More volunteers and members for SDP

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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - More volunteers and members for SDP </TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"></TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89_ <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>6:31 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right>(1 of 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"></TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>51017.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD id=msgtxt_1 class=msgtxt>More volunteers and members for SDP

By Tessa Wong



15 May

Dr Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), at a press conference. -- ST PHOTO: TERENCE TAN


THE Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) saw a surge in volunteer and membership sign-ups over the election period - a pool that it hopes to tap for the next general election (GE) five years down the road, said party leader Chee Soon Juan on Saturday.
He told The Sunday Times that the party now has 600 volunteers, a 10-fold increase since the 2006 elections.
He declined to disclose membership numbers, but said that the party has also attracted a significant number of white-collar professionals. These include senior-level managers, media consultants and professionals from the legal and finance industries. Party sources say that there are at least 20 of such new members.
Political parties often experience an increase in sign-ups during and after an election. The Singapore People's Party announced on Friday that it has attracted 500 new volunteers.
Dr Chee was speaking on the sidelines of a thank-you dinner for 400 volunteers and members at Fort Canning on Saturday night.
He attributed the surge to the party's new media efforts as well as its highest-calibre slate of election candidates this time round. They included former high-flying civil servant and investment adviser Tan Jee Say, former army colonel and consultant psychiatrist Ang Yong Guan, and Ms Michelle Lee, a former Monetary Authority of Singapore officer who became a private school teacher.

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[Fool_Me_Hard]

2011 sees the political opening of Singapore as we become more politically aware and matured and we know that no one in the PAP is indispensable. PAP is going to find it more difficult to recruit candidates and the Alternative Parties will find a surge in membership. In 2016 we will see the Alternative Parties whose teams will be of simialr caliber to the Aljunied MPs and the SDP A team. More people with the CVs of Tan Jee Say, Dr Ang, Chen Show Mao, Sylvia Lim, Benjamin Pwee, Tony Tan and wife will be in the Alternative parties. People will be less fearful of the government and vote with their conscience.

 

[steffychun]

More people fooled by Chee.

 

[spotter542]

More people fooled by Chee.

Dr. Chee ( bye ) is the pied piper :p

 

[steffychun]

Dr. Chee ( bye ) is the pied piper :p

They must be the Gopalan Nair clones.

 

[HTOLAS]

Let's give the volunteers more credit than that. I was at the 'Thank You' dinner and very few people there were 'fooled' by Chee. In fact, during an open discussion, many people asked him very tough questions, which he tried, sometimes unsuccessfully, to answer. People want alternative voices in parliament and have been 'shopping' for it. The SDP is only one of the items for sale, and many realize that they need to get involved first before making a final choice.

More people fooled by Chee.

 

[jbsmith]

Good sign.

I was blind but now I see!'

 

[yellowarse]

Community-Based Approach for SDP

by Esther Ng 04:46 AM May 16, 2011

SINGAPORE - They have decided to be in it for the long haul. Over the next five years, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) team that contested in Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency plans to engage residents on the services they want in their community.

Some of these could include legal clinics, tuition and medical help for the disadvantaged. The SDP hopes to offer similar services in Sembawang.

But SDP assistant treasurer Vincent Wijeysingha disagreed that the move to establish grassroots presence should be seen in "political terms".

He said the community services SDP is planning will be based on feedback from the ground.

"This idea that the People's Action Party only serves communities that vote for them is an idea we have to throw into history ... We're members of this community, we've built relationships and we have skills we bring to this table in terms of social welfare," he said yesterday on the sidelines of a post-General Election thank-you walk at Ghim Moh.

However, Dr Wijeysingha, who led the SDP's Holland-Bukit Timah team, admitted that the consultative process could be a challenge as the PAP has, in the past, made it "difficult" for opposition parties to hold Meet-the-People Sessions.

SDP's Holland-Bukit team on their Thank You walkabout at Ghim Moh on Sunday morning. PHOTO BY ESTHER NG

 

[ray_of_hope]

Let's give the volunteers more credit than that. I was at the 'Thank You' dinner and very few people there were 'fooled' by Chee. In fact, during an open discussion, many people asked him very tough questions, which he tried, sometimes unsuccessfully, to answer. People want alternative voices in parliament and have been 'shopping' for it. The SDP is only one of the items for sale, and many realize that they need to get involved first before making a final choice.

That's interesting. What transpired at the dinner? By the way, did those attending have to pay for the meal? If so, how much? What was your impression of the demographics of the volunteers? That is, what proportion would you say were fairly young (20s and 30s), and the ethnic mix? The only way the SDP and other parties will progress is if younger Sporns become full fledged members.

