PAP’s Eric Low rapped for stealing limelight of Hougang MP Low Thia Kiang
October 7th, 2009 | 
Author: From our Correspondent
The PAP’s representative and losing candidate in the last general elections Mr Eric Low was rapped for stealing the limelight of Hougang’s legitimate Member of Parliament Mr Low Thia Kiang of the Workers’ Party!
Mr Eric Low had earlier claimed credit for bringing the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) to the residents living in the constituency.
In a press statement released to the state media, he attributed Hougang being selected for the LUP to his “relentless and unyielding” efforts:
“Though I was not elected, I have been trying hard to lobby the authorities including National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan to upgrade the lifts in Hougang. Now that the lifts will finally be ugraded, I am extremely satisfied about it.”
An irate Singaporean, Mr Muhammad Yusuf wrote a scathing piece to the Straits Times Forum today lampooning Mr Eric Low and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, the PAP’s grassroots leader in Potong Pasir for announcing the news of LUP. (read letter here)
He wrote:
“Mr Low justified his announcement of the programme by saying it was the usual practice, even in PAP wards, for the grassroots adviser to lead the programme.
My question: Under what authority did both Mr Low and Mr Sitoh act as advisers to the grassroots organisations, given that the People’s Association is a government statutory board and should work with the elected MPs of the constituencies?”
Mr Yusuf also questioned why HDB choose to work with unelected candidates instead of the elected MPs in the constituencies.
HDB is supposedly a “non-partisan” and “non-political” agency under the purview of the Singapore government. It is strange that they chose to liaise directly with the PAP grassroots leaders without any proper titles or positions instead of the rightful MPs in charge of the ward.
As Mr Yusuf puts it succinctly: “The proper protocol would have been to have the elected MPs act as grassroots advisers and announce such programmes.”
Though the two wards of Potong Pasir and Hougang are managed by opposition MPs, the ruling party still controls the purse-strings of the state and hence they are in a position to dish out “pork” in the form of estate upgrading to entice the electorate to vote for them during the elections.
In the 2006 general elections, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong dangled a $100 million upgrading carrot to Hougang residents. They did not bite it and returned Mr Low Thia Kiang to parliament with an increased margin of votes.
Since his ignonimous defeat, Mr Eric Low had slapped a fee on his previously free health-screening programme and stopped his Meet-The-People sessions and popular free breakfast service for the needy and now he is trying to woo Hougang residents again by claiming credit for bringing LUP to them.
Despite losing at the polls, the PAP still behaves as if Hougang is their constituency by conducting grassroots events and activities for its residents alongside the Workers’ Party to undermine the latter’s work.
Banners depicting the smiling face of Mr Eric Low and bearing the PAP’s insignia are ubiquitous throughout Hougang while that of its MP are conspicuous by their absence. An unsuspecting visitor to Hougang may mistakened it to be a PAP ward.
Mr Eric Low’s latest attention-seeking antics obviously did not go down well with netizens.
Tong Chee Kien wrote:
“SOP practice. Good news will always come through their mouth, and as if their effort to cause this to happen. Then again it shows garmen open up as this is pissing people off more than it does good for them.”
Dave Lim added:
“The ‘grassroots’ organisations is a sham, in that they are NOT bi=partisan, but largely PAP devices, serving as intelligence gatherers and municipal councillors for the PAP.”
With the electorate becoming more and more astute, educated and sophisticated, the ruling party will encounter an uphill task in repeating its thuggish tactics such as use of defamation lawsuits to cripple its opponents in the next election.
What are your views on this matter? Do you think Mr Eric Low has undermined the authority of Mr Low Thia Kiang by announcing the LUP instead of passing the news to him to announce as a form of basic courtesy?
Please email us your thoughts to: [email protected]
Comment source: ST Discussion Board
Related article:
>> Eric Low claimed credit for bringing LUP to Hougang
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Coz it’s true to character of...
What a shameless person. Hougang voters are wise to not vote for him.
Mr. Low Thia Khiang has already asked for LUP in parliament (as is Mr. Chiam See Tong) many times.
Here is the speech in parliament regarding LUP.
