SingFirst to fight for 'social justice'

Singaporeans First (SingFirst) party chief Tan Jee Say yesterday said his party will campaign for "social justice" this general election.

"This country has been divided by the government's policies on immigration that pitted our citizens against foreigners and employers," he said, hitting out at what he calls liberal immigration policies by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) government.

The 61-year-old former presidential candidate was speaking at SingFirst's office in Tras Street, where he introduced the first batch of the party's candidates contesting the Sept 11 polls.

Market risk manager Chirag Desai, 38, IT consultant Wong Chee Wai, 44, trainer and communication and media consultant Fahmi Rais, 48, and sales executive Melvyn Chiu Weng Hoe, 36, will join Mr Tan and be fielded in either Tanjong Pagar GRC or Jurong GRC.

"You won't know who is going where until Nomination Day," said Mr Tan.

He described the candidates - who all hold master's degrees - as brave and passionate people who have stepped forward because of their love for Singapore.

If his party is elected, SingFirst will push to provide monthly cash allowances of $300 for children and the elderly, and subsidise healthcare, transport and childcare fees. "We will not question those who come to us for help," he said.

The party will also root for a minimum wage and abolish the current system of certificates of entitlement for vehicle ownership.

"We have a $6 billion social safety net to help the poor and middle- class Singaporeans," reads the party manifesto, released yesterday. "We invest in our own people, strengthen families and will not bankrupt Singapore."

The number of foreigners in Singapore is expected to be a hot-button issue for the coming general election.

Mr Tan said the influx of foreigners has taken away locals' jobs and places in schools. "As a result, locals' self-esteem has been destroyed," he said.

The party also unveiled its campaign slogan: "Restore our nation".

It stems from the need to "take back our country from the government that has given the country away to foreigners", he said. However, he does not see his party as xenophobic.

"We do realise that top companies actually are making a lot of investments. That's at the top level," he said. "We have the work permit level, which is down below... What we are really concerned with is actually the (white-collar workers). This is where Singaporeans really get squeezed."

He had said previously that he wanted to contest Tanjong Pagar GRC because residents there had not had the chance to vote for more than 20 years. His team is expected to compete with the incumbent PAP team, led by labour chief Chan Chun Sing, who is also a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

The constituency had been won by the PAP in walkovers since it was created in 1991.

Founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died in March this year, had been MP for Tanjong Pagar since 1955.

Mr Tan did not outline town council-specific plans for Tanjong Pagar GRC when asked, but would only say that "estates are well-run". His party would focus on "national issues because HDB, the town council is a non-issue as far as we are concerned".

Instead, his party will focus on national concerns such as labour, immigration and education.

"We will have a proper handover and scrutiny of the accounts before we take over," said Mr Tan, who stressed that he has people with "town council management experience".

For example, Mr Chirag, who graduated from Columbia University, has a Master of Science in financial engineering.

At the last election, Mr Tan contested Holland-Bukit Timah GRC on a Singapore Democratic Party ticket. His team won 39.9 per cent of the vote.

Later in August 2011, Mr Tan won 25 per cent of the vote in a four-way fight for the presidency.

SingFirst said it plans to unveil its second batch of candidates today.

Ready to tackle '24-hour issues'

Fahmi Rais, 48

Occupation: Communication and media consultant

Family: Married to a 39-year-old housewife; they have four children, aged between six and 19.

Education: Master's in mass communication from Griffith University in Australia; Bachelor of Law (Honours) from the University of London.

Hobbies: I spend most of my spare time attending and giving courses in personal branding, body language and networking.

Why politics?
I have been involved for 26 years in community service, with such organisations as Malay-Muslim self-help group Mendaki and National Youth Council.

I've noticed that some problems cannot be solved at the ground level. It takes political will to change policies in order to help more people and change things for the better.

Why you?
I've been on the ground, and I'd like to see myself as someone who is connected to the people. I want to step forward, and I feel the time is right.

What issues will you focus on?
I will focus on the issues Singaporeans face in a 24-hour timeframe - from the time they wake up until they are back at home with their families and going to sleep. The issues include bills, transport and work challenges.

So long as these 24-hour issues are addressed, we will have a very happy Singapore.

