Chiams retain seats in Singapore People's Party CEC

[PoliticalDialogue]

Chiams retain seats in Singapore People's Party CEC
Published on Jan 05, 2014, 7:47 PM, The Straits Times
By Maryam Mokhtar

Singapore People's Party (SPP) chairman Lina Chiam, 65, kept her place in the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) with the most number of votes at an election meeting on Sunday.

The Non-Constituency MP's husband and veteran opposition leader Chiam See Tong, 78, also retained his place in a party he has been closely associated with since the 1990s.

In a bid to inject fresh blood ahead of the next General Election, which is due by 2016, the 10-member CEC also has four new faces.

They include an accountant, a former teacher and a non-governmental organisation advisor. All are believed to have been with the party for about two years, and are in their mid-20s and 30s.

The election at the SPP's Sennett Estate headquarters was attended by 27 party members, all of whom voted in Mrs Chiam into the committee, a source said.

The SPP will convene another meeting later this month to decide on filling in positions within the CEC. Mr and Mrs Chiam were the party's secretary-general and chairman respectively, in the last committee.

Mrs Chiam declined to speak to reporters after the elections, adding only that a statement would be released in due course.

http://www.straitstimes.com/breakin...in-seats-singapore-peoples-party-cec-20140105

 

[PoliticalDialogue]

Singapore People's Party (SPP) chairman Lina Chiam (centre) speaks to reporters as she guides her husband, Chiam See Tong (far left), out of the SPP headquarters after an election meeting on Sunday, Jan 5, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

 

[The_Hypocrite]

CST dosent look too good,,,but anyway,,if they contest PP and Bishan Toa Payoh,,hope they win,,,better them than the pappies,.,,,

 

[PoliticalDialogue]

Many Singaporeans still have a soft spot for Chiam See Tong, and they would be saddened to see him in such a frail state.

 

[steffychun]

Do they have any children and if so, why arent they carrying the flag?

 

[PoliticalDialogue]

There was previously some speculation that TJS and possibly AYG would join SPP. The speculation followed a story in the Independent. What happened to that?

 

[tanwahp]

There was previously some speculation that TJS and possibly AYG would join SPP. The speculation followed a story in the Independent. What happened to that?

I don't see that coming about. The pair will either join DPP or form a new party.

 

[steffychun]

There was previously some speculation that TJS and possibly AYG would join SPP. The speculation followed a story in the Independent. What happened to that?

Speculation is speculation

Those two are not worthy of any political party

 

[tanwahp]

Speculation is speculation

Those two are not worthy of any political party

Those free agents who are until now hunting for the best option fail to realize that if do they find it, they have less than 2 years to do what they need to do to win an election. It baffles me that some of these intelligent "opposition interesters" lack the EQ to realize that jostling and being enigmatic and unpredictable are only going to hurt and not benefit themselves. Surprises don't win elections.

People underestimate WP's winning of Aljunied GRC. It takes every single door to be knocked before a GRC was captured. Which other opposition party has done it? Some claimed on FB that they did but there is no way you can finish knocking every door with a once per month visit.

Even WP for whatever reasons has slackened and has not covered another GRC to the same extent since. If national sentiments in 2016 are the same as in 2011, they probably wouldn't win the 2nd GRC.

 

[steffychun]

Those free agents who are until now hunting for the best option fail to realize that if do they find it, they have less than 2 years to do what they need to do to win an election. It baffles me that some of these intelligent "opposition interesters" lack the EQ to realize that jostling and being enigmatic and unpredictable are only going to hurt and not benefit themselves. Surprises don't win elections.

People underestimate WP's winning of Aljunied GRC. It takes every single door to be knocked before a GRC was captured. Which other opposition party has done it? Some claimed on FB that they did but there is no way you can finish knocking every door with a once per month visit.

Even WP for whatever reasons has slackened and has not covered another GRC to the same extent since. If national sentiments in 2016 are the same as in 2011, they probably wouldn't win the 2nd GRC.

You think WP is that bad.

 

[The_Hypocrite]

WP is slacking, there are now 7 of them in Parleement, but the debates etc has been quiet,,,have they said anything about MCE? Have they said anything about why was there a need for MCE? Who benefits from the Marina Bay redevelopment? they are now as quiet as church mice, now only 2 years left,,if they put in the same amount of effort for east coast now as they did in aljunied, the chances will be better...

