Full house at SDP Forum on 7 Feb

Avantas · Feb 8, 2009

Nearly 100 Singaporeans filled the Aerides Room at Orchid Corpthone Hotel to attend SDP’s forum on the future of opposition politics, almost half of whom are young people.

The day began with a short hymn “Amazing Grace” sang in commemoration of opposition icon Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam who passed away last year and a one minute silence as respect of him.

The panel of speakers comprises of a good mix of leaders from various opposition parties, civil society and the blogging community. The Workers’ Party was conspicuous by their absence. According to SDP, their invitation was turned down by WP Chairman Sylvia Lim due to other “committments”. NSP Sebastian Teo and SPP Desmond Lim were initially slated as speakers, but were unable to turn up as they have personal matters to attend to.

Speakers spoke at length on the importance of greater opposition unity and collaboration to mount a serious challenge to the ruling incumbent so as to provide a viable alternative government for Singapore.

Read full article here:

http://wayangparty.com/?p=4951

ektay · Feb 8, 2009

Avantas said:
Nearly 100 Singaporeans filled the Aerides Room at Orchid Corpthone Hotel to attend SDP’s forum on the future of opposition politics, almost half of whom are young people.

The day began with a short hymn “Amazing Grace” sang in commemoration of opposition icon Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam who passed away last year and a one minute silence as respect of him.

The panel of speakers comprises of a good mix of leaders from various opposition parties, civil society and the blogging community. The Workers’ Party was conspicuous by their absence. According to SDP, their invitation was turned down by WP Chairman Sylvia Lim due to other “committments”. NSP Sebastian Teo and SPP Desmond Lim were initially slated as speakers, but were unable to turn up as they have personal matters to attend to.

Speakers spoke at length on the importance of greater opposition unity and collaboration to mount a serious challenge to the ruling incumbent so as to provide a viable alternative government for Singapore.

Read full article here:

http://wayangparty.com/?p=4951

100? full house? u guys might as well book a small ballroom that can accomodate 50 people only and when more than 80 people attended, just talk big and say not enuff place for many people....haha.

100?? goodness......

cass888 · Feb 8, 2009

ektay said:
100? full house? u guys might as well book a small ballroom that can accomodate 50 people only and when more than 80 people attended, just talk big and say not enuff place for many people....haha.

100?? goodness......

I wonder how PAP or WP will treat an audience of 100? :smile:

kakowi · Feb 8, 2009

cass888 said:
I wonder how PAP or WP will treat an audience of 100?

Below their dignity?

Not befitting their status?

depeche · Feb 8, 2009

ektay said:
100? full house? u guys might as well book a small ballroom that can accomodate 50 people only and when more than 80 people attended, just talk big and say not enuff place for many people....haha.

100?? goodness......

The opposition parties are all gathering there to improve the political situation in SG...so why can't you just give the support or remain silent rather than to pour cold water on their efforts :confused:

kakowi · Feb 8, 2009

depeche said:
The opposition parties are all gathering there to improve the political situation in SG...so why can't you just give the support or remain silent rather than to pour cold water on their efforts

From all the degoratory remarks prior to the event, the declining of the invitation by WP Chairman Sylvia Lim, the pullout by NSP Sebastian Teo and SPP Desmond Lim, despite all these they still got 100 people*.

If that is not an achievement, what is?

Sure, according to one it is something to sneer at given the clout of the PAP and WP, but for those struggling it is still a good achievement.

*Ref: http://wayangparty.com/?p=4951
"The panel of speakers comprises of a good mix of leaders from various opposition parties, civil society and the blogging community. The Workers’ Party was conspicuous by their absence. According to SDP, their invitation was turned down by WP Chairman Sylvia Lim due to other “committments”. NSP Sebastian Teo and SPP Desmond Lim were initially slated as speakers, but were unable to turn up as they have personal matters to attend to."

hillary888 · Feb 8, 2009

Unless the Oppositions can come up with solutions to this financial crisis, else they just gather to talk and sing without accomplishing any real agenda.

kakowi · Feb 8, 2009

hillary888 said:
Unless the Oppositions can come up with solutions to this financial crisis, else they just gather to talk and sing without accomplishing any real agenda.

You need to be fair to them and your statement borders on unfairness.

There are plenty of areas beyond their control.

Solutions to the financial crisis are beyond their expertise.

Yet for those areas within their control, they spend their time bickering.

