SDP: Why We Do What We Do.

[cleareyes]

Why we do what we do
Thursday, 05 March 2009
Singapore Democrats

There are those who still don't understand the SDP's strategy and approach to politics. Why do Singapore Democrats insist of defying the law and ending up in court instead of doing the ground work necessary to win elections?

The answer is simple: Because the PAP has absolutely no intention of allowing the opposition to win power through elections.


The ruling party will continue to introduce new laws and amend existing ones to block any meaningful inroads the opposition makes in elections. The introduction of the GRC system, the increase of election deposit, the restriction of the use of the Internet by opposition parties, etc are done to ensure that opposition parties remain crippled.

There is even a law that prohibits five or more people from “demonstrating opposition to the actions of the Government” or to “promote a cause or campaign” under the Miscellaneous Offences Rules.

Already the SDP and its supporters have been charged under such a law simply for distributing flyers. What's there to stop the Government from applying this law to the other opposition parties especially if they start making political headway?

And isn't the opposition's work all about promoting a campaign or cause? How can we limit our numbers to less than five in public if we want to reach out to the public more effectively? Most important, if the opposition cannot demonstrate opposition to the actions of the Government, why exist at all?

The one reason why the opposition has fared so poorly at the polls is that we have always been one step behind the PAP. When its support eroded, it introduced the GRC system. When the opposition adopted the by-election effect, it threatened the voters with HDB upgrading. When we started to attract more quality candidates, it upped the election deposit.

If we don't arrest the rules-changing, we will forever be chasing our tails. We need an independent elections commission, not an elections department that says "Yes sir" to the PM all the time.

We must stop letting the PAP fool us. More important, we must stop fooling ourselves that under present arrangements the opposition will be able to entrench ourselves as an institution.

Does this mean then that the opposition should abandon electoral politics in Singapore? No, of course not. The Singapore Democrats have said many times before: Elections are the only way for a party to come to power and govern society.

So why does the SDP participate in elections that are neither free nor fair?

Because they are good a opportunity to raise awareness of political issues. With the advancement of cyber technology, we can use elections to educate the people on their rights and responsibilities as citizens, as well as the benefits of an open and democratically accountable government.

But remember, elections only last for nine days and the excitement dies down very quickly. It is the interim four or five years that the opposition needs to get down to serious work to reform the system.

With the Internet, our work is greatly facilitated and there is no excuse for the opposition to retreat into its shell in between elections.

The success of the SDP's effort may not be immediately apparent, but like all responsible leadership we understand the need for delayed gratification. We are confident our work will bear fruit in the not-too-distant future.

In that vein we ask all Singaporeans not to be seduced by the temptation of instant success. Just as Rome was not built in a day, democracy in Singapore will take time to entrench.

But the work to reform the political system must start now.

Elections must be part of the strategy, not the strategy itself. We need to work amongst our own opposition parties to foster greater cooperation and understanding. We need to help civil society to develop civil society. And we need to encourage our fellow citizens to become actively involved in this coming elections and thereafter the work in democracy-building.

In other words, weneed to invest for the future. There is not a moment to tarry.

Nice to know that SDP still wish to contest and not boycott the coming GE.

At least SDP recognise that election is but one of the ways top get things done and would still be in the game.

 

[Hakka Tiow]

How come people just can't see Dr. Chee as one who had evolved into a better man over time as against Lee Kuan Yew who will die with an ignominious legacy.

 

[locky2ky]

Slightly curious as to why SDP has to repeat such explanations within a not too short period of time? I rather Dr Chee update his well written articles on holding LKY to account.

i think he feels that he has to repair his reputation in double quick time as elections is round the corner.

 

[char_jig_kar]

Maybe. One supporter appears to be confused. Talk about voting, vote SDP and take a holiday if WP contests. Next moment in the same breath tells SDP not to contest implying PAP "play cheat".

If PAP cannot lose, why talk about voting earlier. He should take a holiday whoever comes to his ward.

I was wrong. I shouldn't have talk about not voting for PAP apologist, voting for Opposition and wat not. My mistake. My apology.

I should have say, lets boycott this whole GE. Because the PAP had rewritten the rule of GE giving them huge advantage, if we people participate in it, we are in fact saying, 'Thats okay. PAP is not wrong doing that.'

 

[Ramseth]

I was wrong. I shouldn't have talk about not voting for PAP apologist, voting for Opposition and wat not. My mistake. My apology.

You sorry? You apologise? What's wrong with you? Have you taken wrong medicine?

 

[char_jig_kar]

You sorry? You apologise? What's wrong with you? Have you taken wrong medicine?

Its a mistake. In the first place, I shouldn't even think about participating in the coming GE.

 

[Ramseth]

Its a mistake. In the first place, I shouldn't even think about participating in the coming GE.

Spoiling vote is also participating.

 

[char_jig_kar]

Spoiling vote is also participating.

I know that.

 

[Ramseth]

I know that.

What do you plan to do during GE? Go JB and hide a few days?

 

[char_jig_kar]

what do you plan to do during ge? Go jb and hide a few days? :d

太远了。

当天就当下无心，看着办吧。

 

[Perspective]

I was wrong. I shouldn't have talk about not voting for PAP apologist, voting for Opposition and wat not. My mistake. My apology.

I should have say, lets boycott this whole GE. Because the PAP had rewritten the rule of GE giving them huge advantage, if we people participate in it, we are in fact saying, 'Thats okay. PAP is not wrong doing that.'

No need to apologize to me. I don't want that. Just support the party that boycott the elections. In the meantime, I will support the opposition party with the best chance of winning my fellow Singaporeans, never mind what you think.

 

[char_jig_kar]

No need to apologize to me. I don't want that. Just support the party that boycott the elections. In the meantime, I will support the opposition party with the best chance of winning my fellow Singaporeans, never mind what you think.

Why participate in a unfair GE??

 

[guy2100]

The strategy is simple. Contest all seats and promise the people everything the PAP is not willing to give. Elections are won by promises and the confidence the party they vote in will be in government. At this point, the opposition "MUST" unite.

 

[char_jig_kar]

The strategy is simple. Contest all seats and promise the people everything the PAP is not willing to give. Elections are won by promises and the confidence the party they vote in will be in government. At this point, the opposition "MUST" unite.

You are 'jumping queue'.

The immediate problem is the GE is unfair. How to deal with that first? Don't go jump to dealing with the strategy of GE. The immediate issue is the unfair GE. How to deal with unfair GE?? By participating in it???? But if we go participate in a unfair GE, we are in fact saying the GE is fair!