Comments on: That baffling reply – and the opposition’s silence http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/ Singapore's #1 Socio-Political Site Fri, 25 May 2012 04:31:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 42 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-111007 The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 42 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:11:19 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-111007 [...] Giam’s Blog: How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain [Recommended] - TOC: That baffling reply – and the opposition’s silence - Jacob 69er: HDB as a political weapon - TOC: Reform Party visits Jurong West - Gerald Giam’s [...] [...] Giam’s Blog: How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain [Recommended] – TOC: That baffling reply – and the opposition’s silence – Jacob 69er: HDB as a political weapon – TOC: Reform Party visits Jurong West – Gerald Giam’s [...]

]]> By: spirited-centred http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110558 spirited-centred Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:42:05 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110558 If the LUP are announced by the PAP grassroot adviser of PA and the polling for the LUPs are going to be conducted by these PAP grassroot, I sincerely urge the courageous residents who have survived so long without these LUP should boycott this poll to show their support for their respective elected MPs. They should wait till the Oppositions become our next morally upright government coming this election. If the LUP are announced by the PAP grassroot adviser of PA and the polling for the LUPs are going to be conducted by these PAP grassroot, I sincerely urge the courageous residents who have survived so long without these LUP should boycott this poll to show their support for their respective elected MPs. They should wait till the Oppositions become our next morally upright government coming this election.

]]> By: btan http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110301 btan Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:10:26 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110301 Hi Ravi, However, this article and headline is still inaccurate. I think TOC needs to update their article based on current news. It's a "news" site, isn't it? Not "olds" site. As for Mr Chiam, what does he need to say that LTK has not already said? Besides, Mr Chiam is old and just recently recovered from a stroke. And he has been fighting for Singaporeans and PP residents for 10-20 years already. He deserve a break. If you have been following his news, he had been clamouring for upgrades since the initial inception. This was his latest speech in parliament on the issue. http://www.spp.org.sg/tos/20080121.php Another reason, pure speculation on my part, is that since he had succeeded in his request, he did not care who gets the credit as long as PP residents are served. This shows the nobility of the opposition member if true. Hi Ravi,

However, this article and headline is still inaccurate. I think TOC needs to update their article based on current news. It’s a “news” site, isn’t it? Not “olds” site.

As for Mr Chiam, what does he need to say that LTK has not already said?

Besides, Mr Chiam is old and just recently recovered from a stroke. And he has been fighting for Singaporeans and PP residents for 10-20 years already. He deserve a break. If you have been following his news, he had been clamouring for upgrades since the initial inception.

This was his latest speech in parliament on the issue.

http://www.spp.org.sg/tos/20080121.php

Another reason, pure speculation on my part, is that since he had succeeded in his request, he did not care who gets the credit as long as PP residents are served. This shows the nobility of the opposition member if true.

]]> By: Ravi Philemon http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110248 Ravi Philemon Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:53:25 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110248 btan@60: Please see my blog: http://www.raviphilemon.net/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-oppositions.html, where I noted that Mr Low "has since given a robust reply to HDB and PA on this issue". Mr Chiam however, has maintained his deafening silence and hence I think the comments on this post are still valid, presuming that Mr Low does not speak for Mr Chiam as well, that is. btan@60: Please see my blog: http://www.raviphilemon.net/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-oppositions.html, where I noted that Mr Low “has since given a robust reply to HDB and PA on this issue”.

Mr Chiam however, has maintained his deafening silence and hence I think the comments on this post are still valid, presuming that Mr Low does not speak for Mr Chiam as well, that is.

]]> By: btan http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110232 btan Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:44:07 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110232 Hi Ravi, I just want to know if you are going to correct your statement saying opposition is silence given that now Low Thia Khiang has made a formal reply (and given that it is heavily censored by ST) Is TOC going to update the end of this article and point to their other article on LTK's reply? Hi Ravi,

I just want to know if you are going to correct your statement saying opposition is silence given that now Low Thia Khiang has made a formal reply (and given that it is heavily censored by ST)

Is TOC going to update the end of this article and point to their other article on LTK’s reply?

]]> By: Ravi Philemon http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110174 Ravi Philemon Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:53:30 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110174 blackfeline@54: Since you are asking matters which are private in nature which do not relate to the topic at hand here, you may email me with your queries stating your real name, including details about who is this person who told you this, and we can take this discussion there. My personal email is ravi@raviphilemon.net. blackfeline@54: Since you are asking matters which are private in nature which do not relate to the topic at hand here, you may email me with your queries stating your real name, including details about who is this person who told you this, and we can take this discussion there. My personal email is ravi@raviphilemon.net.

]]> By: tiredsingaporean http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110164 tiredsingaporean Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:05:15 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110164 35) open debate on October 10th, 2009 8.27 pm The current PAP is only a bunch of cowards who have no guts facing up challenges for public debate of issues. They are still afraid of the recent acid throwing incident lah. Maybe acid is hard to get now, but dog shits are still available leh! 35) open debate on October 10th, 2009 8.27 pm
The current PAP is only a bunch of cowards who have no guts facing up challenges for public debate of issues.