Favourite spot in Singapore?
None. I've lost my favourite places: the former National Library and Van Kleef Aquarium.

Concerned about immigration issues

Wong Chee Wai , 44

Occupation: IT consultant

Family: Divorced, with one daughter, 11

Education: Master of Science in information studies from Nanyang Technological University; Bachelor of Science (Honours) in applied computing from Leeds Beckett University, Britain.

Hobbies: Photography

Why politics?
I want to be a voice for the people. I've listened to the people around me lamenting about the rising costs of living, and I don't feel they have been heard by the Government. I want to bring their sentiments, thoughts and feelings into Parliament, and have a debate on how to make Singaporeans' lives better.

Why you?
I am an only child in a single-parent family, and my mother had to take on two jobs to keep us going. Growing up, I've had meals consisting of just rice, egg and soya sauce. I know what the lower-income group in Singapore goes through, and I understand their issues well enough to help them.

What issues will you focus on?
I will focus on immigration policies, and the poor in Singapore. I felt the Government did not consult the people enough for the Population White Paper. The number - 6.9 million - seemed to have been forced down people's throats. I tutor some children from low-income families, and I talk to their parents as well, so I've been in touch with the ground. I can represent their concerns well in Parliament.

Favourite spot in Singapore?
Any school in Singapore. Interacting with children makes me smile.

Eye on town councils' accounting policies

Chirag Desai, 38

Occupation: Risk manager at an international bank

Family: Single

Education: Master of Science in financial engineering from Columbia University; Bachelor of Science (Honours) in chemical engineering from the National University of Singapore

Hobbies: Volunteering and reading up on government policies in finance, social work and education

Why politics?
I joined SingFirst because I want to advocate their policies for a fair society, strong families and esteemed people. This will definitely make Singapore a much better place for all of us to live in.

Why you?
I hope to bring to the team my finance background in risk management and risk governance. For example, I want to examine accounting policies in town councils.

What issues will you focus on?
I want to create a more robust framework for town councils which includes more efficient accounting procedures. Town councils right now do not have a standardised governance framework, so I hope to come up with a format that will help Singaporeans understand town councils' money matters.

Favourite spot in Singapore?
East Coast Park. I'm a strong advocate of family time on weekends. All Singaporeans work long hours, trying to make ends meet, and I feel we have little time for our families. So I enjoy going to East Coast Park to see happy people spending time, picnicking and exercising with their families and friends

Taking care of people, who are national assets

Melvyn Chiu Weng Hoe, 36

Occupation: Sales executive at a multinational company dealing with food sanitation and hygiene

Family: Single

Education: Bachelor in business administration from University of Canberra; Master in international business from Monash University

Hobbies: Cooking and golf

Why politics?
I want to serve the people.

Why you?
I am young, energetic and I can relate to people who are in my age group. These are the people who are starting families and have problems affording childcare and their first home.

What issues will you focus on?
Placing Singaporeans at the heart of the nation is very critical because people are our assets.

We have to groom them, we have to make sure that these assets are properly taken care of, to ensure that Singapore progresses in the future.

Favourite spot in Singapore?
My home, because I'm really comfortable in it.

I live with my mother in a small four-room HDB flat, but I'm really happy there.

Candidate's firm looking into refund complaints

A police report was lodged last month against Raistar Entertainment, an events management firm owned by potential SingFirst candidate Fahmi Rais.

The report was circulating yesterday on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.

In June, Raistar cancelled a concert that was to be held that month, at the Hard Rock Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa, due to poor response, but the report alleged that the firm did not make prompt refunds.

Mr Fahmi, speaking to The Straits Times yesterday, said the firm is still trying to make the refunds. "Whenever the company cancels concerts, we make losses. We are working on paying everyone back."

According to a post on Facebook two months ago, fewer than 90 people bought tickets to a concert by Indonesian boy band Coboy Junior. Raistar was aiming to sell 1,000 tickets.

"The amount collected from tickets sold is insufficient to even pay for the venue, not to mention the artistes, flight, local transport, meals and hotel," the post said.

"We seek your patience as we raise the amount. We guarantee... all tickets will be refunded."

awcw@sph.com.sg

waltsim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 29, 2015.
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