Punggol East By-Election coming ? MP steps down
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a very nice summary video on wp rally
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R16TWPuVt20][/youtube]
it reminds me the early time of pap when they are good
but now..... -
pirate:
Yes, WP appears to be more frank and practical, and taking each step as a step steadily as it comes. I also believed it would have been overwhelming if they had won more seats than they expected, so having a good small win (in terms of numbers in parliament) was good for everyone, including the sentiments on the ground. Overthrowing the government would have been too much for the everyone to handle, and bad for the country.
I agree it is not exactly ideal. But then AIM came along and remind me that the alternative could well be even more dangerous for Singapore. So, how?HVR:
The way I see oppositions is they are not the same. WP seems more sincere and credible and rather upfront. They are saying they do not wish to seize power from PAP but just want to check the government, watch the government. They even admit PAP have good policies. They want to be in parliament so that they can continue to 'check' and 'watch' government.
To me, this is dangerous for Singapore. From what they said, I took it that they know they can't ran Singapore and they are happy with their 'checking' and 'watching' roles. I am fine with it even though I think if I am the one who do all the hard works, coming up with solutions and policies but someone who doesn't do much can just 'check' and 'watch' and get all the credits, it will be hard for me to continue doing it. In this aspect, kudos to the PAP. Now what if WP comes into power? Then they no longer can 'check' and 'watch'. They have to do it, like what PAP is doing now. If they are as capable as the incumbent, I don't even bother who will form the government, as a political party, I just feel if you want my vote, it is not enough to play the roles of check' and 'watch'.
Anyways, we are still a long time away from WP saying they are ready to form a government. I think WP will find the going a lot tougher if they ever become big enough to capture, say 1/3 of Parliament.
As for eventually forming a government, be it WP or PAP, or whichever party in that sense, finding the right people will always be one of the biggest challenge. If it is tough for the PAP to find the right people to join, how easy is it for the oppositions to find the right people to join?
Another question is \"When the right people come along, will you give them the chance?\" We seem to see people's willingness to do that with the Aljunied win. And getting to know how well they have done with Aljunied GRC will pave their track record for being re-elected again in the future. It may not be as easy as it seems.
The oppositions have to work even harder than the PAP. They are like the country that US refuses to sell weapons and technology to, and have to build and come up with their own. It is having to build what might already be available, sounding inefficient and going by a longer route, but a chance for something out of the ordinary, and possibly, cheaper, yet competent, and who knows, maybe even better, for it pushes the human spirit to higher grounds, of accomplishing what may be deemed impossible in the past. -
At d half point in dis BE, based on how d candidates ran their respective campaigns so far, my prediction is KJ n DL will poll at most 3%…combined.
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pirate:
Hmmmm......3Boys:
What concerns me more than the opposition parties is the way the supporters support the opposition parties, and the reasons for which they do so. All the pressure on the SDP to withdraw from the hustings and threats on the rest, and not a whisper from WP leadership about it.....an opportunity to seize the moral high ground, missed.
WP never put any pressure on other parties to withdraw. The WP leadership already said that anyone has the right to contest. What more you want them to say? If by \"pressure\", you mean reading voter sentiments on the grounds and realizing that they will likely lose their deposits on top of making a complete jackass out of themselves, thus rendering the SDP unelectable in the next general election...
As for the alleged threats. Well, they could have come from anybody. What I find more disturbing is the insinuation without a single shred of evidence that the threats came from the WP camp. This is what I call \"dirty politics\". We don't need this kind of nonsense in Singapore.
touched a raw nerve, did I?
I think you need to re-read my post, no where did I insinuate anything about the WP, nor was it my intention to do so. In fact, I believe the core WP would not be engaged in such activities.
But I did say they lack the type of moral courage to take on the fringe elements of opposition supporters, which I stand by 100%. -
HVR:
Fair enough. To Singapore and its people, what's important is regardless who form the government, they must show they are capable and can do the job. While WP is doing a good job, they cannot keep emphasis their 'check' and 'watch' roles. They must also do a lot more to convince voters that they do have plans and solutions. For example, how to raise TFR? If they have some plans, they can file a motion in parliament and garner supports. If the policy is good, wide eyes Singaporeans can see and tell it, objection by incumbent or not. Don't forget we have Walton Woon who, as a NMP, pushed and successfully have the law of Maintenance of Parents Act read and passed in parliament and become part of our statutes now. In another word, they must rise to the next level, don't just 'watch' and 'check', it doesn't take a genius to do it.[/quote]Exactly.
But you missed out the following.........Rational_Parent:
[quote=\"HVR\"]The way I see oppositions is they are not the same. WP seems more sincere and credible and rather upfront. They are saying they do not wish to seize power from PAP but just want to check the government, watch the government. They even admit PAP have good policies. They want to be in parliament so that they can continue to 'check' and 'watch' government.
To me, this is dangerous for Singapore. From what they said, I took it that they know they can't ran Singapore and they are happy with their 'checking' and 'watching' roles. I am fine with it even though I think if I am the one who do all the hard works, coming up with solutions and policies but someone who doesn't do much can just 'check' and 'watch' and get all the credits, it will be hard for me to continue doing it. In this aspect, kudos to the PAP. Now what if WP comes into power? Then they no longer can 'check' and 'watch'. They have to do it, like what PAP is doing now. If they are as capable as the incumbent, I don't even bother who will form the government, as a political party, I just feel if you want my vote, it is not enough to play the roles of check' and 'watch'.
