Chiam See Tong rapped for taking Potong Pasir residents “for granted”
November 10, 2009
An irate Potong Pasir resident Thomas Teo has written in to the Straits Times Forum expressing his disappointment and anger at being “taken for granted” by its MP Mr Chiam See Tong!
Singapore People’s Party (SPP) had earlier written to the Forum via its Councillor Wilfred Leung rebutting claims by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that Potong Pasir residents are “short-changed” by the SPP.
In a recent interview with the state media, Singapore People’s Party Chairman Mr Sin Kek Tong said that Potong Pasir’s veteran MP Chiam See Tong may relinquish his long-held seat in Potong Pasir to contest in a group representation constituency (GRC).
Mr Chiam had not indicated who will replace him as the SPP candidate for Potong Pasir should he decide to contest in a GRC. There are rumors that his wife Ms Lina Ng will contest the seat.
Mr Teo felt “short-changed” by the latest public remarks made by SPP:
“The ease with which the SPP appears to discard our loyalty fills me with sadness and anger. We have supported Mr Chiam since 1984, believing Singaporeans need an opposition voice in Parliament.”
He also disagreed with the SPP’s self-assessment that it has done a “wonderful” job in Potong Pasir:
“The SPP is wrong to take a narrower view that Potong Pasir residents voted for Mr Chiam because Potong Pasir Town Council has done a wonderful job.
To be frank, Potong Pasir has aged more quickly since voting in an opposition MP and the constituency is in need of major upgrading.”
Mr Teo ended his letter with an ominous warning for SPP:
“The SPP should not take the ardent support of some 50 per cent of Potong Pasir residents for granted.
There is no guarantee that voters will give the same level of support to a new SPP candidate.”
A street interview conducted by Chinese paper Lianhe Wanbao in Potong Pasir last week revealed that most residents will not automatically transfer their support for Mr Chiam to his anointed successor should he decide to leave Potong Pasir.
Mr Chiam first won the seat during the 1984 elections when he defeated current National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan by a margin of 10 per cent of the valid votes.
Mr Mah was later elected into Parliament via Tampines GRC in the next election.
Though Mr Chiam is the longest-serving opposition MP in Parliament and is held in high regard by Singaporeans, he has so far failed to build a credible alternative to challenge the ruling party.
The next election to be held by 2011 may his last which explains why he may be leaving his stronghold of Potong Pasir to contest in a GRC.
The opposition has never won a GRC since the system was introduced in the 1988 elections.
The closest they came to winning one was in in 1988 when the Workers’ Party team led by Francis Seow won 49.1 per cent of the valid votes in Eunos GRC which was subsequently dissolved and absorbed by neighboring Aljunied and Marine Parade GRC after the 1991 elections.
The PAP claimed that the GRC was needed to ensure minority representation. Critics lambasted it as a ploy to perpetuate their political hegemony indefinitely.
Before the GRC system was implemented, minority candidates were able to win in single-seat constituencies. The late J.B. Jeyaretnam won against Chinese opponents twice in the Chinese-majority ward of Anson in the 1981 by-election and 1984 general election.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made a freudian slip when he admitted that the GRC helped ensure the electoral victory of first-time candidates who may otherwise not be keen to take part in the elections on a PAP ticket.
Given the perennial weakness of Singapore’s divided opposition, it will be an uphill task for them to capture any GRC in Singapore from th PAP.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/1...or-taking-potong-pasir-residents-for-granted/
November 10, 2009
An irate Potong Pasir resident Thomas Teo has written in to the Straits Times Forum expressing his disappointment and anger at being “taken for granted” by its MP Mr Chiam See Tong!
Singapore People’s Party (SPP) had earlier written to the Forum via its Councillor Wilfred Leung rebutting claims by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that Potong Pasir residents are “short-changed” by the SPP.
In a recent interview with the state media, Singapore People’s Party Chairman Mr Sin Kek Tong said that Potong Pasir’s veteran MP Chiam See Tong may relinquish his long-held seat in Potong Pasir to contest in a group representation constituency (GRC).
Mr Chiam had not indicated who will replace him as the SPP candidate for Potong Pasir should he decide to contest in a GRC. There are rumors that his wife Ms Lina Ng will contest the seat.
Mr Teo felt “short-changed” by the latest public remarks made by SPP:
“The ease with which the SPP appears to discard our loyalty fills me with sadness and anger. We have supported Mr Chiam since 1984, believing Singaporeans need an opposition voice in Parliament.”
He also disagreed with the SPP’s self-assessment that it has done a “wonderful” job in Potong Pasir:
“The SPP is wrong to take a narrower view that Potong Pasir residents voted for Mr Chiam because Potong Pasir Town Council has done a wonderful job.
To be frank, Potong Pasir has aged more quickly since voting in an opposition MP and the constituency is in need of major upgrading.”
Mr Teo ended his letter with an ominous warning for SPP:
“The SPP should not take the ardent support of some 50 per cent of Potong Pasir residents for granted.
There is no guarantee that voters will give the same level of support to a new SPP candidate.”
A street interview conducted by Chinese paper Lianhe Wanbao in Potong Pasir last week revealed that most residents will not automatically transfer their support for Mr Chiam to his anointed successor should he decide to leave Potong Pasir.
Mr Chiam first won the seat during the 1984 elections when he defeated current National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan by a margin of 10 per cent of the valid votes.
Mr Mah was later elected into Parliament via Tampines GRC in the next election.
Though Mr Chiam is the longest-serving opposition MP in Parliament and is held in high regard by Singaporeans, he has so far failed to build a credible alternative to challenge the ruling party.
The next election to be held by 2011 may his last which explains why he may be leaving his stronghold of Potong Pasir to contest in a GRC.
The opposition has never won a GRC since the system was introduced in the 1988 elections.
The closest they came to winning one was in in 1988 when the Workers’ Party team led by Francis Seow won 49.1 per cent of the valid votes in Eunos GRC which was subsequently dissolved and absorbed by neighboring Aljunied and Marine Parade GRC after the 1991 elections.
The PAP claimed that the GRC was needed to ensure minority representation. Critics lambasted it as a ploy to perpetuate their political hegemony indefinitely.
Before the GRC system was implemented, minority candidates were able to win in single-seat constituencies. The late J.B. Jeyaretnam won against Chinese opponents twice in the Chinese-majority ward of Anson in the 1981 by-election and 1984 general election.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made a freudian slip when he admitted that the GRC helped ensure the electoral victory of first-time candidates who may otherwise not be keen to take part in the elections on a PAP ticket.
Given the perennial weakness of Singapore’s divided opposition, it will be an uphill task for them to capture any GRC in Singapore from th PAP.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/1...or-taking-potong-pasir-residents-for-granted/
