NSP Party Political Broadcast – 6 May

NSP’s 2nd Party Political Broadcast which aired on 6 May 2011 was delivered by Ms Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, NSP’s candidate for Mountbatten SMC in GE2011.

Friends and fellow Singaporeans,

This General Election is important in shaping the future of Singapore.  The decision you make on the 7th of May will determine how your family and you live your lives in the next 5 years.

When you cast your vote on the 7^th of May, think about what will be best for you, your loved ones and for Singapore.

Ask yourself: Has the ruling party kept its promises? Has the PAP government delivered on their promise of a Swiss standard of living? You know the answer: They have not.

Are you happy with the quality of your life? Or do you feel you deserve better?

We are forced to contend with jammed roads, crowded trains and buses, and ERP gantries that no longer serve their purpose. Hanging over our heads is the ever-present anxiety that our jobs will be lost to a foreigner. Healthcare is no longer as affordable as it used to be.

Public housing is now so expensive that young couples are settling down later in life. Our fertility rates have plummeted.

Do you want soaring prices and 30-year loans for HDB flats? Or do you want housing that your children and grandchildren will be able to afford?

The cost of everything has been rising relentlessly. This has forced our people to retire later in life and with less to fund their retirement.

Do you think it is fair that we pay GST on basic necessities? We should not bear an unnecessary tax burden on top of the already high cost of living. That is why NSP wants to return GST to 5% and exempt basic necessities from this tax.

Do you want to feel secure in the knowledge that your job will not be in jeopardy due to liberal immigration policies? Our solution is simple: raise the employment pass threshold from $2800 to $4000.

Do you worry about what will happen to you and your loved ones when you fall ill and cannot afford to foot your hospital bills? Current healthcare subsidies are not taking care of the very people who need help most. We want a Singapore where people have access to quality healthcare that is affordable and within their means.

Our country has been transformed into a place where dreams and ambitions are left at the door, and not everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Our government can no longer inspire us.

People are afraid to vote for the opposition because the PAP threatens to withhold estate upgrading plans. But upgrading and urban renewal should not be politicized. These are funded by taxpayers’ money. We have the right to vote without fearing any sort of reprisal.

The root of the problems which we now face is the leadership of the PAP government. They have run our country like a company. They have made GDP growth their sole Performance Indicator and pegged their million dollar salaries to it.

This is why they pursue GDP growth at all cost.

GDP does not measure the quality of our lives. It does not measure the choices we give our children or the honour we accord our elders. It says nothing of our shared experiences.  It does not measure our compassion. It does not speak of our devotion to our country.

It measures everything except what lends fullness to our lives.

Our leaders have forgotten that their priority is to serve the people. They have forgotten that they must put our interests before their own.

We, the people of Singapore should be the top priority. We are not a means to an economic end. We are not mere digits.

We are a people with hopes, dreams and dignity, and we deserve more than this. We as citizens of Singapore, deserve leaders whose only agenda is our agenda. We deserve to be led by men and women  who will serve us with their minds and their hearts. We deserve leaders who will be accountable to the people.

We are not powerless. We will no longer sit back and watch helplessly as the PAP government drives our country in a direction that we do not want.

On 7^th May, you will cast your vote. As you stand in the voting booth with your ballot paper, think about what has gone wrong over the past two decades. Think of the Singapore that you want to build. Think about the change you want to see. Cast your vote for the future of Singapore without fear.

Your vote is your voice. It’s your choice and your future. Vote for the NSP!

Jeannette’s Nomination Day Speech – 27 April

Dear voters of Mountbatten,

This is the first time in twenty years that you are able to vote.  You have been denied your constitutional right to vote because of the GRC system. Now you have a choice because I have made the tough decision to come forth as a candidate for NSP.

I am practising lawyer and I run a successful legal practice. I am happily married and have four children. I am very aware that I risked all this.  But seeing the effects that present policies have on people, I had to stand up.

If elected, I will be your voice in parliament, to be a check and balance, to hold the govt accountable for good governance. A vote for me is a vote for change!

For yourself, for your family, for Mountbatten and for Singapore!

