WP rally: Candidates raise cost of living issues
https://www.straitstimes.com/live-singapore-election-nomination-day-2025?ref=ge2025
The first few speakers at the WP rally in Punggol GRC focused their speeches on cost of living issues.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin, who is contesting Sengkang GRC, talked about the cost of raising children in Singapore. He told the crowd that he and his wife are expecting a child soon and that they chose to wait five years after getting married because they were preparing themselves for the costs of necessities for the child, including milk powder, diapers and caregiving needs.
Punggol GRC candidate Jackson Au structured his speech around four numbers: $2.06, the price of a one-way trip from Punggol MRT to Downtown MRT; $500,000, which he said is how much a majority of Singaporeans estimate it costs to raise a child up to age 21; $1,055, the monthly allowance for National Servicemen, who he said deserved more recognition; and 61,780.
He said: “This is not a dollar amount. It is not a statistic. This is you. It's your family, and it's your future. 61,780 is the minimum number of votes we need here in Punggol GRC to give the Workers' Party the privilege and honour of serving you in Parliament.”
Ms Siti Alia Mattar, in turn, talked about transparency and involving residents in decision-making.
“This term ‘behind closed doors’ should be retired, should it not? The Workers Party is transparent. We are open. We say what we do and we do what we say,” she said.
Ms Alexis Dang, the third Punggol GRC candidate to speak, took a jab at remarks by Ms Sun Xueling, who is part of PAP’s Punggol GRC team..
Ms Sun had talked about her work on the ground and how she was in touch with the concerns of residents. She said the PAP did not need “strangers” to come to Punggol to inform them about what is on the minds of residents.
On Monday, Ms Dang said: “Ms Sun Xueling said we do not need strangers to come to Punggol. May I ask, is she referring to DPM Gan Kim Yong, or is he exempted because he's a good friend of PM Lawrence Wong?”
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