By Sharon Tong | Posted: 27 April 2011 1753 hrs
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also the People's Action Party (PAP) Secretary-General, said at an hour long media conference after Nomination that it is good the opposition is putting up a strong contest.
PM Lee said this would help crystalise the important issues and remind Singaporeans what is at stake in the elections.
Mr Lee said voters should remember that the election its about securing Singaporeans' future, and that of their children.
"I think it's good we are contested and contested strongly," Mr Lee said.
"(The opposition) have said that they want to fight to win, and we will fight to make sure they don't win.
"I'm sure every MP who is worth his salt knows that he has to do that because if he doesn't know that, he wont be there.
"I think that a stronger opposition galvanises a response on the ground and people will stand up on both sides and ask themselves 'what counts, what matters, what am I going to do about it?'
"The outcome depends on after you open the ballot boxes, how the count turns out at the end.
"But the fact that people now have to take a stand and decide where they are, I think that emphasises how important this election is."
Hence, Mr Lee said he welcomed Mr Low Thia Khiang of the Workers' Party (WP), who has stepped out of his Hougang constituency to contest in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
Mr Lee said: "(Mr Low) wants to win a GRC. I don't doubt he is entitled to want to win a GRC and he is trying to make an argument that sounds good (so that) people want to vote for him to win a GRC.
"But what we would like to tell Singaporeans (is), when you vote, think carefully because it affects your property value, it affects your neighbourhood, it affects your country, it affects your future.
"If you have the right town council looking after your neighbourhood, it will prosper. I think (in) Aljunied, you see what Cynthia Phua, the town council chairman, has done and you will know it is not something that has happened automatically.
"On the other hand, (if the) town council doesn't look after your estate, many things can go wrong.
"But beyond your estate, you are talking about the future of the country, your jobs being secure, about new opportunities being created for your children, and that depends on a good government.
"And if you vote for a less than the best government, then you are just taking unnecessary chances and hit against yourself".
Mr Lee added: "We are a property-owning democracy as (Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew) says.
"We made sure we designed it this way. Everybody owns a flat, everybody has a stake in Singapore. He has an asset. He has a stake in this country's success.
"And when you have people who have stakes in Singapore, I think they will be very careful in making sure that their asset is protected.
"It will not go wrong. And their asset, their job, their children's future -- their children have bright future. Their parents... want to live their golden years in peace and stability. People will not likely shake that if you make them think about it".
With party leaders by his side, Mr Lee tackled questions on whether new face Dr Chia Shi Lu had an easy ride into Parliament, thanks to the GRC system.
"The greatest importance of the GRC team is not just to ensure minority representation in Parliament. I think most importantly, it forces our politics to be multi racial.
"... If we don't have GRC system, do you think the opposition or (Singapore Democratic Alliance) or (Workers' Party) would spend so much effort running around trying to find better candidates to file in a GRC?
"You ask them. I think they are honest (and) they will say they are doing this because there is a GRC requirement.
"So I think if a GRC is able to do that, then bring our politics to a middle ground on racial issues, and make all parties focus on multi-racial policies; that's a tremendous plus for our political system.
"And yet, the opposition says they want to get rid of the GRCs. I think sometimes... between being responsible and being opportunistic, they can't make up their minds which they want to be.
"But Aljunied, the question is, 'what if George Yeo loses? What's my fallback solution?'
"My answer is, there's no fallback position.
"It is a very serious choice we are putting to voters. Minister have to be elected and have to win the support from voters.
"If they do, they have the mandate. If they don't we accept the voter's judgement.
"It's not just Aljunied. Any constituency can lose. Eighty-two seats are at stake and if Ang Mo Kio loses, or Pasir Ris loses, what's my fallback solution?
"So I think we fight, and we put the choice carefully and squarely and it's for people to decide and for voters to decide.
"They haven't decided. We abide by their decision, by the outcome. That's what elections are about".
Mr Lee also touched on Labour Chief Lim Swee Say's comments about this GE being Mr Lim's last.
Mr Lim had spoken earlier, about finding and grooming someone to succeed him at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
Mr Lee said he had not heard any other MP say he or she wants to retire.
As for whether the PAP would engage in what some online comments have said are "smear tactics", Mr Lee again wanted to focus on issues.
"My advice to candidates is to fight on the issues. This should be a clean fight. We are fighting on serious matters concerning the lives of Singaporeans and we should focus our minds on that.
"Politics is a complicated matter and however high minded you may start in the heat of an election campaign, from time to time, you will find unwise speeches being made, which is why sometimes, after elections, you've got court cases to deal with.
"But fight on the issues. Character is not irrelevant, the quality of the candidate is not irrelevant, but this is not a matter of personal attacks on people.
"This is a matter of trying to decide who is qualified to represent the voters and if it is something which is relevant to that, and it has to be brought out, it has to be properly brought out and discussed".
-CNA/wk
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1125213/1/.html
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