Seelan Palay
The following is a letter from Mr Seelan Palay in response to TOC’s report, “Milder but more credible“.
A lead article on The Online Citizen portal a couple of days ago described the Youth Wing of the Workers’ Party as “milder but more credible”. But what this headline means has become a subject of controversy, going by the comments that the article has attracted.
However, my focus is on something else.
The first two paragraphs of the write-up are an unbridled attack on WP’s former secretary-general, the late Mr J B Jeyaretnam who had led the party for three decades until 2001.
The late JBJ, as he was popularly known, was accused of “unrestrained election rally speeches and rambunctious attacks on the PAP government“.
This is exactly the same allegation that the ruling PAP, through its controlled media, was accusing JBJ of doing during his political life. What is most disturbing is the fact that such an allegation has found resonance, of all places in the new leadership of WP.
It was through his resolve and determination that JBJ was able to break 15 years of PAP’s total domination of Parliament by winning the Anson seat in a by-election in 1981. Again, he was elected with an increased majority in the same constituency in 1984 when all electoral wards in Singapore remained Single Member Constituencies.
Soon after, the MP for Anson was found guilty by a high court judge for “having falsified” the party accounts, together with its chairman. Both were fined and jailed, depriving JBJ of his Anson seat and thus frustrating the constituents of their elected MP. But in 1991, when he remained disqualified from contesting, JBJ worked relentlessly to make sure Mr Low Thia Khiang, an unknown WP candidate then, got elected in Hougang. If not for JBJ’s leadership of WP and his election rally speeches, the Hougang single seat would not have been won.
Despite the constant attacks from the PAP, including name calling such as “mangy dog” by Lee Kuan Yew, JBJ’s tenacity paid off in the form of a Privy Council judgment in the late 1980s when the Law Lords ruled that the MP for Anson and his co-defendant (WP chairman) were subjected to “a series of mistrials for offences which they did not commit”. The Privy Council in London was then the highest court of law of the county due to Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s insistence that an outside body provided the “litmus test” of Singapore’s judicial independence.
This damning indictment by the Privy Council sealed the fate of the so-called litmus test Lee Kuan Yew often boasted about. Soon after, appeals to Privy Council were scrapped.
And yet the WP and its Youth Wing now seem “adamant about avoiding the bevy of defamation suits suffered by its former Secretary-General“.
What an irony. Instead of blaming the perpetrators of the crime, the victim remains condemned.
I suppose that is the price one has to pay to earn the accolade “milder and more credible” from an authoritarian regime intolerant of dissent.
With this kind of opposition or alternative party, Singapore will continue to be under the PAP for another half-a-century, giving firm assurance to the obvious desire of Law Minister K Shanmugam for the ruling party to continue with the status quo.
Seelan Palay is an artist and activist. He blogs at http://seelanpalay.blogspot.com
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I have the same feeling as Seelan after reading the article by Terence Lee. It will be good that the WP youth people can come out to clarify their position on JBJ.
And even better, let us know why they have been so mild? fear the PAP?
“I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights.” (Bishop Desmond Tutu)
You can’t stand up to the PAP and speak up for Singaporeans on bended knees.
Many Low Thia Khiang wannabes in the WP are aiming for the $14,000 “crumbs” of monthly MP allowance thrown down from PAP’s table?
No wonder the “credible” WP becomes the media’s blue-eye boy.
What’s the point of act aggressively. Just bring out the fact and Singapore citizen will be more willing to listen. Don’t forget, at least half of the voters (female) don’t like aggressive gesture. Be a gentleman and get the fact right.
#4 says: ((What’s the point of act aggressively))
Yes, you are right. It’s Lee Kuan Yew who had acted aggressively, calling JBJ “mangy dog”. And not only that, Lee Kuan Yew subjected JBJ and the then WP chairman to “a series of mistrials for offences which they did not commit”.
Let’s have decent politics based on our Constitution and the National Pledge. Put an end to Lee Kuan Yew’s aggressive politics of “fixing” the opposition and “engineering” election results.
I can’t agree more with Seelan Palay when he said:
“Instead of blaming the perpetrators of the crime (the PAP), the victim (JBJ) remains condemned.”
Why sing to the PAP’s tune, and use such lame excuses to justify your own silence and inaction?
