Saying that he has observed a very strong community spirit within Bukit Batok, People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate Murali Pillai hopes to tap this for a youth mentorship programme he intends to implement if he is elected in the upcoming polls. The programme was first unveiled in Mr Murali’s campaign manifesto last week, along with his plans for a job placement programme and a health co-operative.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to the constituency yesterday, Mr Murali said: “There was a very strong commitment to help the least fortunate amongst us. So this is a great way to help the less fortunate because you are helping the children so they can come up in life and be the best they can be.”

Under the programme, families with young children will receive support in strengthening parenting skills, among other things. Mr Murali also hopes to develop the children’s reading habits as early as possible, such as through classes organised by voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs). For the older children, more direct coaching can come from “mentors who graduated from the school of hard knocks”, said Mr Murali. They will be able to inspire the youths, and help them set life goals and aspirations to work towards, he added.

The programme comes on top of initiatives for youth that Mr Murali helped develop — such as the Dr Ong Chit Chung bursary fund, set up in 2008 after the former Member of Parliament (MP) for the area passed away, for those who are not eligible for the Edusave awards to “enlarge the net” of students receiving help.

A number of VWOs have already come onboard the mentorship programme, such as the Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre and MCYC Community Services Society.

With Loving Heart, for example, Mr Murali hopes to extend its Sports, Tuition and Mentoring Programme to the schools in the constituency, but tailoring it to the “Bukit Batok style”.

He will also rope in Society of Sheng Hong Welfare Services’ executive director Sara Tan, whom he had worked with while he was serving the Paya Lebar division in Aljunied GRC, to be his adviser in her personal capacity and help him with the programme. He is also on the lookout for volunteers for the programme.

While Mr Murali did not have specific figures on how many families could benefit from the programme, he hopes to reach out to as many youths as possible.

Asked if this programme will go on even if he was not elected as MP, he said he is “not thinking so far ahead”.

Meanwhile, on the disparaging comments about Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan allegedly made by a PAP supporter, Mr Murali said the source should be checked, and called it “extremely unfortunate”.

The PAP also issued a statement yesterday saying the allegations are “fictitious”, pointing out that they had checked with their volunteers and confirmed that the incident did not take place. A Facebook user going by the name of Ridhuan Abdullah had claimed that a PAP volunteer had asked him why he was supporting an “unemployed” Dr Chee in the Bukit Batok by-election. Mr Ridhuan also claimed that the volunteer said Dr Chee was “worthless”.

Said Mr Murali: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s something that I certainly don’t subscribe to. Let me make it clear, whatever I do I put the residents at the centre of what we do.”

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by Siau Ming En

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