Saturday, May 31, 2008 23:39
Chiam fulfils walkway promise made at 2006 polls
In Uncategorized • 1,048 views • 22 Comments
From the Straits Times
May 31, 2008
Chiam fulfils walkway promise made at 2006 polls
THE completion of a covered walkway in Potong Pasir marks the fulfillment of a promise Mr Chiam See Tong made during the 2006 General Election.
On Saturday, the opposition MP ‘opened’ the walkway which links the MRT station to the town centre, amid a shower of colourful confetti and a rousing lion dance.
Hailing the walkway as proof that the opposition ‘will fulfill whatever we promise’, he told reporters: ‘At the last election, I said I will build this covered linkway, and now this task has been completed. We have done our job.’
The project, which costs the town council $250,000, also ended a dispute between Mr Chiam and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin from the People’s Action Party, who lost the contest for the ward in 2006 polls.
Before the election, Mr Sitoh had installed solar lamps along the pathway – where the walkway now stands – after obtaining lease of the land from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
When some of the lights were vandalised, Mr Sitoh declined to repair them, saying the land’s lease was due to expire.
Mr Chiam, on the other hand, said it was illegal for his town council to use its funds for the repairs, as the land was not under the council’s jurisdiction.
From the Straits Times
August, 2006
DAMAGED LIGHTS IN POTONG PASIR – CHIAM SEEKS TO BUILD NEW WALKWAY WITH LIGHTS
SOLUTION UNCOVERED?: The question of who should repair the damaged lights will become redundant if the town council gets approval to build a covered walkway, said Mr Chiam
THE saga of who is to repair some damaged solar lights along a pathway in Potong Pasir constituency took a new turn last night.
Its MP, Mr Chiam See Tong, is now seeking to build a covered walkway with lights for residents walking home from the Potong Pasir MRT station.
He told The Straits Times that he applied to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) last week for permission to build the linkway to connect the MRT station to the town centre in Potong Pasir Avenue 2.
This new development follows a dispute between Mr Chiam and the People’s Action Party candidate, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, who lost the contest for the ward in the May General Election.
Earlier, before the election, Mr Sitoh had installed eight solar lights along a concrete pathway from the MRT station to Block 147, Potong Pasir Avenue 1. He had obtained the lease of the land from the SLA.
Six lights were vandalised. Mr Sitoh declined to repair them, saying the land’s lease would run out on Oct 31. Mr Chiam, on the other hand, said it was illegal for his town council to use its funds for the repairs because the land in question was not under the council’s jurisdiction.
He said in an e-mail last night: ‘In the case of building a covered linkway, we shall have to apply for permission before we can…construct a facility. We are now applying to the SLA to do that.’
His town council will also apply to use its sinking funds to pay for the covered walkway, he said. Mr Chiam also rebutted a comment made over the weekend by Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr Lim had said that as MP for Potong Pasir, Mr Chiam was responsible for repairing the lights.
Said Mr Chiam: ‘Mr Lim Boon Heng should know that permission was granted to Mr Sitoh to build the solar lamps. Therefore, it is his duty to repair the lamps.” He added the issue would become redundant if the town council was allowed to construct the covered walkway.
Read also:
Chiam and Sitoh by Wert.sg.
Mah says MPs should solve residents’ municipal problems quickly by Derkeiler.com
Chiam, Sitoh in spat over facilities by Straits Times
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22 Comments
Bravo
Gary Teoh
CST is still young. why may not be in the next parliament? I find that the govt should serve all the people regardless where they stay because we all pay tax, and we pay salary to the ministers. Without us the govt can not function. Pls take note Lim Boon Heng is good for nothing. He cares for his own pocket rather than cares for the workers.
All credit to CST for lasting in parliament as an opposition MP as long as he has. I think the thing that CST and LKK in Haugang have shown is that opposition MPs can get things done.