Jeannette’s Polling Results Statement – 8 May

I accept the decision of the majority.  I congratulate Mr Lim Biow Chuan for his victory and I wish him well.  Let me thank all those in Mountbatten SMC who voted for me and also to the many volunteers who have worked so tirelessly for me in this campaign.  You have not supported me in vain.  The heightened awareness in politics for all Singaporeans has made it all worthwhile.  I am proud of what my team and I have achieved in this short space of time.  We have fought the good fight. I vow to remain engaged in the socio-political scene in Singapore to inspire more Singaporeans to play their part in shaping our nation.

JEANNETTE CHONG-ARULDOSS

NSP’S CANDIDATE FOR MOUNTBATTEN SMC

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GE 2011 RESULTS FOR MOUNTBATTEN SMC

PAP’s Lim Biow Chuan – 11,965 (58.64%)

NSP’s Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss – 8,436  (41.35%)

Transcript of Jeannette’s Rally Speech – 5 May

One morning, I woke up to a strange new world.  Going to my usual kopitiam, a young man whom I had never seen before, came to take my order. I said to him: “hor wa kaya loti peng, chee cheong fun ka teh kosong”, he looked blankly at me as if I was speaking in a foreign language.  Then I saw a thin, old woman with many wrinkles, hobbling over to my table to clear the plates and to wipe the table clean for me.  I thought I should be serving her, why is she serving me! When I boarded my bus to work, I found most of the seats on the bus had disappeared.  I had to stand in my high heels while clinging onto the hand rails, all the way for the next hour.  What a nightmare!  I have been trying to wake up from this bad dream, but I find that I can’t.  Is this Singapore?

Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow Singaporeans, here we are at the end of the campaign period.  In a few hours, you are all required to Cool Off.  For our Govt is worried you might become emotional after hearing all the exciting rally speeches and you might be in danger of voting rashly.  Our Govt thinks you should not vote with your heart.  You must all vote without feeling, without emotions. So, our govt says you all need is one day to cool off before voting!  It is for your good!

So Yes, isn’t it the role of our government to care for you?

Isn’t it the role of the government to protect you?

Isn’t it the role of the government to keep you happy?

But do you feel cared for?

Do you feel protected?

Are you happy with your life?

If you don’t feel cared for, protected and happy, then our government is sleeping on the job!

Madam J

Let me tell you story of a woman I met in Mountbatten; for her privacy’s sake, let’s call her Mdm J. Mdm J, I don’t know if you are in the audience but I would like to thank you for sharing your story with me. Now Mdm J is a divorcee with 2 teenage children and an 80 year old bedridden mother.  This family of 4 lives in a rental SIT flat in Old Airport Rd.  Mdm J earns $2100 a month, before netting off her CPF contribution. After CPF, she is left with $1680. She is entitled to only a partial subsidy and has to pay HDB $500 per month.  This leaves her with only $1,180 per month to support her bedridden mother, her two school going teenage daughters and herself. Mdm J’s household has to survive with less than $300 per person a month. Despite visiting her MP on several occasions, she has not managed to get any public assistance because her income exceeds the cut off for assistance. This is testament to the one-size-fits-all policies which are uncompassionate and have no heart for the people. What is she going to do? How will she manage?  Shall we blame her for having a failed marriage? For being a divorcee?  Should we advise her to sue her ex husband for maintenance?  Shall we ask her to upgrade her skills so that she can get a better paying job?

Mr S, 70

I will tell you another story.  Mr S is 70 years old.  He lives alone in a rented room in Mountbatten.  He has no close family.  Some 8 years back, his wife divorced him after 32 years of marriage.  Since then, he has not spoken to his ex-wife or his children.  He is now too ill and too old to hold down a regular job, so he is living off his dwindling savings.

He is unable to rent from HDB because under HDB rules, he is required to pair up with another single and he cannot find anyone to pair up with. So he has no choice but to pay $300 a month to rent a room. Every day, he worries about medical costs.   What is Mr S going to do?  How will he manage?  He says his savings will be enough for him provided he dies within the next 8 years and provided that he does not encounter serious medical problems before then.  Shall we blame Mr S for not having a family? Shall we advise him to sue his children for maintenance?  Shall we ask him why he didn’t save more money?

