SINGAPORE — While the Workers’ Party thinks this election should not be about town council lapses — or People’s Association lapses — it spent a good part of its first rally on the issue because of the publicity brought to bear on the topic.

But in the rallies “to come”, the party will be speaking on broader national issues, as it does not want the matter to bog down its campaign, WP chairman Sylvia Lim said today (Sept 3) at a walkabout in Jalan Besar GRC.

After considering “in detail” what to speak on at its first rally, the party decided it was important to clear up the “public confusion over what is happening”. 

“Otherwise, we will be accused of not being accountable again. I mean, either way, we will be wrong,” she quipped.

Ms Lim said that town council management can be quite technical, and given that the major town councils were under the People’s Action Party until 2011, such issues are now “coming to the forefront” because the Opposition could contest the ruling party in this area.

So, it was “very healthy and necessary” to explain to the electorate the factors “that will facilitate or impede town council performance”, as having Members of Parliament managing town councils is part of Singapore’s political landscape. 

But she added: “We agree with (the public) that we should be talking about the future of Singapore and some national issues.”

The WP also responded to reporters’ questions about PAP secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong’s comments on the need for high political standards, alluding to the WP’s position that Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) was not being investigated for corruption.

Mr Lee said yesterday night: “If your standard for politics is that the people who are in politics should not be in jail, then I think Singapore is in very serious trouble.”

Asked if it was holding itself to a lower standard, the WP’s Png Eng Huat replied that the party was not being treated fairly in the case of AHPETC. The vice-chairman and audit committee chairman of the town council said: “Why must it be a sad state for politics? It’s not. If you think somebody is wrong, just prosecute that person. What does it (have) to do with politics?”

With regard to the WP MPs’ impact on policy improvements, Ms Lim reiterated that the party will leave it to voters to judge, as the WP has outlined its role in Parliament in election materials. She added that in her personal experience before 2011, as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, she had some discussions with Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, who was Senior Minister of State (Home Affairs and Law), regarding Singapore’s criminal justice system.

“I wanted my views to be taken into account before the (ministries) actually firmed up the Bills, and to be fair, Assoc Prof Ho was a very open person and he did take on board some of my suggestions before the Bill was finalised. But after 2011, I did not really see that happening,” she said, adding that her opposition colleagues are not invited to ministry briefings given to the Government Parliamentary Committees either.

The WP’s Jalan Besar team that visited Whampoa Drive Market and Food Centre this morning comprised medical social worker Frieda Chan, 39, polytechnic lecturer L Somasundaram, 52, businessman Adrian Sim, 43, and engineer Redzwan Hafidz, 30. Both Mr Somasundaram and Ms Chan contested in Moulmein-Kallang GRC in 2011, which was mostly redrawn as Jalan Besar GRC for these elections. 

Mr Somasundaram told reporters that many residents still recognise them: “That’s a good thing. The support is generally quite warm; we’re encouraged by it.”