Dear IR123,
You always give me interesting thoughts from the things you wrote.
Actually, from my frank assessment, yes, you are right. I was telling the reporters who follow me around that there is an undercurrent of ANGER going around Singapore. Of course, they didn't dare to report on that.
I was also surprised that WP's Aljunied Team didn't cross 55%. I was expecting a near 60% win for WP's Aljunied Team. It might have something to do with PM Lee's apology.
It is a natural deduction. If WP's Aljunied Team didn't cross 55%, all other GRC teams will not win.
There is a possibility of a repeat of 1991 to 1997 episode. i.e. After losing 4 seats, PAP buck up and introduce a whole series of programs to win back their lost grounds. However, the demographic will be changing rapidly as well. Whether PAP could meet the rapid change of demographics as well as the rising expectation or not, is left to been seen.
So far, we have seen only cosmetic changes. Even MND under KBW is only making cosmetic changes; a short cut method by introducing schemes which are easily "implemented" or just take a call or so, populist in nature and gaining wider voters' approval.
But the CORE problems of HDB woes are not addressed, i.e. the fundamental pricing mechanism for new HDB flats are kept untouched. It is also left to be seen how he could increase building of new HDB flats as well as rental flats in such a huge volume within a short span of time. We may end up with the same situation like the Yishun Hospital... talk for 10 years before it has been finally built. If KBW could only build one hospital in 10 years, I really wonder how long he will take to build tens of thousands of HDB flats and rental flats.
It will always be a very painful thing to be a visionary of any kind. Most likely you will become the loner because very few people could see the things you can see. You will end up with people doubting you and your views, even your credibility as a whole. Yes, you are right. The ground is ripe for ALL opposition in 2011 but many of us have let it slipped up on us.
When I was telling people taking 35% to 40% in MP shouldn't be a problem, people give me that wild look. When I told people if we play our cards right, we may end up with more than 10 opposition MPs in parliament, they just laughed it away. Most of them are still dreaming of getting some NCMP seats instead... counting their NCMP seats. I told them, there will be little or even no NCMP seats at all (because at least Aljunied GRC will fall).
While people are happy and celebrating away that 6 seats WP won, I could only sigh in dismay. Yes, the whole movement could have done better but we are just satisfied with that minor victory.
What will happen in 2016? Just cross our fingers WP could keep Aljunied and the party will not fall apart. My feel is that we will not have such a "SWEET GROUND" like 2011 any more but it does not mean that it is impossible for us to make more gains.
The impact and implications of GE2011 is significant in every sense. The breach of PAP's GRC fortress has sent hope to many people, including some very high calibre people who are sitting on the fence. They will be convinced to step into the opposition movement. It would mean that we may have more good people joining the movement. There may even be more Nicole Seah coming along the way. (I already have some potential recruits!)
As for me, I am of course very disappointed that NSP wasn't able to capitalize fully the ground swell. There are a lot of reasons for this disappointment but ultimately, I will have to bear full responsibilities for it.
In opposition movement, many people think they know better. They think they can be king makers, puppet masters whatever. But look, even WP made one strategic mistake of not contesting MP but instead, fighting NSP for Moulmein Kallang. Things might be very different if WP contested MP instead of MK. The amount of clout and energy generated in proximity will perhaps create another fall in East Coast.
In terms of demographic and voters' profiling, MK is never a good choice. The only advantage it has is that it has only 4 seats. The only person in WP who has that political sensitivity and acumen now is none other than YSL. Yes, ironically, it is YSL, the one who declared he voted PAP back in 2006. He is the only one who gets excited when NSP finally declared that it is contesting MP.
I do not know what you mean by "Better still find your own party." But personally, I will always leave my options open. As many people have found out, I am nobody's puppet, so to speak.
Goh Meng Seng
The climate in 2011 is very different from 2006.
In 2011, people are fed up with Lee Hsien Loong's policies and this is shown very convincingly in the results. IF you have fielded a good team in Tampines, you would have won hands down. Not because of your good team but because the ground is so ripe that your good team will provide the tipping point.
IF Nicole Seah is not in your MP GRC team, I will hazard a guess that GCT will continue in his PAP ways.
IF you fielded a good team including Nicole Seah in AMK GRC, PM LHL may no longer be in office.
The ground in 2011 is that ripe for ALL oppositions. Unlike the 2006 vintage.
Going forward, the 2016? election may see PM LHL regaining the lost ground as he connect back to the lost electorate. His humility in wanting to learn from the 2011 feedback may make him the Prime Minister that Singapore needs. "May" only because a lot depends on his being able to deliver. If he delivers the ground will be very different for you.
Besides Mr Heng Swee Keat is a wonderful MP and Minister, unlike that Mah Bow Tan. Competing in Tampines again will be very different. MP GRC will be helmed by some other PAP representative. Let's hope it is Charles Chong.
Finally some said that you did not field Nicole in Tampines because of the internal dynamics in NSP. If so, you should tell your colleagues to off themselves and not waste your chances again. Better still find your own party.
You need a new treasurer.
