SINGAPORE — Comments that were made against the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) candidate Tin Pei Ling on her status as a new mum have no place in Singapore’s political scene, said Workers’ Party (WP) candidate Bernard Chen.

Speaking to reporters today (Sept 5) after a visit to Aljunied Avenue 2 wet market, Mr Chen was asked about the National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) Cheo Chai Chen’s recent remarks that Ms Tin’s new mother status is her weakness in this electoral campaign. The trio are locked in a three-cornered fight in MacPherson Single Member Constituency (SMC).

Mr Chen said: “I don’t agree (with Mr Cheo’s comments). This kind of comments shouldn’t exist in Singapore’s political scene.”

Mr Cheo had also told TODAY that Mr Chen is inexperienced. In response, Mr Chen said his profile is publicly available in election materials, and he would leave it to residents to decide.

This is Mr Chen’s first election. Both his rivals have been elected into Parliament before — Ms Tin entered politics in the last polls in 2011, while Mr Cheo was a Singapore Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Nee Soon from 1991 to 1997.

On whether Ms Tin’s position as an incumbent gives her an edge, Mr Chen pointed out that he has been working the ground since the electoral boundary report was released. 

He added that many residents he met today recognise him.

“I’ve been actively working on the ground to reach out to as many people as possible — especially in a three-cornered fight, every move matters,” he added. “I will do my best.”

Asked about his observations about the MacPherson constituency, Mr Chen said it is a quaint neighbourhood. He has identified areas he wants to improve to benefit the seniors in the area; for instance, building amenities such as banks closer to homes and lengthening the duration for pedestrians to cross roads.

During the walkabout today, older residents were mostly intrigued by Mr Chen’s youth and academic credentials — he has a Master’s degree from the University of Oxford.

Residents interviewed said the age of a candidate is a non-issue for them, noting that Ms Tin was the PAP’s youngest candidate in 2011.

Mr Justin Koh, 51, who has lived in the MacPherson estate for most of his life, said what matters most is whether the estate has been well kept. 

“It is not how old or how young the candidate is, it is whether he or she can get things done,” he added.

Another resident Angeline Koh, 39, who has lived in the estate for 10 years, said: “I want someone who is able to upkeep my estate ... and able to ensure that the town council is responsive when the lights and lifts are not working.”