All the quotable quotes from the PAP's last hurrah at their East Coast GRC rally

As they all say, it's the final things they say that matter. And tbh, some of these are really quite poignant.

Jeanette Tan| September 09, 11:56 PM

We know it and we're calling it — the biggest battle of GE2015 is taking place in none other than East Coast GRC, between the ruling People's Action Party and the Workers' Party.

Here are the highlights from what the folks at the PAP side had to say:

1. Lee Yi Shyan:

Photo by Kelly Wong Photo by Kelly Wong

"The Singapore spirit has always been breaking new frontiers when the odds are stacked against us. We have done it before and we will do it again."

2. Jessica Tan:

 

Photo by Pandora Wong Photo by Pandora Wong

"It's not about changing for the sake of change. It's about becoming more inclusive."

3. Maliki Osman:

Photo by Jamie Chan Photo by Jamie Chan

"We listen, we listen with our hearts, not just with our ears."

"(On conducting house visits to explain complex government policies) Laborious as it may be, it is worth every drop of sweat, and I hope we can continue to do more, to serve you with sincerity, touching one life at a time. That's our promise to you."

4. From Lim Swee Say:

Photo by Kelly Wong Photo by Kelly Wong

"I may not have a PhD or an Oxford brain. But what I have is a Singapore heart."

"After 19 years in politics, it's said that when a political party champions any change, they may do so for at least two reasons. The first type is that they want change because they want better policies to improve your lives. The other type of change that they're advocating is to pursue good politics to win your votes. So good policy is to improve your life. good politics is to win your vote."

"Take our water supply. Let's say you have one drop today and in future you need 4 drops, the +3 must come from desalination. It's very expensive because of salt content in the sea water. The PAP government pushed for change. We changed the 1+3=4 to a different formula. 1+1=2; 2x2=4. The plus 1, desalination water. The x2: Newater. Every drop of water, use it two times, that's how we solve problems other countries can't solve. Is it good policy?"

"My hope is that whichever party, whichever candidates who are voted in, I hope they understand the responsibility they have to the people of Singapore. I hope that the team to be formed will be a strong team with people with not just a strong head but more importantly a strong heart — who are clean, caring, competent, capable but most importantly people who are committed to serving our nation with integrity and honour."

5. From DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam:

Photo by Bernice Wong Photo by Bernice Wong

"We don't have many Singaporeans. Every Singaporean counts. Discovering everyone's potential, everyone's strengths and developing them through life. This too is a very important shift so our society and meritocracy is not based on what happens during your school years, but how you perform in life, how you discover yourself in life. This, too, is a very important shift. And we have a journey ahead of us in achieving this shift."

"A third shift, which is very important, is how government has changed. It used to be a top-down government, often quite heavy handed, you know what I mean. It is no longer that way. Because have changed, Singapore has changed, and we have changed so we can continue to lead Singapore... for a better future."

"Strong leadership today is different from strong leadership 20 or 30 years ago. Strong leadership means listening, actively engaging, changing your mind when the situation changes or if you get better ideas from others, continually adapting but leading all the way... moving people with you to a better future. It's a very different style of leadership."

"We have changed. This is the way forward. A rebalancing of economy and society, maximising everyone's potential through life. Making sure that in Singapore, birth is never destiny. What happens in life doesn't depend on who you were born to, because that is a true meritocracy."

 

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