PAP not looking for
yes-men: Ng Eng Hen
Ong Dai Li n
[email protected]
SINGAPORE — Twelve new People’s Action Party
(PAP) candidates so far, and all said they do not disagree
with the fundamentals of Government policy.
Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is also
the PAP’s organising secretary (special duties),
is not surprised, as it is “very hard to disagree
with the fundamentals”, such as meritocracy
and a multi-religious society.
But “agreeing” is not what the PAP looks at
when identifying new blood: An activist spirit,
a heart for Singapore, the guts to stay the course
and trustworthiness are the four qualities it looks
for, Dr Ng said yesterday at a press conference
to introduce the latest batch of new candidates.
And the ruling party will field individuals
who disagree with policies if they can give a rationale
why the system they believe in will work.
Will that include a candidate who believes
in welfarism, for instance? To this theoretical
question, Dr Ng told the media that the party has
not met a candidate with such a view.
It is likely never the twain shall meet. “If
someone believes in a system that’s so fundamentally
different from Singapore’s, it would be
hard for him to accept how we do things,” he said.
“You have to persuade others that your view
makes more sense, makes for Singapore a better
decision, a better framework.”
The PAP’s search for views and candidates
began shortly after the 2006 General Election,
spanning nearly 200 tea sessions with more
than 260 people, Dr Ng disclosed. Slightly more
than half of them attended two or more sessions,
and the shortlisted ones went for an eight-hour
psychological profiling.
The candidates were then put on the ground
to generate feedback from party activists and
Members of Parliament on how well they can
connect to residents. “For every cup of tea candidates
drink, we drank 10 more to find the best
brew,” said Dr Ng.
yes-men: Ng Eng Hen
Ong Dai Li n
[email protected]
SINGAPORE — Twelve new People’s Action Party
(PAP) candidates so far, and all said they do not disagree
with the fundamentals of Government policy.
Education Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is also
the PAP’s organising secretary (special duties),
is not surprised, as it is “very hard to disagree
with the fundamentals”, such as meritocracy
and a multi-religious society.
But “agreeing” is not what the PAP looks at
when identifying new blood: An activist spirit,
a heart for Singapore, the guts to stay the course
and trustworthiness are the four qualities it looks
for, Dr Ng said yesterday at a press conference
to introduce the latest batch of new candidates.
And the ruling party will field individuals
who disagree with policies if they can give a rationale
why the system they believe in will work.
Will that include a candidate who believes
in welfarism, for instance? To this theoretical
question, Dr Ng told the media that the party has
not met a candidate with such a view.
It is likely never the twain shall meet. “If
someone believes in a system that’s so fundamentally
different from Singapore’s, it would be
hard for him to accept how we do things,” he said.
“You have to persuade others that your view
makes more sense, makes for Singapore a better
decision, a better framework.”
The PAP’s search for views and candidates
began shortly after the 2006 General Election,
spanning nearly 200 tea sessions with more
than 260 people, Dr Ng disclosed. Slightly more
than half of them attended two or more sessions,
and the shortlisted ones went for an eight-hour
psychological profiling.
The candidates were then put on the ground
to generate feedback from party activists and
Members of Parliament on how well they can
connect to residents. “For every cup of tea candidates
drink, we drank 10 more to find the best
brew,” said Dr Ng.
