The Workers’ Party Marine Parade Team – Constituency Political Broadcast 5 Jul 2020

Source: CNA
Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ge2020-pap-candidates-for-marine-parade-grc-speak-in-12903712

Ron Tan Jun Yen

每个政治人物都必须要有责任感

因为政策的改变会影响人民的生活

我们也要照顾国家长远的未来

大家好, 我是陈俊元.

亲爱的马林百列集选区选民们,

工人党再次派出团队到这里,把马林百列,团结起来。

马林百列集选区在许多方面都是多样化的。

这些方面包括了地理、距离、您居住的屋子、以及您的年龄.

多样化能够聚成力量,而我们要把这种力量汇集起来。

从菜市区的甘榜精神,到如切的历史

从实乞纳的乡村风情,到实龙岗的繁忙

从乌美的工业区,到友诺士的邻里

从芽笼士乃的传统到加东的美食

让我们把马林百列,团结起来!

我们,工人党的马林百列集选区团队,会在国会里为您发声。

我们会提出对国家有关的课题,也会协助解决区内的问题

集合我们团队每个人所拥有的经验与知识,

我们会竭尽所能诺,为您服务。

像您一样,我们都是普通的新加坡人。

我们也经历过艰难的时刻,

知道跌倒之后该怎样才能重新爬起。

在马林百列集选区内,我们要把马林百列,团结起来。

我们要让您有塑造自己社区的权力。

我们会聆听您的声音,我们会跟随您的脚步,我们会与您同行。

让您的心声成就未来,让您想法成就未来。

让您的一票成就未来。请投工人党一票!

谢谢!

Nathaniel Koh

Dear voters of Marine Parade GRC, my name is Nathaniel Koh.  

The Workers’ Party is here again to bring Marine Parade, Together.  

Marine Parade GRC is diverse in many ways.   

Geography, distance, what type of house you live, whether you’re young or young at heart.  

There is strength in diversity and we want to harness that strength.  

From the kampung spirit of Chai Chee to the history of Joo Chiat.  

From the village vibe of Siglap to the hustle of Serangoon.  

From the working heartland of Ubi to the neighbourliness of Eunos.  

From the heritage of Geylang Serai to the flavours of Katong.  

Let us bring Marine Parade, Together.  

We, the Workers’ Party candidates for Marine Parade GRC, will speak up for you in Parliament.    

We will speak up on national issues, and help you with your local ones.  

Collectively, we have the experience, expertise, and commitment to serve you.    

Like you, we are ordinary Singaporeans. We’ve been through hard times. We know what it’s like to fall and get back up.  

Within Marine Parade GRC, we want to bring Marine Parade, Together.  

We want to empower you to shape your community.    We will listen to you. We will be guided by you. We will walk with you.  

Make your voice count. Make your ideas count.  

Make your vote count. Vote for the Workers’ Party.

Azhar Latip

Salam sejahtera kepada para pengundi GRC Marine Parade  

Saya, Azhar Latip, calon Parti Pekerja bagi Kawasan GRC Marine Parade  

Parti Pekerja telah kembali sekali lagi dengan matlamat untuk bersama dengan anda  

GRC Marine Parade mempunyai kepelbagaian dari segi geography, jarak, seni bina, mahupun usia  

Dalam kepelbagaian terdapat kekuatan yang dapat kita manfaatkan  

Dari semangat kampung Chai Chee sehinggalah ke sejarah Joo Chiat,  

Dari getaran nadi Siglap sehinggalah kemeriahan Serangoon,  

Dari gerak nadi pekerja di Ubi sehingga ke semangat kejiranan Eunos,  

Dari warisan Geylang Serai sehinggalah keakraban Katong,  

Marilah kita Bersatu  

Kami calon Parti Pekerja bagi Kawasan GRC Marine Parade, berikrar untuk menjadi suara anda di parlimen.  

Kami akan mengetengahkan isu-isu kebangsaan dan membantu anda mengatasi isu- isu tempatan  

Berbekalkan pengalaman, kebolehan dan semangat yang jitu, Insyallalh kami boleh berkhidmat untuk anda  

Seperti anda, kami juga rakyat Singapura biasa. Kami faham cabaran yang anda lalui, dan kami bersedia untuk berkhidmat untuk membantu anda bangkit semula.  

