No free entry of people, of foreigners into SG - says PAP
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Goh Chok Tong attacks Chiam on union with Malaysia idea
PEOPLE'S Action Party leaders - including Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong - last night launched a scathing attack on veteran opposition leader Chiam See Tong's idea for economic union between Singapore and Malaysia.
Speaking at a PAP rally in Potong Pasir, Mr Goh - who has been tasked by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to help the party's candidate Sitoh Yih Pin unseat incumbent Mr Chiam in the coming elections - said the opposition leader was not being a 'realist'.
He was referring to Mr Chiam's suggestion at a rally in Chua Chu Kang Park on Saturday that one way to grow the economy would be for Singapore and Malaysia to strike an economic union.
'Economic union is possible only between two countries of equals, otherwise it is not possible,' Mr Goh said. 'My point for bringing this out is, to show that (while Mr Chiam) has some ideals, some vision, he is not a realist.'
Mr Chiam had also said on Saturday that such a union would allow Singaporeans to travel freely to Malaysia, and that because the Opposition has no history with the Malaysian government, it could 'bargain on a clean slate' on bilateral issues.
In response, Mr Goh said: 'When it comes to negotiations with the Malaysians, would you rather Lee Kuan Yew negotiate or Chiam See Tong? Just ask yourself . . . would you rather I (or PM Lee) negotiate, or Chiam See Tong?'
Mr Chiam's comments also came under fire from two other PAP leaders who turned up at the rally - Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan - as well as Mr Sitoh himself.
Mr Balakrishnan noted that, while Mr Chiam's plan would allow Singaporeans to 'pack their bags and travel to Malaysia anytime', it would also allow equal access to Singapore.
'His teammates in the Singapore Democratic Alliance have been saying that foreigners have been taking away jobs from Singaporeans,' Mr Balakrishnan said.
'You want union? You want free entry of people, of foreigners . . . are you really talking about making this place so everyone can come here? No work permits, no employment pass no control? Think again. Think very carefully,' he said.
In his speech, Mr Lim also questioned Mr Chiam's suggestion, and asked Singaporeans to compare the economic strategy of the PAP to that of the Opposition in order to judge who would better serve their interests.
'Mr Chiam says, we join Malaysia, we have a market of 27 million straightaway. Therefore, we can have double-digit growth every year,' Mr Lim said. 'Wah lau, so easy ah . . . so why just join Malaysia? Why not join Indonesia? They have 240 million people. Maybe triple-digit growth.'
http://www.asiaone.com/specials/ge2006/news/20060501_story7_1.html
66.6 % kena conned by PAP!
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no lah after 2006, about 70% get richer ya, they can con us, but we also know how to con other mah...
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Herzog_Zwei said:
I am waiting for the Cantonese,Hainanese,Teochews and Hakka to tear Ztreyier's miserable Hokkien testiscles off
for suggesting to implement Hokkien as lingua franca for the Chinese in Singapore.
When did I said that Herzog_Zwei?
Don't talk rubbish please. Why you keep on talking rubbish about me?
Is that a deliberate smear attack to demonise me Herzog_Zwei?
Shame on you. You revealed your true colours. You are the type who will go around smear people with lies.
You are like lky.
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well, Rubbish will alway mix with Rubbish.
Your honor, I close my case.