Benjamin Cheah/
Mr Benjamin Pwee/ credit: Terry Xu
The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) is seeking to win the hearts and minds of the people. Unveiling the SPP’s five-year “comeback plan”, Mr Benjamin Pwee outlined the SPP’s vision of collaborating with ordinary Singaporeans for a better future.
Despite its defeat in the recent General Election, the party aims to assert itself in Parliament. Mrs Lina Chiam, the best-losing opposition candidate, will accept the Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat, the party says. The SPP’s Policy Working Group, which studies policies and coordinates data from party activities, will aid her. In response to a question whether Mr Pwee, who is the Head of the Policy Working Group, will be the brains behind Mrs Chiam in Parliament, he clarified that he will facilitate and coordinate the flow of information within the party’s functional groups, while she will represent the party in Parliament.
Mr Pwee added that the party has identified up to four potential candidates for the next General Election. He did not disclose their names, instead saying that they will soon be seen in walkabouts and other party activities. This may be a signal that the SPP seeks to venture even further beyond its traditional stronghold of Potong Pasir and the electoral battleground of Bishan-Toa Payoh, but Mr Pwee said the party will decide only when the electoral boundaries are redrawn for the next elections.
The SPP is looking to expand its ground presence. The party is seeking venues in Potong Pasir, Bishan and Toa Payoh to hold regular face-to-face Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS). The party will ask the new Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir, Mr Sitoh Yihpin, if the SPP can continue to use Mr Chiam See Tong’s old cubicle for its MPS. The SPP will identify key supporters in residential areas, and host neighbourhood gatherings to meet the SPP leaders. Party volunteers are currently sourcing for locations to open a party headquarters in Potong Pasir, and branch offices in Bishan and Toa Payoh.
The party will also leverage on media platforms in its outreach program. It will set up a media team, of which Mr Pwee is an integral part, to ‘ensure ongoing sustained visibility’ in the mainstream media and on online platforms. The media team will identify and select high-visibility public events to ride on to remain at the top of the public’s mind. The party is also currently exploring options to create a ‘virtual Meet-the-People Session’ (MPS), in which people from all over Singapore can raise issues to the party over the Internet. The SPP will distribute a new newsletter targeted at different segments of society. The party will also release a book every three to six months over the next five years, with possible subjects ranging from photo essays to monographs to coffee table books.
In the pipeline is the Singapore People’s Community Foundation. The Foundation, separate from the party, will ‘help the needy and left-behind’ of Singapore. Funding for the Foundation will be raised independently of the SPP, with Mr Pwee saying that the party has already found some donors.
New members have been co-opted into the Central Executive Council (CEC). Mr Pwee has been appointed the Head of the Policy Working Group and holds three additional positions: 2nd assistant Secretary-General, Party Spokesman and Media Manager. Mr Jimmy Lee is the Head of the Youth Wing, and Mr David Tan is the Head of the SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) Businessmen Affairs Bureau. These changes are seen as part of the party’s leadership succession plan; Mr Pwee, in particular, is tipped for more prominent roles in the party.
The SPP has also revised the roles of two existing members in the CEC. Mr Hohamad Hamim bin Aliyas is now the Head of the Malay/Muslim Affairs Bureau. Mrs Juliana Juwahir is now the Head of the Women’s Wing, replacing Ms Liu Wei Ni. Ms Liu did not ‘manage to secure approval from her employer’ to take up the post, prompting the change.
Other changes in the CEC would be minimal. Mr Pwee said that Mr Chiam See Tong will remain Secretary-General, and will continue to play a key role in party affairs. The composition and roles of the CEC are expected to remain stable, at least until the Party Congress, scheduled for next year.
With these announcements, the SPP is signalling that it is ready for the big league. Historically, the SPP has held on to its bastion at Potong Pasir. In the 2011 General Election, it moved out into Hong Kah North and Bishan-Toa Payoh. While the party lost every contested seat, it is preparing to move on and write the next chapter in Singapore’s political history.
