What motivated me to enter into the political fray, some may query?

 

In our democratic political landscape, it is only through our political involvement that change can be achieved. Thus, I firmly hold that whatever change we envisage, it can only be realized through our political democratic channels.

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My motivation come from my responsibility towards making our society a more humane and just society. Thus, politics is not about the ‘I’ but about the ‘we’. It is not about the self-interests of the few but about the well-being of the many. Politics is about upholding the common good.

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In my unassuming opinion, amongst other pressing economic, social and political questions that need to addressed, there are particular concerns, which I feel very strongly about.

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These are:

 

1. The value of life. The value of life is the cornerstone of all other values. The value of life does not only comprise the well-being of the unborn but also the dignity of the every living being. Upholding the value of life means also to care for all that makes life an exciting journey – animals, nature, fashion, cultures, art, music, food etc. Being pro-life means one must take a more holistic approach to life.
    

2. The importance of our environment. I want to be an assertive voice for our environment against the systematic destruction of our environment and heritage by particular fat cats who are on the rampage to satisfy their compulsive greed. That our environment is in a perilous state is an understatement. One has only to glance around to acknowledge the systematic demolition of our heritage, the alarming increase in urban overdevelopment and mega white elephant projects, the destruction of gardens and the ever-growing pollution. We must urgently draw a holistic national building/environment masterplan. We need to revisit/update all current policies, stating clearly that ODZ and UCA are what they are meant to be, ODZ and UCA without any exception!  We need to introduce solar rights too. Residents cannot end up living in the shade facing blank walls! 
   
   In the coming weeks, I would be forwarding a number of personal proposals to address this environmental deficit.
    

3. A robust voice for inclusion and social justice. We need to support those who are on the fringes of our communities. We urgently need to address the ever-growing social injustice/inequalities between the have and the have-nots. We need to foster a caring community. As regards inclusion, we need to promote a caring society, in which no one is left outside, vulnerable and/or discriminated against because of their skin colour, religion, abilities, economic status and/or sexual orientation. We must further support our elderly to enable them to continue living in their local communities with dignity. We need to empower vulnerable families to enable them to go through their daily lives with dignity and reassurance. The measure of success of any economy is not headline statistics but the inclusivity of its economic base, the distribution of wealth and the ability for everyone to succeed. The economy should not only be measured through economic growth, but also through quality of life and all its citizens.

 

This is my vision. These are my values to guide me.