===========================================================
source : http://www.wp.sg/wordpress/2009/02/mnd-lift-upgrading/
MND – Lift Upgrading
By Low Thia Khiang, MP for Hougang
Sir, I note that prefabricated metal lift shaft is commonly used now instead of ferroconcrete lift shaft under the LUP. The Minister has also mentioned in this house that this change would reduce the total cost of construction arising from faster construction and lesser need for foundation.
I would like to request the Minister to provide a detailed breakdown of the cost reduction and how much this translates into savings for the HDB, the Town Council and the residents in terms of dollars and cents.
I also would like to know whether metal lift shafts would be the choice for all future LUPs? If that is so, would the use of steel, which by nature is a better conductor of heat, increases the breakdown frequency of the various heat-sensitive mechanical and electronic components of the lifts? This will have implications on maintenance cost.
As Town Councils and eventually the residents are responsible for the cost of the maintenance of lifts, are Town Councils given the choice to decide the type of lift shafts they prefer under LUP?
Hougang Town Council recently called for a tender to replace 54 numbers of lifts to 26 blocks of flats but MND informed the Town Council to prepare financially for the coming LUP in Hougang Estate. Although the objective of the government is to complete the LUP program by 2014, MND has not informed the Town Council the planned commencement and completion dates for the Hougang LUP.
Sir, such information is vital for Hougang Town Council to plan and accommodate works by the HDB so as to avoid wastage of the Town Council’s precious resources. Such wastage of resources was experienced in the ongoing demolition of the HDB blocks at Hougang Avenue 3 and 7, just a mere 7 years after the lifts at these blocks were upgraded at the cost of some $400,000 to $500,000. The HDB refused to reimburse Hougang Town Council the costs for the unexpired cyclical period. Had Hougang Town Council been informed of the plans of the government, the money could have been saved and put to better use.
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 6 Feb 2009.)
And here is the speech by Mr. Chiam on main upgrading, of which the LUP is part of the scheme.
============================================================
source : http://www.spp.org.sg/tos/20080121.php
Speech in Parliament by Chiam See Tong on HDB Upgrading
21 January 2008
I rise in support of the Bill which in principle is to enable the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to carry out upgrading works within or for flats in its housing estates, if 75 per cent of flat owners vote in favour of such upgrading works. I also would like to say that my party as an Opposition party supports the Government’s policy of upgrading of HDB flats. I make this statement to dispel any notion that the Minister may have that the Opposition does not support the Government’s upgrading programmes. That was the reason the Minister gave after the last election when the Government failed to upgrade Potong Pasir HDB flats after promising to do so.
I note that the list of items included for upgrading under Clause 2 of the Bill is all embracing. It includes items within a flat and also items within a building or any part thereof not comprised in a flat. It is encouraging to know that the HDB shall be upgrading so many items because after 25 years HDB flats need a lot of repairs and upgrading. The most troublesome faults occurring within an old HDB flat are spalling concrete, leaking ceilings and corroded sewer pipes. These faults in old HDB flats are very unpleasant and unsightly. As for the spalling concrete, they are menacing and dangerous. Those faults that I mentioned are best rectified by HDB upgrading.
Before those upgrading works are done, a poll has to be taken and a 75 per cent approval must be sought from flat owners first. It must be noted that the flat owners do not give their approval automatically and vote for upgrading of their flats. The HDB cannot take flat owners for granted. The HDB must look at the sensitivities and interest of flat owners in carrying out the upgrading programmes.
The Main Upgrading Programmes (MUP) at two precincts were rejected by the flat owners at MacPherson and Pandan Gardens and the MUP at Teck Whye was postponed, then withdrawn after the MUP was scrapped by the HDB. The said two MUPs failed because lessees complained that the upgrading took too long, about two years and that it was too noisy, dusty and a lot of inconveniences caused. In the case of the MUP at Marine Terrace, the sub contractor there went bust and could not continue with the work. The cost of upgrading at that time was a factor. The inclusion of the space addition item (SAI) was another problem as well. I believe that the Government was surprised that the residents rejected the MUP especially when they think that the MUP offered was for the benefit of flat owners.
