SINGAPORE - When Ms Lee Bee Wah went on her usual walkabout at Yishun market on Sunday morning, she was greeted by residents who pleaded with her not to retire and instead, to stay on as their MP.
First elected in 2006, Ms Lee has over the years stirred strong feelings among fans and critics alike. She is easily one of the most colourful and memorable PAP backbenchers in recent memory. She is not contesting this election, having announced her retirement on June 29, but went on the attack nonetheless against the opposition's call on voters to elect more non-PAP members to Parliament.
"You ask my residents; I am here almost every day, every night. I don't have free nights at home," she said. Among the residents who turned up to thank Ms Lee was Ms Jo Lee, who has lived in Yishun since 1986. Now in her 50s, she said MP Lee had helped her when she received threats and had to install CCTV cameras in a house she was renting out. The MP took just 10 days to resolve her problem.