8/25/2015

The changing fate of the opposition parties


 
 

The opposition used to be a joke for decades, a fumbling and incompetent group of ‘unripes’ going into the political arena to ‘tikam tikam’ or to make a fool of themselves. And in every election, without fail, they would compete among themselves in multi cornered fights against the ruling party at the peak of its power. Even on a one on one they would barely stand a chance. And they would still go in like a pack of ‘gilas’ to challenge the ruling party. Competing was all they wanted, not winning, and making a fool of themselves was something to be proud of.

 

There were some credible and serious candidates and parties but their credibility and reputation were dragged into the mud when the opposition camps were filled with the unspeakables. Occasionally a couple of opposition candidates could make it to Parliament by sheer will of the people and pernicious personal zeal. For decades, the cries for an opposition representation in Parliament, a greater representation, were there. But the people could not put the cross on the opposition boxes for good reasons. They were not presenting themselves as serious choices.

 

The ruling party’s game plan and how they systematically destroyed any good candidate and opposition party added to the demise of the opposition camp. But still, the biggest enemy of the opposition camp was themselves.

 

Things are changing. The political scene has never been like this before. Thanks to the ruling party and their great plans and great policies that they thought were good for the people and ignoring the people’s objections and pain living with them, more good people have started to move into the opposition camp. The 2011 GE, the by elections and the Presidential Election were clear signals that the people were voting the oppositions. As long as the opposition can produce serious and credible people, they would be in the game.

 

A fortnight ago, the opposition camp did the impossible by coming to an agreement to prevent a 3 corner fight. This has never been possible, but it came at the right time and brought a lot of hope and comfort to the people wanting a strong opposition presence in Parliament. There was opposition unity and the clowns have fled the scene.

 

Unfortunately it was too good to be true. Someone sent in the clowns again and opposition unity was shaken. The open criticism by NSP against WP, which was also part of the unwritten agreement not to bitch at each other, was not well received. The intent to go for a 3 corner fight in MacPherson was a hit below the belt. The agreement in the opposition camp could be torn wide open and a clear break was just a matter of time. Fortunately the other parties hold on to their horses and did not jump at the cue and fall into the trap set.

 

Without anyone breaking ranks, except for NSP, everyone will be watching NSP’s next move very carefully and its intent and motive. They knew that there is a bad apple and the circumstances have forced the bad hats to wriggle out from their holes. The bad hats have unmasked themselves in broad day light and social media followed the lead to dig out more evidence of what was taken for granted, with a pinch of salt.

 

Hazel Poa’s fall out and resignation from the NSP is a good thing. It comes at the right time, still in time for the GE before more damage is done to the opposition camp. The voters are now shown the true picture and hopefully the full picture of the credible opposition parties they should be voting for. There are still some doubts as to which opposition party is real or unreal. But a few parties have stood out as genuine and reliable and would receive the blessing of the voters.

 

WP, SDP, SingFirst, SPP and Reform Party are now in good stead as the opposition parties of choice. They have gained credibility and acceptance from the voters by their actions and their stand. I was at the launch of the SDP new office and could sense a quite confidence in the party and the supporters. And there were many young people coming out to support them. SDP is back as a respectable party with respectable leaders. Chee Soon Juan is no more the leper to fear and to stay away. He has matured and looking every inch an opposition party leader. Then there are Low Thia Khiang and his team, and the newcomer in Jee Say with a strong support base among the professionals. Lina Chiam has also earned her spurs in Parliament as a NCMP with her serious questions.

 

Many good things are happening on the opposition camp. The best thing to happen of course must be the unmasking of the questionable parties representing the opposition camp. This rain has clear the sky and no one can hide or disguise himself as opposition if he is not. The old game plan of confusing the voters in 3 corner fights has fallen through. Things are so much clearer as to who should receive the votes from opposition supporters. 3 corner fights there would be, but the real opposition parties would get all the votes from the voters. The voters would not be deceived and would vote for the opposition parties that count even in a 3 corner fight.

 

The feeling and support for the opposition camp has never been better and focussed. And the choice is clearer and simpler for the voters. No more deceptions and impersonations and misrepresentations.  And with an enlightened voters who would only vote for an opposition party that can win, not like before, vote blindly, this GE is going to be a big battle for or against the two camps, the ruling party or the opposition.

 

It is PAP or the best opposition party. No fakes or imposters or callafares. The winning formula is the Punggol East formula. The voters will vote in the same way and send the spoilers packing and losing their deposits.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

/// For decades, the cries for an opposition representation in Parliament, a greater representation, were there. But the people could not put the cross on the opposition boxes for good reasons. They were not presenting themselves as serious choices.///

Whether an Opposition candidate is a serious choice or not.
Don't put all your eggs in the PAP basket.
Is this the "correct" lesson to be learnt here?
True or False?
What do you think?

Anonymous said...

"The ruling party’s game plan and how they systematically destroyed any good candidate and opposition party added to the demise of the opposition camp."

When a ruling party systematically tries to destroy any good Opposition candidate.
Do you think this is an act that is good for Singapore?
Do you think this is an act that is good for Singaporean people?

If you think this act is not good for Singapore.
Then do you think people who do these things are TRAITORS?

Anonymous said...

"I was at the launch of the SDP new office and could sense a quite confidence in the party and the supporters."
RB

So did you take this opportunity to ask Dr Chee Soon Juan whether he shared your sense of confidence? And if so, why he is confident of winning this upcoming election, when even Presidential material Tan Jee Say (also under the SDP then) in 2011 did not?

And why did Tan Jee Say not share your sense of confidence when he left the SDP and form SFP to become his own general(oops! I mean Sec general)?

Anonymous said...