MCYS Public Assistance Scheme

Unfortunately, neither Mdm J nor Mr S are eligible for Public Assistance under the MCYS Public Assistance Scheme.  In fact, very few are.  Due to the stringent criteria set by MCYS, there are less than 3,000 Singaporeans receiving Public Assistance, out of 3.2 million Singapore citizens.

How much does a person receiving Public Assistance get?  As of 1 April this year, a single-adult household receives $400 per month.  Back in 2007, a single adult household was receiving only $260 per month.  At that time, Dr Lily Neo did a rough survey of her constituents on Public Assistance, and found that a lot of single adults on Public Assistance had to skip at least one meal a day to get by on $260 per month. By her estimate, a single-adult household on PA actually needed about $400 per month to get by.

So in February 2007, Dr Lily Neo asked Parliament to consider increasing the rate from $260 per month to $400 per month.Her request was refused by the Minister for Community Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who only agreed to raise the rate of $260 to $290, an increment of just $30 or mere $1 per day.

Unhappy with this miniscule increment, Dr Lily Neo asked Dr Balakrishnan: “Is it too much to ask for just three meals a day as an entitlement for the Public Assistance recipients?” To which Dr Vivian Balakrishnan replied: “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”

Ministers’ Salary

Less than a month later in Parliament in April 2007, our leaders announced a massive pay increase for Ministers.  The Govt said that the huge salary increments for Ministers was justified otherwise the govt system will slowly crumble and collapse.  Warning Singaporeans of the danger of not paying Ministers well enough, MM Lee said: “Your apartment will be worth a fraction of what it is, your jobs will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people’s countries”!

Well, our apartments are certainly worth a lot of money.  In fact, they are worth so much that Singaporeans cannot even afford to buy their own homes. And despite the million dollars which our Ministers are paid, our jobs are in peril. As for feeling safe and secure, well, a terrorist with a limp escaped from Whitley Road to JB!  But worst of all, our elderly have become toilet attendants, cleaners, pushing trolleys, clearing plates, serving tea – in our own country!

Leadership

The root of the problems which we now face is the leadership of the PAP government.  They have run our country like a company.

They have made GDP growth their sole Performance Indicator and pegged their million dollar salaries to it.   This is why they pursue GDP growth at all cost.

GDP does not measure the quality of our lives. It does not measure the choices we give our children or the honour we accord our elders. It says nothing of our shared experiences.  It does not measure our compassion. It does not speak of our devotion to our country. It measures everything except what lends fullness to our lives.

Our leaders have forgotten that their priority is to serve the people. They have forgotten that they must put our interests before their own.  We, the people of Singapore should be the top priority. We are not a means to an economic end.

We are a people with hopes, dreams and dignity, and we deserve more than this.

Freak Result

People are saying, what if there is a freak result.  What is a Freak Election Result? As defined by the PAP, it is a result in which the so-called “majority” decided to vote in a government which don’t represent them? Then this means we have had Freak Results for years.

As a result of the clever GRC scheme, many seats were left uncontested in past GEs.  This meant that huge numbers of Singaporean voters did not get a chance to vote.

In GE 1991, only 50.1% of the electorate could vote.

In GE 1997, only 40.7% of the electorate could vote.

In GE 2001, only 33.2% of the electorate could vote.

In GE 2006, only 56.6% of the electorate could vote.

With such huge numbers of Singaporeans being unable to vote in past GEs, the Govt has only had to work half as hard.  This has made them complacent.  It is no wonder that our Government has stopped listening to us!

NOW

But NOW ladies and gentlemen!  All but 5 of the 87 parliamentary seats are being contested! At last you the people of Singapore can tell the govt how you really feel!

Grab this chance to send the govt the message that if they don’t listen to you, you will vote them OUT!

Now you have the power to help Singaporeans get out of this bad dream! This is not the Singapore that we know and love! It is not the Singapore that we want!

