New Asia republic translation of Zaobao: WP playing hard ball

[Thick Face Black Heart]

The Opposition is still locked in a stalemate over territorial claims on electoral wards. Some smaller political parties have cried out that they will contest the Worker’s Party (WP) if the WP refuses to buldge.

The WP had intended to send 24 candidates to contest 9 constituencies which include Hougang SMC, Joo Chiat SMC, Sengkang West SMC, Punggol-East SMC, Whampoa SMC, Nee Soon GRC, Aljunied GRC, East Coast GRC and Moulmein-Kallang GRC.

Some of these constituencies are also targetted by other opposition political parties. For example, the WP, National Solidarity Party (NSP), the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Socialist Front (SF) are all eying Whampoa SMC.

Traditionally, the Opposition camp would participate in a multi-party roundtable to negotiate their claims over allocation of electoral wards prior to every General Election. However, despite having gone through 2 roundtable sessions dated 3rd and 5th March 2011 respectively, the Opposition parties are still unable to negotiate a settlement that would avoid three-cornered fights. Zaobao understands the inter-party negotiations are still going on.

Some party leaders blamed the WP for causing the failure of both Roundtable sessions. According to them, the WP was unyielding and refused to compromise. One party leader, on the condition of anonymity, told Zaobao that the Worker’s Party had fallen into the ‘NCMP trap’. He explained that the Singapore Constitution provides for up to a maximum of 9 NCMPs who will be chosen from the list of best-performing Opposition candidates who lost the General Election.

“2 members of every Opposition GRC team stand a chance of becoming a NCMP. In order to boost the chances of its GRC teams entering Parliament, WP’s election strategy may involve sending candidates to SMCs in order to reduce the likelihood of other (smaller) opposition political parties from entering Parliament,” he said.

Currently, the WP is represented in Parliament by 1 MP and 1 NCMP. Assuming that WP has higher probability than other Opposition political parties to win more votes, this strategy would result in WP sending at least 6 party members into Parliament, thus expanding its parliamentary presence.

However, an online commentator disagreed with the anonymous party leader’s view:

“This party leader is just jealous of the Workers’ Party. I heard the reason why the WP won’t buldge to any demands made by other opposition political parties because the WP is confident of its candidates and thus it doesn’t fear challenges from other parties during General Election. Only through competition would Singapore politics mature.”

Zaobao was unable to obtain comments from the Worker’s Party leadership on the remarks made by the anonymous party leader. NSP Secretary General Mr Goh Meng Seng hinted on his blog that the reason why WP refused to buldge is because the WP felt threatened by NSP’s expansion. He wrote:

“I am totally disappointed but in a certain way, could understand why WP has to go into such aggression. For two parties which are growing rapidly, it is just a matter of time that such battles will be waged.”

Mr Goh is a former WP member. He had mentioned many times on his blog the impending three-cornered fight involving the NSP and the WP. He also added that some WP members are arrogant and overconfident. “Arrogance and head-swell syndrome are bad traits for Singapore politics,” he emphasised in his blog.

Both WP and NSP intend to send GE candidates to Nee Soon GRC, Moulmein-Kallang GRC and Whampoa SMC. Zaobao understands that NSP already expressed its intention to back off from Nee Soon GRC on the condition that WP backs off from Moulmein-Kallang GRC. Both parties are still negotiating and should negotiation fails, it is very likely to see three-cornered fights at all 3 constituencies.

The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) is also unsatisfied with the WP. Both WP and SDA are eying Punggol-East and Sengkang-West SMCs. The SDA is prepared to back off from Sengkang-West SMC should the WP backed off from Punggol-East SMC. However, SDA Secretary-General Mr Desmond Lim said that the WP doesn’t intend to cooperate.

Mr Lim earlier had expressed his intention to change from contesting at Pasir-Ris-Punggol GRC to contesting at Punggol-East SMC. According to established norms among the Opposition, Mr Lim stressed that being a candidate for Pasir-Ris-Punggol GRC during the last General Election gives him the priority to contest at Punggol-East SMC.

 

[Char_Azn]

Just think about it a lot of good can come from this.

