TO those who like their political debates sharp and hard, the upcoming election promises some fireworks if early exchanges are any indication.
A day after his attack on the People's Action Party (PAP), Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) chairman Chiam See Tong got a taste of his own medicine. Mr Chiam had said that though the PAP was criticising the Workers' Party's (WP) manifesto, it was no different from promises made in the ruling party's own founding manifesto.
On Friday, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Charles Chong hit back. "I would suggest Mr Chiam be more up-to-date and not look back at 1954. Since then, things have moved and times have changed," he said.
Mr Seng Han Thong, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, took issue with Mr Chiam's claims that by cutting employers' CPF contributions during the 1990s recession, the PAP had "reneged on promises" to the workers.
Said Mr Seng: "Wage restructuring was a worldwide phenomenon, not unique to Singapore. We were one of the economies which recovered sooner than the others because of right policies … which were supported by workers."
Veteran MP Tan Cheng Bock, who has served in Parliament for the last 26 years, added: "If we had not delivered what we promised, we would be in trouble at every general elections ... I don't see why we should apologise for what we have been doing consistently."
The PAP MPs also called on Mr Chiam to take a stand on the issues under debate.
Mr Chong wanted to know what Mr Chiam's position on the specific issues on which the PAP had rebuked the WP was. In his parting shot, Dr Tan said: "If they (the Opposition) can't form the Government, what's the use of talking about all this?"
As with all elections, the drama continues as each party attempts to be more vitrolic than the other. For a veteran, the parting shot was much to be desired.
i agree that Dr Tan's parting shot was seriously bad...
ReplyDeleteit reeks of paternalism. i am ashamed that i stay in his constituency. i apologise on my MP's behalf.
"Chiam See Tong got a taste of his own medicine.." See how the article slants it to PAP's favour? Quite lame and laffable really when PAP are the ones who knee jerked and lashed out and basically got their noses dusted. But lucky them, they got the 147th ranked press on their side.
ReplyDeletesglaksa admits he's conservative and i believe he is also a freaking spineless coward and dog just waiting to be fed.
ReplyDeletethe problem with strict yet caring is the lost of an enterprising people, who is ready to solve its own problems. LHL has openly expressed concerns about how the people look to the government for everything. this is precisely the result of an over-protective parent.
ReplyDeletecan a child learn to take care of itself if the parents never learn to allow the child to fall and get up on its own?
Compare us to the U.S.......
ReplyDeleteThen compare the populations between SG and US. Which one is easier to control? According to MM Lee during an interview by the Chinese media in China, "Sg's population is obviouysly MUCH EASIER to handle and control."
was shocking to see our good and friendly MPs have suddenly turned to man-killing predators...that we hardly recognised..
ReplyDeleteSglaksa... are you implying that the slavery of African Americans for over a hundred years was actually a good thing? And a further 100 years before they obtained their civil rights? I find it illogical to compare the historical plight of black Americans to the political development of Singapore. The former was developed through progressive acceptance of a race into society and through iconic activists such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X etc. Because segregation of the black community is wrong.
ReplyDeleteSingapore's slow democratic progression and 'paternal' control on the other hand is not out of necessity either. I think you severely understimate Singapore's ability to succeed in a competitive and modern world without such conservative leadership. So what if modern Singapore is only 40 years old? Are we using a 40 year old Independant America as a political benchmark now? Does conservative = strong leadership? Does the requirement of a paternal leadership that does not leave much choice for people in government policies reflect on Singaporeans to say that they cannot make decisions themselves? It is almost an insult on Singaprean intellect to say that they are inadequate to partake a more active role in a democractic nation. Rench's analogy is quite right that the more dependant people become of the government, the more theyr sites using
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ReplyDeleteSglaksa... are you implying that the slavery of African Americans for over a hundred years was actually a good thing? And a further 100 years before they obtained their civil rights? I find it illogical to compare the historical plight of black Americans to the political development of Singapore. The former was developed through progressive acceptance of a race into society and through iconic activists such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X etc. Because segregation of the black community is wrong.
Singapore's slow democratic progression and 'paternal' control on the other hand is not out of necessity either. I think you severely understimate Singapore's ability to succeed in a competitive and modern world without such conservative leadership. So what if modern Singapore is only 40 years old? Are we using a 40 year old Independant America as a political benchmark now? Does conservative = strong leadership? Does the requirement of a paternal leadership that does not leave much choice for people in government policies reflect on Singaporeans to say that they cannot make decisions themselves? It is almost an insult on Singaprean intellect to say that they are inadequate to partake a more active role in a democractic nation. Rench's analogy is quite right that the more dependant people become of the government, the more they will ask of the government. How is Singapore suppose to nuture future leaders of the world that make decisions to tackle global issues when they cannot even participate in local decisions. Time will not cure Singapore's thirst for dependence on government.
And how is it that you truly believe in freedom of speech and yet not care about a press that ranks 147th... Perhaps like many conservative Singaporeans, you are hooked on a system that you will buy into so long as it puts food on your table. If it ain;t broke, don't fix it? I'd be truly disappointed if that were all there was to living in such a nation. Just a colony of working people that take orders from the top.
wrt press freedom... i am cautious about the ranking. it depends on what rubrics they use to rank. it's slightly more subjective than something hard and fast like economic development.
ReplyDeletei do agree, however, that perhaps there should be more room given for people to express our thoughts freely. having said that, i have also seen how that freedom can be abused and when abused, the various problems that could arise (from a simple annoying waste of precious time to arousing more dangerous sentiments...).