Is the opposition capable of epoch-making? The answer has to be a definite yes. The ground for the opposition is favourable and improving and the prognosis for making inroads into PAP domain can be said to be sanguine. Provided the opposition is united and avoid feuding one another in the hustings. There is already quite a steady flow of talented candidates with excellent tertiary qualifications into some of the more credible opposition parties and they are going to give the much-vaunted PAP election contestants a run for their money. The opposition should continue to woo more of the high-calibre candidates to join their parties in the time available before general election is called.
The to be applauded combination of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and the Reform Party (RP) in firing the first salvo in their quest in breaking the pernicious PAP stranglehold on Singapore with a combined walkabout in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC last Sunday is an encouraging beginning of what is to follow. That Mr. Chiam See Tong who heads the SDA and Mr. Kenneth Jeyaratnam, chief of RP, had chosen Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC to test the ground is significant. This GRC is the political stronghold of DPM Wong Kan Seng which he has helmed and has been uncontested since it was formed in 1997. Another GRC which the opposition is going to zero in on is the Tampines GRC which is helmed by the Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan. MM Lee Kuan Yew has tried to frighten Tampines voters that they would see their HDB flats go down in value if they did not vote PAP in Tampines GRC.
That the SPH-controlled mainstream media, especially the Straits Times, has given luke-warm publicity to the SDA-RP walkabout is not something unexpected. The opposition will be naive to expect adequate ardent coverage of their election campaigns during the hustings by the mainstream media. Their political masters, the PAP, will have the first call on them. All is not lost, maybe just a bit deficient, for the opposition parties as they will be strongly supported by the new media.
Where the new media stand vis-a-vis the PAP government and its leaders is not a mystery. They have been consistent in their vitriolic criticisms on the PAP government and its leaders for their unpopular and undemocratic policies. The netizens are mostly young voters and they have called on other voters, especially young voters, not to vote for PAP in the general election. It will be foolhardy for the PAP leadership to ignore this wave of anti-PAP sentiments by the netizens and their possible impact on the outcome of the general election. PM Lee Hsien Loong has tried to pooh-pooh these online criticisms as "astroturfing".
Well, PM Lee and his cabinet colleagues may feel confident PAP will be returned to power at the next General Election, but the capture of at least two GRCs and some single seats by the combined oppostions is a distinct possibility. PM Lee is welcome to continue to live in his fool's paradise.
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5 comments:
Come the next GE, it is predicted that the rallys for the opposition will be even be more overwhelming than during the last GE whereas the PAP rallys will be near empty.
The PAP with the command of the Shit Times cannot no longer pretend otherwise.
Let's hope and pray that the support for the opposition will turn into no-confidence votes against the PAP. PM Lee can even have one week or one month cooling period if he think it can help. We are least bothered.
We have enough of PAP's lies :-
- GST is to help the poor (Poor Ministers).
- HDB flats are affordable (>35 years mortgage).
- If you don't have a roof, we will provide the roof (jail).
- If you don't have any meals, we will deliver them to you (please contact Vivian, if not available please call 999)
It's about time that we show are disgust and displeasure against PAP policies by voting for the opposition parties, whatever shortcomings that they may have.
The question should be "Are the people of Singapore capable of epoch-making"?
At the end of the day, the opposition can only be effective if the people, or more accurately a large section, are prepared to join the opposition.
As for opposition unity, the power lies in the hand of the voters. Unity or no unity on the part of the opposition is not the issue. At the end of the day, the voters have the choice to pick from the best. If the voters can't do that it's the voters own fault.
To the author of singaporerecalcitrant.blogspot.com,
Dear Sirs,
I am a student at the university of Amsterdam. At this moment I am in the end phase of my study and have started to conduct research for my thesis to complete my master in political science. In my thesis and related research I aim at analyzing blogs in Singapore that focus on Singaporean politics, including for instance political issues, political system critics etc.
I would be very grateful if you could send me the links of the most authoritative or well known and well regarded blogs writing about Singaporean politics you know next to your own blog. Maybe you have friends who also write on these matters. If you could forward my e-mail to them and ask them to respond to me, that would be great. Alternatively you could send me their e-mail address or url so that I can contact them myself.
I have one more request. Is it possible that you would cooperate with me and that you answer some questions I will send to you in a few weeks? The questions will be about blogging in Singapore.
Thank you very much for your help!
Yours sincerely,
Sarah Nienke van Voorthuisen
S.N.vanVoorthuisen@student.uva.nl
Dear SN,
Well-known blogs writing on Singapore politics are:
l. Temasek Review
2. The Online Citizen
I am not at liberty to give you their email addresses. I suggest you visit their blogs and ask them for their email addresses.
Would like to read more of your views. Consider blogging more often.
Thanks
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