Singapore GE2020: PAP team unveils plan for East Coast

DPM Heng says this includes a platform to draw ideas which could lead to action

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat with fellow East Coast GRC candidates (from left) Tan Kiat How, Jessica Tan, Maliki Osman and Cheryl Chan near the Bedok Interchange hawker centre yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat with fellow East Coast GRC candidates (from left) Tan Kiat How, Jessica Tan, Maliki Osman and Cheryl Chan near the Bedok Interchange hawker centre yesterday. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Voters in East Coast GRC learnt the details of the much-talked-about East Coast plan last night, when Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat delivered his last online rally before the polls.

The plan involves the creation of a new East Coast Conversation platform for residents to discuss the things that matter to them, and work together to put their ideas into action, he said.

It is modelled after the Our Singapore Conversations series, which was started in 2012 to better understand what Singaporeans hope for.

"I hope that we will have an East Coast Conversation for us to talk about... the issues that people care about most," Mr Heng said, adding that many residents have shared their passions with him during his walkabouts in the area.

"And beyond conversation, to action," he said. "How do we take action, each of us, and together how do we make a difference?"

PAP new face Tan Kiat How, the former chief executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority, will be put in charge of the scheme.

"There are actually a lot of passionate and committed residents in East Coast (who) are already doing something, whether it is a community garden or youths helping seniors to learn digital skills," Mr Tan said.

"It is really about getting them together, tapping this passion and enthusiasm, and getting started."

All five members of the People's Action Party's East Coast team were present at the online rally yesterday: Mr Heng, Mr Tan, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman, Ms Jessica Tan and Ms Cheryl Chan.

At the start of the session, Dr Maliki and Mr Heng joked about the latter's verbal slip on Nomination Day, where he stumbled over parts of his speech when announcing the East Coast plan. Enterprising sellers have since started hawking T-shirts and other merchandise making light of the East Coast plan.

"Our merchants are creative. I am happy that we started a small business going," Mr Heng said. "Thank you to those of you who have bought the merchandise. Please wear them often and showcase this."

Another element of the East Coast plan involves setting up a Silver Blueprint for seniors in the constituency. This aims to address their physical, social, emotional and digital needs.

Ensuring that seniors are equipped with digital skills is part of making sure that they age well, Mr Tan said. The SG Digital Office has a branch in Bedok and aims to reach out to 10,000 East Coast seniors in the coming year, he added.

"It could be very simple things, (such as) learning how to use WhatsApp and YouTube," Mr Tan said.

Mr Heng also noted that equipping workers of all ages with new skills is important to help the country stay competitive.

Machines are getting smarter but Singaporeans should not see this as something to fear, he added.

"We have a smaller and smaller population, a smaller workforce," Mr Heng said. "Therefore, a man-and-machine combination brings out the best in everyone. That will allow us to remain competitive and that will allow our people to have even better jobs for the future."

In a Facebook post last night, former East Coast anchor minister Lim Swee Say also shared his thoughts on the upcoming election.

Mr Lim is in the United States with his wife, who is receiving medical treatment.

The Covid-19 pandemic is far from over, and Singapore cannot lose its focus, he noted. It will also be tougher than before to grow the economy and create jobs.

He also said Singapore must emerge a winner in the post-coronavirus world.

Singapore has always come out on top in every major crisis up till now, Mr Lim wrote.

"This time round, it is too early for any country to claim victory yet because all countries still have much to do to gear up for future jobs, future skills and future growth," he added.

Singapore's journey ahead is crowded with competitors from all over who are "fighting for a pie that is growing much slower than before".

Against this backdrop, Singapore is voting for a political party to form the next government, which will lead the country for the next five years, Mr Lim said.

"Some say a strong mandate may give the next government too much space and it can do anything it likes.

"I disagree because there is no escape from public scrutiny and parliamentary accountability," he added.

"I would counter that a strong mandate is exactly what our country needs now, as we strive for a better future in a more challenging world."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 09, 2020, with the headline PAP team unveils plan for East Coast. Subscribe