Of course CST is going to look worn out. PAP government has been notorious for making life difficult to prove that only PAP can work for the people. It’s no fun struggling against the nonsense that they have put into his place. So, well done to CST for doing what he has in spite of the odds against him.
tunkudon
tat the different between ……..
Good to see Mr Chiam healthy and fulfiling his promise to the people of Potong Pasir. I think Sitoh Yih Pin should be totally ashamed of himself for abandoning the PP residents after the elections – despite his promise of multi-million dollar upgrading projects.
Seems like Sitoh Yih Pin is nowhere to be seen nowadays – abalone porridge or not.
Well done, Mr Chiam! More good years to you!
80 million singapore dollars upgrade programme for Potong Pasir if the residents chose PAP candidate instead of CST. The residents did not give in to such temptation, and chose to forgo such a privilege. It is so sad that our rich Government challenge our opposition party with such proposal to get into position. As I have begun to read TOC website recently, I wish that more singaporeans would take time to ponder over issues what is the meaning of life than to pursue what the Government wants us to do this or that?
Daniel
Until Mr Chiam find a successor to him, I afraid he will be humiliated in the end. To add insult to his humiliation, I will not be surprised one day the government will sarcastically thank him for these years of work for Potong Pasir, and then take start taking over Potong Pasir and send Chiam into oblivion. In the end all these years of hard work will go into nothing when the coffers took over and start propaganding how good Potong Pasir under PAP.
It is important Mr Chiam start finding his successor now to carry on his noble work.
We know how the government work, and these are shameful coffers who did everything they could to take credit and accept no reponsibility. It’s not about credibility or integrity, It’s all about politics they will say again and again. Even buying supporter’s vote using taxmoney is still considered politics and lawful in Singapore, what’s more can I say ?
Daniel
“Seems like Sitoh Yih Pin is nowhere to be seen nowadays ”
Credit should go to Clown PM ! His prediction has come true, albeit to his own party !
“Our (People’s Action Party) five men are working hard, but the opposition’s five have scattered like monkeys when the tree fell.”
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_175867.html
Now we know who are the real bunch of monkeys ! Thank to the clown for his “accurate” and “astute” remarks and now we know why you are worth millions and deserve to be the PM of Singapore because you have the uncanny to predict the future to your own party.
Daniel
That is what PM get where he attract monkey with incentive of golden and elite banana. Once such incentive gone, the monkey will disperse and nowhere to be heard but the monkey will likely to return in election time for another attempt at golden banana.
Daniel
Such pragmaticism is what PAP is all about. Pathetic. Hopeless. Desperate. Useless. Stupidness. Superficial. Hypocritical. Self-righteousness. Mandate of clown.
I’m so happy to read about this achievement by Mr Chiam. He may be in poor health and have difficulty reading his own speeches in Parliament, but this has not stopped him from working hard for his residents, despite all the ridiculous roadblocks that the pork-barrel eating ruling party has put in his path all these years.
This is the type of opposition we need in Singapore — doing practical work for residents, and meeting their needs.
I wish Mr Chiam many more good years and I hope he is still healthy enough to stand for the next election.
Gary Teoh
Ya correct, Sitoh and Andy from Houganag are no where to be seen! Chiam should work harder by searching for credible successor. We worry they pap will play dirty by abolishing PP SMC. Cheers to Chiam and may ‘Quan Im Ma” bless him.
patriot
It is time for Chiam ST to groom a few successors and to expose them to the people in his constituency as well as other Singaporeans. His constituents have supported him all these years and Chiam should never let them down by leaving them without preparations to continue caring for them.
Though Potong Pasir may have been queued last in ‘upgradings’ and maybe other Government Projects, the voters in this constituency were able to bear with Chiam ST against the Disadvantages. This shows that both the Constituents and the MP have had very good relationships and trusts, the latter is unvalueable.
