Tag: opposition

Walid J. Abdullah: No Political Merits For Opposition To Fight For Foreign Workers Issue Vs Malay Muslim Issues

The recent Parliamentary sessions really demonstrated both the positive aspects and limitations of our opposition, as it stands.

MP Faisal’s question on Muslims and the navy has resulted in a discussion on the said matter. Not that he is the first person to ask this question; many Muslims have articulated similar concerns before. But because he is a parliamentarian, and because the question was asked in Parliament, the issue has gained traction. For people who always ask ‘what’s the point of having opposition MPs; all i want is a clean neighbourhood, shelters to my bus stops etc’, this is the perfect example you should consider.

At the same time, the fact that Denise Phua wasn’t challenged for her statements in Parliament – by both her colleagues and the opposition – is more than slightly disturbing to me. There was nothing unambiguous about the speech; the moment i read it i cringed. And felt angry. And was perturbed. And disappointed. In many ways, the government response to the navy question was expected, but this speech, was extraordinary. Yet, it elicited no response.

To be honest, i am just as disappointed in the opposition for not challenging her speech. An indirect Facebook status about the incident and some feel-good anecdotes to show Singapore society’s ‘tolerance’, is quite simply, not enough.

One cannot help but wonder why this is the case. Worse still, some tried to justify it by stating it is ‘a matter of choosing the wrong words’. Erm, no it isn’t. It is about the essence of the speech! Not the ‘phrasing’.

Why didn’t anyone comment on the matter? Is it because there is no political mileage in standing up for foreign workers? Or did the rest agree with her statements? Is it about foreign workers per se, or is it about Indian/South Asian foreign workers in particular (which would then indicate a racial dimension to the matter)?

Whatever the reason is, together with the other incidents (Navy and halal food, Tampines 1’s Chinese audience and people subsequently trying to justify it by stating it is a business decision, not a racial one), as a minority, one cannot help but worry about the tone of proceedings.

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

April 9, 2016
Fanaticism in supporting your political idols. They can do no wrong!

It is always highly amusing to witness fanaticism in action. When a person is uncritically loyal to something/someone – and it is invariably funniest when that entity is a political party – you will hear him/her suspend all forms of rationality when trying to justify a leader’s statements or actions.

I rarely get surprised when such people express statements in support of their ‘unerring’ idols. Even if those statements/actions are contradictory, or go against their own beliefs and principles that they have been articulating all these while, cognitive dissonance kicks in and they will attempt all sorts of weird ways to justify those statements/actions.

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‘Oh we don’t know what (s)he says behind closed doors.’

(But that politician from the other party, yeah we don’t know what (s)he says behind closed doors, but it can’t be anything positive.)

‘Oh (s)he is a good person; time will show this.’

(That person from the other party, is not a good person, and we don’t need evidence for that.)

‘Islam teaches us to think well of others.’

(But go ahead, think badly of those from the other party)

‘Oh (s)he is not politicizing the issue; (s)he is just bringing up an important matter.’

(But when a person from the other party brings up the same issue, (s)he must be politicizing the matter!)

‘Oh it’s not that they contradict each other, we must look at the context in which they said whatever they said.’

(When the other party’s members contradict themselves, to hell with context!)

‘The opponents prayed in public??? Gosh, trying to score political points!’

(Wow, look at our leaders, always pictured being in mosques and around religious scholars. God bless them!)

‘Have you asked what (s)he meant when (s)he said that? We cannot assume things.’

(But i don’t need to ask the other party for explanations of what they say; after all, i can only judge by what i see! It doesn’t make sense for me to not take him/her at his/her word!)

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Even if their ‘idols’ said the earth was flat, these people will say: ‘oh (s)he wasn’t wrong, it’s just that his/her words were taken out of context’; ‘there were some religious scholars who used to believe the earth was flat, so we must respect differences in opinions’; ‘let us ask what (s)he really means by that statement, and let us not jump to conclusions.’

Source: Walid J. Abdullah

February 16, 2016
Mohamed Jufrie: Failure Of Opposition To Let Voters Have Their Cake And Eat It Let To Their Dismal Showing At The Polls

Much has been said about the last GE, or rather its result. A combination of factors – from LKY’s passing to newly minted citizens, right down to the bookies who predicted PAP’s loss in many constituencies which alarmed many voters.One important factor which many failed to mention was the failure of the opposition to give voters what they wanted ie to have their cake and eat it.

Singaporeans are very smart indeed. What is the use of having the cake and not getting to eat it?

Simply speaking the voters wanted the PAP to still be the governing party and at the same time they want a strong opposition presence. The alternative parties were just not ready. When they heard minister Khaw Boon Wan’s threat that the PAP might not be able to form the government they panicked and decided to play it safe. They went for the cake even if they end up not getting to eat it.

Had the opposition been smart enough they would have executed the By Election Effect Strategy (BEES as we described it some years ago) to let the PAP form the government on Nomination Day by contesting less than 50% of the seats. Just like we did in 1991 when the opposition won an unprecedented 4 seats – 3 SDP and Low Thia Khiang for the WP.

Had we repeated the BEES voters would not have been threatened and would have voted for the more credible candidates without fear. The credible opposition candidates could then prove themselves worthy of the peoples’ support and gone on to prepare themselves for future elections to win more seats and by then would be on their way to ready themselves for government in subsequent elections.