Change won’t come if our opposition politicians see no need in speaking up for us or answering up to the criticisms they have raised. One need not be aggressive in opposing but opposition should not wait for the elections to speak up during the rally to gain voters’ confidence and then once voted into Parliament, do nothing much about it (I am speaking in general here).
Honestly, I was rather disturbed by the introduction paragraph made by Terrence but couldn’t find the words to put it properly without sounding too harsh. I think we have to look objectively at JBJ’s contributions towards local politics. He was the first opposition politician to get into a PAP dominated Parliament and he did not behave like a tame little “watchdog”. For his brutal frankness, he was faced with defamation suits indeed BUT if politicians fear getting into similar trouble and speak up less directly for us, then they are no better than alot of our PAP MPs.
At least JBJ spoke up for us despite the problems he faced. Defamation suits did not make him less credible, in my opinion. His legacy should be respected and his fiery passion to improve the lives of us all should become an example for those who want to make a change, no matter which party/ organisation one is from.
No doubt, being in the opposition is not an easy task but one should be brave in speaking up for if they genuinely do care about the well being of this country and Singaporeans, they should never hold back. Otherwise why even become one? Might as well join the PAP right?
Words may only carry so much weight but words along with actions will prove more than anything else. I do hope that the younger generation of WP members will not come to disappoint some of us the way their senior members (especially those who are in Parliament) have. I also hope that they may come to handle criticisms constructively and hear the voices of the people instead of taking things too personally (because it will result in rejecting any of it).
:)
The writer is a well known proxy of SDP and we’ll take it from the SDP angle. I do not know what he means by “Singapore will continue to be under the PAP for another half-a-century” due to WP. I do recall that the party he supports, unfortunately, did not make a dent in the PAP but ended up minus three seats away from unseating PAP, all which were earned under Chiam’s leadership.
#8 Rooney – to be fair, I’ve never found Ling How Doong and Cheo Chai Chen to be very effective parliamentarians. Perhaps I was young and ignorant of parliamentary proceedings involving the two individuals, so if someone could enlighten me about what the two did as MPs, I would be most appreciative.
I notice that the WP Youth is made up of only people of the majority race. What has happened to the monorities. Even the PAP is multi racial.
Where got hope? Like this how to run a multi racial Sigapore?The YoungSDP is truly multi racial.
Wake up WP! No wonder you didn’t do much better in Aljunied. Eunos in 1991 did much better.
And 8) Rooney is obviously a WP proxy. I mean, instead on focusing on the fact that the letter is about WP and JBJ the topic is shifted to SDP.
If the WP proxy has nothing to say in defense then say so. Oh wait, the shifting of the topic to SDP already shows to that the WP proxy has nothing to say.
jentayu
post #10 on December 22nd, 2009 2.13 am
////Even the PAP is multi racial.////
racial representation does not mean that the concerns of that race will be taken care of. does it mean that PAP MPs are only concerned about their own race? there are still minorities like Philipinos, the “ang mohs”, Indonsians, etc that do not have an MP of their race ler?
PAP is multi-racial, but so is greed ler…
lol….
“racial representation does not mean that the concerns of that race will be taken care of. ”
No it doesn’t mean that the concerns of that race will be taken care of. But it does tell us something when there is no representation at all of other races in the WP Youth.
There were some before like Abdul Salim – but why did he leave?
WP has managed to attract more young professionals to join them.
http://wp.sg/wordpress/our-organisation/executive-council/
http://wpyouth.sg/youth/exco/
Perhaps SDP can also look into this. I hope to find out more about:
The Central Executive Committee
Gandhi Ambalam Chairman
Francis Yong Vice-Chairman
Chee Soon Juan Secretary-General
John Tan Assistant Secretary-General
Gerald Sng Treasurer
Jeffrey George Assistant Treasurer
Chee Siok Chin
Lilian Chia
Johnny Ho
Mohd Isa
Jufrie Mahmood
Sylvester Lim
Young Democrats 2009-2011 Council:
President – Priveen
Vice-President – Jufri Salim
Honorary-Secretary – Jarrod Luo
Program Director – Muhd Khalis
Yes! I remember at that that time JB worked very hard and brought Low TK , a greenhorn and made him famous to Singaporeans. In the end Low TK as the usual mandarino played the racial card and also played out his MENTOR JB JEYARETNAM, who made him populour with the people in hougang. Poor JB – Kenna main Blakang!
