[h=2]GE: A WP-led coalition for a final assault[/h]
May 10th, 2014 |
Author: Contributions
Singapore’s next election is expected sooner rather than later with
speculation that it may happen before August 2015. This comes on the heels of
the Election Department advertising recently for electoral facilitators.
Singapore Opposition Parties
Now the big question: Will opposition leader Workers Party gear up to fight
the next election to form the next government?
This fact is indisputable: WP is now the most recognised brand among voters.
As a brand, WP’s name is bigger than any other alternative party. And as a
symbol, its hammer icon when printed on the voting slip is second to none in
getting older voters to draw a cross next to it due to its familiarity.
So since WP’s brand cachet is the most well-known and by virtue of it being
the only current opposition leader in Parliament, WP should come up with a plan
to lead a united front alliance against the PAP.
First thing WP may wish to consider on its alliance plan is the return of the
prodigal son to WP’s fold. Yes, I’m talking about Kenneth Jeyaratnam, the son of
WP’s founder JB Jeyaratnam. What pure joy and excitement it will give to new and
old WP supporters to see KJ returning to the party his father founded.
And hearts willing on both sides, it can be a win-win situation for all. Over
the past few years, KJ isn’t really moving forward with his Reform Party (he has
recruited no big candidates, it’s just him helming the show and he’s floundering
without a strong cast). If KJ rides on the hammer symbol, it is a winning
formula and ticket into Parliament. KJ may insist on sticking it alone with his
Reform Party, but in politics, winning is everything; really KJ can’t ever win
if he doesn’t have a strong team together with him. The whole Tony Tan-Hazel
Poa saga, where they left Reform Party abruptly, is water under the bridge, but
the point is it is more important to win a seat first than to worry about
leading the Reform Party. The best way to do that is to join the WP coalition
together with whatever A-team candidates he has now.
And KJ doesn’t even have to join WP per se, just buy-in into a WP coalition
effort under WP’s hammer flag like how Malaysia’s Pakatan Rakyat is a coalition
of PKR, DAP, and PAS. What’s in it for WP? In KJ, WP gets a strong anchor
candidate and a higher chance to grab another GRC. WP should also get SDP into
its coalition. SDP is strong under the reinvigorated Chee Soon Juan and it has
the chance to possibly win 1-2 GRCs in the coming election. What’s important in
a WP-led coalition is less ego and more cooperation between members. Policy
differences and disagreements can always be discussed after the battle is won.
Win first, talk later. Don’t be like the disunited opposition Singapore had seen
in the past, disagreeing first, quarrelling even earlier.
WP should restrict its coalition to just one or two members as too many cooks
spoil the broth. Furthermore there may be some truth that a few parties and
candidates are Trojan horses, their real intent is actually to divide the
opposition votes. These parties only become active before elections and lapse
into dormancy after that.
That’s why I don’t recommend WP calling it an alliance (it’s more auspicious
to name it a coalition.) For how the “alliance” term has lost its credibility,
look no further than the abject failure of the Singapore Democratic Alliance and
its candidate, Desmond Lim (who insisted on running in Punggol East twice
against WP even after garnering low votes for himself).
Low Thia Kiang of WP may have said that WP likes to go it alone. I hope he
changes his mind and leads a coalition for this coming election. Singaporeans
have waited years for Low to run in a GRC and we did not fail him. And
Singaporeans have waited decades for a final fight against the PAP and we will
not fail the WP when it leads a coalition of the brave for one final push for
real change.
It is the last dream and hope for opposition supporters
everywhere.
Freedom
*
Submitted by TRE reader.
Singapore’s next election is expected sooner rather than later with
speculation that it may happen before August 2015. This comes on the heels of
the Election Department advertising recently for electoral facilitators.
Singapore Opposition Parties
Now the big question: Will opposition leader Workers Party gear up to fight
the next election to form the next government?
This fact is indisputable: WP is now the most recognised brand among voters.
As a brand, WP’s name is bigger than any other alternative party. And as a
symbol, its hammer icon when printed on the voting slip is second to none in
getting older voters to draw a cross next to it due to its familiarity.
So since WP’s brand cachet is the most well-known and by virtue of it being
the only current opposition leader in Parliament, WP should come up with a plan
to lead a united front alliance against the PAP.
First thing WP may wish to consider on its alliance plan is the return of the
prodigal son to WP’s fold. Yes, I’m talking about Kenneth Jeyaratnam, the son of
WP’s founder JB Jeyaratnam. What pure joy and excitement it will give to new and
old WP supporters to see KJ returning to the party his father founded.
And hearts willing on both sides, it can be a win-win situation for all. Over
the past few years, KJ isn’t really moving forward with his Reform Party (he has
recruited no big candidates, it’s just him helming the show and he’s floundering
without a strong cast). If KJ rides on the hammer symbol, it is a winning
formula and ticket into Parliament. KJ may insist on sticking it alone with his
Reform Party, but in politics, winning is everything; really KJ can’t ever win
if he doesn’t have a strong team together with him. The whole Tony Tan-Hazel
Poa saga, where they left Reform Party abruptly, is water under the bridge, but
the point is it is more important to win a seat first than to worry about
leading the Reform Party. The best way to do that is to join the WP coalition
together with whatever A-team candidates he has now.
And KJ doesn’t even have to join WP per se, just buy-in into a WP coalition
effort under WP’s hammer flag like how Malaysia’s Pakatan Rakyat is a coalition
of PKR, DAP, and PAS. What’s in it for WP? In KJ, WP gets a strong anchor
candidate and a higher chance to grab another GRC. WP should also get SDP into
its coalition. SDP is strong under the reinvigorated Chee Soon Juan and it has
the chance to possibly win 1-2 GRCs in the coming election. What’s important in
a WP-led coalition is less ego and more cooperation between members. Policy
differences and disagreements can always be discussed after the battle is won.
Win first, talk later. Don’t be like the disunited opposition Singapore had seen
in the past, disagreeing first, quarrelling even earlier.
WP should restrict its coalition to just one or two members as too many cooks
spoil the broth. Furthermore there may be some truth that a few parties and
candidates are Trojan horses, their real intent is actually to divide the
opposition votes. These parties only become active before elections and lapse
into dormancy after that.
That’s why I don’t recommend WP calling it an alliance (it’s more auspicious
to name it a coalition.) For how the “alliance” term has lost its credibility,
look no further than the abject failure of the Singapore Democratic Alliance and
its candidate, Desmond Lim (who insisted on running in Punggol East twice
against WP even after garnering low votes for himself).
Low Thia Kiang of WP may have said that WP likes to go it alone. I hope he
changes his mind and leads a coalition for this coming election. Singaporeans
have waited years for Low to run in a GRC and we did not fail him. And
Singaporeans have waited decades for a final fight against the PAP and we will
not fail the WP when it leads a coalition of the brave for one final push for
real change.
It is the last dream and hope for opposition supporters
everywhere.
Freedom
*
Submitted by TRE reader.
