Frankly, this is the only rally I should go to. That is because Mr Steve Chia of the National Solidarity Party [NSP] is contesting in Pioneer Single Member Constituency [SMC], where I lived. I arrived around 7pm and quickly went to purchase my usual “rally souvenir” before I went about taking photos.

First, let me say some of the unpleasant stuff. In spite of the bad turnout at the People’s Action Party’s [PAP] rally at the same place a few days ago, I must say the PAP must have felt very confident in winning this area. The reason is because Mr Chia has come up to my block once, and the NSP’s volunteers have come up 2 times as well (once with a flyer, and the other with a booklet) while I have seen absolutely nothing from the PAP. The only presence of the PAP is just that irritating van going around with a loud hailer playing automated messages. Even though I felt that Mr Chia’s campaign is lukewarm, I felt Mr Cedric Foo to be completely indifferent to the voters here. However, my mother did say that there was once the door bell went on and on when she was in the showers and she can’t tell whether it was the PAP that came by. Well, it might as well be the SingTel salesman pushing Mio TV, since there wasn’t even a party flyer or a booklet on the metal gate to prove anything!

Next, I have heard some of the other NSP candidatse speak, and my personal opinion is that Mr Sebastian Teo should refrain from making statements that goes along the line of “come and sue me if these things are not true” or something to that effect. I understand the need to let the audience know one is speaking the truth, but there is certainly a better way to do it instead of playing with fire. As for the Malay candidate, I believe it would be better had she put in some emotions into her speech. While it is not entirely possible to engage the audience, there are times when one needs to arouse response from the audience. Her speech was monotonous and it was like reading off a script in an oral exam. I doubt that is going to touch the Malay base very much. On top of which, I didn’t really like some of the jokes cracked by the male MC for the night. It is not funny those in the audience who came in orange to support the NSP only to be told they are foot soldiers and those in pink are officers. Is there any difference from the PAP who expects us to follow their orders and march in line? There is definitely a better way to explain why there are different colors in the NSP’s uniforms.

Comparatively, I must say the NSP’s rally was rather uninspiring compared to the Singapore Democratic Party [SDP], Workers’ Party [WP] and the Singapore People’s Party [SPP]. Of course, I am not saying that having good speakers means having good candidates, but both the SDP and SPP have a key message of their own – i.e. heart ware and reinforcing our democracy respectively. Both of which touched the audience directly and in my opinion, not even the WP’s “First World Parliament” slogan could. The NSP needs a better slogan other than “Don’t give them Full Monopoly of Power” to rally the people to them.

Now, to the better parts. Mr Tony Tan’s speech was not inspiring but it was informative. It was about his opponent PAP MP Alvin Yeo suggesting in Parliament during the 2009 recession that the government should give tax breaks to those in the highest income bracket. Mr Tan want his opponent to explain why he put the ordinary Singaporean second. While that strikes a cord with some of us, I am not sure whether that will sink into the minds of the voters. Furthermore, I was expecting both him and his wife Hazel Poa to also touch on housing and I was a little disappointed that Hazel wasn’t present even more so than the fact Nicole Seah was sick and not present tonight.

Either way I wasn’t specifically interested in what the other candidates has to say. I am interested in what Mr Steve Chia has to say about what he has plans for the town because that would be the indication whether he is just out to ride on the negative sentiments or whether he intends to do something for my town. After all the initial reaction was that he has parachuted into Pioneer SMC. That’s not mentioning, the effect of one Member of Parliament [MP] is meager but how well he runs the town as chairman of the town council would have a major impact on my quality of living here.

Despite this being the first time I heard Mr Chia spoke in a rally, I can immediately tell he is more seasoned at this – because he interacted and roused the crowd when necessary. I am quite please Mr Chia spoke about resident patrols / vigilantes to fight the crime rate in the area, and also to ensure that foreign workers doesn’t mess up our public areas (such as urinating in stair wells or dark places). Furthermore, resident patrols can also go a long way to combat Tai-e-loan or ‘Ah Long’ (loan shark) activities. I recalled being told (though I can’t remember who told me that and why) there is a bicycle theft issue in Pioneer SMC even when it was part of West Coast Group Representation Constituency [GRC]. In fact, for months the frame of a disassembled bike remained chained to the bicycle parking space at the void deck of my block and it is still there today. If I remembered correctly, it has perhaps something to do with illegal immigrants or foreign workers loitering in the area as well. While I heard someone in the crowd said that this isn’t doable to his companions, I felt it was a far better idea that Mr Cedric Foo’s idea to install CCTVs in the entire town. CCTVs cost money to install and maintain and there is no need to guess who will foot the bill. That’s not mentioning that CCTV is a passive, not an active way to deter the non-criminal activities. On top of which I felt a residents patrol may also go some way in fostering a community spirit.

Mr Chia also spoke about the PAP’s plan to built a new mosque in Jurong West and questioned what will happened to the old mosque where the older Muslim community has strong ties to. I was a little alarmed and concerned when this matter was brought up, because religious issues are generally sensitive. I breathed a sigh of relief when it ended on a soft note without stirring strong emotions. Mr Chia also made the promise that he would attempt to meet residents as often as possible if elected, and would even meet them at their homes for the disabled.

I didn’t pay attention to what he said about national policies because by then I have been on my feet (either stationary or moving around taking photos) for almost 2 hours. 4 consecutive days of standing long hours in rallies has really taken a toll. Anyway I did catch the part that there is such a thing call a pension contract (if I heard it right) for some ministers. Mr Chia used that to bring up the point about our CPF and how the regulations for withdrawal keeps changing while nothing can be changed on such a contract. I left after Mr Chia finished speaking, before the rally ended.

By the way, I found this interesting link in my mailbox from a reader. The first thing I saw after I clicked the link is “Vote 2011: A Framework for Well Reasoned Choice in GE 2011”. Please check it out as it maybe useful for some voters to have a holistic view on the candidates and to make a informed decision on who to vote even though for this particular election I’ll more likely vote with my heart and not with my head.

Recommended Reads:
kirsten: Wah lau, TNP, buay pai seh ah?