If sinkies deserve the PAP, what did they do to deserve such opposition too :confused:

lockeliberal · Feb 8, 2009

Dear Kawoki

As opposition events go a rather run of the mill event. Having been a somewhat "serial" attender and observer yes yes a sad hobby but nevertheless, the numbers as quoted by Avantas are somewhat exaggerated. by my count I would put the no of attendee's at nearer sixty with some new faces numbering about twenty to fifteen. barely enough to form one GRC team with adequate campaign workers or more like one SMC with a wealth of human capital.

Some of the speakers raised some pertinent issues, some more thoughtful whilst others were just interested in another round of PAP and Opposition bashing. The level of trust within the opposition still has some way to go, yes the WP not attending was one, but the NSP and Desmond disappearing speaks volumes in light of Desmond being recognized more or less as Chiam's successor in PP.

Firstly 85% of the content was wasted breathe, PAP bashing to an already converted crowd. This events hardly attract neutrals and tend to attract the faithful or somewhat believers.

Secondly whilst some speakers preached on the need for unity and diversity within the opposition, others were more than happy to criticize existing opposition leaders as betraying the voters of PP and Hougang. If the SDP was really seeking a platform to build unity across ideologies , I mean its just me but it would have been at the very least polite to leave some criticisms aside for the greater good of a common united interests.

Points of Note and worth considering raised by speakers.

1. More common team bullding events esp amongst activists and workers. Non senior people would be a definite good.

2. The gulf between the opposition is not as great as the gulf between the DAP and PAS. Heck that gulf is religious :_)) so it should technically be a lot easier in SG. Question left unsaid :_)) Who will be the Anwar to bridge that GAP ?

3. Tan Kin Lian was correct and pointed in his analysis of the need to reach the middle ground. Another speaker whilst noting the fundamental difference between an activist and a politician i.e one is a creature of compromise and the other a creature of absolutes in the same breathe noted that politicians have to be true to their core beliefs and then only then were they fit to lead the opposition and hence possibly the country.

Locke

sgnewsalte · Feb 8, 2009

Avantas · Feb 8, 2009

In the past, such opposition forums are usually attended by old uncles, yesterday, there were many young faces in the crowd, the youngest is at 14 year old !

This shows that young Singaporeans do not buy the PAP's crap anymore and are willing to listen to what the opposition have to say.

Remember, this event was publicized mainly via the internet. Even TOC did not advertise it on its site.

kakowi said:
From all the degoratory remarks prior to the event, the declining of the invitation by WP Chairman Sylvia Lim, the pullout by NSP Sebastian Teo and SPP Desmond Lim, despite all these they still got 100 people*.

If that is not an achievement, what is?

Sure, according to one it is something to sneer at given the clout of the PAP and WP, but for those struggling it is still a good achievement.

*Ref: http://wayangparty.com/?p=4951
"The panel of speakers comprises of a good mix of leaders from various opposition parties, civil society and the blogging community. The Workers’ Party was conspicuous by their absence. According to SDP, their invitation was turned down by WP Chairman Sylvia Lim due to other “committments”. NSP Sebastian Teo and SPP Desmond Lim were initially slated as speakers, but were unable to turn up as they have personal matters to attend to."

VIBGYOR · Feb 8, 2009

Avantas said:
This shows that young Singaporeans do not buy the PAP's crap anymore and are willing to listen to what the opposition have to say.

this is an understatement.

young, old and middle ages wants PAP to get out of SGP!

why i say this? because PAP has succeeded in offending all segments of the society with their i know what is best for you attitude.

plus bullshit national interests arguments.

kakowi · Feb 8, 2009

Thanks Lockeliberal and Avantas for your comments

I just sense that there are too many undercurrents in the singapore pool both at the PAP and the oppositions end.

And the uninitiated are at a loss to make sense of the whole matter.

Avantas · Feb 8, 2009

Dear Locke,

I beg to differ.

The gulf between WP and SDP is UNBRIDGABLE.

In spite of their differences, both DAP and PAS are STRONGLY against the government.

Here, we have a fake opposition WP whose leaders praised PAP for its good governance, voted PAP in the last election and condemned other opposition leaders as 'mad dogs'.

I have never heard Lim Kit Siang calling the PAS leaders names or vice versa.

WP may be able to survive another one or two election, but it will never go far with its brand of sissy, wishy-washy PAP-approved 'opposition' politics.

LOL !!!

BTW, how's your business at Holland Drive ?

lockeliberal said:
Dear Kawoki

As opposition events go a rather run of the mill event. Having been a somewhat "serial" attender and observer yes yes a sad hobby but nevertheless, the numbers as quoted by Avantas are somewhat exaggerated. by my count I would put the no of attendee's at nearer sixty with some new faces numbering about twenty to fifteen. barely enough to form one GRC team with adequate campaign workers or more like one SMC with a wealth of human capital.

