Opposition ‘only wants to serve, doesn’t deserve ill treatment’
SingFirst candidate Sukdeu Singh thanking Supporters after the rally yesterday (Sept 3). Photo: Ernest Chua/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Even as they seek to establish themselves as politicians, Singaporeans First’s (SingFirst) Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team said voters should not treat opposition politicians as “illegitimate” children, when the candidates are merely seeking to improve Singaporeans’ lives and speak up for citizens.
Speaking at their first walkabout since Nomination Day at Jurong West Avenue 1 yesterday (Sept 3), the five-man team, who are all contesting in their first General Election, said they were sometimes met with negative responses, such as people ignoring them or making nasty remarks about the Opposition in general.
The team, which also spoke at their first rally last night, hopes to be taken more seriously.
“We are not illegitimate children,” said SingFirst candidate Sukdeu Singh, 64. “We are Singaporeans too, coming forward to serve other Singaporeans.”
While SingFirst is a relatively new name in the elections as it was only founded last year, its treasurer and candidate David Foo, 51, said the party was not a stranger in the area.
Still, he acknowledged that the party “(doesn’t) have as large a grassroots presence as the PAP has ... (So) for us it’s a lot of pounding of our feet on the ground.”
Fellow SingFirst candidate Wong Chee Wai, 44, said that while the task of working the ground was “daunting”, it was necessary “so that we know the residents and they know us too”. The team also has plans to continue its groundwork even after campaigning season ends next week.
“It was one of the first few agreements we had as a team when we came together, that we will continue to walk the ground, to get to know residents better,” said Mr Wong. “We don’t want others to say that we only appear once every four to five years.”
Mr Singh also reiterated the grievances that the changes in polling boundaries made it harder for opposition parties such as SingFirst to walk the ground.
The team had done their walkabouts in Bukit Batok before it was sectioned off from Jurong GRC to be a single-member constituency ward. “We come out, we cover a certain area, and the next thing we know, it is suddenly changed (right before elections),” said Mr Singh.
His team-mate Tan Peng Ann added: “To the alternative parties, there is no alternative to hard work. We never had the benefit of 50 years of walking the ground.”
In the days leading to the polls on September 11, the team will be conducting more door-to-door visits and walkabouts.
