News: The Straits Times -  25 January 2010


Don't get excited about polls yet, says SM Goh


SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong welcomes the entry of young Singaporeans into the ranks of the opposition but says the People's Action Party (PAP) is out to attract even better young people.

Singaporeans should also not start getting excited about a general election as the Government was still focused on the economy, he told reporters at a Marine Parade constituency event yesterday.

The Straits Times reported last week that two former government scholarship holders had joined the Reform Party.

Several young, tertiary-educated individuals have joined other opposition parties. The Workers' Party said it recruited 50 young people the past year, many of them graduates and professionals.

Said Mr Goh of these developments: 'It's not a bad sign because politics in the future should be contested by able people, especially those with good character. And young, able people do not have to agree with the PAP. Of course, we hope they would join us, even though they disagree with us, so that we can have disagreements sorted out within the PAP, and then we have a policy manifesto for the public.'

But he added: 'If they choose to contest against us, but they are decent people with good views, I think it is to be welcomed.

'Of course, I'd be happy if they were to join us, but let it be. Then, if you move into the future, there will be a better contest of ideas in the political domain.'

Mr Goh noted that the political arena had been loosened up for such contests. Last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said there would be more single-member constituencies and smaller group representation constituencies (GRCs) at the next election, which must be held by February 2012.

'It is a sign that we want to move politics in that way,' said Mr Goh. Asked if the PAP would field more women, he said it was still in the process of looking for them.

On whether the PAP had secured its candidates, he said: 'We have been interviewing people, but frankly speaking, don't start getting excited about elections. We are still concentrating on the economic recovery, so don't get excited, which I think is unnecessary.'

Speaking separately in Marsiling, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, an MP for Sembawang GRC, said that with Singaporeans expecting an election, it was natural they were more interested in election-related issues.

He too welcomed younger people coming forward to serve: '(It) doesn't matter whether you are PAP or not. If you think you can run Sembawang better than I can, please come forward! I'll gladly let you.'

- end of ST article