and I visited him in hospital last year, comrade Ng held me by my hands and told me, 'I am sorry I cannot help you any more. But you must promise me you will take back Potong Pasir.'
'For any man who is very sick lying on his hospital bed, I am sure there are many things he thinks about. But for comrade Ng, Potong Pasir was definitely at the top of his agenda.'
Said Mr Sitoh: 'This is the 'never say die' spirit of Potong Pasir. More importantly, this is the PAP spirit!'
[email protected]
He tells party they will not abandon GRC
By Teo Wan Gek
THE People's Action Party (PAP) will fight to win back Aljunied GRC.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also PAP secretary-general, made the pledge yesterday to party activists at its annual convention.
'We will not abandon Aljunied. We will not abandon our activists in Aljunied GRC, in the five branches,' he said.
The PAP will be the opposition in Aljunied for the next five years, he said, but the PAP will keep in touch with residents there, especially those who support the party.
He said: 'Our party leaders have been talking to the branch chairmen and the key activists on how we can win back ground support in Aljunied.'
In the May General Election, PAP candidates and party activists worked hard and fought fiercely, but the mood was against them, he noted.
The five-member PAP team helmed by then foreign minister George Yeo was ousted by the Workers' Party (WP) with 54.7 per cent of the valid votes.
PM Lee said yesterday: 'The PAP does not intend to give the Workers' Party team in Aljunied a free run... We will fight on and eventually we will win back Aljunied.'
He also acknowledged the uphill task faced by PAP activists in neighbouring opposition-held Hougang.
WP chief Low Thia Khiang built up strong loyalties there in the 20 years that he held the seat, he noted, which current WP MP Yaw Shin Leong inherited.
However, the PAP branch in Hougang continues to put up a fight. It has new helpers joining it, and others who have stayed on for more than 20 years, despite knowing the tough fight facing them to win back voters.
Said PM Lee: 'And I think that's the way - never say die.'
This 'never say die' attitude and fighting spirit saw the PAP team in Potong Pasir steadily tilling the ground for 27 years, culminating in a win for the party at the recent May polls, he noted.
He commended Mr Sitoh Yih Pin - who won Potong Pasir on his third try - for his efforts, and highlighted his refusal of an offer to be moved to another constituency: 'I fielded him in Potong Pasir. He fought. He won. And he came here to tell you about it.'
Mr Sitoh, one of the speakers at the convention, shared with activists the importance of having the right strategy and coach.
'When a candidate goes campaigning, it is like stepping into the boxing ring. At the sound of the bell, ding ding, he steps forward to throw his punches. The more punches he throws, the more shiok he becomes. But he can get carried away and that is when he starts making mistakes. So the coach at the ringside is very important and must guide him,' he said.
He paid tribute to his election adviser S. Chandra Das, a former MP under whom Mr Sitoh served as branch secretary for many years. Mr Sitoh also highlighted a Potong Pasir branch member, Mr Ng Chong Kiat, who passed away last year.
'When my branch members and I visited him in hospital last year, comrade Ng held me by my hands and told me, 'I am sorry I cannot help you any more. But you must promise me you will take back Potong Pasir.'
'For any man who is very sick lying on his hospital bed, I am sure there are many things he thinks about. But for comrade Ng, Potong Pasir was definitely at the top of his agenda.'
Said Mr Sitoh: 'This is the 'never say die' spirit of Potong Pasir. More importantly, this is the PAP spirit!'
[email protected]
Its a suicide mission for him and his team members.. The Hammers will still remain triumphant in 2016..
