mr funny
04-04-11, 19:12
http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNews/Story/STIStory_652015.html
Apr 2, 2011
GE 2011
Walkabouts hit snag at condos
Opposition candidates: Condo security usually unwilling to let us in
By Andrea Ong & Jeremy Au Yong
PARTY activists and potential candidates on the campaign trail have hit wet markets, hawker centres and HDB blocks.
But candidates, in particular those from opposition parties, have told The Straits Times that their walkabouts and home visits tend to hit a snag when they attempt to visit voters in condominiums.
The security guards do not let them in.
Workers' Party (WP) treasurer Eric Tan said that even if they are invited by friends to the condo, they could run into trouble with condominium management committees if other residents complain.
Mr Tan heads the WP's eastern area committee, which covers East Coast GRC and the Joo Chiat single-member constituency. Both areas have high concentrations of residents in private estates.
'We have to respect the rules and come to terms with the fact that it is not always possible to conduct house visits (in condominiums),' he said.
But parties have resorted to other ways to get their messages across.
The Singapore People's Party's Mrs Lina Chiam, who hopes to succeed her husband Chiam See Tong as Potong Pasir MP, said: 'I can reach out through the media and Facebook, and hopefully make a few friends there who can help me put my fliers into letterboxes.'
She has to contend with several new condos that have come up in Potong Pasir since the 2006 General Election.
The WP, on its part, has tried to get supporters living in condominiums to invite residents to town hall discussions in function rooms, Mr Tan said. But such outreach efforts are limited.
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan said the best way to reach such residents is through the Internet, and to encourage them to visit the party website.
The SDP, Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and National Solidarity Party (NSP) also rely on the postal service.
NSP vice-president Christopher Neo intends to mail pamphlets to 3,000 voters living in some 30 condominiums in Jurong GRC, where he plans to contest. But this means added spending. The cost of printing and mailing one pamphlet is around $1, and election rules limit spending by parties to $3.50 per voter, he said.
Opposition parties say the limited access they have to condominium residents is yet another disadvantage they face compared with the People's Action Party.
'Having been in power for more than 50 years, the PAP has activists and grassroots leaders living in every corner of the constituency who can help give out fliers,' said Mr Neo. He also claimed that condo security guards are more willing to let the PAP team in.
But Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Lee Bee Wah and Hong Kah GRC MP Ang Mong Seng, whose wards have a large number of private estate residents, say they seek approval from management committees before visiting condominium residents.
But there are PAP MPs who do have an advantage. This is because some residents serving on management committees also serve in the ward's Neighbourhood Committees (NCs).
'If the candidate is the MP, he is also adviser to the NCs and can visit condo residents in that capacity,' said Mr Ang.
Condominiums are not the only tricky properties for walkabouts. SDA secretarygeneral Desmond Lim, who plans to contest the Punggol East single-seat ward, said he has been shooed away from shopping malls by security guards. Landed property, with homes spaced further apart, poses a different challenge.
But candidates have come up with innovative solutions. NSP candidate for the Mountbatten single-seat ward Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss has 'cyclabouts' in private estates. Her team uses bicycles to cover more ground speedily.
Or, as the PAP's Ms Lee suggests: 'You just have to visit private estates more often and build up relationships.'
But others, like the SDA's Mr Lim, say landed property actually makes for easier walkabouts: 'It's all in one stretch, so you don't have to climb up and down stairs. The worst thing that can happen is that a dog barks at you.'
[email protected]
[email protected]
Apr 2, 2011
GE 2011
Walkabouts hit snag at condos
Opposition candidates: Condo security usually unwilling to let us in
By Andrea Ong & Jeremy Au Yong
PARTY activists and potential candidates on the campaign trail have hit wet markets, hawker centres and HDB blocks.
But candidates, in particular those from opposition parties, have told The Straits Times that their walkabouts and home visits tend to hit a snag when they attempt to visit voters in condominiums.
The security guards do not let them in.
Workers' Party (WP) treasurer Eric Tan said that even if they are invited by friends to the condo, they could run into trouble with condominium management committees if other residents complain.
Mr Tan heads the WP's eastern area committee, which covers East Coast GRC and the Joo Chiat single-member constituency. Both areas have high concentrations of residents in private estates.
'We have to respect the rules and come to terms with the fact that it is not always possible to conduct house visits (in condominiums),' he said.
But parties have resorted to other ways to get their messages across.
The Singapore People's Party's Mrs Lina Chiam, who hopes to succeed her husband Chiam See Tong as Potong Pasir MP, said: 'I can reach out through the media and Facebook, and hopefully make a few friends there who can help me put my fliers into letterboxes.'
She has to contend with several new condos that have come up in Potong Pasir since the 2006 General Election.
The WP, on its part, has tried to get supporters living in condominiums to invite residents to town hall discussions in function rooms, Mr Tan said. But such outreach efforts are limited.
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan said the best way to reach such residents is through the Internet, and to encourage them to visit the party website.
The SDP, Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and National Solidarity Party (NSP) also rely on the postal service.
NSP vice-president Christopher Neo intends to mail pamphlets to 3,000 voters living in some 30 condominiums in Jurong GRC, where he plans to contest. But this means added spending. The cost of printing and mailing one pamphlet is around $1, and election rules limit spending by parties to $3.50 per voter, he said.
Opposition parties say the limited access they have to condominium residents is yet another disadvantage they face compared with the People's Action Party.
'Having been in power for more than 50 years, the PAP has activists and grassroots leaders living in every corner of the constituency who can help give out fliers,' said Mr Neo. He also claimed that condo security guards are more willing to let the PAP team in.
But Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Lee Bee Wah and Hong Kah GRC MP Ang Mong Seng, whose wards have a large number of private estate residents, say they seek approval from management committees before visiting condominium residents.
But there are PAP MPs who do have an advantage. This is because some residents serving on management committees also serve in the ward's Neighbourhood Committees (NCs).
'If the candidate is the MP, he is also adviser to the NCs and can visit condo residents in that capacity,' said Mr Ang.
Condominiums are not the only tricky properties for walkabouts. SDA secretarygeneral Desmond Lim, who plans to contest the Punggol East single-seat ward, said he has been shooed away from shopping malls by security guards. Landed property, with homes spaced further apart, poses a different challenge.
But candidates have come up with innovative solutions. NSP candidate for the Mountbatten single-seat ward Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss has 'cyclabouts' in private estates. Her team uses bicycles to cover more ground speedily.
Or, as the PAP's Ms Lee suggests: 'You just have to visit private estates more often and build up relationships.'
But others, like the SDA's Mr Lim, say landed property actually makes for easier walkabouts: 'It's all in one stretch, so you don't have to climb up and down stairs. The worst thing that can happen is that a dog barks at you.'
[email protected]
[email protected]