'It's a lonely battle'

Opposition candidate Steve Chia is contesting the single ward of Chua Chu Kang in his third election

As told to Leong Ching
May 3, 2006
The Straits Times

I set my alarm for 7.45am and wake up to catch up on the news in the papers. I finish by 8.45 and leave home to drop my wife off at the MRT. She works in retail in Orchard Road.

Before the electoral boundaries report came out, I used to spend half an hour with my baby before dropping her off at my mother-in-law's.

I have meetings, plan for elections, and meet with my volunteers. Days before any Parliament sitting, I used to go to the Parliament library.

For example, three weeks before the budget sitting, I was doing research preparing questions and crunching figures for the budget speech debate.

When I became an MP for the first time, I didn't know how to prepare for a Parliament sitting. So I asked two retiring PAP MPs - and they asked me to seek the librarian's help.

I used to do some monitoring and trading of equity stocks but I have stopped since early last year.

As an NCMP, my allowance is $1,800 a month - roughly 15 per cent of an elected MP's. I am surviving. I keep my costs down and supplement the allowance from my trading, investments and life-coaching services.

When I go to the ATM, I withdraw $50 and I try to make it last as long as I can. My wife supports the baby's expenses and child-care.

I usually skip lunch because I have a heavy breakfast - noodle, lontong, whatever the coffeeshop sells. I have another meal at 4pm, just before I do walkabouts at night. I often eat alone unless I have appointments.

Now, I am almost a full-time politician, planning and strategising. I go for block visits with two to four helpers.

They walk with me, help me knock on doors and talk to residents. I give out my handphone number to residents - I get people calling, telling me I should do this and that.

I tell them 'come and help me'. Not many do. They just want to SMS and e-mail. It is a lonely battle for me.

I try to finish at 9pm usually. I take along a cooler bag of 100 Plus and we drink it at the void deck. There is a brief discussion about how everyone feels about the ground.

By 9.30pm, we are done. I will take them home or to the MRT. After that, I will go my mother-in-law's place and have a meal before taking the whole family home.

I used to go on the exercise machine for an hour but with all the walkabouts now, I am probably over-exercised.

By midnight, we put the baby to sleep. I shower, catch up on e-mail and by 2am, we try to sleep too.