The best street survey is the elections, and the order of score is as follows: PAP, WP, SDA, SDP. That is not going to change in the next elections, but if SDP bucks up it can change in 3 elections.

poster 54 and 55 JD) My mistake,I meant that the SDP is the only ‘other’ multicultural party other than the PAP.Why do I say this?

Simple.I am old but I can relate to the young.I was in Orchard over the weekend and decided to do a random poll’.I have been doing polls for years.For my professional work and also for my own personal curiosity about how people behave. Thankfully I had two kakis to help.We thoroughly enjoyed this exercise as it was more interaction and educating of the youth.

If you are looking for an online poll which can be indicative go to Mr Tan Kim Lian’s website.He asks the pertinant questions.

Surprisingly the Youth (between 18-30) responded well without prejudice.Not all are as apathetic as you think. I just posed to them that the General Elections are around the corner.I did not have a control question set but this interaction over two days was an eye opener.

A lot of them recognise the work of the SDP.They can identify Dr Chee in a whim.Only the older youth ( who are probably working) know who LTK and SL are.SL is more popular.I targeted the minority youth more which is a bit more difficult as they are few and far between.But on my observation, the Malay Youth (below 25) are Dr Chee fans.

Dr Chee has an identity with the youth probably because he is an idealist.The Youth are dreamers at this Stage.But I was a bit bias that I interacted more with Service Staff.

And this more shocking.A lot of Singaporean youngsters are working when they should be schooling.I probed and its a sorry state.Most of thier parents have lost thier jobs or have seen a wage decrease of sorts.Loads of Tertiary students are working to put themselves through school.And these kids eagerly want an alternative voice.

The alternative voice is Dr Chee for now.I for one believe that a balance is possible.A Party that is in the middle ground of the WP and the SDP.I do not mention the other parties as the Youth never brought these parties up.

A new Party is needed or the Reform Party has to fill this void.Or a coalition like our Northern Neighbours.

I enjoy talking to the youth.They are much wiser than I was at thier age.My only worry is that they will migrate because of the reality that will hit them in the near future. With the changing demographic of more Chinese youths who are used to a one party state, the opposition or alternative parties only have the coming election to build some sort of inroads.That is why I agree with MM that 25 years is all it takes.

Is it possible to get Singapore migrants like Francis Seow and Tang Liang Hong to address Singaporeans on why they migrated for educational purposes.Like put a video on youtube or write blogs.I am sure the people who voted for them before or wanted to vote for them want to know the truth.

Migration is a choice but there can be other solutions.Maybe more Singapores who have migrated should come forth publicly to educate the sanctity of voting.

And poster 56) angry one could the peasant thinking have anything to do with our genes?The PAP is a eugenics and genetics spouting party.This is probably the chief reason I can never identify with it.The meritocracy they preach is all baloney.I have met too many good people from extremely humble backgrounds who contribute more to society than these PAP members, cadre, leaders, etc.Ordinary Singaporean Superheroes.

I am off in a couple of hours.See you people next week.Thanks TOC for giving me this space.I will continue engaging Singaporeans here and on my short trip.And will report as promised.

Todays ST 2 April 2009) reported that the PAP inducts Two minsters, PAP’s George Yeo paying tributes.You have PAP news everyday in the ST till the run up of the upcoming elections.I don’t blame them as it is a numbers game.

Elections preparation start right after the outcome of the last.I am encouraged that they are using new platforms like Blogs, Facebook and Twitter to a better effect than the PAP.But internet penetration to these platforms generate views of only a hundred or so.Look at this topic for example.Only 2000 views.If there is going to be any change or awareness, it should generate a healthy 200000 views at least.That’s only 6 odd % of the general population.

The WP should boost its membership across the spectrum.These 4 resignations are telling.I only recognize 2 candidates from the WP vehile, LTK and SL and the public can probably recall 2 at the most.

I find it hard to recollect all the members who contested in the Ang Mo Kio GRC seat in 2006. I do understand that they are doing house visits and walkabouts on a regular basis but could there be other forms of medium they can use to reach to Singapore as a whole and not a segment in the East country?

The WP should hold more forums at least at a quarterly or monthly basis at its HQ for the public as introductory sessions to pool in more members.The other parties do not have the luxury to do that.

A forum on HOTA or Films Act should have been conducted these past few months.It gives an opportunity for the public who are affected by the passing of these bills to turn up and discuss with the WP’s two Parliamentarians.

I personally have tried to engage MPs at MPS but to no avail.The Grassroots leaders rarely give you access.You are screened early.It is perplexing that the pertinent issues are not discussable at MPS sessions.This is a good opportunity for the WP to address these grievances of SIngaporeans who have genuine issues that affect a majority.

I am not a proponent of the GRC system and Ethnic Minority representation.I believe that MPs should be voted in on thier own merit.This tool dispels the Meritocracy principle espoused profoundly on many occasions by the PAP.

