This is why I have always said that it is by knowing the enemy that we can prepare for war. Indeed, even though the opposition knows it is in a very disadvantageous position it does not mean that it should give up the fight even before it begins.

If it has to be David vs Golliath – so be it. The opposition must identify ways and work around the disadvantage.

They must also know the battleground well. The battleground here is the vote that each voter possesses. The same vote its mighty opponent is clamouring for.

And although disadvantaged by the lack of weaponries it must realised that it has the edge over voters who are ready to support them, if only they could show some reasons why they should be given a chance.

No, no, no, you must have forgotten the three storey pile of rubbish in Tanjong Pagar. That was the real slum even with money in the town council.

“How do you expect a new chef to prepare a good meal when all their pots and pans in the kitchen are being taken away? THINK!”

I agree to a point. Using your analogy. If I look at it from a different perspective, can they improvised or how can we try to make sure that there are some pots and pans left in the kitchen? Nobody evrer says that a good meal cannot be prepared without proper pots and pans or a good meal can only be prepared with pots and pans right? I think it is more of a determination and how eager you want to cook a good meal. What recipe to use and what combination of recipe will yield the best results and whether the reulting good meal is acceptable to your customers or you need to convince your customer to try your new menu…etc. There are a lot of ground work that is needed before you consider whether their are proper pots and pans to complement it. There are time where things are market driven but there are time where you need to create the market need with a certain target customers in mind. Presentation is all but a packaging, substance is where it really matters.

I remember when town councils were first introduced, it was THE way to “fix” the opposition. The scare was that HDB estates, if run by opposition town councils, will degenerate into slums due to mismanagement. Fast forward 20 or 30 years, this did not happen. The only “slum” appearance in Potong Pasir and Hougang was because the PAP unfairly withheld the upgrading program until every PAP held constituency is upgraded first. This is naked political discrimination. How can any pro-Singaporean stomach it?

Thanks for sharing the same sentiments.

One thing we have always been told, especially during election time, is that the opposition cannot even run itself properly let alone allowing them to run the country. These are the sort of arguments that the PAP uses to scare the electorate into voting for the PAP.

How do you expect a new chef to prepare a good meal when all their pots and pans in the kitchen are being taken away? THINK!

Thanks for sharing the same sentiments.

One thing we have always been told, especially during election time, is that the opposition cannot even run itself properly let alone allowing them to run the country. These are the sort of arguments that the PAP uses to scare the electorate into voting for the PAP.

Well, one can fault them for making such an accusation. It is true.

This is where the minds of Singaporeans must remain focussed. We know that such comparisons are like comparing oranges with apples in the present state of things.

Our focus should be to allow the oppositions to build up themselves and any comparison can only be made in say, 15 to 20 years time, at the earliest. If we don’t dare to give this chance to the opposition, we will still be talking like we do now. Nothing would have changed.

Their journey must start now and start immediately. Whether they have been elected or not, they have to continue to work at it, to learn all they need to learn to govern this country. They have to set their goals and show Singaporeans what they hope to achieve – together with the people.

It has to be bang! bang! bang! everyday. They have so much catching up to do and if they really have Singapore’s interest at heart, they must get to work now.

On our part, we must give them the chance and the opportunity to learn.

We have to give any possible alternative parties time to learn the ropes of governing. Such thing don’t happen overnight under nornal circumstances. We must allow them to develop gradually over 2/3/4/5 GEs. If more alternative parties politicians are voted into parliament, it will attract more talented and altruistic citizens to come forward and join the alternative parties. Only with a substantial number of abled politicians can we talk about forming a shadow cabinet to evaluate and propose alternative policies.

While the WP had put forward a manifesto in the last GE, it is very different to have a shadow cabinet who can examine policies of individual ministries.

As such, I am also prepared to give any decent oppositions a chance to prove themselves even if it means some short term pain for my ward just like Potong Pasir and Hougang.

First of all, I don’t see CST going for another term. I feel he will retreat to a more peaceful life after this term in office because of his health.

In order to try and understand what Singaporeans really want, we need to grasp an understanding of:
1. how things are at the moment,

Just like you, I have problem reading into this. Is it because Singaporeans have
become so disenfranchised that they become anti-PAP no matter what; or; is it
because they are only fed up with some of the policies and are voicing out against
these policies only, or; is it a combination of both.

