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An Average Heartlander Speaks
One single slogan for the opposition front: “Singapore for Singaporeans”
December 16, 2009
Judging from press reports, letters to the Straits Times Forum, bantering in internet chatrooms as well as conversations between Singaporeans in the HDB heartland, immigration will emerge as the single most important issue in the next general election due by 2011 which may trigger a mini political tsunami in Singapore.
Though it is highly unlikely that the ruling PAP will be booted out of office or loses its traditional two-thirds majority, even the loss of one GRC or one SMC more than the two opposition-controlled wards will send a strong signal to the entire nation that the tide has turned against the incumbent and it is only a matter of time before Singapore follows the footsteps of other developed Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and make the transition from an archaic political system dominated by one party to a multi-party democracy.
An increasing number of Singaporeans are becoming fed up and disillusioned with the PAP’s liberal immigration policies which has seen our beloved little island being flooded with hordes of foreigners in the last few years.
While the lower income group is naturally disgruntled at the loss of job opportunities and depression of wages by these foreigners, the middle class is also becoming flustered and anxious about the future of their children.
With more young Singaporeans with no political affiliations joining the electorate for the first time and the new media providing a counter-balance to the propaganda and spins of the mainstream media, the next election will be an interesting one to watch.
Though Singaporeans are largely apathetic in nature and disinterested in politics, what the opposition need is just a small group of dedicated supporters to galvanize votes for them to turn the tide around.
That’s what happened in the Malaysian general election in 2008. Every single opposition supporter went around to canvass for votes and they got not only their families, but their extended families, companies and alumni to vote for the opposition.
The percentage of hardcore PAP supporters are perhaps no more than 30 per cent and is dwindling by each passing day. That’s why it needs to bring new citizens into grassroots organizations to boost the flagging support.
The opposition managed to garner 33 per cent of the votes during the 2006 elections. The figure is probably about 40 per cent now which leaves 30 per cent of swing votes to be won by either side.
Fence-sitters are usually politically not inclined and will vote for any party on persuasion by a family member or a close friend.
The opposition should come together and form a united front against the ruling party in the next election with a single slogan, a common platform and one media center to orchestrate the entire electoral campaign.
Instead of conducting separate campaigns on their own, they should pool their limited resources together such that every opposition supporter will campaign for all parties and not the party to which one belongs to.
During the pivotal 2008 Malaysia’s general elections which send shockwaves across the causeway to Singapore, the Chinese-based DAP supporters could be seen campaigning for the Islamist PAS in the rural kampungs and the Malay-dominant PKR reaching out to the Malay urban dwellers on behalf of the DAP.
The opposition should adopt a catchy slogan which is easily understood by Singaporeans and strike a chord in their hearts and it already has its work cut short – the Singapore People’s Party already has the ideal slogan:
“Singapore for Singaporeans!”
We want a Singapore for Singaporeans where every single person born here are entitled to basic rights as citizens of their country of birth – the right to education, the right to equal job opportunities, the right to free speech, the right to oppose the government, the right to afford a home of their own, the right to public healthcare and lastly, the right to retire comfortably and enjoy life after years of hard work.
This is the Singapore which most citizens aspire to, not the present Singapore where we find ourselves becoming increasingly marginalized by the relentless influx of foreigners who have diluted our collective national identity.
While we should open our doors to foreigners to attract the best talents in the world to come and work in Singapore, we must ensure that our own citizens are taken care of first and to be more selective of the foreigners we admit as PRs and citizens.
The elites will always vote for the incumbent because they are the ones who benefit most from the system, but they belong only to a minority – no more than 5 per cent of the population.
As long the opposition is able to sway the middle class and lower income group to its side, it is half the battle won.
Tell the lower income group: do you want to compete with low-wage foreigners for jobs which pay for pittance and not being able to support oneself and family.
Tell the middle class: do you want a future in which your children will find it increasingly tough to eke out a decent living in Singapore because they have to compete with foreigners for schools, jobs and everything.
Is Singapore really for Singaporeans or for new citizens, PRs and foreigners?
Are native Singaporeans becoming second or even third class citizens in their own countries?
Are Singapore men serving two years of National Service and thirteen years or more of reservist to protect the “free-loafers” from Malaysia, China, India and elsewhere who just come here to enjoy the perks and benefits without paying the price which they have?
Are Singaporeans the real owners of their country or does it belong to a small clique of self-serving elites who is more concerned about perpetuating their political control and hegemony for eternality?
The opposition should not be afraid to appeal to the emotions of Singaporeans because they are getting emotional and the next general election is about nothing but emotions.
Regardless of race, language, or religion, Singapore is for SINGAPOREANS only, now and forever!
Foreigners are most welcome to study, work and live in Singapore, but if they want to take up our citizenship, they must be prepared to sacrifice no more than what native Singaporeans have done so.
