The future of Singapore's Opposition

[kakowi]

there is thus no need to take to the streets, to boycott, to engage in ceaseless debates over your proposed policies, to hope for right conditions before you will act

there are only two factors:

(1) you provide the responsible opposition - your responsibility

(2) voters provide the votes - voters' responsibility

why?

because it is "your vote, your choice, your problem"

so if the ministers increase their salary to $10M, gst to 30%, cpf cannot take out totally, will you the voter say it is beyond your control?

no, because it is due to your vote and your choice. It is now your problem, not mine.

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Kawoki

I am personally agnostic about where a better opposition is derived fro. If it comes from an Anwar like figure from the PAP so be it and if it comes from the opposition so be it as well, black cat white cat good as long as it catches mice sort of pragmatism.

Firstly if a split emerges from within the PAP after the demise of the old man, I doubt it would be PAP sponsered. I believe that disastisfaction and disagreement long held back by the PAP and more apparent after the death of LKY will be reason enough. No split is ever strategic but splits happen because of an inability of a party to maintain discipline and or an inability to address deep felt concerns from within. The PAP's DNA structure and aversion to splits leads me to believe that any that results will be as painful to them as say losing a GRC.


Within the opposition camp at the moment what we lack is a critical mass of leaders who inspire, lead, grasp policy, confront organize and inspire. As one commentator on littlespeck noted , the PAP can afford to be boring and plain but the opposition does not have that luxury. I say critical because when then the PAP first started the relationship amongst the first gen was that of first amongst equals. That unfortunately got diluted as LKY stayed and the first gen went and what we are left with is a balance of just "first."

We need dare I say people with credentials or provided leadership and inspiration that people can rally around. I have met enough or heard enough to know about people that have been talent spotted by the PAP but who have rejected them because of a. no percieved need for the money b fundamental disagreements with the PAP. How to get them into the opposition and as leaders ? How to form a team ? Is the current batch inspirational enough ? Can you offer these guys inspiration and confrontation without the warcry give me liberty or give me bankruptcy and jail ?




Cheers

Locke

 

[popdod]

Actually the oppositions are improving, i believe they can do much better in the next election

If only they can be united...and start to think how to win the next election/
else...
they are just slaughtering one another and someone will be munching their popcorns and laughing at the show.

:o :p :o

 

[kakowi]

Thanks for your comments Locke.

 

[BlueCat]

one or two opposition parties should be enough before they can establish their present.
too many,it will just spread the support,this is probably due to everyone also want to lead a party.
if only the opposition can be more united,working toward the common cause and not for personal agenda or gain,then there will surely be a future for them.

 

[cleareyes]

My stand hasnt change after the last election. BOYCOTT until i sees and deem that our election process in Singapore is conduct in a free and fair manner.

great idea
boycott all elections and allow PAP free run in all polices with no one to question them

if boycott had worked, barisan would have won long time ago and PAP wont be calling so much of a shot today.

do a check on ur history.

 

[The_Latest_H]

In other words what the opposition needs is just like what the cohort- well I don't want to compare any new generation of opposition leaders to the one LKY led in the 50s- had done in the past.

But what I feel is that yes, the oppo needs a good bunch of leaders, especially those in their own specialist fields, so that they can be credible. And then they need someone who's the leader, to capture the emotion that people can identify in huge masses.

I'm thinking of people in the past like Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and in smaller examples, perhaps people like Kevin Rudd. But my best examples would actually be Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and a fictional character called Aragorn, from the Lord Of The Rings- the movie version. I think its these three who are the best exemplary of what a leader should be.

 

[kakowi]

Except for WP and NSP (which I have no idea), the other opposition parties seem to have their existence based on a focal point.

If anything happens to that person, their dreams linger for a while before evaporating.

That is the last thing they want. They had given their lives and energy for their cause. They had foregone wealth and status to pursue what they feel is good for singaporeans. We can safely say this of them because there is no money to be earned in the opposition camp.

Maybe they should consider this threat to their dreams.

And ask if they would like their hopes to be like the Olympic torch. It takes its fire from the eternal fire, passed on from runner to runner lighting each promised stadium every 4 years.

Perhaps a collective dream is better?

 

[ericgo32]

great idea
boycott all elections and allow PAP free run in all polices with no one to question them

if boycott had worked, barisan would have won long time ago and PAP wont be calling so much of a shot today.

do a check on ur history.

boycotting in my view is as individual level not political party level. PAP dont give a damm if all opposition parties boycott election as long as they the PAP can ensure that each and every citizens turn up at their polling stations on polling day.

