Desmond Lim Bak Chuan: What makes a good MP?

Singaporeans are going to the poll on Friday to elect our Members of Parliament (MP). National interests aside, what are some qualities a good elected MP in Singapore should possess?

Just like how we reached out to popular retiring MP from the People’s Action Party (PAP), Ms. Lee Bee Wah, 59, who has represented the Nee Soon South ward for 14 years for her pointers. We reached out to politicians from other political parties contesting in GE2020 as well, including Dr. Chee Soon Juan, the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), who is contesting in the Bukit Batok SMC ward.

Before we officially enter into the Cooling Off Day period on Thursday, we got a reply from Desmond Lim Bak Chuan, Chairman of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and President of the Singapore Justice Party who is leading a 5-members SDA team contesting in a three-corner fight with the PAP and Peoples Voice at Pasir-Ris-Punggol GRC.

It will be a tough battle ahead for Desmond Lim, but he is unfazed and singularly focused on winning the elections, having contested in the same GRC for the past two General Elections. Will he and his running mates finally win the voters over on his third try?

Here are Desmond’s five tips on what makes a good MP, in his own words:

1. Care and engage residents and understand their background then build database that will facilitate the process of meeting residents’ needs. For example: If they need to find a job, we can match and offer them a job with a salary that is not too far off from the previous salary.

2. Meet-the-people session should be held daily and not once a week.

3. Make it a daily routine to tour around the estate.

4. Initiate more social activities and programs for the elderly and youth.

5. Improve residents’ living environment and standard and have more greenery and energy-saving measures etc.

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