By Fang Shihan
Longtime opposition stalwart, Mr Goh Meng Seng (picture right, middle), is no stranger to Singapore’s politics. Having just been elected Secretary-General of the National Solidarity Party (NSP), the former Worker’s Party politician is decidedly confident.
“The PAP is ultra capitalist!” he says. “They think that running a country is like running a company… but in a country, surplus and deficit is not the same as profit and loss… [they have] no moral bearing in a political sense.”
Effectively bilingual, the owner of a small business in Ang Mo Kio and part-time translator switches between the two languages with ease during the interview. He also sees this as an asset should he come up against Mr Mah Bow Tan in Tampines GRC in the upcoming elections.
Views on the current political system
An economist by nature, Mr Goh compares the political system to a marketplace. He feels that the opposition must be the spurs in the PAP’s hinds to make the PAP more competitive.
Only by challenging the PAP’s power status will the PAP ‘up’ its competitiveness. This, he clarifies, is not the same as asking for welfare, which merely functions as a stopgap measure. Quite often, systemic faults are the cause of unemployment, preventing people who want to have an opportunity to work from lifting themselves out of poverty.
Drawing an analogy with the public transport system, which he derides as inadequate and not competitive, he says, “If you had a total monopoly of power, there is no incentive to do better…. There is no urgency or need for those in authority to heed your demand.”
Aside from the opposition, there needs to be participation from the people in order to get a more responsive and caring governance. A multi-pronged approach with the media, the social worker and politician as equal partners negotiating with the state would make for the ideal political system. Opposition leaders, he explains, are needed as political leverage to threaten the ruling party with the danger of losing voters.
“If Singapore wants to set the best deal for government, it needs [political] opposition in contestation for power.”
Another paradigm-shifting party?
Mr Goh says that the political system must change to serve the new electorate. Unlike the previous generation which was willing to sacrifice political freedoms for economic growth, the post-65 voters do not feel beholden to the PAP. The fact that the ageing Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is largely responsible for holding the integrity of the ruling party together , and that post-65 voters will form more than 50% of the electorate in the next elections, there is an imperative to think about Singapore’s political future in the post-LKY phase.
According to Mr Goh, these post-65 voters are more educated and want to see political debate. More importantly, they wish to see substance in the political process.
The NSP, he says, “may be small, but it has a role [to play] to be the agent of change.”
The NSP, Mr Goh says, will be very open about its political strategy, something never seen before in Singapore. In line with the post-65 electorate that wishes to see more political debate and substance in the political process, the NSP will not wait for the 9-day campaigning period to begin educating voters on its vision for Singapore.
“Voters cannot make a good assessment within 9 days,” he reasons.
What NSP will be pushing for
Mr Goh declares that the NSP is planning to contest in Tampines GRC with its Malay candidate at the fore. There has never been a Malay MP from the opposition, which has led to a myth that only Malay PAP MPs can take care of the community’s welfare.
The NSP’s minister-policy centered strategy will see the NSP targeting Mr Mah Bow Tan, questioning him on the HDB policies which have led to rocketing flat prices. “Look deeper into the problem,” Mr Goh explains. “It is not just asset devaluation. We must ask: Is the minister doing his job?”
He will also be pushing for a minimum wage policy. Attacking the latest ESC (Economic Strategies Committee) report, which proposed levies for foreign workers, he says that this will only escalate the existing price war between lower-skilled local and foreign workers.
There is an imbalance of supply and demand in the labour market, driven by unlimited supply from foreign workers, he explains. These workers are therefore bound to be exploited through wage suppression as their wages are driven down by price competition.
Singaporeans are even worse off, he continues, as unlike their foreign counterparts who are able to rent rooms at $160/mth fromgovernment agencies, they instead have to pay a mortgage for their flat. Even if they were to rent a flat, a subsidized 2 room rental flat costs between $205 – $275/mth for second timers, if the gross household income lies between $801-$1500. Foreign workers also enjoy an effective lower cost of living, as their families are overseas.
“The burden is shifted to the foreign workers who have to settle for even lower wages. Levies don’t make sense without minimum wage,” he insists.
He thus proposes a limitation of supply by quota, together with minimum wage, to level out the competition platform. When asked if this would make locals uncompetitive, he responds that there needs to be a distinction between labour competitiveness and labour exploitation.
