Source: Abdul Rahman / Flickr

Singaporeans will benefit greatly from having a credible voice and a strong opposition in Parliament, as a good check and balance mechanism will push the Government to perform at its very best — and the people “do not have many 5 years to get things right”, said Workers’ Party (WP) member Kenneth Foo.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday (10 June), Mr Foo recalled thanking Low Thia Khiang — chief of WP at the time — via email in May 2006 for his “fearless voice” in Parliament and “for doing so much to take care of Hougang residents”.

Moved by the work Mr Low had done for residents in his constituency, Mr Foo said that he had then decided to volunteer for WP.

He met Mr Low four days later at a Meet the People Session and “never looked back since”.

Beyond the “good work” Mr Low and WP have done in the ward, Mr Foo stressed that the need for more voices in Parliament was one of the reasons why it was important for him to volunteer with WP.

Mr Low’s speeches and debates in Parliament, he added, have demonstrated his rationality as well as the Party’s in their process of fighting for justice and democracy for Singaporeans.

“From the campaigns before where national resources were used to lure voters to talking about rubbish piling to a few levels high. It is just not right,” said Mr Foo, noting that it was Mr Low and WP who had debunked the myth.

“Secondly, although I am not highly educated, I think I can contribute in my own small ways. Because every effort counts. He cannot do it alone.

“Even if it means to do mundane and manual work, it’s ok. I am serving fellow residents and Singaporeans. I should be proud of it,” said Mr Foo.

Noting that the next election “may be called sooner than later”, Mr Foo stressed: “We don’t have many 5 years to get things right.”

“Volunteer for WP, for your rights, for your future. We can make a difference,” said Mr Foo.

Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Gerald Giam in another Facebook post said that WP will be requiring “a massive number of volunteers to help with everything from manning polling agent posts to helping our candidates during house-to-house visits”.

“There is a part for everyone who has a heart for Singapore and an eye on our future,” he said, including those who have never volunteered with a political party before.

Individuals keen on volunteering for WP may sign up here.

Next GE to be held possibly during COVID-19 pandemic; ELD will announce election campaign guidelines when it has “some clarity”

While the next GE must be held by 14 April next year, recent comments by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing have hinted at a possible election during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite objections from opposition parties and segments of the public based on health and safety concerns.

Workers’ Party and Singapore Democratic Party have asked for clarity in the election campaign rules and fair access to electorate in the coming GE in light of the ongoing social-distancing measures for COVID-19.

ELD said that it will “share the guidelines with political parties and candidates” as soon as it has “some clarity”.

“Certainly it will not be later than the day of the Writ (of Election), so that will still give enough time for candidates and political parties to plan their campaigning strategies,” it said, adding that this would be the “worst case scenario”.

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said last month that ELD cannot “prematurely” announce the rules and regulations relating to the next GE as these may be “overtaken by events”.

Based on the last few elections, the opposition parties and candidates had around a week to prepare after the dissolution of Parliament before Nomination Day. The nine days of campaigning typically followed suit until Polling Day.

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