Friday • April 28, 2006
THE Opposition should come up with its own slate of 84 candidates if it wants to be taken seriously, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
Mr Lee was speaking after he was elected unopposed at Tanjong Pagar GRC yesterday, 51 years after he first won an election at the then single-member constituency of Tanjong Pagar.
"If you want to play your role, you come up with 84 candidates equal to the PAP (People's Action Party) and say we can form an alternative government that will be better than the PAP because we've got better policies," said Mr Lee. "Don't niggle over little points, don't quarrel over this, that and the other. Join us on the main issues."
The Minister Mentor added that the Opposition was currently making promises they did not have to fulfil because they know they are not fighting to form the Government. Said Mr Lee: "The PAP makes promises they deliver. The Opposition cannot deliver.
"If you have a flood, just carefully think who is more likely to get the drainage put right and have the flood alleviated as quickly as possible: A PAP candidate with links to the ministers and Prime Minister, or a non-PAP candidate who has become an MP, like in Potong Pasir or Hougang, and who has to manage on his own?
"That's a fact of life."
He challenged the Opposition to address the main issues, such as making Singapore safe, stable, racially harmonious and globally competitive.
"How do we arrange it so that in this globalised economy — where the higher end is getting more rewards because the lower end has to compete against China and India — how do we arrange to have the lower end looked after? If you tax the higher end too much, they'll move elsewhere. We got to find a way to give the lower end a lift," said Mr Lee.
Noting that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had worked out a Progress Package for all Singaporeans thanks to a thriving economy, he asked voters to consider carefully if the Opposition can guarantee the country growth.
"Look at what they're saying. Look at their track record. Chiam See Tong, 22 years. Low Thia Khiang, nearly 15 years. What have they said, what have they done? Every Budget time, every major election policy — contribution: Zero."
Mr Lee also said that the Opposition lacked in "intellectual content", which is why Parliament needed Nominated MPs — "people with knowledge, understanding of economics, business, et cetera".
"If the Opposition can get that kind of candidate and make them also electable, then they will come nearer the PAP. Otherwise it's just packaging, one, two words, soundbites at press conferences: I will do this I will do that.
"How? You are not the Government and you are not fighting to be the Government. So it's just empty promises," he added.
He also said that the Opposition's presentation of its candidates demonstrated its inability to attract sufficient talent.
He said: "Look at the way the Opposition presents their candidates. The first three are the most presentable. Then, as you go down the list, they become less and less presentable.
"Look at their minority candidates. Minority candidates are not there for decoration. They pull in the minority vote and that's 25 per cent of the votes. We field minority candidates with standing and stature in their community. But they pull out chaps who once upon a time were from Barisan (Socialis), in out, in out — they have not connected with the Malay or Indian world."
And in case the Opposition is hopeful that Mr Lee will put away his guns after this term, the veteran politician quelled those thoughts, saying he would stand again if he is "fit and can carry a GRC", and if the Prime Minister wants him to. "I'm 82, plus five years, I'll be 87. Let's see what I'll be like at 87," said Mr Lee.
