GE2011 Part 2
I am thinking how can we better assess the quality and vote-worthiness of the different candidates, be it PAP or opposition. It dawned upon my mind that it is possible and reasonable to be more strict in our criticism of the opposition compared to the PAP. Why? For most of the areas, the PAP has been the incumbent and it is easy to assess what they have done at the grassroot level and to assess their historical records in improving (or to some desecrating) people's lives.
However, to compare the PAP candidates at the same 'leniency' or 'strictness' with the opposition party members begs some questions. Firstly, while not true for all opposition members, we need to question what these opposition candidates stand for. It is easy to answer this question for all PAP candidates, cos at least for PAP candidates, they can be consistent with one another. But it is difficult to answer these questions for the oppositions. Take Alec Tok for example. He came in last minute from Reform Party to join SDP and later come and contest in my area, Bukit Panjang. The sad part for him, unfortunately, is that I'm not even sure he is here to improve the lives of residents or he is just here to contest and hopes to get a ticket into the parliament. The fact that he switched party makes me even more uneasy. So this is one question that we need to ask.
Another question we need to ask is if the candidates can possibly do a better job than PAP, other than the fact that they can provide an 'alternative voice' in the parliament. Well, you know how skeptical I am over this issue on alternative voice. But the bottom line is what can the opposition candidates promise for the residents they are supposedly fighting to represent? I may be a bit narrow minded here but I think on one hand, I dun want a MP get voted in and yet unable to improve the infrastructure of my immediate living environment. While my MP has a track record he can boast, the opposition here, Alec Tok, has no record nor credibility to boast about. Historical record is not everything, but it is important when it comes to my immediate living environment, let's not be mistaken about it. We will need to question what are their immediate strategies to improve our place. No point going to rallies and criticising the PAP and yet have no concrete plans.
Another question is the unity of the opposition as Singaporeans vote them in. We have been talking about this for a long time, and will be talking about this till kingdom comes. I am always curious, if the opposition is really serious about them opposing the PAP, then why would they want to form so many different parties, and just unite together to form one super opposition party? Obviously, different visions on how to go about oppose PAP and on the alternative policies will serve as a wedge in driving disunity towards the opposition. As such, while we can be almost certain that the PAP will be united in their voice in parliament (through the Party Whip... unfortunately), can the opposition, should they be voted in, abandon party line and unite to ensure what they have been advocating for: to provide that 'co-driver'? I mean, if this is really the case, then they should really just merge now.
Ok, this is a second musing on the GE. May or may not post any more. Akan Datang.
However, to compare the PAP candidates at the same 'leniency' or 'strictness' with the opposition party members begs some questions. Firstly, while not true for all opposition members, we need to question what these opposition candidates stand for. It is easy to answer this question for all PAP candidates, cos at least for PAP candidates, they can be consistent with one another. But it is difficult to answer these questions for the oppositions. Take Alec Tok for example. He came in last minute from Reform Party to join SDP and later come and contest in my area, Bukit Panjang. The sad part for him, unfortunately, is that I'm not even sure he is here to improve the lives of residents or he is just here to contest and hopes to get a ticket into the parliament. The fact that he switched party makes me even more uneasy. So this is one question that we need to ask.
Another question we need to ask is if the candidates can possibly do a better job than PAP, other than the fact that they can provide an 'alternative voice' in the parliament. Well, you know how skeptical I am over this issue on alternative voice. But the bottom line is what can the opposition candidates promise for the residents they are supposedly fighting to represent? I may be a bit narrow minded here but I think on one hand, I dun want a MP get voted in and yet unable to improve the infrastructure of my immediate living environment. While my MP has a track record he can boast, the opposition here, Alec Tok, has no record nor credibility to boast about. Historical record is not everything, but it is important when it comes to my immediate living environment, let's not be mistaken about it. We will need to question what are their immediate strategies to improve our place. No point going to rallies and criticising the PAP and yet have no concrete plans.
Another question is the unity of the opposition as Singaporeans vote them in. We have been talking about this for a long time, and will be talking about this till kingdom comes. I am always curious, if the opposition is really serious about them opposing the PAP, then why would they want to form so many different parties, and just unite together to form one super opposition party? Obviously, different visions on how to go about oppose PAP and on the alternative policies will serve as a wedge in driving disunity towards the opposition. As such, while we can be almost certain that the PAP will be united in their voice in parliament (through the Party Whip... unfortunately), can the opposition, should they be voted in, abandon party line and unite to ensure what they have been advocating for: to provide that 'co-driver'? I mean, if this is really the case, then they should really just merge now.
Ok, this is a second musing on the GE. May or may not post any more. Akan Datang.
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