The Workers’ Party Members of Parliament-Elect of Aljunied GRC are pleased to announce that Meet-the-People sessions will commence in the week of May 23rd.

All sessions are from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

The details are as follows:

Bedok Reservoir – Punggol Division (MP: Low Thia Khiang)
522 Hougang Ave 6 (First and Third Wed of the month)
713 Bedok Reservoir Rd (Second and Fourth Wed of the month)
May 25: 713 Bedok Reservoir Rd

Eunos Division (MP: Pritam Singh)
615 Bedok Reservoir Rd (Every Mon)

Kaki Bukit Division (MP: Md Faisal b Abdul Manap)
550 Bedok North Ave 1 (Every Wed)

Paya Lebar Division (MP: Chen Show Mao)
117 Hougang Ave 1 (Every Mon)

Serangoon Division (MP: Sylvia Lim)
146 Serangoon North Ave 1 (First and Third Mon of the month)
213 Serangoon Ave 4 (Second and Fourth Mon of the month)
May 23: 146 Serangoon North Ave 1
May 30: 213 Serangoon Ave 4

The public can also get information on the Workers’ Party website at www.wp.sg

Sylvia Lim
Chairman

The Workers’ Party Open House will resume on 23 May 2011 (Monday).

From the month of June, our Open House will be moved to Fridays.  This means the next 3 Open House sessions are 23 May 2011 (Monday), 30 May 2011 (Monday) and 10 June 2011 (Friday).

Time: 8.00pm to 9.30pm
Venue: Workers’ Party HQ (216-G Syed Alwi Road #02-03 Singapore 207799) See http://wp.sg/contact-us for directions.

The Workers’ Party would like to thank all voters, members, friends, volunteers and supporters who have directly and indirectly helped us in our journey towards a First World Parliament in GE 2011!

Thank you, the voters of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC for giving us your support to vote our candidates into the 12th Parliament of the Republic of Singapore.

Thank you, the voters of East Coast GRC, Nee Soon GRC, Moulmein-Kallang GRC, Joo Chiat SMC, Punggol East SMC, and Sengkang West SMC for your support during GE 2011.

Thank you, members of the Workers’ Party for your selfless sacrifice, dedication and valued contribution all these years leading up to this historic moment.

Thank you, all citizens and netizens of Singapore who have come to support us during our 8 rallies during GE 2011 in person and in cyberspace.

Let us continue to strive together, as all citizens of Singapore, towards a First World Parliament.

The Workers’ Party
9 May 2011

The Editor
Straits Times Forum

Dear Sir,

I refer to Ms Indranee Rajah’s letter (‘WP’s fictional First World Parliament’, ST, 19 April). The Workers’ Party (WP) does not share Ms Rajah’s cynicism of democratic politics.

The fact that WP’s vision of a First World Parliament does not model itself after any particular developed country should not be surprising to Ms Rajah. After all, we do hear, ever so often, the People’s Action Party (PAP) proclaiming that it runs a First World Government. After which country’s government, then, does the PAP model itself? Does the PAP not instead trumpet itself as a model for other governments to follow?

Ms Rajah states that having Constitutional amendments blocked will be ‘preventing effective governance’. Perhaps she misread the media reports, which correctly quoted WP chairman Sylvia Lim as saying that opposition party MPs would vote against Constitutional amendments made for partisan advantage.

How many democracies have amended their Constitutions as frequently as in Singapore, in ways which fundamentally change the political system and power balance in governance? In fact, having another political party to defend the Constitution against amendments which are not in the national interest is fundamental to safeguarding the rights and interests of the people.

Ms Rajah suggests that the Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) scheme can act as a check on the Government. A Parliament with NCMPs and without elected opposition MPs will be in danger of becoming a national feedback unit and not what it should be—an organ of state with diverse representatives, each carrying a political mandate from the people.

WP has explained its vision of First World Parliament to Singaporeans. How the First World Parliament will evolve eventually depends on Singaporeans—on how voters vote. The PAP would understandably want to muddy the waters and cause confusion. We believe that Singaporeans are educated and mature enough to see through this.

GERALD GIAM YEAN SONG
Executive Council Member
The Workers’ Party

To the ST Forum Editor

Chen Show Mao

I refer to the letter by Dr Ng Eng Hen entitled “Writer’s query on Chen reasonable, says PAP” (19 April).

Voters have every right to scrutinize candidates. However, Dr Ng must know that, even before Chen Show Mao has been formally introduced as a potential WP candidate, he has already been interviewed extensively by various mass media, including Lian He Zao Bao, The Straits Times, Mediacorp TV and most recently, The Business Times. His responses to questions about his decision to return to Singapore, and his motivations for joining the Workers’ Party (WP), have been widely reported. At WP’s formal candidate introduction, there will again be opportunities for the media to pose questions to him.

