The Workers’ Party (WP) launched its campaign theme and introduced four candidates on Wednesday in the first of a series of press conferences that will gradually reveal the entire WP slate for the 2015 general election.
The four candidates were banker Dylan Ng Foo Eng, associate professor Daniel Goh Pei Siong, engineer Redzwan Hafidz Abdul Razak and software engineers Koh Choong Yong.
Place cards for Dylan Ng, Koh Choong Yong, Daniel Goh and Redzwan Hafidz Abdul Razak set out. #GE2015 #wp2015 pic.twitter.com/sazqe7ejsc
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Of the four, only Koh has previously stood for elections, contesting Sengkang West SMC in the 2011 general election. He lost to PAP’s Lam Pin Min after garnering about 42 per cent of the vote.
WP leader Low Thia Khiang began proceedings by revealing the party’s 2015 campaign slogan, “Empower Your Future”. Describing Singapore’s Golden Jubilee as a “milestone” for Singapore, he encouraged voters to consider the future of politics in Singapore.
Low begins by launching @wpsg's campaign theme: Empower Your Future: "We have reached a milestone in Singapore." #wp2015 #ge2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Low: What helped us succeed in the past may not be the same as what we need for the future. #wp2015 #ge2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Low: You should decide whether to allow the PAP to decide for your future, or participate in the decision-making process. #ge2015 #wp2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Introductions of each candidate was left to party chairman Sylvia Lim and the candidates themselves. First up was Daniel Goh, an associate professor in sociology at the National University of Singapore. Goh spoke of the opportunities he had to dream and have ambitions as a child, and hoped to ensure that Singapore remained to provide opportunities for his son’s generation.
Goh says his son was motivation for joining @wpsg: "I hope his generation will have the space to dream in the first place." #GE2015 #wp2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Addressing the assembled press, Redzwan said that his decision to join the party was not an easy one, as his family were worried about his involvement with an opposition party, particularly because his wife is a civil servant. If elected, he said that he would like to address housing issues in Parliament.
Redzwan says he would like to raise the issue of housing if elected. Says he feels pinch of servicing loans himself. #GE2015 #wp2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Koh Choong Yong emphasised his experience speaking to people on the ground as a volunteer and member of WP. Following his loss in the 2011 election, reporters had asked if he would be leaving the party, but Koh said that he wanted to continue serving the people and contributing to the community.
Koh has helped Chen Show Mao as a legislative assistant. Then stopped in 2013 before returning to help Png Eng Huat. #GE2015 #wp2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Dylan Ng, too, expressed his desire to provide Singapore with alternative viewpoints. Citing his experience in speaking with people in various constituencies, he said that many Singaporeans were concerned with retirement and population issues.
Ng: I joined @wpsg to explore how I can contribute to community. Believe in offering SG alternative viewpoints. #GE2015 #wp2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
During the question and answer session, Low emphasised the need not just for the PAP, but all parties, to take note of succession and renewal, so that Singaporeans would continue to have people to represent their views in local politics. Lim also emphasised the need to field new candidates so that they would have a chance to prove themselves.
Low: It's positive if an opposition party can produce new faces. PAP needs renewal but opposition parties need it too. #wp2015 #GE2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Lim: Not adverse to field former candidates but also want to give new candidates a chance to see how far they can go. #GE2015 #wp2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
The climate of fear was also a point of contention during the Q&A, as Low referred to the difficulties of building a credible opposition party in Singapore. The presence of government representatives in many aspects of Singaporean life was also highlighted as a cause for concern.
Low: Perhaps legacy of the past has contributed to this. Should think about whether this is curtailing our thought. #wp2015 #GE2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
Lim: We do not think it is healthy for government reps to be present in every sphere of life. #GE2015 #wp2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015
In further pushing the party’s message of empowerment, Low said that Singaporeans now have a more diverse parliament with greater opposition presence, but that it was still too early to tell if the country will now move towards a real two-party state. For now, he said, Singapore continues to see imbalance in Parliament.
Low: Let's keep govt on its toes for benefit of Singapore. If you want that you have to entrench process [of empowerment]. #wp2015 #GE2015
— TOC News (@tocsg) August 26, 2015