PAP internally concedes Hougang and Aljunied

[Velma]

how does benjamin come across bro?...i hv yet to attend a SPP rally...

Pwee was outstanding that night. English, Chinese and Cantonese, he could speak fluently and draw laughters from the crowd. The next good one will be Wilfred. I believe that if SPP is elected into B-TP, Chiam might pass over most of the planning to Pwee due to his own health issues.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

i tot dr chia was doing grassroot work in aljunied???...in fact i was surprised pap did not go wif dr tan wu meng instead??...saying that this dr chia chap looks ok...at least much more appealing than MG Chan!!!...

Baey was transferred to Tampines because the most impressive of PAP's standby candidate is a President Scholar, a surgeon and he was doing grassroots work in Tanjong Pagar. .

 

[wikiphile]

Can you please clarify how she is "a boon and a bane at the same time?"

The problem is that the media is cashing in on the tin-nicole stand off now and it has distracted a lot of people not in the know on what nsp is doing and wants to do. We in sbf knows that gms and his team are taking on mbt and biting him for housing, just how much of the media is reporting on this?

While there is now a lot of attention on nicole seah and her defending that nsp is not nicole seah party, the rest of nsp isn't very prominent aren't they? Hence my statement of nicole as both a boom and a bane to them. Nsp would have scored points just by biting mbt on the housing issue but I am not reading much of it. If I am not, would the ignorant average tampines voter be?

 

[scroobal]

Have to agree. Many are quite surprised by the poor selection and planning. Really sad to see that the PAP has to provide packed lunch and chartered buses to fill up their rally sites.

I understand that Marine Parade which has not been tested for 20 years is a great unknown for the PAP. To compound the matter, MP had received their slate of goodies such as upgrading etc and nothing is in the pipeline. Nothing much for them to lose.

PAP's strategy n tactics thus far seem to hv turned out pretty flat...time n again PAP has tried to take the initiative n go on the offensive...only to be pushed back to a defensive position...harry n GCT hv not helped wif their gaffes n arrogance; WKS n Shanmugam wif their arrogance; Vivian well double edged sword salvo; steve tan episode; tin pei ling episode; MG Chan n his antics...the list just goes on n on....pretty pathetic for such a supposed well oiled dynamic disciplined election machine...also if GY is such a core member of LHL's team why wasn't he up there wif LHL,WKS,TCH n NEH at the press conferences?...PAP really needs to pull out a big rabbit fm its hat in the next 21/2 days if it wants to swing the tide...alternatively the Oppos need to implode which does not look likely based on the past week...

 

[Summerbee]

My point is that Aljunied is not the only hotspot and the Tampines example is used to reinforce that other constituencies are also being looked into by PAP top guns. Baey was a serving MP that was selected to replace a new face. Hence my conclusion that Tampines is also important.

No one knows the performance of Baey Yam Keng in his civil service job and whether it was up to mark or not, or whether he then moved to the private sector etc. Those are simply unverifable guesses on your part that are not fair to the individual. I do not wish to participate in a discussion in that direction.

Baey was transferred to Tampines because the most impressive of PAP's standby candidate is a President Scholar, a surgeon and he was doing grassroots work in Tanjong Pagar. Baey was the most dispensible member of the TP team. He was not sent there to bolster the Tampines Team. His work in the civil service was not up to mark he had to move to the private sector. He however spends alot of time on grassroots work. The tampines margin is just too wide. Believe me that Baey was upset that he had to move and he knew it was not to rescue to Tampines.

 

[scroobal]

I hope so. Tony and Hazel are an asset to any party.

Tony and Hazel are doing well in the West, they are not forgotten by local residents here despite numerous attempts to concentrate on Aljunied at national level. Both of them performed well in the rallies in the west.

T

 

[THE_CHANSTER]

Chiam is endeared to all races. Unlike LTK, he is English-educated and speaks English as his main. Minorities will feel assured sending him to Parliament, knowing he is not a Chinese chauvinist. He will most likely pull votes from the Toa Payoh area due to spillover from PP. Ben Pwee was brought in to win the hearts of Bishan voters since he is a Bishan boy.

I went to the SPP rally last night and was amazed that the Indians and Malays, though the minority in the rally, were cheering for Chiam and I vividly remembered one Indian who keep cheering "Yes!".

Scroobal,
What is your take on Bishan-Toa Payoh? Initially, I thought this GRC was going to be a straightforward PAP lock but the more I listen to WKS and his pathetic responses to the Mas Selamat fiasco, the more I feel there could be a small upset. Also, I agree with the comments above, Chiam See Tong seems like an honorable man who has endeared himself to the people of all races.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJIrUiK3kEo&NR=1

Don't dismiss this GRC as a foregone conclusion.

