Opposition picking new leaders

[General Veers]

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Jan 31, 2010

Opposition picking new leaders

<!-- by line --> By Kor Kian Beng
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FOUR opposition parties will hold elections this year for new leaders whose key task is to prepare their parties for the next general election. First off the block is the National Solidarity Party (NSP), which is holding a party conference today to pick a new central executive committee (CEC). Also due to hold internal polls is the Workers' Party (WP), with its Conference of Organisers slated for between June and July. The Singapore People's Party (SPP) will hold its Ordinary Party Conference around September.

The Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS) - split by a leadership tussle between two rival groups - must also hold a Conference of Representatives by March. The two-year terms for the new leaders in these parties will cover the period between now and February 2012, when the next general election (GE) must be held. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted at a conference last Monday that there was 'a mini general election fever in town', but added that an election is not imminent.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Sunday Times.

 

[sinren67]

Jan 31, 2010
Opposition picking new leaders
By Kor Kian Beng
FOUR opposition parties will hold elections this year for new leaders whose key task is to prepare their parties for the next general election.

First off the block is the National Solidarity Party (NSP), which is holding a party conference today to pick a new central executive committee (CEC).

Also due to hold internal polls is the Workers' Party (WP), with its Conference of Organisers slated for between June and July.

The Singapore People's Party (SPP) will hold its Ordinary Party Conference around September.

The Singapore Malay National Organisation (PKMS) - split by a leadership tussle between two rival groups - must also hold a Conference of Representatives by March.

The two-year terms for the new leaders in these parties will cover the period between now and February 2012, when the next general election (GE) must be held.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted at a conference last Monday that there was 'a mini general election fever in town', but added that an election is not imminent.

However, the NSP believes the GE could be called between June and December this year, said its president, Mr Sebastian Teo, 60.

For this reason, his party brought forward the conference - originally slated for June - to give the new CEC time to prepare for the election, he added.

Cadres at its conference today will elect a CEC with at least 14 members, and pick a president and secretary-general from among them. Nominations are made on the day itself.

Mr Teo, a businessman, has not ruled out seeking a third consecutive term.

Businessman Goh Meng Seng, 39, a former WP member, is tipped to be in the running for the secretary-general's post currently held by Mr Ken Sun.

Mr Goh, who quit the WP in September 2006 and joined the NSP in March 2007, said he would accept being nominated as it was time for him 'to step up and contribute to the party'.

After today's conference at its Jalan Besar headquarters, the NSP's new CEC will meet in two weeks' time to pick six office-holders: vice-president, assistant secretary-general, treasurer, assistant treasurer, and the first and second organising secretaries.

At the WP, organising secretary Yaw Shin Leong said its new executive council will also be a 'GE CEC'.

But he said the key factor for cadres remains the election of those who they think are best able to lead the party.

The WP's secretary-general is Hougang MP Low Thia

Khiang, 53, and its chairman is polytechnic lecturer Sylvia Lim, 44. Both are not expected to face challenges to their positions.

For the SPP led by secretary-general and Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong, 74, the focus will be on whether his wife, Madam Lina Loh Woon Lee, 60, becomes an office-holder in the CEC.

Co-opted as a member in November 2008, she has been touted as a replacement for Mr Chiam in the single-seat ward if he forms a team to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, which he is eyeing.

As for the PKMS, its leaders' two-year term ended last September. But the party has yet to hold a conference to pick new leaders. The Sunday Times understands that when a term ends, there is a six-month grace period before a new leadership must be elected.

 

[Ramseth]

Businessman Goh Meng Seng, 39, a former WP member, is tipped to be in the running for the secretary-general's post currently held by Mr Ken Sun.

Interesting. Captain Goh staging a coup.

 

[sinren67]

Interesting. Captain Goh staging a coup.

If Cap Goh successfully promoted as SG, i hope he can refresh NSP and lead the party to the new level, together with RP and have more say in the opp meeting for the coming GE, unlike previous whereby it was reported LTK and SL spoke nothing during the meeting which means a lot.

 

[QXD]

GMS has ploughed the ground, got down and dirty, got mixed up with the wrong crowd, got egged in the face, engaged forummers, had some small wins and despite all these up and downs, is still standing after all this time since 2006.

For all his warts and all, the man is readier than ever before as a politician to fight the PAP.

 

[Sideswipe]

Singapore Democratic Party not holding elections to pick new leaders?

Oh Yes, I almost forgot - SDP is a dictatorship where it's controlled by the mighty Chee Soon Juan.

 

[jw5]

Interesting. Captain Goh staging a coup.

It's not a coup if you win with the majority of votes in a fairly contested election.

 

[elephanto]

GMS has ploughed the ground, got down and dirty, got mixed up with the wrong crowd, got egged in the face, engaged forummers, had some small wins and despite all these up and downs, is still standing after all this time since 2006.

