The People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC, Ms Irene Ng, seems irked by the media coverage given to opposition MPs. In a comment posted on her Facebook page, she insinuated that the media attention given to opposition MPs’ Meet The People sessions was unwarranted. She said, “We [PAP Tampines GRC team] serve quietly and hope residents will judge us by our actions, and not just our words.” In just three hours, the comment drew over 30 responses, most of which were negative.
This same comment was posted on her Facebook public figure page, and the reactions were likewise. Many questioned Ms Ng’s judgment on not viewing the media coverage of Worker’s Party’s first Meet-the-People Session for Aljunied GRC as newsworthy. A member of public, Mr Kenneth Sandeep Satyamurty said, “Certainly as a former journalist yourself, you’d see the worthiness of the WP’s first MPS in Aljunied? This was the first MPS by an opposition party in a GRC, but you didn’t need me to spell that out for you, did you? I’m a Tampines voter and I’m disgusted by your ungracious remarks.”
Ms Ng however defended that her remarks are based on facts and is an “observation”. She also clarified that she was not lamenting about the media coverage.
Singapore 2011 General Elections saw the residents of Aljunied make an unprecedented move – they voted in an opposition party into parliament. The mainstream media has previously covered the PAP’s MPS after the elections as well. Both Tin Pei Ling’s first session with the residents of MacPherson on May 10, and BG Tan Chuan Jin’s first session with the residents of Kampong Ubi-Kembangan ward on May 18 were similarly filmed on video which was aired to the public.
Another member of the public, Ms Nancy Tang commented on the thread, “A mature individual will not even voice the matter at all. If you felt short change, by all means, be the first PAP to hold your session at the void deck. Once the media gets wind of it, they will give you the coverage that you so wished for. Then we shall see if the WP makes any comment.”
There were a few supporters who cheered Ms Ng on. A member of the public Ms Suhaimi Lazim said, “Having done voluntary work at MPS, I know how much hard work is put in for these sessions. So keep it up.”
Mr Joseph Teng, who is a resident of Tampines GRC and had previously voted for Ms Ng applauded her for her efforts and work behind the scenes. However, he maintained that this remark was uncalled for. “Like other Singaporeans we are matured enough to know what we are deciding but we prefer to make our own informed decision based on what we can see with our eyes rather than on media coverage. Having said that I think your comment above on the opposition is uncalled for. If you really want to serve the residents with quiet confidence, just do it quietly and let the resident be the judge … Respect your opponent and do not judge them just like our beloved George Yeo did even though he lost the election. Let the opposition do their job their way just like you do yours.”
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Irene Ng has proved herself to be a PETTY jealous person, not the type that is worth the $15,000 a month of taxpayers’ $$.
She could have won some votes over if she has empathised with the void deck that WP has to conduct MTPs sessions and asked for the government to be fair to them!
She chose to keep mum of the hugh publicity on her PAP colleagues!
In fact I was surprised to read of the report of WP and thought I saw some saving grace in SPH!!
Still i will not resubscibe to any of the local papers until it has rid of the PAP contamination!
Why people cannot behave?
Simply because their leaders are conscientiously misbehaving!
Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair.
With the ruling party now seriously reviewing its ways of running the country, the Main Stream Media (MSM) should also at the same time change its unbalanced coverage of national events, be they related to PAP or the opposition parties. The criteria should always be “How will it affect the interests of the people, and NOT “ how it can “promote the interests of the ruling party”.
The ignorance of the PAP leaders about the true feelings of the people on the ground during the GE 2011, one of the major causes is the MSM’s biased news coverage. If the MSM does not adopt the “Pro-People” style of news coverage and strives to always tell the truth from now on, not only that its readership will continue to shrink, it will eventually quicken the demise of the PAP.
To me, regardless of educational level, MP must have Heart, Ear and be willing to Love All, Serve All. Please talk a little lesser and work more for your residents!
Irene said that she was serving quietly and not complaining, then why should this issue be brought up. Typical double talk. PAP is quite good in such things!
Is this a clearcut case of MP losing foresight and start showing backsight to the public..
Even a pros knows how to serve Tenpenis quietly.
The WP given media coverage for their first meet the people session in Aljunied is certainly media worthy. Any journalist will tell you that because it is unprecedented. But the thing is any extra media coverage of the WP or PAP sessions are welcomed because it provides better scrutiny on the candidates of both the PAP and opposition parties. That is what a better democracy is about. It allows citizens to be better informed of what is going on in their homeland. The media os certainly doing a good job by covering (hopefully) equal coverage of WP candidates as well as PAP candidates.
Dear Irene Ng, you should count yourself lucky that GMS sent a weak team to challenge you. if its the A team from NSP or WP you would have been voted out as Marbok Tan and you are very unpopular.
Most people only want to hear what pleases their ears. Otherwise, they turn into lumpy ogres and trample all over you.
But fortunately, not all readers of toc are like that … only some of the fanatical hard-core ones.
Ms Irene, I can assure you that you will be the head-line if you start your MPS from Monday to Friday. Absolutely effective!!
How pathetic and shallow can PAP MP be?. She is just the Mic and Speaker with built-in amplifier for her boss only. No substance and only a “Yes” Man.
from wiki
Irene Ng Phek Hoong (simplified Chinese: 伍碧虹; pinyin: Wǔ Bìhóng; born 24 December 1963 in Penang, Malaysia)
Before joining politics in 2001, Ng was the Senior Political Correspondent of The Straits Times.
how can this stup$d woman not know how the system works. The bullshit straitstimes is 100% biased pretend to report on opposition just part of WAYANG.
As though her party don’t have enough problems/issues, she has to make such a comment. No one here is discrediting her for anything she might have done for the people in Tampines but she should have guessed the comment would attract more negative than positive replies (and therefore shouldn’t have made it) considering the fact that the people are still upset with them :/ Another not very smart act/move/comment… Sigh…
When Is meet the people session?
anyone know when is meet the people session??