A couple of days ago, I was returning home from a quick foray to the Jurong West Community Library when I noticed workers putting together a make-shift platform, or a pseudo-stage, and a temporary canvas shelter on the vacant field beside Pioneer Mall. The first thought that crossed my mind was "oh, rallies!", since polling day is rapidly approaching, but I quickly dispelled that idea. Of course, I had grounds for dismissing straightaway the prospects of an opposition brawl materialising in my West Coast - Ayer Rajah GRC. Essentially, simply because the incumbent ruling team is too strong.
Frequent town council newsletters would find their way on my coffee table every now and then to keep the residents abreast of the most recent developments in the neighbourhood and I recalled leafing through one such publication just last week. Contrary to previous likes, it seemed skewed towards highlighting the various upgrading projects in the precincts, which consisted of those currently undertaken and those slated to begin in the near future. If its purpose was to remind residents what the MPs had accomplished and delivered over the past five years, it undoubtedly was efficient and well thought-out. If ever the opposition parties decide to suppress their apprehension of a lost in favour of fielding their candidates here, the plethora of amenities and facilities will remain poised to win votes for the PAP: Pioneer Mall renders it more convenient for my mother to visit a supermarket and for me to have a haircut, the enlarged library boasts of a greater assortment of books, the 2 new MRT stations will increase the proximity of my flat to a MRT station, and the official opening of the sports complex at the end of this year will bring a much anticipated running track and swimming pool to my footstep, as if the present park connector is not enough. With so much to look forward to, what else can the people look for?
Disregarding these material comforts which some may term 'carrot for the electorate', the affability of the MP, Mr Celdric Foo, and the many activities planned by the town councils to reach the people are enough to score a goal. (The aforementioned shelter and stage were utilised for one such event, Resident's Day, which I discovered on Sunday) Taking a step back to look at the broader picture, one can detect and appreciate the efforts made by the MPs in working the grounds in almost every GRC, though I can't say with conviction for the GRCs in the eastern swathe of Singapore because I have never lived there before. I dwelled in 2 GRCs before relocating to Jurong West, namely CCK and Hong Kah and a similarity among them appeared to point to photos taken with the MPs, one taken at home with Prof Low Seow Chay and another with Mr Yeo Cheow Tong at a function organised by the town council. Perhaps I was too young to bother myself with local politics then, but the memories of the amiable MPs remained intact.
Thus, I question, does the opposition have the guts to field their candidates here? That remained as a question mark, till Nomination Day creeps up on us in 2 days' time because who knows what might spiral off from the challenges posed by Mr Lim Hng Kiang to the opposition on yesterday's papers? But I urge some PhD that have stirred up the political scene recently to desist his self-destructing stances or else he will only be revealing how naive and detestable he can get. What is more disconcerting is the worrying fact that he still have stalwarts under his umbrella; some people just can't figure he's fibbing, a demagogue to that extent!
Never mind about him now. I shall elaborate a bit on one of the issues that was brought up in the televised forum between MM and some teenagers: political apathy among Singaporean youths, whose increasing trend I believe do not warrant much cause for concerns. It is of natural disposition that young teenagers neglect local politics because they are still not mature and too caught up in their own school work and it is in my contention that eventually, these pillars of the country will embrace politics simply due to the omnipresence of politics in our world and the influencing effects they have on the working mechanisms. Take me for example, I had never thought much of keeping myself knowledgeable of politics in the different countries, but after being conscripted into the army, the loads of free time I possessed have translated into valuable time to unveil more of the world around me. That is, I presume a road many will encounter and tread on after me, though I do not brush off exceptions.
Evidence of my above claims and don't be mistaken, that's my brother, not me!
scribbled at 4:24 PM
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