Why WP will not take part in NatCON

[tanwahp]

There are always pros and cons in participation.

You know there are pros and cons and they exist in everything but you always only talk about the cons.

 

[ray_of_hope]

I can only see advantage for WP participating in this if the WP rep is on the platform with the presiding minister and therefore is given the same status, and where both the minister and WP rep field questions from the audience. Will that be so?

On the other hand, if the WP rep is invited to simply be part of the audience to ask the minister questions like everyone else, what advantage is there for the WP to take part? For the WP to participate in such a context means it accepts the ground rules of a silly game that the pappies have decided to play. Not only that, but the WP would be giving credibility to such a silly game.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Well, then don't just reject it. Negotiate and ask for it. If they don't agree, then take that as a reason for not participating lor.

Goh Meng Seng

I can only see advantage for WP participating in this if the WP rep is on the platform with the presiding minister and therefore is given the same status, and where both the minister and WP rep field questions from the audience. Will that be so?

On the other hand, if the WP rep is invited to simply be part of the audience to ask the minister questions like everyone else, what advantage is there for the WP to take part? For the WP to participate in such a context means it accepts the ground rules of a silly game that the pappies have decided to play. Not only that, but the WP would be giving credibility to such a silly game.

 

[GoldenDragon]

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. Goh Meng Seng

I think the above is THE main point you want us to read.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Don't be too sensitive, jealous and envy about that. But truth to be told, one of the main reasons why YSL was sent to Hougang is that his competitor actually fumbled on national TV like a JC student. Yes, it is a double edged sword indeed.


Goh Meng Seng

I think the above is THE main point you want us to read.

 

[Fook Seng]

Well, then don't just reject it. Negotiate and ask for it. If they don't agree, then take that as a reason for not participating lor.

Goh Meng Seng

Most of the participants in the Natcon are not politicians, although they could be aligned. So you need not be an MP to participate in it. You being an established and recognised political observer and critic, why don't you request and insist that you be included in the Natcon? You are as legitimate as any to be invited.

 

[borom]

This Nat Con idea comes from a Party that has been in power since 1959-you mean the PAP does not know what the citizens want even after 53years in power-with its tenacles spreading through PA, CC, CCC, NTUC ect2.They co-opted the best and brightest via various scholarships and place them in senior positions in the bureacracy and later PAP-so the scholars have been sleeping and not knowing what people want and needs to hold a conversation now?l

Why would you need a Nat Con when there is already a Parliament?
" More generally, "parliament "......is derived from the French parlement, the action of parler (to speak): a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which such a discussion took place....It acquired its modern meaning as it came to be used for the body of people (in an institutional sense) who would meet to discuss matters of state.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament

More importantly, " Legislators in countries using the Westminster system....are protected from civil action for slander and libel by parliamentary immunity whilst they are in the House. This protection is known as parliamentary privilege....."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_immunity

Try criticising "the family " succession during Nat Con and see what will happen to you?

I see it as an attempt by the party to downplay the role of Parliament in response to its setback during the last 2 elections- GE and PE.
The latent message eventually will be, since you have your say during the Nat Con, do you still need to elect Opposition MP's to speak on your behalf?
The Nat Con cannot pass any laws/legislations and cannot change governments.What we want is to have our aspirations/hopes/ideas reflected in the laws of the country and to boot out a government that has betrayed the locals.
How many times have you heard " it cannot be helped" when locals complain about the flood of low quality immigrants, lack of places in tertiary education, high cost of living ect2
At the end of the Nat Con, will the answer be," We heard your complaints, but SORRY, IT CANNOT BE HELPED"

One example will suffice-"Why has 6 rounds of cooling measures not succeeded in lowering property prices ?"
The answer is simple-they are not willing to solve the root of the problem-i.e high number of new citizens, PR's and foreign buyers.

If only citizens are allowed to buy public housing(including resale flats/EC) and borrow money from local banks to buy houses , the prices of housing will drop.If you cut down the number of new citizens, PR's and foreign PMET's, the rental market will be affected and speculators who buy houses for investment will not be able to service their loans and prices will drop.
Why have'nt they done that-because they will not change their immigration policies-so what's there to talk about?

 

[SgParent]

Well, then don't just reject it. Negotiate and ask for it. If they don't agree, then take that as a reason for not participating lor. Goh Meng Seng

You still don't get it, do you?

You truly, really, sincerely, hand on heart believe something constructive will come out of the NC?

