“The uncle told me in Mandarin that he felt burdened by a stone in his heart.” said Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim. “At first I did not understand him and I jokingly told him: ‘Uncle, so sorry. I’m a lawyer, not a doctor. I cannot help you with that.’”
In an exclusive interview with Petir, the Member of Chua Chu Kang GRC, who is also a senior partner with Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP, recounted an encounter with an elderly resident from Keat Hong that demonstrated how the People’s Action Party’s community outreach efforts has changed perceptions positively.
The man in his sixties regularly participates in the PAP Keat Hong Branch’s monthly free haircut and meal distribution initiative. During one session, he approached Mr Zhulkarnain to speak with him.
“The man confided that his entire family has never voted for the PAP. But seeing what we do week in week out, month after month — providing services to people, going around to help people — he feels that we are not only doing the right thing but genuinely sincere in doing things on the ground. For that, he teared a bit as he wants to lift the stone in his heart. He has changed his perception of the Party and will tell his family,” Mr Zhulkarnain added.
PAP Keat Hong branch’s activists and a team of 12 volunteer hairdressers started providing the free hair cut service and meals since April 2022. Every first Saturday morning of the month, approximately 50 seniors come for free haircuts and get to enjoy chicken rice for lunch, he said.
“We can help our seniors defray the cost of haircuts and meals. All these add up and go a little way to help them,” he said. “During my election campaign, I stressed the need for not only MPS, but also GPS – Go-to-the People Sessions. Hence, in addition to house visits and festive distributions, we have other outreach efforts like these where I can meet residents.”
In addition to the monthly haircut, Zhulkarnain and party activists distribute free breakfasts like vegetarian bee hoon and bread to residents waiting at a bus stop in Keat Hong every last Wednesday of the month.
They also conduct an “MP (Meeting People) on-the-Go” breakfast session once a quarter.
Approximately 50 residents enjoy soya bean curd and you tiao during these sessions while getting updated on the latest Government policies and assistance schemes and providing feedback on issues of concern.
For example, residents asked if the validity of climate vouchers to purchase energy- and water-efficient products under the Climate Friendly Households Programme should be extended since some appliances have longer warranties. They also alerted Zhulkarnain to merchants marking up the prices of electrical appliances. He then brought up in Parliament to see if preventive measures against profiteering could be implemented.
PAP is part of the community: Zhulkarnain
Zhulkarnain believes in the importance of wearing party colours throughout the year to serve residents because the Party is part of the community.
He said, “We don’t wear white and white on campaign days only. We wear white throughout the year. The Party is part of the family, part of the neighbourhood, part of residents’ lives. Our activists also see the benefits of such outreach and grow closer together.”
The Party is not just people-centric but also action-oriented, Mr Zhulkarnain reiterated. This means in addition to raising issues in Parliament, PAP MPs and activists serve on the ground and improve residents’ lives.
“I remind our volunteers that we are activists. We don’t do this to feel good. We do this to listen to feedback and act upon them. MP on-the-Go, distributing bee hoon, talking to residents at the bus stop or when they wait for haircuts – they ask things that concern them from municipal issues to why some cancer drugs aren’t subsidised and we either find out for them or take action for them. This is how we show we care – where their voices are not only heard but acted upon,” he said.
