PAP needs to reflect on General Election: PM Lee

[streetcry]

By S Ramesh | Posted: 08 September 2011 1612 hrs

[TABLE="width: 260, align: right"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="width: 20, align: right"] [/TD]
[TD="width: 240, align: right"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD="class: update"] [TABLE="width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="width: 138, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]Photos [/TD]
[TD="width: 47, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]1 of 1[/TD]
[TD="width: 18, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]<input disabled="disabled" id="btnPrev" value="<< Previous" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18">[/TD]
[TD="width: 19, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]<input id="bntPlay" value="Play - Stop" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" height="15" type="image" width="19">[/TD]
[TD="width: 18, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]<input disabled="disabled" id="btnNext" value=" Next >> " src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18">[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD="class: update"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 510"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 430"] http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1151857/1/.html# 27
[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the People's Action Party needs to adjust its policies to serve the people better, and that the party also needs to improve on its engagement and outreach to involve Singaporeans much more on the issues affecting them.

Mr Lee said: "We have to be active in listening, as well as in putting our message across, and in countering mistaken views and disinformation."

Mr Lee, who is also the PAP's Secretary General, made these observations in the latest issue of Petir, the party's magazine. The editorial comes in the wake of the party's performance in the last General Election, having won 81 out of 87 seats.

He said the ruling People's Action Party must reflect on the meaning of the May 7 General Election, and strengthen and reinvent itself to maintain a leading role in Singapore politics.

He also said the party must also strengthen its presence in cyberspace and learn to use the new media more effectively. This meant not just going onto Facebook and Twitter, but being on the same wavelength as the netizens and resonating with the Internet generation.

That way, the MPs and leaders can continue serving the widest spread of society and work with all citizens to shape the new Singapore together.

Mr Lee said constituency work also remains crucial, as a caring, hardworking and effective MP, backed by a strong team of activists and the party, can make the difference. He said this was clear in the General Election as MPs who had worked hard, enjoyed strong support.

As for the opposition wards, Mr Lee urges the PAP to maintain its presence, keep the branch active and take care of supporters and fight hard to win back the constituency. Mr Lee added: "Fundamentally, we need to get Singaporeans to see the PAP for what it is and what it has always been - their champion, acting on their behalf, working with them and for them."

So the Prime Minister's call to his party activists is to stay united in the cause and fight tenaciously to create a better tomorrow for all Singaporeans.

-CNA/ac

 

[streetcry]

Why PAP lost Aljunied GRC
By S Ramesh | Posted: 08 September 2011 1611 hrs
[TABLE="width: 260, align: right"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="width: 20, align: right"] [/TD]
[TD="width: 240, align: right"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD="class: update"] [TABLE="width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="width: 138, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]Photos [/TD]
[TD="width: 47, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]1 of 1[/TD]
[TD="width: 18, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]<input disabled="disabled" id="btnPrev" value="<< Previous" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18">[/TD]
[TD="width: 19, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]<input id="bntPlay" value="Play - Stop" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" height="15" type="image" width="19">[/TD]
[TD="width: 18, bgcolor: f6f6f6"]<input disabled="disabled" id="btnNext" value=" Next >> " src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18">[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

WP's Low Thia Kiang shaking hands with Aljunied GRC residents on a walkabout. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD="class: update"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] [/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 510"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 430"] http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1151854/1/.html#

[/TD]
[TD]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


SINGAPORE: Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has taken its defeat in Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) seriously, said Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, a candidate who contested in the GRC for the PAP and lost.

In an article published in the July/August issue of Petir, Mr Zainul reflected the reasons for the GRC's loss to an opposition party.

He said there are already clear signs of the government taking a more open approach to policies and the style of government, and it will not be business as usual.

Mr Zainul explained: "Aljunied 2011 has shown that while local politics and a local campaign are still important -- otherwise the team might have lost a bigger margin -- national issues and national politics have taken centrestage.

"Local programmes were insufficient to carry the PAP team. All the good work over the years and the excellent programme promised (to) voters became almost irrelevant, hijacked by a call for a credible opposition presence in Parliament and a more listening government."

As to what would happen in the next General Election, and whether the PAP can field a better team in Aljunied, it is too early to tell, said Mr Zainul.

That would depend on the Workers' Party's performance in and out of Parliament, he said.

He added it is likely that many will shy from being possible future sacrificial lambs by standing in Aljunied.

-CNA/wk

 

[red amoeba]

hmmm...haven't we heard that before?

dun just tok...action pls.

start by retracting the bus fare hike

 

[halsey02]

hmmm...haven't we heard that before?

dun just tok...action pls.

start by retracting the bus fare hike

The usual excuse, provide yoU with better service, improve secUrity, attract talents to work...blah!, blah! blah! U pay more...REPENT SINgaporeans...REPENT!!

 

[bhoven]

The usual excuse, provide yoU with better service, improve secUrity, attract talents to work...blah!, blah! blah! U pay more...REPENT SINgaporeans...REPENT!!

What talking he about listening to the people and uniting all citizens as one nation...the glaring exclusion of non PAP MPs in the Government Parliamentary Committees demonstrates glaringly that he does not care for the views of the 40% that voted for a non PAP MP! Is he daft or what?

 

[Wang Ye]

Bottom line... People's lives have not improved and are suffering.

Instead of solutions we get excuses. Instead of efficiency we get red-tape.

Better to spend more time in making real improvements to people's lives than window dressing.