Gracing the tenth session of Talk Politics All Night Long, an informal political discussion initiative, Dr James Gomez shared more details on Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD), the upcoming non-governmental organization that he is heading.
The usually low-key dialogue series acquired an unexpected air of a press conference, with the media crew from the Straits Times, TODAY, CNA and Al-Jazeera jostling for space in a crowded room at the Post-Museum.
Promising to keep the SFD “very local”, Dr Gomez indicated that the organization will take its “bearings from the pledge”, with political and civil reforms featuring high on the SFD’s agenda.
In response to a query from Kenneth Jeyaratnam, the secretary-general of the Reform Party, Dr Gomez denied any intention to evolve the SFD into a political party – although the SFD would not be averse to collaborating with opposition parties. However, Dr Gomez reminded the audience that SFD’s top priority at the moment was to complete the registration for the group, which has yet to receive approval from the authorities.
Submitted about nine months ago, Dr Gomez said that the pro-tem committee – three others were introduced: Seelan Palay, Rachel Zeng and Ho Choon Hiong – was “hopeful and optimistic” that approval will be secured.
“I understand that [registration] takes time,” he concedes.
Revealing that consultations with stakeholders will be held after an approval, the SFD hopes to “professionalize NGO activities” and “stabilize the (civil society) structure”. However, Dr Gomez clarified that the SFD will not try to dominate, but merely be a “component of the landscape”.
The SFD, in its willingness to cooperate with the opposition, appears to be forging a new path of direct and open collaboration between NGO and political parties, hence undermining the conventional impression that civil society should remain non-partisan. The SFD’s efforts to carve this space would allow the prospect of more ventures between opposition parties and civil society groups, thus abetting the growth of pluralism in Singapore.
However, while potential for synergy between the opposition and the SFD abounds, it remains to be seen whether any opposition party will be ready to claim that offer. Other than Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam and some supporters of the Reform Party, as well as members of the Singapore Democratic Party’s youth wing, no other political personalities of note were present.
Beyond figuring out the appropriate areas of cooperation, it will be a daunting task to demarcate clear lines of responsibility with an organization that has activists replete with their own experience. That the SFD may lose its non-partisan independence and be perceived as being coeval with the opposition parties it cooperates with is another danger that the fledging NGO has to face.
During the session, Dr Gomez also observed the improved circumstances from a decade ago when political organizations such as the Roundtable and Socratic Circle were subjected to stricter rules pertaining to public outreach. However, certain laws still remain that may circumscribe the growth of NGOs, such as the Political Donations Act which prohibits any foreign funding, and the requirement for political associations to register their websites separately.
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There is a risk of “Singaporeans for Democracy (SFD)” becoming yet another white elephant whose raison d’etre is ill-defined. Is this going to be the latest of a long line of ill-conceived initiatives started by thinly-disguised non-mainstream political adventurers?
Why the early open declaration about co-operation with opposition political parties?
Mr Gomez has missed an opportunity to launch his NGO on a secure footing by unnecessarily encumbering it with his own past political prejudices and allegiances.
To prevent launching a still-born NGO, I advise Mr Gomez to rethink its priorities and perhaps to extend its co-operation to all parties, including the PAP, to establish its relevance and credibility as a promoter of democracy in Singapore.
If PAP was interested in upholding the pledge and democracy in Singapore, I don’t see why the SFD group can’t work with them.
But.. we all know lah about PAP :)
Dodgy. Gomez hopes to work with political parties but look at the 3 members announced – the usual suspect from SDP. Which political party will work with this NGO? I am sure the other members also will come from SDP or SDP supporters. Ex-jailbirds, protesters, etc etc.
Sad that Gomez is unable to attract new young people and have to scrape the bottom of the barrel and hijack from SDP. This NGO looks like a SDP affiliate.
Obviously comment number 3 comes from a WP affiliate.
And rather than “scraping the bottom of the barrel” it looks more like James is getting people who are like-minded organised together. Stop being jealous lah :)
“I understand that [registration] takes time,” he concedes.
Revealing that consultations with stakeholders will be held after an approval, the SFD hopes to “professionalize NGO activities” and “stabilize the (civil society) structure”. However, Dr Gomez clarified that the SFD will not try to dominate, but merely be a “component of the landscape”.
Who are the stakeholders that SfD wishes to work with. What would be some of the immediate agendas that they are planning for in 2010.
This kind of bizzare moves are a good demonstration of why opposition parties are so weak.
If this is a splinter group from the SDP then I’m afraid its base is not going to be very wide and deep. Dr Gomez has to also show his rootedness to this country instead of flying off after each election,then who is going to fly the flaf of SFD or should we say SDP A.D.?
I might be in the interest of some to quickly label this group as a “splinter group” of the SDP.
But if they were to be objective they would know that the members of SFD have been involved in various causes and activist work over the years, and that this project is essentially a more organized manifestation of their collaboration.
We stay positive and hope to get started on our work soon, the merits of which you will be welcome to judge.
Dear #9 Mr Palay,
As you are a member of the pro-tem committee of SFD, I hope you will receive all public feedback in a positive manner.
Issues tend to present greater clarity to outsiders looking in than to the protagonists directly involved in them. You disregard the warnings of naysayers at your own peril.
SDP doesn’t need affiliates.
Their online presence and influence is second to none.
Nine mths wait — err checked if application form is still in yr brief-case. Remember 2006 GE?
Thank you smallvoice585, I do take all public feedback in a positively. My comment above was to recommend other readers to view the issue objectively.
Have a good day.
Seelan, I nearly gagged when I heard you proclaiming, very publicly, that you “take all public feedback in a positively”. When one goes through some of your ad hominem comments at the SDP website, one would have thought it is a different person altogether. Anyway, let me be more positive and assume that those are words of a reformed person.
BTW, we see JG here rubbing shoulders cosily with some SDP reps. We will take JG’s words that SFD will not evolve into a political party, but calling it an SDP-affiliate is not misplaced. This is especially since we heard that JG sent in his resignation from WP just recently and we know how “unkaki” WP and SDP are. Also, with this affiliation (with SDP), SFD’s ability to collaborate with other opposition parties is very much limited since that leaves out the two “big” parties (WP and SPP).
T
Before even started, the SfD seems to be digging its own grave by limiting its own scope of cooperation and sphere of recruitment for membership.
This will be another white elephant, I strongly believe, irrespective of whether Seelan or any of its protem committee members staying positive or not.
They have driven nails half way into the “coffin” already!
This is really cool men.