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The battle for Hougang
Much hinges on whether residents will bite into $100 million upgrading carrot
By Erica Tay, Ken Kwek
May 5, 2006
The Straits Times
WHETHER opposition MP Low Thia Khiang can hold on to his constituency of Hougang is now a hundred-million-dollar question.
With People's Action Party (PAP) challenger Eric Low offering residents an upgrading carrot worth $100 million, the battle for the single-seat ward has gone into overdrive.
Recently, at a rally, the PAP man said Hougang's infrastructure and environment, when compared to neighbouring Aljunied GRC, are like 'Beauty and the Beast'.
He proposed a 10-year upgrading plan, including playgrounds, ramps
and lift upgrading. Backing it are Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.
But will residents bite?
Pivotal to the outcome are three factors: the force of Mr Low Thia Khiang's personality; his respectable track record as chairman of the Hougang Town Council; and the persuasive power of his rally speeches which have decried the PAP's use of upgrading to win votes.
Striking a chord with residents
RETIRED odd-job worker Tan Ah Hing, 66, has been a resident in Hougang for 15 years, as long as Mr Low has been his MP.
He said: 'Mr Low Thia Khiang is a very friendly man, and he has principles. Whatever he says, he will do, and he won't make promises he can't fulfil.'
Mr Johnny Lee, 56, a shipping clerk, pointed out that thousands of people came to Hougang earlier this week to hear Mr Low's rally speech. 'I brought my own chair to sit in the field. It was ren shan ren hai (a mountain and sea of people), and I could hardly see him from the back.'
In his rally speeches, Mr Low Thia Khiang has rejected the PAP's practice of selective upgrading based on voter support, saying it is the Government's duty to provide such programmes free to all Singaporeans, especially lift upgrading.
He buttressed his argument with the example of his own town council, which has provided 58 upgraded lifts to 24 blocks in Hougang without charging residents a single cent.
'If the Hougang Town Council, a small outfit with limited funds, can provide free upgrading to residents, why can't the resource-rich PAP do it as well?' he asked at several rallies.
His argument has struck a chord with many residents in Hougang, a town of predominantly older, working-class voters
Some are indignant about the PAP's upgrading carrot.
'Don't talk to me about upgrading. The mention of it makes me fume,' said lorry driver Ong Eng Hock, 54, calling the policy of giving priority to wards which vote PAP unfair.
'We all contribute to the economy. How can you say we will make your estate beautiful only if you vote my way?' he asked.
Others such as delivery man Toh Kee have practical reasons for rejecting the upgrading carrot.
'If the PAP wins, the upgrading will be very large-scale, very ma fan (troublesome) and I will have to pay. I'm already 63 years old, but I can still climb the stairs. I don't want to go through the trouble,' he said in Mandarin.
However, there are some who agree with the PAP that the estate is getting old and in need of a makeover.
Factory worker S.H Neo, 57, said: 'I would like upgrading and more facilities. The PAP has more money and ability to do a better job.'
Others such as company director M.K. Tan, who is in his 60s, do not think the town is in a bad condition, but want more facilities.
'Frankly, the estate is in good shape. But if Eric Low can bring us better amenities, I may consider voting for him,' he said.
Some residents are also impressed by the support Mr Eric Low is receiving from Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who has said he would speak up for the PAP man's plans in Parliament.
Two months ago, Mr Goh was tasked by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong with winning back the opposition wards of Hougang and Potong Pasir for the PAP.
Odd-job worker Chan Kok Chan, 38, is convinced Mr Goh's many visits to Hougang will have an effect on voters on Polling Day tomorrow.
'Some say Mr Goh's presence here shows that the PAP doesn't have confidence in Eric. But I think it gives Eric more confidence, it shows that the PAP really wants him to win. I think some people will vote for Eric to give Mr Goh mian zi (face).'
Although few would dismiss altogether the impact of Mr Goh's substantial reputation on voters, Mr Eric Low still has to overcome a couple of major obstacles.
One is his role as adviser to the ward's PAP grassroots organisations. It is a double-edged sword as many residents view him as their 'second MP' - another official whom they can turn to with their municipal problems, another source of administrative and financial aid.
This privilege of enjoying PAP-funded services, on top of those provided by incumbent Low Thia Khiang, is not lost on the Workers' Party (WP) chief. He has gleefully exploited it on several occasions.
Most recently, it was the free breakfast Mr Eric Low gave weekly to elderly residents in Hougang. Said Mr Low Thia Khiang: 'Where else do you get free breakfasts, one-dollar shark's fin soup and abalone porridge, other than in the opposition wards?'
Strongest weapon in PAP's arsenal
ANOTHER obstacle the PAP candidate has had to contend with is the worry among some lower-income people that they are going to lose their homes.
A recent visit to Blocks 3 and 4 in Hougang Avenue 3 left the 57-year-old feeling 'discouraged'.
'Residents asked me if it was true that these two blocks of rental flats will be torn down if I was elected. I don't know who spread these rumours,' he told The Straits Times.
He has repeatedly assured them that there are no plans to tear down the blocks. 'I told them, if these flats are torn down, where are the 1,000 people going to stay? At my house?'
However, he was 'encouraged' by the warmer reception that greeted him during his campaigning at the private housing enclave of Realty Park, compared to 2001.
In the end, the strongest weapon in his arsenal against Mr Low Thia Khiang in this election is the multi-million-dollar upgrading plan.
When he shaved the WP man's vote share from 58 per cent in the 1997 General Election to 55 per cent at the last polls, the incumbent attributed his reduced popularity to the upgrading carrot.
Then-prime minister Goh Chok Tong had offered to upgrade the estate if the WP chief's share of votes was reduced to 52 per cent.
Now, the PAP has raised the ante, with details on how Hougang will become an Eric Low showpiece.
This 'second MP' is earnest in wanting to improve the living environment of residents, but says he cannot do much without control of the town council.
He has declared himself the 'underdog' in this contest, and even the PAP has admitted that Hougang will be the most difficult opposition ward to reclaim, given the middle ground of voters devoted to Mr Low Thia Khiang.
From interviews conducted by The Straits Times, the fiery Teochew-speaker appears well-liked, and may well be ready to claim his fourth term in Parliament.
If he does, the critical question will then be: By how many votes?
FAST FACTS
Candidates
People's Action Party: Mr Eric Low, 57, general manager of security company Cisco.
Workers' Party: Mr Low Thia Khiang, 49, businessman.
Number of voters 23,741
Constituency profile
Hougang's 12,000 homes range from private landed houses, HUDC maisonettes and condominiums to rental flats. However, most of the constituency's residents are working-class Chinese.
Many are Teochew-speaking families, with the majority of residents living in three- and four-room HDB flats.
There are about 9,500 HDB flats in the ward, some 600 HUDC flats and about 1,200 private homes, including 180 landed homes in Realty Park.
Around 40 per cent of Hougang residents are aged 40 and above.
Electoral history
When the ward was first contested in 1988, PAP's Mr Tang Guan Seng beat Workers' Party's Mr Lim Chiu Liang with a majority of 58.96 per cent.
But WP's Mr Low Thia Khiang emerged to take Hougang back fromthe PAP in 1991 and has defended his seat since, defeating PAP candidates Heng Chee How in 1997 and Eric Low in 2001.
Factors in their favour
PAP
- $100m upgrading plan, including playgrounds and lift upgrading
- SM Goh's backing for Eric Low's campaign and makeover plans
WP
- The force of incumbent Low Thia Khiang's personality
- His track record as chairman of the Hougang Town Council
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