詹时中妻子被索尼娅感动 要代夫出征守波东巴西

Translated by Donaldson Tan

This is a non-verbatim translation of Zaobao report 《詹时中妻子被索尼娅感动 要代夫出征守波东巴西》 dated 23 March 2011.

(2011-03-23) ● 游润恬 报道

詹时中夫妇同甘共苦，共同进退。

索尼娅·甘地的丈夫拉吉夫·甘地在1991年遇刺身亡后，印度失去了总理，执政的国大党的影响力也每下愈况。新加坡反对党领袖、波东巴西区议员詹时中的妻子罗文丽为索尼娅丧夫后放弃低调的生活从政，利用尼赫鲁—甘地家族的威望重振国大党所感动，于是决定代夫上阵，在来临大选时出征波东巴西区。

有人曾对今年已达62岁退休年龄的罗文丽说不如退休算了，这把年纪还搞什么政治。

然而，她指出索尼娅和延续父亲政治事业的缅甸反对派领袖翁山淑枝两人的年纪都不轻，而她从政也是为了能跟丈夫詹时中并肩作战。

她昨天接受本报专访时说：“我没理由在退休后逍遥地在国外旅游，抛下可怜的丈夫一个人在这里奋斗。我们应该在一起做一样的事情，共同进退。”

詹时中（76岁）已连任波东巴西区六任议员，但在2008年两度中风后，健康开始走下坡。他现在的心愿是在政治生涯结束前走出单议席选区，带队到碧山—大巴窑集选区角逐。

他认为最适合代他到波东巴西区出征的人选就是他从政35年来，一直在背后支持他的最忠实战友——罗文丽。

有人看到詹时中连腰都挺不直，在范围更大的集选区走动访问选民会更吃力。罗文丽难道不心疼枕边人的体力经不起竞选的煎熬吗？

对此，她解释詹时中只是因中风造成身体姿势不好，他的体力虽然不如以前，但实际上并不像一般人看起来那么衰弱。

罗文丽表示詹时中是不言退休的。

“一个人如果喜欢政治、喜欢服务人民，就算要坚持到人生的终点，你也是阻止不了的。”

她形容詹时中跟内阁资政李光耀一样，从政后就想一生都留在政坛。

“就像英国皇室，你看查尔斯太子或威廉王子，他们过惯了皇室生活，你叫他们去当平民，他们做不到。”

她说：“其实让他继续在政坛活跃是件好事，否则他在家里能做什么？他到选区走走，跟民众谈话，不但能预防疾病，也能活动筋骨。”

然而，罗文丽并不是一开始就这么支持丈夫的这份特殊事业。她坦承当詹时中在1976年首次参加选举时，她是有点心不甘情不愿地陪着他挨家挨户去拜访当年的经禧区选民。两人当时新婚，独生女才八个月大，她身为妻子，自然担心家庭生计会因丈夫从政而受影响。

不过，随着詹时中越来越受选民欢迎，她开始渐渐改变想法，如今是100％支持他。

罗文丽表示她现在能做的只是尽量照顾和支持丈夫，例如当他的司机，载他去国会或到选区接见选民。而詹时中也经常游泳，健身师每周也上门两次，帮他锻炼体力。

那她需要督促他定时吃药吗？对这个问题，她打趣地说：“不必，我已训练女佣要对他凶点。”

李资政虽然年事已高，但所角逐的丹戎巴葛集选区是他超过半个世纪的地盘。詹时中现在才转攻全新的集选区，似乎是给了自己一个难度很高的挑战。

罗文丽说：“这是他要做的事，既然他开心，就由得他吧。即使他失败了，也无所谓。”

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Mrs Chiam: I am inspired by Sonia Gandhi

Being inspired by Sonia Gandhi’s courage, Madam Luo Wenli decided to take the plunge and contest for Potong Pasir SMC in place of her husband Opposition leader and Member for Potong Pasir Chiam See Tong.

Sonia Gandhi is the President of the Congress Party in India and the famous widow of former India Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In 1991, her husband was assassinated and it led to the loss of a Prime Minister and weakening of the Congress Party. Sonia Gandhi gave up her low-key private life and used her Nehru-Gandhi legacy to revive the the Congress Party. From 1998 to 2004, Sonia Gandhi held office as the Leader of the Opposition.

Someone once remarked to 62-year-old Madam Luo, “Why don’t you retire since you have reached retirement age? Why dabble with politics at your age?”

Unfazed by the remark, Madam Luo pointed out that both Sonia Gandhi and Myanmar Opposition leader Aung San Su Kyi are also not young. She added that she joined politics to fight side by side with her husband.

She told Zaobao in an exclusive interview: “There is no point for me to retire and travel round the world while my poor husband battles on. We must be together, so that we can meet people and still do the same thing together.”

76 years-old Chiam See Tong intends to lead a GRC team to contest Bishan-Toapayoh GRC. However, his health has been in decline after he was hit by stroke twice in 2008.

According to Mr Chiam , the best person to replace him as a GE candidate for Potong Pasir SMC would be his loyal comrade who has demontrated unwaivering support for the past 35 years – his wife Madam Luo Wenli.

Some people have voiced up concerns whether Mr Chiam would be able to take on the physical toil of contesting a large-area constituency such as a GRC. Madam Luo clarified that Mr Chiam’s bad posture is due to his stroke and in fact he is stronger than he appears to be, although not as energetic prior to the stroke. He swims regularly and undergoes 2 training sessions a week with a physical trainer.

Madam Luo also stressed that Mr Chiam would not retire from politics.

“When a person loves politics, loves serving the people, you cannot stop him, even to the end of his life. Let them what he wants to do.”

“If you ask Prince Charles or Prince Williams to give up their status as British Royalty and be a commoner, they would not do it because they have already grew accustomed to Royal life.”

“Actually, it is good thing for him to continue in politics. What else can he do at home? Visiting the constituency and talking to constituents would not only improve his physical fitness, but also keep illness at bay,” Madam Luo said.

However, Madam Luo was not fully supportive of her husband’s political career at the beginning. She admitted being reluctant to join her husband at house-to-house visits during her husband’s first GE campaign in 1976. At that time, they just got married with an eight-month old baby and she was worried that her husband’s politics would have an impact on their family’s livelihood.

Madam Luo’s attitude towards her husband’s political career gradually warmed up as her husband’s popularity begun to grow over years. Today, she is 100% supportive of him.

She said for now, all she can do for her husband is to give her best in supporting and taking care of her him. For example, she has been driving him around to fetch him to Parliament and Meet-the-People Session.

Does she need to remind Mr Chiam to eat his medicine regularly? Madam Luo said, “Of course not. I have already instructed the maid to be more fierce.”

Although Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has been in politics for so many years, the only electoral ward he has contested for the past 50 years is Tanjong Pagar. Now Mr Chiam wants to contest outside his base at Pontong Pasir, it seems this is a near impossible task.

“This is what he want do. If it makes him happy, let him be. Even if he fails, it is okay,” said Madam Luo on her husband Chiam See Tong.