Tag: Elections

SingFirst’s Latest Plans Create Crowded Field In 3 GRCs

Following the talks among the opposition parties on Monday, the Singaporeans First (SingFirst) party said yesterday it has made substantial changes to its plans, potentially giving rise to more complicated negotiations at the second round of horse-trading talks tomorrow.

Of the four Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) it had expressed an interest in, it will relinquish Marine Parade and Pasir Ris-Punggol. But it is now casting its eyes on three new constituencies, SingFirst secretary-general Tan Jee Say told TODAY.

“We are discussing about Jurong, West Coast and Holland-Bukit Timah … We will probably not end up with all, but we’re now negotiating,” he said.

Tanjong Pagar GRC, one of its original targets, is off the negotiating table too, said Mr Tan, although he will listen to an idea mooted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to send a joint team there. Tampines is the remaining GRC SingFirst had staked its claim on, alongside the National Solidarity Party (NSP) — the People’s Power Party has since backed out.

With these changes, SingFirst has, for the moment, cleared a multi-way fight in one constituency, but created a crowded field in three others.

Its exit sets the stage for the Singapore Democratic Alliance to go head-to-head with the incumbent People’s Action Party in Pasir Ris-Punggol. Marine Parade, however, is still being claimed by the Workers’ Party and the NSP. For the new GRCs SingFirst is aiming for: The NSP has staked its claim on Jurong, the Reform Party (RP) on West Coast, and the Singapore Democratic Party on Holland-Bukit Timah.

Asked about the likelihood that SingFirst and DPP would field a joint team in Tanjong Pagar GRC, Mr Tan said it was an initiative from DPP that has yet to come up with a proposal.

“It’s always good to consider somebody’s offer … but we have a complete team (for the GRC) … so we have to see what they have in mind,” he said.

Meanwhile, RP chairman Andy Zhu said the party will stand its ground in wards it had contested in the 2011 General Election, such as Ang Mo Kio and West Coast GRCs, as well as the Radin Mas single seat. RP is also interested in Jurong GRC, which has absorbed the Clementi ward it had fought in.

Mr Zhu said the party will not hold bilateral meetings ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of opposition parties, so any resolution of issues or compromises to be struck will only be discussed then.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 5, 2015
Opposition Parties Optimistic Issues Will Be Resolved By Thursday

Opposition parties said they made progress in avoiding three-cornered fights at a meeting on Monday night (Aug 3). They are optimistic that outstanding issues will be resolved at the next meeting, scheduled for Thursday.

Monday’s meeting lasted almost three hours and described by party representatives as one that was amicable and cooperative. They also said most of the issues involving the Single-Member and Group-Representation Constituencies have been resolved.

But some sticking points remain, and it is understood that Marine Parade GRC is one of them. It is the stomping ground of the National Solidarity Party – which contested there in 2011 – and the party is keen to return.

But the Workers’ Party (WP) has indicated interest – especially now that Joo Chiat SMC will be absorbed into Marine Parade GRC in the next General Election.

In the 2011 General Election, the WP’s Yee Jenn Jong lost the seat in Joo Chiat to the ruling People’s Action Party’s Charles Chong by just 388 votes.

Whether either party will budge on their decision to contest in that constituency is anyone’s guess for now. A consensus might not even reached at Thursday’s meeting. A source told Channel NewsAsia several more private meetings between various parties might be needed to iron things out. Even so, political analysts say such meetings indicate a maturity in the way opposition parties interact with one another.

Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies said: “You have the Workers’ Party making a big breakthrough in 2011, so it’s really the leading Opposition party, and it probably feels the obligation to carry on, and go bigger and better. But then you’ve seen many little new parties bubbling up, and old parties being revived.”

“And so, the general landscape of the Opposition party space in Singapore is becoming more complex, and just becoming more interesting and really more mature. Getting together, meeting, and discussing whether they’ll be able to avoid three-cornered fights is actually a very mature process of negotiation and engagement. It’s a far more complex landscape than we faced say, in 2006 – when we only had two opposition MPs,” she added.

