Lena Chiam elected into SPP's CEC amidst tension within the party

[SNAblog]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1071470/1/.html

Opposition SPP elects 14 members to CEC
By S Ramesh | Posted: 25 July 2010 2213 hrs

SINGAPORE : The opposition Singapore People's Party (SPP) held its Ordinary Party Conference on Sunday, and elected 14 members to its decision making Central Executive Committee (CEC).

Veteran politician Chiam See Tong remains in the committee.

The new faces include his wife Lena Chiam and member Desmond Lim, who's reported to have differences in the party over the possible inclusion of the Reform Party into the Singapore Democratic Alliance.

Mr Chiam is the chairman of the Alliance while Mr Lim is its secretary-general.

The CEC will meet in three weeks to decide on the positions.

Current Chairman Sin Kek Tong said he hopes to make the party stronger for the next general election.

But Sunday's event wasn't without its drama.

A group of about 15 people tried to become members on the spot to take part in the party conference.

But they were asked to leave after cadre members voted against the move.- CNA /ls

 

[jw5]

I have 2 questions:

1. Why doesn't Desmond Lim want Reform party in SDA?

2. Who were those 15 people and did they come together/know one another?

Anyone knows?
Thanks.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

jw5,

Look, I'll be asking kian beng and sue-ann about it. They weren't there but they have been briefed. I suggest you do the same, because I think its time to stop probing the forum for info. Lots of forummers know, my friend. Including me.

TFBF

I have 2 questions:

1. Why doesn't Desmond Lim want Reform party in SDA?

2. Who were those 15 people and did they come together/know one another?

Anyone knows?
Thanks.

 

[Teo Kok Eng]

jw5,

Look, I'll be asking kian beng and sue-ann about it. They weren't there but they have been briefed. I suggest you do the same, because I think its time to stop probing the forum for info. Lots of forummers know, my friend. Including me.

TFBF

Please get back to the bros here and post the reasons, I want to know the answer to jw5's questions too:

1. Why doesn't Desmond Lim want Reform party in SDA?

2. Who were those 15 people and did they come together/know one another?

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

Desmond will be removed from his post if KJ teams up with SPP. If that happened to YOU, wouldn't you gather supporters to gate crash the event and hopefully put yourself in a higher bargaining position? Hey it's early in the morning, watch the ST and learn more will ya?

Please get back to the bros here and post the reasons, I want to know the answer to jw5's questions too:

1. Why doesn't Desmond Lim want Reform party in SDA?

2. Who were those 15 people and did they come together/know one another?

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

By the way, the channel news asia changed its report from '15 people' to '30 people' after someone, probably alex tan (who was one of those ostracized by SPP on sunday evening) called them up to clarify.

 

[Teo Kok Eng]

Desmond will be removed from his post if KJ teams up with SPP. If that happened to YOU, wouldn't you gather supporters to gate crash the event and hopefully put yourself in a higher bargaining position? Hey it's early in the morning, watch the ST and learn more will ya?

Thank you for the insight. Yes, I understand Desmond's position. Since they all want to hold a position, it is better that they remain in their own party.

Most important is they cooperate in not having 3-cornered fights.

Don't really care how they stack up in the SDA or whatever, important thing is there is an opposition candidate to vote

 

[huahero]

Mr Chaim 詹时中 Should run for Presidential Election.

 

[SNAblog]

AWARE saga happening at SPP? Desmond Lim doing a "Jocie Lau" act?

http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100726-0000073/Key-SPP-central-committee-members-re-elected

Key SPP central committee members re-elected

by Neo Chai Chin
05:55 AM Jul 26, 2010

SINGAPORE - Singapore People's Party (SPP) secretary-general Chiam See Tong, his wife Lina, chairman Sin Kek Tong and assistant secretary-general Desmond Lim Bak Chuan were re-elected yesterday to the party's central executive committee (CEC), in a conference fraught with drama at the start.

About 30 non-members led by Mr Lim entered a function room at Hotel Royal where the ordinary party conference was held. Their presence was met with strong protests from other members, who later voted that non-members should not be allowed to attend the conference. The group left without fuss.

The media waited outside the function room, where raised voices and applause were at times heard behind the closed doors.

Asked by reporters later about the non-members he had brought, Mr Lim said the constitution allowed him to do so, but he claimed that "after they (saw) the number (who turned up), they said 'no'".

When told Mr Lim had argued that another party member had brought in some new members too, Mr Sin explained that some of them had forgotten to settle their membership arrears and so were back in the party after they paid up. Mr Sin said he was satisfied with the conference outcome: "It's a bit tough-going for me as chairman, but so far so good. We smoothly elected a new team."

Four new faces were voted in by about 30 cadre members. They are sales and marketing manager Jason Leong, 35; polytechnic student Bryan Chua, 28; retail associate Eric Koa Hean Hong, 44; and Mr Sydney Soon, 54.

The CEC now consists of 14 members, two more than before. Making way yesterday were Mr Abdul Malik and Mr Jalil Wari.

