1/16/2013

Punggol East – A straight fight



By now everyone would have known that the SDP has withdrawn from the by election. This is the best news yet for people who want a straight fight between the PAP and the WP. And yes, it will be a straight fight. No? You mean there are two other possible parties like the SDA and the Reform Party standing as well? Are you sure they are political parties and are you sure they will make any difference? I am quite sure both will lose their deposits if they dare to stay on to fight. Anyway, they are inconsequential, just some side shows that no one needs to pay any attention to.

The SDP could pull in some serious number of votes that will weaken the chance of the WP. That is what the SDP could do if they contest the by election. But it would not be like winning a battle to lose a war. SDP will not win this battle and their participation will cause them the war in 2016 as well. It is better to save the money for the war that is coming. The decision to withdraw will put the SDP in a better state comes the GE. Thanks to their Central Committee, they have saved themselves from a major disaster that would have finished their chances in 2016.

While the whole picture of the by election has changed, the biggest winner is the cyber citizens. They have put enough pressure on the SDP to withdraw. And this is through a concerted effort of reasons and logic that convinced the SDP that going against them would be a great folly. Internet has never been such a powerful and persuasive tool in any general election. In this instance, the persistence of netizens and their forceful logic have forced the SDP to do the rightful. The internet is real and the voice of the internet is immediate, and to be ignored at their own peril. Without the internet, such vital feedback would not come about. The SDP took heed to save an otherwise embarrassing and costly by election.

The other internet brigade has also been very active trying to throw reasons into disarray and advocating a multi corner fight, appealing to the egos of individuals in political parties to try their luck. If this disinformation prevails, a multi corner fight would be inevitable. It seems that the people could not be easily swayed and those trying to support a multi corner fight had lost. Though there were a lot of contradicting views, the stronger view of reasons emerged to rule the day.

What the internet could do, the power of the internet, is much more superior to the main media. The internet penetration is much wider than the main media in a political situation like this. The main media would not be able to do what the internet could do, fresh and constant news or views straight out of the oven. The internet is now a game changer and no amount of internet brigades could distort the picture and the views of an enlightened population of netizens.

Should the WP win this by election, it has the internet to thank for. At least a multi corner fight has been avoided. No need to waste time on the jokers that are willing to throw away $16,000. The voters are smart enough to dismiss them as rubbish. Maybe by the end of the day, both could also withdraw.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The internet has become the voice of reason. And its influence is hundreds of times more than SDP to withdraw is due to the comments in the internet, nothing to do with the main media.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

The SDP has broken new ground by listening to the people. How many parties out there will really listen to the people and do the will of the people? Most of them will act arrogantly by saying it is for your own good that they are doing this or that. No need to discuss and any unhappiness will be swept under the carpet.

SDP also shows that there are more mature and serious thinkers in the party that will understand reasons. This will be a new change instead of the brash and rash past of SDP. It is a good and refreshing start for SDP.

oldhorse42 said...

I am beginning to believe that CSJ is a good strategist.His proposal to WP of a unity candidate might have made him look stupid but capture tremendous amount of attention on him and his party. His last minute backout of the BE endear him to many people including RB.

Anonymous said...

Just hope the other two idiots also back out. This is certainly not the right place and right time to be hero. Only PAP would love them.

The said...

oldhorse, sorry I have to disagree with you there. What strategist? He looks like a egocentric fool and bumbling idiot who totally lost the plot. If not for netizens and internal dissent, I don't think he will pull out.

It has never been his intention or strategy to do what has been done. If you look at the chronology, you would know that this guy is as insincere as hell, and hellbent on contesting. He thinks he is the best candidate.

1) SDP was the first to announce its intention to contest, and the first to walk the ground.

2) Then the insincere to approach WP to avoid multi-party fight. The real intent is to ask WP to withdraw as he has already decided to enter the fray.

3) As of yesterday, he was still insistent on contesting.

4) The overwhelming negative response on the internet and the possible mutiny from his CEC forces him to reconsider at the last minute.

If he stands, I believe he will lose his deposit.

I just don't understand how his theatrics and antics can endear him to anyone.

I for one is glad to bid CHEE good BYE.

Anonymous said...

Oldhorse. Never read politician straight. Chee is playing the card of deception. Very difficult to calm the supporters if SDP just keep quiet and declared no participation when BE is announced. After all the hooha at least he can tell his supporters that the ground is not suitable for SDP and instead of a humiliating defeat, its better to fight another day. All wayang wayang only lah.

patriot said...

