Outreach In Potong Pasir SMC

We knocked at every door. From floor to floor and block to block, we walked. From Toa Payoh Lorong 8 to Potong Pasir and back and forth, we walked. I can't remember how many times we did this and we met and spoke with so many people.

From stall to stall, coffeeshop to coffeeshop, table to table, shop to shop, street to street, we walked.  There were people who recognised me, called out my name, waved to me, embraced me, wiped my sweat and asked to take pictures with me.

The people in Potong Pasir SMC make me feel so much at home and I feel more and more connected to this ward with each visit. They invited me into their homes, talked to me about their experiences and encouraged me to come visit them more often. This ward has so much character and the residents are so approachable and direct that you can't help liking them. 

I enjoy doing my walkabouts in this ward and meeting the residents. It's such a joy each time I walk here. And my team feels it too.

Why I cannot join SPP to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Some netizens have expressed their wish that I avoid a 3-corner fight with SPP and reconsider the suggestion by a cadre member of SPP to join them instead to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

I am glad that there is an intense interest in the contest in Potong Pasir SMC which would otherwise have been just another one of those constituencies with only 2 choices for voters in the coming general elections.

Please allow me to explain why the suggestion is not workable. 

1. I have no wish to be a party-hopper and made this commitment to myself when I joined the National Solidarity Party ("NSP"). I repeated this commitment to myself when I left NSP. 

2. There are many former members from NSP who have joined SPP. If I join SPP, I will be seen as part of the NSP faction in SPP and this will not be in the best interests of SPP.

3. Every political party has its internal politics and I am totally unfamiliar with SPP's culture and internal workings. And I have no wish to be embroiled in any internal party politics at this time.

4. It would not be fair for me to displace anyone in the team that has already been formed to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh for all the efforts that he/she may have put in.

5. It takes time for the members in SPP's team for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC to know each other and they would have formed their synergy by now. It would not be right for me to disrupt their team spirit at this crucial time.

I thank all those netizens who support my decision to contest in Potong Pasir SMC and those who encourage me to remain firm in my decision. May the best candidate in Potong Pasir SMC win on his or her own merits.

THEME: Medical Care and Costs

There is an old saying by Singaporeans that derides the medical costs in Singapore. It says that in Singapore, you cannot afford to fall sick and it is better to die. The underlying sentiment is that the costs of medical care and treatment is beyond affordability.

Medical costs have been constantly rising like the earth's surface temperature and in the last five years, there has been a sharp rise in private healthcare costs (Read HERE). The fastest rising component appears to be doctors' bills. According to a report, the costs of doctors in private practice have jumped very significantly and even a simple lumbar disc surgery by a junior doctor has shot up 5 times from S$5,000 to S$ 25,000. The other components that have risen rapidly are clinic costs and overheads.

When private medical costs shoot up, there will be a flow of private patients into the public healthcare system. Medication and lab tests fee have risen across the board. Over at the 18 neighbourhood polyclinics, even the costs of consultation have risen. Singaporean adults pay up to S$11.90 and children and non-pioneer generation patients pay a maximum of S$6.80 for basic consultation. Up from S$11.00 to S$11.30 and S$6.10 and S$6.40 in October 2014. The reason given was that operating costs such as utilities, infrastructure, equipment and inflation, have gone up.

There does not appear to be a ceiling to the medical costs that patients have to pay and the sky is the limit. The recent case of a Singapore surgeon charging a foreign patient S$ 24.8 million has sent shock waves throughout the land. Doctoring is seen as the most lucrative professions to be in and many doctors prefer to practice plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine which are considered the most profitable. With high medical costs, "pay as charged" medical insurance became popular but these policies began to see medical costs rising even higher as they encourage doctors to charge higher fees with insurers footing the bill. Medical tourism brought in well-heeled patients who are willing to pay high charges for health screenings and various surgical procedures, leading to a vicious cycle of higher and higher medical costs.