I would not put my vote for this cheat and scoundral – I rather vote for the PAP – who is fair to all races.
For those who like to read an objective academic review of JBJ:
http://www.pathsnottaken.qut.edu.au/pdfs/Michael_Barr–JBJ.pdf
Abstract
J.B. Jeyaretnam was Singapore’s most celebrated opposition leader when his career came to an abrupt end in 2001, but he is better known for the injustices he has suffered at the hands of the People’s Action Party regime than for anything he has achieved or said. Bankrupted, imprisoned, deprived of his livelihood and expelled from Parliament twice, he has acquired the aura of martyrdom, yet little is known about his life, his ideas or his motivations. Drawing on interview and archival research, this article studies him with a view to better understanding both the man himself and — probably of greater significance — what his experience can tell us about the dynamics of the Singapore policy.
Why did he enter opposition politics and keep coming back for more in the face of persecution? Why did the government set out to destroy him with such vehemence? What does this tell us about the limits of political tolerance in Singapore, both today and in the past? What lessons can other opposition figures learn from his experience? And why has Jeyaretnam been treated so harshly while the government nurtures some other opposition MPs as responsible and courteous players?
Poor darling Sylvia is just wasting her time with this chinaman with no regards to other races in Singapore. She’ll do better with the Reform Party or the SDP and win a seat. Go for it Sylvia ! Instead of being STIIFLED by Low KT in your political career, my dear! You have bright future – only out of Low kt and the workers party.
It’s still not late to decide, lady!
In his no-holes-barred masterpiece Requiem for an unbending Singaporean, former President C.V. Devan Nair recounted how, after J.B. Jeyaretnam had won the 1981 Anson by-election, the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said that he would make him “crawl on his bended knees, and beg for mercy“.
But the former Worker’s Party leader was made of far sterner stuff, and in Devan Nair’s own words, “he never did crawl on bended knees, or ever begged for mercy, and it is to Lee Kuan Yew’s eternal shame that Jeyaretnam will leave the political scene with his head held high, enjoying a martyrdom conferred on him by Lee.”
Today, while the WP’s efforts in providing constructive criticism of Government policies, their implicit support of the system only serves to enable the PAP to entrench the system further.
The Worker’s Party appears content at playing the role of a “moderate” opposition party that appeals to the middle ground — people who are neither very pro-PAP nor very pro-opposition, but open to ideas from both sides of the fence.
The WP might believe that the largest share of votes can be captured from this segment of the voting population, hence they have chosen to concentrate all their efforts on winning hearts and minds here.
They may also believe that by playing the role of a moderate opposition that only challenges Government policies but never questions the health or integrity of the political system, they would be allowed a space under PAP’s umbrella.
The WP strategy of “standing up for the people on bended knees” might be nothing more than very shrewd political calculation on their part.
The Worker’s Party knows that it does not appeal to “fringe” voters who want a vociferous opposition, but it also knows that when it comes to voting, the majority of fringe voters will still cast their vote for whichever opposition party stands in their constituency, including the WP.
The WP can thus let vociferous opposition parties like the SDP canvass support from the fringe segments of the voting population, whilst sitting back and collecting the benefits during the elections. It is a win-win situation for the WP: it can enjoy the result of work done by others, but avoid antagonizing the PAP.
However, the day will eventually come when the people of Singapore want a more robust challenge to the PAP and want mainstream opposition parties to start playing a greater role in building a better political and economic system for all Singaporeans.
If the Worker’s Party remains content at playing its current role of being a non-confrontational party that avoids challenging the system even though the system is blatantly flawed, it will one day start to lose mind-share to more progressive and outspoken parties like the SDP.
If Mr Low Thia Khiang and the Worker’s Party wish to build an enduring legacy for themselves, that is something they should think about seriously.
Don’t be ignorant, dear ‘NICE IS MICE’! The minority races like the MALAYS AND INDIANS , were here centuries ago before the Chinese immigrants and Sir Stamford Raffles with his battalions, who occupied tiny Singapore. These very early settlers , like the CHOLA Sea Warriors and the Sri Vijaya Pahit Empires, were already developing this island those early days. Who already had their language and culture deeply instilled here, even till today..
let a bunch of propaganda-ed kiddos write about politics.. and wat u get is regurgitateing of propaganda. .
