Opposition 'ready to govern in five years'
By Jeremy Au Yong
The opposition will be ready to take over and form the government at the next general election in about five years' time, said Singapore People's Party chief Chiam See Tong yesterday.
The leaders of the Workers' Party (WP) and Reform Party, however, disagree on the timeline.
WP's Low Thia Khiang did not want to set a time, while Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam believes it will take at least two more general elections.
Mr Chiam concedes this round may be too soon to expect the opposition to take the reins of government.
But he added: 'The next round, the opposition will be prepared and they will respond accordingly.'
Mr Chiam, who was speaking to reporters at a walkabout in Toa Payoh, boldly predicted a strong challenge by the opposition at future polls.
'Now things are moving so fast, there is a very strong chance the next election will see a new government,' he said.
Mr Jeyaretnam told The Sunday Times: 'We don't think the opposition will be ready to form the government by the next election. It should be the election after that... if it takes three electoral cycles, we will get there to be government.'
The three opposition leaders were responding to a challenge from Education Minister Ng Eng Hen a day earlier. Dr Ng said the opposition should ask voters to trust them to form the government.
'If they can convince voters that they can be a better government, take care of Singapore and voters better than the PAP government, voters will vote for them. Otherwise, voters will say 'I will trust the people that have delivered',' Dr Ng had said.
Mr Low, speaking at the introduction of WP candidates, said that when or whether Singapore moves from its current political system would ultimately depend on the voters.
'As to how it would evolve, let's not pre-empt what voters would do. People who talk about a two-party system or even the PAP talk about whether the WP would form the next government, it's not for the PAP to decide, neither is it for the WP to decide. It's for the voters to decide,' he said.
For Mr Chiam, the bottom line was not just about timing but also how the transition would take place. He stressed that the opposition could take over smoothly.
'It does not mean we will change everything when we become the government... the transition will be done smoothly and it won't affect the stability of Singapore.'
He added: 'Singapore shall remain secure, peaceful and prosperous, and this is the promise of the opposition.'
By Jeremy Au Yong
The opposition will be ready to take over and form the government at the next general election in about five years' time, said Singapore People's Party chief Chiam See Tong yesterday.
The leaders of the Workers' Party (WP) and Reform Party, however, disagree on the timeline.
WP's Low Thia Khiang did not want to set a time, while Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam believes it will take at least two more general elections.
Mr Chiam concedes this round may be too soon to expect the opposition to take the reins of government.
But he added: 'The next round, the opposition will be prepared and they will respond accordingly.'
Mr Chiam, who was speaking to reporters at a walkabout in Toa Payoh, boldly predicted a strong challenge by the opposition at future polls.
'Now things are moving so fast, there is a very strong chance the next election will see a new government,' he said.
Mr Jeyaretnam told The Sunday Times: 'We don't think the opposition will be ready to form the government by the next election. It should be the election after that... if it takes three electoral cycles, we will get there to be government.'
The three opposition leaders were responding to a challenge from Education Minister Ng Eng Hen a day earlier. Dr Ng said the opposition should ask voters to trust them to form the government.
'If they can convince voters that they can be a better government, take care of Singapore and voters better than the PAP government, voters will vote for them. Otherwise, voters will say 'I will trust the people that have delivered',' Dr Ng had said.
Mr Low, speaking at the introduction of WP candidates, said that when or whether Singapore moves from its current political system would ultimately depend on the voters.
'As to how it would evolve, let's not pre-empt what voters would do. People who talk about a two-party system or even the PAP talk about whether the WP would form the next government, it's not for the PAP to decide, neither is it for the WP to decide. It's for the voters to decide,' he said.
For Mr Chiam, the bottom line was not just about timing but also how the transition would take place. He stressed that the opposition could take over smoothly.
'It does not mean we will change everything when we become the government... the transition will be done smoothly and it won't affect the stability of Singapore.'
He added: 'Singapore shall remain secure, peaceful and prosperous, and this is the promise of the opposition.'