They are still afraid of the recent acid throwing incident lah. Maybe acid is hard to get now, but dog shits are still available leh!

]]> By: Kim San http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110146 Kim San Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:06:16 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110146 38) Adam "Although I have a lot of misgivings about the way things are run these recent years, I believ there is a small group of MPs who are genuinely into their jobs and really concerned about their constituents. For some reasons, they have to toe the party’s line and that means being powerless against the whole machinery. So is that a sell out against yr constituents or selling yr soul to the devil? What I really want is more engaging MPs to their own party and not necesarily more opposition MPs." If the small group of MPs you mentioned really cared about their constituents, they wouldn't be in the PAP in the first place. 38) Adam

“Although I have a lot of misgivings about the way things are run these recent years, I believ there is a small group of MPs who are genuinely into their jobs and really concerned about their constituents. For some reasons, they have to toe the party’s line and that means being powerless against the whole machinery. So is that a sell out against yr constituents or selling yr soul to the devil? What I really want is more engaging MPs to their own party and not necesarily more opposition MPs.”

If the small group of MPs you mentioned really cared about their constituents, they wouldn’t be in the PAP in the first place.

]]> By: blackfeline http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110124 blackfeline Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:02:22 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110124 Ravi, someone whom you have spoken to, told me you are helping out in PAP MPS and happily serving. Tell me this not true ? I don't know what party you are in. But you are in opposition and you are also in pappy. How to believe someone's views when he has no position at all ? Especially when you want o serve in pappy, please don't come and tell us you are neutral. You do not compromise your own principles by going to two parties. Either you are too free or you double time. I believed you are busy man, so what other assumptions left ? Ravi, someone whom you have spoken to, told me you are helping out in PAP MPS and happily serving. Tell me this not true ? I don’t know what party you are in. But you are in opposition and you are also in pappy. How to believe someone’s views when he has no position at all ? Especially when you want o serve in pappy, please don’t come and tell us you are neutral. You do not compromise your own principles by going to two parties. Either you are too free or you double time. I believed you are busy man, so what other assumptions left ?

]]> By: Ravi Philemon http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110099 Ravi Philemon Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:53:10 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110099 blackfeline@3: I am not a member of PAP nor any opposition party. I am just your ordinary Singaporean who wants a better tomorrow for my children and the generations which comes after them. If I eventually decide to join any political party, I have the guts to come out and announce publicly that I have done so. I also am brave enough not to hide behind pseudonimity when asking questions but to append my real name to the issues and opinions that I believe in. Now, do you? blackfeline@3: I am not a member of PAP nor any opposition party. I am just your ordinary Singaporean who wants a better tomorrow for my children and the generations which comes after them. If I eventually decide to join any political party, I have the guts to come out and announce publicly that I have done so. I also am brave enough not to hide behind pseudonimity when asking questions but to append my real name to the issues and opinions that I believe in. Now, do you?

]]> By: btan http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110069 btan Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:58:39 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110069 TOC, as usual, your writer bash all parties without giving some thoughts. While you are justified in criticising the actions of PAP members, your criticism of opposition actions is unwarranted. Firstly, opposition members do not have the vast resources like PAP members do. LTK has a constituency to manage. Anecdotal stories revealed he is willing to listen to any woes, however trivial, of any residents in his ward. Also, it takes time to compose a reply to just indignation done to MP, without falling into the trap of being sued by PAP for libel. The hasty words cause troubles, as is evident in the fate of so many opposition members. Also, LTK did finally reply. You need to update your article to acknowledge this. Please see Low Thia Khiang's reply in full here. http://www.wp.sg/wordpress/2009/10/no-basis-for-mp-not-to-announce-lift-upgrading/ And here is ST's editted copy of LTK's reply. http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_440388.html Notice how ST has taken some thunder of LTK. And you are saying opposition members should not distrust mainstream media? As for bloggers, firstly, how many blogs can have the reach of the mainstream media? And how many of THOSE are pro-opposition or at least not hostile to them? It is right the opposition cannot trust any media, mainstream or otherwise for now, given that the so-called balanced newsite like TOC can criticise the opposition when the wrong lies squarely on PAP and its members in this case. TOC, as usual, your writer bash all parties without giving some thoughts.

While you are justified in criticising the actions of PAP members, your criticism of opposition actions is unwarranted.

Firstly, opposition members do not have the vast resources like PAP members do. LTK has a constituency to manage. Anecdotal stories revealed he is willing to listen to any woes, however trivial, of any residents in his ward.

Also, it takes time to compose a reply to just indignation done to MP, without falling into the trap of being sued by PAP for libel. The hasty words cause troubles, as is evident in the fate of so many opposition members.

Also, LTK did finally reply. You need to update your article to acknowledge this. Please see Low Thia Khiang’s reply in full here.

http://www.wp.sg/wordpress/2009/10/no-basis-for-mp-not-to-announce-lift-upgrading/

And here is ST’s editted copy of LTK’s reply.

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_440388.html

Notice how ST has taken some thunder of LTK.

