Interview with Potong Pasir residents: Do they want Mr Chiam See Tong to continue serving them ? (Part 1)
March 2nd, 2009 | 
Author: Prologue:
Two weeks ago, a Singaporean wrote to the Straits Times Forum imploring Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong to retire soon for the sake of his constituents.
His letter brought a sharp rebuttal from Mr Chiam himself and other netizens who want him to stay for as long as he can. Mr Chiam told Lianhe Wanbao in a recent interview that he will only consider retiring if he wins a GRC.
What do Potong Pasir residents think of this ? Do they want Mr Chiam to continue to serve them ? We bring you to Potong Pasir to find out.
Excerpts of interview:
“He (Chiam) should know his health matters. If he thinks he cannot, then he should step down.”
“He is good. As you can see, even if the fund he has, he still do a good job in the sense that the estate is still clean, good and quiet.”
“I say he has done a good job, but if another person who can do a better job, why not ?”
“We want better facilities. We don’t have a libary, shopping center or swimming pool and have to go to Toa Payoh. What other constituencies have, we should also have.”
“It’s good to have more opposition in Parliament to act on the government and to voice out the residents’ concerns.
“I think he is still strong…….he is a good man, gentle. I have seen him a couple of times in the estate, most of the times on Sunday.”
“Upgrading ! It has been so long and there has been no upgrading….I would say our surroundings are quite dirty, especially on the weekends, other than that, it is okay.”
Results of interview:
Total number of residents interviewed: 63
Do you think Mr Chiam See Tong should retire ?
Yes: 20 No comments: 6 No: 37
What do you think of Mr Chiam’s performance as your MP over these years ?
He has done a lot for residents: 40 No comments: 6 He needs to do more: 17
Will you lend your support to Mr Chiam in the next election ?
Yes: 28 No comments: 10 No: 25
Do you feel it is important to have opposition MPs in Parliament ?
Yes: 57 No comments: 3 No: 3
If you are given only one choice, will you want to have an opposition MP to represent you in Parliament or to have better facilities in the estate run by a PAP MP ?
Opposition MP: 10 No comments: 11 Better facilities: 42
Source: The Singapore Enquirer
Posted in Headlines
4 Responses to “Interview with Potong Pasir residents: Do they want Mr Chiam See Tong to continue serving them ? (Part 1)”
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I admire Mr Chiam See Tong for his ability and courage to be the alternative representative for Singaporean.
i hope he can run for another round of election. But i think he should start doing some succession planning…
FYI, Mr Chiam has been a member of Parliament since 1984. (Impressive record!)
From the responses, 2 things sticks out to me.
1. People do desire to have an opposition in Paliament. It is almost instinctive that they recognise giving absolute power to one party is not healthy.
2. They can still be swayed by the carrots dangled by the PAP ie better facilities etc. As tax paying citizens, the govt has no right to deny them the facilities but unfortunately, the unfair attitude taken by PAP dictates this type of thuggish behaviour.
Chiam’s territory is still not secure,maybe he should bring in new blood to potong pasir and he lead a new team in a GRC like what he said in the press.
I am sorry to say that given many Singaporean’s need for ‘better’ facilities in their ward, it is not fair to call upon Potong Pasir residents to make the sacrifice for the sake of opposition over and over again. If the other wards are not willing to make the sacrifice, so be it. You deserve the leaders that you vote. If the government screws Singaporeans over and over again, I guess that they don’t mind being treated as 2nd class citizens or maybe they don’t know of anything better. After all, the ‘better’ facilities make up for it or don’t it?