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Great News. I hope you can also create a forum/message board for people to connect with SPP online. Hope this will get more people involved in discussions/activities etc.
Fat hope ! There will be no Potong Pasir in GE2016 – it will be cut and distributed to the nearer GRCs, no more Potong Pasir spirit, bye bye ~~~
Anyhow, the just concluded GE2011 is only part-1 of the election excitement, there will be Presidential Election in AUG 2011, probably the opposition parties can start searching for some suitable candidates and support them to join the contest, with the current mood in the voters, there is a real chance we will have someone independent elected instead of PAP-appointed !
It will be a one horse show (Presidential Election)
In terms of politics Singapore seems to have not enough of political talent I really wonder why?
Great!! make Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC your next headquarter if Potong Pasir is dissolved into a GRC. So far Bishan is the most comfortable GRC for SPP because because of relatively good voters support compared to other GRC. Aim far and high. Every peasant can become a leader one day and every leader can become pesant again. I hope PAP don’t be so cocky, your days will come again in 2016 and no more 2nd chance of mandate from the people.
BEN is another fellow oppo singaporean we ,true blue singaporeans,want to help get into Parliament and govt to help bring about CHANGE for a better singapore all of us.
as an aside,i serioulsy think that the OPPO should not accept the NCMP seats after speaking so fiercely against the concept as it defeats the purpose and resolve of the opposition of wanting to remove the GRC sysytem in the first instance.
though SMC is also awarded the NCMP post,by accepting ,ISN’T THE OPPO who are BENT AGAINST ‘UNFAIR’ ELELCTION PRACTICES SLAPPING THEIR OWN FACES ULTIMATELY?
TRULY,i respect the PAP man,ZAINAL,for not considering to accept to be ‘SPEAKER’ as he deems he is not fit for the honourbale post since he lost his ALJUNIED MP SEAT.
THIS IS THE KIND OF SPIRIT WE SHOULD SEE FROM POEPLE WHO WANT TO SERVE US IN DIGNIGIED MANNER,no less.
my respect to ZAINAL for carrying himself in such dignified fashion- that is what the true SINGAPORE SPIRIT should be for all ‘FTs’ here to see!
Maybe you can also approach Mr Eric Tan from WP to consider joining SPP or other opposition parties.
Yes, we know what the pap will do: come next election, they will cut potong pasir up . pap shifts their goal post to match their position.
dirty pap politics.
Old Guy is a really persistant PAP-advertising bot. Are advertisement bots allowed here?
Vote micro we pay the price.
With George out, big brother Indonesia (today’s ST) is already asking Singapore for the “deposits” back yet again despite the absence of an international treaty.
No 2, assuming we are no longer an Asian Swiss banking hub how is Indonesia going to ask China (HK) or Switerland for the “deposits”. Any damn fool knows capital is mobile!
Oh George we miss you. Some unthinking Singaporeans have easily forgotten Singapore’s 5 vulnerabilities. Where’s the macro?
How Sad.
to me,except for a few enlighten ones,most of the oppo members stilldo not understand what OPPOISTION is all about?
OPPOSITION,at this very juncture in time and in the current one-sided environment,requires each and evERY opposition leader and their members to fully acknowledge that only through ‘SOLIDARITY’ would they be truely able to EFFECT REAL CHANGE in PARLIAMENT and in our system of govt and governance for the common good of menaingful opposition and for singaporeans at large.
i simply cannot fathom why WP cannot be magnaimous enough to want to ‘share’ resources woith the other oppo parties when they already have 6 seats THAT IS DEREIVED form the co-operation of the other OPPO in the last GE.
instead of offerring the extra 2 NCMP seats to the bigger oppo like SDP and NSP ,they even wrestle among themselves as to who should be the ‘EXTRA HANDS’ or mouths in Parliament?
what is another 2 seats to WP WHEN IT ALREADY has 6 MPs with their existing resources?
