I refer to Tin Pei Ling has done a great job and Won MacPherson Residents
Three years on, Marine Parade GRC MP Tin Pei Ling said she has not only grown up, but also grown a thicker hide.
Ms Tin admitted feeling the pressure of having to prove her worth early in her term, given the online excoriation she went through after GE2011. Her youth was initially touted as a major strength by the People's Action Party (PAP) when she was introduced as a candidate. It was supposed to be proof that the party had new blood that could connect with young voters via social media.
But this quickly backfired when photos on her Twitter account went viral, including one in which she posed with a Kate Spade box. Things got worse when she said her biggest regret was not taking her parents to Universal Studios and that she was a back-door MP.
After Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong put up his FB post about Tin Pei Ling doing a great job, netizens started raving about Tin Pei Ling and her estate management skills
Said one, "I was one of those who were rather sceptical of her post GE 2011 but I think she has proven that with determination & hard work you can change the mindsets of people. Congrats to Miss Tin & her team"
Another complimented, "She's my MP done a lot for elderly residents and transformed Macpherson estate into a beautiful place to stay I love the new park connector where i do my evening walk and all walkway are widen for wheel chair bound residents I am waiting for the Downtown line in operation the station is just opposite my flat. Thanks PM for sending her to Macpherson."
Another netizen commented on Lee Hsien Loong's posting, "Ms Tin was one of those who were there to spend time with my aged granny, when everyone else in my family were busy making ends meet..the joy I saw in my granny in one of the elderly event photos that was taken with Ms Tin..priceless"
Herein lies the danger of voting for an PAP MP just because the PAP MP managed their estate well or because they see their PAP MP faces on banners along void decks.
Macpherson residents who may want to vote for Tin Pei Ling just because she is nice to their elderly and gives out free goodies to the needy need to ask the following questions.
1) Has Tin Pei Ling done enough to pressure the incumbent PAP government to decrease GST from 7% to 5%?
2) Has Tin Pei Ling blocked/ voted against the White Paper 6.9 Million Population Plan?
3) During the GE2011, Tin Pei Ling has said she has asked the hawkers not to increase their hawker prices. Tin Pei Ling's husband is in MTI and has close links with the Prime Minister who has made no apologies in running Singapore like a corporation business. Has Tin Pei Ling done enough to pressure PAP not to increase their rents and in shopping malls?
4) How has Tin Pei Ling 's attendance so far in Parliament? She has absented herself more than 7 times since 2011 despite her being a full time MP. Click on http://therealsingapore.com/content/pap-mp-irene-ng-and-zaqy-mohamad-paid-15000-skip-parliament-sessions
The above points has been addressed by Nicole Seah during her rally in 2011.
Many times, opposition MPs who are trying to get their foot into a GRC are at an disadvantage. They don't have People's Association to help them to disseminate their political manifesto and they have full-time jobs which leaves very little for them to meet the residents.
Nicole Seah who has a full time job is now in Thailand and can only make infrequent trips to Singapore for her house visits. Being an opposition politician like Nicole Seah also means she is unable to apply for government jobs and can only go for private sector.
Even if they do win GRCs, they are put on the last of estate upgrading and do not have access to public funding/ subsidies for their upgrading.
We need more MPs who can do more for Singaporeans on a national levels rather than just be good estate managers.
CJ
TRS Contributor