Singaporeans will gladly support Chee Soon Juan as an independent candidatr in the Next GE.

He is greatly admired by many as a daring freedom fighter, which in many ways he is. The need for a vocal and eloquent member in the Parliament to highlight inequity and seek justice is needed. Chee S J can fill that role and endear himself to the people.

Chee will be successful as individual politician as he is very much a darling to many appreciate his gut and eloquence.


patriot

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

On a single seat ward, there will be enough dissident and unhappy voters to give Chee a win. And this could be made easier if the PAP candidate is not up to mark.

Anonymous said...

SDP should take up the role to unite all oppositions to form a coalition party since WP is too arrogant to work with other opposition parties.

Anonymous said...

'Should the WP win this by election, it has the internet to thank for.'
Not only that, they should be a lot thankful to the other political parties especially the SDP too.
But to me, the WP seems more accomodating to the ruling party than their fellow opposition parties. They seem to dismiss all others as also rans and never participated in any joint party activities. Perhaps winning some seats had gone into their heads
I would prefer SDP's or JBJ's style in holding the ruling party to account than WP's meek and accomodating ways

patriot said...

It is simply unbelieveable that Singaporeans are expecting tha Alternative Parties to work together or in unison.
Even within SDP, it has clearly shown that Chee D J himself had not been able to work with JBJ and Chiam S T and Others. Even as the BE at Punggol East was called and in progress not, Chee is the most controversial politician.

See it?

In any case, it is just commonsense that had the Alternative Parties been and being as co-operative as said by some, THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO MANY OF THEM IN A TINY DOT. Some of the Alternative Parties are much more tiny than the dot and should rightfully be left on the shelf infinitely.

patriot

virgo49 said...

The SDA Desmond Lim is in for the last time. Have to end their Party existence after this BE. The SDA stands for Sure Die Again.

As for RP in 2016 nobody will ever vote for them.

Anonymous said...

Can Chee Soon Juan, the Secretary General of the SDP, keeps his own party members or even to just attract a few more ?

Anonymous said...

Certainly so
or
they wil exist just for show.
And they are better being dinosaurs.

Anonymous said...

Thruout all the sniping and criticism at the PAP, its obvious too many people are still hoping the PAP will change, improve.

Even if it does, which is highly unlikely, it is Extremely Stupid to put all one's eggs in One basket.

The PAP's good days are behind them. These ended more than 20 yrs ago, when the old guard either retired or were edged out. Now those were innovative people.

The tragedy is that even though times have changed drastically, the PAP has not adapted to the changing times. Now and then, it reacts, when policies have really gone sour, but always too little, too late. We need people who are looking ahead not looking behind them at past glory.

Anonymous said...

Big million $ compensation & the descending into the GLCs BODships haven bring out the human weaknesses of complacency, Yes-Manship, party & self interests above national long-term interests among our policy makers.

The passing of Dr Goh Keng Swee from ministerial office, marked the end of high quality forward-looking national governance. Last 20 years prosperity was helped and masked by dubious self-serving asset/property inflation policy, massive foreign human injection and expediency of ruling party interests, that help creates unsustainable, weak difficult structural obstacles to broader Singaporeans welfare. There is little real increase in true productivity nor competitive innovations that benefit the common-man from policy making.

Thanks to Oldman & Son, Singapore is into entrenched living/working quality decline for its citizens with the exception for the rulers and the rich.

Anonymous said...

By pulling out, Chee and SDP have done the right thing. This will garner them some additional measure of support from opposition voters in other constituencies in 2016.

I had this feeling that the two independent candidates will pull out at the last minute, and it happened. These two jokers know they are going to loose their deposit for sure if they went into the contest. That they are intending to contest just borders on the mission impossible. Even my grandmother will tell them that.

As for RP and SDA, I tend to agree that they can say goodbye to their deposits. How in the world can the SDA candidate expect to perform better than in 2016, after loosing his deposit the last time round in this same place just boggles my simple mind. Even my grandson can tell him that. This chap is either a clown, filthy rich or a PAP sponsored candidate to stir mud and discredit the opposition.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, third paragrah should read "...How in the world can the SDA candidate can expect to perform better than in 2011...."

Age is catching up with me!

Anon 3.47