Ready to stand

Ms Jaslyn Go, SDP candidate for Yuhua SMC, says she is now older, more confident

A member of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) since 2007, Ms Jaslyn Go was touted as a potential candidate in the Yuhua single member constituency during the 2011 General Election.

The party eventually fielded former political detainee and lawyer Teo Soh Lung, who garnered 33.1 per cent of the votes, against the People's Action Party's Grace Fu, who won the election with 66.9 per cent of votes.

But now, Ms Go, 43, who said she is older and more confident, feels that she is ready to represent Yuhua residents in Parliament.

The Yuhua SMC SDP candidate said her husband was the one who encouraged her to stand in the election.

"Initially, he was not very supportive, I guess (being afraid of standing up against the Government) happens to other people as well... The element of fear is very real," she said.

But it was experiencing at first-hand the challenges of running a small-medium enterprise that made him realise someone needed to speak up for SME owners in Parliament.

Ms Go is sales director of a construction company she set up with her husband.

While speaking to TNP after the SDP's rally in Jurong Stadium on Sunday night, Ms Go's 10-year-old daughter cut in to say bye before heading home earlier with family members.

"Good night! Sleep ah, before I come back," she called after her, then jumped right back into the interview, barely missing a beat.

Asked if she was worried about exposing her children to the public eye, possibly risking attacks online, Ms Go brushed off the suggestion.

"I still have hope that this election should be clean and fair and just, and that we should not resort to (personal attacks)," she said.

MS JASLYN GO ON...

SEXISM IN POLITICS

After she was confirmed as the candidate for Yuhua SMC, Ms Go was asked by a journalist for her views about the "battle of the beauties".

She is up against the People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Grace Fu, who is defending the Yuhua seat which she has held since 2006.

"I told her (the journalist) that we should not label the competition this way, just because two females are running for elections... No, we should be weighed on our merits and credentials," she said.

Asked about National Solidarity Party candidate Cheo Chai Chen's recent remarks that PAP candidate Tin Pei Ling's new mother status is her weakness in this electoral campaign, Ms Go bristled.

"Whether politician or not, if you're a female, you should not be labelled in that manner.

"Tin Pei Ling is a mother, and she should be proud to be a mother. And also my fellow opposition, Kevryn (Lim), she was also attacked for being a single mother. We are mothers, whether single or married. I don't like the sexist labelling," she said.

CHANGE IN ELECTORATE

Since 2011, there are more issues that people are unhappy about, said Ms Go. Some of these issues include the Central Provident Fund and high housing prices, she said.

"Singaporeans have to ask themselves, after GE2011, is life better?" she asked.

Some of the issues that she hopes to champion include the high cost of healthcare, rental and transportation.

"Many logistic companies that rely on lorries and vans to do delivery go bust because the Certificate of Entitlement (cost) is so high," Ms Go said.

This also applies to COE prices of motorcycles, she added, citing an example of a resident who works the late shift, ending long after the trains and buses have ended, but does not earn enough to take a taxi home every night.

"These are the issues I think the Government should acknowledge. Parliament always needs a strong opposition voice, we cannot continue to give PAP a blank cheque," she said.

A CLEAN AND FAIR FIGHT

Throughout her rally speech, a theme that constantly came up was a "clean and fair" contest.

Ms Go said that whenever she saw Ms Fu on the campaign trail, the two women would exchange greetings and wish each other well.

After one of Ms Go's banners was defaced, she made a complaint to the Elections Department.

"I hope all these things can be sorted out so we can have a fair and good election," Ms Go said.

She added that the media also has a role to play: "I don't need you to sing praises about me, but a fair report will be helpful... Nothing about personal attacks, I don't wish the same for my worthy opponent Ms Grace Fu."

PROFILE

WHO:

Jaslyn Go

WHAT:

Sales director of an SME she co-owns with her husband

FAMILY:

Married, has a son, 11, and a daughter, 10

POLITICAL CAREER SO FAR:

2007: Joined the Singapore Democratic Part

lawsm@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Sept 9, 2015.
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