The MUP was halted at about 2004 and subsequent new upgrading programmes have come on stream. Following the MUP there was the interim upgrading programme (IUP) followed by the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) and the LUP Plus, then came the Hawkers’ Upgrading Programme (HUP) to be carried out by the NEA. After which came the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), then the neighbourhood renewal programme (NRP). The last two programmes, namely the HIP and the NRP were announced by the Prime Minister at his National Day Rally speech on 19 August 2007 and not surprisingly, Potong Pasir was not included in the lists of HIP, NRP and all the other upgrading programmes mentioned above. May I ask the Minister what is the reason for Potong Pasir for not being included in the above mentioned upgrading programme although Potong Pasir is eligible for it, and will Potong Pasir ever be included in the above categories for upgrading, if so when?
It is very unfair of the Government to discriminate against Potong Pasir. Potong Pasir for the last 20 years has been completely deprived of any upgrading benefits. Millions of dollars have been spent, but Potong Pasir has not benefited even one cent of those funds spent on upgrading public flats. Are Potong Pasir residents not Singapore citizens? Don’t they pay income tax, don’t their sons do National Service? The Government should use public funds fairly for the benefit of all constituencies including the Opposition ones.
Despite the fact that Potong Pasir has not benefited at all from the HDB upgrading programmes, I still support the Bill.
As you can see from above two speeches I posted, despite LTK and CST’s efforts for championing their ward’s upgrading, PAP ignores them and the voters who are also tax payers.
Despite this, both MPs took the initiatives to do LUP which is essential for older estates and greying population. I might also add as a parent, it is also essential for small kids as we need to use prams and carry a lot of baby stuff.
Unfortunately, even such initiatives by opposition MPs are twarted by PAP’s dirty tricks of demolishing those flats after LUP has been done. This shows the gracelessness and the sore-loser mentality of the PAP which contrast with the nobility and initiatives of the opposition MPs.
We the voters should not stand aside and do nothing. We should vote in more opposition MPs to give them strength in numbers. Two MPs, they can fix. But can they fix 40 opposition MPs?
someone should seriously raise this question in public and at the parliment and that is is there a breach of secrecy ie how come eric low knows about the upgrading when he is not in the goverment?
I am sure that the relevent authorities had got very good answers for Mr Muhammad Yusof’s letter.
The PAP Shit Times will not publish this letter without having the answer ready.
As a matter of fact, the ST will have to get the nod from the relevent dept before they are allow to publish.
So lets see what will the answer be like!!!
What a loser. Hope he gives up politics when he loses the next time around. Has he no shame?
Sometimes, we have to give ST credit for being neutral on issues such as this.
The fact that this got printed in the forums does show the maturity of our mainstream media. I would never have imagined this letter getting printed many years ago.
Hi admin
“In the 2006 general elections, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong dangled a $10 million upgrading carrot to Hougang residents. They did not bite it and return Mr Low Thia Kiang to parliament with an increased margin of votes.”
Please note that GCT did not dangle a $10m carrot to Hougang residents but a whopping $100m carrot to them.
I don’t understand why PAP needs to stoop so low to win. They already have the vast majority of the wards. Do they have to resort to such underhanded means to win another 2 wards to control 100% of S’pore??
In the process, they are revealing the very ugly side of them to the public.
Can Mr Eric Low provide an answer as to how his actions or speeches were the major factors influencing the decision to upgrade Hougang?
As far as I know, the people’s representative in Hougang, Mr Low Thia Kiang has always been lobbying for his ward to be upgraded. I don’t see how Mr Eric Low has made a difference in influencing this decision.
” Eric Low claimed credit for bringing LUP to Hougang “. The govt already said by 2014, all LUP will be implemented, only PP and Hougang are the last two wards to be upgraded because pap want to punish the people there for voting oppositions.By the way LUP is not free, you have to pay for it.
Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Our younger generation should read more of it to have a better understanding of this Sillypore
“The fact that this got printed in the forums does show the maturity of our mainstream media.”
The fact that it is only printed in the forum but not in the main section of the ShittyTimes already show how mature it is towards the PAP. It is in fact a arm and mouthpiece of PAP. Why should it be credit to ShittyTimes for printing something that already create a furore in the blogosphere ? No one ask ShittyTimes to print it, or they can ignore it at their peril.
“Can Mr Eric Low provide an answer as to how his actions or speeches were the major factors influencing the decision to upgrade Hougang?”