But I believe that WP in my own personal observation is alienating the Minority vote.It has no capable or credible Minority candidates I can think of.WP was probably the first truly multicultural party after the PAP.It sent a Minority candidate to the polls and finally broke the duck in 1981.\

The WP has to find its multiculturalism from within.Unfortunately it has lagged in this aspect most recently.I am not really sure how the Minority vote but I won’t be surprised that the fence sitters may cast the PAP instead.

When Mr Abdul Salim Harun came abroad to the WP ticket in the last elections, I was happy as a Singaporean.Because this is healthy for multiculturalism.I was hoping for more Haruns or other Ethnic Minorities to join the WP.

If you look at the Executive Council, there is only one, Mr Rahizan Bin Yacoob.Kudos to Mr Rahizan but we need more, much much more.has the WP actually tried walking around Little India and Geylang Seria?Engaged PKMS or the Association of Muslim Professionals or re-engage Mr Jufri Mahmood on an advisory capacity?

I have respect for the PAP in the sense that it is the only multicultural party in Singapore.The Ethnic Minorities are small, probably less than 20% of the electorate these days due to migration and immigration.The Malays are only 13% of the population when it used to be 20% odd, the Indians around 7-8% and the others probably 1% or less.These are your important swing votes, just look at the recent US Presidential Elections.

I am truly sorry that Mr Abdul Salim Harun had to leave.The work is cut out for WP.The longer it maintains that it wants to be the ‘check and balance’ party the further we are from true democracy.The only multi cultural party I see today is SDP.And that is why I believe the SDP is the party for the future post LKY-LHL-LHY-HC-Li Hongyi-4th Generation-5th Generation period.

The WP has to step up on its efforts and act fast.The PAP has thrown the first gauntlet with the appointment of Mrs Lim Hwee Hua as the first woman minister.Aljunied GRC will be re-drawn and re-mastered that even a Miss Sylvia Lim led team will not win.Even a LTK/SL combo will not suffice.The WP needs more than that.The WP has only two notable candidates, it needs another 8-13 at least of the same ilk.Even the ‘undemocratically elected’ NMPs are becoming more relevant.

Our politician are so unique in this world. Can only survive in SG. If we outsource our politics, surely these people will lose their job.

If I were given a licence to operate a lucrative bus company or a lottery business or any monopoly and become a multi-millionaire I also would work as a running dog for the PAP. The late Mr David Marshal accused the Straits Times for being a running dog of the PAP government. I believe 99.9% of the Singaporeans would think of their self interests first and the country’s survival second.

Even if you failed as a cabinet minister you would be rewarded with a highly paid job in one of the many GLCs. In fact, one ex-minister earned more than double what he would get as a minister. An ex-civil servant CEO received $20 million bonus. What do you get fighting for the opposition? Bankruptcy, sacked from NTUC, called a liar and a gangster, no promotion, no govt contracts.

Are our ministers worth so much? According to another web-site, a recent ex-minister is now earning only $22,000.00 a month in a private company – 10% of his previous minister’s pay. Remove all these inflated wages and rewards and the PAP will lose many supporters.

Mr Kishore Mahubani in his Think Tank article, ‘Can Singapore fail?’ which was published in the ST failed to suggest that Singapore might fail owing to the PAP becoming corrupt and inefficient in the future. A good example of such failure is Argentina, which was one of the ten richest country of the world at the beginning of the last century.

How to insure Singapore’s survival in the future? LKY has the wrong answer.

“As more and more people turn politically saavy and more in tune with the bigger pictures of national matters and affairs”

By the above, I suspect you are thinking the same as me that there is a problem of APATHY in this so-called 1st world .

I wonder if mr TKL agrees that many have an indifferent attitude towards their own national affairs?

If so, why is it like this ? What is the CAUSE for this EFFECT, if any?

Why when it comes to political thingies, singaporean seem unique compared the the rest of the world? Or is it my understooding is not correct?

Come challen me leh. The truth can only come out when we challen.

Just your frame of looking at it. a lot may not yet see the need for alternative party (balance) yet as an important built-in mechanism.

As more and more people turn politically saavy and more in tune with the bigger pictures of national matters and affairs, they will come to know that it is necessary to have the checking mechanism.

Its effective only to a small neglible extent, sadly.

OBSTACLE : if you CANNOT OVERCOME it, that is what it will always remain.

So, as long as Alternative leaders/brains/aides/party members CANNOT overcome this or whatever Obstacle(s), that means only 2 things:

1. Wait for the majority to suddenly support them.
2. Wait for someone to…..

I feel that to get votes, alternative party Must go out and WIN IT by winning the hearts. If they HOPE people to give votes to them, that could mean they may never win for many decades. I never see any Alternative party member going around leh. Why? Obstacle? like the rain too many? ha haha

If you can conquer the obstacles, you win. Else nil. That is my take.

cheers.

WP should be more vocal, so to reach out to the wider audience. They should openlly express their concerns using the new media, like blog, website, video etc. It gives me an impression that WP just there to make up the numbers, collect the taxpayer money, and occasionally shooting some random comments here and there.