To some of the posters here that is bringing out SDP as the boggyman:
The important point here is whether this article has any substance? whether the the writer is Seelan – a SDP proxy- or an Anon is not important. If not , you are no diferent from the PAP dogs.
Most posters here are oppositions supporters. I would have to say that I am also disappointed with the performance of WP since the last GE. I think you guys should not start to shoot at SDP but rather how to give some good suggestions to improve the WP. SDP is for another discussion.
Another questions to ask is why are so many activists had left the party? people like Goh Ming Seng, Chia Tih Lik and a few others… If this Koh CY guy are the new people that WP had brought in to replace those that had left, I don’t think WP had change for the better.
@12) mice is nice on December 22nd, 2009 2.57 am
“….racial representation does not mean that the concerns of that race will be taken care of……”
True, the GRC concept is packaged as supposedly to give a voice to the minorities, i.e. about 22-23% of the population. In such a “racial representation” process, 44% of the population got walked-over. Everyone still think racial representation was the intention? (Note I’m not saying it is not important).
And here we have, pro-WP and pro-SDP engaged in a mud-slinging competition. Real smart. Why don’t they combined their brains and figure out how to get more than 2% of parliament for the PEOPLE. Hey, bake the cake first, lah; don’t fight over who to eat what if the cake is only in your dreams.
The way things are going, my voting pattern would be like: my cat, somebody’s dog, and a (pink?) elephant somewhere…
This stupid freaking idiot Koh CY says WP is “credible”.
Lets all visit the WP websites and have a look.
Workers’ Party:
Out of 14 CEC members, only ONE is from the minority race.
The other 13 are all Chinese.
Workers Party Youth Wing:
Out of 11 Executive Committee members, only ONE is from the minority race.
The other 10 are all Chinese.
Koh CY, your “credible” WP seems like an exclusive CHINESE party.
Don’t be too quick to think of yourself as “credible” just because LKY says so or the msm says so. Look at your own party. It is a joke party.
this accusation that PAP started and which now WP has subscribed to, which is that JBJ was confrontational and unrestrained, is absurd.
actually these people are using the contemporary “Chinese” yardscale of what constitutes being confrontational and unrestrained.
in the contemporary Chinese culture since independence at least not just in Singapore also places like China, there is absolutely zero tolerance for anyone in power or position be it a politician, official or employer to hear anything that they dont like to hear from their constituent, citizen or employee. this is what LKY try to pass off as Asian Values which the Nobel Laurette AK Sen successfully demolished as myth.
by this contemporary Chinese yardscale, indeed JBJ is confrontational and unrestrained.
but if you use the yardscale of the civilised world, JBJ was hardly confrontational nor unrestrained. in fact he avoided confrontation by refusing to turn to aggression, violence. he also was never arrested once for staging any illegal protest or strike. JBJ was also restrained in his methods and words as he never used personal attacks or insults.
it was PAP that all along has been confrontational and unrestrained. but i guess as in contemporary Chinese culture, thats fine since they are the ones in power. Contemporary Chinese culture may resemble certain period of Chinese history in these areas. however there are so many other moments in Chinese history where people did pursue fairness, justice and truths with determination and without being a wimp. even Confucius promotes the latter.
so WP, drop your “lets hide in the bush and prance during election” strategy. Sylvia Lim and LTK have lost much credibility in Hougang constituents in these last four years for their inaction. When LHL ask LTK if he calls for WKS resignation, LTK does not even have the courage to say yes and echo the voice of Singaporeans. He chickens out. In all the four years in parliament in the current parliamentary term both Sylvia Lim and LTK has been more like PAP backbenchers than opposition candidates.
i wont vote WP this time round unless there is a leadership change.
WP website:
“Racial equality in practice in all spheres of public activity and equal respect in law for all racial cultures.”
WP CEC: 14 members = 13 Chinese, 1 Malay.
WP Youth Wing Exco: 11 members = 10 Chinese, 1 Malay.
Out of a total of 25 positions in its CEC & Exco, NOT A SINGLE ONE IS INDIAN.
Out of a total of 25 positions in its CEC & Exco, 23 are Chinese.
