Personally am amazed at how Lily Neo has 'transformed' from a 'high society tai-tai' Indon to now being worshipped by netizens to be a saviour of the poor!
I recall netzens deriding her zipping around in expensive cars and high class suits. Even during the 2006 elections in Jalan Besar, her comments/speeches during the campaign were in stark contrast to the polished and impeccable image she had created inside parliament.
Actually Tin Pei Ling paled in comparison to how Lily Neo looked like when Yeo Ning Hong made way for her to enter politics. I felt she was a faker then. I still think she is faker now. Maybe folks inside PAP know the truth. Somehow after her half-staged duels with Vivian and Yu-Foo once a year during budget debate and Goh Meng Seng's assertion that Lily Neo is the trump card in Jalan Besar has elevated her to star status.
If she is do damn good, why hide under GRC at each election? Worried about the microscope placed on her, perhaps?
What you said carries some weight. A good cop bad cop routine always help to create trust in the hearts of opposition supporters.
Partly because Singapore has lived with low quality opposition candidates for far too long that there is a feeling of loyalty towards PAP MPs who adopt an 'anti-establishment' stance.
It is better for the oppositions to build their own Lily Neos than to rely on those from the PAP. However until the opposition supporters demand a higher set of quality candidates from their side, not compromising with the need for higher morals and capabilities, they will always rely on the Lily Neos from the PAP.
The WP did a good start. You have a Lily Neo in Sylvia Lim. The NSP has a Lily Neo in Nicole Seah. The SDP has a Lily Neo in their midst too though her name escapes me. Support these Lily Neos as they are indeed capable. As for moral standing, you will have to wait till they achieve some actual power, no matter how small, and see if they abuse even the small power they had to enrich themselves.
Build up your Lily Neos and support them. Better than worshipping those in the PAP camp.