If no, then any publicity, even if it's free, rare or whatever, will only be negative ones.
(Referring to your previous comment
>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.
<)

Only those that are not MP material, no means to get notice by voters but too lazy to work the ground, salivate for it.

 

[cunnilaubu]

This Nat Con idea comes from Party that has been in power since 1959-you mean the PAP does not know what the citizen want even after 53years in power-with its tencales spreading through PA, CC, CCC, NTUC ect2.They co-opted the best and brightest via various scholarships and place them in senior positions in the bureacracy and later PAP-so the scholars have been sleeping and not knowing what people want and needs to hold a conversation now?l

At the end of the Nat Con, will the answer be," We heard your complaints, but SORRY, IT CANNOT BE HELPED"

Can't agree more. The NatCon is a national con job. Why should any sensible opposition member want to be part of it?

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

I can only say this, you can either be the master or the slave of your destiny.

Goh Meng Seng

You still don't get it, do you?

You truly, really, sincerely, hand on heart believe something constructive will come out of the NC?

If no, then any publicity, even if it's free, rare or whatever, will only be negative ones.
(Referring to your previous comment
>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.
<)

Only those that are not MP material, no means to get notice by voters but too lazy to work the ground, salivate for it.

 

[chilakak]

Some of the sensible posters in this thread really have a lot of patience to even bother trying to explain things to GMS. Remember Harban Singh? GMS is just the modern version of that clown.
His only role in Singapore politics is just to muddy the waters and taint the opposition efforts.

 

[SgParent]

I can only say this, you can either be the master or the slave of your destiny.

Goh Meng Seng

Wow. So profound. Is this your way of "having the last word" in this discussion?

I ask again, do you truly, really, sincerely, hand on heart believe something constructive will come out of the NC?

 

[SgParent]

Some of the sensible posters in this thread really have a lot of patience to even bother trying to explain things to GMS. Remember Harban Singh? GMS is just the modern version of that clown.
His only role in Singapore politics is just to muddy the waters and taint the opposition efforts.

I'm assuming you are referring me as one of the sensible posters.

I'm just doing Rabid Goh a favor by giving him "rare publicity"

 

[ray_of_hope]

Some of the sensible posters in this thread really have a lot of patience to even bother trying to explain things to GMS.

Some of us believe, perhaps naively, in the power of persuasion.:o

 

[cleareyes]

I can only say this, you can either be the master or the slave of your destiny.

Goh Meng Seng

Meng Seng

That is lame.

 

[amazonforest]

I can only say this, you can either be the master or the slave of your destiny.

Goh Meng Seng

You are trying to be like LSS, trying so hard to play with words but in the end always get nothing done.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

You will know what it means if you know it truly, else you won't.

Let's put it simply, the stage has been set tilted and there is nothing new about it, just like the Electoral process... people will continue to whine about "unfairness" but do opposition just say, I don't want to participate in it? No. We will always try to beat the system and WP has beaten the system to breach the first GRC. We fight to become the master of our own destiny, not slave to what others dictate it.

You may have lots of excuses about how Nat Con is set out to be but to shy away from it is just like giving excuses that GRC is unfair and refuse to contest it. You will just become the slaves of the destiny other people (PAP) dictated to you. PAP will be happy if you don't attend and they will have the whole stage to themselves. If you fight and could turn this Nat Con into your advantage, you will once again beat the system.

In Singapore, if you want to be in opposition politics, you will always remember to fight to become the master of your own destiny and not others dictate it.

Goh Meng Seng

Meng Seng

That is lame.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Don't be too sensitive, jealous and envy about that. But truth to be told, one of the main reasons why YSL was sent to Hougang is that his competitor actually fumbled on national TV like a JC student. Yes, it is a double edged sword indeed.


Goh Meng Seng

Trust me bro GMS. There is nothing in you nor your achievements (if any) that makes me jealous, envious or sensitive. I am perfectly happy with myself. Have a good weekend.

 

[GoldenDragon]

In Singapore, if you want to be in opposition politics, you will always remember to fight to become the master of your own destiny and not others dictate it.
Goh Meng Seng

You seriously believe in the integrity of ALL opposition chaps? Look in the mirror, mate! More than 75% of opposition politics is dictated. Own destiny, my kah chng.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

You will be the last one on Earth I would trust!

Goh Meng Seng

Trust me bro GMS. There is nothing in you nor your achievements (if any) that makes me jealous, envious or sensitive. I am perfectly happy with myself. Have a good weekend.