Opposition figures air key issues at dialogue
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Dec 17, 2010
Opposition figures air key issues at dialogue
Six leaders united in call for more opposition voices in Parliament
Opposition leaders (from left) Mr Goh Meng Seng of the National Solidarity Party; Mr Gerald Giam of the Workers' Party; Mr Chiam See Tong of the Singapore People's Party; Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party; Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party; and Mr Chia Ti Lik of the Socialist Front at last night's dialogue held at the Quality Hotel in Balestier. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
SIX opposition leaders came together for a dialogue last night, giving an early glimpse of where their parties stood on key national issues.
Topics like housing and the role of the media got an airing, alongside a wide range of other matters from the Internal Security Act (ISA) to national service.
And while the political parties differed slightly on some issues, there was clear consensus on their rallying cry: Get more opposition voices into Parliament.
Throughout the 21/2-hour session at the Quality Hotel in Balestier, the different opposition leaders took turns calling for change and taking jibes at the People's Action Party (PAP). Often, these calls were met with cheers or applause from the largely partisan crowd of 350 that showed up.
Socialist Front secretary-general Chia Ti Lik, for instance, called for the PAP to be given a 'black eye'. Answering a question about HDB prices, he said: 'The changes have to be made and the changes can only be made if we give the PAP a black eye at the next general election.'
The forum, titled Face To Face, was organised by socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC) to mark its fourth anniversary.
Source:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_614829.html -
Lol. Same topic, 2 different threads.