Temasek Review
NCMP Sylvia Lim has lashed out at the PAP for “stamping out” opposition representation in Parliament which led to the present predicament it finds itself in today.
The PAP has lately introduced a series of constitutional amendments to increase the number of NCMPs in Parliament from six to nine.
Ms Lim argued that while the changes were implemented to reflect the aspirations of Singaporeans to have more opposition voices in Parliament, it is a result of the PAP’s “success” in preventing the opposition from winning seats in the elections via the GRC system.
The opposition has never won a GRC since the scheme was introduced in 1988. The closest it came to was in Eunos GRC in the same year when the Workers’ Party team garnered 49.7 percent of the votes.
Ms Lim also noted a speech made by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong in 2006 in which he admitted that GRCs has helped PAP recruit fresh candidates as “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.”
“The root causes of our current problems are the abuse of the GRC system and gerrymandering. These have curtailed the expression of the people’s desires at the elections and instead promoted the ruling party’s own agenda. The PAP has created the problem which it is now trying to solve. But we should instead tackle the root causes for a more lasting and sustainable political future for Singapore,” Ms Lim added.
Though a third of the electorate voted for the opposition during the 2006 general election, they are represented by only two out of eighty four seats in Parliament.
While the constitutional amendments may increase the number of opposition MPs in Parliament, they will not have dent the PAP’s political hegemony so long it continues to have more than the two-thirds majority needed to introduce bills and legislation as it sees fit.
With no strong opposition in Parliament to check on the ruling party, Singaporeans will have no choice but to put up with the status quo for many years ahead.
the opposition had failed to see that GRC works in both way, yes, govt can be grouping 3 or 5 constituencies together for their own interest and gain.but if opposition manage to win a GRC, they also win big...one shot 3 to 5 seats in the parliament.
where is the eunos GRC? where is cheng san??
all GRC which ever pose a threat to the PAP election campaign are often redrawn boundaries line until it disappear from MAP altogether.
now Angel, that is not fair!
GRC also denies Singaporeans of representation in the parliament. There may be 40% voting against the ruling party but they may only get less than 2-3% representation of the parliament. The whole purpose of GRC is to deny opposition in the parliament even though they have support of up to 40% of the votes.
I don't really like GRC system.
I heard only Singapore has this.
Who the hell dunno this.
Originally posted by reyes:where is the eunos GRC? where is cheng san??
all GRC which ever pose a threat to the PAP election campaign are often redrawn boundaries line until it disappear from MAP altogether.
now Angel, that is not fair!
The constant regrouping of GRCs causes the alternatives never to win at all.
Originally posted by angel7030:the opposition had failed to see that GRC works in both way, yes, govt can be grouping 3 or 5 constituencies together for their own interest and gain.but if opposition manage to win a GRC, they also win big...one shot 3 to 5 seats in the parliament.
let's pair up................... as a couple.............. to contest................. in a grc together............... would u????????
wth... iloveangel...
beware....things are going just smooth for the oppositions...
the ruling party is allowing all these dissenting voices to rise....to lure them out so that they are more identifiable......its a training platform where the old leader will sit back and watch who they r and how his young children trash them out....
i m all for genuine oppositions...and hope they tread carefully of what's coming....
AND STAY SINGLE AGAINST THE RULING PARTY
take it easy la. the pap has no time for ppl like us. last time in SAF, they promoted me until i reject dispite i voting for opposition party all the time.
Originally posted by reyes:where is the eunos GRC? where is cheng san??
all GRC which ever pose a threat to the PAP election campaign are often redrawn boundaries line until it disappear from MAP altogether.
now Angel, that is not fair!
Politics is never a fair game, if anyone think it is fair, he/she can go back and suck milk bottle again, opposition need to find the niche in election, they must hv an election plan, just like a battleplan, dun just sit there and be sitting duck, like Obama, going thru Youtube alone is able to get that extra 20% support liao, so what is our opposition game plan. Dun alway blame on the defender tactic, ask yourself, as a conqueror, what should i do and destroy them ya.
Originally posted by -StarDust-:I don't really like GRC system.
I heard only Singapore has this.
that's why we are unique
Originally posted by iloveangel:
let's pair up................... as a couple.............. to contest................. in a grc together............... would u????????
show me your bank account first
think so many here go against
thunder party
think should set up a new party?
u want to set up countdown party or Zouk foam party?? if need gals, i can help you to get some cheap, better and faster sexy ones.
Use the best sourcing for Cheap, Better and Faster
Uniquely Singapore.
PAP must sayang the Opposition.
Rasa sayang mah
yeah true. But the happen change the rules and regulations until it is no longer even on even footing. GRC? changing GRC boundaries?using lift upgrading as carrot?
Then oppositions must challenge them, get together and brainstorm it out on how to counter it, for eg: tell citizens what is lift upgrading when they should have build a new flat for you with llift on everyfloor, upgrading is very inconvience with lots of noises and constrution going on, and if one is having an examination, god bless them.
But instead of oppositions getting united, they created distrust and hatre among each other leading to resignation, coup de grace of chairmanship and so much internal politics. If your own house is not clean and straight, how on earth are you going to take on others??
Originally posted by angel7030:Then oppositions must challenge them, get together and brainstorm it out on how to counter it, for eg: tell citizens what is lift upgrading when they should have build a new flat for you with llift on everyfloor, upgrading is very inconvience with lots of noises and constrution going on, and if one is having an examination, god bless them.
But instead of oppositions getting united, they created distrust and hatre among each other leading to resignation, coup de grace of chairmanship and so much internal politics. If your own house is not clean and straight, how on earth are you going to take on others??
yes...............opposition needs to.......................'work closely'......................just like the..............2 of us.......................together as ONE......................
Originally posted by iloveangel:
yes...............opposition needs to.......................'work closely'......................just like the..............2 of us.......................together as ONE......................
i learned this in taiwan, the guy there once told me, if you dun take the hard way, we will try the soft way...r u trying the soft way here??
Sylvia Lim is right and I think she more articulate than her Boss.
Originally posted by angel7030:
i learned this in taiwan, the guy there once told me, if you dun take the hard way, we will try the soft way...r u trying the soft way here??
no........................i m not trying................soft way.....................no worry..........u like it hard............. right??????? i wont.....................try soft way.........................................