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The people's team

Monday, 25 April 2011

Singapore Democrats

The people's team (from left): Jarrod Luo, Dr James Gomez, John Tan, Sadasivam Veriyah and Mohd Isa

The SDP announced its team for the Sembawang GRC yesterday morning. Party assistant secretary-general John Tan will lead the team. His teammates are: Dr James Gomez, Mr Mohd Isa, Mr Sadasivam and Mr Jarrod Luo.

The team held a press conference at the constituency and reiterated The SDP Promise to fight to lower the GST and stop the PAP from increasing the GST after the elections.

Mr Tan said that the team reflected the diversity that is needed in a GRC. It had experienced contestants such as Dr Gomez and Mr Isa as well as youth leaders in Mr Luo.

"Each of us has our strengths and all of us have one thing in common, we are here to serve the people. We make them The SDP Promise."

Immediately after the SDP announced that it would contest in the GRC last week, the PAP team lead by Mr Khaw Boon Wan announced plans for a $500 million upgrading for the ward.

Sembawang residents have to question Mr Khaw whether he is genuinely sincere in helping the residents there or if he is merely using the plans to score political points.

If he was sincere then why did he wait until the SDP's announcement of our plans to contest there? And why wait until the elections to announce these plans? If the SDP had not contested the ward, would the announcement still have been made?

Dr Gomez took the issue further: "The SDP would like to ask PAP's Sembawang GRC team how they came up with this sum of $500 million. Where does this $500 million come from and what is the breakdown? Who or which agency is contributing to this $500 million? I am sure the residents of Sembawang and the Singapore public as a whole would like to know."

Speaking in Chinese Mr Luo brought the residents' concerns of the overcrowding of the MRT trains: "Sometimes it gets so crowded that you have to miss two or three trains before you can get on." He said that the SDP team will bring up these matters in Parliament and rectify the problem if elected.

The fourth candidate Mr Sadasivam started off in Tamil and continued on in English. He said he was a resident in Sembawang and therefore understand the constituents concerns better than anyone else.

"I see them day to day and I know what their problems are and I can effectively represent them in Parliament. The cost of living and influx of foreign workers are hurting them and I will take these issues with me to Parliament," Mr Sadasivam promised.

Mr Mohd Isa talked about the necessity of Singapore being an inclusive society where meritocracy is not code for discrimination against Malays.

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Comments (12)

Mon 25 Apr 2011 11:39 AM | Tan Tai Wei

Minister Khaw said, replying to SDP's challenge to have a debate, that it is a ploy to appear on TV in order to make up for not doing rounds in the constituency. Instead of either accepting the challenge or admitting he fears it, he ascribes dishonourable motives and does character assassination; in short, he practises "gutter politics".

Khaw needs to attend one of those "thinking skills" courses his Education Minister is making school children attend.

The fallacy in logic he commits is like the elementary one any beginner in a thinking course first learns to avoid.

When faced with an argument, it is no answer to attack the man, instead of addressing the issue. They call that "the ad hominen fallacy", or, in boxing, "hitting below the belt".

Mon 25 Apr 2011 11:56 AM | King Cobra

Wishing the best for the SDP team at sembawang GRC, though it's an uphill task.

However, with relentless pursuit, through various walkabouts, rallies, lorries and pick-ups with announcements daily etc.....may helps in getting the message across.

Next, would also wish to point out, that your mascot bear is simply cute and cuddly, and may help in bringing about attention from the electorates, who are already stressed-up in their daily lives. Perhaps, if you could add one more, male and female couple, think would be of great help as well.

Also, one more advise, please bring along your mascot bear on stage during rallies, which would certainly create some impacts, in making people to focus more at stage, while you are addressing your messages across.

Thanks, and MAY GOD BLESS ALL SINGAPOREANS and the SDP. CHEERS!

Mon 25 Apr 2011 12:01 PM | Prime Citizen

"Immediately after the SDP announced that it would contest in the GRC last week, the PAP team lead by Mr Khaw Boon Wan announced plans for a $500 million upgrading for the ward. "

Through the decades the PAP has evolved to be money-penny-organisation and is very quick to use $$$ as bait, and their talking-points in citizen wellbeing.

I rather vote for one candidate who really know my personal need beside the financial aspect of community governance.

Mon 25 Apr 2011 12:04 PM | JEB

I'm going to be travelling 3,500KMs from Perth to Canberra to vote for SDP in the Sembawang GRC. Every vote counts and you can make a difference! Vote for change! If I can travel so far to my nearest polling station, I'm sure you can to yours!

