WP 'happy with crop of candidates'

The Workers' Party (WP) is happy with the crop of candidates it has managed to attract to field for the upcoming polls, said its chairman Sylvia Lim.

The party will put up a record 28 candidates, including possibly 16 newbies, across five group representation constituencies (GRCs) and five single-member constituencies (SMCs). Among the 10 rookies introduced since Wednesday were two lawyers, two businessmen and a professor.

The party had not found it harder to draw candidates despite the shift in the PAP towards having more grassroots figures on its slate, she said. "We respect the right of everyone to join whichever party they want. I think that we are still happy that we are able to attract what we think are good candidates to offer to the public, so we let the public make that judgment," she added.

She said that this move by the PAP might stem from the ruling party's own perception that it was "elitist in the past".

"I perceive that they are trying to show they are connected with the ground. They are trying to show that more expressly perhaps because they perceive there's the perception they were a bit elitist.

"As to how important it is, I won't be able to answer for Singaporeans," said Ms Lim, speaking at the WP's third round of candidate introductions yesterday.

Among the PAP "grassroots" candidates with more than 10 years of grassroots service to be fielded for the Sept 11 elections is Ms Cheryl Chan, 38, who works in a gas and engineering firm and is set to be fielded in Fengshan SMC.

Others include senior IT manager Lee Hong Chuang, 45, Hougang SMC; former public servant Joan Pereira, 48, Tanjong Pagar GRC; and Ms Sun Xueling, 36, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

But Ms Lim stopped short of speculating if the PAP's change in candidate selection would affect the WP's branding as a party able to attract grassroots and private-sector profiles. Ms Lim also declined to make guesses on WP's vote share for the coming elections.

"One thing we've learnt about the election here is that people can swing significantly during the course of the campaign," she said.

"In the short period (of the nine-day hustings) many things can happen. Even a single sentence said by someone can make people vote differently."

The four WP candidates unveiled yesterday are corporate lawyer He Ting Ru, 32, businessman Adrian Sim, 43, real estate agent Ron Tan, 30, and polytechnic lecturer L. Somasundaram, 52. Mr Somasundaram stood at the 2011 polls in Moulmein-Kallang GRC.

The spotlight was on Ms He yesterday, who fielded four out of the seven questions posed to candidates. She joined the party in 2011, after spending about a decade working and studying abroad.

Ms He said many in her age group worry about "the pressures associated with setting out in life, about the cost of housing, the cost of having children, and the cost of care for their parents and grandparents. "They are also concerned about the dilution of the Singaporean core, and the impact large-scale immigration has on our society."

She also said "many Singaporeans felt that there were a lot of short-term solutions being pushed out without proper and due considerations for a... more holistic approach towards policymaking".

In touch with concerns of younger families

Ron Tan Jun Yen, 30

Occupation: Real estate agent with PropNex and director of an investment company Family: Engaged

Education: Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia

Hobbies: I enjoy cooking for my loved ones and constituency volunteers.

The volunteers often rush down from work to help out in the Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS) and I like to cook and ensure they are well taken care of.

Why politics?
I think it's important for my generation to step up and partake in shaping the identity of my country.

Volunteering as a case writer at the MPS, I experienced the despair and frustration of families affected by certain policies. I empathised with their situations and felt that I should be doing more to assist them.

Why you?
I believe I am ready to take on the roles and responsibilities; to be the platform to raise the concerns of the people in order to build a better future for Singapore and our future generations.

What issues will you focus on? I'm getting married next year and will be starting a family of my own in the near future. Matters concerning younger families are close to me. Singaporeans should also look forward to a great community spirit and living environment.

Favourite spot in Singapore?
The wet markets and hawker centres. My late father used to take me along on his grocery shopping trips. They remind me of him and the Singapore I grew up in.

Interest in issues involving the old and the poor

Adrian Sim Tian Hock, 43

Occupation: Businessman

Family: Married with twin boys aged eight

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration from La Trobe University, Australia

Hobbies: Cycling regularly with a group of friends.

I also enjoy fishing, and sometimes my sons accompany me. I enjoy photography too. I find it amazing that things can look so different when seen from another perspective.

Why politics?
I want to play a more active role in helping the less privileged and the elderly. I come from a low-income household. I started selling newspapers and ondeh ondeh before I was 10, to lighten my parents' burden. I've lived through such circumstances, and I understand how helpless the poor can feel. I'm glad to have received support from people, such as my relatives.

Now that I'm a father, I want to be a role model to my children and help them understand that it is important to give back to society. I want to create a more caring and compassionate Singapore for them.

Why you?
So that there will be more alternate voices in Parliament, that will help make policy formulation more balanced.

What issues will you focus on?
Easier, and more accessible assistance for the less privileged; financial support for the needy; and relooking the structure of the education system, in particular the Primary School Leaving Examination.

Favourite spot in Singapore?
Hougang, because that is where home is.

Keen to improve quality of life for families

He Ting Ru, 32

Occupation: Lawyer

Family: Single

Education: Natural Sciences degree from the University of Cambridge before going on to read law in London

Hobbies: I cycle, read, practise kendo and enjoy playing musical instruments.

Why politics?
I believe it is the most direct way of shaping our country's future. I would like to see better balance in our political system and more inclusiveness and respect for different viewpoints in our public sphere.

I started volunteering with WP in May 2011, after coming back to Singapore. I decided to join the party in 2013. I saw for myself the dedication and sincerity of my colleagues and how we need to work together towards improving the lives of fellow Singaporeans.

Why you?
I believe that I bring a wealth of experience from working internationally and also working on the ground here in Singapore in the last four years. I've done Meet-the-People Sessions almost weekly.

If called upon, I will serve my fellow Singaporeans with dedication and communicate their concerns to ensure that we lay down the right foundation for a more robust and sustainable future for our country.

What issues will you focus on?
Young Singaporeans face many pressures these days as we set out in life. We need to make structural reforms to improve quality of life for the Singapore family, and to level access to opportunities for all. There is also scope for improvement in our care infrastructure and its affordability.

Favourite spot in Singapore? My home. It is where my heart is. There's nothing I enjoy more than sitting down with my family to a home-cooked meal prepared with love.

leepearl@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 29, 2015.
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