Workers Party - a National Movement

[steffychun]

I am just stating plain facts. Any politicians, be it ruling or opposition, will have to be very careful when they want to score political points because the media (be it MSM, social media or otherwise) exposure is a double edged sword. Lian Chiam has done it badly by doing the wrong thing, distributing the wrong mask for her PR exercise.

For smart alec WP, even worst. At least Lina Chiam took photo with residents, talking to residents while those WP amateurs have made it so bloody crude by taking photo of themselves with those boxes of masks! That's basically PR disaster. Of course, their Smart Alec MP is the worst, trying to score political points by exposing his own TC's inadequacy! What kinds of PR skill is that? Palm face.

Goh Meng Seng

you are useless at elections and political commentary

How much time do you spend not attack the PAP

And how dare you quote David Marshall? I thought you hate the WP

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Wayang must also wayang properly. We all know PAP now wayang with taxpayers' money but nobody can actually fault them because they wayang properly.

To think of it, that silly photo of WP people with boxes of masks is really like Tin PL with her branded bag.... Of course, Smart Alec MP has it all with his superb PR skills, more steady than upturn the downturn Lim SS.

Goh Meng Seng

 

[steffychun]

GMS WP hater. How about hating NSP--the party you left in the lurch?

 

[HTOLAS]

Please give GMS credit where it is due - he did two parties (WP and NSP) big favours.

GMS WP hater. How about hating NSP--the party you left in the lurch?

 

[HTOLAS]

This came to my notice a while ago. A certain politician always avoided being photographed with recipients when she was distributing handouts to the needy. When I asked her why, she said that it was bad enough being in want, and worse having the world know that you are in want.

 

[steffychun]

Please give GMS credit where it is due - he did two parties (WP and NSP) big favours.

what favours. Join them and resign?

 

[3_M]

I agree. It will be paradigm shift for them. There is also the legacy issues where the party could have lost it all arising from the lawsuit on a language that nearly could understand. And they are on a winning streak.

With the recent media curbs, cooling off day and other measures, the fight will be on the internet as local media is controlled by them. I also sense that it will also temper them for parliamentary exchanges which is less than desirable and for incident management like AIMgate, Cleaning contracts etc.

WP won't change anything unless they perform badly in the next GE. After all this conservative approach works pretty fine for them and I don't think WP can time and again retained HG with improved margins over so many GEs for doing nothing like what many suggested. Hence once WP won a ward, it will be very difficult for PAP to unseat them because residents can see for themselves the type of works being done and developed deep-seated respect for having to do much without bragging. But for majority of outsiders, the effect is opposite. We are just not in the position to appreciate this.

 

[HTOLAS]

Just the second part.

what favours. Join them and resign?

 

[scroobal]

It was meant to move across the National stage and not to hold on Hougang, Punggol and Aljunied. I don't think SIngaporeans are prepared to hand over these back to the PAP anytime soon having tasted blood and the continued deteriorating situation of the PAP.

WP won't change anything unless they perform badly in the next GE. After all this conservative approach works pretty fine for them and I don't think WP can time and again retained HG with improved margins over so many GEs for doing nothing like what many suggested. Hence once WP won a ward, it will be very difficult for PAP to unseat them because residents can see for themselves the type of works being done and developed deep-seated respect for having to do much without bragging. But for majority of outsiders, the effect is opposite. We are just not in the position to appreciate this.

 

[steffychun]

It was meant to move across the National stage and not to hold on Hougang, Punggol and Aljunied. I don't think SIngaporeans are prepared to hand over these back to the PAP anytime soon having tasted blood and the continued deteriorating situation of the PAP.

Aljunied might be a battle ground. Hougang never.

 

[3_M]

It was meant to move across the National stage and not to hold on Hougang, Punggol and Aljunied. I don't think SIngaporeans are prepared to hand over these back to the PAP anytime soon having tasted blood and the continued deteriorating situation of the PAP.

Transition will depend on whether WP can extend their influence to voters in those GRCs surrounding Aljunied. Everyone is watching.

In a densely populated place with no geographical barrier to hinder human interactions, domino effect will be much more prominent. Under this circumstances if WP fail to capitalize by capturing more GRCs surrounding Aljunied, then they seriously need to relook into their approach.

 

[kingrant]

The problem is probably that WP has little to disagree with the PAP about except the application techniques and implementation aspects. Not much in terms of principles. Unlike the SDP.

maybe this is for fear of isolating the middle ground. Bad enough that they are not so disagreeeable with the PAP but to make public statements and espouse similar stances would portray them as pro-PAP. As they say, justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done. After all, they have said they would not oppose everything, so on those they dont, they dont want to be seen as agreeing, definitely not as often as they like.

Having said that, I still agree that WP can at least make more nuanced disagreements or agreements. After all, nobody believes that they are in a position as Opp to help the govt govern better, might as well hammer the PAP as much as possible and get more traction for its own agenda.

It was meant to move across the National stage and not to hold on Hougang, Punggol and Aljunied. I don't think SIngaporeans are prepared to hand over these back to the PAP anytime soon having tasted blood and the continued deteriorating situation of the PAP.

