Why WP will not take part in NatCON

[Confuseous]

SINGAPORE - Workers' Party (WP) leaders will not participate in citizen dialogues under the ongoing national conversation, but its Chairman Sylvia Lim said other party members can attend, if invited in their personal capacities.

None of the three Opposition party members invited to the first national conversation dialogue, held on Oct 13, attended the session. Besides Ms Lim, the other two were Hougang Member of Parliament (MP) Png Eng Huat and National Solidarity Party Secretary-General Hazel Poa.

At a National University of Singapore forum on Oct 17, Non-Constituency MP and WP Treasurer Yee Jenn Jong clarified that both Ms Lim and Mr Png were invited in their personal capacities. Ms Poa had said during the forum she was unable to attend due to work commitments and hoped to reschedule a date to participate.

Ms Lim said yesterday that WP leaders who attended the national conversation would be seen to represent their party even though they might be invited in their personal capacities.

(Smart woman - will not offer opportunity for the MIWs to quote them out of context, out of character).

 

[Television]

The Natcon is a fucking Joke, Its another one of PAP wayang show.

 

[Char_Azn]

This is a joke right. First they say didn't want to take part coz invited in personal capacity. Now they tell us anyone in WP outside of the leaders can take part if invited in Personal capacity.

As an elected opposition party, WP have to take part in this whether or not this is a wayang show is besides the point due to the following
1)PAP talked about this being non-partisan and actually invited them. The fact that they chose not to show up already gave up the morale high ground to PAP
2)The govt have position this whole exercise as an event for all Singaporeans to decide how the country move forward in the next 20 years. Again whether or not this is wayang is besides the point. The whole point is they started this to get feedback and if something goes wrong sometime down the road they can also point back to the oppositions non-participation on this
3)Related to point to, WP not participating is a slap on their own face. Whatever happened to the Co-Driver promise during GE2011??
4)Lastly a lot have been complaining about WP's disappearance in parliament. This is a good chance to come out and present their ideas since this is a more informal setting. It is a good platform to show the general public that they actually have ideas instead of being a silent opposition who only appears during GE

 

[tanwahp]

This is a joke right. First they say didn't want to take part coz invited in personal capacity. Now they tell us anyone in WP outside of the leaders can take part if invited in Personal capacity.

She said WP leaders will not take part. There was never a contradiction. There is a difference between a MP, CEC member, VIP at events and a member who appears once a year to help carry tables and chairs. It's not a difference imagined by me. Do a survey on the streets and ask people if there is a difference between PM Lee and the RC chairman. Tell me if anyone says "no".

As an elected opposition party, WP have to take part in this whether or not this is a wayang show is besides the point due to the following

Did WP say this is a wayang show? Or you putting words into their mouth? You quoted that WP leaders allowed their members to attend. Why will leaders allow their members to attend some wayang?

1)PAP talked about this being non-partisan and actually invited them. The fact that they chose not to show up already gave up the morale high ground to PAP

You mean you actually believe this is non partisan after PAP stuffed their NC with PAP members? By attending, PAP got an even higher ground. Why should WP help PAP change the perception that NC is non partisan.

2)The govt have position this whole exercise as an event for all Singaporeans to decide how the country move forward in the next 20 years. Again whether or not this is wayang is besides the point. The whole point is they started this to get feedback and if something goes wrong sometime down the road they can also point back to the oppositions non-participation on this

If NC or country fails it is PAP's fault. PERIOD. Some people try to position as PAP makes a mistake it's WP fault because WP didn't stop PAP. If a company fails the CEO has to take responsibility, you don't blame other companies for not signing a deal with this company. Good thing this stupid thinking is shared by only a small group of people like Goh Meng Seng, Temasek Times and skpunggol.

3)Related to point to, WP not participating is a slap on their own face. Whatever happened to the Co-Driver promise during GE2011??

NC is a government-citizen initiative not a slugging out between parties or a place to slap PAP. WP is showing respect to the intent of NC and does not want to hijack it. Nothing to do with co-driver. The co-driver analogy basically spells the importance in check-and-balance in parliament.

4)Lastly a lot have been complaining about WP's disappearance in parliament. This is a good chance to come out and present their ideas since this is a more informal setting. It is a good platform to show the general public that they actually have ideas instead of being a silent opposition who only appears during GE

Who said WP disappeared in parliament? Don't think even GMS dares to make such a claim. It's true some people find WP "quiet" but it is a lie some people want to propagate.

