We may slog, we may work towards winning election, but in the end we may lose. So there has to be that spirit of perseverance to believe in the process – and getting Singaporeans to be involved in the process is just as important, if not as important as the outcome.
Workers’ Party Chairman Sylvia Lim (Channel NewsAsia)
This is a defeatist attitude to take. In politics, the outcome is definitely more important than the process. What is the point of running for elections if you never get elected?
I think Ms Lim deserves credit for taking the road less travelled. Such courageous action by her and others will improve the dire political situation in Singapore. Why dire?
The PAP’s government depends heavily on to guns to hold the fort. When these top guns screwed up (as some did recently), they do not have to pay any penalty. In economics, we call this a moral hazard problem. Big banks are not allowed to fail, they will always be bailed out. Ditto for big ministers.
This is a very dangerous structural problem in Singapore politics today. It is a ticking time bomb. In fact, the recent death of Ong Chit Chung serves as a timely reminder of the danger of the GRC system which the PAP puts in place to prevent by-election should someone passes away. The problem is that they believe that the ministers who helm the GRC team together will live forever. What happens if he/she dies in office? Then you have three to four weak MPs who are not of ministerial calibre.
The coming collapse of Singapore will not be the undoing of any opposition parties (it is doubtful that they can win anything than a handful of seats). It will be the result of the PAP legacy to try to control the electoral process to such a successful extent that it wipes up totally the dynamics the churn up good political leaders. In economics, we call that the adverse selection problem. In the end, only those who are rent-seeking in any ways will want to serve as MPs or ministers. Corruption (legalized or illegal) will result. This is what we see in Singapore today: some governemnt officials are drawing large perks and implementing policies that hurt the poor(and everybody else), though they claim otherwise. The worst is corruption of the mind, which serves to perpetuate the beliefs that there is only one party that can save Singapore (from what?).
So, Singaporeans, at the next election, get some very good opposition candidates into the government. That’s the only way to save Singapore.
A process is for one to persevere to achieve what one sets out to do. Belief, commitment and conviction exhibited will garner respect and support in due course. To win election, one must be rearing to go and not harbour defeatist attitude.
Step out of homeland and into the heartland to create support and awareness. The Internet will be the nemesis of the tyrants.
Which path is easier to run in a 100m dash.
One which is normal like what you would see in a stadium for certain runners or
another one which is paved with nails in every square-inch for another group of runners.
Of course, process is important but it must be a level one – not one loaded to favour any particular group. Howelse would we know who are the really better ones.
Else, the battle would already have been half-lost for those disadvantaged participants.
Dear Sylvia,
I concur that getting Singaporeans to be involved in the process is just as important. To achieve this, the opposition leadership have to put in more effort to engage the general public. The internet is a wonderful avenue to enhance the process of citizens participation, especially making audio and visual downloads
available. The purpose is to draw the attention of the citizens with effective methods.
The parliament is a political arena where a person’s performance can be truly appreciated. It is “extremely important” to do well in parliament because it will have a lasting impression on the general public.
No disrespect intended to LTK , but I sincerely believe it is better for you to do more of the talking, whilst inputs can still come from him. Afterall, you are a law lecturer and it is your forte to analyse and present arguments with supporting facts. LTK on the other hand is a true heartlander politician. Many of us understand that it can be a daunting task to be outnumbered by 82 PAP members, BUT we have faith in you and LTK.
Please do not let the overwhelming PAP numbers put you off, the majority of the PAP members have no substance and their role is to be part of the cheering team. Believe me, they are pathetic and many Singaporeans are ashamed of them.
You can hold your own against MM and 2 other qualified lawyers from the PAP, simply because you have all the facts to question and rebut them. The general public and foreigners can see the bullshit whenever they defend themselves, they actually undermine their own credibility.
The opposition coming together is an excellent start, it gives hope to Singaporeans deprived of “honest representation”. For the process to work, the opposition must contest all seats and GRCs so that all Singaporeans get to vote. Any walkover will defeat the intention to include every citizen’s participation.
Singaporeans are sick and tired of their country being run like a business by an exclusive group.
TheOwl,
agree with you. WP and the rest of oppparty should take advantage of internet because there is no limit to how far it can go. Up against 82 MP that look intimidating ? The PAP has 82 MP but internet has no limit. Majority of 82MP for fear of backslash by LKY are willing to put their voice and thought for the people, and thus only using the pathetic and partisan MSM to which no sane Singaporean will read for its politics. This is the greatest nemesis of the ruling party. Fear overrule not only in citizen but throughout the government. Therefore, what the government fear the most, the opp party must endorse wholeheartedly. Do not fall into the trap of playing the game the government want you to play because you will never win at the game they can game and control. Use the free internet where the unlimited web resources are paid by others whereas the coffers can only use taxmoney to promulgate their propaganda.
Its a spirit that we ought to learn. To be able to stay and face to pack of wolves in the meeting is not an easy task. To be able to speak up is even more courageous. Although the opposition is weak now but the final blow that the leading party is going to get is not from the opposition but from the people.
This is the typical case from our neighbour cross the bridge. In next year and 2011, our leaders will start to dangle goodies again to win our hearts. They will start to send threats to all of us, so beware not to be tempted or swayed and stay brave to face the consequences we made.
It takes more than leaders to bring a country to a new frontier as it is the spirit of the nation that drive the country.
If in a GRC, the minister passes away, then it is just like ” trees fell, monkey scatter around”. This is a famous quote by PM Lee. He was talking about the group of WP Aljunide candidates.
1) Lim Lao Pei on July 15th, 2008 9.30 am
This is a defeatist attitude to take. In politics, the outcome is definitely more important than the process. What is the point of running for elections if you never get elected?
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Defeatist? Sylvia Lim did not say WP’s aim is to lose. She said WP aim to win but MAY lose so long term commitment is important so that they can win one day.
Many people dream to get rich and will do all kinds of things to get rich. If the process to get rich is not important does it mean people can use underhand methods to get rich?
The Workers’ Party today is to be respected. My personal opinion is that they have taken the wisest and most appropriate line Singaporeans expect of oppositional parties. For that, anything its current leaders say is carefully considered outside (and perhaps inside) of Parliament.
The gamble offer by MM Lee shows that not always is a sunday…now what got the MM Lee to say about WP…….who showed MM Lee….they are not junk….they are the people’s voice strength and the soul for people who are suffering very day week and months…like me & many others!!!!!…….i like to thank all WORKERS PARTY staffs and every one whom supported the WORKERS PARTY from bottom of my heart …….herespecially m/s SYLVIA LIM i ve been following her since the 2001 GRC….she is great like IRON LADY, INDRA GANDHI, ANN SU & THE BEST SHE IS MY singaporean …i m real proud for her….and Mr. LOW…the man of beauty freedom born (history) in is blood……I LOVE YOU workers party….i wish you can help me fine justic for that poor boy’s family whom got kill in 2008…please please help me…..the PAP traffice police…can’t help me…..i wonder if this happen to MM Lee son…and the traffic police is telling me ..we got no grounds to charge the drive whom got my kid killed….i like to ask my respectable MM Lee…..wad will you do if the traffic police tell you like wad they told me after my son got kill and some court date hearing for my boy…they are unable to charge the driver who got my son killed due to his carelessness….if its your son Mr. MM Lee sir…….what will you do?….keep quiet after hearing the TP answer?….I m a devasted man asking you NOW….how will you feel and what will you do? MR. LHL…..now you tell me sir..are you going to look into my problem as you promise in your rallies….or are you going leave me aside….because i’m a low class guy?..