“A minister has to fall” in the process of change
The PAP came about through a people’s power movement, he says. But now, because there is no fear of competition, it has become a monarchy, building its palace and walls and shutting themselves off from the people. Citing the recent TOC feature on homeless people in Singapore, he asks if the MCYS knew about the homeless. And if they did, were they too busy to do anything about it? This, he says, has led to a situation of disaffection.
The ruling party should not think of how to maintain a monopoly, he urges. For example, the electoral system is structured such that a minister would be removed if the opposition won a GRC.
“Imagine if you lose a good minister because of the system that has been built. Is that good for the nation?”
He has no doubts that the PAP would still be dominant. However, this would mean that, upon losing a GRC, the PAP would still be in power, but with inferior stock.
The NSP believes in proportional representation, he says, for the sustainability and stability of the political system. A more dynamic model that reflects the wishes of the people is needed, instead of one that is designed to perpetuate a monopoly. However, he muses, change will only come in view of a reluctant monopoly of power – a minister must fall in the process.
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To Treedee,
U ACTING BLURR IZIT.
GUESS U ONE OF THOSE THAT DONT HELP THE NEEDY, THE POOR n THE HANDICAP?
A FEW SUGGESTIONS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU. GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION MBT ABOUT THE CLEMENTI AVE 5 LUP SCREW-UP
>> You bark the wrong tree. Try HDB/MBT. He’s the MP. Period.
@spirited-centred Mar 10, 2010 14:48
@Dumb and dumber Mar 10, 2010 15:09
This Clementi Ave 5 chap ignored n ‘abandoned’ by his MP Arthur Fong, HDB CEO Tay Kim Poh n Clementi TC-GM Tay Eng Hwa after a LUP screw-up [been in REACH, ST, TODAY, TOC, TR, HWZ forums for 4 months]
That why ppl asking Goh Meng Seng to help [suggestions already given to him.]
Good chance for him to hit at MBT.
BUT I GUESS Goh Meng Seng has gone ‘pro MBT’.
Although he tells Singapore, he targetting MBT policies.
LUP screw up and refusing to right it is a bad policy.
He refuses to bring MBT down a peg or two.
GMS only wan to go parliament but he’ll get more famous when he withdraws after MBT fixes the problem, and then move on to anther GRC, he’ll create such an impact wherever he goes and make them work for it.
He would be able to achieve what JBJ, Tang, Francis seow or Chee could not do.
MBT has reacted by making changes here and there, but he has not changed the fundamental root of the problem.
How could I be “supporting” MBT when he has been hit so hard and so painful? I am holding my cards right now but you can read about other issues from my blog, on hospital beds.
Goh Meng Seng
@Goh Meng Seng Mar 10, 2010 23:46
MEANING GOH MENG SENG NOT WILLING TO HELP THAT HANDICAP GUY N ROBABLY OTHERS
despite suggestions given on ways to help.
??????????????
PAP STYLE – Sorry these not my original ideas/suggestions, I wont use them.
GMS, you know that when you sit in parliament, what appears on TV is when they catch you yawning, and when you talk , you will not be screen, and if u don’t yawn , they shoot you keep quiet and looking useless. Go watch the movie “wag the dog” with al pacino man. now when u talk or change GRC to attack another ministar, they react. look like its better in the short for the people to adopt this strategy and i agree with u that the long term strategy that a ministar must fall. but watch out MBT solve the problem and your ground is lost, have a back -up, always good to attach temasek and gic, their loss is for all to see and get angry about. support Jeyaratnam and get them to corporatise them so that we hold shares.
Mr Goh M.S.
End of the day, you no different from PAP MPs that dont want help needy, poor and handicap people.
I guess you keeping this ‘incident’ for personal use during election time.
Well, this ‘matter’ is appearing in other forums, I guess Singaporeans will be following this.
Govt lets GIC and Temasek make own decisions
By Esther Au Yong
THE Government judges the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and Temasek Holdings on their overall portfolio performance, and does not discuss the individual deals of these sovereign wealth funds, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua said yesterday.
The Second Minister for Finance was replying to MP Inderjit Singh’s (Ang Mo Kio GRC) suggestion of more conservative mandates for GIC and Temasek as their investment outcomes affect Singapore’s reserves directly.
MP Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) also asked for an update on GIC’s investments, during the Committee of Supply debate on the Budget estimates for the Ministry of Finance.
