ESM Goh to defend his seat in Marine Parade
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, meets with guest at the Marine Parade SG50 National Day Dinner. Photo: Ernest Chua
SINGAPORE — After almost 40 years in Parliament, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong is not ready to ride into the sunset.
The 74-year-old announced today (Aug 14) that he will stand in the coming General Election (GE) for the 10th time, after initially contemplating retirement, as part of the Marine Parade GRC team.
Announcing his decision to more than 1,000 residents and volunteers at the Marine Parade National Day Dinner this evening, Mr Goh, who had earlier left the door open to speculation as to whether he would run, said that, after about 40 years, he should be winding down politically.
But after a “long chat” with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong earlier this week, he decided to stay.
“He wants me to carry on. He wants me to help in the leadership transition to the fourth-generation team, as an elder,” said Mr Goh, who was elected into Marine Parade in 1976 when it was a single-seat ward. “Smooth leadership succession is Singapore’s unique strength to safeguard political stability and continuity of good government.”
Addressing the audience, Mr Goh, who will serve his 10th term in Parliament if re-elected, said: “As for Marine Parade, you and I have together spent 40 years to build our beautiful home. You have grown up or grown old with me. Your roots and mine are sunk here. Therefore, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the coming election.”
Calling the GE a critical moment for the country’s future, Mr Goh said voters are electing Members of Parliament (MPs) to form an effective government.
“At the very least, they must be able to run a town council in a transparent, accountable and responsible manner. And voters too must demand accountability of all political parties,” he said.
He added: “They cannot have two standards of integrity: One for the ruling party and the other for the opposition parties. If they do, they will end up with Third World town councils in opposition wards.”
Other Marine Parade GRC MPs said they were delighted that Mr Goh was staying on. “If you ask me what has changed, nothing has changed … We continue to stay focused on residents and their needs, and make sure their welfare is looked after … (And) at the same time, as Mr Goh pointed out, to make sure we run this in a responsible fashion,” said Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, who also attended the dinner at Swissotel The Stamford.
Mr Seah Kian Peng added: “Having known ESM for quite a few years already, I treasure his guidance, his support ... Although he’s already spent 40 years in (the constituency), there’s still lots of work to be done.”
In his speech, Mr Goh spoke of the need to “share the fruits” of Singapore’s success in an equitable and sustainable way.
Describing a “parentocracy” where well-to-do parents have more resources to groom their children, Mr Goh said: “We must not allow the size of a family’s purse to determine their ambitions … So the state or Government must intervene to give poorer students additional help.”
To that end, ESM Goh said WeCare@MarineParade, a community programme, will partner Life Community Services Society and the National Council of Social Service to pioneer a long-term, family-centric early intervention education programme with 25 lower-income families in Marine Parade for a start.
Called EduGrow for Brighter Tomorrows, it will see a child through pre-school to Secondary One, for eight years.