How can we address the concerns of ever-rising medical costs in a fast expanding population where the number of aged people is growing rapidly and further ensure that all those who need medical care will not be left out? I will share some of my thoughts in my next blog.

THEME: Employment

One of the biggest bugbears for Singaporeans has been the growing competition for jobs as a result of the long-standing "foreign talent" policy. 

The policy was intended to supplement our local workforce with expatriate talents to sharpen and maintain Singapore's competitiveness in the new global economy. This policy initially saw an influx of British and European expatriates into our banking, financial and advertising sectors who had the relevant skills, expertise and network that made a real difference. Later, it developed into a fashion statement to have these expatriates working in the company, a reminder of our colonial mentality.

With an aging population and falling birth rate, the "foreign talent" policy took a twist and denigrated into what is generally perceived as "cheaper foreign talent" policy. Combined with the open door policy on immigration based on the white paper to expand our population to 6.9 million by year 2030, Singapore became the hot destination for PMTs (professionals, managers, executives and managers) coming from Europe, China, India, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. 

These foreign job-seekers were attracted by the strong Sing dollar and our favourable job climate for foreigners, fostered by constant refrains from the policy-makers that gave these PMETS the mistaken belief that we needed them more than they needed us. Whilst Singaporeans were answering to the calls to re-skill or upgrade their skills to improve their productivity, PMETs were recruited to fill job vacancies to avoid down-time. Contract appointments soon became more permanent appointments and younger PMETs with greater work-commitment were seen to be favoured over aging local PMETs.

The lower remuneration packages for foreign PMETs, as compared to Singaporeans, are attractive enough to make them leave their families and home countries and to work and live in Singapore. Apart from better pay packages and working conditions, housing schemes were introduced to provide them with affordable and comfortable accommodations. These schemes paved the way for permanent residents ("PR") to own HDB flats and to bring their families here to be with them. The number of PRs owning HDB flats run into the tens of thousands (Read HERE). Amongst these PR-owned flats, thousands are rented out by PRs who spend most of their time outside Singapore and there are also PRs who own also own private property at the same time. A diaspora of foreign communities quickly emerged in our local housing estates, giving rise to communal tensions due to cultural differences.

According to the statistics in 2014 (Read HERE), there are now 3.343 million Singapore citizens and more than 527,000 permanent residents living in Singapore. An average of 18,500 foreigners are granted citizenship each year with 30,000 new permanent residency given out (Read HERE). Singaporeans are getting hot under their collars and many are feeling immense pressure competing for work, accommodation and transport in their own land from these new citizens and permanent residents. Singapore-born PMETs who have lost their jobs are attributing their unemployment to cheaper foreign and many are unable to find re-employment in the same line. PMETs. 

From a warm and hospitable people that was always ready to embrace new arrivals onto our shores, Singaporeans are now generally perceived as being nationalistic and less tolerant of foreigners who live and work here. What can we do to help assuage the feelings of a people that has been hurt by a long period of "hands-off" approach in job competition without hurting the economic progress and stability of our nation?

Debunking the myths about Party Candidates and Independent Candidates

Some people think that independent candidates are working all by themselves and are very limited manpower and that therefore, they may not be able to run a town council. They even think that conversely, political parties and party candidates have better resources and are better able to run town councils. If we care to think deeper, these are merely assumptions and are not absolute truths.

Political parties and party candidates cannot merely rely on the identity of their organisation alone to reach out to voters. There is physical work to do - reaching out to people and engaging them and for all these you need supporters and various resources. Identity alone as a registered political party is not going to make things work which is why some registered political parties are unable to function at all or do so effectively.

As a potential independent candidate, I do not come under any party banner. This is by my own choice. I do not have a party identity but rely on my own identity. I am what you see and but not everything you see. I am not a one-man show and do not do everything by myself. Behind me, I have a strong team of supporters who are dedicated to help me in my candidacy.

As you would have noticed, I have done substantial groundwork. The amount of work that I have been able to do on the ground and so extensively speak for themselves. It would not have been possible without the support of my team of supporters.

