LKT: It is not for me to decide whether 3-corner fight or not.

[yellowarse]

actually, the reality is only a WP candidate can win the election for the oppo. the best candidate under whichever oppo ticket really cannot win.

In a GE, I'd agree that a WP candidate stands the best chance.

But in a BE, I think voters will vote for a stronger candidate from a less popular party than a weaker candidate from WP. There are many people who feel that getting a solid candidate into parliament, especially one who's not afraid to speak up, raise issues and rebut, will compensate for the relative lacklustre parliamentarian showing of the WP MPs thus far.

It's only one seat, and I'm sure even WP supporters would not be averse to voting for another opposition party's candidate in a straight fight.

 

[Einfield]

Yes I have to admit that at this point in time, WP is the only opposition that broke the unbreakable PAP GRC. LTK and team gain the trust of voters at a lever way above the rest of the opposition, if they take another 1 or 2 more GRC in 2016, which is highly possible, then they gain the momentum to break PAP's grip on 3/4 majority seats, that is good enough to cripple PAP's law making capability without check and balance.

actually, the reality is only a WP candidate can win the election for the oppo. the best candidate under whichever oppo ticket really cannot win.

oppo voters like WP a lot. i don't know why. the last GE WP huge rallies turnout and the results proved that.

 

[Fook Seng]

I'm sure the other parties would not mind WP playing the big brother role in an alliance.

Agree that proportional representation has many advantages over the current FPTP system, which has been exploited and corrupted by the GRC system to entrench PAP's grip on parliamentary representation.

That is exactly the problem. No party, except the smallest of parties, would not mind WP playing big brother. If this is possible, a lot of the Opposition problem will be solved.

I too think proportion representation is the way to go. Singapore is too fragmented. Only if we can agree that a true simple majority will carry the day and if it is very close, the losing parties can still carry their proportional weight, there is some hope to move forward.

Proportional representation fits this requirement closest. Even though it is cumbersome to implement, it is worth the trouble. In Singapore, the big debate is not on philosophical systems but on management and on how much of which. We should not encounter too much of dichotomy in views, particularly around the middle ground.

 

[yellowarse]

That is exactly the problem. No party, except the smallest of parties, would not mind WP playing big brother. If this is possible, a lot of the Opposition problem will be solved.

WP, the first to break the GRC barrier, with 6+2 in parliament, and the experience of running town councils, will be the natural and rightful leader in a loose alliance. It will be foolhardy for the other party sec-gens to deny WP that right. Even the SDP acknowledges this.

Question is, is WP interested in an alliance? Or do they want to go it alone in becoming the dominant opposition force in a 2-party system?

 

[Kinana]

precisely! you are wise! LTK killed himself and his own party!!! I wish and pray that Nicole Seah will appear at Nomination Day and file her papers!! And that will give everyone a real SHOCKING AWAKENING!!!...where is Nicole now???

Nicole cannot cos her party wants to stay out of this BE. Will she risk going independent and change party?

 

[Kinana]

WP has tried and failed at PE. Its only right they step aside for SDP since they already have 6 MPs who don't perform in parliament.
For the sake of the people rather than party, we would urge WP to step aside. I believe SDP has as good a chance as WP to do well in PE.

 

[Kinana]

WP, the first to break the GRC barrier, with 6+2 in parliament, and the experience of running town councils, will be the natural and rightful leader in a loose alliance. It will be foolhardy for the other party sec-gens to deny WP that right. Even the SDP acknowledges this.

Question is, is WP interested in an alliance? Or do they want to go it alone in becoming the dominant opposition force in a 2-party system?

What is the point of breaking the GRC barrier and cannot perform in both parliament and at the TC levels?
They should instead focus on doing better at what they already have before being more ambitious.

 

[Fook Seng]

But in a BE, I think voters will vote for a stronger candidate from a less popular party than a weaker candidate from WP. There are many people who feel that getting a solid candidate into parliament, especially one who's not afraid to speak up, raise issues and rebut, will compensate for the relative lacklustre parliamentarian showing of the WP

Show us the proof that a BE is different from a GE and the voting pattern is different. Any past examples? Also show us that candidates who make the most sound in the public can make equal amount of noise and be able to answer questions extempore, without the help of a subject expert, in the confine of a parliamentary setting. Ever wonder why WP MPs play different roles from one another in parliament?

Mind you, WP candidates like Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim made among the most effective, vociferous and aggressive speeches during Election rallies but such vociferousness does not seem to come so naturally within a parliamentary setting or its contextual constraint.