 

[melzp]

Then, lets wait/propose for WP to chair it. WP---bo chap OR mai chap??
Disappointment; when we can talk anything under the sky. What a shame!

 

[tualingong]

today is oct 26.

it is time to move on. why dwell on the past?

 

[ray_of_hope]

I would be disappointed if WP participated in what, to all intents and purposes, is a massive public relations exercise. As WP declined to participate in the PAP's NatCon, so it also chose not to participate in the SDP's version. As such the WP has been consistent. The SDP invited other political parties to its own Conversation but ended up speaking to its own members, supporters and sympathisers.

 

[Liquigas]

The National Conversation is a political initiative of the ruling party ; it is not a sports event, it is not a social or religious gathering, it is about discussing our future, it is about the hopes and aspirations of its citizens. Senior citizens, school children and young working adults are already actively taking part in it, it will be a big joke if the opposition politicians themselves refuse to be a part of it. After all the issues discussed are all politics in nature!

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

I also cannot figure out why they didn't want to attend, really. They should stop thinking that they are only local administrators or local politicians in Hougang and Aljunied who will only focus on these two places instead, they should treat themselves as a party with a National perspective.




Goh Meng Seng

This is a joke right. First they say didn't want to take part coz invited in personal capacity. Now they tell us anyone in WP outside of the leaders can take part if invited in Personal capacity.

As an elected opposition party, WP have to take part in this whether or not this is a wayang show is besides the point due to the following
1)PAP talked about this being non-partisan and actually invited them. The fact that they chose not to show up already gave up the morale high ground to PAP
2)The govt have position this whole exercise as an event for all Singaporeans to decide how the country move forward in the next 20 years. Again whether or not this is wayang is besides the point. The whole point is they started this to get feedback and if something goes wrong sometime down the road they can also point back to the oppositions non-participation on this
3)Related to point to, WP not participating is a slap on their own face. Whatever happened to the Co-Driver promise during GE2011??
4)Lastly a lot have been complaining about WP's disappearance in parliament. This is a good chance to come out and present their ideas since this is a more informal setting. It is a good platform to show the general public that they actually have ideas instead of being a silent opposition who only appears during GE

 

[SgParent]

I also cannot figure out why they didn't want to attend, really.

Even I could understand.

Perhaps it's the difference between MP material and wannabe?

 

[SgParent]

I also cannot figure out why they didn't want to attend, really.

Ok lah. Since I'm feeling unusually generous today. Here it goes

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER FOR THE PAP
http://therealsingapore.com/content/birds-feather-flock-together-pap

>
...
The National Conversation is an initiative created by the PAP, for the PAP and of the PAP.
<

 

[SgParent]

I also cannot figure out why they didn't want to attend, really.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER FOR THE PAP
http://therealsingapore.com/content/birds-feather-flock-together-pap

>
...
The National Conversation is an initiative created by the PAP, for the PAP and of the PAP.

Readers will recall that from the outset, the participation of the Opposition was never on the agenda. The political composition of the NatCon committee was purely made up of PAP MPs and ministers. Chairing the committee was the newly minted minister Heng Swee Keat, a move no doubt calculated to promote the PAP as being on the route to change and discarding tired image of the Old Guards who could be seen as out of touch with the younger electorate.

The invitation to Opposition Party members came only after public outcry over this biased composition. The late invitation means that Opposition Party members are not involved in any agenda-setting. In short: it is afterthought.

If the freesheet had examined the issue from this angle, it would have come to the conclusion that the Workers Party or in fact any other political party has no basis to take part in the NatCon.

No political party in the world will help its opponent gain or entrench power and buy the favour of the electorate unless it is in a country like China where the so-called eight "democratic parties" congregate under the flag of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in a purely advisory role.
<

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

There are always pros and cons in participation. In Singapore's context, it is rare opportunity for opposition to face off PAP ministers or MPs right in front of TV, other than pre-GE sessions. Especially when it comes to the contesting of VISIONS for Singapore, PAP is definitely afraid to face off opposition during this era.

You may think that by participating in the process opposition is "helping" PAP but from another perspective, opposition will GAIN even more than PAP if they got their acts right during the NAT CON.

