In his media interview yesterday (August 26), Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok said that check and balance is a seductive lie and that the ruling party PAP government is their own checks:
“For many years, the PAP was the only party in Parliament. Had the PAP gone corrupt in those years? Until the 2011 election, there were very few opposition MPs in Parliament. Had the PAP let the people down? We are our own checks, the integrity of our leaders and our MPs … not this seductive lie of check and balance. They are seducing the people. And if the people are not careful, they will be seduced … (and) they will pay a price. They’re looking for plunder … So now a new tribe is coming, do they really have an interest in Marine Parade people’s welfare?”
The 74 year old MP for Marine Parade GRC will face the Workers’ Party where the incumbent PAP won with only 56.65% of the votes.
Earlier last week, the Electoral Department cautioned election candidates to not embark on negative campaigns that include name-calling. It appears that the Emeritus Senior Minister himself needs to heed by their advice and put a stop to confrontational politics.