SINGAPORE— The People’s Action Party team tasked to wrest Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) back from the Workers’ Party (WP) might not boast of any political office holders but former Cabinet Minister Lim Boon Heng yesterday challenged the perception that the team lacked gravitas.

Mr Lim, who has been advising the PAP Aljunied GRC team, referred to one of the candidates, Mr K Muralidharan Pillai, who heads the litigation department at law firm Rajah & Tann. “Mr Muralidharan has over 100 lawyers reporting to him. (On the Opposition side), at least three of them are lawyers. When they ask for your vote, you can ask them, ‘How many lawyers report to you’, can they compare against Mr Muralidharan?” Mr Lim said.

The WP is fielding its A team to defend the constituency, which it won in 2011. Three lawyers — Ms Sylvia Lim, who is also party chairman, Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Chen Show Mao — are on the slate. The others are party chief Low Thia Khiang and counsellor Faisal Manap.

Apart from Mr Muralidharan, the PAP team comprises seasoned campaigner Yeo Guat Kwang, who has served four terms in Parliament, insurance firm chief executive Victor Lye, private banker Chua Eng Leong, and former school head of department Shamsul Kamar.

Mr Lim, who retired from politics before the 2011 GE, described the PAP slate as a “good team”, and urged voters to support them.

On the national level, Mr Lim spoke about the need for Singapore to have strong leaders who can lead the country through uncertain times. He also paid tribute to the leadership of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and former Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee.

Highlighting several potential threats — such as wars, tensions in the South China Sea, an economic slowdown in neighbouring countries, stock markets plunging, and loss of jobs brought about by technology — Mr Lim said: “Jobs change very quickly … it’s something that the other political parties are not discussing, but we have to discuss it because it concerns our future.”

He cited the examples of retailers and taxi drivers, whose livelihoods could be affected in the new economy. Traditional retailers are losing business to e-commerce while third-party taxi-booking apps are altering the dynamics of the industry. “We’re worried about what is going to happen to them, and somebody’s got to take care of them ... So far I’ve not heard the (Opposition) talking about what problems our people might face, like our taxi drivers,” he said.

Mr Lim, who had held the post of labour chief during his political career, noted that with China becoming more advanced in the use of technology, jobs here could also be affected.

“In the past ... Chinese people come and learn from Singapore, but now we go to China to learn what is happening,” he said. He added that issues like these are what Singapore’s leaders worry about every day.

Noting that some among the PAP slate of new candidates could be appointed as Cabinet Ministers in the future, Mr Lim joked that voters should take a photograph of them before and after they are elected.

“They’ll grow a lot of white hair, just worrying about you. (These) are the kind of candidates we need to have, who are capable and can help the Prime Minister solve problems,” he said. “Your vote next Friday is important, help us send the right people to Parliament.” TOH EE MING