Explaining that the Government leaves the funds to make their own decisions on asset allocation, Mrs Lim said that ‘moving to a more conservative mandate as a knee-jerk reaction to the recent downturn would not be prudent, as this could risk compromising the ability of GIC and Temasek to deliver long-term sustainable returns’.
It was announced earlier this month that GIC’s 11 billion Swiss francs (S$14.3 billion) investment in UBS bonds was showing a paper loss of over five billion francs after the bonds were converted into ordinary shares when they matured.
Mr Inderjit also suggested the formation of ‘Temasek II’ to invest actively in Singapore- based companies. Mrs Lim replied that ‘such an approach may not be the best way to nurture local companies’.
She said: ‘Rather, the Government should identify and bridge market gaps, where they exist, so as to support a thriving ecosystem of locally-based enterprises, and leave the private sector to take the lead in identifying worthy investment opportunities.
‘It would be neither sustainable nor appropriate for the Government to step in to finance local enterprises that cannot locate private funding.’
But the Government is looking to help home-grown firms internationalise through the ‘development of a market-based institution for cross-border financing’. Such an export-import type of bank is needed, said Nominated MP Teo Siong Seng.
He said: ‘To expand overseas or take part in overseas projects, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) need the necessary financial resources.’
A study on this is expected to be completed in a few months, Mrs Lim said.
Hi Mr GMS, i have a suggestion. You should be like Sun Tzu : Art of War and try to win the next election by not playing your card so early. Do not reveal your election strategy too fast for etc : about where you are standing for elections. You should work the ground at least on two to three GRCs if possible and only decide the exact GRC on nomination day so that you can catch the PAP by surprise. The Art of War have many relevant strategies that have been applied to business very successfully and i believe it can also be used for election strategies.
It is more important for you to establish your manifesto more clearly and through youtube, facebook, twitter to capture the young people segment and newspapers, radio for the older generations(if possible) and explain about the alternative plans you have. It is better if you can hire some independent respected person that can nullify the statistics thrown by the pap.
TOC, praticising censorship again? Why din ‘post’ my 2 remarks?
Moderating Editor: Because you are repeating a point that has clearly been made earlier. Please direct your pressure directly to Mr Goh Meng Seng instead of ‘talking’ to him via the comments section, thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvZj27CTsKY&feature=channel
eventually the general mass of people are actually stupid.
http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20091019-174433.html
Why does a soverign wealth fund need to borrow money? can someone answer the question? you need more money to gamble to make more money because you are a great horse that is confident of winning every race ? or u dun have enough money? We need answers and Temasek is not giving you because they are accountable to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Finance lets Temasek run independently and therefore is not going to ask questions. Therefore Goh Meng Seng, they just busted the property agent out of his illegal HDB, I’d say MBT is doing his job, so let go of Tampines and announce your victory and move on to somewhere else.
TOC ADMIN,
We know TOC is supporter of NSP and trying to shield Goh Meng Seng.
By censoring, TOC is no different from REACH.
Quote -
Bree
Mar 12, 2010 16:11
TOC, praticising censorship again? Why din ‘post’ my 2 remarks?
Moderating Editor: Because you are repeating a point that has clearly been made earlier. Please direct your pressure directly to Mr Goh Meng Seng instead of ‘talking’ to him via the comments section, thanks.
TOC NOWADAYS LIKE REACH – STONEWALL PEOPLE POSTINGS
WAHAHAHA.
WILL SHARE THIS ALL OVER OTHER FORUMS.
Quote -
Bree
Mar 12, 2010 16:11
TOC, praticising censorship again? Why din ‘post’ my 2 remarks?
Moderating Editor:
Because you are repeating a point that has clearly been made earlier. Please direct your pressure directly to Mr Goh Meng Seng instead of ‘talking’ to him via the comments section, thanks.
Moderating Editor: The internet is a free and common platform; please feel free to share your opinions where you see fit. We stand by our advice that you should take up grievances with Mr Goh Meng Seng directly instead of attempting to engage in dialogue on this thread of comments – to which he has no obligation to respond.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXgA81jL3ow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoi8YWZvELU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGvStlnjfRE
singaporeans should not be too choosey. There is a severe shortage of citizens who dare to and willing to serve as opposition mp.
if there are many candidates, yes, pls be choosey. now is not the time.