The party will convene within three weeks to decide which CEC positions the elected members will hold.

However, party sources told MediaCorp late last night that the CEC elections may not be conclusive based on technicalities - as questions had been raised on the status of some cadre members who had cast votes.

On whether the divide between Mrs Chiam and Mr Lim would affect the future direction of the SPP, Mr Sin said it was his job as chairman to "try to unite them and form a team". He said tensions did not reach a point during the conference that risked a party split, and that there was a "slim" chance of that.

Mr Chiam declined to speak to the media yesterday, but had previously stated his intent to lead a team to contest a Group Representation Constituency at the next General Election. In April, he and the Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaretnam held a joint walkabout at Bishan-Toa Payoh.

Meanwhile, Mrs Chiam is seen as a possible candidate to contest the Potong Pasir single seat her husband has held since 1984.[/u]

 

[SNAblog]

http://www.singsupplies.com/showpost.php?p=518710&

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Default Re: group of 30 want join Chiam Party ont the spot but SPP REJECTED


Alex Zhixiang Tan:

alright since I'm no longer a member I can tell everyone what happened.

1) No respect for orderliness and proper administration

Desmond allowed 30 members barged into room without proper administration "Go in go in don't need to register". a ...SPP cadre and I stopped the crowd and like a mad man he shouted and insisted his way through.

2) Inappropriate behavior of a Sect Gen

first thing right up to my face "Alex Tan your no longer a member of SPP because your application was not approved on 6 of May"

(my application form is under his care all along. now it's gone? and i'm not with SPP? no worries I will stay with Chiam side as a non-member supporter volunteer as an adviser.)

the room was a rowdy drama for the first 1 hour with Desmond's "members" and I can tell many of them are clueless at what's going on. are they members? SPP needs volunteers every Thursday to help out at Meet-the-People session so badly and now popped out so many members?

2 "cadre" members voted into SPP CEC, bryan chua bingsheng and Sydney soon. both just joined this year and yet they are "cadre"? just because Desmond insisted so? does Democracy means disregard of proper procedures?

Desmond's men was so rude in the room. taunting Mrs Chiam, shouting words like "you are old and slow"? like wth? is this a circus?

I was giving my ending speech to the conference and Desmond can shout all the way from his seat "this is not a member!"

let me share this scenario I saw personally with my own eyes. at the end of the conference, chiam asked Desmond for the 5 new "cadre" members' hp number and address. Desmond waved him off and rushed the 5 out of the room.
what arrogance?! I pity the old man. I would have slapped Desmond if I am Mr Chiam.

a sect gen of the Democratic Alliance with no regards for civilized and democratic orderliness. SPP will be in ruins if it has a leader like this. Singapore will be in ruins if it has a MP like this.

See More

2 hours ago · Like

 

[popdod]

No wonder PAP hab been rulling this island so easily...effortlessly.
With people like Desmond, i'm sure sinkies will continue to give support to the PAP.

:p :p

 

[golden]

i smell a mole ...

 

[Teo Kok Eng]

Desmond allowed 30 members barged into room without proper administration

I'm concerned about people who do things without proper administration.

I'll be cautious about voting for such a person because who knows what he can do as an MP, what he do with the Town Council funds etc.

 

[BlueCat]

can forsee that there is going to be internal conflict in this party soon.

 

[cheekenpie]

can forsee that there is going to be internal conflict in this party soon.

Start liao. perhaps Desmond is the leaker?

SPP wrecked by infighting between Desmond Lim and Lina Ng
July 27th, 2010 | Author: Your Correspondent

Even before the date of the next general election is announced, the Singapore People Party led by veteran opposition leader Mr Chiam See Tong is reportedly wrecked by intense infighting between Mr Chiam’s wife Lina Loh and his protege Desmond Lim.

The SPP held a party conference to elect 14 members to its Central Executive Committee last Sunday. According to media reports, Mr Lim tried to register 30 new members in order to ensure he has sufficient support to stay in the CEC.

Ms Loh had apparently brought in 9 supporters in a bid to oust Mr Lim from the CEC.

A fracas broke out between the two camps with supporters of Mr Lim taunting Ms Loh for being “too slow and old.” The two had been at loggerheads since May after a failed attempt by the Reform Party to join the Singapore Democratic Alliance.

As expected, the state media has given extensive coverage on SPP’s internal problems to cast doubts on its credibility and ability to challenge the PAP.

Many netizens have expressed their disappointment and frustration at the inability of the opposition to work together, even within the same party.

With the election looming ahead, it is unlikely that Singapore’s weak and fragmented opposition is able to make a dent on the PAP’s political hegemony.

 

[cheekenpie]

SDA infighting: Alex Tan bashes Desmond Lim
July 26th, 2010 | Author: Your Correspondent

Following the SDA’s already-controversial EGM that took place on 25 July 2010, Alex Tan adds to the controversy by publicly declaring that, “I will never serve any political party with Lim Bak Chuan Desmond in it”.

