[Part 2] DPM Gan Kim Yong speaks to AsiaOne on his plans for Punggol GRC, if elected.
He also responded to speculations that he may only be a one-term MP for Punggol. Calling it a “sense of mission”, DPM Gan said that being an MP is “not a job”.
“This is not a job. This is not a vocation. This is really a sense of mission, and a calling that you want to serve people. This desire to serve will drive [me] on”.
See his full response and more in the video.
He also responded to speculations that he may only be a one-term MP for Punggol. Calling it a “sense of mission”, DPM Gan said that being an MP is “not a job”.
“This is not a job. This is not a vocation. This is really a sense of mission, and a calling that you want to serve people. This desire to serve will drive [me] on”.
See his full response and more in the video.
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NewsTranscript
00:00One of the areas really is transportation and connectivity so I think we have just
00:08announced that we are going to have a new bus terminal and when the new bus
00:12terminal happens in June and it will enhance the connectivity of our buses
00:17in between. At the same time we are also looking at how we can enhance the LRT
00:22system and today they are running mostly on a single car. We have in fact in the
00:27process of testing and installing the second car which will come into service
00:31by the third quarter. This will also increase the volume of LRT connectivity
00:36and this will enhance the connectivity within the town. We are also looking at
00:40how we can develop more covered link ways. As we are here today you know we are
00:46subject ourselves to weather elements and this actually quite unique to Ponggol.
00:51In many other towns, the more mature towns for example in Trotsky where I came from
00:56it's a very very compact town and you can move from voidak to voidak because they are
01:02very close by. But here as you can see there's a lot of open space, a lot of
01:06parks, a lot of sunshine, also a lot of rain from time to time, a lot of wind. So
01:11there's a lot of weather elements and because of that we may need to build more
01:15connected covered link ways. And the usual planning norm, how much covered link way you
01:22should have in the town, how far you should connect, may not apply in towns like Ponggol.
01:28And therefore I'm suggesting that we should look at some of the planning parameters,
01:32planning norms and see whether there's a case for a different approach to building
01:37connectivity in Ponggol. But beyond the hardware, I think one other area that's
01:42very important and we mustn't neglect and that is building community. I'm very keen to
01:48work with the community leaders here to see how we can roll out programs, in fact
01:53even building spaces, so that the community can come together as a whole
01:58community as well as a family. I think to invest in family is very important for us
02:04for the long term and for the fabric of the society. So I will be very keen to work
02:09with community leaders to see how we can introduce some of these activities, programs
02:14to bring family out together. So in this way we can strengthen family bonding and
02:19strengthen community bonding and together we can build a more caring and inclusive society.
02:24How do you think about Ponggol and Ponggol?
02:27Well, I would say between Chow Chukang and Ponggol, it's a bit of same-same but different.
02:32For example, in terms of management of the estate, cleanliness and general upkeep, it's quite similar.
02:40Ponggol is a new town, Chow Chukang was a natural town, so even the maintenance will be
02:45different challenges. But I think generally they're similar. But there are also different
02:50issues, say for example, in the Ponggol we have a monkey challenge, whereas in Chow Chukang
02:56we have a chicken challenge. We need to see how we can coexist with them. The way we deal with
03:03monkeys is very different from the way we deal with chicken, of course. I think with the experience
03:07in managing Chow Chukang, this will be very useful as a foundation to build on in managing
03:13Ponggol Town Council. It is not easy to eliminate monkeys, but I told my residents that if I'm
03:18elected as a member of parliament, I will definitely work with MPACs to see how we can manage and
03:25reduce the monkey population so as to minimize the disturbances to our residents.
03:31Of course, I think I will continue for as long as I can. I think what is very important
03:39is for the MP here, whoever is elected, to continue to contribute to the community, to continue
03:46to building Ponggol. And as far as I'm concerned, our MPs' deployment and where they go, whether
03:52they say or they renew their next term, really is the decision of the party leadership. So
03:58for as long as I'm needed, for as long as I'm useful, for as long as I can continue to add value
04:04to Ponggol, I'm quite happy to continue, even after this term. And similarly, as a political
04:10office holder, whether the Prime Minister wants me to continue to be in his Cabinet, really is his decision.
04:16So I'm quite happy to be at his disposal. If he thinks that I can continue to be a useful
04:23member of his team, I'm happy to continue.
04:25I think what is important is to share with them that this election is very important because
04:34Singapore is heading into a storm. And the world is going to be very different after this liberation day.
04:41And when it recovers, it will not be the same world anymore. And we must prepare ourselves
04:48for the future. And therefore, it's important for us to choose the right leaders to lead us
04:54forward to the future.