Kami bersatu demi anda, untuk anda  

Penduduk GRC Marine Parade, anda berhak untuk membentuk masa depan anda Keluhan anda akan diambil kira. Anda tidak akan diabaikan.  

Suara dan pendapat anda menentukan hala tuju masyarakat dan negara kita  

Manfaatkan undi anda, undilah Parti Pekerja.

Fadli Fawzi

Dear voters of Marine Parade GRC,   My name is Fadli Fawzi.  

Voting for the Workers’ Party means having representatives in Parliament who would listen to you, care for you, and fight for you.   

This is our unwavering commitment.   

In this broadcast, I want to reassure the residents who are thinking of giving us a chance, but who may be anxious about the future of the estate under the Workers’ Party.   

I have served as a Town Councillor in Aljunied-Hougang for the past six years. Managing a Town Council, especially as the opposition, is indeed challenging. For one, we had to work harder with far fewer resources.   

We have learned a lot and grown from our experience. We are now better prepared to take over and run a Town Council effectively.   

We have also created a new accounting software system to help us manage Town Council matters.   

This will ensure that the handover process will be smooth and that services to residents will not be disrupted.  

So I promise the residents of Marine Parade: the estate will be kept clean, the lifts will work, and you will still get to enjoy the amenities in the neighbourhood.   

But the Workers’ Party wants to do more than just provide efficient municipal services.   

We want to build in Marine Parade a sense of community and belonging.    We want every single Marine Parade resident to feel that they matter.    

So let me share with you the Workers’ Party’s vision for Marine Parade.    We want to build a neighbourhood that is inclusive, cohesive, and accountable.  

First, inclusivity is about ensuring that each and every resident of Marine Parade is able to live with dignity.   

We will pay particular attention to the vulnerable and those with greater needs, especially the elderly and the disadvantaged.   

Second, cohesion means strengthening the community ethos between the residents and neighbours of Marine Parade.   

This will be a welcoming home for everyone, regardless of your ethnicity or religion, or even your political allegiance.   

Third, accountability reflects our pledge to be transparent and resident-centric on matters of estate governance.   

We will seek your civic participation in monthly town halls where we will listen to your thoughts about how to improve Marine Parade. These town halls will also create social capital in the community, making us more resilient in times of crisis.  

These three principles — inclusivity, cohesion, and accountability — are our guiding lights.   

Under the Workers’ Party, Marine Parade will not just be your home, but the neighbourly sanctuary that we all belong to: Marine Parade, Together.

So Make Your Vote Count and Vote for the Workers’ Party.

Yee Jenn Jong

大家好。我是余振忠. 我是一名教育企业家, 也曾当过非选区国会议员。

I am Yee Jenn Jong. I contested in Joo Chiat SMC and became a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament. I contested in Marine Parade GRC in 2015. I thank all the voters of Joo Chiat and Marine Parade who had supported the Workers’ Party since 2006.

The Workers’ Party is back, with yet another dedicated team. We have never left. Over the past few years, despite the challenges of not having been elected, we have initiated various community projects in this GRC. We continue to visit residents. We are touched by your encouragement and support.

You have heard from my team mates about our hopes for a better Singapore and a better Marine Parade, together. The now-daily 400 packs of food distribution that we have initiated since day 1 of the Circuit Breaker taught me that we can have ground up residents programme. The distribution is run by volunteers, some of them living in rental flats with a big heart to help their neighbours.

We can build a better Marine Parade, not just with infrastructure, but to invest in people so that initiatives can be ground-up, by Marine Parade residents, for Marine Parade residents.

The PAP has told you that Singapore only has enough talent for a team A, that only the PAP can run this place. My years of participation in the alternative camp tell me otherwise. Hougang and Aljunied are well maintained, just like any town in Singapore. The Workers’ Party has raised many issues in parliament and in a responsible way. Our proposals are made with serious thoughts.

