My fellow Singaporeans, voters of East Coast and Fengshan, it good to meet again! I hope we will see each other more often after September 11!
I have fond memories campaigning here in GE2011. There were residents who opened up their homes for us to rest our tired feet, freshen up, and quench our thirst. I remembered a resident stopped us in one of the car parks to pray for us. It was heart-warming!
The Workers’ Party has returned to East Coast and Fengshan with a stronger team, and I dare say we are on par with the PAP slate, if not better. We have Gerald Giam, Daniel Goh, Mohamed Fairoz, and Leon Perera and they are all ready to serve you in East Coast. We have Dennis Tan Lip Fong and he is ready to serve you in Fengshan. So come September 11, vote Workers’ Party and send them into Parliament!
I read in the newspapers today that the Prime Minister said he read in the newspapers that I said there is no need for a government if the civil service is functioning. He ended his remark that if the Workers’ Party were to form the government of Singapore one day, in his word, “Liao. Finished!”
I think we should all stop reading newspapers.
My speech on September 4th is about revolving door politics which DPM Teo Chee Hean spoke about in Parliament. Different party may form the government of the day after each election. I said if the PAP were to lose power one day, life will still go on because we have a good civil service. There will be a government, not that there is no need for a government, except that the government is not white anymore. My speech is posted online and I encourage the Prime Minister to read it and don’t read the newspaper.
For the past 8 days, we have spoken on many issues that matter to us as individual Singaporean and as a nation. We have also shared with you our manifesto. Now, it is time for you to make things happen.
We have on stage 28 candidates ready to be your voice in Parliament. We seek your mandate to be the party of choice to break the one-party system forever and to empower your future!
Tomorrow is cooling off day. It is time for us to reflect on what this election is all about. This election is about the future we want for Singapore and our children. A future that is built on values that matter. Values like justice, equality, and fairness. These values must be non-negotiable.
The PAP said our society is a meritocratic society so may the best man win. In Aljunied, Hougang, and Punggol East, the best men and women won but they could neither use the community clubs nor support the holding of trade fairs. Where is the fairness in the system?
In GE2011, I witnessed something at the counting centre. There was a vote with a faint cross marked in the box for the Workers’ Party. The Assistant Returning Officer rejected the vote saying the intention is not clear. And when there was another vote of similar marking for the PAP, the ARO wanted to count that vote for the PAP. We already lost East Coast then but I refused to yield until that vote was also rejected because justice must prevail.
If you give the PAP a strong mandate on September 11, the party will continue to control everything in your life. From what you read in the newspapers to what you watch on TV, to how much of your own retirement money you can have each month, the power of the PAP is unimaginable. The PAP uses its absolute power to remain in power and we will change that. You will change that! Together we will change that! As I said before, it has to be a big change else nothing will change at all.
But if you give the Workers’ Party a strong mandate, it will send a signal that any party that wants to govern Singapore must respect the wishes of the people, and walk the talk to build an inclusive society regardless of race, language, religion and political affiliation.
And if you give the Workers’ Party a strong mandate, it will send a clear signal to the young and passionate team on stage with me tonight that there is hope for change and change is just round the corner. It will inspire more young and passionate people to come forward to serve the nation if you give the Workers’ Party a strong mandate.
My fellow Singaporeans, no amount of debate or persuasion will change the mind-set of the PAP government but the vote in your hand will.
I can see thousands of people from this stage and I know you are here not just for the fun of it but you are here tonight because you want to see real change come September 11!
So come polling day, vote for the Workers’ Party because your vote is a vote for democracy. Vote for the Workers’ Party because your vote is a vote for justice. And vote for the Workers’ Party because your vote is a vote for equality. All these values are enshrined in our Pledge. And more than anything else, your vote is for your children, our children and our future generation.
Vote Workers’ Party. Empower your future!