Voters now get the cake but cannot get to eat it because the PAP would not let them. Just watch.

Source: Mohamed Jufrie Bin Mahmood

October 22, 2015
Goh Meng Seng: Singaporeans Are Self-Centred, Fairness And Social Justice Unimportant To Them

I have met quite a number of Singaporean friends in Hong Kong recently and we naturally talked about the results of last GE2015.

Part of the observations made are as follows:

Most Singaporeans don’t put much emphasis on fairness and justice. Most of the time they know with PAP as Government, there are gross injustice and unfair happenings but to them, these are non-issue to them as long as they are not affected by it.

They would continue to vote PAP even though they know PAP is not exactly a party that uphold fair play and even justice in every sense, as long as they continue to enjoy their own good life. It would be even better if they are given handouts directly, care less about fair or not unfair.

Most Singaporeans are more self centred and only concerned about their own self interests. Social issues, balance and justice are basically non of their business.

Even when they chose to swing against PAP is Purely because they are unhappy that their pockets are hurt or interests have been overlooked.

That is why not many people attend any protests that raise social issues or even important issues but have DISTANT IMPLICATIONS on their self interests.

What do you think?

Source: Goh Meng Seng

October 15, 2015
Faisal Manap Opens Up On Sacrifices While Serving As Opposition MP

This article is part of Yahoo Singapore’s series of post-GE interviews with former candidates who contested in 2015’s General Election. In this article, we spoke to the Workers’ Party’s candidate for Aljunied GRC (Kaki Bukit Division), Muhammad Faisal Abdul Manap.

It takes a lot of sacrifices to serve Singaporeans as an opposition Member of Parliament.

Muhammad Faisal Abdul Manap, 40, who is Workers’ Party’s (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC (Kaki Bukit Division), has lost friends and acquaintances who did not want to associate themselves to him because of his political involvement with the opposition.

“Being an opposition MP (Member of Parliament) as well as a politician is not as easy as one can think… there’s always (a) stigmatisation that we are against the establishment. So there are bound to be people who are not comfortable to be seen affiliating themselves with us. I personally experienced it as well as my missus,” said the freelance family counsellor.

Yahoo Singapore spoke to the member of Singapore’s leading opposition party, exactly a month after the elections ended with a landslide victory for the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). WP succeeded in retaining its seats in the five-MP Aljunied GRC (51 per cent of votes) as well as Hougang SMC (58 per cent of votes).

The win gives Faisal a second chance at serving the residents of Kaki Bukit. It will also give him a second chance to speak up for issues related to the Malay/Muslim community when Parliament begins in January 2016.

Job loss and unwavering family support

Four years have passed since the father of three was first elected into Parliament. Although he lost many friends during this period, his family and relatives have given him their unwavering support.

During an hour-long interview at the party’s town council office in Bedok North, Faisal said he always believed in getting his family to understand what he goes through so that they can be there for him “emotionally”.

He would bring his parents to WP gatherings so they can witness him at work. On Nomination Day on 1 Sept, he brought them to the WP gathering site. Faisal was a family counsellor for two separate Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) from 2006 to 2008, and from 2008 to 2010. In 2010, he was “put out of job” due to his “involvement in politics”, before he decided to run for elections in 2011.

As an opposition MP, he lives with the uncertainty over whether he can retain his seat in Parliament and how his family will be affected when his term ends.

“If I don’t retain the MP position, will it be easy for me to get employed? In 2011 I was asked to leave my job in the social services because of my involvement in politics,” said Faisal, who does not believe that Singapore VWOs would be “open” to hiring him again.

Found a friend in PAP’s Kahar Hassan

Faisal found a friend in Kahar Hassan, 46, who used to be the chairman at PAP’s Kaki Bukit Branch, and was surprised when Kahar stepped down on 31 July, not long before elections began.

“Honestly, I’m close to Kahar, not only professionally but we do meet up during some of the iftar (break fast sessions) and some of the sessions at the mosque. I find him a very committed person who has done quite well in terms of serving the residents. The news of him stepping down came as a surprise to me,” he said.

The Monash University graduate felt the ruling party’s decision on Kahar was “unwise” for someone who had already built a close bond with the residents after serving them for 18 months. He said that “bonding is very important in order for you to assist and empower the other person’s life” and the “same goes for the field of serving the society”, and Kahar stepping down means that the residents will have to “start all over again”.

New PAP member Shamsul Kamar, 43, who used to be the head of department at Spectra Secondary School, took over from Kahar. Faisal said he has not had a chance to meet with him.

On being the first and only Malay opposition MP

Faisal is also the first and only Malay/Muslim opposition MP in Parliament. He said being the only minority on the opposition side to speak up on issues in the house could be a “lonely” experience at times. “It will be good if you can do things in a bigger group… the presence of another person (in Parliament) will be a bit better than you being alone,” he said.

At the same time, he believes “things happen for a reason” and that he will do everything within his means to bring about change for the community.

When Parliament starts in 2016, Faisal said he will continue to speak up on issues relating to the Malay/Muslim community, such as the “perceived discrimination against the Malays in the Singapore Armed Forces”, the decline in the Malay population, and the hijab issue, among other things.

He also hopes the Malay/Muslim individuals in the government will be open to working with him on issues related to the community.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

October 15, 2015