I am concerned that the PAP has led us for the past 2 decades by simply injecting more capital and labour, especially low wage migrant workers without meaningful growth in productivity. This has led to an overcrowded Singapore, depressed wages for many of us, and vast inequality.

I am concerned that we have not adapted fast enough to industry disruptions. We have many retrenched PMETs. Many of us struggle with the high cost of living. 2 out of 3 working Singaporeans do not have enough savings for more than 6 months. It is as if we are two different countries in one small island.

The PAP does not have a monopoly of wisdom. Our team members are passionate, hardworking and resilient.

Ron has many years of experience serving in the grassroots in Aljunied. He served under Mr Low Thia Khiang for the past 3 years.

Nathaniel, an IT professional, has been with the Party for 11 years and is actively assisting Mr Pritam Singh.

Azhar had to take a year’s break from university to earn money for his school fees. He graduated from NUS, had a stable career. Then he lost a leg and his job after a nasty road accident. These did not kill his desire to want to be a voice for ordinary Singaporeans.

Fadli is driven by his passion to help the less fortunate. He switched to being a lawyer because he wants to be better equipped to champion for ordinary Singaporeans. He has been a Town Councillor in Aljunied-Hougang for 6 years.

Singapore needs MPs who can connect with the people, who cares deeply for them. We have the right team to be your voice in parliament and to manage this town.

The PAP wants 100% dominance of parliament. They tell you that you can have 12 NCMPs because they want to win it all. They want all 93 seats.

As a former NCMP, I tell you that this will not be the effective check against the PAP. They only fear when their vote share is low. Do not give the PAP a blank cheque.

Make your vote count. Vote The Workers’ Party.

让您的一票成就未来。请投工人党一票。

GE2020 Constituency Political Broadcast – Yee JJ

大家好。我是余振忠. 我是一名教育企业家, 也曾当过非选区国会议员。

I am Yee Jenn Jong. I contested in Joo Chiat SMC and became a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament. I contested in Marine Parade GRC in 2015. I thank all the voters of Joo Chiat and Marine Parade who had supported the Workers’ Party since 2006.

The Workers’ Party is back, with yet another dedicated team.

We have never left. Over the past few years, despite the challenges of not having been elected, we have initiated various community projects in this GRC. We continue to visit residents. We are touched by your encouragement and support.

You have heard from my team mates about our hopes for a better Singapore and a better Marine Parade, together. The now-daily 400 packs of food distribution that we have initiated since day 1 of the Circuit Breaker taught me that we can have ground up residents programme. The distribution is run by volunteers, some of them living in rental flats with a big heart to help their neighbours. We can build a better Marine Parade, not just with infrastructure, but to invest in people so that initiatives can be ground-up, by Marine Parade residents, for Marine Parade residents.

The PAP has told you that Singapore only has enough talent for a team A, that only the PAP can run this place. My years of participation in the alternative camp tell me otherwise. Hougang and Aljunied are well maintained, just like any town in Singapore. The Workers’ Party has raised many issues in parliament and in a responsible way. Our proposals are made with serious thoughts.

I am concerned that the PAP has led us for the past 2 decades by simply injecting more capital and labour, especially low wage migrant workers without meaningful growth in productivity. This has led to an overcrowded Singapore, depressed wages for many of us, and vast inequality. I am concerned that we have not adapted fast enough to industry disruptions. We have many retrenched PMETs. Many of us struggle with the high cost of living. 2 out of 3 working Singaporeans do not have enough savings for more than 6 months. It is as if we are two different countries in one small island.

The PAP does not have a monopoly of wisdom. Our team members are passionate, hardworking and resilient.

Ron has many years of experience serving in the grassroots in Aljunied. He served under Mr Low Thia Khiang for the past 3 years. Nathaniel, an IT professional, has been with the Party for 11 years and is actively assisting Mr Pritam Singh. Azhar had to take a year’s break from university to earn money for his school fees. He graduated from NUS, had a stable career. Then he lost a leg and his job after a nasty road accident. These did not kill his desire to want to be a voice for ordinary Singaporeans. Fadli is driven by his passion to help the less fortunate. He switched to being a lawyer because he wants to be better equipped to champion for ordinary Singaporeans. He has been a Town Councillor in Aljunied-Hougang for 6 years.

