Singapore survey: Ruling party losing credibility
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Associated Press
Singapore survey: Ruling party losing credibility
By ALEX KENNEDY , 07.08.11, 08:12 AM EDT
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/07/08/business-as-singapore-politics_8555164.html
SINGAPORE -- Fewer Singaporeans consider the ruling People's Action Party to be credible after the party's worst election results since independence, a survey showed Friday.
About 73 percent of those polled agreed or strongly agreed that the PAP is a credible party, down from 87 percent in 2006, according to a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies, a think-tank within the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
"The political consciousness of Singaporeans has changed very radically," said Chua Beng Huat, a sociology professor at NUS. "The PAP will probably continue to be the dominant party for the next twenty years, but we're moving toward a more normal, democratic culture."
The PAP has dominated Singapore political life since the country split from Malaysia in 1965. It won 60 percent of overall votes in a parliamentary election May 7, the lowest percentage since independence, while the Workers Party won six of 87 parliament seats, the most by an opposition party since the PAP came to power.
Voter discontent has grown in recent years as housing prices soared while wages stagnated amid a surge in foreign workers. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pledged after the vote to reconsider PAP policies and governing style, and ordered a review of minister salaries, which are among the highest in the world.
But the government so far hasn't expressed plans to make fundamental changes, such as establishing a minimum salary or easing the city-state's economic dependence on foreign workers.
<p>"The election was a warning to the PAP not to be complacent and to seek new ways to reconnect to a younger and more demanding electorate," said Lam Peng Er, senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute. "But it's unclear whether the PAP will re-examine its economic model of development and be more open and transparent in policymaking to citizens."</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>The survey showed the most important election issues were the cost of living, efficient government and checks and balances in Parliament.</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>The telephone survey of 2,080 people aged 21 and above was conducted May 8-20. No margin of error was given. Normally, a poll that size would have an error margin of about 3 percentage points.</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>During the election campaign some PAP leaders acknowledged the perception that they sometimes govern in an arrogant or high-handed manner. Lee offered a rare public apology for PAP mistakes days before the vote.</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>However, some PAP leaders reject criticism that they are out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Singaporeans.</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>"When people say that the members of Parliament are disconnected from the ground, or don't want to engage with the people, I find it hard to believe," PAP Member of Parliament Vikram Nair said in a speech at a conference hosted by IPS. "We do what we think is right and sometimes, people won't be happy."</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>"Don't focus too much on the 40 percent that didn't vote for you," he said. "We have to remember and keep in mind the interests of the 60 percent that did."</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>Perhaps the biggest change since the election was the resignation of Lee Kuan Yew from the cabinet. The 87-year-old Lee, who is Lee Hsien Loong's father, was prime minister from 1959 to 1990 and subsequently held senior cabinet positions until May.</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>The senior Lee is credited with guiding the rise of Singapore from a sleepy port town into one of the richest and safest countries in the world. He also jailed some political rivals for years without trial and sued other opponents into bankruptcy with defamation cases. That helped isolate the opposition, which has just begun to emerge.</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>"One of the factors that will contribute to Singapore's road to democracy is the retirement of Lee Kuan Yew," Chua said. "A lot of the authoritarian atmosphere is the result of that one man's mentality."</p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>Â </p><!--Display the nav box on the first page and for the remaining pages display it depending on the value of show nav box on all pages in cms/metadata--><p>Associated Press writer Heather Tan in Singapore contributed to this story.</p>
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Credibility?
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Just bear with them until they disappear one day. Be happy to give money to them then we are free of worry for the politics here.
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I love PAP before I watched how democracies work in overseas.
Now I don't love PAP.
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Lastime I got brainwashed by school textbooks saying PAP is a very good government.
Luckily I watched Cable TV and found out true democracy.
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So much has been said ... . .. . .. . when is the time for change?
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Originally posted by shanfan:
So much has been said ... . .. . .. . when is the time for change?
Be happy if opposition parties got seats in parliament.PAP have been around and dominant for such a long time how can PAP just lose power so easily... ...
