WP in Parliament and at the crossroads - Lions and Heroes at Rallies

[Bigfuck]

Leegime days are numbered. USA State department is watching intently. Singapore can go on tomorrow without LHL and USA knows it.

 

[kingrant]

If I were LTK, I would have turned the tables on the PM. I would tell him:

"PM mentioned lions and heroes. But isn't he and the PAP only lions and heroes inside Parliament? Why, at the last GE, did we not publicly hear the PM shake and quake and offer his apologies in front of the people? Why now he is so garang?

"Mr Speaker, the PAP is the elected govt because they had the majority votes in the GE. However, let's not forget that the WP is also the elected Opposition of the people since we had the minority vote. Have we not seen and heard how the PAP govt is always bullying and showing contempt for the Opposition and how it has forgotten that we are also elected by the people?

"In my response to the President's address, I warned the govt against sending the wrong signals to the people when it engages in all kinds of politics. Mdm Speaker, I was trying to provide the correct perspectives and paint to the people of Singapore how difficult and uphill the Opposition's task is. We are used to being given labels and names instead of answers to inconvenient questions; we are often accused of being irresponsible. Yet, many a time, it is the pot calling the kettle black..."

and so on..

 

[scroobal]

LTK need not engage the PM. If WP did what they did at the elections rallies in Parliament, they would have made a much stronger impact. Chiam was a constant thorn on the side of the PAP for the first 15 years. Ministries would have their staff on standby when Parliament was in session and the Senior Civil Servants used to dread this. He would ask very simple questions yet probing ones. In the end, the PAP Ministers would be extra nice to the guy.

There is no need to offer alternative policies as the WP does not have the resources of the PA or the civil service. All they need to do is ask difficult questions. And just by reading the net, you can get the common paint points raised by locals as well the cases one hears at MPS.

 

[scroobal]

A better way to highlight the key issues and sensationalise the good points scored. The SPH does it all the time for PAP.

None is keen or has the time to read the transcripts.

Actually, WP MP speeches are all on the web; in fact my beef is that this the only thing they put up. Whenever the media reports on their speeches in narrative form, I would double-check the facts with their speeches, although I don't really like to read technical text.

 

[scroobal]

I use to wonder how this MP could be such a thorn especially in his early years and he too had limited resources.

Not easy for WP to raise their profile and take on the ruling party on debating policies.
The ruling party got easy access to all the resources (ie economists, political science research fellow, statistics, historical data, intelligence etc) for their research.

Whereas WP has very limited access to information and their findings does not come easy due to so many obstacles to go overcome.
Hence WP often find it difficult to stand on firm ground. The playing field is not always level for them.
LTK's command of ingrish is not powderful, he now have to put up with all sorts of humiliations in the parliament waiting for the right moment to strike back.

 

[tanwahtiu]

this opposition leader can get what he want from his angmoh government in Singapore.

“But we either believe in democracy or we not. If we do, then, we must say categorically, without qualification, that no restraint from the any democratic processes, other than by the ordinary law of the land, should be allowed… If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, no law should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought.”


- Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition leader, April 27, 1955

I use to wonder how this MP could be such a thorn especially in his early years and he too had limited resources.

 

[tanwahp]

A better way to highlight the key issues and sensationalise the good points scored. The SPH does it all the time for PAP.

None is keen or has the time to read the transcripts.

True. Only the 2 NCMPs tend to do this, in their own online platforms.

 

[tanwahp]

 

[Cosmos10]

In any language, saying "where there is a will, there is a way" is actually an indication of having a POSITIVE attitude.

It is how we teach our children to have a POSITIVE attitude to tackle a challenging problem instead of giving excuses all the time.

 

[Manager]

forget about the WP. you need better oppositions.
the WP are clueless, stop deceivng yourself. Support someone else.
i cannot imagine what will happen to Singapore if WP become the ruling party.

If WP feels that its MPs speeches selected or highlighted in the press are purposely done and thereby leaving out the good ones, maybe the internet is the way to go. Pritam's asking the new citizens to join Hen's Volunteer army is a waste of time for an Singaporeans. We know that it is easy way for new citizens to claim that they did NS of some sort.

 

[tanwahp]

In any language, saying "where there is a will, there is a way" is actually an indication of having a POSITIVE attitude.

It is how we teach our children to have a POSITIVE attitude to tackle a challenging problem instead of giving excuses all the time.

Yes, that was what I last did when I suggested an alternative to SDP's handling of a matter. Wonder who said I was a wet blanket and not being positive.

