At a doorstop on July 4, anchor minister for West Coast GRC, S. Iswaran, said it is wrong to frame the battle at West Coast as a choice between Tan Cheng Bock and two ministers.
He was responding to a question from the media asking if voters might feel "torn" between having to choose between two ministers from the People's Action Party's team, and Tan Cheng Bock from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP).
The PAP West Coast GRC team consists of Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran, Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee, Foo Mee Har, Ang Wei Neng and Rachel Ong.
Iswaran: Focus on substance rather than personalities
In response, Iswaran said this framing is focused on personalities, rather than substance of what both sides have to offer.
He explained that his West Coast team has talked about many national policies, including policies to deal with the economic challenges posed by the pandemic.
He also said the PAP has mounted both national and local programmes to meet these challenges.
On the other side, Iswaran said that the PSP has put out a "very short manifesto" with "broad statements" that lack detail on how they intend to implement national programmes.
"That is not enough," he said.
Speaking about trade-offs when it comes to implementing policies, Iswaran said: "I think the voters of West Coast GRC deserve to know: What are you (the PSP) planning to give up?"
"I think the contest is not about personalities, it's not about who's leading them, or which ministers we have", he added.
"We have emphasised we are a team."
Top photo by Fasiha Nazren, Nigel Chua.