Goh Meng Seng

Even I could understand.

Perhaps it's the difference between MP material and wannabe?

 

[myfoot123]

There are always pros and cons in participation. In Singapore's context, it is rare opportunity for opposition to face off PAP ministers or MPs right in front of TV, other than pre-GE sessions. Especially when it comes to the contesting of VISIONS for Singapore, PAP is definitely afraid to face off opposition during this era.

You may think that by participating in the process opposition is "helping" PAP but from another perspective, opposition will GAIN even more than PAP if they got their acts right during the NAT CON.

Goh Meng Seng

In battle, never help your enemy win territory. There is no point giving your ideas to your opponent and than ended up they became weapon against you during election. Keep your ideas and secret to yourselves and only unveil them when you need to win vote. Besides, do you still trust Singapore msm as objective and fair in reporting? You will be lucky that these msm said nothing than something, thus it is best never give msm chance to report something unpalatable about the PAP's enemy. If Singapore is a true democratic country and every game is fairly played, than I would have agree with you, but for now, what WP did is wise and cautionary.

 

[zeebjii]

I also cannot figure out why they didn't want to attend, really.

Goh Meng Seng

Fuck you lah GMS. If they had decided to attend you'll say you don't understand why they want to take part.

 

[I_Hate_Pappies]

Fuck you lah GMS. If they had decided to attend you'll say you don't understand why they want to take part.

Head He Wins, Tail You Lose.

 

[Fook Seng]

The National Conversation is a political initiative of the ruling party ; it is not a sports event, it is not a social or religious gathering, it is about discussing our future, it is about the hopes and aspirations of its citizens. Senior citizens, school children and young working adults are already actively taking part in it, it will be a big joke if the opposition politicians themselves refuse to be a part of it. After all the issues discussed are all politics in nature!

This is what it should be but unfortunately the make-up of participants does not gel with the announced objective. It now looks like a policies justification monologue.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Unfortunately, this doesn't apply in modern political warfare where the contest of ideas is paramount. Do you seriously think that you could sell your ideas within that 9 days? PAP has been selling and bombarding their ideas 365 day in day out and that's why they get to hold the ground in spite of many unpopular policies.

When you go to a TV forum like that, it is quite difficult to cut you out totally. The last pre-GE Talking point is one fine example. They couldn't cut off the thrusts I put forward because it would look awkward. This is because the program is fixed with timing, very little time and space for cutting off. Unlike the parliamentary sittings, they have lots of space to cut off the most important points.


Goh Meng Seng

In battle, never help your enemy win territory. There is no point giving your ideas to your opponent and than ended up they became weapon against you during election. Keep your ideas and secret to yourselves and only unveil them when you need to win vote. Besides, do you still trust Singapore msm as objective and fair in reporting? You will be lucky that these msm said nothing than something, thus it is best never give msm chance to report something unpalatable about the PAP's enemy. If Singapore is a true democratic country and every game is fairly played, than I would have agree with you, but for now, what WP did is wise and cautionary.

 

[Fook Seng]

There are always pros and cons in participation. In Singapore's context, it is rare opportunity for opposition to face off PAP ministers or MPs right in front of TV, other than pre-GE sessions.

Since you see pros more than cons in this and you have declared you are for opposition, why don't you get yourself invited? After contributing, I am sure you will love the rare opportunity to take a group photo with the rest of the participants.

 

[tanwahp]

If they acted like an opposition during the session, some people will say something. If they commented like ordinary citizens, people will also talk.

There's no longer anything WP can do that won't invite one bit of criticism. It comes even when WP doesn't do. It has to do with expectations. The higher the expectations the more the criticism. For 20 over years since the internet was born, PAP was the only criticized party because they were dominant. Now that PAP and WP share parliament, the criticism is divided to both. (Still more for PAP, of course.) WP has to live with it. I'd rather they know what they are doing.

It's quite simple, the reason for rejecting. WP's place should be in parliament. It has nothing to do with their performance in parliament so far or shutting mouths of critics (that cannot be shut). Their place is in parliament. If that was why they rejected, good for them, they know what they are doing.

On top of it, the reason why PAP even considered inviting Sylvia, Huat and Hazel. The NC started on the wrong footing. If only they had opened invitations to members of the public and interviewed them to make sure they weren't crazy. But they messed up by looking within PAP ranks so that they were found out.