Singapore needs MPs who can connect with the people, who cares deeply for them. We have the right team to be your voice in parliament and to manage this town.

The PAP wants 100% dominance of parliament. They tell you that you can have 12 NCMPs because they want to win it all. They want all 93 seats. As a former NCMP, I tell you that this will not be the effective check against the PAP. They only fear when their vote share is low. Do not give the PAP a blank cheque. Make your vote count. Vote The Workers’ Party.

让您的一票成就未来。请投工人党一票。

The Journey Continues

After a 5-day stay-home medical leave and with phase 2 re-opening of the Circuit Breaker, the journey continues.

This morning, it was attending to the daily cooked food distribution, now at three locations across the Marine Parade GRC, followed by a visit to a market. In the evening, it was house visits.

For the evening, I chose the spot right outside my house, within the now-defunct Joo Chiat SMC and in the Marine Parade GRC, to start off the daily visits to come.

Back where it all started in March 2011

I recall in 2011, I joined WP and was assigned to take on Joo Chiat SMC. I was new to political campaigning. I was new to the Party and did not know anyone well. I was assigned just one member, Shaun to be my Elections Agent.

And so I started, at this spot where we did our visits this evening. There were only Shaun and I on day 1. I did not even know what to say to the residents.

As the campaign of 2011 went on, I started to polish up my presentation to keep it short. I treated each person I meet as a 20-second elevator pitch. I wanted to explain why they should vote for WP and me, and to hopefully generate enough reasons from them within 20 seconds to consider giving us their vote, especially the swing voters. From just Shaun and I, we eventually grew to more than 40 people regularly helping when the campaign ended on 7 May 2011. Friends and relatives came along to help in the campaign. Then friends of friends and strangers, most of whom we met while on the campaign trail. Several stayed on even after the campaign had ended with a narrow 1% defeat. One of them is Dennis Tan, now a key member of the Party.

GE2020 will be so different. It is likely to come and go too quickly. There cannot be large numbers when we visit. We will not have time to visit many households given no visit was allowed during the two and a half month of the Circuit Breaker. Even the way we engage will be more distant than before. There will not be physical rallies.

But it will be an important GE. I joined in 2011 because I believe there must be a strong alternative. In business, we are told that we need anti-monopoly laws to keep companies innovative and responsive to the consumers. We want to prevent profiteering and exploitation. Yet in politics, we are told there can only be a team A. We cannot just rely on a team A and wish things will go well with Singapore forever. It takes a long time to build up a respectable, rational and responsible alternative. It takes many people of commitment and courage to take the difficult route. The PAP speaks of the ‘sacrifice’ their handpicked high flyers will have to make to take a pay-cut to join, or the loss of their privacy. After a long uninterrupted and very dominant rule since independence, they have forgotten what it is like to be on the other side; what it really means to take sacrifices and what loss of privacy means for some who had to face with smearing of their character.

The ruling party has said this is about the 4G and about Singapore’s future. Sure, it is important. It is also about defining the alternative, about the continuity of the alternative, about whether good men and women will continue to join the alternative, and about whether we can have a Singapore where we can thrive even with diversity of views.

Are we prepared to go back to the days with 100% PAP’s monopoly of parliament? As an ex-NCMP, I can tell you that the contest is not about having the alternative only as NCMPs. Being an NCMP means you have lost in the elections. You have no ground to sink your roots in. Constituencies that are narrowly lost can be reconfigured just before a GE with the snap of a finger. You face big hurdles in how you can serve the people who have voted for you. The PAP will definitely wish for a parliament with 12 NCMPs. It will mean a total loss for alternatives, yes even Hougang and Aljunied can be lost. The PAP came quite close to achieving that in 2015. A pandemic GE is now a good opportunity for them to push for that scenario.

The journey towards a first world parliament that began in 2011 continues. What Singapore do you envisage? The choice is for Singaporeans to make.

A long walk into this house
Deciding on the alternative