Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, dropped in on a walkabout with PAP's candidates for Sengkang GRC, Ng Chee Meng and Raymond Lye.

Teo said: "I know this area well, I know the residents well. It's been part of my GRC and town council for many years. And I have an affection for the residents here."

Showing support for Ng and his team

Ng was formerly part of Teo's team in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC in GE2015.

Now, Teo endorsed Ng and his team as the candidates best able to serve the community.

Teo said: "I also have been working with Chee Meng for the past five years, in the same GRC, same town council.

And I know he is a good capable and reliable man. And that he will serve the residents here, and lead the team well."

Jobs, town council, and voice

Teo said to the media that three main issues have surfaced during this election:

1. Jobs during this crisis.
2. Who is going to look after the town council.
3. Who is going to speak up for residents.

Teo added that Ng and his have a track record of being able to run a town council well.

"They will be able to manage the town, manage its finances well. Check the track record of both sides to see who can run your town council and its finances well," said Teo.

Teo also said that any representative must be able debate key issues in all four languages, both in Parliament and in the open.

He said: "If any parties claim to be a broad national party, able to represent all citizens in Singapore, then it must be able to listen and speak in all our four official languages."

"We can also check which parties are able to do that. And that also is clearly on the record," he added.

Track record and experience

Speaking to the media, Ng reiterated that his position as the secretary-general of NTUC makes him the best candidate to help Sengkang residents secure jobs.

Ng said: "As Sec-Gen [sic] NTUC, I’m in a good position to help them. It is important for them to know that there is help from government, from NTUC, even in Sengkang town. I can give them the assurance that if there is a job loss, the NTUC job security council can be that matching agent for them."

Ng repeated the sentiment in a Facebook post after the walkabout. He said: "This is a serious matter, your jobs, your livelihood, your lives in Sengkang."

He added: "We can make it real for you over the next five years. I humbly ask: what have you heard from the opposition specifically about you?"

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Top image via Zenn Tan.