Will PAP send a Minister to contest Potong Pasir & Hougang?
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By : Kelvin Teo
During General Election 2006, Goh Chok Tong was given a special assignment to assist the PAP candidates in the Opposition wards Hougang and Potong Pasir in electioneering. Despite dangling HDB upgrading carrots at Hougang and Potong Pasir residents, he still failed to secure victory in both wards.In response, Dr Gillian Koh from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy raised a question: “If it is pitched as a contest between Mr Goh versus Mr Chiam and Mr Low, can the PAP and Mr Goh afford the strategy not to work” during a 2006 March interview with TODAY.
More recently, PAP member A.K. Lakshmanan, a long-time resident of Potong Pasir asked the PAP’s central executive committee if the party had ‘abandoned’ Potong Pasir after losing in 2006. However, with the announcement that Potong Pasir and Hougang are eligible for the Lift Ugrading Program, some speculate an intensification of the PAP’s intention to up the ante of its contest at those wards.
Now, let’s take this scenario further into a hypothetical situation and address this question which speculators and observers may have been asking all along – if the PAP wants badly to take back Hougang and Potong Pasir and decides to send their ministers to contest there, would such a tactic be successful?
In order for such a tactic to be successful, the basic assumption is that a typical minister carries some sort of a ’sacred cow’ status in the voters’ eyes, so much so that they loathe to vote against the minister. This is a reasonable assumption, given the fact that a minister would have at least a considerable level of political cache.
However, there was a slight surprise that our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong secured a mere 66.14% of the votes at Ang Mo Kio GRC, close to the average that the other non-minister PAP members secured. To put the electoral competition into a proper perspective, Lee’s party colleagues were up against seasoned opponents from the opposition camp whilst the former faced the ’suicide six’ squad of relatively young candidates with no experience at the polls at all.
It is the Prime Minister whom we are talking about, and if we follow the basic assumption about the heavyweight status of these candidates (and hence the reference to them as “sacred cows), Lee would be expected to perform better than his non-minister party colleagues with the added fact that he was up against a bunch of newbies. This did not materialize as he only managed an average score.
Furthermore, ministers would have to deal with a certain ‘bone’ in their throats, which the non-minister PAP candidates may be spared from – the contentious issue of ministerial pay. The comparatively high remuneration that our ministers enjoy is not going to be popular among voters. Regardless of where they contest, inclusive of current opposition-held wards, they will have to deal with this ‘bone’.
Affinity to personalities also plays a big role during a contest at an opposition-held ward. Mr Chiam is a familiar face at Potong Pasir in all his years there spent serving the residents. Mr Low Thia Khiang has an even more unique way of bonding with Hougang residents; he is renowned for attending funeral wakes. His PAP rival, Eric Low, at first tried to race with him in the funeral circuit by sending out grassroots supporters on bicycles, circling the void decks of HDB flats on a lookout for funeral wakes, which he would subsequently attend. However, Eric gave up after six months.
Low Thia Khiang knew who was having funeral since the application for funeral permits would be filed at the Town Council, which the latter has access to. According to Eric, the “blanket” with the condolence message would be sent out by Low Thia Khiang even before the coffin arrives. Due to Low’s unique way of bonding, he has moulded into an appealing personality in his voters’ eyes. If the PAP wants to send a minister to contest Hougang, it is very likely that the latter would have to ‘race’ with Low in the funeral circuit at Hougang.
Dialect also plays a part in establishing rapport between the candidate and the residents, especially amongst residents from the same dialect group including those who utilize that particular dialect as part of their daily lingua franca. There is no denying that Low’s fluency in his teochew dialect has not gone unnoticed among his voters. The Teochew dialect is predominantly spoken by Singaporean chinese residents at Hougang. They were originally from Kampong Ponggol, a predominantly Teochew community before relocating to Hougang. Although newer residents eventually came to Hougang from all over Singapore, there is still a sizable Teochew community present.