Any difference between the SDP in Aug 2015 and the SDP in GE 2011, besides their new HQ and their long time Sec general Dr Chee Soon Juan now eligible to contest this upcoming GE?

Anonymous said...

"And if so, why he is confident of winning this upcoming election, when even Presidential material Tan Jee Say (also under the SDP then) in 2011 did not?"
August 25, 2015 9:05 a.m.

Why is Aung Sun (Chee) Soon Juan of the SDP more confident?
Maybe it's because PAP has become even more hopeless and incompetent since 2011?
What do you think?

Anonymous said...

" Any difference between the PAP in Aug 2015 and the PAP in GE 2011, besides the usual massive train breakdowns, more Generals and now even police commissioners to join their their government which seems to be dominated by former military personnel? "
August 25, 2015 9:11 a.m.

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's because PAP has become even more hopeless and incompetent since 2011?
Anon 9:12 a.m.

Not at all. If PAP is hopeless and incompetent now, and which I also quite agree, they were even worse in 2011. I mean, just look at their ministers salaries in 2011 and now. By reducing their minister salaries quite a bit to be more justifiable for their talents is already an improvement, although still high lah!

Anonymous said...

Some oppo leaders have such huge egos that blocks sunlight. Some tikam tikam every 5yrs then disappear. Some speak as though they are the leader of all the oppos but win no seats just because they hv previous govt exposure. Credible oppo parties are only but abt 3 and at most 4. The rest should call it a day and merge with the others. But 1st sentence is the reason.

Anonymous said...

Do you think anti-Singaporean policies are credible policies?
What about political parties and politicians that formulate such anti-Singaporean policies?
Are these political parties and people very credible people?

Anonymous said...

/// I attended MPS once and was told by one RC member that the MP always fork out time to meet the residents and "help" residents solve problems.

One big question comes to my head. If the PAP policies are so good, why would there be so many residents/citizens need help from government? If the govt is so good, there would not even be a way for the govt to wrongly accuse citizens of being lazy, poor and stupid.

In the first place, it is the ultra capitalistic betrayal policies by the PAP which caused so many Singaporeans to be jobless and poor, and now the problem creator is coming to slam the innocent of being poor and lazy? And wants to claim credit of "helping" the residents. ///

http://www.allsingaporestuff.com/article/govts-capitalist-betrayal-policies-caused-many-sporeans-be-jobless-poor

Anonymous said...

There is a confluence of factors, with PAP getting worse and the voters disillusioned, with robbing the people's CPF, and many anti Singaporean policies, and with oppo getting stronger, more credible people,....

What would you think the result will be?

Today it is how many GRCs will fall in the GE.

Anonymous said...

Australian Labour Minister promises Australians a 2/3 Australian Core Workforce
====================================================================
Do you think Australians would call this Minister a traitor?
Do you think Australians would vote for this Minister?
Do you think Australians would vote for his political party?

If you answer no;
then why are Singaporeans expected to answer YES?
- Just how stupid do you think we are?

Anonymous said...

- sorry. typo error above.

Australian Labour Minister promises Australians a 2/3 Australian Core Workforce
====================================================================
Do you think Australians would call this Minister a traitor?
Do you think Australians would vote for this Minister?
Do you think Australians would vote for his political party?

If you answer YES;
then why are Singaporeans expected to answer NO?
- Just how stupid do you think we are?

Goh said...

Hullo hullo..
2011 never heard of quarterly payout for PGs.
Now having quarterly payout for life and if i dun read wrongly, even for those reaching 65 in future. ..Got improvement mah.
Can oppo guarantee payouts.
Who say they are hopeless.
Talents like RB, Virgo ,Patriot, even Matilah and the likes of them should consider to stand for election .Can be team E or F.Or,If cannot beat them, join them.

Anonymous said...

What is Singapore's 2/3 core, citizens, new citizens and PRs?

It is so easy to deceive Sinkies.

Anonymous said...

Citizens or new citizens, sama sama bagus.

Lagi bagus, undilah PAP.

Anonymous said...


Too BIG To Fail? Too BIG To Fail?

I think this GE is all about BRANDING!

Candidates from PAP and Opposition parties look the same.

How can the masses assess them for the GE?

PAP is the advantage of being the 'Lau Bak Tao" the old brand, with memory of LKY.

PAP will be claiming to be "the trusted brand" all these years.

To the masses, PAP may be too BIG to fail!

Too BIG To Fail? Too BIG To Fail?

We shall see.

Cheers.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

Folks, if you really want a "better" system, then PLURALITY is key.

You want MANY opposition parties, and you want them to be INDEPENDENT not only from the "establishment" but more importantly from each other. You will want multi-cornered fights, and you would want them to be "spirited"---i.e. all parties and candidates giving 1000% trying to beat each other and to PROVE to the VOTER that they are The Best.

I don't vote. That makes my vote extremely EXPENSIVE, no "voter bribery" will ever entice me to vote.

However, my fellow Singaporeans are like $10 SLUTS. Their vote is CHEAP.

Please lah, demand a higher standard from the candidates. Make those motherfuckers WORK and SWEAT to win your one lousy vote.

Anonymous said...

NSP said they would not give up MacPherson and would still contest despite Steve Chia's withdrawal and encouraging WP to beat PAP.

There seems to be different minds and opinions in the NSP.

Anonymous said...

There seems to be different minds and opinions in the NSP.
Anon 11:18 a.m.

This is to be expected lah, for such a party. Majority voters will not be surprised by all this, and hence they (majority voters) will know what to do.

Anonymous said...

Good that MOLES are exposed.
Without clarity there is no clear choices.

PAP 2015 vs PAP 1965 (WP)

My choice: PAP 1965 (WP).