I want to wake up and find that my fellow Singaporeans are happy with their quality of life and feel fulfilled. I want a country where our youth’s aspirations and dreams can become reality; where our elderly folk enjoy well-deserved healthcare and other privileges, for having contributed their most productive years to build our society; where Singaporeans do not live in constant fear of losing their jobs. Where there are equal opportunities for all Singaporeans.

I want a Singapore which is awake, alive, and empowered!

So, my fellow Singaporeans, stand with me on May 7. Wake up from your slumber and let us together create a new Singapore, where every voice matters.

Transcript of Jeannette’s Rally Speech – 3rd May

Friends and fellow Singaporeans,

My name is Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss. I am the NSP candidate for Mountbatten. But tonight I am not here to talk about myself. Tonight want to say a few words about the 5 people who will be your elected representatives.

I have known Tony, Hazel and Jeisilan for some 2 years now. They are successful people in their own lives. The lead quiet and comfortable lives and there really is no need for them to be up here tonight. Yet we all came together that June evening in 2009 because we felt that something was not quite right in this great country of ours.

I think by now you all know what the issues are. You’ve heard about, you’ve read about it and you know people who are affected by it. Tonight I want to just say a few words about my friends because I want all of you to know what kind of people they are.

Tony and Hazel as you know were high-flying government scholars who were on the fast track to success. They left public service in search of new experiences. But what they didn’t leave behind was their spirit of public service. They feel strongly that they have a responsibility to serve and to help the least amongst us.

They pondered their options long and hard but in the end they decided the most effective way of overturning 2 decades of bad policy making is by being the voice of the people in parliament.

Jeisilan is one of the hardest working men I have ever met. Now if you’ve heard his speeches, he comes across with passionate intensity. But if you know him as I do, he is actually very soft spoken and very unassuming. I think you’d have all seen him around CCK, walking up and the precincts in the hot sun and driving rain. He does because he comes from a very humble background – having ground up in a kampong - and he understands how difficult our lives have been under the last 2 Prime Ministers. He is one of you, and in Parliament he will stand up for you.

Although I have not known Sebastian and Lella as long as I have known Tony, Hazel and Jeis, what I love most about them is that they never come to discussions with preconceived notions. They will always listen and consider what people are saying. They are not afraid of admitting when they have made a mistake. I think this kind of open mindedness – this is what we should look for in our leaders.

Lella as you know, is very passionate about Malay issues. She wants to see the lives of the community bettered in her lifetime. She will speak of Malay issues without whitewashing their real concerns or sweeping their problems under the rug, just because it may not be politically expedient.

Finally, Sebastian. He is the President of our party. What you see NSP today is a testament to his leadership skills. A very experienced political campaigner, I have never seen him talk down to anyone. His attitude is simply this: I lose nothing by hearing a person out. But there may be something to gain if that person has a point.

My friends, leadership is not simply about telling people what to do. Leadership is about listening to people. It is about representing people and moving ahead together. And in these 5 people, you will have leaders who will fight tooth and nail for your welfare. I urge you to send them into Parliament!

Response to Lim Biow Chuan’s statements in PAP Rally Speech at Mountbatten on 4 May 2011

Last night in a rally held in Mountbatten SMC, the incumbent MP for the ward, Mr Lim Biow Chuan from the People’s Action Party charged that his opponent, Ms Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss from the National Solidarity Party does not have a presence in the community and has not been seen by residents. We strongly challenge Mr Lim’s statements and reiterate that having lived in and around Mountbatten all her life, Ms Chong-Aruldoss has served in various capacities in the community before stepping up to contest Mountbatten SMC as a parliamentary candidate. While it is a fact that Jeannette only entered the public eye over the past few months, she has been active in her church council and her estate’s management council, and has steered a pro-bono legal clinic aiding Singaporeans facing hardships for many years.