And you are saying opposition members should not distrust mainstream media?

As for bloggers, firstly, how many blogs can have the reach of the mainstream media? And how many of THOSE are pro-opposition or at least not hostile to them?

It is right the opposition cannot trust any media, mainstream or otherwise for now, given that the so-called balanced newsite like TOC can criticise the opposition when the wrong lies squarely on PAP and its members in this case.

]]> By: mike http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110051 mike Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:08:06 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110051 people by now have known the relation of politician invlovement. everything happened had it caused and reason. i strongly believe the coming election is time for change of political arena in singapore as people are matured, knowledgeable, learned, hungry for survival and daring engouh to question the authority. i am curious to see whether i am right this time in singapore political situation. history has shown no one is perpetual in ruling a country. people by now have known the relation of politician invlovement. everything happened had it caused and reason. i strongly believe the coming election is time for change of political arena in singapore as people are matured, knowledgeable, learned, hungry for survival and daring engouh to question the authority.

i am curious to see whether i am right this time in singapore political situation. history has shown no one is perpetual in ruling a country.

]]> By: Lee Goh Lee http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-2/#comment-110007 Lee Goh Lee Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:34:39 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110007 LUP is a political pork barrel policy used to the extreme and ugliest It denies all singaporean's right to be treated with respect, It shows the pap's ugly face using vote to blackmail old and physically handicaps It shows that after winning effective votes of 36.63% ( 66.67% in 55% of all contested constitunecies ), PAP is again strangling us as it pleases It shows that if pap can't win by persuasion and argument, they are talking DOWN to the people It shows that their governing regime is more important to Singaporean's esteem and needs This is a shameless govt that claimed to be world class I switched my support away from PAP for last 2 GE, absolutely happier ! LUP is a political pork barrel policy used to the extreme and ugliest

It denies all singaporean’s right to be treated with respect,

It shows the pap’s ugly face using vote to blackmail old and physically handicaps

It shows that after winning effective votes of 36.63% ( 66.67% in 55% of all contested constitunecies ), PAP is again strangling us as it pleases

It shows that if pap can’t win by persuasion and argument, they are talking DOWN to the people

It shows that their governing regime is more important to Singaporean’s esteem and needs

This is a shameless govt that claimed to be world class

I switched my support away from PAP for last 2 GE, absolutely happier !

]]> By: singaporean http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-110001 singaporean Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:36:37 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-110001 please reject people who take public money and use it for personal political gain. please reject people who take public money and use it for personal political gain.

]]> By: hailatah http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-109989 hailatah Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:12:31 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-109989 Donaldson(#42) with all due respect, you better check. Mr. Ravi Philemon was at PAP MPS. Won't say where and he should tell you. If PAP sends an undercover like him to TOC, I really can't understand what stunts they are trying to pull. I agreed with Blackfeline that it is really below the belt to double time as far as politics is concern Donaldson(#42) with all due respect, you better check. Mr. Ravi Philemon was at PAP MPS. Won’t say where and he should tell you. If PAP sends an undercover like him to TOC, I really can’t understand what stunts they are trying to pull. I agreed with Blackfeline that it is really below the belt to double time as far as politics is concern

]]> By: Lifeobzervr http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-109985 Lifeobzervr Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:34:12 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-109985 Grassroots leadership should be elected. If they find the election process too difficult, perhaps, they should pay a visit to any one of the tertiary institutions during the students' union election period.... .... hmmm but then, how much different could it be from a Lift Upgrading Programme voting process? They've been doing this for years already. Grassroots leadership should be elected. If they find the election process too difficult, perhaps, they should pay a visit to any one of the tertiary institutions during the students’ union election period….

…. hmmm but then, how much different could it be from a Lift Upgrading Programme voting process? They’ve been doing this for years already.

]]> By: kum beng http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-109980 kum beng Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:19:26 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-109980 #26 , I agree with you. All talk / comments are no use. What WILL have effect is what we already know. #26 , I agree with you. All talk / comments are no use.
What WILL have effect is what we already know.

]]> By: blackfeline http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-109930 blackfeline Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:43:03 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-109930 #37...for a start...can the editorial team pls advise why did they allowed TWO "blackfeline" to be registered???? I am not the one u r referring to! The other copy cat came in later..im quite sure. #37…for a start…can the editorial team pls advise why did they allowed TWO “blackfeline” to be registered???? I am not the one u r referring to! The other copy cat came in later..im quite sure.

]]> By: Change Is Upon Us http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-109879 Change Is Upon Us Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:33:13 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-109879 Meritocracy.................No! Nepotism...................Yes! Meritocracy……………..No!

Nepotism……………….Yes!

]]> By: massivelosses_sohow? http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/10/that-baffling-reply-and-the-oppositions-silence/comment-page-1/#comment-109875 massivelosses_sohow? Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:23:01 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=14621#comment-109875 Nepotism is alive... discrimination and differential treatment are attached to the ruling. So what? What you gonna do about it? Nepotism is alive… discrimination and differential treatment are attached to the ruling. So what? What you gonna do about it?

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