 

[Kinana]

Mind you, WP candidates like Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim made among the most effective, vociferous and aggressive speeches during Election rallies but such vociferousness does not seem to come so naturally within a parliamentary setting or its contextual constraint.

Thats call prata my fren. LTK and gang are very good at prata.

 

[Sideswipe]

I too think proportion representation is the way to go. Singapore is too fragmented. Only if we can agree that a true simple majority will carry the day and if it is very close, the losing parties can still carry their proportional weight, there is some hope to move forward.

Proportional representation fits this requirement closest. Even though it is cumbersome to implement, it is worth the trouble. In Singapore, the big debate is not on philosophical systems but on management and on how much of which. We should not encounter too much of dichotomy in views, particularly around the middle ground.

imo Proportional Representation: not the complex European or Israel full-proportional system but the semi-proportional system used in South Korea / Japan / Taiwan is the preferable system for Singapore.

 

[Fook Seng]

Question is, is WP interested in an alliance? Or do they want to go it alone in becoming the dominant opposition force in a 2-party system?

Why not? Does SDP really recognise WP as the defacto leader? Where is the indication? On the other hand, there seems to be quite a bit of a one-upmanship going on.

These people, LTK and CSJ, rose from the same generation of politicians. We cannot underestimate the amount of ego that is there. That is why, in one earlier post on another thread, I alluded to the need for a new generation of politicians before we can find true unity in the Opposition.

 

[Fook Seng]

WP has tried and failed at PE. Its only right they step aside for SDP since they already have 6 MPs who don't perform in parliament.
For the sake of the people rather than party, we would urge WP to step aside. I believe SDP has as good a chance as WP to do well in PE.

I am very surprised that you have so much opposition interest at heart. Are you sure you have consulted your masters on this?

 

[Fook Seng]

Thats call prata my fren. LTK and gang are very good at prata.

I know you eat that everyday. This is political forum, not a food forum. So get lost.

 

[yellowarse]

Does SDP really recognise WP as the defacto leader? Where is the indication? On the other hand, there seems to be quite a bit of a one-upmanship going on.

I don't have the link, but CSJ has stated before that he's more than willing to let WP take the lead in an alliance. The problem has always been getting WP to the table.

 

[Kinana]

I am very surprised that you have so much opposition interest at heart. Are you sure you have consulted your masters on this?

I have the best interest of singapore at heart. Our parliament are too staid. don't be a fool and support prata kings from WP that are totally useless in parliament. I have come to the conclusion that they are intent on being a coalition party with PAP in their long run plan and that is silly.

SDP might be quirky but at least they will force issues to be discussed in a more vigorous manner and that is good for Singapore.

 

[Fook Seng]

I don't have the link, but CSJ has stated before that he's more than willing to let WP take the lead in an alliance. The problem has always been getting WP to the table.

Now is the time to declare this in unambigious terms so that proper coordination can start early for 2016.

 

[Kinana]

I don't have the link, but CSJ has stated before that he's more than willing to let WP take the lead in an alliance. The problem has always been getting WP to the table.

Would you entertain SDP if you are LTK?

 

[Fook Seng]

I have come to the conclusion that they are intent on being a coalition party with PAP in their long run plan and that is silly.

Without doubt, you think that PAP should rule forever alone.

 

[Kinana]

Without doubt, you think that PAP should rule forever alone.

Nope, thats what your master LTK thinks.

 

[yellowarse]

Show us the proof that a BE is different from a GE and the voting pattern is different.

Too few BEs here to arrive at a definitive statistical conclusion, if that's what you mean.

But it's well known that voting dynamics in a BE differ from a GE, especially in the Singaporean context. Hence past GEs in which opposition parties deliberately allowed the PAP to be returned as the govt on nomination day by not contesting the majority of seats, to reduce the electorate's fear of voting in an opposition govt unintentionally. From a psychological angle, when only 1 seat is at stake, voters are more willing to vote out of their comfort zone for a less popular party – provided the candidate is a heavyweight.

Also show us that candidates who make the most sound in the public can make equal amount of noise and be able to answer questions extempore, without the help of a subject expert, in the confine of a parliamentary setting.

There's no guarantee that fiery election rally speeches equate with an equally fiery performance in parliament.

But the WP has shown what it's 6+2 MPs have, and haven't, done in parliament. Many reasonable people will say, let's see what the SDP or RP can do in parliament. If A isn't doing his job, I'd be more than willing to give B a try – not that there's any assurance that B might do it better, but the possibility is definitely there.