An Average Heartlander Speaks
One single slogan for the opposition front: “Singapore for Singaporeans”
December 16, 2009
Judging from press reports, letters to the Straits Times Forum, bantering in internet chatrooms as well as conversations between Singaporeans in the HDB heartland, immigration will emerge as the single most important issue in the next general election due by 2011 which may trigger a mini political tsunami in Singapore.
Though it is highly unlikely that the ruling PAP will be booted out of office or loses its traditional two-thirds majority, even the loss of one GRC or one SMC more than the two opposition-controlled wards will send a strong signal to the entire nation that the tide has turned against the incumbent and it is only a matter of time before Singapore follows the footsteps of other developed Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and make the transition from an archaic political system dominated by one party to a multi-party democracy.
An increasing number of Singaporeans are becoming fed up and disillusioned with the PAP’s liberal immigration policies which has seen our beloved little island being flooded with hordes of foreigners in the last few years.
While the lower income group is naturally disgruntled at the loss of job opportunities and depression of wages by these foreigners, the middle class is also becoming flustered and anxious about the future of their children.
With more young Singaporeans with no political affiliations joining the electorate for the first time and the new media providing a counter-balance to the propaganda and spins of the mainstream media, the next election will be an interesting one to watch.
Though Singaporeans are largely apathetic in nature and disinterested in politics, what the opposition need is just a small group of dedicated supporters to galvanize votes for them to turn the tide around.
That’s what happened in the Malaysian general election in 2008. Every single opposition supporter went around to canvass for votes and they got not only their families, but their extended families, companies and alumni to vote for the opposition.
The percentage of hardcore PAP supporters are perhaps no more than 30 per cent and is dwindling by each passing day. That’s why it needs to bring new citizens into grassroots organizations to boost the flagging support.
The opposition managed to garner 33 per cent of the votes during the 2006 elections. The figure is probably about 40 per cent now which leaves 30 per cent of swing votes to be won by either side.
Fence-sitters are usually politically not inclined and will vote for any party on persuasion by a family member or a close friend.
The opposition should come together and form a united front against the ruling party in the next election with a single slogan, a common platform and one media center to orchestrate the entire electoral campaign.
Instead of conducting separate campaigns on their own, they should pool their limited resources together such that every opposition supporter will campaign for all parties and not the party to which one belongs to.
During the pivotal 2008 Malaysia’s general elections which send shockwaves across the causeway to Singapore, the Chinese-based DAP supporters could be seen campaigning for the Islamist PAS in the rural kampungs and the Malay-dominant PKR reaching out to the Malay urban dwellers on behalf of the DAP.
The opposition should adopt a catchy slogan which is easily understood by Singaporeans and strike a chord in their hearts and it already has its work cut short – the Singapore People’s Party already has the ideal slogan:
“Singapore for Singaporeans!”
We want a Singapore for Singaporeans where every single person born here are entitled to basic rights as citizens of their country of birth – the right to education, the right to equal job opportunities, the right to free speech, the right to oppose the government, the right to afford a home of their own, the right to public healthcare and lastly, the right to retire comfortably and enjoy life after years of hard work.
This is the Singapore which most citizens aspire to, not the present Singapore where we find ourselves becoming increasingly marginalized by the relentless influx of foreigners who have diluted our collective national identity.
While we should open our doors to foreigners to attract the best talents in the world to come and work in Singapore, we must ensure that our own citizens are taken care of first and to be more selective of the foreigners we admit as PRs and citizens.
The elites will always vote for the incumbent because they are the ones who benefit most from the system, but they belong only to a minority – no more than 5 per cent of the population.
As long the opposition is able to sway the middle class and lower income group to its side, it is half the battle won.
Tell the lower income group: do you want to compete with low-wage foreigners for jobs which pay for pittance and not being able to support oneself and family.
Tell the middle class: do you want a future in which your children will find it increasingly tough to eke out a decent living in Singapore because they have to compete with foreigners for schools, jobs and everything.
Is Singapore really for Singaporeans or for new citizens, PRs and foreigners?
Are native Singaporeans becoming second or even third class citizens in their own countries?
Are Singapore men serving two years of National Service and thirteen years or more of reservist to protect the “free-loafers” from Malaysia, China, India and elsewhere who just come here to enjoy the perks and benefits without paying the price which they have?
Are Singaporeans the real owners of their country or does it belong to a small clique of self-serving elites who is more concerned about perpetuating their political control and hegemony for eternality?
The opposition should not be afraid to appeal to the emotions of Singaporeans because they are getting emotional and the next general election is about nothing but emotions.
Regardless of race, language, or religion, Singapore is for SINGAPOREANS only, now and forever!
Foreigners are most welcome to study, work and live in Singapore, but if they want to take up our citizenship, they must be prepared to sacrifice no more than what native Singaporeans have done so.
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