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Chen Show Mao from Workers' Party
SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party said its candidate Chen Show Mao has enough commitment and local connection, having attended schools here and done National Service as an Infantry Officer.
WP chairman Sylvia Lim was responding to a forum letter from Education Minister and PAP organising secretary, Dr Ng Eng Hen — questioning Mr Chen’s commitment and motivations.
She added that Mr Chen’s parents have been here since 1972, and he has kept in touch with Singapore, coming back four to five times a year.
She said: " For example, he’s serving on the SMU Law School advisory board. So since 2007, four years ago till now, he’s been in touch with WP, our activities and also coming back and learning more about how he can contribute.
" He’s also made known to the public that his wife and children will be moving back permanently to Singapore with him and that he intends to carry on his political work in Singapore regardless of the outcome of the GE."
Ms Lim also responded to the PAP’s Indranee Rajah’s criticism of the WP’s vision of a first world parliament.
She said: " She mentioned that we said that our vision of a first world parliament is not modelled after any particular country and she finds it astonishing. But I am surprised that she finds it astonishing.
" The PAP itself has always claimed itself to be a first world government and I do not believe they claim to model themselves after any particular government of a developed country.
" In fact, they like to claim that they would be a model for others to follow. So similarly for (the) Workers’ Party, our vision of a first world parliament, we’ve explained in detail, is one where we have (an) opposition party performing a robust check function in the House itself.
" And it doesn’t have to be similar to any other country’s parliament, so long as it works for Singapore and it is effective for accountability, I think that’s the most important thing."
Ms Lim added that the Workers’ Party has always said it puts national interest before the party’s.
" I mean Ms Rajah mentions that she doesn’t think it’s possible for any opposition party to act other than in their own party’s interest. But let’s not forget that the People’s Action Party was once an opposition before, so is she saying that at that time, the PAP also did not act in the national interest?"
When asked about the timing of the letters from the PAP, she said: " I think they are looking towards the campaign and perhaps how Singaporeans might support the Workers’ Party or otherwise. So they would want to shape public opinion in their own fashion.
" But I think it’s important for Singaporeans to look at the facts and look at our candidates in terms of what they have been doing and how they’ve been connected to Singapore and look at the reality rather than the rhetoric."
— CNA/ac/al
