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.