SINGAPORE — The People’s Alliance held its first-ever combined walkabout, which included representatives from four component parties: the Reform Party, People’s Voice, People’s Power Party, and the Democratic Progressive Party.
Leaders from each of these parties, namely Kenneth Jeyaretnam (RP), Lim Tean (PV), Goh Meng Seng (PPP), and Hamim Aliyas (DPP) introduced their new alliance to the public at Ang Mo Kio GRC, Tampines GRC, and Jalan Besar GRC.
When announcing this new political alliance earlier in early June, the leaders said that for the upcoming general election, the People’s Alliance intends to contest in all the seats the component parties have contested in the 2020 Singapore General Election and possibly in other constituencies.
In the previous election, RP contested in Ang Mo Kio GRC and Radin Mas SMC, and PPP’s sole candidate, Goh, contested against Tin Pei Ling at MacPherson SMC. Lim’s PV contested in Jalan Besar GRC, Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC, and Mountbatten SMC, whereas DPP did not participate in the 2020 election.
The party leaders addressed their supporters on Facebook Live during the walkabout. The alliance’s chairman Jeyaretnam expressed his delight in returning to familiar ground and called for a debate with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. PM Lee heads the Ang Mo Kio GRC and won three previous elections against Jeyaretnam’s RP.
“I am pleased to be here with our alliance partners. Reform Party contested in Ang Mo Kio in 2011, 2015 and 2020. We are back again this time as partners of a much stronger alliance. We challenged the Prime Minister, why don’t he give answers to Singaporeans on the reserves and more help can be given to Singapoerans. We challenged him to a debate and it’s time for him to stop running away and provide answers,” commented Jeyaretnam.
Lim added that the residents were enthusiastic to hear about the People’s Alliance, and they expressed their concerns about the rising cost of living, the cost of HDBs, and job security for the locals.
“It is my great privilege to have with me three other leaders of this alliance, Kenneth Jeyaretnam chairman, Goh Meng Seng our organising secretary, and Hamim our treasurer. The reception has been fantastic. We have gone around introducing to the residents the formation of the People’s Alliance,” said Lim, secretary-general of the People’s Alliance.
“People are excited, people have been forthcoming with their concerns about everyday life, cost of living, housing affordability, jobs for Singaporeans. Lastly, transparency. People want transparency in the government, everything that the government does these days.”
The alliance’s organising secretary Goh urged residents to rethink whether the ruling party cares for their interests, particularly in light of the recent increase in GST earlier this year from 7% to 8%.
“We are honoured to listen to the voices from the ground. One of the things we heard, they can’t buy anything meaningful in the market for their family and this is (due) to the (rising) cost of living. The PAP has increased GST during the inflation pressure from outside. They have made our lives very difficult and we hope that people in Ang Mo Kio and all around Singapore will think whether this PAP government is for you or them?” shared Goh.
The People’s Alliance have yet to receive formal registration from the Registrar of Society. Once they obtain the approval, they will hold a press conference to officially launch this new alliance.