If what Eric Low said is corrected then it only show blatant corruption of the PAP. Period. That is mis-abusement of the tax-money to perpetuate the PAP’s political interest. So either Eric Low is lying or HDB is lying, which indicate that anti-corruption unit of Singapore must hold investigation and give a proper answer to the public.
If I recall correctly, previously the official reason why opposition MPs were not appointed as the grassroots advisers of their constituency was something as follows:
That the PA is an organization that promotes government initiatives and grassroots efforts and that opposition MPs would not support the government efforts; thus the grassroot advisers are from the ruling party. Crap. What if the ruling party only garners 51% of the votes or seats?
Base on the intimidation opposition ward will be service last.
If the PAP collapse we will bring this case to court. We are the taxe payer.Election is fair, in Western Country incumbent lost their game they show gentle manner to congratulate the winner. This is a most despicable reprisal by the LEEregime in Singapore Political History.
YALOR, THE NEEDY UNEMPLOYED/HANDICAP NEEDS HELP, NEVER SEE MPs COME OUT.
http://happyangelclub.wordpress.com/
[ http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/09/handicapped-resident-applies-for-aid-with-mp-but-faces-difficulties/comment-page-1/#comment-108063 ]
[ http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/09/30/town-council-took-unemployed-man-to-court-for-sc-arrears/ ]
Exposer,
The MSMs are learning.
If they dont allow in their forum, and is mentioned in TH, TOC etc that they censor such remarks. they lose credibility.
NOT THAT THEY HAVE ANY
#
@sgcynic on Wed, 7th Oct 2009 5:22 pm
[[If I recall correctly, previously the official reason why opposition MPs were not appointed as the grassroots advisers of their constituency was something as follows:
That the PA is an organization that promotes government initiatives and grassroots efforts and that opposition MPs would not support the government efforts; thus the grassroot advisers are from the ruling party. Crap. What if the ruling party only garners 51% of the votes or seats?]]
This is precisely why Low Thia Khiang supports the abolishment of grassroots system, as he knows it is another cover for PAP to recruit more stooges.
Low Thia Khiang is actually quite a smart and shrewd person, just that he is not flashy, so could not be taken note by some people.
It’s kinda like the bad boys with the flashy car get the girls while the smart but quiet boys don’t.
Good work Eric…pray hard there is a place in a GRC for you
Pig R,
“I don’t understand why PAP needs to stoop so low to win.”
What are you talking about?
They have always been so low.
Ha ha ha!
These days, I dont get to watch live telecast of Parliament speeches! Is it not important for Singaporeans to know what is going on and the issues being debated?
This silly, sordid episode shows how desperate these two two-time losers are. They are ready to go to any length to score a few points with voters in the two constituencies,
to the extent that their amateurish efforts become all too transparent to people looking in. They should just go look
at themselves in the mirror and die in shame!!!
mainstreet citizen,
they scared you know too much.
Thats the problem when you pay Millions to Monkeys, they begin to think that they are smarter than Human Beings!
As I understand, town councils and GROs work together in the PAP wards. My question is: do they work together in the opposition wards?
The complicated issue here is that in opposition wards, and in wards that are being targetted by opposition in the future, there are two groups of GROs: PA(P) GROs and Opposition party GROs eg. WP GRO in Hougang.
So I guess it is natural for Hougang Town Council (under LTK) to work with Hougang WP GRO (also under LTK).
That means the government, through HDB, can seize the excuse that the PA(P) GROs in Hougang is the “official government” GRO and therefore HDB communicates to the residents of Hougang through “official” channel.
This is my speculation as to the explanation that will be given by the government, whether PAP or PA or GRO or HDB.
Of course, I stand corrected.
Vote for PAP in my ward = PAP lose money with my SC&C in Lehman minibond investments. They tell me to be thankful instead of opening up their accounts for me to see. I get sued if I refuse to pay SC&C and get hammered in the MSM if I decided to blow up the matter…
Vote for opposition in my ward = Opposition will be prudent with my SC&C, investing in bonds. I get opposition grassroots and PAP grassroots in my ward. PAP MP wannabe will “try very hard to lobby the authorities to upgrade the lifts”.
I got 1 opposition to check on the government, and then another “relentless and unyielding” MP wannabe to fight for upgrading of the facilities of my ward.
