SINGAPORE: A long-time Hougang resident has raised concerns about what she sees as unequal access to community facilities for the Workers’ Party (WP), despite the party’s strong presence and service in the area.
In an interview with MustShareNews, Maria, who has lived in Hougang for more than a decade, expressed frustration over what she views as an unjust system that limits the Workers’ Party’s access to vital community spaces.
“There are so many offices at void decks and they give the offices to them—RCs, PA. But nothing was given to the Workers’ Party,” she noted.
“The Workers’ Party has to use void decks to meet people.”
Reflecting on the values instilled in her by her parents, Maria said the situation felt unfair.
“When I was young, my parents taught me never to bully the weak,” she explained.
“And if you’re strong, you don’t pick on those who are weaker than you. That’s why I feel this is unfair.”
Personal Encounters with Dennis Tan
Maria expressed her admiration for the WP, saying, “I think the Workers’ Party has really done something for us.”
“In Hougang, from the young to the old, you can see that—open mouth is ‘Workers’ Party, Workers’ Party,’” she said.
Although she was never particularly interested in politics, Maria said her perception changed after moving to Hougang more than 10 years ago.
“Actually, I’m not a political person,” she said. “But since I moved to Hougang, then I hear around. They really can die for the Workers’ Party.”
Maria recounted several personal interactions with WP MP Dennis Tan, describing him as humble and attentive to residents’ needs.
“Dennis Tan comes door knocking by himself. I was very touched,” Maria recalled.
She also recounted an instance when her daughter-in-law was followed by a man.
After they filed an online complaint, WP people visited their home the following Monday.
“This is the service that we want,” she added.
She highlighted how Tan had personally supported her family during challenging times.
“I’m a widow, and when my son was facing problems, he [Tan] was all out to help me,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe someone of his position would personally come to my house.”
Maria also shared an incident with a neighbour who falsely accused her of smoking and claimed cigarette butts had flown into their home.
“He spoke up for me and said, ‘No, I know Maria doesn’t smoke,’” she explained. “And that’s true—I’ve never smoked.”
“They are very good. We can’t lose them,” she added.
A Call for Harmony
Above all, Maria said she values the sense of harmony and compassion she feels under the Workers’ Party’s leadership in Hougang.
“We don’t believe in fighting,” she said.
“If you want to fight, go to Russia and fight. Don’t fight here. We want harmony, loving, and caring—and I think the Workers’ Party and Hougang have given me that.”
Dennis Tan will defend his Hougang SMC seat against the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Marshall Lim in the 3 May general election.
Hougang has been a WP stronghold since 1991, when then-party assistant secretary-general Low Thia Khiang won the seat with 52.8 per cent of the vote.
The ward is one of only four single-member constituencies left unchanged in the latest Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report released in March.
A total of 29,433 voters from Hougang will cast their votes next Friday.
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