Out of a total of 25 positions in its CEC & Exco, ONLY 2 are from minority race.
Looks like after taking over from JBJ, Low TK has eradicated any Indians from party positions completely.
WP is now an exclusive Chinese social club.
VERY CREDIBLE INDEED!
#18 says: “And here we have, pro-WP and pro-SDP engaged in a mud-slinging competition. Real smart. Why don’t they combined their brains and figure out how to get more than 2% of parliament for the PEOPLE. Hey, bake the cake first, lah; don’t fight over who to eat what if the cake is only in your dreams.”
As far as I can recall there were two unity forums organized in the recent past to bring together all the opposition parties. Everyone attended to discuss and reach a common plan of action except the Workers’ Party headed by our “watchdog” leader LTK. The WP wants to go it alone. Maybe, they want to live up to PAP’s expectation that they are “milder and more credible”?
Unfortunately it seems that the author of this piece has accentuated his biasness by suggesting that the WP can’t do the job that other more vocal parties (such as the SDP) can do. I would like to remind Seelan that we’re all in this together. Nitpicking and pointing fingers at other opposition parties does not help the already fragmented political scene under an authoritarian government. Sure, with this kind of pointless quarrels where opposition activists seek to take issue and insult other parties, sure, the PAP WILL rule for another half a century.
@ Green Box: Before we can even blame the WP for not having minority members in its exco, one really needs to ask why many Malays and Indians do not choose to run for an executtive position within the Workers’ Party. One remembers James Gomez used to be in the exco, and yes he’s Indian. I think for academic purposes and work commitment he decided to stand down. Now if their exco selection rules reek of being exclusive to Chinese people then yes, we ought to blame them. However this does not seem to be the case. By suggesting that WP is an exclusive social club for Chinese people is outright stupidity. You certainly don’t count the ordinary members, you haven’t really asked the questions i have presented above.
WP=Milder & Credible=PAP Approved
“With this kind of opposition or alternative party, Singapore will continue to be under the PAP for another half-a-century, giving firm assurance to the obvious desire of Law Minister K Shanmugam for the ruling party to continue with the status quo.”
Wrong Seelan, with this kind of attitude of fighting among yourselves, Singapore will continue to be under the PAP.
It’s seems like PAP’s claws are deep into the minds of many people, such that even TOC, some opposition members and supporters take it at face value what they say.
As the great yoda master said, we must “unlearn what we have learned”, throw everything PAP said back and question everything they say and not take them as face value.
They have repeatedly misled us is so many things, through the mouthpiece, why would you guys fight among yourselves based on PAP information?
((Before we can even blame the WP for not having minority members in its exco, one really needs to ask why many Malays and Indians do not choose to run for an executtive position within the Workers’ Party.))
In the main article by Terence ‘Milder but more credible’ it’s stated that “Both Mr Koh, and 28-year-old Ng Swee Bee, who is the Vice-President, were appointed to their posts in August this year to facilitate leadership renewal.”
So, they were selected and not elected.
It’s no use claiming to be opposition/alternative party but refuse to attend unity talks/forums among opposition parties. Even a “watchdog” does not boycott such talks.
Remember LKY calling CSJ…all the names in court….
What was that all about….
I hope the YWP grows up….don’t speak ill of the expired.
Anyway, He was a fighter, that old man. My office was in the same building as his, whenever, I pressed the buttons on the lift for him to his floor, he used to stare with a slight smile and rough Thank You.
You can be milder…but don’t even question his(JBJ) credibility implicitly.
Now I hope you can guys do well, but first grow up and learn politics and how to interact.
#27 seebeng
Well said.
First and foremost, I have no intention to discredit wp’s chairman sl, as I do not know her personally but, just to recall what happen during last ge on 2006, the new-paper of sph reported that her father is also a press secretary of lky (just like grace fu’s father james fu) and her father had discussed politics with her during most of their dinners’ get-together. Sorry to assume, does sl join wp because she can not defeat gf as being more preferred by lky?
According to my own analysis, the “MILD” culture proclaims by the wp, does it has to do with the “fear-culture” imposes by lky to “Singaporeans” , (I specially emphasize Singaporeans as I believe strongly that lky will not impose it to the foreigners as he needs foreign investments desperately and relentlessly! Again, unfair double standard treatments to Singaporeans) the secretary-general of wp ltk is Chinese-educated in natural who has very strong Confucius mindset and is “totally non-confrontational”.