 

[yellowarse]

Let's give the volunteers more credit than that. I was at the 'Thank You' dinner and very few people there were 'fooled' by Chee. In fact, during an open discussion, many people asked him very tough questions, which he tried, sometimes unsuccessfully, to answer. People want alternative voices in parliament and have been 'shopping' for it. The SDP is only one of the items for sale, and many realize that they need to get involved first before making a final choice.

To be fair, while some of the volunteers asked 'hard' questions about the future role of civil disobedience in the SDP, Chee acquitted himself well when he made it clear that having won some space for Singaporeans to express themselves in public (Speakers' Corner), he would no longer engage in civil disobedience but would rather focus on grassroots outreach and community services in the run-up to GE2016.

 

[yellowarse]

That's interesting. What transpired at the dinner? By the way, did those attending have to pay for the meal? If so, how much? What was your impression of the demographics of the volunteers? That is, what proportion would you say were fairly young (20s and 30s), and the ethnic mix? The only way the SDP and other parties will progress is if younger Sporns become full fledged members.

Many young people and professionals in their 30s and 40s.

 

[HTOLAS]

To add on, there was a good mix of all ethnic groups, perhaps with a slight over-representation of minorities. The age group representation was also diverse. Whereas I got the impression when I went to their office that the volunteers were mostly young (below 25) the crowd that turned up at the dinner were far more varied.

And I agree with yellow arse that CSJ seemed to have said that he would not pursue civil disobedience but would instead focus on outreach. This is a good sign.

Equally good was the fact that the volunteers had a chance to challenge the party leader and to make him explain himself. Imagine that happening at a PAP function!

That's interesting. What transpired at the dinner? By the way, did those attending have to pay for the meal? If so, how much? What was your impression of the demographics of the volunteers? That is, what proportion would you say were fairly young (20s and 30s), and the ethnic mix? The only way the SDP and other parties will progress is if younger Sporns become full fledged members.

 

[methink]

More people fooled by Chee.

More people were fooled by the PAP. The smearing carried out by the pappies has conned many into voting against the SDP.

But the ground is turning around. They are now wiser to the ways of the evil PAP. Believing the disinformation campaign of the 154th is now no longer a given thing.

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Yellow

I for one am glad that they have corrected and shifted their approach to broaden their electoral appeal. I am glad that " Internet no need to shake hands" Gomez is no longer in the driving seat from Australia. Now if they would just get rid of that dammm bear.




Locke

Community-Based Approach for SDP

by Esther Ng 04:46 AM May 16, 2011

SINGAPORE - They have decided to be in it for the long haul. Over the next five years, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) team that contested in Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency plans to engage residents on the services they want in their community.

Some of these could include legal clinics, tuition and medical help for the disadvantaged. The SDP hopes to offer similar services in Sembawang.

But SDP assistant treasurer Vincent Wijeysingha disagreed that the move to establish grassroots presence should be seen in "political terms".

He said the community services SDP is planning will be based on feedback from the ground.

"This idea that the People's Action Party only serves communities that vote for them is an idea we have to throw into history ... We're members of this community, we've built relationships and we have skills we bring to this table in terms of social welfare," he said yesterday on the sidelines of a post-General Election thank-you walk at Ghim Moh.

However, Dr Wijeysingha, who led the SDP's Holland-Bukit Timah team, admitted that the consultative process could be a challenge as the PAP has, in the past, made it "difficult" for opposition parties to hold Meet-the-People Sessions.

SDP's Holland-Bukit team on their Thank You walkabout at Ghim Moh on Sunday morning. PHOTO BY ESTHER NG

 

[ray_of_hope]

To add on, there was a good mix of all ethnic groups, perhaps with a slight over-representation of minorities. The age group representation was also diverse. Whereas I got the impression when I went to their office that the volunteers were mostly young (below 25) the crowd that turned up at the dinner were far more varied.

And I agree with yellow arse that CSJ seemed to have said that he would not pursue civil disobedience but would instead focus on outreach. This is a good sign.

Equally good was the fact that the volunteers had a chance to challenge the party leader and to make him explain himself. Imagine that happening at a PAP function!

Thanks. What you described of the ethnic mix is pretty much in-line with the impression I got from the video clips of the crowd at the SDP Assembly Point at Quality Hotel on 7 May. It is good that the party has young, eager members/volunteers. Eventually they will have to lead the way

 

[ivebert]

Gosh

Chee.. Bye!

And Fuck off!

 

[steffychun]

Let's give the volunteers more credit than that. I was at the 'Thank You' dinner and very few people there were 'fooled' by Chee. In fact, during an open discussion, many people asked him very tough questions, which he tried, sometimes unsuccessfully, to answer. People want alternative voices in parliament and have been 'shopping' for it. The SDP is only one of the items for sale, and many realize that they need to get involved first before making a final choice.

Dinner? Did he lace the food with Chee drugs?