Hence, one cannot simply dismiss the effect of personality appeal of opposition candidates, and even if ministers are sent to contest Mr Chiam and Mr Low at Potong Pasir and Hougang (a hypothetical contest especially at Potong Pasir because Chiam is leaving his ward to contest in a targeted GRC for the next elections, and also this is his last contest due to old age and health issues), they need to win over voters with their own brand of personality appeal and that would take some time. Displacing the appeal of their opposition rivals could prove even tougher.
Therefore, even if a minister is sent to contest in an opposition-held ward, he may not even win. Firstly, it is not safe to assume that a minister portfolio would automatically win extra votes. Secondly, the minister candidate may not necessarily be successful in displacing the personality appeal that the opposition candidates have built up over the years. Hence, for the PAP to send a minister to contest against Mr Low at Hougang for instance would be as good as playing a high-risk game in which the former would have more to lose from such a gamble.
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Which person wants to risk losing his high paying job by contesting in HG or PP?
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seriously i never step into Potang Pasir
in my life before..
Actually wats so unique about this place ar
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U never now
if anyone has to be test-water
if win or loss oso never mind
it has to be WKS
after all there is nothing to loss -
Originally posted by noahnoah:
seriously i never step into Potang Pasir
in my life before..
Actually wats so unique about this place ar
It is a small and peaceful HDB estate.There is nice fish soup there.
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Well, the ruling party will contest in every opposition ward. Next election not sure who they going to send to PP. Just wait and see what they going to offer to the residents there before election - any more sharks fin????
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Originally posted by charlize:
Which person wants to risk losing his high paying job by contesting in HG or PP?
You may not know, people like me was asked to interact with the youth in HG and PP, so far all is going well, we have outing and gathering, I think they are sending that Mr Heng this time, again supported by SM Goh, if not he got nothing to do, we hope that Mr. Heng can bring heng heng to the PAP. -
Originally posted by angel7030:
You may not know, people like me was asked to interact with the youth in HG and PP, so far all is going well, we have outing and gathering, I think they are sending that Mr Heng this time, again supported by SM Goh, if not he got nothing to do, we hope that Mr. Heng can bring heng heng to the PAP.
Only the PAP will engage a Taiwanese 'hum' to spread its ignorance here in this Speaker's Corner so as to vandalise the threads by drawing attention to itself as an "Attention Seeking Whore". -
Originally posted by charlize:
Which person wants to risk losing his high paying job by contesting in HG or PP?
You are absoulutely right>hahaha
No balls of steel or even call it loyalty to the PAP if you like can make any prominent yellow belly PAP commit 'harakiri' for the sake of the lightning Emperor's dynasty.
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Originally posted by 4sg:
U never now
if anyone has to be test-water
if win or loss oso never mind
it has to be WKS
after all there is nothing to lossYes, we should challenge WKS to walk on water in PP or HG if he dare but we must also be fair to him , allow him to bring along a snorkel,mask and a big rubber tube to wrap around about his belly.
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Originally posted by angel7030:
You may not know, people like me was asked to interact with the youth in HG and PP, so far all is going well, we have outing and gathering, I think they are sending that Mr Heng this time, again supported by SM Goh, if not he got nothing to do, we hope that Mr. Heng can bring heng heng to the PAP.
Hello AngelSince you claim to have the ears of the PAP..
Can you please do us a favour ??
Can whisper into SM Goh's ear and tell him to let Mah Bow Tan contest in PP ??
Mah lost twice to Mr Chiam See Tong in PP previously, surely it will be third time lucky for him.
MBT versus CST in Potong Pasir is a contest-made-in-heaven and a dream-come-true for most Singaporeans.
If you can get SM to agree to this suggestion, I am sure your popularity here will soar like a rocket to the moon.
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Mabok Tan is sober enough to stay away from PP twice beaten no thank you.
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Originally posted by Lionnosy:
Hello AngelSince you claim to have the ears of the PAP..
