16 HOT NEWS General Election 2015 today • Saturday 29 August 2015

Reform Party unveils slate for GRC The (RP) presented its candidates for a return challenge in Ang Mo Kio GRC, where they had garnered 30.7 per cent of the votes in GE2011. Four of them, including team leader , will be heading into their maiden electoral battle. With the six unveiled yesterday, the RP has presented all the candidates it intends to field in the General Election next month. Siva Chandran, 32 Jesse Loo, 52 M Ravi, 46 Roy Ngerng, 34 Information and Former banking executive Lawyer, human rights activist Socio-political blogger Communications and an independent financial Technology trainer adviser FACT FILE: FACT FILE: • Studied law at the • Degree in Sociology from FACT FILE: FACT FILE: University of Cardiff; the National University of • Diploma in Higher • Holds a Bachelor of Business admitted to the Singapore Singapore Education in digital film in Economics, Marketing Bar in 1997 • Former healthcare worker technology accredited by and Social Asian Politics from Swinburne • Degree in Political Science and Sociology from at Tan Tock Seng Hospital Middlesex University, UK University of Technology at Melbourne National University of Singapore • Former civil servant at Health Promotion Board, • Edited Tamil film My Magic, which was • Father of two daughters • Represented Opposition political figures and where he was named Employee of the Year nominated for the Palme D’Or persons on death row, advocate for abolishment HE SAID: “I hope to bring about a big society of death penalty in Singapore HE SAID: “I believe that we have a responsibility HE SAID: “ This is where I was born, brought up where Singaporeans are the master, and where to speak up for Singaporeans ... to ensure that ... I am not an expert, but I will be truthful ... and do the Government should not be interfering in our HE SAID: “This election is ... about the the poor, the elderly and the weakest members of my best for Ang Mo Kio GRC.” private choices.” entire system of democracy in Singapore.” society are protected.” Better living Championing for M Ravi to lead Speaking up for standards for minimum wage team to contest down-trodden Singaporeans on his agenda in Ang Mo Kio Singaporeans

SINGAPORE — On his walks around the SINGAPORE — Noting that he has heard SINGAPORE — Recounting difficulties he SINGAPORE — Having gained prominence for neighbourhood, what sticks out to Mr Siva complaints of jobs paying S$5 per hour, faced in challenging “unfair laws” in court speaking up on issues related to the Cen- Chandran is the number of licensed mon- Mr Jesse Loo, who is currently unem- — citing the death penalty regime and me- tral Provident Fund (CPF) system, blogger eylender businesses he sees. ployed, said championing for a minimum dia regulations — lawyer M Ravi said he Roy Ngerng hopes to get a seat in Parlia- “We call Singapore a First-World coun- wage will be on his agenda, should be get wants to bring his legal expertise into the ment to speak up for “down-trodden Sin- try (so) I will not accept this because I elected. legislature to check these laws. gaporeans” such as the elderly who have want each and every individual’s standard The 52-year-old, who is looking for his The human rights activist has defended to work into their old age. of living to be raised,” said the 32-year-old maiden electoral battle in Ang Mo Kio various Opposition political figures and per- Arguing that the CPF system is not ad- candidate, who is part of a six-man Re- GRC next month under the Reform Party sons on death row — most notably Yong Vui equate for Singaporeans, the 34-year-old form Party team that will contest in Ang banner, said: “I believe that S$15 per hour Kong, the first drug-trafficker on death row blogger said he wants to ask for greater Mo Kio GRC. should be very normal, not S$5 per hour. to be spared the gallows after changes to the transparency and accountability on the Mr Siva, who was formerly a manag- There are some economists who say we mandatory death penalty — before he was system. er in a Residents’ Committee, said he has should (be at) S$26 per hour.” suspended from practice earlier this year “A responsible government is a govern- come across residents who use pre-paid Citing the United States’ minimum due to his mental health. ment that ensures (people) have enough top-up cards for electricity, but often can- wage (US$7.25 per hour at the Federal If elected, the 46-year-old wants to call funds in the CPF to retire ... No one can be not afford to pay. level) for comparison, Mr Loo said “the for constitutional reform, an aspect he felt a check on themselves. We will be a check “I really felt depressed looking at the low-wage income earners (in Singapore) had been “left out of the entire discourse in for the people,” Mr Ngerng said, referring (living) conditions of the people. Most of have gone too low for too long”. the elections”. to Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok their houses are always in the dark. I think Apart from minimum wage, issues in- Specifically, Mr Ravi wants the death Tong’s comment earlier this week that (for) the condition of the people over the volving the professional, managerial, ex- penalty to be abolished, and regulations the PAP government was its “own check”. years, the rich are getting richer, and the ecutive and technician (PMET) group against online media relaxed. “It is difficult Another group of Singaporeans he poor are getting