SINGAPORE — Back on the campaign trail after recovering from a bout of flu, Reform Party (RP) Punggol East by-election candidate Kenneth Jeyaretnam yesterday expressed confidence in his party’s ability to execute the proposals he outlined for the ward, such as elderly day care centres and improving bus services.

Earlier yesterday, during a visit to the estate, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean called People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Koh Poh Koon’s plan for residents “a fairly comprehensive one”.

Further, DPM Teo, who is the PAP’s First Assistant Secretary-General, noted that “many cooperative, synergistic projects” have been developed, as Punggol East came under the management of the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council.

Asked if the PAP candidate would have an advantage in carrying out improvements to Punggol East, Mr Jeyaretnam, 53, said it would be “an unfair use of state resources”.

“We’ve spoken out against the use of the PA (People’s Association), but I noticed that his plans were quite modest. I can tap expertise from the private sector, and as long as we are not actively obstructed, I think that we can bring our plans to fruition,” he added.

The RP chief also disagreed that Punggol East voters would be swayed by the PAP candidate’s ability to implement projects for the constituency.

“I think the voters are tired of that message that the PAP always puts out, that they control the grassroots,” he said.

The RP chief had told reporters that he plans to hold a Meet-the-People Session this evening, after he failed to show at a feedback session on Monday night as he was recovering from flu.

So far, Mr Jeyaretnam has visited fewer than half of the 127 blocks in the ward.

While he described the nine-day campaigning period as “inadequate”, Mr Jeyaretnam believes he will be able to cover between 25 and 50 per cent of the remaining blocks before Cooling-off Day on Friday, when campaigning is not allowed.