Relaxing at the coffeeshop at Block 322, Hougang Avenue 5 on Saturday afternoon with his friend, retiree Philip Toh, 68, was reminiscing about that milestone day more than 20 years ago, when Workers' Party's Mr Low Thia Khiang wrested Hougang ward from the People's Action Party (PAP).
That had been a heady time for the two long-time residents and WP supporters. And when this reporter asked if the latest scandal involving Mr Low's young successor as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hougang had undermined residents' sentiments, Mr Chan Cheng San - who had been relatively silent up till now - chimed in: "You don't know this neighbourhood very well do you?"
"Hougang is different from the other neighbourhoods. This is a die-hard estate," the taxi driver in his 40s declared.
That, however, remains to be seen.
While older residents like the duo might shrug off recent events, younger ones - particularly those who voted for Mr Yaw Shin Leong only nine months ago, in the May 2011 General Election - have been more palpably disturbed and disappointed.
First, by the talk surrounding Mr Yaw's alleged extramarital affairs. Then, more importantly, his stubborn refusal to clear the air or come clean. And now, following his expulsion from the party on Wednesday, the news that he had left the country with nary a word to anyone.
The last was too much for Ms Peh Liying, 28. "I just think that it's not easy for the Opposition to be able to win more votes than the PAP, and for him to just disappear like that, and having to hold another election again ... it's definitely irresponsible," she said.
POST-ELECTION LET-DOWN
Sales executive Gwen Tang, 24, who moved into Hougang last year in time to cast her vote - which went to Mr Yaw - said: "A lot of people are really quite disappointed. Last year (during the GE), there was this sense that we were going to support the WP ... And when he got elected, everyone was very excited. And then this (incident) had to happen so shortly after. There was a sense of being let-down."
Last May's election saw Mr Low leaving his long-time stronghold in Hougang to contest Aljunied Group Representation Constituency as part of a WP team. Some pundits then had predicted it would be an easier battle for the ruling party to win back the single-seat ward. Newspaper reports reflected conflicting sentiment among Hougang voters.
As it turned out, Mr Yaw easily beat his PAP opponent, Mr Desmond Choo, with 65 per cent of the vote.
But nine months later, Hougang residents are being put through another political and emotional roller-coaster.
For now Mr Yaw remains the ward's MP, with until Feb 24 to appeal the expulsion. If his MP seat is forfeited, a by-election may be called.
'RAN AWAY TO EVADE ATTENTION'
To another 30-year-old Hougang resident who had voted for Mr Yaw, his disappointment was with the party's pick of Mr Yaw to represent them (although, he added, he still "has faith in their intention as an organisation").
"It's just very unfortunate that they did not know him well enough to appreciate that he was not up to mark. When the occasion required him to behave appropriately, he didn't. Rather, he gave the impression that he ran away just to evade all this attention," said the civil servant who declined to be named.
Property agent Kenji Wong, 27, felt the WP did right in sacking him based on his action - even as, at the same time, he felt it was a pity for Mr Yaw. "As an MP, he really did his job, was very approachable. I always saw him mingling with the old people and helping them. He was always seen here at the coffeeshops."
But mechanic Mr Wong, 50, was one person who was not sorry to see Mr Yaw go. A resident in Hougang for more than 20 years, he said: "I'm very disappointed. As a people's representative, you shouldn't have affairs."
He also said Mr Yaw did not make a good first impression when he was introduced to Mr Wong's friend last year - his face "immediately changed" when told he wasn't a Hougang voter, the mechanic claimed. He preferred Mr Desmond Choo - "I think he is very humble and friendly".
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
Others like Mrs Woo, while let down by Mr Yaw, thought the WP had rallied together and moved forward. Mr Tan Kim Her, another retiree in his 70s, said: "Low Thia Khiang has left too good an impression among residents. People here support the party, not the person."
At least a few still wanted to give Mr Yaw the benefit of the doubt, vanishing act notwithstanding. General worker Mr Seow hopes the missing MP will eventually return. "He may have just needed to get away for a while to cool down, get away from the media attention and think things through. What's to say he won't come back?"
Then there were residents who just seemed blase about the whole saga. At least two joked about enjoying a public holiday if a by-election were held.
One resident of Block 702, who declined to be name, insisted he would rather talk about the bedbugs from a bed in Block 704 that he heard that was giving residents trouble.
"The guys from the town council just lifted the whole bed, and the fleas were flying out and sucking people's blood. You guys should go report on that instead!"
Low to spend more time looking after Hougang residents
SINGAPORE - Workers' Party (WP) Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang said he will have to spend more time looking after the residents of Hougang, after the party expelled Mr Yaw Shin Leong this past week.
Speaking to reporters at a constituency dinner last night, he said he had spoken to residents at the first Meet-the-People Session after Mr Yaw's expulsion and told them that they could look for him personally.
Mr Low has taken over the duties of caring for residents of his former ward. Asked if Aljunied Group Representation Constituency residents would get less attention as a result, Mr Low said he would manage his time as best as he can to prevent this.
Asked about the one-week deadline that Mr Yaw had been given by Parliament to appeal his dismissal, Mr Low said it was up to Mr Yaw, who remains uncontactable. Mr Low did not know where Mr Yaw now is, nor of his plans to leave town.
As for a possible by-election, Mr Low said it was premature to comment as the Prime Minister has not decided if there would be one.
Some Hougang residents reiterated their support for Workers' Party in the by-election despite the scandal involving …