Alex, who claims he is no longer a member of SPP expressed why he feels that way about Desmond Lim in a number of points on Facebook.

In one of the points, he writes, “a sect(sic) gen of the Democratic Alliance with no regards for civilized and democratic orderliness. SPP will be in ruins if it has a leader like this. Singapore will be in ruins if it has a MP like this.”

Harump_CIf anyone knew the inner workings of SDA, they would know that Mr Chiam is actually a dictator within the party and is in fact the one with no regards for “civilized and democratic orderliness”. He only cares about himself and his views, and anyone who disagrees will be, for the lack of a better term, be told to “shut up and sit down”.

But Chiam, unlike JBJ, is one of Lee Kuan Yew’s pet oppositions, and all the negative sides of him will never see the light of day in the government media.

Those who are active in Singapore’s political blogosphere would know that this entire episode stems from disagreements between Mr Chiam, Mr Desmond and Mr Alex. The mainstream media however, seems to be propagating that Desmond Lim is the bad guy here.

So we hear Alex’s views on the Internet, Chiam’s views via the mainstream media but is Desmond’s view of all this? On this part the media only has silence to offer. Maybe its because Chiam is “acceptable” to PAP and the kind of opposition that they like.

The current info going around (according to sources similar to NSP’s Goh Meng Seng) is that Lina Chiam is actually waiting for Alex Tan to become a cadre member so she can take the post of Sec-Gen for herself and oust Desmond Lim. If that happens then once again the media will have a field day with branding the opposition negatively.

Apparently the problem began when Desmond was not agreeable to SDA’s planned merger with the Reform Party. Desmond felt that the conditions set by RP’s Kenneth Jeyaretnam were completely unfair, baised and undemocratic, going to the extent of giving veto power to Kenneth on matters concerning SDA.

Chiam supposedly agreed to Kenneth’s unreasonable demands in a private meeting without caring that SDA members were in disagreement. The media never seems to bring this up either.

The entire process where the mainstream media brings up the Chee VS Chiam saga to paint Chee negatively every single year will be the fate awaiting Desmond if he crosses the path of the Chiams. In fact, Chiam actually accuses Desmond of being a ‘2nd Dr Chee’ who is out to “psycho” party members because he also studied psychology.

As a long-time voter of the opposition, for Singaporeans’ sakes I hope the Chiams either wake up or leave the political scene with their pride still intact.

 

[cheekenpie]

Alex tan:
July 26, 2010 at 7:59 pm

Terry:

hahah what a load of nonsense. being a keyboard warrior is easy, try getting into the ground first then comment please.

to everyone else:
alright since I’m no longer a member I can tell everyone what happened.

1) No respect for orderliness and proper administration

Desmond allowed 30 members barged into room without proper administration “Go in go in don’t need to register”. a …SPP cadre and I stopped the crowd and like a mad man he shouted and insisted his way through.

2) Inappropriate behavior of a Sect Gen

first thing right up to my face “Alex Tan your no longer a member of SPP because your application was not approved on 6 of May”

(my application form is under his care all along. now it’s gone? and i’m not with SPP? no worries I will stay with Chiam side as a non-member supporter volunteer as an adviser.)

the room was a rowdy drama for the first 1 hour with Desmond’s “members” and I can tell many of them are clueless at what’s going on. are they members? SPP needs volunteers every Thursday to help out at Meet-the-People session so badly and now popped out so many members?

2 “cadre” members voted into SPP CEC, bryan chua bingsheng and Sydney soon. both just joined this year and yet they are “cadre”? just because Desmond insisted so? does Democracy means disregard of proper procedures?

Desmond’s men was so rude in the room. taunting Mrs Chiam, shouting words like “you are old and slow”? like wth? is this a circus?

I was giving my ending speech to the conference and Desmond can shout all the way from his seat “this is not a member!”

let me share this scenario I saw personally with my own eyes. at the end of the conference, chiam asked Desmond for the 5 new “cadre” members’ hp number and address. Desmond waved him off and rushed the 5 out of the room.
what arrogance?! I pity the old man. I would have slapped Desmond if I am Mr Chiam.

a sect gen of the Democratic Alliance with no regards for civilized and democratic orderliness. SPP will be in ruins if it has a leader like this. Singapore will be in ruins if it has a MP like this

 

[Teo Kok Eng]

How to deny PAP two-thirds or kick PAP out with all these fighting?

Who knows Desmond or Alex are planted by the PAP to divide the opposition!

 

[leetahbar]

let me see....desmond shall soon be seconded and defected into SDP refugee camp. then later, we shall also see out pops another new political opp party. keep it cuming SDP!! we sure need more opp SDP's subsidiaries parties to weaken the opp supporting votes by confusing ALL voters.

 

[leetahbar]

How to deny PAP two-thirds or kick PAP out with all these fighting?

Who knows Desmond or Alex are planted by the PAP to divide the opposition!

either u din read properly or i missed out something very important.

ALEX was prevented to be SPP member by desmond if that post was authentically posted by ALEX the new kid of the block who's like heading nowhere.