Does WP know how to use talent?

[tanwahp]

WP did a reshuffle of its CEC and I am intrigued by how they have used Chen Show Mao so far.

Chen is a member of the CEC, but does not play any role.

We all know quite a bit about Chen, who was with the high profile Davis and Polk and held stellar credentials. To the extent, many now say that he was one of the two single biggest factors why WP captured Aljunied.

Those familar with party structures probably know that CEC posts are internally elected and Chen got in because of the weight he holds with the public.

Png and Pritam, who held the roles of deputy webmaster and deputy media chairman, have been dropped from these roles. But a check shows that both were newly promoted Vice Chairmen in the Aljunied Town Council. Png replaced Yaw while Pritam replaced Low. It is a good division of work. Sylvia chairs the town council.

However, Chen does not hold a role in the town council either.

Another check with the Aljunied grassroots called "AJCC" shows that Chen does not have a role there either. Low chairs this committee, another good division of work. But with unknowns, non-CEC or never-candidates playing key roles.

Is Chen too big a jump where the talent of the ranks are concerned, that they do not know where to place him or find him above their league finding themselves unable to work with him? It might even give rise to a sinister conspiracy theory that because of his background he is deemed to be a threat and hence kept down.

The one good thing about this reshuffle was to replace the youth wing chief with an incumbent MP and Malay. Malay blood is something WP sorely needs.

 

[valiant20]

My Guess, CSM may (pure speculation here) have indicated that he does not wish to play too active a role in the WP CEC due to his other commitments (including tying up loose ends in China, Bringing his family over, his 2 young children, etc). May not have the energy after deducting his MP work and commitments.

Not to mention.. he does not drive(?).. always seen taking public transport. Can you imagine how much time is lost due to breakdowns in our public transport system? :p

 

[tanwahp]

My Guess, CSM may (pure speculation here) have indicated that he does not wish to play too active a role in the WP CEC due to his other commitments (including tying up loose ends in China, Bringing his family over, his 2 young children, etc). May not have the energy after deducting his MP work and commitments

I would be worried for both the MP and the party if the MP can be excused from sharing the load and the party allows this. Who isn't busy?

 

[valiant20]

I would be worried for both the MP and the party if the MP can be excused from sharing the load and the party allows this. Who isn't busy?

Nothing to do with sharing the load, but using energy to create initiative to create/react to matters.. If one can't put in his best effort due to limited time/energy, would one still go ahead for that leadership position, only to falter later on?

Just providing a perspective here

 

[ray_of_hope]

What you would like to see may not be what the individual wants. Hence, you inadvertently erect a strawman.

If you look at the sequence of events everything seems crystal clear.

CSM joined WP years ago as an ordinary member and decided to take a low profile. He was only unveiled to the public a few weeks before last year's GE.

His approach is unlike many others, of far lesser qualifications that him, who joined other oppo parties and then either demanded leadership roles or decided to usurp the roles for themselves, with disastrous consequences for those parties. I can think of at least 2 examples here.

WP did a reshuffle of its CEC and I am intrigued by how they have used Chen Show Mao so far.

Chen is a member of the CEC, but does not play any role.

We all know quite a bit about Chen, who was with the high profile Davis and Polk and held stellar credentials. To the extent, many now say that he was one of the two single biggest factors why WP captured Aljunied.

Those familar with party structures probably know that CEC posts are internally elected and Chen got in because of the weight he holds with the public.

Png and Pritam, who held the roles of deputy webmaster and deputy media chairman, have been dropped from these roles. But a check shows that both were newly promoted Vice Chairmen in the Aljunied Town Council. Png replaced Yaw while Pritam replaced Low. It is a good division of work. Sylvia chairs the town council.

However, Chen does not hold a role in the town council either.

Another check with the Aljunied grassroots called "AJCC" shows that Chen does not have a role there either. Low chairs this committee, another good division of work. But with unknowns, non-CEC or never-candidates playing key roles.

Is Chen too big a jump where the talent of the ranks are concerned, that they do not know where to place him or find him above their league finding themselves unable to work with him? It might even give rise to a sinister conspiracy theory that because of his background he is deemed to be a threat and hence kept down.

The one good thing about this reshuffle was to replace the youth wing chief with an incumbent MP and Malay. Malay blood is something WP sorely needs.

 

[tanwahp]

What you would like to see may not be what the individual wants. Hence, you inadvertently erect a strawman.

If you look at the sequence of events everything seems crystal clear.

CSM joined WP years ago as an ordinary member and decided to take a low profile. He was only unveiled to the public a few weeks before last year's GE.

His approach is unlike many others, of far lesser qualifications that him, who joined other oppo parties and then either demanded leadership roles or decided to usurp the roles for themselves, with disastrous consequences for those parties. I can think of at least 2 examples here.

Like Valiant20, I think you are trying to paint CSM as an exception rather than the norm. Yee JJ and Pritam Singh were also fairly new to WP. The only difference between CSM and the rest are his credentials. Unless better credentials make for a worse manager and that is why WP hasn't given him a role.