why couldn’t they consider to OFFER THE OTHER 2 NVMP SEATS,ONE TO sdp and nsp each? if so,the OPPO would have the combined resoures of 3 PARTIES to batlle out more menaingfully with the PAP,is not it?
we could have NICOLE SEAH FORM NSP and DR VICNENT or JEE SAY from SDP TO COME WORK TOGETEHR WITH THE 6 mpS form WP.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY AND UNTIY among the OPPO themselves.
i sincerely wish the great team of SDP at HOLLAND has won,they are a great team with great ideas and would have been a good combination withthe WP of aljunied.
if oppo continues to fght elections the way they do -individualistically and partisanly – i am afraid i simply cannot envisage they could outdo or unseat the PAP which possesses much more resources than the oppo.
oppo winners must not let their ‘success’ get ointo their minds and get swayed or they will just sidetrack themselves from the common objectives of being the true ‘VOICE OF ALL SINGAPOREANS’ including other SINGAPOREAANS from other OPPOSITION PARTIES.
let’s hope WISDOM gets the better of all of us so that we would be more enlighten to see the BIG OR BIGGER PICTURE???
The manner in which Chiam has carried himself should inspire the team. At least there is no in fighting. Must say that much more interesting to observe the SPP and that Aljunied residents beyond the jubilation of having a voice should watch what their elected party do both within the party and outside to discern if it is just riding an ox to find a horse, as the chines saying goes! Only actions and time will tell! It s one thing speaking out for the masses and and yes you guys don’t like to hear it, working the masses. If there is no glory why the fight or choice of one other than the leader as NCMP. Isn’t there power at play and what about the talk on loyalty or seniority. If they don’t believe it within the party how can they even fight for the seniors in society other than to score political points. Succession is not an issue given the age of Eric and well some of the star candidates. Fellas it is just plain human nature and power at play .
//The party will ask the new Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir, Mr Sitoh Yihpin, if the SPP can continue to use Mr Chiam See Tong’s old cubicle for its MPS.//
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1. Why was CST using a cubicle for MPS while PAP has air-conditioned office with reception, waiting area, toilet, interview rooms?
2. Where was Sitoh operating when CST was using the cubicle?
SPP, the Stupid People’s Party. their candidates such poor quality. this time, they got sympathy vote because of Chiam. next time, if they contest Bishan Toa Payoh again, they will lose thier deposits.
What counts is the PEOPLE inside of it.
This election has proven what i once said that a party is just a name. Past Performance Does not Guarantee Future Performance.
Take an example of an INC.
If INC1 is the Monopoly for 50 years. Of course it can grow and attract the best.
But, if one day, INC1 falters, some of the best do not join them but join INC2, a new startup.
After another 5 years, INC2 grow from strength to strength. More and more talents begin to join INC2 with the successful decline of INC1.
Or put it like this, all of INC1 join INC2, a new startup. what happens?
INC1 no more.
a party is just a name.
Agree with Lions Roar, what the Opposition should know Solidarity is the word.
They know this is the way to make a change in Parliament, but egotism of the leaders and their members override the head. Each thinks too highly of himself, and exert their own importance, they make their heart
rule their head. A good example is Eric Tan, former member of WP
Ben Ben of SSP is a good articulate speaker, with his breakdown of the opposition votes versus the incumbents’ share, 17 out of 87 seats, if 3 GRCs and 2 SMCs voted for Opposition, the status quo will still remain.
Another guy to watch out, hope he is more rational than others, and not let us down, and let his head rules over his emotions.
Interestingly to see the readers here only see PP under Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
Bear in mind that Bishan-TOa Payoh is also not quite safe. So there’s 3 possibility of PP:
1. PP remains as SMC, but widen the boundary to include the adjunct precinct. This increase the high chance of PAP votes, and also mitigate of bad name of absorbing into bigger zone after opp losing seats.