On our campaign trail, we have covered more than 80% of the HDB blocks in the precinct. We also have a notable presence in private condominiums, having visited at least 6 and conducted several townhall meetings. We have also actively engaged residents living in landed property via cycle-thons. Our visits to common spaces such as the Kampong Arang market and Old Airport Road food centre are well-documented, and the stall-holders know us well. A recent article in The New Paper tracked down a hawker, whom Jeannette subsequently contacted after reading about his plight. The gentleman had raised the issue of inflation and had spoken out against the PAP’s attempt to have hawkers pledge against price increases despite rising business expenses.

Two days ago, the NSP unveiled its five year community plan for Mountbatten which is entitled, “Reviving the Katong Spirit”. While we have worked out a plan which does not merely focus on the “hardware” of physical infrastructure, but also on building the “heartware” for the community, Mr Lim is bereft of such plans. Ms Chong’s outreach activities as well as the constituency plan are all testament to Ms Chong-Aruldoss’s outreach efforts in the community; a point which Mr Lim chooses to conveniently overlook.

What Mr Lim Biow Chuan is good at is downplaying his opponent’s public service and inflating his own. While eager to boost his shabby track record, Mr Lim has claimed undue credit for himself. He has incorrectly attributed national infrastructure planning, such as the three Circle Line MRT stations which fall within Mountbatten, to the effort of the Town Council which he runs, by mentioning these stations in his rally speech. We note that the blueprint for the Circle Line precedes the incumbent’s entry into politics. Going forward, we urge Mr Lim Biow Chuan and the PAP government not to politicize urban renewal and national infrastructure plans. By extension, the constituents of Mountbatten should not have their votes held ransom by promises of future upgrading plans, which are funded by the tax-payers’ money.

In the five years as a MP, Mr Lim has spoken up on very few occasions in Parliament on issues that concern the welfare of his constituents, choosing instead to act simply as a municipally-interested town council manager whose plans do not go beyond the upgrading physical infrastructures. We are disappointed that as the incumbent MP for the ward, Mr Lim Biow Chuan has done a less than satisfactory job in helping the needy elderly of Mountbatten.

Instead, Mr Lim Biow Chuan has attempted to boost his public image by distributing hand-outs such as cash and vouchers as one-off gifts on special occasions such as Chinese New Year celebrations. We question the source of these funds and ardently disagree with this method of income redistribution. The NSP regards these hand-outs as temporary relief to bad governmental policies, as these measures does not tackle the root cause of the problem. We believe that this instead causes needy residents to become unnecessarily dependent on hand-outs which do not alleviate their plight nor solve their problems permanently. Instead, better calibrated policies need to be put in place to replace policies which have not worked. In order for change to happen, we need a true voice to speak up for Singaporeans in Parliament, and the National Solidarity Party represents this choice.

Getting to Know Jeannette

Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, 47, is a practising lawyer who earned her law degree in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Masters Degree in Corporate & Commercial Law from the London School of Economics & Political Science and was called to the English Bar in 1986. Jeannette started her legal career in Allen & Gledhill LLP and co-founded her current practice in 2001.

Beyond her CV, she has also unveiled a comprehensive 5 year plan for Mountbatten, in “Reviving the Katong Spirit”. Her rally speeches have been received with thunderous applause (click here for transcripts).

We filmed a short interview with her, getting to know Jeannette the politician, lawyer, mother of four, and above all Jeannette the Mountbatten girl.

Check out Jeannette for Mountbatten as well!

Party Political Broadcast: NSP

Is my vote really secret?

Transcript of Jeannette’s Rally Speech — 2 May

2 May
Mountbatten SMC Rally
@ Open field opposite Mountbatten Community Centre

SPEECH FOR MOUNTBATTEN RALLY 2 MAY 2011

Many people have asked me why I am standing for elections. I am a Singaporean just like any one of you, working hard and taking care of my family. However, I could not simply stand by and watch what the PAP is doing to this country! Over the years, the PAP has made a lot of bad decisions and implemented a range of bad policies that has caused Singaporeans hardships and stress.

Introduction of Casinos

I am a happily married mother of four children. It is the concern of mothers that their children grow up in a safe, nurturing environment.