The fact is that Show Mao’s roots are here. His parents have lived here since 1972. His only sibling and her family are here. He attended our schools, and voluntarily underwent National Service as an infantry officer before he became a citizen. Though he has been abroad due to the nature of his work, he has returned to Singapore typically 4 to 5 times a year, and made contributions to Singapore such as serving on the Advisory Board of the Singapore Management University Law School. He has also said that his wife and children will be joining him in Singapore permanently, and has committed to continuing political work here, regardless of the outcome of the elections.

By again raising the question of Show Mao being outside Singapore for a long time, is the PAP signaling to Singaporeans that the return of a successful Singaporean is not welcome? Or is his loyalty being questioned simply because he is with WP?

SYLVIA LIM
CHAIRMAN, WORKERS’ PARTY

To ST Forum Editor,

I refer to the letter by Ms Lee Hwai Jiin entitled `Full voting rights?  Sure, get elected’ (ST April 16).

My comments on the different voting rights between Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) and elected MPs were made precisely to highlight that the two offices are not the same.  I was not arguing for equivalent powers for NCMPs.

The public should therefore also not be confused that having opposition NCMPs is the same as having opposition elected MPs, nor buy into the ruling party’s exhortations in this direction.

If the public wants a more direct and effective check on the ruling party, they should elect opposition MPs who will provide political competition, both in Parliament and on the ground, so that Singapore will have insurance for the future if the ruling party declines.

SYLVIA LIM
CHAIRMAN, WORKERS’ PARTY

Dear ST Forum Editor,

First World Parliament

I refer to the letter by Eugene Tan (ST 13 April) entitled: “UK, US? Give him a S’pore MP anyday”.

In responding to the Workers’ Party’s (WP) campaign slogan “Vote Workers’ Party – Towards A First World Parliament”, the writer has misunderstood the term “First World” used in the slogan.

It was made clear at the launch of the slogan that WP is not taking any particular developed country as a model. Singapore should evolve its own model which works for Singaporeans. WP’s vision of a First World Parliament was detailed in our media release and Manifesto, as a robust institution which works in the national interest by functioning as a strong watchdog and check on the ruling party. This can be the case even when one political party has a clear majority, so long as there is at least one other party with a significant presence to have political weight as a check.

A First World Parliament would consist of MPs from different political parties with a mandate to represent their constituents. The national interest is served because the government is kept on its toes, thereby promoting good governance. There would be more rigorous scrutiny of government policies, promoting transparency and accountability. Singaporeans would also be building insurance for the future, having established a political party which can develop into an alternative, capable of taking over in the future should the PAP fail.

There is an urgent need at this stage of our nationhood to return to fundamental principles of governance, and ask whether the huge imbalance in PAP dominance in Parliament is good for Singapore in the long run. PAP MPs are subject to their party whip, and they must support government agenda. How far can the government be held to account with an 82-2 majority in the PAP’s favour now?

Even PAP Ministers have acknowledged in recent weeks that a strong, credible opposition is good for Singapore, and that stronger competition just meant the PAP had to work harder. Surely Singaporeans would benefit from having a government which works harder, and from a credible opposition which works in the national interest and does not oppose everything for the sake of it.

Eventually, what shape the First World Parliament takes will depend on Singaporean voters. WP is offering its vision to Singaporeans for their assessment and decision.

SYLVIA LIM
CHAIRMAN

To: ST Forum Editor

I refer to the letter by Benjamin Chow titled “About Chen: Time will tell”.

Mr Chow has cast aspersions on Chen Show Mao, questioned his motives and concluded his letter with “only time will tell”.

I agree that many things in life are proven by time. There is a famous saying in Chinese, “路遥知马力，日久见人心“. However, why does this apply only to Chen Show Mao and not the PAP’s new candidates as well?

Show Mao has been in contact with the Workers’ Party since 2007. He has participated in WP’s ground outreach such as Hammer sales and other party functions. He is not returning only when “the pickings are ripe” as baselessly accused by the writer.

Show Mao’s decision to come home and stand for election as a Workers’ Party (WP) candidate should be seen in a positive light. There is no certainty that he will win the election. He is at the peak of his career and has nothing to gain being on an opposition ticket. WP is glad that we are able to attract good people today and provide a credible choice to the voters.

Show Mao’s decision has also helped raise the political interests of many Singaporeans including those based overseas. It also stirred an “apolitical 50-year-old native citizen” to write to the ST forum page. This is indeed the positive impact Chen Show Mao has generated.

Low Thia Khiang
Secretary-General
Workers’ Party