poorer.” and the economy are also areas of concern for the courts to handle some of these is- wants to help, said Mr Ngerng, are low- As someone who grew up in the town, for him. sues because they are in the parameters of income patients he has encountered while he believes he has the heart to serve resi- “Business cost has been too high, and Parliament ... Given my legal expertise and working in a hospital, who have stopped dents of the constituency. He added that one of the reason is because of the high interest, it is best that I go to Parliament and tapping Medifund because of cumbersome he takes time out to walk around Teck rental cost,” said Mr Loo. be an effective check there,” he said. application processes. Ghee, his favourite place in the town, and Rental cost should be capped to Mr Ravi, who joined the Reform Party “Singapore is one of the richest (coun- interacts with residents, offering his help ease the financial burden of small and last week, is leading its six-man team to tries) in the world by national wealth. So, to them, such as filling up forms. medium enterprises, for business- contest in Ang Mo Kio. “We are a mixed it does not make sense that there are so Mr Chandran also believes the pro- es to stay afloat and be competitive, team of activists ... We are ordinary Singa- many low-income Singaporeans who can- cesses and systems can be simplified for said the former banker and independent poreans and we can understand ordinary not retire today,” he said. the elderly. financial adviser. Singaporeans,” he said. Mr Ravi said he Mr Ngerng, who had been found by the “I am not an expert in this area, but as The father-of-two also thinks the Min- chose to contest under the RP banner be- High Court to have defamed Prime Min- long as I have a heart to serve, it is enough. istry of Education needs to tweak its cur- cause he saw its founder J B Jeyaretnam as ister over one of his blog I want to make a difference in these peo- riculum so that students in Singapore can an inspiration. “He inspired me to do what posts on the CPF system, said he saw no ple’s lives, (not just) the needy and the sen- study liberty rights. is right in the legal arena. Why Ang Mo issue about being pitted against Mr Lee iors,” he said. Marissa Yeo He also argued that housing Kio? This is the last place that (J B Jeyaret- in Ang Mo Kio. loans take too much away from Cen- nam) fought in the General Election(GE),” “We are taking this fight very serious- tral Provident Fund accounts, leav- he said, referring to the late founder of the ly. We do respect the Prime Minister for ing individuals with too little for their RP who fought but lost in Cheng San GRC what he has done ... But, we want the vot- retirement. Marissa Yeo in the 1997 GE on a Workers’ Party ticket. ers to have a fair chance in selecting peo- Acknowledging that fighting for a ward ple whom they think can represent them,” helmed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong he added. “will not be easy”, Mr Ravi said his team Mr Ngerng, who was officially accept- is not daunted. “We are here for the chal- ed as a member of the Reform Party this lenge.” Kelly Ng month, said the party’s team has “shown track record”. “What is unique about this team is that we have spoken up for Singa- poreans over the past few years ... We do not believe in waiting for things to change, we believe in changing things,” he said. Kelly Ng. today • Saturday 29 August 2015

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We Set You Thinking Missing in the election Father’s role Editor in parenting Walter Fernandez Deputy editor Carl Skadian discourse: The economy a child cannot Associate EditorS Loh Chee Kong From Kwan Jin Yao be replicated JASON TAN DIGital Editor With the General Election immi- MAE LYNN TAN nent, political parties are preparing From Shelen Ang, visual Editor for their campaigns and their candi- Head, Research and Development, Mugilan Rajasegeran dates have raised a plethora of issues, Focus on the Family Singapore Voices Editor Derrick A Paulo including, but not limited to housing features Editor and public transportation, healthcare The Government’s move to double pa- Christopher Toh and retirement policies for an ageing ternity leave to two weeks is “a gentle Special Projects Editor population, as well as the perennial nudge for fathers to rethink their role, aRIEL tam concerns over immigration, education and see it in a different light”, said Dr and civil society in Singapore. Kang Soon-Hock, head of Social Sci- CORPORATE SERVICES • ROSALIND PNG CIRCULATION • SUNNY ISSAC However, missing in this discourse ence Core at SIM University (“En- Editorial support • Doreen Sabai is the issue of the economy and its hancements a welcome move, could long-term implications, even though urge change in attitudes, say observ- MediaCorp Press Ltd [email protected] it has dominated headlines of late. ers”; Aug 24). www.facebook.com/todayonline As a result of global circumstances We agree with Dr Kang’s ob- www.twitter.com/todayonline — such as the corrections to the Chi- servation that Prime Minister Caldecott Broadcast Centre, nese stock market and the devalua- Lee Hsien Loong’s announcement Andrew Road, Singapore 299939 Tel: 6236 4888 | Fax: 6534 4217 tion of the Chinese yuan — Singapore brings to the fore the crucial role has slashed the upper end of its annual fathers play. NEWS HOTline 6822 2268 growth forecast from between 2 and 4 Gross domestic product and economic growth