Can you please do us a favour ??
Can whisper into SM Goh's ear and tell him to let Mah Bow Tan contest in PP ??
Mah lost twice to Mr Chiam See Tong in PP previously, surely it will be third time lucky for him.
MBT versus CST in Potong Pasir is a contest-made-in-heaven and a dream-come-true for most Singaporeans.
If you can get SM to agree to this suggestion, I am sure your popularity here will soar like a rocket to the moon.
U think that shorty Mah is stupid ar, look guys, PAP is already making it move, it has transform their talks into action, we are targeted to set up youth movement in oppostion wards, attract the young ones in hoping to gain support, so, i hope opposition dun just sit there and give comments or critics as always, do something big, get yourself noticed.In our meeting, we already identified that the old opposition ward peoples are die hard fans of Low and Chiam, it is only the youngs that we can go in, and for young to know more about PAP, we need young groups like me and my members to infuse into their realm. Mr Heng is a young chap or young looking guy which suit the image, for Mah, he is currently also chairman of HDB, office just beside Potong Pasir at toa payoh, and if you look at Potong Pasir and Toa Payoh estate, you see alots of differences as the later is more modern and well maintained, so if Mah will to contest for Potong Pasir, he got no chance, and as a full Minister, if he lost, it will be a big shame to himself and PAP, LKY may die of heart attack.
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Originally posted by angel7030:
U think that shorty Mah is stupid ar, look guys, PAP is already making it move, it has transform their talks into action, we are targeted to set up youth movement in oppostion wards, attract the young ones in hoping to gain support, so, i hope opposition dun just sit there and give comments or critics as always, do something big, get yourself noticed.In our meeting, we already identified that the old opposition ward peoples are die hard fans of Low and Chiam, it is only the youngs that we can go in, and for young to know more about PAP, we need young groups like me and my members to infuse into their realm. Mr Heng is a young chap or young looking guy which suit the image, for Mah, he is currently also chairman of HDB, office just beside Potong Pasir at toa payoh, and if you look at Potong Pasir and Toa Payoh estate, you see alots of differences as the later is more modern and well maintained, so if Mah will to contest for Potong Pasir, he got no chance, and as a full Minister, if he lost, it will be a big shame to himself and PAP, LKY may die of heart attack.
Hello Angel
Actually, there is common sense and good judgement in your posting here :
"shorty Mah is stupid" - Couldn't agree more with you on this one.
"opposition ward peoples are die hard fans of Low and Chiam" - Wow... you very perceptive. This goes without saying lah.
"for young to know more about PAP, we need young groups like me and my members to infuse into their realm" - Not so sure about this one leh.
"Mah will to contest for Potong Pasir, he got no chance" - Aiyah, you so so right on this one... hit the bull on the nose.
"and as a full Minister, if he lost, it will be a big shame to himself and PAP" - MBT & PAP got shame meh ?? - Ministers collect Million $$$$ salary, do a fuck-all job and still continue collecting - where got shame ??
"LKY may die of heart attack." - Spot-on again. How come you know this is on most Singaporeans "wish list" for the coming X'mas / New Year ??
Keep up with your good work / logic and you will soon have a Angel7030 fan club in your honour in sgForums.
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called her ginger can already
damn stubborn cockle
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Originally posted by Lionnosy:
Hello Angel
Must admit you deserve some credit.
Actually, there is common sense and good judgement in your posting here :
"shorty Mah is stupid" - Couldn't agree more with you on this one.
"opposition ward peoples are die hard fans of Low and Chiam" - Wow... you very perceptive. This goes without saying lah.
"for young to know more about PAP, we need young groups like me and my members to infuse into their realm" - Not so sure about this one leh.
"Mah will to contest for Potong Pasir, he got no chance" - Aiyah, you so so right on this one... hit the bull on the nose.
