GRC bids 'not for selfish reasons'
Opposition rejects DPM's claims, says aim is to show they are not PAP fortresses
By Kor Kian Beng & Jeremy Au Yong
Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang led the charge in rebutting the suggestion that the opposition are contesting GRCs for selfish reasons. -- ST PHOTO: TED CHEN
DEPUTY Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's attack yesterday on the opposition's motives for wanting to contest group representation constituencies (GRCs) brought a swift rebuttal from several opposition leaders.
Their chief reason for the GRC bids, they said, was to show that GRCs are not safe fortresses for the People's Action Party ministers and MPs, and not for the selfish reasons suggested by DPM Wong.
Mr Wong had said that opposition leaders wanted to leave a legacy as the first party to win a GRC, and to use that as a tool for leadership renewal.
The comments appeared directed at Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, who has said he wants to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, where the PAP team is helmed by Mr Wong, and Hougang MP Low Thia Khiang, who is mulling a GRC bid.
Mr Low, secretary-general of the Workers' Party (WP), led the charge yesterday, accusing the PAP of practising double standards.
Speaking to reporters at his meet-the-people session, he said: 'Renewal is important not only to the PAP but also to the opposition, if an opposition party wants to continue to play a role and give Singaporeans a choice during elections and to help safeguard the future of Singapore.'
The National Solidarity Party's (NSP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng agreed, saying: 'For a healthy development of the political landscape here, it is necessary for both the PAP and the opposition to have renewal.'
DPM Wong made his remarks yesterday when unveiling three new PAP candidates - the second batch of newcomers this week.
Citing the opposition's growing interest in GRCs, DPM Wong urged voters to decide carefully, saying: 'Is (the election) about the interest and missions of political parties, or an individual's interest to create a legacy and to make history? I believe that this election is really about the future.'
As of now, 13 of the 15 GRCs are set to see contests, with three facing possible three-cornered fights.
NSP's Mr Goh disagreed that opposition parties are hoping to leave a legacy as the first to win a GRC. He cited his own party and pointed out that it had expressed willingness to make way for the WP in the four-member Moulmein-Kallang GRC, so long as the WP team includes Mr Low or chairman Sylvia Lim.
Said Mr Goh: 'It doesn't matter to us who is the first to win a GRC. Our position is clear: We want to keep the PAP ministers and MPs on their toes, which is possible only by winning a GRC.'
Singapore Democratic Alliance chief Desmond Lim said the opposition parties' actions matter more than the motives.
'It doesn't matter as long as there is an attempt at a breakthrough. Winning a GRC will be an important sign that the people want change,' he said.
Opposition leaders also took issue with DPM Wong's remarks that the PAP government has tried to ensure more alternative voices in Parliament, most recently through changes to the Non-Constituency MP scheme.
At least nine MPs from opposition parties will be in Parliament after the next election, even if fewer than that number are elected. The best losers are appointed NCMPs. They do not have voting rights on key bills.
Citing the changes, DPM Wong said yesterday: 'No other country does that.'
In retort, Mr Low said: 'No country in the world has the GRC system.'
He said the NCMP changes are token measures by the PAP to allow the opposition to survive and to show that Singapore is a democracy.
He added: 'The NCMP scheme is perhaps a reflection of a guilty conscience. And perhaps I don't know whether (there is a) conscience at all.'
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KEEPING PAP ON ITS TOES
'It doesn't matter to us who is the first to win a GRC. Our position is clear: We want to keep the PAP ministers and MPs on their toes, which is possible only by winning a GRC.'
National Solidarity Party's (NSP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng
Opposition rejects DPM's claims, says aim is to show they are not PAP fortresses
By Kor Kian Beng & Jeremy Au Yong
Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang led the charge in rebutting the suggestion that the opposition are contesting GRCs for selfish reasons. -- ST PHOTO: TED CHEN
DEPUTY Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's attack yesterday on the opposition's motives for wanting to contest group representation constituencies (GRCs) brought a swift rebuttal from several opposition leaders.
Their chief reason for the GRC bids, they said, was to show that GRCs are not safe fortresses for the People's Action Party ministers and MPs, and not for the selfish reasons suggested by DPM Wong.
Mr Wong had said that opposition leaders wanted to leave a legacy as the first party to win a GRC, and to use that as a tool for leadership renewal.
The comments appeared directed at Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, who has said he wants to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, where the PAP team is helmed by Mr Wong, and Hougang MP Low Thia Khiang, who is mulling a GRC bid.
Mr Low, secretary-general of the Workers' Party (WP), led the charge yesterday, accusing the PAP of practising double standards.
Speaking to reporters at his meet-the-people session, he said: 'Renewal is important not only to the PAP but also to the opposition, if an opposition party wants to continue to play a role and give Singaporeans a choice during elections and to help safeguard the future of Singapore.'
The National Solidarity Party's (NSP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng agreed, saying: 'For a healthy development of the political landscape here, it is necessary for both the PAP and the opposition to have renewal.'
DPM Wong made his remarks yesterday when unveiling three new PAP candidates - the second batch of newcomers this week.
Citing the opposition's growing interest in GRCs, DPM Wong urged voters to decide carefully, saying: 'Is (the election) about the interest and missions of political parties, or an individual's interest to create a legacy and to make history? I believe that this election is really about the future.'
As of now, 13 of the 15 GRCs are set to see contests, with three facing possible three-cornered fights.
NSP's Mr Goh disagreed that opposition parties are hoping to leave a legacy as the first to win a GRC. He cited his own party and pointed out that it had expressed willingness to make way for the WP in the four-member Moulmein-Kallang GRC, so long as the WP team includes Mr Low or chairman Sylvia Lim.
Said Mr Goh: 'It doesn't matter to us who is the first to win a GRC. Our position is clear: We want to keep the PAP ministers and MPs on their toes, which is possible only by winning a GRC.'
Singapore Democratic Alliance chief Desmond Lim said the opposition parties' actions matter more than the motives.
'It doesn't matter as long as there is an attempt at a breakthrough. Winning a GRC will be an important sign that the people want change,' he said.
Opposition leaders also took issue with DPM Wong's remarks that the PAP government has tried to ensure more alternative voices in Parliament, most recently through changes to the Non-Constituency MP scheme.
At least nine MPs from opposition parties will be in Parliament after the next election, even if fewer than that number are elected. The best losers are appointed NCMPs. They do not have voting rights on key bills.
Citing the changes, DPM Wong said yesterday: 'No other country does that.'
In retort, Mr Low said: 'No country in the world has the GRC system.'
He said the NCMP changes are token measures by the PAP to allow the opposition to survive and to show that Singapore is a democracy.
He added: 'The NCMP scheme is perhaps a reflection of a guilty conscience. And perhaps I don't know whether (there is a) conscience at all.'
[email protected]
[email protected]
KEEPING PAP ON ITS TOES
'It doesn't matter to us who is the first to win a GRC. Our position is clear: We want to keep the PAP ministers and MPs on their toes, which is possible only by winning a GRC.'
National Solidarity Party's (NSP) secretary-general Goh Meng Seng