What I want to impress here is that if one of the main opposition party is so “MILD” that to the extent of giving unnecessary due respect to the ruling party and its cronies, what is the point of having opposition party to counterbalance the ruling party. It totally defeat the original purpose of politicking to oppose most of the time and to agree to the least extent, (I tweak it a little bit, by right it should be to oppose all the time) I agreed that there are more than one way to show the citizen’s dissatisfactions of the ruling party not just in supporting the “mild” opposition, spoiling the vote is one good option, sorry to say!! Why shall we, the born and bred Singaporeans helping the ruling party to show to the world that Singapore is a “democratic country” that has ge every five-year under the guise of voting for the opposition-party? Does it benefit us? Let’s demonstrate to the world that Singapore is the empire carefully craft out by lky and a dynasty maintains by his son.
What a great disappointment to have sure an opposition that does not even dare to confront just tap along the bandwagon of the political tide!!! Wait long-long to be an alternative credible opposition to counter the ruling party, if you carry on this type of mentality!!! To replace, “FLAT-FLAT HOPE”!
There is a big rock – a hugh one; blocking the way of 2 crabs allowing only 1 crab to pass through at one time. Crab A wants to get through first and says that Crab B is blocking the way and vice versa.
The owner of the rock, picked up the big rock, and crushed both crabs while they are busy debating.
PS: Stay focus, and get your priority right.
WP should ” drink water think of the source ” — chinese proverb. Who brought LTK in ? When JBJ got into problem, did WP CEC offer help?
I hate SDP who constantly defaming everyone in the political scene. I am a die hard WP supporter i will never let SDP to get my vote as all SDP ppl are CRIMINALS and CRIMINALS don’t deserve any support.
Singaporeans WAKE UP!
Every SDP member is a CRIMINALS!
#16 John Tan -
Thank you very much for that illuminating article about JBJ. Now I understand a little more about the man and how I used to feel about him when he was in parliament.
I wonder is it that people join WP because its a safer bet as in it has 2 members in parliament , i of whom by ncmp, as in they have achieved the most among opposition? Does WP give people who aspire to join opposition party a better future kind of feeling?
But remember, for 50 years, WP did not progress much – won 1 seat only. another by ncmp.
This , to me, means, any opposition party has potential to win the same number of seat. There is no number seat lower than 0 number of seat.
To me, the style of WP would take prolly another 20 years AT LEAST to win substantial number of seats to form a ‘shadow cabinet’.
1. the new citizens population have grown by leaps and bounds since the last election where opposition collected a Third of the votes casted. WP, tell me,this does not affect you. Tell me, why people give up their citizenship to come here?
2. The rules can be changed and have been changed. Your style , imho , is not aggressive enough in terms of making a strong impression of a dynamic and resourceful opposition. If the new citizen population has not grown substantially, yes, i would agree that high chances WP would collect a few more seats and the 33.3% may increase. BUT! see my point 1.
In conclusion, imho, singaporeans need a more progressive opposition and now is a great time for a new opposition party to be the leading opposition party.
Not that i must support RP, but they seem more gungho and bombastic with talents like KJ . Imagine if this singaporean gets a seat in parliament the value we can get out of him. I long to see how he debate and demand answers from the MIW.
WP, name me your achievements for the last 50 years. I would be interested to learn more about WP.
I worry that the different opposition parties may be challenging or attacking each other online while the fisherman sits and watch.
wahahaha!
The new WP is the PAP reserves in disguise?
My opinion as an onlooker for 40 years:
As an opposition leader, LTK couldn’t
hold a candle to JBJ and even CSJ
Enough said
Seeing all the WP bashing here fills me with sadness.
And all the urgings to spoil our votes … the only puny little thing we have in our hands, that can effect change for a better place to live in.
Several posters have said this and I will say it again.
Any opposition is better than one-party (one-family) rule. Embrace all oppositions, warts and all. Allow them to evolve, even if they stumble along the way. Accept the whole spectrum, from very-mild to triple-chilli hot.
Do we really want another 50 years of PAP, with the 3rd generation Lee (Li) in power ?
The fact is no single opposition party can take on the PAP alone.
Unite.