 

[scroobal]

The point is Aljunied is a hotspot but Tampines is not in the same league due to a higher buffer in winning margin to overcome. The other point is Baey was the most dispensable. They did not send the President Scholar and surgeon to replace Steve Tan. Common sense will tell you who is the more valuable candidate. There is nothing to guess, it is common knowledge. First eased out civil service to GLC and then to private sector. I certainly cannot provide you with his performance appraisal form but if you think that Baey was sent to bolster the Tampines Team because he is a hotshot, you must be smoking something too heavy. If you consider Baey heavy artillery, you must be new to Singapore poltics. Name me one thing that Baey did as an MP other than wear white belt and white shoes.

Ask anyone in this or any forum and they will laugh if you throw out the point that he is heavy artillery or that he was sent there to bolster the Tampines team. I am sure GMS is doing a marvellous job, but the amount of swing required is huge.

Comparing Aljunied to Tampines as on par hotshot is also not realistic. Mathematically and common sense wise.

My point is that Aljunied is not the only hotspot and the Tampines example is used to reinforce that other constituencies are also being looked into by PAP top guns. Baey was a serving MP that was selected to replace a new face. Hence my conclusion that Tampines is also important.

No one knows the performance of Baey Yam Keng in his civil service job and whether it was up to mark or not, or whether he then moved to the private sector etc. Those are simply unverifable guesses on your part that are not fair to the individual. I do not wish to participate in a discussion in that direction.

 

[Windsor]

The problem is that the media is cashing in on the tin-nicole stand off now and it has distracted a lot of people not in the know on what nsp is doing and wants to do. We in sbf knows that gms and his team are taking on mbt and biting him for housing, just how much of the media is reporting on this?

While there is now a lot of attention on nicole seah and her defending that nsp is not nicole seah party, the rest of nsp isn't very prominent aren't they? Hence my statement of nicole as both a boom and a bane to them. Nsp would have scored points just by biting mbt on the housing issue but I am not reading much of it. If I am not, would the ignorant average tampines voter be?

I don't see how one can measure her contributions to NSP when her presence within NSP is causing such an upheaval to the PAP ranks and file. Imagine if Nicole does not exist, what do you envisage will be the possible scenario? Tin Pei Ling might upset many people by her inclusion but not so much as what we are seeing now. In time she may be accepted by Singaporeans because there was no Nicole to compare with.

NSP without Nicole is like a 30 watt bulb but when she burst into the awareness of Singaporeans she was like a beacon of light that is attracting so much attention that awoke those who had no interest in politics and those who are internet savvy. NSP without Nicole may garner some votes but I doubt they had as much charisma as WP. With Nicole, NSP certainly have a mega personality to carry them through to win some seats. When you compute her contributions to the party, anything else is unimportant. As for MBT he had already dug his own grave and not only NSP but all parties are tossing darts at MBT. He has a thick hide and we shall see how soon he will go down.

 

[@rmadill0]

Yet again, I must say, Scroobal is spot on in his analysis.

For WP, Hougang will be retained as Yaw SL still has strong support from the residents who will be willing to safeguard Hougang for WP so that the A Team can concentrate in their fight in Aljunied.

Apart from Aljunied, I do not see any GRCs falling into Oppositions' hand. As what Scroobal had said, the swing is too wide for it to happen.

As for NSP and GMS, I dunno what to say. Just feel that he might be over ambitious in sending out all his generals to contest in various GRCs and SMCs. I feel that NSP might stand a better chance if they had formed an A Team like the WP and focus her firepower onto 1 GRC.

SPP had only the Benjamin fella who possibly can make it. The team led by CST will not be able to gun WKS down. Lina Chiam will have to count on the support from the CST supporters in PP to retain it. Honestly, I am not at all impress with Lina.

 

[@rmadill0]

I don't see how one can measure her contributions to NSP when her presence within NSP is causing such an upheaval to the PAP ranks and file. Imagine if Nicole does not exist, what do you envisage will be the possible scenario? Tin Pei Ling might upset many people by her inclusion but not so much as what we are seeing now. In time she may be accepted by Singaporeans because there was no Nicole to compare with.