If WP or any party for that matter manage to pull this off and show that it is able to get more votes in all the various consitutuncies, It will show the kuchin kurup parties who is boss among the oppositions and have more say in the future.

Proving that you are top dog have 2 very big benefits, increase popularity and easier to get others to join and at the same time, more voters will see them as an emerging force and throw their weight around them.

I believe this can be the catalyst for a stronger opposition to appear.

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Char

I hate to remind you of this but I am a WP member and my party is an ikan billis , a minow, a shrimp of a party against a behemoth like the PAP.

So when a shrimp picks a fight against another shrimp , to me it borders on insanity and stupidity.

WP has not offered any reason valid enough to justify it going after moulmein kallang. seeing it remains the traditional turf of NSP.


Locke

 

[Char_Azn]

Dear Char

I hate to remind you of this but I am a WP member and my party is an ikan billis , a minow, a shrimp of a party against a behemoth like the PAP.

So when a shrimp picks a fight against another shrimp , to me it borders on insanity and stupidity.

WP has not offered any reason valid enough to justify it going after moulmein kallang. seeing it remains the traditional turf of NSP.


Locke

Let me put it this way

Is there a single opposition party that look likely to kick PAP out and take over the government.

The answer? NO.

Is any single opposition party likely to kick the PAP out and take over the government within the next 10 years given the current rate the opposition parties are growing

Again the answer is NO.

Despite how most would like to see the opposition parties, as the opposition vs PAP thing, the truth is the already small opposition parties are constantly bickering with each other outside of election and the only thing they can agree on is no to step on each other toes during the election. Given the kind of relationship between all the opposition party, even if the combined effort of all the opposition party members are able to kick out PAP, will they be able to form an effective coalition government? More likely we'll end up like Belgium. Country running without a government coz they cant agree on anything.


In the short term(short term being this particular election) it is not good, it will cause the opposition to lose this election. Lets be frank, what are the chances of the opposition actually able to kick out PAP during this election anyway? Very slim if at all possible.

Now let's look just look at Moulmein Kallang instead. The closest thing to this GRC was the old Jalan Basar GRC. So how did NSP do the last election? Oh wait they didn't do anything, they contested this under SDA the last time and the votes they got last time round was a 30.74%. Do you seriously expect them to win this time round

So why do I keep saying a 3 corner fight in fact multiple 3 corner fights being beneficial to the opposition parties?

Again let's look at Moulmein Kallang. Last election NSP/SDA only managed to get 30% vote. IMO at least about 20% votes comes from anti-PAP votes as opposed to pple actually rooting for them meaning NSP have little to offer to the neutral voters, the pple whom they need to win over to actually win any election are not impressed by them. So even if they somehow managed to do better this time round they are not likely to win it

Assuming this time round we have WP coming in for a 3 corner fight. It's going to benefit PAP, both of them are likely to lose. However let's just assume that WP get's more losing votes then NSP. In the next election do you think NSP would still want to contest Moulmein Kallang? The same holds true if WP loses to NSP, they'd know its a loss cause here and go on to more achievable goals.

Now let's look at the bigger picture of multiple opposition parties contesting in 3 corner fights across the country. The worse that could happen in those contested area is they all lose to PAP. Then again, chances of them winning in the first place are not that high so they really have nothing to lose. However it would be clear to all the opposition party members fighting it out against one another as well as the general public, the best loser among all these will emerge as a winner as far as the opposition party goes as it would clearly show everyone who is top dog in the opposition camp

Whether it is to force the emergence of a opposition party strong enough to fight the PAP in the long run or create an Alpha party that the other kuchin kurup opposition party will have to obey, a multiple 3 corner fight this election isn't a bad thing

I would also like to point out to the fact that all effective coalition government always have a strongest party among them that can put the smaller ones in their place.

If they keep doing what they are doing, if the opposition do not force each other to grow, PAP definitely isn't going to help them do it

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Char

The opposition in particular even the WP has always been short, short of people, short of resources, short of talent , and in this particular case probably short of vision and brains.

