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[h=2]Unethical electioneering practices must stop[/h]
May 24th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
There is a very sad letter I want you all to read.
One of the most damaging the PAP did to democracy and to the country is to link votes to estate upgrading. It encourages every voter to think of himself first above the interest of his fellow Singaporeans and the interest of the country. During every election, the PAP will dangle multi-million dollar carrots to secure votes. These carrots encourages voters to support the PAP even though they are against PAP policies that are harmful for the country and Singaporeans. Over time, instead of formulating good policies that have good support from Singaporeans, the PAP has become dependent on this method of getting votes. In the last election, they promised rivers (Bishan river). MRT stations, parks, and all sorts of grand facilities. The more Singaporeans show that their votes can be bought, the less the PAP need to do to ensure their policies benefit ordinary Singaporeans. They will respect you less if you allow your vote to be bought.
"Say no to carrots..."
Pork barrel politics destroy policy-oriented party competition It takes the focus of voters always from long term policy considerations for short term and selfish gains. If voters succumb to these tactics, the PAP will continue to use it for an unfair and unethical advantage. The forum letter writer instead of speaking up against unethical tactics of the PAP, urges the people of Hougang to yield to it in order to get facilities and upgrading. Lets turn our country away from this destructive path instead of sinking deeper and faster into it.
Put our fellow Singaporeans especially those in need above ourselves. Put the interest of our country above our own interest.
Facilities and upgrading may be lacking in Hougang – there are no artificial rivers, no blue dolphin fountains, no rose gardens and no spanking new playgrounds….but what the Hougang people have money cannot buy. They have our respect. It is this Hougang spirit that permeates to all corners of Singapore that will ensure our survival.
For Hougang residents, they will not be swayed by carrots. They will vote for the best candidate to represent them and speak for them in parliament.
.
Lucky Tan
*The writer blogs at http://singaporemind.blogspot.ca/
There is a very sad letter I want you all to read.
Time to move on, Hougang
WHILE the rest of Singapore’s estates are moving on with the upgrading and rebuilding of more facilities, Hougang seems to have remained the same for the past 20 years.
The ward seems to be a sacrificial lamb in the Workers’ Party’s (WP) call for democracy and transparent governance in Singapore.
The way the WP silently dealt with – and eventually expelled – its Member of Parliament for the ward, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, is a clear sign that the party does not practise what it preaches.
Hard-thinking Hougang residents should not shoulder the burden of sentiments preached by the WP on common national issues which affect not only Singapore but developing countries as well.
I live in Hougang and, from my view, nothing much has changed. Residents should not expect new and better facilities for the next five years if the WP wins. Simply put, the WP has no ways or means to improve Hougang.
There are already enough voices from the WP in Parliament for the next five years.
Hougang residents should now move on and seek to live in a better, cleaner and more comfortable environment.
Chua Boon Chiew
The writer from Hougang urges his fellow constituents to vote for the PAP so that Hougang can “move on” and get new facilities and estate upgrading. He feels that Hougang has been the “sacrificial lamb for WP’s call for democracy and transparency” and there are “enough voices from the WP in parliament”.WHILE the rest of Singapore’s estates are moving on with the upgrading and rebuilding of more facilities, Hougang seems to have remained the same for the past 20 years.
The ward seems to be a sacrificial lamb in the Workers’ Party’s (WP) call for democracy and transparent governance in Singapore.
The way the WP silently dealt with – and eventually expelled – its Member of Parliament for the ward, Mr Yaw Shin Leong, is a clear sign that the party does not practise what it preaches.
Hard-thinking Hougang residents should not shoulder the burden of sentiments preached by the WP on common national issues which affect not only Singapore but developing countries as well.
I live in Hougang and, from my view, nothing much has changed. Residents should not expect new and better facilities for the next five years if the WP wins. Simply put, the WP has no ways or means to improve Hougang.
There are already enough voices from the WP in Parliament for the next five years.
Hougang residents should now move on and seek to live in a better, cleaner and more comfortable environment.
Chua Boon Chiew
One of the most damaging the PAP did to democracy and to the country is to link votes to estate upgrading. It encourages every voter to think of himself first above the interest of his fellow Singaporeans and the interest of the country. During every election, the PAP will dangle multi-million dollar carrots to secure votes. These carrots encourages voters to support the PAP even though they are against PAP policies that are harmful for the country and Singaporeans. Over time, instead of formulating good policies that have good support from Singaporeans, the PAP has become dependent on this method of getting votes. In the last election, they promised rivers (Bishan river). MRT stations, parks, and all sorts of grand facilities. The more Singaporeans show that their votes can be bought, the less the PAP need to do to ensure their policies benefit ordinary Singaporeans. They will respect you less if you allow your vote to be bought.
“The term pork barrel politics usually refers to spending which is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, either in the form of campaign contributions or votes” - Wikipedia
Pork barrel politics destroy policy-oriented party competition It takes the focus of voters always from long term policy considerations for short term and selfish gains. If voters succumb to these tactics, the PAP will continue to use it for an unfair and unethical advantage. The forum letter writer instead of speaking up against unethical tactics of the PAP, urges the people of Hougang to yield to it in order to get facilities and upgrading. Lets turn our country away from this destructive path instead of sinking deeper and faster into it.
Put our fellow Singaporeans especially those in need above ourselves. Put the interest of our country above our own interest.
Facilities and upgrading may be lacking in Hougang – there are no artificial rivers, no blue dolphin fountains, no rose gardens and no spanking new playgrounds….but what the Hougang people have money cannot buy. They have our respect. It is this Hougang spirit that permeates to all corners of Singapore that will ensure our survival.
For Hougang residents, they will not be swayed by carrots. They will vote for the best candidate to represent them and speak for them in parliament.
.
Lucky Tan
*The writer blogs at http://singaporemind.blogspot.ca/