By LTK and has been said on numerous occasions:-
\"WP must be ready one day to be an alternative choice for the people, especially if the ruling party should become incompetent or corrupt\".
By Chen Show Mao at the PE by-election rally:
\"It will take time for an Opposition party to grow into the role of being a credible alternative government. We must start now. Just because this task is challenging does'nt mean we won't do it. Because it takes time, we should start now\".
The Opposition do have ambitions other than providing \"check and balance\". They do come out with alternatives which they obviously will have no chance to see through being the minority in the parliament. And often these alternatives have been put down by the ruling party without any bother to even take a peep. Judging by the flow of credible people to the Opposition before the 2011 GE and the growing voices from the social media and cyberspace for which control is difficult and much harder to suppress, we could well see a better distribution of seats in parliament; the ruling party aware and is countering while, at the same time, adjusting.
But it seems enough to persuade a lot of people to vote for them.....
And diss other political voices who want to be an alternative to the WP.
It's called opposition for opposition's sake. -
Harlequin:
How about those that never turn up on polling day?[
No, you can't \"give up\" your voting right. The right is not yours. That's the duty of a citizen; this \"discharge of duty by citizen\" is applicable to any country in the world for that matter, not exclusively to Singapore. However, you can cast your vote in a manner that it would be consider as void/invalid. -
HVR:
Enough said.[/quote]Opposition for opposition's sake.
You have to go back to history to see how policies were formulated. It was like \"in your face\" and all \"aye\" in parliament. No alternate views except praises all round even when a policy was deemed to be benefitting only one section of the society. And one voice dominated in the parliament where no one dared challenge it. Even when we have one single opposition voice, he got rebutted so strongly to a point he replied meekly \"if the PM says so then so be it\". It was an appalling debacle to watch. Another MP from the ruling party was chastised for being like a 10000cc car that can only operate at 1000cc. Needless to say, he soon disappeared into oblivion.Rational_Parent:
[quote=\"HVR\"]Certainly there were flaw policies. It is almost impossible to get it right 100% of the time. I am sure there will be more flaw policies in future, regardless who is the incumbent. When this happened, I want to judge the implementation of the flaw policies by the intention. If the intention was to benefit majority of Singaporeans but the effect prove otherwise, then take remedy actions and move on. To expect zero mistake or perfect policies is simply unrealistic.
If I am convinced someone can do the job and is sincere, he or she will get my vote. I am not convinced WP has the resources and capabilities to form government now. Their leaderships admitted as much that they had to concentrate in aljunied and did not continue their work at punggol east for 1 year. Now this had me worried if somehow, they sweep into power what is going to happen to Singapore?
Folks in the street cannot afford to wait for an election to highlight flawed policies because many would have suffered by then. What remedy do you think the government can give to those who went for tubal ligation surgery? Will the government ever considered reversing policies if not for bad poll results? Government can move on but not the every people who had suffered beyond repair. With alternative views, policies are challenged, scrutinized and refined before they are adopted. It was not like this in the past.
I have to say your worry about WP sweeping into power is unfounded and naive. How can they sweep to power without the numbers to make the majority in parliament? How can they do it when GRC lines are always redrawn? What exactly will happen to Singapore if WP does come into power? Please enlighten us. It appears you already slay the golden goose even before it gets the chance to lay egg, just like the ruling party.
Mind you I'm not anti-establishment or pro-opposition. So if WP or any other party you chose to chastise comes into power, I would want opposition in parliament, be it PAP, SDP or whatever Ps.
True democracy must prevail. Individuals can afford to be not perfect; government better be and avoid taken experimental approach like in the past. -
concern2:
What are you driving at?
How about those that never turn up on polling day?Harlequin:
[
No, you can't \"give up\" your voting right. The right is not yours. That's the duty of a citizen; this \"discharge of duty by citizen\" is applicable to any country in the world for that matter, not exclusively to Singapore. However, you can cast your vote in a manner that it would be consider as void/invalid.
Your vote is secret, there is no tracking of who you vote for, so what's the issue? -
3Boys:
What are you driving at?
How about those that never turn up on polling day?concern2:
[quote=\"Harlequin\"][
No, you can't \"give up\" your voting right. The right is not yours. That's the duty of a citizen; this \"discharge of duty by citizen\" is applicable to any country in the world for that matter, not exclusively to Singapore. However, you can cast your vote in a manner that it would be consider as void/invalid.
Your vote is secret, there is no tracking of who you vote for, so what's the issue?[/quote]Because many new citizens have fear amongst them for wanting to vote oppositions. There is a saying going around that they have NO CHOICE BUT TO vote the incumbent, and I don't know where they got it from. And then there is also this saying that if one never turn up on polling days, they will lose their citizenship, even for citizens who were born here. -
concern2:
How about those that never turn up on polling day?Harlequin:
[
No, you can't \"give up\" your voting right. The right is not yours. That's the duty of a citizen; this \"discharge of duty by citizen\" is applicable to any country in the world for that matter, not exclusively to Singapore. However, you can cast your vote in a manner that it would be consider as void/invalid.
First kena explain why didn't turn up, if got valid reasons like in overseas, hospitalize and so on, then it's fine; if no valid reasons then kena ohkong.
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