SINGAPORE: Mr Eric Low is not the Member of Parliament for Hougang, but the People's Action Party's (PAP) advisor said he intends to continue expanding services for residents in the opposition-held ward.

He was responding on Sunday to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's call to grassroots leaders to keep incumbent MP, Mr Low Thia Khiang, on his toes.

The latter could not be reached for his comments on SM Goh's challenge.

Goh Tech Wah, ComCare chairman, Hougang, said: "Although the PAP did not win in the last election, the passion to serve the residents is still there. Because of our grassroots organisations, we are able to engage the majority of them and serve them more than what the MP himself can do."

Mr Eric Low said the estate remains under-served and if it were a PAP ward, it could join hands with Aljunied GRC and do a better job.

He said: "We go round the estate and see certain defects which the town council should be attending to because it could be a danger to our residents, and we have always pointed these out to them.

"In fact, we recently talked about the barrier-free programme and I actually met Mr Low (Thia Khiang) here in this CC and we know we do our best and he knows my grassroots and myself are here to try and make sure that as a Member of Parliament, he too should have that responsibility."

He added that there have been instances when residents have come to him for help on various issues. But he has always emphasised that their first point of contact should be Mr Low Thia Khiang.

Political observers said that for the PAP to win back Hougang or even Potong Pasir, much will depend on how voters are enticed away from the incumbents, and they feel that so far, the "upgrading carrot" has not quite worked.

Assistant Professor Eugene Tan, political analyst at Singapore Management University, said: "Whether the status quo will change will depend very much on whether the PAP will be able to offer something different.

"At the very minimum, the voters would expect the two opposition MPs to maintain a good set of accounts, estate management is up to scratch and that there are enough funds for upgrading purposes and all. So long as the opposition MPs are able to fulfil these tasks, the voters would be quite happy with the status quo."

As for Mr Eric Low, his focus remains on improving services, which include establishing a new NTUC FairPrice outlet at the Hougang Community Club.


- CNA/so