Alex Tan to YPAP members: “Don’t be anonymous cowards on Facebook”
December 15, 2009 by Our Correspondent
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Written by Our Correspondent
In his latest blog entry, Mr Alex Tan upped the ante by sending his challenge to have a public debate at Speaker’s Corner to the following YPAP members: Corns Tan, Foo Yoong Kheong, Alan Soh, Sear Hock Rong, Edgar Khieu and the moderator who banned him from posting on the YPAP Facebook, Law undergraduate Genesis Shen.
In his message, Mr Tan urged the YPAP members to walk their talk and “don’t be anonymous cowards on Facebook.”
Mr Tan had been posting on YPAP Facebook forum for the last six months before he was banned for “indulging in name-calling and vulgarities” which even made the headlines in The Sunday Times.
It is not known if he was banned because of his combative style or because the YPAP members are unable to manage his relentless attacks on the government.
Despite being discredited by YPAP members for being detained for 5 days during his National Service, Mr Tan continues to heckle them.
There was no immediate response from the YPAP. It remains to be seen if any YPAP member dares to take up Mr Tan’s challenge and have a “live” debate with him at Hong Lim Park.
Mr Tan’s courage is rare among Singapore youths who are largely apathetic towards the nation’s politics, let alone express their disapproval of the government openly.
Besides blogging, Mr Tan also set up a Facebook group “Vote the PAP out” to protest against the ruling party. Among the grievances listed on the Facebook are – influx of foreigners, disadvanages of National Service, sky-rocketing property prices, high medical costs and low CPF’s interest rates.
Faced with an electorate which has becoming increasingly flustered and disillusioned with its policies, the ruling party has introduced a “cooling-off” day to enable voters to ponder over their choices “calmly” and “rationally”.
The additional day will probably have no effect on its hardcore detractors like Mr Tan who has long made up their minds to vote for the opposition, regardless of who the candidate is.
The unthinkable prospect of a “freak election” is “freaking” out the ruling party which has engineered overwhelming electoral victories for itself one after another since first winning power in 1959.
With victory almost acertained for the ruling party, Singaporeans may be more inclined to cast a protest vote it. The uncertainty arises if large number of voters think in this manner and vote for the opposition.
It is indeed worrying that the majority of netizens are supporting Mr Tan in his solo crusade against the YPAP which shows that the ruling party still has alot of work to do to win disaffected young Singaporeans to its side.
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AlexTan , YPAP, Speakers Corner
Coffeeshop Chit Chat - AlexTan , YPAP, Speakers Corner
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