Firstly what makes you believe that the WP will be able to do better than the NSP ? Would the WP be able to win or will it do just better than the NSP and if so how much better assuming that a decent opposition will get a min of 25 to 30% of any election vote without a three cornered fight.

Secondly why waste limited resources on a three cornered fight in the electoral equivalent of a " My dick is bigger" than your " dick" contest ? There are enough uncontested and unworked areas in Singapore for the WP to fight on, why fight with the NSP.

Heck even if the NSP does not win, why doesn't the WP concentrate on building resources and presence in areas it has already contested but NOT WON.



Locke

 

[Char_Azn]

WP is one of the oldest party in SG, after so many years, they are still as you put it "short of people, short of resources, short of talent". The same can probably be said of the other parties.

The situation is not really improving and will probably never improve we continue the way it is. The whole 3 way contest thing is not just for the opposition party to fight one another it is also for the general party to see. If 1 party consistently score better then the other in a 3 corner fight, in the eyes of the general public, it is something they can look up to.

They will not know you are short handed, all the behind the scenes stuff will only be visible to the party members not the masses. Supporters of opposition parties will be more willing to join a party which they see as creditable and able to challenge the ruling party. Singaporean love winners and if you can show that you have potentials, they will stand behind you. It's better then any recruitment exercise you can ever come up with. What has all the decades of recruiting done for WP, not much. They are one of the oldest party in SG but are still going nowhere

I think this is a chance one that they should grab. To you they may be short of brains, to me, I see guts and a willingness to bet on the future

 

[Char_Azn]

Just to add, of coz I am assuming they are contesting the ward because they think they stand a chance there and not do it for the sake of doing it like DPP

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Char

One of the oldest and yet realatively speaking small compared to the PAP, Biggest amongst the opposition but still a minow in the bigger scheme of things. Your argument for the WP to go head to head with NSP boils down to one thing and one thing alone, to PROVE that the WP is a better opposition party

You have used the term " we " and I suspect that you are a member in some form as well so forgive me if I treat you as such.

We have at one moment 1 MP and One NCMP and the party decides to engage in a popularity or who has a bigger dick with a fellow opposition party who has been able to make aggressive moves in capturing members ?

Your viewpoint seems the be that only the WP deserves or has a natural right to lead, Well it does if it wins a GRC in some form it will lead and it will gain more recruits , more volunteers etc etc. However like some petulant child it seems to be blaming the fact that it cannot engage and grow its base on the emergence of other opposition parties, Where does the fault lie ? The WP within or the parties without ?

It has not fucking won a GRC, it has no automatic right to lead or to be considered a leader, and it should not be wasting scarce resources in a beauty contest with other emerging opposition parties. If it cannot recruit people, if it cannot retain people, if people keep on leaving then the problem lies with the PARTY and not without



Locke

 

[Char_Azn]

I am writing this purely from a neutral supporter point of view. Despite what some in here would like to accuse me of being, I am not a PAP supporter. I have said this time and again, supporting any given party is wrong, we should be supporting policies, support what a party is fighting for and not the party itself. I readily admit(and in fact have stated several times in here) that right now, there are many PAP policy which also happen to align with my own opinions. I also like the fact that our government has enough freedom to implement painful but necessary measure in extreme times. I've work in and spent time in far too many countries and seen how strong opposition can be more of a hindrance then help mostly coz they are opposing just for the sake of it to make their party looks good.

And as contradictory as it may sound after what I just stated above, I also want to see a much stronger presence of the opposition party in Parliament. I need to see a creditable opposition party emerge. I want to see a strong enough opposition presence to make sure that policies are pass only if they really benefit the pple and stop those that are not.

I believe it was Sylvia Lim who said that "unless credible people come forward, the fate of alternative parties in Singapore hung in the balance. Alternative parties, had a role in scrutinizing government policy constructively and asking for justifications for any laws which will affect the people." This is something we are solely lacking in SG

More importantly when the time comes when the PAP fall so deep that we need a complete change in government, we need someone powerful enough to take over. Sadly none of the current parties are ready, not even close. Even if they somehow managed to stop their bickering, and form a coalition, they still look too lightweight to be able to take over. Most unfortunate is the fact that voices from within PAP itself scrutinizing it's own policies are louder then those from the opposition camp

From where I stand, winning a GRC is just one of the many steps an opposition party needs to do. I also need to see a party strong enough to keep the rest of the opposition in check to stop the constant bickering and senseless defections. One that we can look up to when other parties start doing stupid again. A single party that can show itself able to consistently get decent vote counts against PAP and do better against their fellow opposition. One that we can always fall back to when we have no other choice. From our point of view, a party able to achieve this will always be seen as the opposition leader, whether or not the reality is so, matters little.