As a matter of fact, when news of my departure from the National Solidarity Party was released, various political parties were quick to invite me to join them. Besides knowing the extent and quality of my work, they are also interested in the support that I have in terms of manpower and resources. The fact is that, with my team of supporters, I am in a position to compete against any party candidate standing for election in any single-member constituency and run a town council. 

I will, however, emphasis that not all independent candidates come from the same mould. The supporting manpower and resources would be different for each of them. People should not discount an independent's potential simply because he has no political party to fall back on but should judge them by their work. My team functions like a party machinery and after the elections, there are plans to register a political party to provide a platform and support for those who prefer to be party candidates and subscribe to Peolitics.

We should be able to see the difference between form and substance when comparing party candidates with independent candidates. And you will be able to appreciate that some independent candidates may indeed be substantially better than party candidates.

Duck rice distribution at Potong Pasir on 4.08.2015

The duck rice stall at Blk 120 in Potong Pasir is relatively well known. The owner of the stall, Ah Seng, is actually a friendly man with a serious look. That evening, together with the volunteers from Project Awareness and Happy People, I visited a few blocks in Potong Pasir to distribute duck rice supplied by Ah Seng.

 

The rice was very well received and a few families told us of their problems. One resident needed a job and there are 9 people, including 4 young children, living in her 3 room flat. Another needed help to clear out their second-hand goods which were stocked up in their flat. They were dealing in second hand goods but their deteriorating health no longer permits them to do so. The husband has suffered a stroke and is semi-paralyzed whilst the wife has bent legs. Further, they could not sell their stocks at Sungei Road anymore. After the stocks are cleared out, they plan to rent out their rooms to receive some income.

One resident shared with us the plight of another resident who lives in a block that was not covered in our food distribution tonight. A father of 2 young children and a pregnant wife, this other resident recently landed himself in some trouble involving a foreign construction worker who had accosted his wife when she was alone in the flat. 

He had spent the day in court and I visited him in his flat. He told me what happened and looked deeply worried. I noticed that his house was in disarray and began to ask about his family situation. His two young boys, one in k2 and the other still in nursery, were bouncing on their rundown sofa as we spoke. He does not hold a steady job and works as a super-relief taxi-driver earning about $80 per day but he does not always get a taxi to drive. Previously he was working as a disaster relief cleaner with long irregular hours. These couple of days, he was not able to get a taxi to drive because many taxis are undergoing repairs. That means he has absolutely no income for the time being.

His pregnant wife was standing beside me as we talked and she brought their unpaid utility bills when I asked to see them. The flat belongs to his parents and his surviving aged mother was alone in a room. I enquired about her as I learned she suffered a stroke three years ago. He invited me to see her and I saw that her room was completely dark. He then switched on the room light and explained to me that his mother was born blind. Huddled in a blanket with a tube inserted into her nose, she was sitting at the edge of her bed and staring in one direction, constantly keeping her body in mild rocking motion. I greeted her and she responded.

He explains that he needed to bring his mother for physiotherapy everyday and she needs a certain medication and a special milk formula for her dyspepsia or a swallowing disorder due to her stroke. These items were costly. I could see that he was too embarrassed to ask for help and sensed his deep inner frustration. He seemed to me at the verge of breaking point, repeatedly trying to force back his tears. 

I arranged for some rations to be brought to his family immediately. A cash cheque for a sum of $150 was presented to him to help him tide over from the founder of Project Awareness Elson Soh. His smile on receiving the cash donation told me that a huge load has just been taken off his shoulders and that he has been pulled back from the brink of a nervous breakdown.

The volunteers will be back on another day to help him clean up his flat which was in a total mess. It was a distress signal that has gone unnoticed for some time and I was glad that we were there in the nick of time. Giving him more assurance that help is always at hand, I arranged for him to see me in my office so that I could help to look into to his legal trouble.

Everyone needs someone. There are people who are suffering quietly and dare not ask for help. Your timely gesture may just bring a ray of hope to someone in desperation.

