More volunteering to help PAP, WP

SINGAPORE: The ruling People's Action Party and the opposition Workers' Party said they now have more volunteers.

More young people have stepped forward to help the parties after the last General Election.

These volunteers help parties make sure campaigning carries on without a hitch.

For the Workers' Party, an online appeal for helpers saw the party receiving some 200 application, maybe of whom were from students.

One such youth who came forward was 21-year-old Muhamad Ihsan, who said he believed in the cause of the Workers' Party.

"I try my best, whatever they need in any way possible, like flyering (flyer distribution), door to door (visits), just be a volunteer, be there for them, be there for Workers' Party," he said.

Workers' Party candidate Png Eng Huat said the evolution of opposition parties in Singapore has made opposition parties more attractive to young people.

"Over the years, especially 2011, you see the slate of candidates that come in, we are ordinary folks," Mr Png said. "We're not crooks, we're not bicycle thieves, we're just ordinary folks.

"I think they see that normal people like us can get involved, can serve, can contribute to the country."

For the People's Action Party, its Hougang by-election candidate Desmond Choo told Channel NewsAsia that his party has seen a 20 to 30 per cent increase in the number of volunteers helping out in Hougang since the last elections.

"When I do see young volunteers from the JCs, from polys, coming up to step forward to say that, we've heard enough of critiques, but let us understand for ourselves, what are the problems residents face, what can we do about it -- that's when I felt that the work has been worth it," Mr Choo said.