In 2004, the government said we should have a casino in Singapore. Many Singaporeans like me thought it was a bad idea. I joined hands with other families in Singapore to voice out against having a casino. Of course, the government told us of the benefits the casino would bring: 35,000 jobs, huge investments, opportunities for Singaporeans. I ask the PAP this, is it worth risking Singapore’s safe environment for a casino? We Singaporeans don’t to want to have another Macau, another Las Vegas here. We don’t want the crime and the sleaze that come hand in hand with a casino. The PAP government boasts about its top class talents. Has the PAP no other solution than to propose a casino?

But in April 2005, Mr Lee Hsien Loong announced that the Govt had decided to have not one, but two Casinos. We were supposed to be discussing the possibility of only one casino, how did it become two? Do you think that there was a proper debate in parliament? (response from crowd). Of course not, what kind of debate can there be when 82 out of 84 seats are from one side? Even though the PAP government knew that there were strong public feelings against having a casino, they still went through with it. Not just one, but two!

This, fellow Singaporeans, is an example of a policy that has been forced down our throats despite the fact that we were unhappy about it. And who suffers the effects of the casinos? We, the people of Singapore. Now we hear of families whose lives are destroyed by problems of gambling.

Do you see why we need more opposition voices in parliament? We cannot simply allow the PAP to do what they want they think is right for our country, it is not their country. It belongs to you and me! They must also listen to our voices!

GIC Losses

This is a government that is not transparent to the people.

A few days ago, Mr Mah Bow Tan said that lowering land cost to help reduce the high HDB prices, would be like “raiding the reserves”. Come to think about it, how much is our national reserves?

In the financial crisis of 2008, GIC lost about $50 billion Singapore dollars. What is $50 billion Singapore dollars? It is a lot a lot of money or is it small change? The only way to compare, is to know the size of the reserves in the first place. But do we know the figures?

Recently Dr Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters that the investment portfolios of GIC and Temasek are now back to pre crisis peaks. My question is this: what were the pre crisis peaks? What were the figures? I have tried to find out, but I still do not know, do you know?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Do you know where the money in the reserves comes from? It comes from you, it comes from me. It is ours. But up till today, neither I nor you know how much is in the reserves! It is our right to know the exact figures. The late President Ong Teng Cheong asked the government to give him the exact figures. But he waited and waited and eventually passed away without ever knowing the amount.

Where is the transparency, where is the accountability?

High HDB Prices

Talking about HDB. Now what is the mission of the HDB? HDB is Singapore’s public housing authority. A statutory board formed to provide Singaporeans with affordable homes. Not to provide foreigners with affordable homes!

My friends, fellow voters, as many of you already know, public housing in Singapore has become anything but affordable. Resale prices of HDB flats have skyrocketed over the last few years. From an initial price of over $100,000, today we see prices reaching more than $500,000 for a HDB flat. How high are HDB prices going to go? How can our children afford their homes in the future?

In 2008, almost 80,000 foreigners became permanent residents. In September 2009, it was reported that PRs make up some 40 per cent of HDB resale buyers. According to the population census 2010, there are 540,000 PRs in Singapore. This is 14.3% of Singapore residents. Where are all of these PRs going to stay? Mr Mah Bow Tan allows PRs to buy HDB resale flats. And this has driven up HDB resale prices.

And who suffers for this? Today, HDB flats are beyond the reach of many young couples. Many couples have to delay buying their home and cannot even think of starting a family because of this.
To pay for their high priced homes, buyers have to take up 30 year long mortgages. In the end, all your CPF will be depleted. How much CPF would be left for your retirement?

And what does Mr Mah Bow Tan have to say? He said that he is “proud” of Singapore’s asset enhancement policy. According to Mr Mah, this is a good thing because your home becomes a valuable asset. For most Singaporeans, this statement is meaningless. People need homes. If you sell your home, you still have to buy another home. If you sell high you also buy high. So obviously, the AE policy is not making you rich. It makes you poor because you cannot afford to buy your own home.

Need for More Opposition

And so my fellow Singaporeans, the list of bad decisions go on – Pushing GST from 3% to 4% and then from 4% to to 5% and then from 5% to 7%.