It’s no-brainer on who would I vote for.
this is stating the obvious:
WP tried to get MBT to upgrade lifts. MBT rejected request becos PAP wanted to punish People for not voting for PAP. Little Eric came along and “lobbied”. PAP changed track, thinking that it wld be “one stone, two birds” – letting People know that Eric was most “useful” and that PAP was “fair-minded”.
Fortunately, People cld see the truth for themselves. PAP is nothing but sneaky and lowly that had tried to use People’s money to arm twist them in the first place. When it saw that the courageous People cld not be bullied, it tried to use their money to gain credit in their eyes.
this is a new low.
This Eric Low is a loser. I seriously doubt he will ever be elected. Shameless fellow.
I don’t think Eric Low is at the $$million tier. Also with regards to the item being in the forums instead of the main paper, its only a letter raising an issue written by someone previously unknown….. not exactly news making in and of itself :/
Papers need catchy headlines to sell papers. Heedlines that do these right now include Renci, Tiwary and Ris Low. Compare those headlines to something line the lines of “PAP’s Eric Low rapped for stealing limelight….”. Which do you think will sell better? Blame the typical newspaper buyer who are suckers for such headliners.
Shame??? what shame??? They wouldn’t know shame even if shame were to come into their home and knock them on their heads?
Did you see shame when billions were lost??? did you see shame when town councils use their funds and act as investors with the ppl’s $$$??? Did you see shame when MSK escape with a limp via toilet rolls?
Did you see shame when they sell snake oil on TV?
There is no shame in pappy…only blame. Blame the people.
? No leh, I see alot of leftover newspaper these days.
i hope PAP gets Hougang in the next elections. as a resident in an opposition ward, i feel we are totally underserved.
When one Pay MULTIPLE $600,000 PEANUTS… One GET MONKEYS!!!! What do you think YES-man Eric Low IS looking at???… $600,000 PEANUTS!!! WHAT else???
QUOTE
XiSd Tay on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 12:17 am
Thats the problem when you pay Millions to Monkeys, they begin to think that they are smarter than Human Beings!
UNQUOTE
Yap, my memory served me right.
sgcynic on Wed, 7th Oct 2009 5:22 pm
If I recall correctly, previously the official reason why opposition MPs were not appointed as the grassroots advisers of their constituency was something as follows:
That the PA is an organization that promotes government initiatives and grassroots efforts and that opposition MPs would not support the government efforts; thus the grassroot advisers are from the ruling party. Crap. What if the ruling party only garners 51% of the votes or seats?
Mah Bow Tan: “I don’t expect the MP who’s not … a PAP MP to explain why LUP is like that, why we need co-payment, what the co-payment is all about. The adviser is always the one doing it, and it’s no different this time round,” he said.
he is a loser…but is terribly and shamelessly thick skinned!!!
Yes, the people voted for the Opposition but the are all Singaporean too, subjecting to same GOV policies, pay GST, ERP, and Income Tax. The GOV are to take care of all Citizens and not selectively using its authority to divide the people. LUP should not be used as a political tool. Not a single Singaporean should be deprived of rights to GOV packages including LUP. These are from Singapore’s cofer, not from PAP.
Blackfeline – maybe being terribly and shamelessly thick-skinned is a requirement for being a LOW stooge? hahah
To be in politics, you have to be thick skinned. But there seems to be different ways to be thick skin. Depending on the circumstances, thick skin can be humility or can be arrogance.
@hougangresident on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 9:11 am
[[i hope PAP gets Hougang in the next elections. as a resident in an opposition ward, i feel we are totally underserved.]]
How much are you paying for S&CC per month? Do you know?
Another shameless act by MBT
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC091008-0000093/MAH-on-LUP-in-Hougang-and-Potong-Pasir
If they don’t let opposition MPs announce, at the least let the MND minister announce instead of the two losers announce.That will be fine.
I hope residents of Potong Pasir and Hougang can see through PAP’s wayang show. They do us proud when GCT dangle a huge carrot for them to bite and the collectively snub GCT.
The voters there should show PAP that their wayang show is not effective and they better treat them fairly by giving the opposition more percentage of votes. 80% would be best.
I am sure the Hougang resident will continues to vote out this hypocrites shameless low rat – Eric LOW!!…
Eric Low has reached a new low!
After NTUC, they should announce their symbiotic
relationship with HDB, then everything will be
alright.