As far as I'm concern, I want to see opposition party take over around 20-25%(preferably from a single party) of the seats in Parliament but not more then 30-35%. I believe with around 20-30% seats in the government, when the time comes where the ruling party is kicked out, these pple will be able to step up and easily take over. At the same time the number is not big enough that nothing will get done coz the opposing force is always stopping it.

As far as I can see, the opposition parties after all these years have not been able to move forward. Something they are doing is very wong, and that something may just be because they are too afraid to face each other. I don't understand what they are so afraid to lose then they have little or nothing to lose in the first place.

Despite whatever opposition supporters accuse the apathy of locals, I see that opposition members who actually get a chance to speak in parliament have shown to be capable. Those that are not, jokers like Ling never get a 2nd chance. I think our voters are not as stupid as you guys would like to accuse them of being. Show us you are capable and you can be assured the votes will come in

 

[fivestars]

WP = DAP and NSP = MCA?

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Char

Natural electoral competition will weed out the idiots. Its survival of the fittest. If the WP wins a GRC it becomes the defacto opposition party of choice and the senior leader by virtue of strength credibility and status even if other parties have likewise NCMP seats or even one single MP seat as a base.

However how does a three cornered fight, dividing the opposition vote and perhaps getting a slightly better vote share help one's status in any damm way ?

The target for the opposition remains a GRC no more no less, whoever wins ONE calls the shots and dictates or leads the opposition whilst the lesser parties die out

If you believe the rest of the opposition will allow the WP the status to lead and call the shots if it does not win a GRC and based on NCMP representation alone then you are incorrect

The WP if it leads will lead only if it wins a GRC no more no less and until that moment it should not expect any form of leadership or elder brother role if any.



Locke




"From where I stand, winning a GRC is just one of the many steps an opposition party needs to do. I also need to see a party strong enough to keep the rest of the opposition in check to stop the constant bickering and senseless defections. One that we can look up to when other parties start doing stupid again. A single party that can show itself able to consistently get decent vote counts against PAP and do better against their fellow opposition. One that we can always fall back to when we have no other choice. From our point of view, a party able to achieve this will always be seen as the opposition leader, whether or not the reality is so, matters little. "

 

[Char_Azn]

U actually hit the nail without realizing it

"lesser parties die out"

Having 3 corner fights will cause the smaller or more unpopular party to back down from *insert constituency*. In subsequent election, only the more popular one will contest that GRC. Like you said, survival of the fittest.

Right now what we are seeing is a lot of give and take. We give U this and U take the other. However the voters were never really given a choice, and we never know how popular one might perform if the party was to contest there.

For example I am impressed with Low's performance in parliament so far, I want to vote WP but NSP is contesting this ward and I read the UFO article by GMS. Thinking he is a joke I vote PAP instead. However if the 3 of them come contesting in my ward I have the choice of voting WP. Eventually both WP and NSP loss due to split votes from the anti-PAP faction. Let's say the results look something like this PAP 50% WP 35% NSP 15%. NSP loses it's deposit, WP have shown to be the more popular party here. Next election WP will definitely come back and it is unlikely that NSP will return again

We have thus eliminate the less popular party in this ward and have the more popular party keep coming back to contest that place. Same goes for every other ward. Instead of doing that we're seeing these parties hopping around the place hoping to get elected here if not let's try our luck at another location, if we fail again let's go somewhere else. Seriously :oIo::oIo::oIo:.

