Only then can most Singaporeans take him seriously.

Firstly, as an NMP, his position is controlled by the government, right from the start – i.e. the selection process – until the end, when and if he decides to go for a second term.

Secondly, as an NMP he can sail in the comfort zone, taking pot shots at the government and the policies without having to pay the ‘cost’.

Thirdly, as an NMP he does not have the moral support of the electorate, so his words do not carry much strength. They would be just seen like academic discussions by the people in power.

Fourthly, as an NMP he cannot vote on many issues in Parliament.

Last but not least, as an NMP he is condoning and supporting the system that is trying to do away with real opposition politicians and alternative choices that the people are aspiring to.

Therefore, no matter how he presents himself, many people will still perceive him as a government man, and also a pro-PAP man. He simply adds up to the 82 PAP MPs already in the Parliament, albeit trying to present his so-called ‘independent’ view points, which indirectly the PAP to entrench its power even deeper.

It would be good if our MR NMP can go for the fundamentals instead of performing the role of a cosmetics advertiser.

“http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/05/singapores-crisis-of-leadership/

So much for those who claim he has said nothing in the past. There is more, do some research before you start jabbing on your keyboards. ”

If what’s reported in the link you gave represents the type of “said nothing” rebuttal, then I sad for the future of Singapore if Viswa is the type to add value to the Singapore politics.

Try compare him with Jamie Han at the NUS a few years ago.

As to his comment in the link about depoliticisation &/or apathy, I think he’s ignorant.

So much for those who claim he has said nothing in the past. There is more, do some research before you start jabbing on your keyboards.

He has been talking, and will probably keep on doing so in the future, while many of you continue to hide behind your computer screens and pretend to be the lords of politics.

Why want to form NGO? Form a political party lah. More challenging and convincing, right?

Singapore is so short of capable opposition party candidates, yet people are still so frighten to form or join political parties, except of course on the PAP.

See? How many of the top scholars have joined PAP and Admin Service? Why all of them have no guts to join Opposition political parties? Is it because it is too risky, too troublesome, will be victimised by powerful people in the PAP? Frighten and scare, right?

FEAR! FEAR! FEAR!

Beside, Singapore’s Opposition is the most damned in the world. Damn if they do, damn if they don’t.

“In my opinion, Singapore needs leaders that have to go via the baptism of fire to truly understand their roles to the public. ”

Dr Chee is one proven guy in this respect.
The other is the late JBJ.

Singapore’s Opposition is the most tamed in the world.

If you were in his shoes, do you expect him to go out charging? It’s better to make nuanced efforts to be a politician first..

The truth is that the NMPs only represent themselves, which is a scheme to convince the people we don’t need opposition – if you think deeper, you will come to the conclusion the NMP scheme will never benefit the people one way or another. They may brought up issues that sometimes aligned with our thoughts from time to time, but in truth, they are like anyone (albeit a grander stage) on the street whom write feedback to the government – and can be conveniently ignored as well.

In my opinion, Singapore needs leaders that have to go via the baptism of fire to truly understand their roles to the public. Scrapping the NMP System will expedite the process.

In conclusion, it doesn’t matter how well or how bad each NMP has/had performed. It’s another backdoor system that should not have existed in the political sphere in the first place.

why you did not speak up without being nominated?

do you need to be nominated before you speak up?

I just like to understand more about you.

So there is no need for Opposition anymore?

complete 1 party dominance?

Achieved? Do NMPs achieve anything other than talk in Parliament? If so, that he got LKY riled up enough to stand up and talk should count as an achievement, no?

Frankly, NMPs are people that nobody voted for. They do not have any voting powers one way or the other. So, other than ka jiao-ing the PAP during Parliament, I do not expect to them to achieve anything.