Grand Old Dame of 100 Collecting Cardboards from Toa Payoh Lorong 8 to Potong Pasir

I saw her struggling to push her trolley of cardboards up the ramp at block 113 of Potong Pasir and moved to help her. In a jiff, she was rummaging through the dustbin behind the pillar in the void deck.

I squatted next to her as she was about to empty the contents of a paper box. I asked why she was collecting cardboxes. Her reply was that she needed to support herself. She lives alone in Punggol but collects cardboxes and old clothes from Lorong 8 Toa Payoh to Potong Pasir every day from morning 6am to night 9pm. When I asked her for her age, I could not believe her answer. She is 99 and turning 100 next April. She is undoubtedly the oldest collector of carboards in Singapore.

Her eyesight and hearing are still good but her body is permanently arched as a result of constantly bending down to collect cardboards. She has been doing this for many, many years. Her 3 children have left her and are no longer in touch with her. She has a grandson, abandoned by his parents and cared by her since young, who is in national service.

She makes about $20 a day, and sells about 150 kg of cardboards for a meagre $9. She is not receiving any financial help from the government as she finds it troublesome. She shares a one-room flat with a flatmate and pays her half share of the monthly rent which works out to about $200.

I shuddered at the thought that someone who is almost 100 years old, has to be collecting cardboards for a living and has not received any public assistance. My heart sank at the sight of her wrinkled hands and rugged fingers.

I asked for her permission to wheel her trolley around to get a feel of the weight of her trolley which was fully laden. When I pushed it back to her and asked where she will be wheeling it to, her answer startled me. She was going to wheel it to Lorong 8 in Toa Payoh and said that it will take her half an hour to do so.

Life has been really harsh to this grand old dame but she displays a resilience that puts everyone to shame. When she turns 100 in April, let's celebrate with her. Granny Chung Siew Ching. Meanwhile, if you get to see her around Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and Potong Pasir, do buy her drink and food. Thank you.

10 Reasons Why I Should Not Be Asked Not To Contest In Potong Pasir SMC

There are voices in the social media calling on DPP and me to give way to Mrs. Lina Chiam to have a straight fight with Mr. Sitoh Yih Ping in the coming elections. Now that DPP has agreed to withdraw from its contest, I can only anticipate that these dissenting voices will get louder as I am considered the only intervening party standing in the way. 

I have heard all the dissenting voices and their reasons and emotional outbursts. I have also heard the voices of many, many more who ask me to come to Potong Pasir to give them a chance to vote for me. For those who are against me contesting, please allow me to respectfully give you 10 reasons why I should not be asked to step away from contesting in Potong Pasir SMC: 

1. If the idea behind avoiding "multi-corner fights" is intended to show that unity to topple the ruling party at all costs, I am afraid I do not subscribe to the idea of toppling the government and opposing for the sake of opposing. This is not a debate but politics that concern our people and the nation. Although the ruling party is imperfect and has many areas where they fall short, there are still ways for us to help them improve and become better in taking care of our people's needs. What we need is to increase the number of good parliamentarians, regardless of party affiliation, to work together to ensure better governance. Maybe, there will be a coalition government one day but for now we have to act rationally, responsibly and reasonably so as not to compromise our nation's progress, stability and security. 

2. If we are fighting for a level playing field for politics, the landscape that I observe on my side is itself not level. There is no "opposition unity" to speak of and some parties are apparently more equal than others. Political parties ride roughshod over independent candidates and only those contesting against the ruling party under a party banner are invited to discussions on the GE. 

3. If we feel it is wrong for the ruling party to demand that an individual must enter the political arena to comment regularly on politics, why should it be right to deny an individual who decides not to join any political party, his rightful place to participate in the political arena as an independent candidate? 

4. I am a lawful citizen of this country. Besides my freedom of speech and other rights, I have the right to vote, be voted for as a candidate in an election and to choose where to stand. Is it democratic to infringe upon my right to stand as a candidate in my chosen constituency in the coming elections? 

