Singapore Democrats
Dr Chee Soon Juan responds to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on the SDP’s position on the gay cause (text of video speech).
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[text of Dr Chee’s video speech]:
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has asked whether the SDP is pursuing a gay agenda. Let me state categorically, we are not pursuing gay agenda and none of our MPs will.
Our candidates have been selected because of their ability to serve you, the people of Singapore, as your representative in Parliament. They have stepped forward because they love this country, and they know Singaporeans yarn for an alternative voice in Parliament. That’s the only agenda.
I know each and everyone of them and I am so proud of them. They are people of integrity and capability.
When we speak up, we do so for all Singaporeans, because we serve all Singaporeans, not just a segment of Singaporeans. At the very core of our country and national pledge is the creed that we do not discriminate against anyone, be it on the basis of the colour of their skin, the faiths in their hearts, whether they are young or old, or what their sexual orientation is.
This is why we are so disappointed that Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has raised this issue in such a manner. He didn’t have the courage to say what he really wanted to say first, and he was beating around the bush.
We call on Dr Balakrishnan not to continue in this manner. I can only hope that he will not adopt smear tactics in this campaign, and we ask him not to go down this road. We are better than that. We can disagree on policies and not resort to personal attack. Let’s lead Singapore to a higher level of politics.
Dr Balakrishnan has asked us the question: Will the SDP pursue the gay cause? I answer forthrightly and without equivocation: No.
Now, I’d like to ask Dr Balakrishnan to reciprocate. Will he now make public the accounts of the YOG and debate our Holland Bukit Timah team? In the interest of transparency and accountability, we hope Dr Balakrishnan will not equivocate and accept our invitation.