 

[steffychun]

The problem is probably that WP has little to disagree with the PAP about except the application techniques and implementation aspects. Not much in terms of principles. Unlike the SDP.

maybe this is for fear of isolating the middle ground. Bad enough that they are not so disagreeeable with the PAP but to make public statements and espouse similar stances would portray them as pro-PAP. As they say, justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done. After all, they have said they would not oppose everything, so on those they dont, they dont want to be seen as agreeing, definitely not as often as they like.

Having said that, I still agree that WP can at least make more nuanced disagreements or agreements. After all, nobody believes that they are in a position as Opp to help the govt govern better, might as well hammer the PAP as much as possible and get more traction for its own agenda.

But WP has known that extremes dont work. SDP have proposed so may extremes--minimal to no defence policy, a benign foreign policy (haha only dreams), miimum wage (that's ok but also an extreme), LGBT stuff (SDP wants to compete with Obama) and of course Democracy.

 

[kingrant]

Precisely what I said. But that doesnt have to mean that they cannot come out with a more nuanced approach whilst accepting broadside arguments that to any rational man, would have been the same logical conclusion if run its natural course.

But WP has known that extremes dont work. SDP have proposed so may extremes--minimal to no defence policy, a benign foreign policy (haha only dreams), miimum wage (that's ok but also an extreme), LGBT stuff (SDP wants to compete with Obama) and of course Democracy.

 

[tanwahp]

Lian Chiam has done it badly by doing the wrong thing, distributing the wrong mask for her PR exercise.

For smart alec WP, even worst. At least Lina Chiam took photo with residents, talking to residents while those WP amateurs have made it so bloody crude by taking photo of themselves with those boxes of masks! That's basically PR disaster.

Once again I have to congratulate you for being the only person in the universe who has opinions like no one else - Lina Chiam has "the wrong mask" and WP's people taking photos with boxes is an act of "crude".

If only you alone could invent something helpful to mankind.

 

[tanwahp]

It was meant to move across the National stage and not to hold on Hougang, Punggol and Aljunied. I don't think SIngaporeans are prepared to hand over these back to the PAP anytime soon having tasted blood and the continued deteriorating situation of the PAP.

The way I see it, WP will proceed in whatever way they are doing now, find themselves in govt and forced to adjust, and after one term in power get voted out. They may come back again soon if PAP returns and screws up again during their second tenure of office, or take longer if PAP radically overhauls itself.

 

[scroobal]

My sense is that as WP grows in strength and in membership, there will internal pressure from more progressive members who would have the credentials to push an approach and an agenda that reflects 1st world politics of democracy. Some of them would be MPs and some would form the party's brains trust informal or otherwise.

Contesting GRCs means more minority representation and more minority membership and the old world concept or more bluntly the Nanyang way may be counterproductive.

Also the PAP is unlikely to be seated at least for the next 3 rounds. My sense is that they will morph towards WP style to retain power. And they have access to the treasury as well compliant stat boards to do their work. I also suspect that they end up using the reserves to start engaging in pork barrel politics out of desperation.

The only way the PAP can be unseated within the next 3 rounds is when the WP decides to be more aggressive in holding the PAP accountable or there is second opposition party that compensates in this direction.

The way I see it, WP will proceed in whatever way they are doing now, find themselves in govt and forced to adjust, and after one term in power get voted out. They may come back again soon if PAP returns and screws up again during their second tenure of office, or take longer if PAP radically overhauls itself.

 

[lee6100]

I agree. It will be paradigm shift for them. There is also the legacy issues where the party could have lost it all arising from the lawsuit on a language that nearly could understand. And they are on a winning streak.

With the recent media curbs, cooling off day and other measures, the fight will be on the internet as local media is controlled by them. I also sense that it will also temper them for parliamentary exchanges which is less than desirable and for incident management like AIMgate, Cleaning contracts etc.

Cooling off periods and further media curbs shows a lack of confidence on the part of the PAP. Campaigning for elections should be fought until the last minute.
A tight grip shows a weak hand.

 

[lee6100]

Lee Li Lian posted it too late. No one noticed that. On the other hand, Lina Chiam claimed victory first. Thne after Lina did it, PAP rushed in--army was deployed and cyberpioneer flooded their facebook with pictures and "forced" (maybe) soldiers to comment they were willing to give up their Saturday

The PAP lost a great opportunity to do some good as well as win back trust. They should have distributed free masks all over the island - at every CC, bus stop, hawker centres, MRT station, etc. Just put a stamp "not for resale" to prevent scalpers. This will also put an end to people profiteering from panic buying. But as usual, the small hearted, tighted fisted and stingy mentality of the PAP didn't see this. How could they, when they live in air conditioned bubbles away from their suffering peasants?

 

[lee6100]

I also suspect that they end up using the reserves to start engaging in pork barrel politics out of desperation.

Better that the PAP use the reserves now for Singaporeans than in say, 30 years, when the new immigrant Indian and Chinese Singapore citizens have large enough numbers to form their own political parties. These chaps, if they come into power, will mine the reserves and we'll be on our way to becoming a banana republic.