SINGAPORE — Kicking off the third day of constituency political broadcasts on Monday (July 6) are candidates contesting in Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC), who pitch programmes and estate improvements to woo voters in the area.

The incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP) team is led by Mr Lawrence Wong, 47, with candidates being Mr Alex Yam, 39; newcomer Hany Soh, 33; and Mr Zaqy Mohamad, 45.

Mr Zaqy was previously from Chua Chu Kang GRC, but has been serving the precinct in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC that was vacated by Madam Halimah Yacob in 2017 after that year’s presidential election.

Mr Wong, who co-chairs the governmental task force handling Singapore’s response to Covid-19, spoke about the high stakes of this General Election held during the Covid-19 pandemic and called for support from Marsiling-Yew Tee residents.

“We are in uncharted waters and the journey will be tough. That's why the stakes are so high in this election. Our survival and our future is on the line. So please consider your vote carefully,” he said.

PAP's opponents in the GRC is from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). The team comprises Mr Bryan Lim Boon Heng, 43; Mr Damanhuri Abas, 49; Mr Khung Wai Yeen, 38; and Mr Benjamin Pwee, 52.

In their speeches, they outlined several municipal issues that affect residents in the constituency as well as national issues that have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis.

To ensure that more jobs go to Singaporeans, Mr Khung suggested the creation of a national jobs bank where firms have to hire workers from there before being given the option of employing foreigners.

Mr Lim, Mr Pwee and Mr Damanhuri highlighted several municipal issues that have been raised by residents in the GRC. These include lift upgrading works, maintenance of public housing facilities and issues concerning the Malay community.

In these constituency political broadcasts, candidates vying for single-seat wards have three minutes each to speak. Those contesting in four- and five-member GRCs have 12 and 15 minutes respectively in total.

The broadcasts are being aired on Channel 5, CNA938, cna.asia, 8world.com, CNA YouTube, CNA Facebook and TODAY at 7pm from July 3 to 8.

PAP’s proposals

• Giving an overview of what PAP has achieved in the area over the past term, Mr Wong said that neighbourhoods have been upgraded with new amenities and facilities, while programmes to look after seniors, vulnerable groups and children have been launched.

• A new master plan for the area sketched out what is to come for the area. Marsiling and Woodgrove will form part of the northern gateway and regional centre, with more homes and businesses, and a wide range of amenities. Yew Tee and Limbang will feature more new developments, including upgraded parks, and the town's first polyclinic and hawker centre. The Turf Club at Kranji will be revamped into a lifestyle destination with recreational facilities for families.

• The Sungei Kadut industrial estate will be redeveloped into a sustainable eco district, which will offer more jobs and opportunities for residents. It will also be the site of the new Sungei Kadut MRT Station and interchange, which will link the North-South Line and the Downtown Line of the MRT network.

• Mr Yam said that the town centres in Fuchun, Limbang, Marsiling and Yew Tee will be transformed, while the living environment of the Limbang, Stagmont and Woodgrove precincts will also be renewed, including a new “green spine project” underneath the MRT viaduct between Yew Tee and Limbang. Replacement of lifts in the GRC will be quickened, and Limbang Shopping Centre will be improved, he added.

• On community programmes, Mr Zaqy noted that residents have stepped up to help others in need. Within the constituency, the team had stepped up various assistance schemes to help affected families through programmes such as Marsiling Cares, which has continued to provide food and assistance to 1,300 vulnerable families each month.

Mr Wong said: “For the last six months, I've been fully engaged in this national fight against the virus. We are in the thick of battle, and there's still a long road ahead of us. But working together, we will defeat the virus and keep everyone safe."

SDP’s proposals

• Saying that one in four jobs for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) are held by a foreigner, Mr Khung proposed that a national jobs bank be established and companies have to hire people listed there. The option of hiring foreigners should be allowed only when someone with the required skill sets is not available.

• Mr Khung also suggested that retrenched workers be paid 50 per cent of their last drawn salary for up to 18 months to keep food on the table for their family, on top of skills upgrading and training.

• Mr Pwee said that residents have raised their dissatisfaction with the maintenance of public housing facilities. He hit out at Mr Wong and Mr Zaqy for failing “their very own constituency who voted them into Parliament”, despite holding positions in the Ministry of National Development.

• If elected, Mr Pwee said that SDP has a “clear town council management plan” that promises residents “greater financial accountability and greater focus on daily livelihood”.

• Mr Damanhuri said the issues that the Malay community faces have remained the same in the last five years. However, the community has the skills and talent to progress and move forward.

Mr Khung said: “We are going into a recession of between 4 and 7 per cent of gross domestic product this year. We need to do the best we can to taper cost of living issues for Singaporeans.”