2. PP absorb into GRC, who said it must be Bishan-Toa Payoh, it could be Moulmein GRC or Marine Parade GRC.
3. (This is really not PP-sprited voter never expect – worst case scenario). PP split into 2 to 3 portions: one (Toa Payoh Section) to Bishan-Toa Payoh; another 1 or 2 under Moulmein GRC and Marine Parade GRC.
After so hard take back pp, i wonder will pp smc remain or absorbed next e?
Potong Pasir will NOT be absorbed into just one GRC. It is too risky to bring in so many opposition votes into one GRC to upset the GRC’s profile.
This is common sense (or cow sense), not sure why many readers here still thinking that PP will be under Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. It will definitely be broken down into a few pieces and absorbed under 3-4 GRCs near by, period !
sitoh will be under a lot of pressure to deliver his promises, just like wks and
his good for nothing team.
You sheltered me from harm
Kept me warm, kept me warm
You gave my life to me
Set me free, set me free
The finest years I ever knew
Were all the years I had with you
And…
(Chorus:)
I would give anything I own
Give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give ev’rything I own
Just to have you back again
You taught me how to love
What it’s of, what it’s of
You never said too much
But still you showed the way
And I knew from watching you
Nobody else could ever know
The part of me that can’t let go
And…
(Repeat chorus)
(Bridge:)
Is there someone you know
You’re loving them so
But taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away
And they don’t hear
The words you long to say
(Repeat chorus)
Just to touch you once again
To be fair, i think Lina has high IQ.
To be fair, i think MP needs to be not just that but can speak and speak UnAppologetically. I hope Lina improve on this aspect, after her tv debut which I felt scared listening to her talk. I worry for the Alternative then. But now, I hear there is a brain behind her team.
Not that she has no brain, of course she has as I said her iq should be high.
But there are brains who can come out ideas too can help her.
She just need to VOICE up for the PEOPLe.
that is all we asking for.
Dear friends, allow me to be blunt.
With brains behind a Speaker for the people, an MP just need to REPRESENT the People by Voicing up PERTINENT questions and voices. They should be supported by strategists working behind the scenes.
They, however, need a presence, an ability to Articulate.
I hope Lina set an example for the people that its not rocket science to voice up for the people when you have brains behind you.
A Minister may be a genius.
He still has Perm secs to help him.
Who runs for election? The MP.
Case in point, i was not even aware of such good talent as SPP’s Benjamin Pwee despite reading TOC almost everyday.
To be fair, TOC is still the best we have.
Why only now after 27 years,Chiam should have grown the party years back,just like WP but unfortunately Chiam just sit on it.
MM and SM are now playing a peekaboo game with the opposition and the citizenry. They have left but look under the bedcovers, they are still there as MPs staring back at you. Nothing has changed my man !
Long live SPP. I hope to support in anyway possible.
Under the present electoral system, the smaller parties are going to get squeezed between the PAP & WP. Look at the UK: Lib Dems and other parties get squeezed between Conservatives & Labour. Look at USA: the tiny parties are squeezed between the Democrat and Republican giants. Look at Malaysia: the smaller parties are squeezed between the two alliances – Najip’s and Anwar’s fighting each other. As Singapore develops a two-party system with WP as the main opposition party on the other side (or even if it reverts to a single dominant party), the smaller parties will drift into insignificance thanks to the voters and the winner takes all electoral system. The more serious candidates of the smaller parties will sooner or later consider joining WP or have other career choices rather than face permanent wilderness.
I believe that Hong Kah North is much further to the West….I’m sure that SPP will be going up to AMK and also Serangoon to expand it up……
Potential ones….
-AMK,Bishan,Toa Payoh,Potong Pasir and also Serangoon,as Braddell Heights may be inside,will be pleasing Sin Kek Tong very much….
For this,I believe SPP HQ might be around Upper Serangoon Rd,whilst branch offices could be in Bishan,Sin Ming or even Toa Payoh too…..