For all his warts and all, the man is readier than ever before as a politician to fight the PAP.

Totally agree, QXD.

Though not particularly charismatic, GMS has come a long way since his madcow days.

Hope he can be elected Secretary-General, Ken Sunn old wave should let new wave in now...

So today, we won't see Goh Meng Seng online since he busy with party CEC conference....

Hope sammyboy is his first stop to announce his breaking news

Good luck, old boy !

 

[sinren67]

GOH Meng Seng has officially elected as NSP's SG liao.

 

[Sideswipe]

GOH Meng Seng has officially elected as NSP's SG liao.

congratulations to Goh Meng Seng.

anyway NSP secretary-general is supposed to run the party under instructions from the president = chairman?
can the chairman fire the secretary-general at will or is it up to the CEC to sack the secretary-general or chairman?

 

[sinren67]

congratulations to Goh Meng Seng.

anyway NSP secretary-general is supposed to run the party under instructions from the president = chairman?
can the chairman fire the secretary-general at will or is it up to the CEC to sack the secretary-general or chairman?

I think NSP's cadre members has sent a strong signal that it's time for NSP to make a change, and that's how GMS has elected as SG. In light of this on whether NSP's chairman or SG hold more power or have more say in the party, it really doesn't matter.

 

[cass888]

I think NSP's cadre members has sent a strong signal that it's time for NSP to make a change, and that's how GMS has elected as SG. In light of this on whether NSP's chairman or SG hold more power or have more say in the party, it really doesn't matter.

NSP has a President, not a Chairman. NSP SGs have come and gone, while the President has remained consistent.

 

[sinren67]

NSP has a President, not a Chairman. NSP SGs have come and gone, while the President has remained consistent.

So it's like in WP. Anyway, it doesn't matter. To me, as long as the leaders enable to challenge MIWs in depth and win the elections, they can sit as long as they want.

 

[fivestars]

Wish young Secretary General able to recruit more youngster. No more old rich Uncle and Aunt Party like PAP. Unable to delivery job and baby.

 

[elephanto]

Today our forummer GMS has been elevated to the 'HuaShan Mountain' of 'Top Pugilists'......

Representing PAP, Secretary-General Lee Hsien Loong

Representing WP, Secretary-General Low Thia Kiang

Representing SDP, Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan

Representing RP, Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaratnam

Representing SPP, Secretary-General Chiam See Tong

Representing NSP, Secretary-General GOH MENG SENG,

FRESH FROM THE OVEN .......
one of the powderful 6 Party Secretary-General in Singapore !

Better mai lao kwee, ok, ah Meng Seng ?

Congratulations !

p.s. pssssst check make sure yr hard disk no naked porno pix tat ex-nsp ncmp steve chia is well known for , okie.... since u spend so much time on the net, dun kenna sabo...

 

[Highfalutin]

No fish, prawn will do lah! Just kidding!:p Behind you all the way Mr Goh!

 

[Ramseth]

Today our forummer GMS has been elevated to the 'HuaShan Mountain' of 'Top Pugilists'......

Representing PAP, Secretary-General Lee Hsien Loong

Representing WP, Secretary-General Low Thia Kiang

Representing SDP, Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan

Representing RP, Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaratnam

Representing SPP, Secretary-General Chiam See Tong

Representing NSP, Secretary-General GOH MENG SENG,

FRESH FROM THE OVEN .......
one of the powderful 6 Party Secretary-General in Singapore !

Better mai lao kwee, ok, ah Meng Seng ?

Congratulations !

p.s. pssssst check make sure yr hard disk no naked porno pix tat ex-nsp ncmp steve chia is well known for , okie.... since u spend so much time on the net, dun kenna sabo...

He's CEO of Madcow Computer, expert in cleaning up hard disk. Steve Chia blur, thinks recycle bin is rubbish bin.

 

[kingrant]

No fish, prawn will do lah! Just kidding!:p Behind you all the way Mr Goh!

Beware of people who tell you they are behind you all the way! They have other ideas.

 

[cass888]

So it's like in WP. Anyway, it doesn't matter. To me, as long as the leaders enable to challenge MIWs in depth and win the elections, they can sit as long as they want.

You're pretending to miss my point. The NSP's SG is like the PAP or WP Chairman .... not the rightful leader of the party. In the PAP and WP's case it is the SGbut in the NSP's case it is the President, not the SG.

 

[Sideswipe]

You're pretending to miss my point. The NSP's SG is like the PAP or WP Chairman .... not the rightful leader of the party. In the PAP and WP's case it is the chairman but in the NSP's case it is the Chairman, not the SG.

so you are saying - NSP is ruled by the Secretary General like SDP.

always thought the Chairman is the leader of the party who appoint the secretary general to run the party affairs on his behalf.