Re: Francis Seow specifically mentioned in his book that Low could have helped JBJ...
Raffles Tiger,
Do not subsume everything under ' You are free to agree to disagree etc etc'.
Strange you take Francis Seow seriously.
Financially & amorously questionable, this chap has no heart for the people other than his quasi-intellectual flowery fantasy of being persecuted by dictatorship.
How he views Low & how the international community view Low is inconsequential to us singaporeans.
It's how we, the electorate view him that is the crux.
You can have all your preferred definition of what constitutes Genuine Opposition - the likes of DAP etc and winning international praise for his fiery attacks on PAP etc.
Our electorate have returned WP on a GRC ticket & more.
JBJ, Chee are all respected for their courage of conviction however not in sync with the local electorate's political values and preferences.
I agree totally with HoTlas' view that there is an insidious campaign since the fall of Aljunied GRC to destroy Low politically.
So anyone who has a grievance with him - the Eric Tans, Goh Meng Sengs etc, their criticisms will be echoed and magnified by assholes like kanina and demanding neutrals like nice-gook etc.
Low is not perfect.
His perceived 'softness' vis a vis PAP instead of hard hitting vitriol always attract certain criticisms in addition to the grudging compliments which PAP leaders occasionally pay him.
So all the fantasy talks of moles, double agents, on the take, cloak & daggers of how Sylvia Lim, Low, Chiam even Chee are PAP agents out to scheme and sellout democracy .... such incredulous suggestions can never be proved or dispoved to anyone's satisfaction.
Just as any cynic will swear every football game is manipulated by bookies and their almighty dough.
so, all are entitled to believe what they want to believe, dead sure with their own brand of logic & deduction.
Low is resilient in building up to critical mass an effective opposition first then alternative - hence the 1st world parliament tagline who is a little grandstanding to my liking.
In contrast, all other opposition leaders from Marshall to JBJ to Chiam to Chee to Low to Kenneth etc all are to be respected for standing up for what they believe but truth be told, effective action and results are not forthcoming and of course we know the level field is a fantasy still one need to be an overcomer not some cynical arm chair critic seeking refuge as some arty farty scholar in Harvard sounding like a political sage on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.