You think WP is that bad.

 

[melzp]

WP is slacking, there are now 7 of them in Parleement, but the debates etc has been quiet,,,have they said anything about MCE? Have they said anything about why was there a need for MCE? Who benefits from the Marina Bay redevelopment? they are now as quiet as church mice, now only 2 years left,,if they put in the same amount of effort for east coast now as they did in aljunied, the chances will be better...

They should ask why Panama Canal cost only about almost US$5 billion back then to this MCE(for the world's shippers).

 

[steffychun]

WP is slacking, there are now 7 of them in Parleement, but the debates etc has been quiet,,,have they said anything about MCE? Have they said anything about why was there a need for MCE? Who benefits from the Marina Bay redevelopment? they are now as quiet as church mice, now only 2 years left,,if they put in the same amount of effort for east coast now as they did in aljunied, the chances will be better...

sometimes silence is golden.

 

[tanwahp]

You think WP is that bad.

It's not about talk and issues. When you are in parliament, you are bound by the structures and cultures of the state and cannot run away from that. That is why WP's style is different from the rest.

WP appears apprehensive about capturing another GRC due to the challenges. But I say that the real movers and shakers find and grow the resource, not work within present resource.

 

[PoliticalDialogue]

In politics, appearance and reality can diverge very significantly. The remarkable thing is that the more WP gives the appearance that it is not politically ambitious or aiming for ultimate political power, the more many middle ground voters are happy to vote for it. The middle ground voters -- who do not desire a great divergence from the status quo -- are ultimately the political kingmakers. The views of the irreducible core of opposition voters (who account for 25% of the electorate) and who heavily populate the online world, simply do not count.

On the other hand, the knick-knack opposition parties and personalities who come across as politically ambitious and grasping, the less middle ground voters are keen to vote for them.

This is very much a Singapore political phenomenon that is rarely found elsewhere. And the WP leaders seem to be the only ones who have a firm understanding of this phenomenon. My analysis therefore remains consistent: WP continues to be in the sweet spot and will make further headway at the next GE, whereas I expect none of the knick-knack parties to make any headway at all.

 

[tanwahp]

In politics, appearance and reality can diverge very significantly. The remarkable thing is that the more WP gives the appearance that it is not politically ambitious or aiming for ultimate political power, the more many middle ground voters are happy to vote for it. The middle ground voters -- who do not desire a great divergence from the status quo -- are ultimately the political kingmakers. The views of the irreducible core of opposition voters (who account for 25% of the electorate) and who heavily populate the online world, simply do not count.

On the other hand, the knick-knack opposition parties and personalities who come across as politically ambitious and grasping, the less middle ground voters are keen to vote for them.

This is very much a Singapore political phenomenon that is rarely found elsewhere. And the WP leaders seem to be the only ones who have a firm understanding of this phenomenon. My analysis therefore remains consistent: WP continues to be in the sweet spot and will make further headway at the next GE, whereas I expect none of the knick-knack parties to make any headway at all.

From an extreme perspective, you are right. But in reality WP needs to strike a balance, and do that consistently always. Many opposition candidates come from the 25%. Taken to the extreme, you can win a lot of middle and ex-PAP votes but you have no candidates to field. "Knick-knack parties" will have many candidates but cannot win votes. Then there is no point.

 

[steffychun]

From an extreme perspective, you are right. But in reality WP needs to strike a balance, and do that consistently always. Many opposition candidates come from the 25%. Taken to the extreme, you can win a lot of middle and ex-PAP votes but you have no candidates to field. "Knick-knack parties" will have many candidates but cannot win votes. Then there is no point.

WP has not learnt what is called shadowing government or to be an opposition in parliament. Neither has PAP learnt how to act as a parliament. Many question why WP is not raising matter XYZ or ABC. Well, the speaker, the clerks of parliament and every one and apparatus is siding with the PAP. You get what they want to answer.

 

[The_Hypocrite]

So is ignorance.

sometimes silence is golden.

 

[steffychun]

So is ignorance.

Please stay with the no seats SDP if that's what you like

 

[rotiprata]

mr chiam had contributed much to spore politics, we all should be grateful to him...unfortunately SPP will be history in a post CST era......just like the PAP after Mr. LKY...