It is about HDB policy, not Mah Bow Tan

From Channel News Asia:

NSP says it intends to contest election on housing issues
By Teo Xuanwei, TODAY | Posted: 31 January 2010 2331 hrs


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HDB flats



SINGAPORE: The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has said it wants to engage in a debate on housing issues with National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.

NSP's Secretary General Goh Meng Seng said it intends to contest the General Election in Tampines over Mr Mah's policy decisions and not over personalities.

The 39-year-old businessman said: "As Mr Mah pointed out correctly, it's not about Mr Mah or about me, but his HDB policy, which will affect this, the next and future generations."

The five-member Group Representation Constituency (GRC) of Tampines, which is helmed by Mr Mah, is a potential battleground that several opposition parties are eyeing in the next General Election.

Besides NSP, there are indications that the Workers' Party (WP), Singapore Democratic Party and Reform Party may weigh in as well.

Asked to rate NSP's chances at the elections - it has been unsuccessful in four previous attempts - Mr Goh said matter-of-factly: "It's up to us to convince constituents that Mr Mah's decisions are not good.

"If we fail to do that, we deserve to lose. Nobody owes us anything."

The WP's organising secretary Yaw Shin Leong said no decision has been made as yet whether it will contest Tampines GRC.

- TODAY/ir


From TodayOnline

SINGAPORE - A day after National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan responded to one of the opposition's election strategies - and that is to target him on housing policy issues - the National Solidarity Party has clarified that the fight was over his policy decisions, and not over personalities.

"As Mr Mah pointed out correctly, it's not about Mr Mah or about me, but his HDB policy, which will affect this generation, the next generation and future generations," NSP's newly-elected secretary-general Goh Meng Seng told MediaCorp yesterday.

"It's not because I dislike him. I have nothing against him."

The 39-year-old businessman also said Mr Mah should justify his comments on Saturday that HDB's policies are for the "good of the people".

"As MM Lee said, Mr Mah should fight his own battle. He's a seasoned politician who has fought many electoral battles, and I have high respect for him." he said.

He was referring to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's comments at a housing conference last week, where he said if Mr Mah was unable to defend his housing policy, "he deserves to lose" at the next General Election.

Mr Goh agreed, and said, "Voters have to make an informed choice, so politicians have to defend their policies, especially if they're unpopular. Let people judge for themselves, simple as that.

"If he wants to have a debate, I can do it anytime. It's up to him."

The five-member group representation constituency of Tampines, which is helmed by Mr Mah, is a potential battleground that several opposition parties are eyeing in the next election. Besides the NSP, there are indications that the Workers' Party (WP), the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Reform Party (RP) may weigh in as well.

Asked to rate NSP's chances at the elections - it has been unsuccessful in four previous attempts - Mr Goh said matter-of-factly: "It's up to us to convince constituents that Mr Mah's decisions are not good.

"If we fail to do that, we deserve to lose. Nobody owes us anything."

The WP's organising secretary Yaw Shin Leong said no decision has been made as yet whether it will contest Tampines GRC.

The RP said "it is not interested in Tampines at the moment," while SDP could not be reached for comment.