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placing bets on the 60 percent who agreed should not mean 40 percent of the peoples' interests are not important...if these are not looked into quickly...it may erode credibility further...
socio-economic balance is the key barometer, if not the most potent signal to wake the system.
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40 percent are not human arh ? we are still important.
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one cannot merely change the ministers without reviewing and rectifying on the policies...
an agenda of change and action should be put up to assure the people...this should be the priority after the election...
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Originally posted by Fcukpap:
placing bets on the 60 percent who agreed should not mean 40 percent of the peoples' interests are not important...if these are not looked into quickly...it may erode credibility further...
socio-economic balance is the key barometer, if not the most potent signal to wake the system.
sometimes seems there's a 30% tat will forever disagree...
Think prob isn't just w/ political part of it, getting things done responsive enough in day to day matters matters a lot as well..
I'm referring to how the young scholars are running the place these days.
That said, whoever runs e govt will have to spend a lot of time to clean up the problems all these years.
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Originally posted by Fcukpap:
placing bets on the 60 percent who agreed should not mean 40 percent of the peoples' interests are not important...if these are not looked into quickly...it may erode credibility further...
socio-economic balance is the key barometer, if not the most potent signal to wake the system.
Let it be eroded I cannot be bothered. Have enough of them. Time to change to a new political party.
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let the migrants take over and this country will never be the same again.
I give up.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
let the migrants take over and this country will never be the same again.
I give up.
PAP rules forever with new citizens !!! -
the young scholars are not even accessible to the very top day to day strategic discussions that affect downline action....
collective think-tank may end up to paralysis at the bottom due to over analysis and political in-fighting at the top
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Originally posted by Fcukpap:
the young scholars are not even accessible to the very top day to day strategic discussions that affect downline action....
collective think-tank may end up to paralysis at the bottom due to over analysis and political in-fighting at the top
they rise fast n furious, sooner or later becomes some of e policy makers.you're right too, but for all we may know, they'll have to look out for ppl who are able to see thru things in a better light.
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GOod news leh. Damm PAP still dun want to build multi story carpark in my neighbour. always no parking leh. now after election also no sound.
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Without the old Lee,We don't have Singapore...Without old Lee...we are still in the British Colony.....
@Itedino: GG to you...if want more parking space,complain to MP or the volunteers helping the MPs...If not complain to the HDB...
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wah kao...
f**k all this politicians la. Money is king to them. We are just slaves for their fat fat salaries.
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Originally posted by sbst275:
sometimes seems there's a 30% tat will forever disagree...
Think prob isn't just w/ political part of it, getting things done responsive enough in day to day matters matters a lot as well..
I'm referring to how the young scholars are running the place these days.
That said, whoever runs e govt will have to spend a lot of time to clean up the problems all these years.
You not happy that scholars are running the place with their textbook money making policies?
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
let the migrants take over and this country will never be the same again.
I give up.
Don't give up.
The country needs you to do NS to protect her from any foreign invasion.
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Originally posted by charlize:
You not happy that scholars are running the place with their textbook money making policies?
textbook knowledge teaches u tat muche rest, is all on the spot learning experience.
I didn't get text knowledge over bus ops, in fact there's no reference for our high density profiling.
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Originally posted by Itedino:
GOod news leh. Damm PAP still dun want to build multi story carpark in my neighbour. always no parking leh. now after election also no sound.
not say build, buildMSCP need a rectangular plot and away from units else next thing ppl complain privacy
and here we go again, build blinds making it hard for ppl to see say vandals or sort?
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Missing the forest for the trees.
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Here is something I found from TR
Who are making up the government (cabinet ministers)? These are mainly hardworking scholars who excelled in their A Levels. Here comes the catch! ‘Hardworking’ here refers to working hard for *themselves* so that they can get scholarships and study in prestigious overseas universities (on taxpayers’ money) and eventually returning to civil service to command high salaries! What makes you think these *hardworking* scholars will also work hard to ensure the welfare of the local citizens?? In other words, cabinet ministers are selected based on their impeccable credentials in academic excellence, not on their characters!