Your statement that most people go into opposition to demand for positions is also too absolute and extreme.

 

[ray_of_hope]

Like Valiant20, I think you are trying to paint CSM as an exception rather than the norm. Yee JJ and Pritam Singh were also fairly new to WP. The only difference between CSM and the rest are his credentials. Unless better credentials make for a worse manager and that is why WP hasn't given him a role.

Your statement that most people go into opposition to demand for positions is also too absolute and extreme.

Obviously you did not read my posting carefully. CSM was not recent to WP. He joined as an ordinary member a few years before deciding to contest the GE. But he had deliberately taken to being low profile.

I don't think I need to be too explicit about the 2 oppo parties where new people took over leadership within a year of joining. That turned out to be disasters for the 2 parties. What is so absolute about that? If you do not accept that it is a statement of fact then we obviously have a different understanding of facts.

 

[sleaguepunter]

u guys see csm too up. yes, he a big shot lawyer so what?

i not really impress with what he had done. but i gave him at least a term to prove himself.

anyway, i dont see why csm shd spend too much time at grassroot, as if he is as brainy as u guys claim to be, i rather he come out with extraordinary ideas to improve WP. let Mr LTK do grassroot can liao.

 

[Cruxx]

u guys see csm too up. yes, he a big shot lawyer so what?

i not really impress with what he had done. but i gave him at least a term to prove himself.

anyway, i dont see why csm shd spend too much time at grassroot, as if he is as brainy as u guys claim to be, i rather he come out with extraordinary ideas to improve WP. let Mr LTK do grassroot can liao.

Sinkies are simple people. They do not want ideas. They just want someone to carry their babies and shed a few tears every now and then.

 

[wwabbit]

I think the OP's question brings up the question again of whether meritocracy is the right way to go.

Should appointments be given to whoever is the smartest and the most qualifications, or given to the right person for the job?

Personally I think being smart doesn't make you a leader, so while the PAP has been pushing the idea of meritocracy to Singaporeans for the past few decades, the WP believes in putting the right man into the right job.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

I would agree with you here.

Running a political party or even as politicians itself, needs more than intelligence and qualifications. However, it is still meritocracy but the KPI is very different here. It is not based on paper qualifications but rather political acumen, strategic thinking, inter-personal skills etc.

Having said that, CSM seems to have the PR and inter-personal skills. In fact, I was told that he was excellent on the ground with his PR and inter-personal skills, very much better than any other WP MPs, including LTK. He has run an organization with elite lawyers as well, that could close big deals from the Chinese banks and firms. This will need exceptional leadership, EQ, networking and PR skills to start with. An ordinary lawyer won't have that kinds of skill sets. However, from various sources, CSM is shying away from reporters for whatever reasons. This is a mystery to me.

I do not know what went wrong with WP CEC appointment but apparently, it doesn't look good. While those with lower or even lowest votes and support from its cadres get fanciful appointments, CSM was left alone at the side. Seriously, they have created so many positions that aren't really necessary. Look at the website, do you really need two persons to run it? There isn't really that much updates to be done in the first place.

What is really lacking and glaring is public policy study organisation within the party. As a party aspiring to become "the other party" in their "two party system model" (not that I agree with this...), a policy think tank is critically important. I would say that if CSM is to be more effective on the parliamentary front, which he is lacking, he should seriously consider to spend more time in public policy studies and analysis. So far, we only see him giving lofty ideas and ideals but where's the beef? Specific policy deliberations are pretty lacking from him.


Goh Meng Seng

I think the OP's question brings up the question again of whether meritocracy is the right way to go.

Should appointments be given to whoever is the smartest and the most qualifications, or given to the right person for the job?

Personally I think being smart doesn't make you a leader, so while the PAP has been pushing the idea of meritocracy to Singaporeans for the past few decades, the WP believes in putting the right man into the right job.

 

[Huat-Ah]

None of our god damn business anyway whatever Workers Party Internal Stuff shuffle..

 

[kingrant]

Tend to agree with yr views. Makes a lot of sense. CSM is not the power-hungry type, he is more of the service type. He'll be better off doing research, prepping those in the frontlines, and generally being a backroom orchestrator. Here, GMS's point abt policy studies man will fit him well.

What you would like to see may not be what the individual wants. Hence, you inadvertently erect a strawman.

If you look at the sequence of events everything seems crystal clear.

CSM joined WP years ago as an ordinary member and decided to take a low profile. He was only unveiled to the public a few weeks before last year's GE.

His approach is unlike many others, of far lesser qualifications that him, who joined other oppo parties and then either demanded leadership roles or decided to usurp the roles for themselves, with disastrous consequences for those parties. I can think of at least 2 examples here.

 

[kingrant]

Do not forget that people like Goh Keng Swee, Lim Kim San, even Howe Yoon Chong and Richard Hu are pple who tend to shy away from the glare of cameras, the rough and tumble of politics and the hustings, and they were all sucky public speakers. When they were Ministers, the number of public speeches they made were few and far between, and then the ST and TV had to come in and embellish their images etc.