5. If we are pressing for greater democracy, why do we continue to engage in the undemocratic act of horse-trading discussions to deter other parties from presenting their candidates for election which practically deprives the electorate of a real choice like what happens in our presidential elections? Are the political parties acting in the interest of the electorate in doing so? 

6. If we believe in greater democracy, why do we engage in the unsavoury practice of giving priority to a political party or candidate by virtue of their earlier participation. Carried to its logical conclusion, where does that leave future parties or candidates to stand for election if all the wards are "choped" (using colloquial parlance) like "choping" seats in a hawker centre by those who came earlier? 

7. It takes a lot of courage for one to become an independent candidate. It is easy to become an arm-chair critic and make snide remarks. But how many of our keyboard warriors have the courage to walk the talk and to make a difference that really matters? I do not have the luxury of hiding behind the facade of a party. Why is my courage to stand as an independent candidate not celebrated and encouraged but frowned upon instead?

8. I have walked the ground and spoken to many residents at random. There are residents who regret that their ward has been lost to the ruling party after 27 long years. There are also those who expressed that Mrs Lina Chiam may not get any more sympathy votes this time round and it pains them to see old and frail Mr. Chiam struggling in her walkabouts. When I hear all these feelings, am I supposed to simply ignore them and pretend that I did not hear them? With these feedback, my assessment is that if I do not contest in Potong Pasir SMC in the coming elections, it will continue to remain a ruling party ward. So, why should I not step in to offer my candidacy if it will help to win back Potong Pasir SMC? 

9. I have been doing voluntary work for a long, long time. Voluntary work finally led me into politics and I do each of my walkabouts and house visits diligently. I put in my utmost sincerity in whatever I do for people and they feel for me as much as I feel for them. I stand on my own two feet with strong backing from my team of dedicated supporters who give of their time and resources. I expect no sympathy votes and do not wish to win on hate votes against anyone. I would like people to vote for me because they believe in me and trust me, Why should I not run in Potong Pasir SMC when I firmly believe that I could do a better job than anyone else? 

10. There are potential candidates out there with strong credentials who do not wish to join any of the existing parties. As an independent candidate, it is my dream to make a breakthrough to encourage those people with talent to step forward and not be afraid to stand as independent candidates to fulfil their hidden desires to serve our people. I believe Potong Pair SMC, more than any others, is ready to help me make this dream come true. If I succeed, imagine what it will do for Singapore politics. Even if I do not, at least I dared to live my dream to do what I thought was best for the people I care for. Wouldn't you teach your children to do the same thing? 

If you are interested to understand more about my political ideology, which I term as "Peolitics", you may wish to visit my page.

Food Distribution in Potong Pasir

The distribution of rations at Potong Pasir with Project Awareness and Happy People took place today. Coincidentally, Mr. Sitoh Yi Ping, the current MP of Potong Pasir SMC, was in the vicinity. We shook hands and had a photograph taken together. I invited him to join our volunteers for the distribution but he was unable to make it.

There were volunteers who were themselves residents of Potong Pasir. Our volunteers visited a few blocks and met many elderly residents. They were happy to see our concern for them and shared with us the issues that bothered them. A number of them were disturbed by the construction works and spoke about how their peaceful living environment has been disrupted. The cleanliness of the estate has suffered and their homes are dusty. 

We were invited into their homes to look at wall cracks, leaking pipes and creaking doors. These problems have led some of them to fork out extra money to pay for rectification work. There was a resident who renovated her flat after being tired of waiting for the upgrading works to begin and went ahead to renovate her flat. However, after her renovation was completed, the upgrading works began and caused repeated damage to her flat.

Residents spoke fondly of Mr. Chiam and how they miss his personal touch. There were requests for help during our visits and even after the distribution, there were telephone calls from residents for us to visit them again. We moved on to King George's for lunch and bought some more rations to distribute to the lonely elderly residents that we met.

Those in need will not be forgotten and we will continue to reach out to as many of them as we can.