 

[scroobal]

Don't be silly. They are the best organised and most effective opposition that we have that actually can take votes and seats from the PAP. That is proven beyond doubt. And the ground appeal is tremendous. You obviously have not been to a WP rally. In comparison, there is few people standing in front of PAP rally and without RP rally they would probably be the worst.

Look at the Yaw and Michael Palmer extra-marital affairs as a case in point where n=both triggers were identical. WP took back its seat and also took the PAP seat. This is despite the PAP presenting the overly qualified anal doctor who painted himself as mother theresa.

No other opposition comes close. The PAP is still on the back foot.

Frankly there is not doubt that this has to be the worst PM we have had. The guy is clutching as straws. His policies are failing one by one and he is looking to WP to prove alternative solutions. And it is not the WP's job to help them. They are there to help Singaporeans and not the PAP. They are also not answerable to the PAP.

forget about the WP. you need better oppositions.
the WP are clueless, stop deceivng yourself. Support someone else.
i cannot imagine what will happen to Singapore if WP become the ruling party.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Chiam was a constant thorn on the side of the PAP for the first 15 years. Ministries would have their staff on standby when Parliament was in session and the Senior Civil Servants used to dread this. He would ask very simple questions yet probing ones. In the end, the PAP Ministers would be extra nice to the guy.l

Yes. Mata mata had to stand-by at MHA and police division. The beh steady ones will kha por luan as if facing firing squad later. Useless idiots.

 

[scroobal]

Yes, You know how scared they were when annual leave were cancelled.

Yes. Mata mata had to stand-by at MHA and police division. The beh steady ones will kha por luan as if facing firing squad later. Useless idiots.

 

[bic_cherry]

Some of you must have seen or heard about the PM and Low exchange in parliament and his comment about WP keeping a low profile in parliament but turning about to be Lions and Heroes at Rallies.
Despite the embattled status of the PM, he was able to corner Low and and basically get him to say the things he wanted out of him. It was not a pretty exchange.
I think any sane person would understand the bunker mentality that WP will be in but is there a path that WP can take where it can address topical issues in Parliament and raise its profile.
It does not bode well when Ms Tin Pei Ling is asking for a higher returns for CPF funds. Something she did not bother during the last 3 years of her useless existence. I have no doubt that she is as opportunistic as the next PAP MP but this is also an opportunity for WP to take the PAP to task.
If WP feels that its MPs speeches selected or highlighted in the press are purposely done and thereby leaving out the good ones, maybe the internet is the way to go. Pritam's asking the new citizens to join Hen's Volunteer army is a waste of time for an Singaporeans. We know that it is easy way for new citizens to claim that they did NS of some sort.

LTK/WP should strive to erridicate the following skeletons in the Singapore political closet. Such filth/grime, when accumulated, will only lead to greater social wealth and power divide, which in the Thailand lead case shows: leads to almost intractable political grid lock if not social unrest.

This filth is examplified by the following practises/ occurrences:
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Constructive politics Stink@poor style: in practise, looks like the operations of a criminal syndicate to me though...

1) [2006GE]: Admit to change goal posts to fix the opposition:

fixing opposition parties; actually just creating an authoritarian, monolithic political state, with little or no political vibrancy/choice...

(YouTube; LHL: "fix the opposition")

2) [1991 onwards]: Fill up parliament with overpriced puppet MPs in supersized GRCs:

'Without some assurance of a good chance of winning at least their first election, many able and successful young Singaporeans may not risk their careers to join politics,' Mr Goh Chok Tong, June 2006 ['GRCs make it easier to find top talent: SM'].

[Pict= [URL="http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2012/04/disassembling-grc-benefits-pap-1/"]Disassembling GRC system benefits PAP (Part 1 of 3)[/URL]]

3) Run roughshod over any opposition and
a) [2011]: say whatever nonsense U want to explain getting your hand stuck in cookie jar more often than once...

"If the annual salary of the Minister of Information, Communication and Arts is only $500,000, it may pose some problems when he discuss policies with media CEOs who earn millions of dollars because they need not listen to the minister's ideas and proposals. Hence, a reasonable payout will help to maintain a bit of dignity."

[IMG URL]

b) [1997]: When bending the law for partisan gain, good to remind the Attorney General to tidy up just after you leave:...

(Pict source)

 

[Equalisation]

It will not be surprising that the two parties will have a go at each other like a pair of blazing spurs, come the campaigning of the next election !:o

 

[congo9]

This has nothing to do with WP becoming a Hero Tiger and lion. It has got to do with the PAP MPs who has lost the ability to campaign. Starting from the PAP's Secretary General himself.