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SINGAPORE – As the PAP gears up for a rematch with the PSP in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said he and his team will stay focused on rolling out commitments made to residents if elected.
There are many things to look into, from social challenges and infrastructural upgrades to dealing with obstacles that the external environment would bring to Singaporeans, said Mr Lee, who is now anchor minister for the GRC.
Speaking on April 20, he added that he looks forward to seeing what the opposition will bring to the table, so that voters can compare and decide who they want as their leaders.
Earlier in the day, the opposition PSP had announced that it would field its three top leaders – chairman Tan Cheng Bock and its non-constituency MPs, party chief Leong Mun Wai and vice-chair Hazel Poa – in the GRC.
The three were part of the PSP team that lost narrowly in the West Coast GRC during GE2020, with the opposition party claiming 48.32 per cent of the vote against the PAP team’s 51.68 per cent.
The PAP team there was previously helmed by then Transport Minister S. Iswaran, with Mr Lee part of the slate. Mr Iswaran resigned in January 2024 amid a corruption probe.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an NTUC Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) event, Mr Lee said, when asked about the rematch between PAP and PSP, that both sides are “known quantities” that have crossed paths in Parliament and on the ground over the years.
He noted that Singaporeans are familiar with the debates, proposals and interactions between the two sides going into the election, which puts them in a better position to decide.
He was also asked how this contest might differ from the last, given that he is now leading the PAP team, and Mr Leong and Ms Poa have been more vocal in the past five years.
Mr Lee pointed out that he was new to West Coast in 2020, and the campaign was done under greater constraints due to Covid-19. He also noted that his current team is a blend of experienced hands and newcomers with fresh ideas.
They are three-term MP Ang Wei Neng and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, as well as new faces Hamid Razak and Cassandra Lee.
Mr Lee was also asked whether voters might be influenced by Dr Tan’s declaration that the upcoming GE could be the final electoral outing for the 84-year-old veteran.
While Mr Lee said that he respected Dr Tan’s contributions to Singapore and to residents of Ayer Rajah, where he served as a PAP MP, he reiterated that the current PAP team offers a mix of youth and experience.
Dr Hamid, who was also present, noted that while he and Ms Lee are new faces in the election, they have nearly 35 years of combined experience serving the community.
“Every Singaporean, every resident in Jurong West and West Coast, they are discerning. They will look at our plans, they will look at the track record, and they will make a decision on polling day, and we will respect that,” said Dr Hamid.
The “Bringing Jobs to Your Doorstep” initiative held at the Boon Lay Community Club on April 20 saw over 3,500 job vacancies being curated by e2i and its partners. In a release, the institute said that the jobs on offer were aimed at supporting Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds.
Attendees were also introduced to skills-building workshops and personalised career coaching, said e2i. Career coaches were also present to guide jobseekers, especially those who had limited access to digital tools or were less familiar with using technology, to find work.
The e2i will continue to step up its efforts to provide support for jobseekers, said Ms Caryn Lim, who is the chief executive of the institute and assistant secretary-general of NTUC.
“We want every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, to know that meaningful career opportunities are within reach,” she said in the release.
At the event, e2i also signed an agreement with several partners – including social enterprise Findjobs, NTUC, NTUC LearningHub and youth group Raydee 2 Win – to work more closely together in supporting young professionals and residents from low-income families.
Minister for National Development Desmond Lee (third from left) witnessing the signing of an agreement between e2i and several partners including social enterprise Findjobs, NTUC, NTUC LearningHub and youth group Raydee 2 Win on April 20.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Mr Lee told reporters that over the last two years, more than 55 jobs- and skills-related events have been organised for West Coast GRC residents.
He added that close to 10,000 residents in the constituency alone have received support with job matching, career counselling, career transition, resume building and training courses in the last five years.
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