<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Single wards or GRCs, which is better?
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Tuesday's letter by Mr Goh Koon Hong, 'The number of candidates should be fixed at four', and suggest that there is more merit in the single-ward candidate system. The issue of group representation constituencies (GRCs) has been widely debated during the last two general elections and the number remains unchanged while the People's Action Party (PAP) renews, replaces or refreshes its candidate list.
The level playing field is in the eye of the beholder. The GRC system certainly works in the interests of the PAP. Whether this model of democracy works in the best interests of the country in the long term is another matter.
It is hard to argue against the time-proven merits of the 'one man, one vote, for one candidate' election system. Only history will tell the outcome of a political system with 'one man, one vote, for six candidates'.
Social democracy works best with candidates going through the baptism of fire of electoral campaigning against opponents on a one-to-one basis. The GRC system has enabled new and 'unaudited' incumbent candidates to be elected into Parliament on the coat-tails of party heavyweights. The 2006 General Election (GE) saw repeated walkovers by almost half the elected candidates. It means thousands of eligible voters are repeatedly denied the chance to vote.
To rid the stigma of uncontested or piggybacked victories for GRC candidates, it is fairer for PAP candidates to prove their worth by reverting to the single-ward system while keeping the same ratio of majority and minority races. In other words, have 84 parliamentary seats in 84 electoral wards.
There are intrinsic values in traditional single-ward elected MPs. With fewer voters to serve, the MP can focus on his constituents' needs and aspirations. MPs in GRCs take a 'shotgun approach' at best and people can hardly judge their performances. There is no grey area in judging the performance of a single-ward MP. Non-effective MPs will not be re-elected. A one-to-one fight in the GE is the acid test to prove the calibre of candidates and brings out the best in each racial group. Paul Chan
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Tuesday's letter by Mr Goh Koon Hong, 'The number of candidates should be fixed at four', and suggest that there is more merit in the single-ward candidate system. The issue of group representation constituencies (GRCs) has been widely debated during the last two general elections and the number remains unchanged while the People's Action Party (PAP) renews, replaces or refreshes its candidate list.
The level playing field is in the eye of the beholder. The GRC system certainly works in the interests of the PAP. Whether this model of democracy works in the best interests of the country in the long term is another matter.
It is hard to argue against the time-proven merits of the 'one man, one vote, for one candidate' election system. Only history will tell the outcome of a political system with 'one man, one vote, for six candidates'.
Social democracy works best with candidates going through the baptism of fire of electoral campaigning against opponents on a one-to-one basis. The GRC system has enabled new and 'unaudited' incumbent candidates to be elected into Parliament on the coat-tails of party heavyweights. The 2006 General Election (GE) saw repeated walkovers by almost half the elected candidates. It means thousands of eligible voters are repeatedly denied the chance to vote.
To rid the stigma of uncontested or piggybacked victories for GRC candidates, it is fairer for PAP candidates to prove their worth by reverting to the single-ward system while keeping the same ratio of majority and minority races. In other words, have 84 parliamentary seats in 84 electoral wards.
There are intrinsic values in traditional single-ward elected MPs. With fewer voters to serve, the MP can focus on his constituents' needs and aspirations. MPs in GRCs take a 'shotgun approach' at best and people can hardly judge their performances. There is no grey area in judging the performance of a single-ward MP. Non-effective MPs will not be re-elected. A one-to-one fight in the GE is the acid test to prove the calibre of candidates and brings out the best in each racial group. Paul Chan
