ESM Goh hopes to implement many projects for nation through Marine Parade pilots
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong during a press conference in Chai Chee today (Aug 26). Photo: Wee Teck Hian
SINGAPORE — Having stepped down from the Cabinet after the 2011 General Election, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has been actively contributing to the community. And Mr Goh, who will be standing in his 10th election, said he hopes to continue doing so by getting re-elected to serve in Marine Parade Group Representative Constituency (GRC).
“Since I do not serve in Cabinet, I can actually implement many pilot projects for the country through Marine Parade,” said Mr Goh, who was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a People’s Action Par-ty (PAP) press conference to unveil the candidates for the constituency.
Some of the projects piloted in Marine Parade that have been scaled up and implemented nation-wide include a pilot that led to the birth of the City For All Ages initiative to design a better living environment for elderly residents.
Mr Goh’s latest initiative is an early intervention programme for underprivileged families called Edugrow for Brighter Tomorrows, which supports a child’s education for eight years, from pre-school to Secondary One. On whether the programme would continue if he does not get re-elected, Mr Goh said: “If I’m not there, I can’t do the pilot anymore because where do you get the resources from? Which friends will support my programme if I’m not there?”
He added: “This Edugrow is a result of personal friends, patrons of Marine Parade … who support the programme and fund it. It’s not from the Government. And if it works, my hope is to let it be replicated elsewhere and let the Government take over one day.”
For the coming election, Mr Goh said his primary role is to ensure smooth transition to the fourth gen-eration leadership. He described Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin replacing him as anchor minister of the PAP Marine Parade GRC team as “national transition leadership in action”. Mr Goh added that after the elections, he intends to share his experiences with the new Members of Parliament.