have featured According to Erik Erikson, a pio- CIRCULATION HOTline 1800 698 6329 ADVERTISING HOTline 6333 9888 per cent to between 2 and 2.5 per cent. heavily in the narrative of Singapore. These issues should be neer in the world of child psychology, Worryingly, trade-dependent man- discussed more proactively. TODAY File Photo a father’s role in parenting a child can- ufacturing activity has declined with not be replicated by anyone else. the contraction of the economy in broader trajectory for the country? Dads have a huge influence on the Corrections the second quarter, and according to It may be true that Singapore has emotional and intellectual growth of Our headline and story on the Bloomberg, the 9 per cent slide of the limited control over developments their children. National Day Rally public forum Straits Times Index this year has made abroad, although that would also Numerous studies have shown that organised by REACH misquoted it the worst-performing stock index in suggest the importance of reactive fathers play, communicate and disci- Minister for the Environment and Water the developed world after Greece. plans and more elaborate conver- pline differently. Resources Vivian Balakrishnan (“Don’t These trends should worry the av- sations about the future. Fathering experts assert that, in be seduced by notion politicians can erage Singaporean, especially with Gross domestic product and so doing, they build confidence in the work without incentives: Vivian; Aug 28). He did not use the word “incentives” less-than-optimistic forecasts for the economic growth have featured child, prepare them for the real world when responding to a participant’s second half of the year. Not to mention heavily in the narrative of Sin- and provide healthy male role models question on a Member of Parliament’s those who wish to be elected into of- gapore — it determines the sala- for them to look up to. annual allowance. Dr Balakrishnan had fice to assume these roles and respon- ries or bonuses of civil servants, Girls who have fathers who are said: “Tell me who can afford to work for sibilities. for instance, and is often cited as not only committed to their mothers you for zero. There are people who can Individuals cite the oft-mentioned evidence of the country’s success. and family, but are also involved, are afford to work for you … apparently at problems of “the low labour productiv- These issues should be discussed more likely to have healthier relation- zero. There are two kinds of people who ity, the high unit labour cost, and busi- more proactively. ships with the opposite sex because can provide you services apparently at ness cost of manufacturing”. Howev- In the context of an election, it they learn from their fathers how men zero. Number 1: I’m already very rich. er, few candidates have broached the would therefore be a good meas- should act towards women. My bank account is full. I come back, I tell you I want to serve. Other kind of topic, and even fewer have mooted ure of the candidate’s potential as Boys who grow up with present fa- person: Why will that person actually credible recommendations. How will a parliamentarian, with opportu- thers are less inclined towards acts cost more? The word is called SkillsFuture affect levels of productiv- nities to go beyond the tired spiels of violence. corruption. That’s the word.” ity? Will growth in wages keep pace of “voting for change” or the same Sociologist David Popenoe ex- We apologise for the errors. with rising costs of living? What is the convenient issues again. plains that when dads are involved, they bring positive benefits to their children that no one else is likely to bring, and that dads are far more than Taking the bus with dangerous drivers stressful for seniors just “second adults” at home. It has been encouraging to see From Francis Chowdhurie I note that it was not mentioned for seniors with mobility problems more fathers becoming increasingly whether the feedback gathered from when getting on and off a bus. involved in their children’s lives since It is heartening to note that Senior the sample survey of seniors included Many of us face these prob- the start of our local Dads for Life Minister of State for Transport and how stressful and dangerous it is for lems day after day, and some have movement. Finance Josephine Teo is looking at many of us seniors when we take a bus, the scars to prove it. Was this not We strongly urge fathers to con- ways to make it easier and less stress- because of the dangerous way some raised as an issue when the focus tinue connecting with their children ful for seniors to travel on public trans- bus captains drive. group survey was conducted? Are at the various life stages and to con- port (“Senior-friendly enhancements At times, we have to hang on for there statistics available on how tinue equipping themselves with the to public transport system in the dear life as drivers speed and jerk many have suffered injuries while many resources available, be it online works”; Aug 21). to a stop, and passengers are flung taking a bus in Singapore? or books, talks and workshops. To make this a reality, all these en- around. The Land Transport Author- The recent move by the Govern- hancements must take into considera- And drivers sometimes stop too ity and public transport operators ment certainly bodes well for the fu- tion safety issues. far from the curb, posing difficulty should keep an eye on this issue. ture of our children.