"and as a full Minister, if he lost, it will be a big shame to himself and PAP" - MBT & PAP got shame meh ?? - Ministers collect Million $$$$ salary, do a fuck-all job and still continue collecting - where got shame ??
"LKY may die of heart attack." - Spot-on again. How come you know this is on most Singaporeans "wish list" for the coming X'mas / New Year ??
Keep up with your good work / logic and you will soon have a Angel7030 fan club in your honour in sgForums.
Good Luck.
No glory nor honor needed here, and as Minister Mah, i said that he is not stupid ya, not that he is stupid to contest at PP again. And i am telling the true and my opinons are truly too, so dun give me the shit about fan club or pot luck club, i aint going to do anything about it, as for MM heart attack, he may get it if any of his full Ministers lose a seat, especially a GRC seat. -
Originally posted by tan reborn:
called her ginger can already
damn stubborn cockle
sambal chilli fry with cockle very yummy too -
Originally posted by angel7030:
sambal chilli fry with cockle very yummy too
You are at your best when you talk with your clitoris as your tongue that wag uselessly in a 'hum' that serve as your mouth - all displayed to simply get your daily orgasmic fix as an "Attention Seeking Whore".Is it any surprise that the irrelevant stuff secreted in your Taiwanese 'hum' will flow so freely as you arouse yourself with your self-consuming vanity to attract attention ?
Try douching your Taiwanese 'hum' to clear your brain if you cannot learn to take your own advise to simply "SHUT UP" when you have nothing to say.
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Originally posted by Lionnosy:
Hello Angel
Actually, there is common sense and good judgement in your posting here :
"shorty Mah is stupid" - Couldn't agree more with you on this one.
"opposition ward peoples are die hard fans of Low and Chiam" - Wow... you very perceptive. This goes without saying lah.
"for young to know more about PAP, we need young groups like me and my members to infuse into their realm" - Not so sure about this one leh.
"Mah will to contest for Potong Pasir, he got no chance" - Aiyah, you so so right on this one... hit the bull on the nose.
"and as a full Minister, if he lost, it will be a big shame to himself and PAP" - MBT & PAP got shame meh ?? - Ministers collect Million $$$$ salary, do a fuck-all job and still continue collecting - where got shame ??
"LKY may die of heart attack." - Spot-on again. How come you know this is on most Singaporeans "wish list" for the coming X'mas / New Year ??
Keep up with your good work / logic and you will soon have a Angel7030 fan club in your honour in sgForums.
Are you desperate to bring a person down that you must underhandedly resort to omitting her words, cut and paste it to suit your agenda?
Are you so fearful of her and what she says that you would stoop to such levels?
You may not know how to read, but others do, and what you had despicably done is not lost on others.
But still, it is your choice, and your own grave to dig.
Cheers!
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Why will a X-rated Fraud interfere into Lionnosy's "Freedom of Choice" - simply to defend its besotted Taiwanese 'hum' that it will prefer to address with a capital "A" - that suits the purpose of its "Angel" being an "Attention Seeking Whore".
Originally posted by xtreyier:Are you desperate to bring a person down that you must underhandedly resort to omitting her words, cut and paste it to suit your agenda?
Is this a recognition of its own dark art of plagiarizing other's works by doing exactly as it so cleverly said - "omitting her words, cut and paste it to suit your agenda" ?
Are you so fearful of her and what she says that you would stoop to such levels?
Does anyone need to fear what a Taiwanese 'hum' will say with its 'clitoris' serving as her wagging tongue ?
Or is the X-rated Fraud attempting to defend its 'angel' spelt with its preferred capital 'A' - using its X-rated guile to deceitfully design an empty threat to get others to hold their tongue ?
Now, who is stooping to such levels of "verbal intercourse" in the X-rated form that is so typical of a X-rated pseudo-intellect suffering from the ‘A.S.S.’ disease - which makes it eqaul to the ways of the "Attention Seeking Whore" in the Taiwanese 'hum' ?