WP didn't win Hougang by hopping around the place. Similarly Chiam didn't win Potong Pasir the 1st time he was there. Find a spot where it is possible for you to win and stick with it. Just because you are the only opposition party there does not make u any more popular then the next guy. I'm not encouraging 3 corner fights for the sake of it. I'm encouraging a party who is confident of getting votes to go in and take a shot irregardless of whether or not another joker "chop" the place. You may turn out to be more popular then the other guy. We need to start eliminating kuchin kurup parties and start getting them to become more establish at where they are fighting.

IMO getting anything less then 35% votes means nothing. It is unlikely that you will get a 15% swing vote within 1 election. More importantly the vast majority of those votes probably come from the anti-PAP faction anyway which are confirm votes, meaning wining them is useless. They need to work on the neutral voters, they need to win over pple like me. Hopping around the place every bloody election isn't going to do anything. Why do you think the opposition movement kept going nowhere

 

[Sideswipe]

IMO getting anything less then 35% votes means nothing. It is unlikely that you will get a 15% swing vote within 1 election. More importantly the vast majority of those votes probably come from the anti-PAP faction anyway which are confirm votes, meaning wining them is useless. They need to work on the neutral voters, they need to win over pple like me. Hopping around the place every bloody election isn't going to do anything. Why do you think the opposition movement kept going nowhere

judging by your standard which I agree with.
WP last GE results so-so only .
won Hougang, Aljunied 44%
The rest 30-36%.

15% vote swing from A to B is very hard to achieve in political science. UK GE 2010 has 600+ plurality seats. Not a single seat has 15%+ vote swing from one party to others.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

Funny locke.

As a WP member u r arguing WP should give way.

As a non WP member I am arguing NSP should give way.

Maybe we should switch side......

TFBH

Dear Char

I hate to remind you of this but I am a WP member and my party is an ikan billis , a minow, a shrimp of a party against a behemoth like the PAP.

So when a shrimp picks a fight against another shrimp , to me it borders on insanity and stupidity.

WP has not offered any reason valid enough to justify it going after moulmein kallang. seeing it remains the traditional turf of NSP.


Locke

 

[Cestbon]

There are so many place to contest. Why need to fight for the seat? If cannot manage to compromise just go for 3 corner fight. Very likely last minute only 2 party/person with contest or direct fight.

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Char

In a ideal situation with a plural democracy, choices or a plethora of choice would be fantas fucking tick. We would have the UK equivalent of the Con, Lab Lib Dems and the monster raving looney party all across Singapore.

However we have neither, a non existent free press, a totally dominant party and we have supporters of one party masturbating themselves to a political orgasm as to how fantasfucking tic they are and ignoring the monster in the room.

Your argument of just staying in one place resonates with me and I agree entirely so why can't WP just stay in AMK Nee Soon Aljunied and East Coast and let NSP stay in J Besar / Moulmein Kallang ?

To the extent that the WP has better branding than the NSP which I would agree to, its BRANDING has not been proven good enough to win a GRC , it might be in terms of percentage better than any party out there , but that does not mean it has the right to do whatever it please, where ever it pleases , when ever it pleases.

It has not earned the right to be the biggest meanest dog around running around all over Singapore like a "mad dog ", peeing where ever and whatever marking any territory it see fit as his. In case you forget it is meant to be a "watch dog" on the government and not the "opposition" .



Locke

 

[cleareyes]

3 corner fights benefit no one but PAP.

Guys, no matter what, quit killing yourself just for ego sake.

 

[ray_of_hope]

Many of the oppos are going for the NCMP seats.

3, 4 and even 5 cornered fights (the last maybe in Radin Mas) seem inevitable.

The PAP's tactics are proving very powerful.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

3 corner fights benefit no one but PAP.

Guys, no matter what, quit killing yourself just for ego sake.

You think these ZI LIAN KUANGs will listen?!?!?!

 

[Sideswipe]

Many of the oppos are going for the NCMP seats.
3, 4 and even 5 cornered fights (the last maybe in Radin Mas) seem inevitable.
The PAP's tactics are proving very powerful.

wait and see first.

even if there are 3/4 corner fights in those seats, can't see combined oppositions get 50% + 1 votes. the corned fights probably won't produce any NCMP seats. everything is just meaningless.