My question is: in Singapore, why can’t the opposition parties, by setting aside their differences, come together to seek electoral reform, a basic noncontentious issue, unless some of these opposition parties think that the present electoral system does not need changing?

When it comes to contesting elections, opposition parties in Singapore get together to reach constituency sharing. Why can’t they show the same understanding and set aside their diversity of thinking for the common cause of reforming the electoral machinery that remains, among other things under the prime minister’s office?

Did they come together? Malcolm X said: “The white men pay Martin Luther King, subsidy him so he can continue to teach African Americans to be defenseless, that is the meaning of non-violence…..” Just like some individuals calling others “fake, mice, wimp”.

If one really think Malcolm X and Martin Luther King had “come together” even when Malcolm X said: “The white men pay Martin Luther King and had taken different approaches, then one should be fine that political parties like NSP, SPP, and WP have different approaches from the like of SDP and RP.

I asked this:

How many bloggers and well known opinion makers who called for electoral reform sign on to this? How many NGOs and CSOs sign on to this? Is SDP calling them fake, mice, wimp because they do not sign on?

Why no one want to look hard into the answer of the questions. The truth is out there.

Here, the fact that escapes attention is why can’t the opposition parties come together on a noncontentious issue such as electoral reform to find common ground to oppose the ruling PAP. The late Malcolm X and Martin Luther King both championed the cause of Afro-Americans, albeit with different approach.

In Malaysia all the opposition parties with diversity of thinking banded together when it came to demanding clean, free and fair elections from the ruling BN. Is seeking free and fair election in Singapore that contentious to warrant disunity among opposition parties?

Is it possible for anyone claiming to be opposition but not prepared to work towards electoral reform?

Opposition parties do share the view that there is a need of electoral reform just like many bloggers and well known opinion makers. They just do not necessary share the same approach to work towards electoral reform.

If we observe and respect the diversity of thinking as what democracy means, then we have to observe and respect the diversity of actions resulted from the diversity of thinking. Calling others as fake, mice, wimp for not signing on to your idea of “real” action is hardly the way to respect diversity and democracy.

Ask this: How many bloggers and well known opinion makers who called for electoral reform sign on to this? How many NGOs and CSOs sign on to this? Is SDP calling them fake, mice, wimp because they do not sign on?

Seeing the way Malcolm X thought about Dr. Martin Luther King and his non-violence movement and the way some individuals in Taiwan and Singapore think about others who do not sign on to the version of view, we can only say some human character persists across time and culture.

By the way, I don’t know what has the late Malcolm X got to do with opposition parties in Singapore coming together on a noncontentious issue such as wanting free and fair elections!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ3rSXw5Rbo&feature=related

This was how Malcolm X saw Dr. Martin Luther King and his non-violence movement. Should we be surprised history repeat itself today in Singapore?

Despite their differences, all the opposition parties, together with NGOs and CSOs, linked hands in unity to demand for free and fair elections in Malaysia.

In Singapore, PAP has been doing similar thing, claiming only PAP is truly serving Singapore interest and pro-Singapore, all other political parties are driven by self-interest.

Now we have some individuals doing similar thing. They think only certain way and approach is the right way for the greater good of opposition and any one not sing that tune is fake.

From bigger society like Taiwan to small community like Singapore opposition, we find people who don’t see differences in approach and views as the natural consequence of diversity of thinkings and personal tempers common and well respected by democratic minded people. Instead, they choose to demonize those they disapprove and dish out all sort of attack. To the democratic minded people, they can only respect these individuals and their views as part and parcel of natural consequence of diversity of thinkings and personal tempers and respect their right to act in the framework of freedom of expression.

In the end, it is up to the general public to judge and decide.

The posters and fliers exposed the threat posed by a fake to the growth of opposition!

By the way, no one in the right mind would call the recent Tak Boleh Tahan campaign at Toa Payoh childish. If it was so, the people there would have condemned it then and there – the way they had exposed the fake during its 50th anniversary dinner.

WP did not gives PAP world class ratings.

What Mr Low said:

Did MM Lee misunderstand what Mr Low say?

You may want to review the exchanges between WP and PAP regarding First World Government in GE 2006.

Regards.

A party that was ridiculed by posters and fliers during its 50th anniversary dinner – wrong, this shows WP is a bigger threat than SDP for pple to do such childish things

The SDP and RP attended but WP and SDA stayed away. In Malaysia all the opposition parties, NGOs and CSOs came together for a common cause of clean, free and fair elections.

Who is helping to strengthen the PAP? Is it the SDP that questions Singapore’s compliant judiciary or the WP that gives it world class ratings?

Since Chiam left SDP, there had been three general elections but the SDA under his leadership is unable to expand beyond his Potong Pasir. Furthermore, NSP, a partner in SDA left the alliance to go it alone due to Chiam’s leadership.

Finally, who is suffering from an image problem? A party that was ridiculed by posters and fliers during its 50th anniversary dinner or a party that had successfully staged the Tak Boleh Tahan campaign at the same place in Toa Payoh?

All opposition/alternative parties should unite together to pull
resources, supports and leadership qualities, even if there are
certain things which you guys cannot agree on. Look at what DAP
and PAS are doing. If they can cooperate for a common good, why
can’t SDP, WP, SPA and RP, unless all of you are just for shows?