Despite the challenges they face, lower-income Singaporeans are also hoping to see more opposition MPs in Parliament so their situations can be improved.
Workers’ Party (WP) politician Gerald Giam recently revealed that many residents living at the one and two-room rental flats in Fengshan told him that they wish to see more opposition members in Parliament and that one resident explained that this would give Singaporeans more “bargaining power”.
A longtime WP member, Mr Giam has served as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) of the 12th Parliament of Singapore. In a Facebook post published last Tuesday (15 Oct), he wrote:
“We visited two blocks of mainly 1- and 2-room rental flats in Fengshan tonight. It was refreshing hearing the insights of the residents.
“Despite their challenging situations, many shared with us their hope to see more opposition MPs in Parliament. One resident even told me that this would give the people more “bargaining power”!”
The WP’s election preparation efforts, including regular walkabouts and community outreach activities, are ongoing as the next GE nears.
The Government announced the first firm step towards the next election on 4 Sept, with the formation of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC). News that the EBRC was convened in August has led to fevered speculation on when the next GE will take place.
Political observers and members of the public seem to agree the next GE could be held as soon as November 2019 or timed to take place in the first quarter of 2020, after the next Budget.