2. what Singaporeans hope for and

Basically, Singaporeans hoped to be heard. Their voices are crying out daily to be heard. They want the government to turn their eyes inward from time to time rather than outward all the time.

It has come to a point when Singaporeans are already giving up on being heard. This is why they are turning to any voice that makes sense to them. Even a little bit of sense will do and they will cling on to it for dear life. This is desperation and when one is in such a desperate state, any solution other than the ones dished out by the govt will do.

This is however, not a prolonged state. When one gets over this, his future decisions will be based on how well or how badly he had been treated in his time of need.

What do you think he will hope for then? Singaporean will hope for an alternative choice. They will hope that this choice is always there for them. Should one choice fails them, they can choose another. This is their ultimate hope.

They may not have this choice now but who is to say they won’t have it in the future?
Which bring me to my third point.

3. how much are Singaporeans willing to endure to accommodate an alternative?

Singaporeans are no longer as dumb as they were before. The easily accessible information from alternative mediums have done wonders for their education on socio-political issues.

They know that an alternative is imminently needed and as far as I am concern, I am willing to lower my standard in my expectations on how well this alternative can perform. Realistically, I can enjoy this allowance because I know for sure that the alternative party will not take over the govt overnight. I foresee a new govt in nothing earlier than the next 10-15 years. I will allow the alternative party/parties this time to learn the ropes of the trade, so to speak.

So you see, it’s not all gloom and doom after all. The choice is there and the call is for you and me to make.

At least 90% of the comments I read here are not supportive of the govt’s policies and principles. Nevertheless, it is never wrong not to support the govt as so far I guess they have prove to be disappointing.

I think the worse thing is that we felt helpless about the whole situation. Though we are democractic with the right to vote and often LKY has called on Singaporeans to turn the table on them if they population dislikes the govt but so far this have never happened before.

The most MPs the opposition parties had in Parliament was a good ten years ago with 4 MPs elected but they did such a bad job that they were fired just after one term. So getting in qualified opposition MPs may be key to the whole political climate change.

Veterans like Chiam and Low will be there for a long time unless something drastic happened. They have so far done well by not rocking the boat too much and speaking logically in Parliament. Nevertheless, I don’t think Singapore wants such opposition MPs. They are too mild and conceding for their own good. It is like they are pro-govt themselves. Maybe these two MPs have lost their edge.

What do Singapore really want? Do we want more of opposition MPs in Parliament to check the ruling party or a complete overthrow? Or if the current govt is more proactive to the cries of it’s people are we appeased then?

These are valid questions we need to ask ourselves.

Edward R. Murrow:

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.

I think the best way to see and focus what we are doing here is Pro-Singapore instead of pro or anti- specific political party.

For most people here who commented, we are neither pro nor anti-PAP. We are stating the obvious fact. What TOC posted here is also factual, isn’t it?

If you strongly believe that some of the posts or comments here are not factual enough, please enlighten us with your facts. Please do your necessary part as a thinking Singaporean, one that is not guided by latched lease.

The one who gets a verbal bashing is the one who gives others a reason to do so. Logical?

So experts are no magicians and so-called experts after all. Experts in wallstreet are in US and effectively they were passing the risk to the rest of the world. Maybe, just maybe, they did forsee the risk but the rest of the world did not forsee that they were actually having a last hold of those twisted worthless products.

Going by your rationale and by extension, one is always right in saying in the context of his time and line of reality. That goes for you and everyone else.

Fellow Singaporeans,

We’ve had it for too long with the government always telling us how good they are, how credible they are, how honest they are…blah….blah…..blah….

Don’t you think we’ve had enough of this?

How about having Singaporeans come together to draw up a list of Key Achievable Areas (KAA) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to appraise and judge how each MP performs as well as how the govermnet performs as a whole?

It is about time the people of Singapore be the ones to appraise them based on our criteria and standards. It cannot be by their own standard which they have been lowering day by day to the point of Singaporeans getting the feeling that we are being purposely deceived.

What say you, my fellow Singaporeans?

I don’t think TOC is a platform for anti PAP, it’s just that most feedback seems ignored or gets the coffeeshop talk treatment that participants are pissed off. If the government could just provide an amiable platform for alternative views/feedback, such bashing would not get off the line. It will actually provide for a more mature and inclusive society rather than a politically apathethic one that we have. BY making noise or even poking fun, it shows that citizens do care for the country and their future.