Increasing Ministers pay by 60%, the cost of living going up and up. It is bad enough we have two casinos. Now I hear from Mr S. Iswaran that despite the nuclear plant crisis in Japan last month, Singapore would still continue to explore nuclear energy in Singapore. Oh dear! I hope that our Govt know what it is doing. But how to make sure that our Govt makes the right decision for us?

The only way is for More Opposition Members of Parliament!

With More Opposition in Parliament: Citizens can check and balance the ruling party’s decisions.

With More Opposition in Parliament: citizens can call the Ministers to answer and be accountable for their actions and decision.

With More Opposition in Parliament: citizens can call the government of the ruling party to give us more information, more facts and figures, to be more transparent and tell us the real story, especially when things go wrong.

This is the reason why I have come forward to stand up!

Solutions?

Fellow Singaporeans, don’t listen to talk that Opposition only can bash PAP but got no solution. I am proud to tell you, that we at NSP have got many very good solutions. Here are some of them.

• To help young couples wishing to start a family, the NSP wants discounts to be given to first time buyers of new HDB flats.
• To help Singaporeans cope with the rising cost of living, the NSP wants to reduce GST back to 5%. And to exempt basic necessities from GST.
• To protect Singaporeans’ employment prospect, the NSP proposes that a quota be imposed on the employment of foreigners earning less than $4000 per month.

There are a lot more good solutions in the NSP’s Manifesto which I invite you all to download from my Blog.

Lim Biow Chuan

The PAP every time likes to say: Opposition got no credible candidates. Well standing before you now is a Credible opposition candidate. In fact, my credentials are even better than my counterpart Mr Lim Biow Chuan. How dare the PAP say that Singapore got no enough talent? Maybe PAP got no enough talent. I think I am a talent. I am more than a match for Mr Lim Biow Chuan. It is true that I am running my first elections, but so is he too. Yes, this GE is also Lim Biow Chuan’s first elections. Remember, he was part of the super-size 6 man GRC Team who sailed into Parliament after GE 2006 because Marine Parade GRC was a walkover.

In the last General Elections, did Mr Lim Biow Chuan have to go around canvassing for votes and fight to win his seat in Parliament? No! Under the clever GRC scheme, a vote for Mr Goh Chok Tong, is also a vote for Mr Lim Biow Chuan! Did the people of Mountbatten choose Mr Lim Biow Chuan to be their MP? No! It was Mr Goh Chok Tong who choose Mr Lim Biow Chuan to be the MP for Mountbatten. The GRC scheme invented by the PAP govt, has robbed the voters of Mountbatten of their constitutional right to choose their MP.

But NOW people of Mountbatten, NOW you have a choice. NOW Mr Lim Biow Chuan has to do walkabouts, he has to go door to door, he has to stand at the MRT station to distribute his flyers, he has to convince you to give him your vote. Mr Lim Biow Chuan never had to do that in GE 2006. But he has to do so because I have come forward to contest in Mountbatten.

But people of Marine Parade, you all are still under a GRC. A vote for Mr Goh Chok Tong, is also a vote for all the other 4 members of Mr Goh’s GRC team, whether or not all these 4 other candidates are as credible as I am. What is the solution? Vote opposition and send the PAP the signal that you don’t want the GRC Scheme, a scheme which benefits the ruling party, but which does not benefit the people.

Mountbatten 5 Year Plan

People have asked me, what will I do for Mountbatten if elected? As for my plans for Mountbatten, I will be holding a press conference tomorrow to unveil the fuller details of my 5 year plan.

Let me say, that the whole of NSP is behind me! If I win Mountbatten, My team and I will dedicate ourselves to making Mountbatten a model constituency. Residents of Mountbatten will benefit from our enthusiasm and eagerness to offer our energies and capabilities. I do not think that I have a tough act to follow. I believe I can do more, much more for Mountbatten.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew told reporters that if the PAP loses Aljunied, the people of Aljunied will have 5 years to live and repent. I say that if PAP loses Mountbatten, the people of Mountbatten will not repent, THEY WILL REJOICE!

Thank you very much.

(1873 words)