Comments on: Workers’ Party rejects motion to amend Parliamentary Elections Act.

By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 36

The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 36 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:00:13 +0000

[...] 26 Aug 2008 – TOC: Workers’ Party rejects motion to amend Parliamentary Elections Act – Workers’ Party @ Parliament: Mistakes in admininistration of justice, Hospital Bills Incurred [...]

By: blue

blue — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:52:47 +0000

red,

Although I don’t like political poems, I must say you did a really good job with the rhymes.

By: Red

Red — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:51:29 +0000

A Nation Strong and Free…
By Red

At 5 I attended PAP pre-primary
Always thought PAP exemplary
No. 1 airport and port
Sentosa a nice resort

Then Serangoon became Marine Parade GRC
Although it’s nowhere near the sea
Gerrymander a word I learnt from Google
Wikipedia even cites us as example

Upgrading tactics also look very blatant
Opposition enjoyed courtroom treatment
Our PAP built a nation
Strong and free….of opposition

I am not anti-PAP
Partisan politics not my cup of tea
Just hope to see fair play
Good for all at end of the day

By: theytookyears

theytookyears — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:45:42 +0000

16) john on September 1st, 2008 9.18 pm

they took how long to gain experience?

I have an IT question. Can the internet reveal the identity of individuals?
like this guy lives in xyz ?

if so, what does that mean?

is information power or what?

By: Yi Long

Yi Long — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:47:56 +0000

Hi John and other readers,

I think that losing a Minister, will be a big deal, to the track record of the ruling party. However, if the party is as good as it claims, all the candidates are of good calibre, then finding a replacement for the ousted Minister should not be a problem.

Moreover, the GRC system really creates an “illusion” for PAP candidates and the people. Let’s see, when it is described that a MP or Minister is a “veteran of 4 elections”, we can look back and check if the MP has even had his/her name printed on a voting slip before.

By: john

john — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:18:35 +0000

indeed very very sad that we have came to a stage where voting become a LUXURY!! just ask around how many citizens have voted b4? Nevertheless, GRC can b a double edge sword too! I cannot imaging the faces of our “leaders” will look like if one day the Opposition manage to grab 1 GRC which means the ruling party will lost not 4/5 or 6 MPs but a Minister!

Sylvia Lim may not be the best, nevertheless she is definitely comparable to many out there who can even make simple front line manager decision on when to break “negative news”.

To make matter worst, a half past six apology also make more bad than gd.

Any comments?

By: pragmatism too slong

pragmatism too slong — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:03:54 +0000

I think singapore is not only very young but also very pragmatic. Maybe next round election, no more opposition win anything. nearly 50 years of proven track record by the majority.

1 party state is that what they want?

maybe is maybe not.
maybe not is maybe.

chua is the mui mui of the bee hoon.

By: SevenEleven

SevenEleven — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:39:40 +0000

To FeverGuy
I cannot agree with your view. !st, WP is against GRC. That’s their principle. To support would mean they accept and further entrench the GRC. Further to support the motion bring you nowhere as it had aready being decided by the votes in the paliament

By: Fever Guy

Fever Guy — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:30:36 +0000

I find that WP ’s sylvia likes to do the opposite. Why not support the motion first? Did she think PAP will scrap the GRC because of her suggestions? Sometimes i dont understand whether WP is for the people or against the people. They agreed so much with the PAP, i sometime think they are clones of PAP. Now by not supporting the motion, i deem WP as a failure. You think i will vote for WP, FAT HOPE. I will mostly void my vote than vote in An AIR TALK specialist. I rather vote people like NMP siew than her. Sylvia is a great disappointment since last election. She has delivered nothing.

By: Tew N S

Tew N S — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:10:02 +0000

Pap play cheat by abolishing Anson, Cheng San, Eunos, Bukit Batok, Braddel Hts, where in single seats, oppositions obtained 40+ %, Pap will abolish the constituency, and redraw their boundaries to their advantage. This is called cheating, not honest, no integrity, coward, liar, thief !!!

By: 123

123 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:17:19 +0000

enough have been said on the disappointment by PAP to implement unfair and unjust rules which makes it a unfair ground for all to complete in.