THEME: Thinking about Education

Singapore has repeatedly won wide acclaim in international maths and science competitions but yet in the last 50 years, we have not produced a single Nobel prize winner or a great mathematical formula or scientific invention. Is there something amiss in our educational system?

Education is the key that helps us unlock the intellectual resources that reside in our people and it seems that our key has not been able to adequately unlock the minds of our industrious students to help us achieve the makings of a great nation. Although creativity and innovation have been the declared goals of every education minister appointed in the last 20 years, they remain elusive. There is an urgent need to look deeper not only into our pedagogy but the values that are being imbued in our students who spend most of their time in school.

Our teachers are trained to help our students learn but unfortunately our students learn that their utmost priority is to do well in examinations is all that matters. We cannot put all the blame on their teachers because they are themselves the product of the same educational system. Such an attitude in learning is reinforced by the schools' teaching curricula which emphasises being exam-smart. This has nurtured a whole generation of parents who base their parenting success on producing exam-smart children, learning them to cramp their children's timetables with tuition classes before and after school. Consequently, a tuition industry has blossomed with good subject teachers preferring to be run tuition classes than teaching in schools. An academic rat-race to obtain degrees and higher qualifications has been around for a long time now, encouraged by a government that is made up of scholars. Hence, a recent change of tone by the government suggesting that a university degree is "not vital for success", did not go down well with the people.

For most students, studying is not about acquiring knowledge to become a better person and to add value to society. it is about passing examinations with flying colours and getting into top schools and landing a job in their choice professions. As for most teachers, teaching is not about imparting knowledge, values and discipline. It is about getting recognition for producing top students in every national examination and meeting their key performance indexes for promotion and salary increments which are based on their students' academic performances. 

When learning is exam-driven and when not everyone is gifted to excel in examinations but could be talented in non-academic ways, juvenile delinquency becomes an issue in schools, at home and in the community at large. Discriminatory educational practices, like class streaming which puts all the "bright" students on one side and the "not-so-bright" students on the other side, have stigmatised students with poor academic results, leading to the development of inferiority complexes and disciplinary problems . Stories of how teachers are abused by rebellious students emerge day after day. And parents run to seek help from the courts when their children are beyond parental control. Even principals, teachers and tutors get into trouble with the law for their indiscretions. Students who successfully sail through our educational system, especially those from the gifted stream, are often said to have high IQ but low EQ. And many of them have ascended high positions in government service because of their academic excellence and devising national policies.

What can we do about our education system? I will share some of my thoughts in my next blog.

My Kind of Town - Potong Pasir SMC

In the last 50 years, Singapore has seen only a handful of independent candidates. Amongst them, one stood out as a giant and on his shoulders, we saw a people that stood firm for 27 years as a role model of courage and independence for the rest of Singapore. That independent candidate was Mr. Chiam See Tong. And those courageous and independent people were the residents of Potong Pasir SMC. 

Born in 1935, Mr. Chiam was a teacher and later became a lawyer. He entered politics as an independent candidate at the age of 41. According to his biography, Let The People Have Him, Mr. Chiam almost gave up after losing 3 elections. His persistence paid off in 1984 when he finally won the seat of Potong Pasir at the age of 49 with 60.3% of the votes. From then on, the people of Potong Pasir stood by him for the next 27 years.

As my supporters know, I am planning to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections like what Mr. Chiam did when he stepped into politics. Like Mr. Chiam, I am a lawyer. Though I was not a teacher-turned-lawyer like Mr. Chiam, I enjoy teaching and have lectured in private schools. I also had a short stint as an adjunct lecturer in a tertiary institution whilst practising law at the same time.

My political ideology, which I term as "peolitics", is people-centred and my aim is to cultivate a positive political culture that emphasises political responsibilities on the part of both the leaders and the people. Similarly, Mr Chiam adopted a non-adversarial, non-destructive style of politics and has consistently advocated a responsible and credible opposition. 

