Re: Why didnt they move George Yeo to a safer GRC?
The unpopular ministers that the public hated are ALL back to enjoy 5 more years of $$$ pay. Yes, everyone of them: WKS, MBT, VB, KBW. Can you believe how stupid and insane Singaporeans (60%) are.
Ironically, GY, one of the relatively better dudes is out. If GY was really that valuable to PAP, I wonder why they didn't move him to a safer GRC like East Coast. (LSS was placed there instead). Given GY's mediocre performance in Aljunied in 2006 against new comer Sylvia Lim, PAP would have known that letting GY fight a reinforced WP team of such formidable talent this time was very risky ? Why retain him still in Aljunied to face WP's armada if he was indeed so indispensable?
Is it possible some factions in PAP wanted him to lose to pacify the public anger somewhat? Recall, the only PAP leader who defended GY stoutly was GCT. He was the only one who said GY was core and indispensable, even to the extent of pleading with Aljunied residents not to punish GY as George was not the one to let Mas Selamat escape. He even implied that they should direct their anger at WKS instead of GY. Bizarre? But is it?
Everyone knows GY is GCT's man, and that GY was never in the inner circle of PM nor DPM WKS (related to PM). Some PAP factions have always resented GY's growing international stature as foreign minister, often times stealing the limelight from the PM himself. Cutting GY down to size may be in the minds of these factions. Notice that PM did not speak up strongly for GY to Aljunied residents. Only on the last day of the hustings on a quick evening tour of Aljunied, did PM muttered some vague generalities of GY being a good foreign minister and that GY had a deep understanding of Chinese culture and history. When GY showed PM a copy of his last rally speech for PM's input, the latter brushed it aside, and told GY to just do his best and speak from the heart (ST 6 May) GY wasn't that indispensable after all. Tharman can replace GY easily as foreign minister, while Heng Swee Kiat can take Tharman's current job as finance minister. Both were in safe GRCs.
Given all the circumstantial evidence, it would not be unreasonable to conclude that Georgie boy was set up to fail as sacrificial lamb. Finally, MM's blunt 'vote WP and repent' threat to Aljunied residents sounded the death knell for GY
