SINGAPORE:
The Workers' Party (WP) wants to move on
from the Hougang by-election and work with the ruling People's Action Party
(PAP) for a better Singapore.
WP's
Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang struck a conciliatory tone on Sunday morning
in contrast to the strong words he had for the PAP on Saturday night.
He made
this comment ahead of a victory parade to thank voters, following WP's win in
the Hougang by-election on Saturday.
Hundreds
of supporters lined the streets of Hougang Avenue 5 to welcome their new
parliamentary representative Png Eng Huat who defeated PAP's Desmond Choo in
the by-election.
At one
point, the teams from the Workers' Party and People's Action Party exchanged
greetings.
Before
the victory parade, Mr Low was asked by reporters about Deputy Prime Minister
Teo Chee Hean's response to his criticisms of the way the PAP ran its campaign.
Mr Teo
had said he was surprised by Mr Low's accusations of "character
assassination".
Mr Low
said it was time to move on and noted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's call to
re-focus on long-term issues.
He
said: "I have noted what he said. I think The Workers' Party will move on
from this election and work together with the ruling party for the betterment
of Singapore."
Mr Low
was also asked about party unity, especially after minutes on the circumstances
surrounding Mr Png's position on the nomination for Non-Constituency MP had
been leaked.
He said
he was not about to start a "witch hunt".
"What's
important is, what you're doing, what's your motivation, what you want to do. I
think these are important factors to me. And I do trust people and party
because if you don't trust people, how do you work? Of course, there's also the
risk of being played out. That's life. So you play me out, so be it. I think
that's luck, I'll move on.
As for
Dr Poh Lee Guan, who picked up a Political Donation Certificate without the
party's knowledge and claimed that he had no intention to run in the
by-election but was just a "spare tyre", Mr Low said the Central
Executive Council will have to decide if any disciplinary action will be taken.
For
now, the spotlight returns to the incoming MP for Hougang.
MP-elect
for Hougang SMC Mr Png Eng Huat has pledged to serve residents well.
"I
want to thank them, I will work hard. And also this nine-day campaign is very
tiring. The campaign doesn't really start during the nine days. It started when
I was appointed Aljunied Constituency Committee. So it wasn't just the nine
days per se. So it's a long, long campaign. So I hope to at least now get to
work with the mandate."
With
the by-election over, the real work for Mr Png begins now. At the national
level, Mr Png has said that he will bring up the issues of education,
transport, and the plight of low-wage workers in Parliament.
And at
the local level, voters said they hope that Mr Png will be able to carry out
his campaign promises of bringing upgrading to Hougang.
-
CNA/ck
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