Mon 25 Apr 2011 12:07 PM | Prime Citizen

Mr Sadasivam was a resident in Sembawang and therefore understand the constituents concerns better than anyone else. I agree to this point. In fact, a penghulu of any village also live with the citizens of the same village. But today, many villages in our nation have their penghulu (village head) living so far away from the villagers that they only visit and meet the villagers one a week , and 3 hours per session. Of course the grassroots leaders provide feedback to the mayor-penghulu verbally, but nothing beat your own eye witness and own physical feeling of the villagers hardship and daily living.

Mon 25 Apr 2011 12:12 PM | Prime Citizen

Mr Mohd Isa talked about the necessity of Singapore being an inclusive society where meritocracy is not code for discrimination against Malays.

Memang benar apa yang di huraikan olih Encik Mohd Isa. Kita harus bantu hapuskan dikriminasi terhad bangsa Melayu (dan bangsa minoriti) di Singapura.

I really respect Mr Mohd Isa for telling the truth in this matter. It is so obvious in our national defence issues and other political offices.

Mon 25 Apr 2011 12:35 PM | xfg - thank you for contesting

1) Thank you SDP for contesting Sembawang GRC. Without your contest, Khaw would probably not announce the $500 mil upgrade. It is exactly the kind of response I hope to draw from PAP regardless of the results. As a whole, PAP needs to wake up for the good of Singapore as a whole. From Khaw's response, you can tell they will obstinately continue to slumber as long as their turf is not disturbed. So a good jolt to their rib cage would be a good wake up call.

2) Immediately after thanking SDP, I regret to say I am fairly disappointed. For all the "highly qualified" candidates being flaunted by almost all parties - academics, high fliers, ex top civil servants - Sembawang only get a "people's team". That's a good way of say it's a "B" or even "C" team.
Yes, we do want MPs who can relate to us, who know what we want on the ground level but we are also looking first and foremost leaders who can lead us. Or else, any Tom, Dick and Harry can go on and become MP. If indeed "people's team" is necessary to be a good MP, then there wouldn't be such hype for the high flying Oxford, Cambridge graduates.

3) In the end, I believe SDP will get a higher share of the vote in Sembawang GRC this year. But it would be because PAP has really disappointed us (both those living in Sembawang, as well as Singaporeans as a whole). This may create a mirage that Sembawang GRC people are happy with a "B" or "C" team but in actual fact we are really looking for great leaders with a heart to serve. Not just any neighbourhood dwellors.

Mon 25 Apr 2011 5:34 PM | Dawkins - Tanjong Pagar

Guys I hope you will hang on...

Tanjong Pagar has lost to the PAP because the Reform Party has drawn out.

Mon 25 Apr 2011 6:02 PM | JM - Give them a Go

I really believed the SDP candidates are all ready to serve the people...Give them a GO!!!

Tue 26 Apr 2011 12:26 PM | Prime Citizen

sad to say..i am 40+ and i have only voted once in late 1980s, after GRC...all walkovers in Tanjong Pagar GRC..

treasure ur vote and voice..do not let the PAP bully u /opposition and bulldoze their way around...see what happen to me..never get to vote...MP never bother abt us...only big events they show up with their grassroot leaders...kakis. Jason need my and your vote to get his voice heard in Parliament.

Our nation should change the way for election, so that every eligible get to vote, regardless of redrawn boundaries by the PAP conspiratots.

Tue 26 Apr 2011 12:28 PM | Prime Citizen

Why so many walkovers and no voting opportunities for so many Singaporeans??

Because the GRC scheme, Got Rejected Constantly by the electorate,

bring back Single Member Ward for fair play.

Throw away the NCMP scheme, this is not found in any part of the world parliament
not to mention about First World Parliament!!!

Time to vote for change, do not throw away your precious vote. Vote for OPPOSITIONS for new government , then we can propose that all Singaporeans will be able to cast their vote next election!!!

Thu 28 Apr 2011 6:33 AM | karlson23 - Khaw is a piece of shit

1 thing that i cannot swallow when i heard this khaw knowing himself he comes from malaysia and yet he has the cheeks to tell us if we cant afford to support our old parents then send them to old folks home in JB.

what kind of minister are you? stop your gimmicks ok. we are not born yesterday...the carrots no longer work on us. we have woke up from our fake dreams you painted us.