Though it was reported that Chiam has had some physical conditions lately, he seems to have recovered, however, in view of the fact that he has reached retirement age, he may like to have some family life and probably make himself mentor to his successors. Btw, I wish him good health and happy living.
patriot.
Gary Teoh
Mr Chiam, no matter what happens, PP can not fall back to them. We have only 2 seats, pls help us, we will always support you. TQ
Jackson
I deeply admire Mr CST’s bravery and perseverence against PAP oppression in PP ward. That is what I call good leadership. If every single GRC and SMC falls into the hands of the PAP, there will be no peace.
Betrayal
What about the lift upgrading??? Its always easy to sing opposition praises when you do not live in an opposition ward. Come. Visit the inner blocks within Potong Pasir. Its always the old people and residents who suffer when an estate is not well taken care of. PLease , don’t look at things superficially only, CST took care of PP , my foot!!!
seeking salvation
It shows the Potong Pasir majority have the balls and guts to vote against the pot barrel politics of the ruling. We have not seen Sitoh with his shark fin or abalone treat or the kaya toast and coffee all the big talk and cheap treats plus the arm muscling of the Senior Minister staking his reputation (where is the repute) hold not stakes on Potong Pasir. While Chiam is the docile opposition he still better than whosoever the Pap have place over the years.
Betrayal
Yes, Potong Pasir majority have the balls and the guts to vote for the oppositon.
But who suffers in the end. To think that newer estates like Pasir Ris with a younger population getting upgrades again and again really makes me sick!
Please, the lift upgrading and covered walkways are the basic that we deserve as tax paying, NS serving citizens. The old in Potong Pasir are suffering in terms of the quality of life , basic. I mean do you ever see someone carrying his mother
walking 2 storey down to take the lift just so as to catch some fresh air? Who is suppose to champion our rights for us. What had happened to the conscience of our politiians?
white raven
My response to Betrayal is this:
Take a leaf or two in citizen journalism! Video such touching scenes as u hv mentioned and post them on Youtube, here or CNA! It’s when politicians and elected govts who are supposed to take care of us hijacked their moral authority and privileges to play games with our lives and using votes as gaming chips who should be condemned to history’s dustbin when election time comes around! Cast your vote wisely, very wisely!
Bravo
Yes; I think CST must carry on in PP; Netizens- please help if you feel so to give your motivating views that he is really needed and wanted. CST has been pretty low profile these days.
Re-charge, energise, and get into healty debates – there is no better time than now!
Thank you, CST – you will not be a lone voice anymore; many voices as in TOC, ex-Government servants, ……………………………do not leave the scene yet.
noname
Do you know why it is better to vote opposition?
Simply because had Chiam See Tong or Low Kia Kiang invest a single cent in toxic Lehman Brothers, the State Times, together with Mediacork will let the whole world knows that they invest in it.
In other words, there are greater transparency and accountability for opposition MPs, instead like now, there are no reports on how much town councils lost in the Lehman Brothers Minibonds.
Greg
Mr Chaim, against all the odds you have still come out on top of the powerhouse PAP with it;s bullying antics. Even though you have nothing to do with the politics in my constitiuency,you have my vote any day because your sincerity has shown through…

Thank you CST and TOC for the highlight.
I see that CST looked pretty tired on the walkabout opening day; in contrast I see TOC as the fresh voice of the people and the conscience of the nation to carry the torch from CST as well; I am sure necessary public amenties for the people no matter where they are to be located will be looked at seriosly when their shortcomings are highlighted in TOC – such feedbacks are too important to be ignored by anyone nowadays.
In contrast, I feel that the newer Ministers tend to try to preach ; forgetting that more than half of the Singapore population has “eaten enough salty water” and are their senior in age and life experiences; most of the new face MPs, I suspect are born with silver spoons too, I think .
Action speak louder than words. Better late than never- thank you again CST. Your efforts have not been in vain.You may not be in the next Parliament but you are not forgotten, and I contend that you are the most respected MP today.