The Meet-The-People Session At My Estate

The man and I attended a Member-of-Parliament (MP) 'Meet-The-People' session at our estate.

When we first saw the flyer make its rounds, we decided to clear our schedules for that morning to attend. We were curious. It felt exclusive. We didn't know why they would schedule one specifically at our estate. Unlike other public housing estates which held weekly sessions, no MP held regular sessions here.

I thought hard about it. The units in this estate are largely tenant-based. Given that the owner-resident ratio is only 40%, I was quite sure that there would be very few Singaporeans who take an active interest in a Meet-The-People session. Those who do, might actually be ahemmm.....dubious.

The man and I know that a session here will be very different from those I attend with or on behalf of the old folks on my roster. Those sessions can be heartwrenching. It can be frustrating too if the social assistance schemes are so rigid that they do not fit the demography I represent.

Our 'exclusive' scheduled session will not focus on social assistance or bread and butter issues. That could potentially turn into a bitch-moan-whine meeting. The man and I do not want that to happen. That is something that we feel keenly about. The man and I share the view that ground sentiments cannot just come from a small representation. We need to make our voices heard too.

The man and I made it clear that we were there as interested residents; as alternative voices. We want to send a message that we are also part of the electoral vote that will swing either way come the next GE because we vote largely based on global trends, performance, track records and future possibilities. Not on party history and blind faith. (Well, if we get to vote, that is.)

Anyway, I do have a selfish agenda. I want to suggest installing a traffic light or speed strips along the popular road to the back entrance of the estate. Not for the convenience of the residents, but for the safety of all users of this busy road.

So we went. As expected, including us, only 10 residents turned up. It was done boardroom-style. Half of them sat on the estate's management committee. The man and I were appalled that these people ended up as committee members. That would only be possible because no others cared enough to be part of it. And those who do, are frankly not up to task.

Who am I to laugh at another's notions? What do I know? But some issues are so petty till it's painfully amusing. The 'politics' are so bad till I want to smack all of them and ask "How old are you guys?!" These people are older than us, and reduced to childish bickering. The man and I are like, "My goodness. You people presume to represent our thoughts?"

The man and I disassociated ourselves from the opinions of the management committee. We shared some positions and disagreed with others. We were also there to evaluate if our management committee was doing a good job of representing the estate's concerns or simply fulfilling their personal agendas. We probably made quite a number of them unhappy with our non-partisan stand and fairly objective viewpoints.

We do not envy the MP's job. It is trying and exhausting.

While we have met this MP at several social events, we have not properly met in a 'work' setting. Thank goodness that at work, this MP is the complete opposite of our management committee. The MP managed the session well, plucked 3 key issues to tackle and skillfully dealt with all topics raised. We are glad to know that our MP is attentive, not dismissive; sane and professional. Basically, it's great to have an MP who is not an idiot.

Let's see if I get my traffic light. :)

I didn't think I care. But I do.