NSP without Nicole is like a 30 watt bulb but when she burst into the awareness of Singaporeans she was like a beacon of light that is attracting so much attention that awoke those who had no interest in politics and those who are internet savvy. NSP without Nicole may garner some votes but I doubt they had as much charisma as WP. With Nicole, NSP certainly have a mega personality to carry them through to win some seats. When you compute her contributions to the party, anything else is unimportant. As for MBT he had already dug his own grave and not only NSP but all parties are tossing darts at MBT. He has a thick hide and we shall see how soon he will go down.

Precisely. NSP is nothing if not for Nicole Seah. That's why even they themselves are admitting that NSP stands for Nicole Seah Party.

 

[scroobal]

Hard to tell bro. Good team in Chiam and Ben etc. This was previously walk-over zone for nearly 20 years as well, so no margins to aim for. There are however 2 heavy weights in PAP team and WKS has solid grassroots support and the entire PA machinary. There is also the Chiam sympathy factor to counter and Mas Selamat debacle. Frankly it is a difficult call.

Scroobal,
What is your take on Bishan-Toa Payoh? Initially, I thought this GRC was going to be a straightforward PAP lock but the more I listen to WKS and his pathetic responses to the Mas Selamat fiasco, the more I feel there could be a small upset. Also, I agree with the comments above, Chiam See Tong seems like an honorable man who has endeared himself to the people of all races.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJIrUiK3kEo&NR=1

Don't dismiss this GRC as a foregone conclusion.

 

[Windsor]

Precisely. NSP is nothing if not for Nicole Seah. That's why even they themselves are admitting that NSP stands for Nicole Seah Party.

What is PAP without LKY or WP without LTK and SPP without CST. There should be someone within the party that is larger than life that stands head and shoulders above the rest.

 

[scroobal]

Actually NSP has been transformed to an unprecedented level and this is very much due to GMS personal effort. It is the largest opposition party in terms of candidates contesting. It gave old man a shudder when GMS threw a challenge at MBT enough for the old man to take it seriously to threathen Singaporeans. NSP and GMS comments about poor HDB planning and unrealistic prices resonates with people across Singapore and not just Tampines. In fact GMS and NSP has done a great service to all opposition candidates by taking on MBT and the HDB and I sure the damage is significant.

GMS is also hamstrung by some of the old timers in NSP who would disappear in between elections. I am sure he has to differ to Sebastian on an number of decisions.

It should also noted that NSP went out its way to create the Malay Bureau and wean the Malays from PAP's poisoned chalice with PKMS being occupied with internal bickering over 50 years.

Precisely. NSP is nothing if not for Nicole Seah. That's why even they themselves are admitting that NSP stands for Nicole Seah Party.

 

[Conqueror]

Strategy !

GMS shld hv put Nicole Seah by his side la

Think of strategy ! We cannot allow all to go down in the water. Split the two group of flotillas and pincer them. If one goes down, the other group will support. GMS can help Nicole at Marine Parade. Strategy and more strategy ! Do not put all the eggs in one basket.

 

[@rmadill0]

What is PAP without LKY or WP without LTK and SPP without CST. There should be someone within the party that is larger than life that stands head and shoulders above the rest.

I agree. So I guess GMS should step down and let Nicole takes over as the Gen Sec then.

 

[Windsor]

I agree. So I guess GMS should step down and let Nicole takes over as the Gen Sec then.

I don't think that is advisable as she is pretty young and still much wet behind her ears. It will be sometime before she can head a party. Not necessary that because she is popular means she should take over as Sec. General. I am sure she knows it and that it is not her ambition at this stage of her political career.

 

[@rmadill0]

It should also noted that NSP went out its way to create the Malay Bureau and wean the Malays from PAP's poisoned chalice with PKMS being occupied with internal bickering over 50 years.

Yes, I do applaud NSP's effort in doing that.

Although NSP does have the biggest team sent out for this GE, I do personally feel that they will pay for the price for not "placing their good eggs in one basket". Yes, under normal circumstances, especially in investment, not placing all your eggs in one basket is a good move but it does not really apply here. By placing their good candidates all over the places, they will not be able to put forth any team that is strong enough to challenge the PAP teams.

Look at WP at Aljunied. LTK, SL, CSM and Pritam - all are generals who can lead the line. Putting them together, they gives the Aljunied voters a food for thought. Kick out George Yeo, you get 4 of our best.

 

[SIFU]

this looks more like a thread/trap to make wp complacent in aljunied & hougang.

i hope wp will push on and not think that the battle is already won.

 

[Velma]

I am more surprised that GMS, instead of focusing 100% on Tampines, seems to me that he is focusing on Marine Parade instead. It is as if Tampines to him is a foregone conclusion.