DPM Teo urges Punggol East voters to do comparisons

SINGAPORE: Punggol East residents have been urged to compare what the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate, Dr Koh Poh Koon, has to offer them against others contesting the by—election.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean made the point on Tuesday, adding that he is confident Dr Koh will deliver what he has set out to do.

Dr Koh’s campaign trail continued on Tuesday morning, when he met parents and grandparents sending their children to the kindergarten at Rivervale Drive.

Dr Koh has plans to expand the current capacity of childcare centres and set up new ones in convenient locations.

He said: "The plan is a fairly comprehensive one, addressing the needs of different groups of demographics, from the elderly to the working adults with young children, to childcare issues as well as the youths, and even infrastructure issues."

Mr Teo, who is also the Home Affairs Minister and PAP’s first assistant secretary—general, said: "See who can actually do the work and serve them in Punggol East. He (Dr Koh Poh Koon) will work hard for the residents here and make Punggol East a better place for them.

"I would also like to see ourselves continue to work with Poh Koon here in Punggol East, as one big Pasir Ris family. We have enjoyed working together and developed many cooperative, synergistic projects together as one big Pasir Ris family."

Mr Teo also gave his assessment of the campaign, which has reached the halfway mark.

He said: "It is a keenly contested campaign. I think Poh Koon is taking it very seriously and so is the party. We will reach out to every voter and take their vote seriously and we want to make sure we can serve them well in the future."

Mr Teo added that residents have come to see Dr Koh as someone who is down—to—earth and will work hard for them.

— CNA/al