Some of the speakers raised some pertinent issues, some more thoughtful whilst others were just interested in another round of PAP and Opposition bashing. The level of trust within the opposition still has some way to go, yes the WP not attending was one, but the NSP and Desmond disappearing speaks volumes in light of Desmond being recognized more or less as Chiam's successor in PP.

Firstly 85% of the content was wasted breathe, PAP bashing to an already converted crowd. This events hardly attract neutrals and tend to attract the faithful or somewhat believers.

Secondly whilst some speakers preached on the need for unity and diversity within the opposition, others were more than happy to criticize existing opposition leaders as betraying the voters of PP and Hougang. If the SDP was really seeking a platform to build unity across ideologies , I mean its just me but it would have been at the very least polite to leave some criticisms aside for the greater good of a common united interests.

Points of Note and worth considering raised by speakers.

1. More common team bullding events esp amongst activists and workers. Non senior people would be a definite good.

2. The gulf between the opposition is not as great as the gulf between the DAP and PAS. Heck that gulf is religious :_)) so it should technically be a lot easier in SG. Question left unsaid :_)) Who will be the Anwar to bridge that GAP ?

3. Tan Kin Lian was correct and pointed in his analysis of the need to reach the middle ground. Another speaker whilst noting the fundamental difference between an activist and a politician i.e one is a creature of compromise and the other a creature of absolutes in the same breathe noted that politicians have to be true to their core beliefs and then only then were they fit to lead the opposition and hence possibly the country.

Locke

lockeliberal · Feb 8, 2009

Dear Avantas

I would like to remind you that the basis of the difference between PAS and the DAP is about Islam and the implementation of Islamic law. Religion and religious beliefs are as fundamental and as basic as it gets. The difference between the SDP and the WP is more about the methods involve in opposing, the manifestos and beliefs on alternate policies being quite similar.

Locke

fivestars · Feb 8, 2009

The last speaker was Dr Wong Wee Nam who stood for elections under the National Solidarity Party in 1997. He said that Singapore's politics comprised of "one loud voice and many squeaks." He echoed the view that fragmented groups cannot give rise to unity and urged opposition parties and NGOs to form a united front.

"If you come together, you do Singapore a great service. But if you keep separate, then you will not be of service to anyone," said Dr Wong.

Avantas · Feb 8, 2009

Dear Locke,

Since you claim that WP and SDP have similiar manifestos and beliefs on alternate policies, why has WP been keeping SDP at arm's length ?

After all, SDP has never coerced WP to join them in the street protests. WP leaders should have met up more often with SDP to discuss about policy matters.

Or is it because LOW and Sylvia are worried that they may lose favor with the PAP should they be seen too close with SDP ?

lockeliberal said:
Dear Avantas

I would like to remind you that the basis of the difference between PAS and the DAP is about Islam and the implementation of Islamic law. Religion and religious beliefs are as fundamental and as basic as it gets. The difference between the SDP and the WP is more about the methods involve in opposing, the manifestos and beliefs on alternate policies being quite similar.

Locke

popdod · Feb 8, 2009

sgnewsalte said:
These are the videos uploaded to Youtube on the SDP Forum held on 7 Feb 2009 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzGI00w0su0 - Q & A Pt 2

Woah 14yr old indian boy oso interested in politics?
Serious bo??

Who implant the calefare in?

:biggrin:

:p

lockeliberal · Feb 8, 2009

Dear Avantas

No need for me to claim. People can read the parties respective manifestos and see their similar policy desires. The lack of trust is not only between the SDP and the WP but also between the SDP and the NSP or for that matter the SPP. Jufrie and Wee Moh Nam noted the need for unity and one of the few good suggestions I heard as a start was more joint events and more well interaction between opposing opposition camps at a junior level. Food for thought.

Locke

Avantas · Feb 8, 2009

Dear Locke,

At least Desmond and Sebastian did accept SDP's invitation initially to speak at the forum and they back out only last minute.

WP simply rejecct it outright.

Even if WP MPs are unwilling to be seen together with Dr Chee, surely it is not too much for them to send a junior member as a "liaison officer" between the two parties ?

lockeliberal said:
Dear Avantas

No need for me to claim. People can read the parties respective manifestos and see their similar policy desires. The lack of trust is not only between the SDP and the WP but also between the SDP and the NSP or for that matter the SPP. Jufrie and Wee Moh Nam noted the need for unity and one of the few good suggestions I heard as a start was more joint events and more well interaction between opposing opposition camps at a junior level. Food for thought.

Locke

Full house at SDP Forum on 7 Feb

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