There have been a number of threads and post on this subject. Let me just add my few cents.
Background:
WP as a party had until 2000 a fairly good mix and always had minorities over-representation specially Indians. It was started by a Marshall, a minority member and for the longest time ever led by an Indian, JBJ from 1972 to 2000. That is an impressive record. JBJ also did something that changed the course of history and gave hope to everyone who felt that the PAP was invincible. It cost him his career, his wealth and I am sure it affected his family to some extent. For an educated man and DJ No.1 in the 60s, he would have been top of the pile. I think we can acknowledge his sacrifice.
Support for WP.
It came from across the spectrum and more importantly from the Chinese educated masses. LTK joined a party that was led by an Indian and had a Indians and Malays giving the party an good racial identity. So from this we can tell that LTK has no issues working in such an environment and being led by an Indian.
Intelligentsia and the WP
In the 1980s, there was slow creep of well educated individuals coming into the party. For reasons best know to them, they preferred work behind the scenes. That was dashed when old man went looking for commies and liberation theologies and smashed this lot as well.
A Balakrishnan Incident
In 1995, this clown wrote a defamatory article in the Hammer and in Tamil which no other Party member including JBJ as editor could read and understand. In 1998, the Court found against 3 parties - (1) WP, (2) Balakrisnan and (3) JBJ and all three were told cough up slightly over $500K with costs. Cash strapped WP and other two could not pay and the HIgh Court was petitioned for personal bankruptcy for 2 of them while a winding up order was sought for the Party, putting the 2 seats held in Parliament by LTK and JBJ in jeopardy. Then all the angst began.
LTK background
A Nantah grad, an ex teacher and later a businessman, and like all people of his background, spoken and written English is a really challenge and in a forum calling for open discussion with people with good quality English , it is quite intimidating. There is natural barrier and reticence to engage with other races. Sometimes this is taken as lack of confidence and at other times a perceived sense of subversion and racism appears.
Gomez / Fazli / Sajeev Incidents
All 3 contested under the WP banner and all three quit. It does show that WP has an issue. It does show that WP is not working hard in attracting a proper mix which reflects Singapore accurately. In the western corporate world where diversity is an issue, this would not be acceptable. Then again , there is the fear of bringing in Indians who are perceived as too politically adventurist and careless as Gomez proved. Now that tag would be stuck on Indians if VW and PT are nominated.
If this is too hard to grasp, let me go back and throw in JBJ who sacrificed everything and he is an Indian.
In conclusion
LTK is no different to any other political leader who is looking to get bums on seats with whatever advantages he has and avoiding the weakness that are apparent. He sending GG for poitical discusiion and having SL as pinch hitter is obvious. Though he has done tremendously well in this regard with 8 members in parliament, he and the party leadership need to try much harder as they cannot afford another Fazli or Sajeev incident. They have to attract quality minority candidates such as those who joined SDP in recent years. Chen and Pritam are just two swallows and won't make it a summer.
Frankly with the way that CSJ and Jufrie are going, it is a golden opportunity for WP to position themselves and cast an image that will bring across the quality members that SDP has.
Background:
WP as a party had until 2000 a fairly good mix and always had minorities over-representation specially Indians. It was started by a Marshall, a minority member and for the longest time ever led by an Indian, JBJ from 1972 to 2000. That is an impressive record. JBJ also did something that changed the course of history and gave hope to everyone who felt that the PAP was invincible. It cost him his career, his wealth and I am sure it affected his family to some extent. For an educated man and DJ No.1 in the 60s, he would have been top of the pile. I think we can acknowledge his sacrifice.
Support for WP.
It came from across the spectrum and more importantly from the Chinese educated masses. LTK joined a party that was led by an Indian and had a Indians and Malays giving the party an good racial identity. So from this we can tell that LTK has no issues working in such an environment and being led by an Indian.
Intelligentsia and the WP
In the 1980s, there was slow creep of well educated individuals coming into the party. For reasons best know to them, they preferred work behind the scenes. That was dashed when old man went looking for commies and liberation theologies and smashed this lot as well.
A Balakrishnan Incident
In 1995, this clown wrote a defamatory article in the Hammer and in Tamil which no other Party member including JBJ as editor could read and understand. In 1998, the Court found against 3 parties - (1) WP, (2) Balakrisnan and (3) JBJ and all three were told cough up slightly over $500K with costs. Cash strapped WP and other two could not pay and the HIgh Court was petitioned for personal bankruptcy for 2 of them while a winding up order was sought for the Party, putting the 2 seats held in Parliament by LTK and JBJ in jeopardy. Then all the angst began.
LTK background
A Nantah grad, an ex teacher and later a businessman, and like all people of his background, spoken and written English is a really challenge and in a forum calling for open discussion with people with good quality English , it is quite intimidating. There is natural barrier and reticence to engage with other races. Sometimes this is taken as lack of confidence and at other times a perceived sense of subversion and racism appears.
Gomez / Fazli / Sajeev Incidents
All 3 contested under the WP banner and all three quit. It does show that WP has an issue. It does show that WP is not working hard in attracting a proper mix which reflects Singapore accurately. In the western corporate world where diversity is an issue, this would not be acceptable. Then again , there is the fear of bringing in Indians who are perceived as too politically adventurist and careless as Gomez proved. Now that tag would be stuck on Indians if VW and PT are nominated.
If this is too hard to grasp, let me go back and throw in JBJ who sacrificed everything and he is an Indian.
In conclusion
LTK is no different to any other political leader who is looking to get bums on seats with whatever advantages he has and avoiding the weakness that are apparent. He sending GG for poitical discusiion and having SL as pinch hitter is obvious. Though he has done tremendously well in this regard with 8 members in parliament, he and the party leadership need to try much harder as they cannot afford another Fazli or Sajeev incident. They have to attract quality minority candidates such as those who joined SDP in recent years. Chen and Pritam are just two swallows and won't make it a summer.
Frankly with the way that CSJ and Jufrie are going, it is a golden opportunity for WP to position themselves and cast an image that will bring across the quality members that SDP has.