The residents of Potong Pasir SMC had the courage to give Mr. Chiam the opportunity to serve them in 6 consecutive elections. Unfortunately in early 2008, Mr. Chiam suffered a mild stroke and then made a surprising decision for GE2011, given his health and circumstances. He decided to stand as a candidate in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, letting his wife substitute him as the candidate for Potong Pasir.

The result of that decision was that Potong Pasir was lost to HDB upgrading promises made by the PAP candidate who went on to carry out HDB upgrading works that Mr. Chiam had difficulty delivering as MP because he was not a ruling-party MP.

Mr. Chiam's loss was also Potong Pasir's loss. Potong Pasir became just another PAP ward and that special indefatigable character of Potong Pasir SMC became subjugated to the HDB upgrading works that residents had to pay for.

For this coming election, SPP and DPP have declared their intentions to contest with PAP for Potong Pasir SMC. There are people who dislike multi-corner contests because they feel that opposition votes will be diluted and PAP stands to gain. This is not necessarily always the case. Such a view is equally myopic because it unwittingly narrows the voters' choice of suitable candidates. In any event, multi-corner contests will become the norm since there are more political parties. Voters must therefore learn to be more discerning and have the courage to pick the candidate of their own choice. 

Speaking to the residents there in my visits, I came to understand that many Potong Pasir residents are tired of their limited choice of political candidates. They have a deep respect for old Mr. Chiam and miss his humble ways, warmth and dedication as their MP. They welcome new candidates to contest in their ward and to help them regain their pride and dignity which have been traded for the HDB upgrading programme. I am persuaded that it will be more meaningful for me to stand in Potong Pasir SMC in the coming election. Why? Because like Mr. Chiam, I can see that Potong Pasir SMC is my kind of town.

Visits to Potong Pasir SMC

With only 17,389 electors, Potong Pasir SMC is the smallest of the 13 Single Member Constituencies under the redrawn electoral boundaries for the next GE. It encompasses Potong Pasir and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and is presently a PAP ward.

In my visits to this SMC, I have been warmly received by most of the residents I met. They were candid about their political leanings and would not hesitate to speak their minds about their present MP (who was elected in GE 2011), Mr. Chiam See Tong (their former MP for 27 years) and Mrs. Lina Chiam (who stood in her husband's place in the last GE but lost).

Even in my house visits, many of the resident were more than happy to invite me into their homes just to chat with me. I was even openly encouraged to come and stand in their ward as an election candidate in the next GE so that they may have more choices.

I can feel something special about Potong Pasir SMC. It has an air of resilience and respectability. From the hawkers to shop-keepers to the residents, the people are friendly and helpful. There's plenty of good food and I feel a strong sense of nostalgia here. I had studied in St. Andrews' School, and being here brings back to me fond memories of my pre-university school days. 

I like the feeling that Potong Pasir SMC gives me. If there is a constituency where the electors can be counted on to stand up for what they believe in, Potong Pasir SMC is unmistakably one.

Kindness beyond death

Madam Lim lives in Sengkang West and came to see me as I was having dinner at the coffee-shop in Block 120 in Potong Pasir. 

Her husband (Wong Wing Chun) has just passed away at the age of 49, leaving her and her 15 year-old daughter behind. She was at a lost as to how to handle his estate matters, including a car which he had just bought, and needed some advice. 

In the course of my conversation with Madam Lim, I learned that her late husband had consented to donate practically all his organs, including his bone and skin, before his death. He was working in a hotel and fainted at work. The doctors were unable to save him and he died on 23 July 2015 as a result of intracranial hemorrhage, a type of bleeding that occurs in the skull. 

His sudden death took her completely by surprise and she was devastated. When she found out that her husband's donation of his body parts had helped at least 9 other people or even more, she felt great pride and comfort in her heart. She wanted to me to share her husband's story which I believe should be told. 

When he was alive, he was always helping others and even when he died, he had not spared himself to do something that would benefit those that live after him, even when they were complete strangers to him. I am moved to share his story and to celebrate the extraordinary kindness of one ordinary man - Mr. Wong Wing Chun.