GRC is one of this. It should be abolish immediately.

By: Conjob

Conjob — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:40:03 +0000

That is the way to go Sylvia, well done !

The way the PAP win elections tells us everything we need to know about them.
Redrawing of electoral boundaries, elections dept under the PM’s office, GRCs with increasing number of representatives, short notice for date of election to minimise preparation time, upgrading benefits as coercion, sueing political opponents to the point they are barred from participation. [ IBA report ]

To those who have voted for the PAP, ask yourself if you can honestly say the PAP is a good example of integrity and fairness ?

By: zhummmeng

zhummmeng — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:28:29 +0000

GRC is used to get unknown candidates in through the backdoor, like eg. Lee Bee
Wah. and many others. To manipulate the boundaries to the disadvantage of the opposition .I am not surprised that in the future Potong Pasir and Hougang will disappear and become part of a GRC. On second thought it would be interesting that Potong Pasir and Hougang form their own GRCs and call the GRCs by the same name. What about it? I bet the PAP won’t dare . The Boundary Commission should include these MPs in the committee to be fair.

By: Sayonara

Sayonara — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:33:33 +0000

Enuf of GRCs…what’s more ? With candidate like Lee Bee Wah, who went through back door MPship by way of riding on the coat tail of PM Lee.

By: SevenEleven

SevenEleven — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:46:46 +0000

I was in the earlier days agreeable with the 3 constituencies GRC argument of not sidelining minorities as racial harmony is indeed a blessing and vaulable to Singapore. However, it seem to have become a tools to holding on to power when the GRC starts to grow from 3 to 4/5/6. It is unreasonable to be living in Bradell to be under Marine Parade GRC.
When new reasons were used to increase the numbers, it seems for more and more ridicuelus. (ecomony of scales etc) If that had been the case, HDB would have done a better job maintaining the cleaning due to the economy of scales). What become worse was TC became a tool for their political grips, with threats being made to make the continuency looks bad without maintaince and repair.
TC have also lost their focus from being maintaining the place to collecting money in the name of reserve to invest.
GRC is now a tool to power grip with boundaries redraw, walkovers and holding on to power against the constitution when one MP vacates the seat
I therfore agrees with WP motions to abolish the GRC totally and return the mndate to the people

By: A Tan

A Tan — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:42:45 +0000

Ever thgt of following unintended consequence of GRC?

Forced WP to raise its game and we got someone of sylvia;s calibre in parly?

Compare her with FT MP, “Ms Pang Sai Jambun” and we know that claim that FT and PAP MPs are Div 1 is a lot of “Sai”.

Also shows that Sylvia’s parents did a far better than “Ms Pang Sai Jambun” parents in teaching their child manners and proper conduct.

By: JACKSON

JACKSON — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:05:45 +0000

I agree with what Ms Sylvia Lim said about abolishing GRCs in Singapore. I’ve noticed that the PAP uses GRCs to get new ministers into parliament by providing an umbrella for them. And what I mean is that in a GRC of, say, 5, the new ministers will be inserted such that the end result is that the PAP will still win and get the new minister into parliament, which I think is a form of cheating. Another point raied which is logical and should be pursued is the disappearance of Cheng San GRC yrs ago and the idea that the electoral boundaries are frequently adjusted. For instance, why will I get to see a “Welcome to Marine Parade Town” along Upp Serangoon rd?

By: Observer

Observer — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:15:42 +0000

I am so impressed with Ms Sylvia Lim for asking for the abolishment of the GRC. I think the general publis overwhelmingly thinks this is a unfair advantage for PAP and that their reasons for it is lame but it has never been voiced like this before.

Its a shame that the media do not report it fully and allow everyone to voice it and press for the change.

As always the MIW are the masters in which they can manipulate the singaporean minds.

By: Which_ones_not_adding_value

Which_ones_not_adding_value — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:14:13 +0000

I see that at least Sylvia Lim, SKH, LTK have added value for the people.

By: do_you_understand_politics_all_abt

do_you_understand_politics_all_abt — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:05:15 +0000

Does the sporeans really understand what poltics is all about ?

Spore is a young nation.