PAP using 1960s bully boy tactics, DNA difficult to change

“The reality is that personal attacks are not what people are interested in. Rather they want solutions for the problems they face in their daily life, from the MRT to jobs.”

She added, “The PAP just is missing the point in how it engages politically, as it is not adapting to the new reality of different needs and new expectations of a more empowered electorate.”

On the PAP’s future, Welsh felt that the party should rethink its approach and engage voters more through genuine and respectful dialogue.

- http://sg.news.yahoo.com/no-surprise-in-hougang-by-election-results--analysts.html

zeddy said:

Its in their DNA..

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I think the current generation of PAP leaders are caught in a dilemma. I'm sure there are still those who prefer the hardline approach of LKY's years, where dissent is given very little space. And there are the more conciliatory types who want more engagements with the people, more consensus seeking. What happen is a PAP which has lost its identity. It's DNA is clearly defined by LKY's hardline approach, but yet the political climate may no longer be tenable for such an approach. But if you've been ruthlessly beating your political opponents into submission (figuratively speaking), you just can't become a pussycat overnight when you believe you're a lion, the king of the jungle. The result: 不三不四. A confused creature who is a lion at heart, but tries to be a pussycat but at crucial moments, the beast just come out uncontrollably.