By turning up to vote it not only jus give the party that mandate, it is also to register the citizens faith in the present electoral system that the PAP has built upon for so many decades.

To vote, to spoil vote or simply to boycott is A CHOICE N RIGHTS of every citizens in a democratic country.

LIke i said and i said it again, my stand to boycott is because i do not hav any faith and trust in our electoral system anymore, its that simple.

 

[kakowi]

Why should voters boycott the elections when singapore has one of the cleanest record in elections comparatively?

 

[ericgo32]

Why should voters boycott the elections when singapore has one of the cleanest record in elections comparatively?

well..thats ur opinion on our electoral system to be the cleanest. mine is differ from yours ,which is why i chosen the path of boycotting till i see improvement.

It is my rights and also my choice.

 

[kakowi]

But I am not questioning your choice. I believe in your right to your choice.

What I am asking is why do you hold such a belief about our elections?

 

[leetahbar]

if the opposition can appeal to the personal gain of the voters, do you think they can get into Parliament?

what is that one thing an opposition can do which the PAP can never do? Answer: their presence, their independent presence

how can their independent presence increase the personal gain of the voters: for rich voters; for poor voters; for middle-class voters; for foreign migrants;
Answer: can you suggest?

if you really think about it, and if you believe that you cannot replace the PAP as ruling party, then this is your only value-add: your independent presence in Parliament

“my purpose in entering politics was to try and bring about a democratic system of government. The job has not been done yet, and I feel that as long as God gives me the health and the strength, then I will carry on the fight to bring about responsible opposition in Parliament.” JB Jeyaretnam​

​

if those active characters who are hogging here -either in their more respectable nics or in their nefarious clones - were really meant to self-service peasants, their actions really tell a different story.

they falsely accuse other opps members of mischiefs when they are the real michief doers. if u were to do a statistic, i think they attack the wp party and their member more than they slang at the paps.

they harbour such hatred and vengefulness that they have already lost sight of what OPPOSITION PARTY were suppose to do, i.e, fighting against the paps collectively.

 

[leetahbar]

If only they can be united...and start to think how to win the next election/
else...
they are just slaughtering one another and someone will be munching their popcorns and laughing at the show.

:o :p :o

they cannot unite simply for the fact that the intention is more for personal than for the bigger good.

as a facade, it appears they are doing for peasants but the power, money, fame and the recognition they stand to gain far outweighs the sincere intention to improve peasants' life or enhance "democracy".

just look at their prejudiced ideas. if they were put in charge, i would be the first to emigrate.

 

[kakowi]

so don't you think it all boils down to sitting down and talking with each other, to see the common grounds and the points of differences...and then to unite on a common platform on the common grounds and operate as separate parties on the points of differences?

if they are willing to try to do that, i think a number of voters will be grateful to them...because i feel that voters in singapore want viable opposition that can be of value to their lives

 

[kakowi]

guys, none of you really have the voters in mind do you?

then why are you in politics for? Without voters, how can you enter Parliament, implement policies for the good of the country and earn a salary for the good of your family?

 

[leetahbar]

guys, none of you really have the voters in mind do you?

then why are you in politics for? Without voters, how can you enter Parliament, implement policies for the good of the country and earn a salary for the good of your family?

my friend, to have the voters, we must have the candidates to vote for first.

where are the opp candidates? the good and sincere ones, please. you wanna be one in the next GE?

 

[kakowi]

You already have the candidates.

The issue is not the candidates.

The issue lies in the level of your co-operation with each other. WP has strengths SDP do not have. Vice versa.

It also lies in the image you gave to the voters.

 

[guavatree]

my frind, vers, we must have the candid to vote for first.where are the op cates? The goincere ones,you wanna be one in e?

engaged in illicit gay activities is a crime!

Stealing temple donations is a crime!

Bashing your father is a crime!

Conning property is a crime!

 

[leetahbar]

as long as personal pettiness exist, it's difficult to achieve a ONE GOAL, ONE UNITY, ONE COMMON ENEMY mentality.

sometime, we really must admire communism which is ONE & ONLY - that would be UNITY which jbj stressed before his passing. he was a changed man with a more rational ideology. it's a pity that this change came a bit late.:(