Never one to take things for granted
SINGAPORE – His defeat in Aljunied GRC in the 2011 General Election (GE) has taughtMr Ong Ye Kung, director of group strategy at Keppel Corporation, never to take things for granted, as he makes his second attempt at getting elected.
Speaking at the press conference introducing the five People’s Action Party (PAP) candidates for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) yesterday, Mr Ong, 45, said he had learnt a lot from his previous election experience, both big and small lessons.
On his big lesson, Mr Ong said: “Today’s population and how people feel towards politics, I think is different from the past, nothing can be taken for granted. I don’t think people want total dominance and so ... ministers can lose their seats.”
Smaller lessons, which he plans to keep as “trade secrets”, include how to better run elections, deliver speeches and do house visits, for instance.
Mr Ong was part of the Aljunied GRC team, led by former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, which was defeated by the Workers’ Party (WP) in the 2011 GE. Mr Ong, who had previously been touted as a potential office-holder, began work at Sembawang GRC in the middle of last year.
Asked how he would describe Sembawang and Aljunied voters, Mr Ong said every constituency will have its share of municipal issues, and concerns over national issues. Sembawang residents, in particular, are fond of the constituency’s rustic feel, and whoever serves them needs to understand such characteristics, he said.
On comments about how he may have a higher chance of getting elected in Sembawang GRC, Mr Ong said he is not comfortable with such talk, as it “takes voters for granted” and “takes the results of the elections for granted”. Asked why he chose to contribute through politics, he said later: “ For the past few years, I would search the GPS in my heart and it seems to point towards getting into politics.”
On what is next for Singapore, he does not think “Singapore’s next phase has to be taller buildings, longer roads (and) deeper tunnels”. “It is about our spirit, our cohesiveness as society, our unity, our common purpose and our Singaporean identity,” Mr Ong said. Siau Ming En