You may not know how to read, but others do, and what you had despicably done is not lost on others.
For one who claims others to be unable to read, perhaps the X-rated Fraud should learn not to Double-XX itself again by being reminded of its own remarkable reading abilities in the other thread - ‘Philip Jeyaretnam clarifies mis-reporting by Straits Times. ’ (*1)
[Quote]
While the X-rated Fraud read the post as "no more than a curiousity that the reporter thought would be of an interest to readers, and thus the focus was on this famous son, on his thoughts and not about his father or his up and comming politician brother "
- its 'angelic' Taiwanese 'hum' had intepreted it as - "not interested in his position, that wouldn't bring much news and front page sensational in the media, his brother and late father is the ultimate news the reporters wanted".
[Unquote]
But still, it is your choice, and your own grave to dig.
Cheers!
Should anyone be surprise at the characteristic hypocrisy of a X-rated Fraud - to consistently claim the freedom of choice and opinions are available to others, it will see fit to interfere into the choice made by others ?
For one who has learnt to stoop so well, what it needs is for a hole to be dug so as to resolve the issue of its constipation of ideas - which is the most befitting place for any hot gassed idea that happen to slip out of its deluded mind.
Sadly, it always defecate at the wrong time - which is when it decides to move a twitch of its small brain muscle.
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No lah they will just send MM Lee lah... go out with a bang what.....
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Originally posted by Atobe:
Why will a X-rated Fraud interfere into Lionnosy's "Freedom of Choice" - simply to defend its besotted Taiwanese 'hum' that it will prefer to address with a capital "A" - that suits the purpose of its "Angel" being an "Attention Seeking Whore".
Is this a recognition of its own dark art of plagiarizing other's works by doing exactly as it so cleverly said - "omitting her words, cut and paste it to suit your agenda" ?
Does anyone need to fear what a Taiwanese 'hum' will say with its 'clitoris' serving as her wagging tongue ?
Or is the X-rated Fraud attempting to defend its 'angel' spelt with its preferred capital 'A' - using its X-rated guile to deceitfully design an empty threat to get others to hold their tongue ?
Now, who is stooping to such levels of "verbal intercourse" in the X-rated form that is so typical of a X-rated pseudo-intellect suffering from the ‘A.S.S.’ disease - which makes it eqaul to the ways of the "Attention Seeking Whore" in the Taiwanese 'hum' ?
For one who claims others to be unable to read, perhaps the X-rated Fraud should learn not to Double-XX itself again by being reminded of its own remarkable reading abilities in the other thread - ‘Philip Jeyaretnam clarifies mis-reporting by Straits Times. ’ (*1)
[Quote]
While the X-rated Fraud read the post as "no more than a curiousity that the reporter thought would be of an interest to readers, and thus the focus was on this famous son, on his thoughts and not about his father or his up and comming politician brother "
- its 'angelic' Taiwanese 'hum' had intepreted it as - "not interested in his position, that wouldn't bring much news and front page sensational in the media, his brother and late father is the ultimate news the reporters wanted".
[Unquote]
Should anyone be surprise at the characteristic hypocrisy of a X-rated Fraud - to consistently claim the freedom of choice and opinions are available to others, it will see fit to interfere into the choice made by others ?
For one who has learnt to stoop so well, what it needs is for a hole to be dug so as to resolve the issue of its constipation of ideas - which is the most befitting place for any hot gassed idea that happen to slip out of its deluded mind.
Sadly, it always defecate at the wrong time - which is when it decides to move a twitch of its small brain muscle.
Hi AtobeThanks Bro.
I usually skip Xtreyier's posts, as I find them too self-righteous for my taste... so I didn't realise that he was actually referring to mine.
Anyway, now that I have read it... all I will say is that the guy seems too uptight and someone with no sense of humour.
Takes himself too seriously.
He should loosen up to prevent constipation / a stroke / his arteries clogging up.