We just need to step back and analyse why is this inter-opposition bashing happening now and find out who is the one that started all this.
Opposition should be for the country and not for personal grudges.
Would the electorate have confidence like this?
strange you know. People who seem to talk smart sometime appear so unleaderly.
And 8) Rooney is obviously a WP proxy. I mean, instead on focusing on the fact that the letter is about WP and JBJ the topic is shifted to SDP.
If I’m a WP proxy so be it but the fact is the writer is a SDP proxy. It is also a fact that I did not focus on the SDP until an SDP proxy decided to start the ball rolling first.
It is also a fact that SDP supporters are very, very worried about WP (of course they would still pay attention to their main enemy PAP) because there are now 2 approaches and either both fails or if WP’s one succeeds it means SDP’s one fail.
A lot of people here are also PAP supporters in SDP disguise. The two although are deadly enemies to each other, both have in common is they both ‘kan bu shun yan’ WP.
don’t pick and choose your opposition unless there are a lot to pick and choose form.
vote in 30-40 opposition MPs, THEN you can argue about which is the better performing opposition.
anything else is TOO EARLY. don’t count your eggs before they hatch. don’t fight over your omelet before you break even one…..
vote in all the opposition candidates first, then we talk. else you just let PAP wins. unless this is your intention.
To all who are playing the racial card themselves, accusing WP and the senior people of playing the racial card, think again.
It has been a known fact among all political parties, except for the PAP, that it has been very difficult to recruit malay members in numbers especially those from the educated demographics. Perhaps we should stop looking at the party from the outside and play our part to understand the party from the inside.
Political parties have been trying hard in recent years to have themselves recognized by the public, unergoing public relation strategies, but the number of attendees to these events have always been dwindling. Why? because Singaporeans are still screen critics. They rather watch and observe from the convenience of their comfort zone. Get out and have the real feel.
i do not see why going for non aggressive politics would get more voters in. Singaporeans are getting educated. They need debates on facts and figures on realities of life. Do we want to see Malaysia’s style of political blinkering where candidates are more in favour of throwing accusations to each other, families involved??
Let us think before we start criticizing. With all due respect to the great man JBJ, our society savours different tastes of politics. Maturity and ability to comprehend facts will get the public eyes rooted to their message. This is not the 60s anymore. Look at LKY, how he changed his rhetoric speeches to that of calm yet firm style. Society’s expectations change. Stop living in the past
36) Tua ling kong on December 22nd, 2009 12.29 pm
WP, name me your achievements for the last 50 years. I would be interested to learn more about WP.
Ironically, the above comments appear under an article that criticized the present WP for somewhat not respecting its past leader JBJ.
Do not forget that JBJ led 30 out of 50 years of WP. By saying the above you are putting 60% of the blame on JBJ.
Nazryn I think there are a lot of comments on the race distribution of WP. Let’s put the fact that it appears deliberate aside, I find that all opposition parties and even PAP seem deficient on minorities yet this reason is used to justify why others are better than WP.
But put the race card and now we talk about gender card. I note WP has most number of women. Well done!
25) seebeng on December 22nd, 2009 8.48 am
As far as I can recall there were two unity forums organized in the recent past to bring together all the opposition parties. Everyone attended to discuss and reach a common plan of action except the Workers’ Party headed by our “watchdog” leader LTK.
The problem is that with lies like this, the internet can never reach the credibility it needs to attract more readers.
My dear “Dumb and dumber” on tue, dec 22, 2009, 1113am, I really do not know what do you mean by stay focus, and get your priority right? By the way, who are you and who do you think you are? I guess a hubris and nothing else!!!
Good! Since both of them grow-up by drinking lky’s milk as both fathers worked as lky’s press secretary so, let the stone master take the BIG stone and crush both crabs. Well, they choose to live in the stone master’s “GRACE” so, they deserve to be treated that way!!! Why shall I vote for both lky’s cronies under the guise of democracy!! Anyway, it is the new-paper and straits time of sph which expose both of them so, do not point the finger at me, do you understand? my dear hubris cum nerd!!!!
Give your instructions and lectures to ours and not me!!! Once again, who do you think you are? By the way, I do not grow-up by drinking the milk provided by you, my hubris @@#$@#^$#$%^&&^^%……. hahahahaha…..