So though these pple may have great minds, not all of them were like the Old Man, Toh CC, or Raja, always coming out with guns blazing and at ease with the crowds, the cameras and media.

So deploy good pple skilfully, and high office do not always equate to the power centre or distance from it. Kwa Geok Choo is a good example.

 

[tanwahp]

CSM is not the power-hungry type, he is more of the service type.

I am not sure what it has to do with my point. If he likes service he should be give roles to enjoy the service. Right now he is denied at least one more area of service other than being an MP. Roles are not power hungry, it's to fulfill the role.

 

[kingrant]

Must he be given a CEC post before he can be considered to be serving?

I am not sure what it has to do with my point. If he likes service he should be give roles to enjoy the service. Right now he is denied at least one more area of service other than being an MP. Roles are not power hungry, it's to fulfill the role.

 

[tanwahp]

Must he be given a CEC post before he can be considered to be serving?

Of course he is already serving. As a MP. Your question should be, must he be given a CEC post to serve at one more level. I'd say, yes.

 

[skponggol]

.....

Makes a lot of sense. CSM is not the power-hungry type, he is more of the service type. He'll be better off doing research, prepping those in the frontlines, and generally being a backroom orchestrator. Here, GMS's point abt policy studies man will fit him well.

"Chen Show Mao not the power-hungry type" ???!!!

Then how on earth did he manage to become the boss of a top law firm in the world ? If he is not hungry for power, he would not have succeeded in climbing up the ruthlesss world of corporate world.

"He is more of the service type" ???

Then why didn't he continue to serve as a foot soldier in his law firm serving the people at the ground level? Why did he bother to climb up the corporate ladder and reached to the very top?

Why didn't he continue to do research, training newbies and be a backroom orchestrator at his law firm? Why was he so greedy and must become the NO1 at his law firm?

Throughout his life, Chen Show Mao had tasted success after success and success...top student, top lawyer, top schools and top law firms....

Now he had given up everything at the peak of his career to serve as a backroom orchestrator for a small political party ??? As Bill Clinton said "Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen."

It's like Lional Messi or Ronaldo quitting their A-list football clubs at their prime and come to Singapore to serve as a substitute or coach as backroom orchestrators.


.....

 

[The_Hypocrite]

CSM got role so wat? Got extra pay?? I rather he concentrate on hammering PAP in parliament n looking after his constituents

WP did a reshuffle of its CEC and I am intrigued by how they have used Chen Show Mao so far.

Chen is a member of the CEC, but does not play any role.

We all know quite a bit about Chen, who was with the high profile Davis and Polk and held stellar credentials. To the extent, many now say that he was one of the two single biggest factors why WP captured Aljunied.

Those familar with party structures probably know that CEC posts are internally elected and Chen got in because of the weight he holds with the public.

Png and Pritam, who held the roles of deputy webmaster and deputy media chairman, have been dropped from these roles. But a check shows that both were newly promoted Vice Chairmen in the Aljunied Town Council. Png replaced Yaw while Pritam replaced Low. It is a good division of work. Sylvia chairs the town council.

However, Chen does not hold a role in the town council either.

Another check with the Aljunied grassroots called "AJCC" shows that Chen does not have a role there either. Low chairs this committee, another good division of work. But with unknowns, non-CEC or never-candidates playing key roles.

Is Chen too big a jump where the talent of the ranks are concerned, that they do not know where to place him or find him above their league finding themselves unable to work with him? It might even give rise to a sinister conspiracy theory that because of his background he is deemed to be a threat and hence kept down.

The one good thing about this reshuffle was to replace the youth wing chief with an incumbent MP and Malay. Malay blood is something WP sorely needs.

 

[kingrant]

People like you like to mix up skillsets in corporate life with skillsets in political life. That is how the PAP thinks and that is why they are now in trouble.

Seems to me you must be a PAP mole trying to stir up trouble.

.....



"Chen Show Mao not the power-hungry type" ???!!!

Then how on earth did he manage to become the boss of a top law firm in the world ? If he is not hungry for power, he would not have succeeded in climbing up the ruthlesss world of corporate world.

"He is more of the service type" ???

Then why didn't he continue to serve as a foot soldier in his law firm serving the people at the ground level? Why did he bother to climb up the corporate ladder and reached to the very top?

Why didn't he continue to do research, training newbies and be a backroom orchestrator at his law firm? Why was he so greedy and must become the NO1 at his law firm?

Throughout his life, Chen Show Mao had tasted success after success and success...top student, top lawyer, top schools and top law firms....

Now he had given up everything at the peak of his career to serve as a backroom orchestrator for a small political party ??? As Bill Clinton said "Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen."

It's like Lional Messi or Ronaldo quitting their A-list football clubs at their prime and come to Singapore to serve as a substitute or coach as backroom orchestrators.


.....