But another expert said it remains to be seen whether this amicability among the opposition could play out.

Dr Alan Chong, coordinator of the International Relations Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said: “They realise that in order to gain the same level of prominence and success as WP, the rest of them are still very small fish. So for their electoral survivability, they have to form some kind of alliance. Then again, you never know if they are going to descend into petty bickering the moment Nomination Day is announced.”

Dr Chong said that while it may seem hopeful that the Opposition Parties can sort out their differences, all bets could be off come Nomination Day.

Source: www.channlnewsasia.com

August 5, 2015
Are The Opposition In Politics For The People Or For Personal Gain?

Dear Political Aspirant(s),

It is not enough to say that you want to champion transport issues without offering any alternatives. The current government is aware that transportation is a cause of concern and is addressing it through various ways such as buying more buses and experimenting with distributing the peak hour load by offering free services up to a certain time in the morning. One must understand the intricacies of the public transport system and policy here in Singapore and offer alternatives to that model instead of just recognising it as an issue and expect the government to resolve it independently.

It is not enough to say that you do not agree to the population increase and yet do not offer alternatives on how Singapore is to sustain itself as the population is ageing drastically. What plans do you have for Singapore to sustain its growth and ensure that Singaporeans are competitive as compared to citizens of other nations? In regards to foreign workers and talents, what is your stand on it? Should it be stopped completely or should it be left open as before? If you opine that it should be somewhere in the middle, then it’s no different from the government’s stance which seeks to calibrate the influx of foreign workers and talents so as not to upset the economy, especially the SMEs, and ensure that Singaporeans continues to have a job with the presence of the multi-national companies here.

If we want an alternative view in the Parliament, it must credible. In my opinion, that alternative view can come from within the ruling party and not necessarily just opposing for the sake of doing so. Above all, politics is not a game nor a competition. It is a calling – a high and noble one. One must not go into politics with the intention to just overthrow an existing government. What happen nexts? What are your plans? At the heart of politics, it must be about serving the people and if you do not have the people in mind, then your intentions are baseless.

I fear the day that Singapore politics would go down the gutters and end up with a parliament that does not enact new laws but is too absorbed with internal squabbling and fighting amongst parliamentarians. But if that is what Singaporean wants, then there is nothing much we can do but to pray that such a day would not come in our life time.

Thank you.

Source: Adam Hudzaifah Al-Yaman

August 5, 2015
Opposition Parties To Meet Again On Thursday For More Talks

A meeting held by eleven opposition parties yesterday evening (Aug 3) ended with party representatives saying that most issues have been resolved.

Talks lasted for about two and a half hours. Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

The meeting was conducted to negotiate where each party will field its candidates for General Elections to avoid multi-cornered fights.

National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) acting secretary-general Hazel Poa said: “We’ve reaffirmed our commitment to avoid three-corner fights and that’s what we’re working towards on Thursday.” She added that the outcomes of today’s discussions would be kept confidential.

SingFirst’s Fahmi Rais said in Malay that “almost all is settled”, when asked for a ballpark figure on issues that have been settled.

The People’s Power Party (PPP) chief Goh Meng Seng said he is confident about his party members standing in Chua Chu Kang GRC, and added the “NSP and PPP are like brother parties”. Mr Goh was the former secretary General of the NSP.

Following yesterday evening’s Opposition meeting, SingFirst’s Tan Jee Say also said most issues have been resolved, adding that “everyone goes in with the spirit of give and take”.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 4, 2015
People Of The Workers’ Party: Mohamed Fairoz Shariff

Why did you join WP?

I joined WP because of the 2001 elections. It was supposed to be my first opportunity to vote, but I couldn’t because the GRC I was living in was won by the PAP through a walkover.

Furthermore, the WP team in Aljunied GRC had been disqualified that year.

That was when I became politically conscious.

I felt that there was a real need for a strong opposition that could give Singaporeans a genuine choice.

How do you think you can contribute to that?

I hope to encourage more like-minded Singaporeans to step forward.

Singaporeans who want to see change should contribute in any way they can to bringing that change.

Source: http://wpyouth.sg

August 4, 2015