Every GE is about electing people with integrity and commitment: Chan Chun Sing
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Education Minister Chan Chun Sing at the PAP’s introduction of candidates for Aljunied GRC on April 13. One of the new candidates, Dr Faisal Abdul Aziz, is on the right.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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SINGAPORE - Beyond the number of seats that the PAP and opposition parties obtain, every general election is about electing people with integrity and commitment, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.
This is so that they can take care of residents at the local level, form a good government at the national level, and represent Singapore at the international level, Mr Chan, who is the PAP’s assistant secretary-general, said on April 13.
He was speaking at a media conference to unveil the PAP slate for opposition-held Aljunied GRC at Block 226 Serangoon Avenue 4.
The PAP aims to have a team with a mix of experienced and new members to earn Singaporeans’ mandate, amid the changing world order and uncertainties, he said.
Mr Chan added: “We aim to build a team that can command the respect and confidence of international partners to take us seriously, especially in times of turbulence, so that people can continue to have faith in Singaporeans and Singapore to put their investments here.”
This will allow the Government to continue to create good jobs and good prospects for fellow Singaporeans, he said.
Mr Chan’s message comes a day after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that the upcoming general election will be held at a time of great global uncertainty.
Singaporeans will have to decide on the team they trust to chart the way forward for the nation, he said at a press conference on April 12 to unveil his team for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.
At the Aljunied event, Mr Chan noted that while many Singaporeans want a PAP government, they also want some opposition in Parliament.
The party takes every contest seriously and does not take any outcome as a given, he added.
“No PAP-held division is a sure win.”
Neither should opposition-held wards feel that they are the only ones with the responsibility to uphold the opposition presence in Parliament, he said.
The PAP teams in opposition-held Hougang, Aljunied and Sengkang have an especially tough mission as they are the “underdogs”, Mr Chan said.
The teams have worked hard and are focused on earning the trust and respect of the residents there, even though they may not have the chance to be in Parliament, he said.
Mr Lim Boon Heng, chairman of Singapore’s investment company Temasek and a former PAP MP, was also at the press conference.
The PAP will field four new faces to contest the WP-held Aljunied GRC
Ms Chan Hui Yuh, who is the only remaining member from the PAP’s 2020 slate, will lead the five-member team.
The boundaries for Aljunied remain largely unchanged in the coming election, though three polling districts in Tampines West – comprising 3,834 voters – have been moved from Aljunied GRC to the PAP-held Tampines GRC.
As at Feb 1, Aljunied GRC has 144,032 registered electors.
