GRCs no longer safe havens for newbies
MR ELGIN Toh's commentary ('GRC loss impacts PAP's renewal plans'; last Saturday) hit the nail on the head. The People's Action Party (PAP) has become a victim of its own policies.
Many perceive the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) scheme as a way to guarantee seats in Parliament for first-time candidates. However, GRCs are no longer the impenetrable fortresses they were once thought to be.
Perhaps it is time to take a hard look at the motivations of PAP's talent. While not doubting the quality of talent typically recruited by the ruling party, a common personality trait exhibited by them seems to be one of being afraid to lose. No such guarantee is available for opposition candidates. In fact, the GRC system was, until the Aljunied breakthrough, popularly acknowledged as an obstacle to opposition candidacy in GRCs. The Aljunied breakthrough will no doubt pave the way for more opposition challenges in other GRCs in time to come.
In the event, should opposition parties ape the PAP's strategy of leveraging on heavyweights to move candidates into Parliament, then surely it's a case of what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Tan Hui Tsing (Ms)
MR ELGIN Toh's commentary ('GRC loss impacts PAP's renewal plans'; last Saturday) hit the nail on the head. The People's Action Party (PAP) has become a victim of its own policies.
Many perceive the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) scheme as a way to guarantee seats in Parliament for first-time candidates. However, GRCs are no longer the impenetrable fortresses they were once thought to be.
Perhaps it is time to take a hard look at the motivations of PAP's talent. While not doubting the quality of talent typically recruited by the ruling party, a common personality trait exhibited by them seems to be one of being afraid to lose. No such guarantee is available for opposition candidates. In fact, the GRC system was, until the Aljunied breakthrough, popularly acknowledged as an obstacle to opposition candidacy in GRCs. The Aljunied breakthrough will no doubt pave the way for more opposition challenges in other GRCs in time to come.
In the event, should opposition parties ape the PAP's strategy of leveraging on heavyweights to move candidates into Parliament, then surely it's a case of what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Tan Hui Tsing (Ms)
