I happened to have this archive from 2006, by Dennise Phua, the following is part of a long speech, are we hearing the same old thing??
My prognosis of the next GE to come.
I believe this is the tipping point for Singapore politics, for the
PAP as well as the opposition parties.
As far as the PAP is concerned, the performance of our party in the
next GE is a function of :
One, whether the ‘non-conformists’/ PAP MPs are able to convince
voters that they can perform the ‘check and balance’ role more
effectively than an external opposition party.
How we perform come 2010 is also dependent on whether the PAP is
able to show and share its softer side. We need to be better at not
just allocating more and more money to help the lower income groups.
We must be able to communicate better and more frequently the softer
people side of the PAP. There is truth to the adage, "I don't care
how much you know until I know how much you care.”
When I told an email-pal that I am backing the PAP because I
experienced the softer people side of the party, he was cynical. He
told me that he is not as fortunate as me to experience it yet. And
he asked me to help the party do that. And I will.
And finally, how the next GE will pen out will depend on how
successful each of the party is able to attract, develop and retain
the best people in the War for Talents. People who will fire the
imagination of the voters. People who will be able to win the hearts
and heads and hands of the Singapore voters.
Thank you.
Denise Phua
23 May 23, 2006