Dear Friends,
This is the start of a long weekend where there is nothing
to see nor do! Sigh!
"Horse-trading"
The term “Horse-trading” used
universally for events (almost always just before impending elections) when
political parties come together to carve out territories that they are set on
contesting. This immediately connotes an image of butchers carving out meat or
worse of hyenas circling carcasses of animals before they lunge forward to grab
pieces for themselves. All this imagery is very unfortunate as politics is
serious business where all who were gathered only have the goodwill of the
nation on their minds.
Hence, that being the case, my humble opinion is that all
serious minded parties (and the 2 that most come to mind are the WP and SDP. SingaporeFirst
is really promising and I really wish SPP well) should really stop this “
thingy”.
WP and SDP are serious parties who really want to achieve
something for the good of Singapore. If their mission is that their path
towards Singapore attaining true mature democracy include winning ‘blah blah”
constituencies during the GE ( which , may I remind you, only comes once half-decadely
) why should their plans be modified to accommodate some other party. I am by
nature a very nice guy, who seldom pour cold water or be wet blanket ( or be
slimeball ) etc.
I do not like to disparage any Singaporeans who are in
opposition politics as this is already courage in itself. So if those other guys
do not get the message already and come out GE after GE to try to win back their
deposits, then do they not deserve
to get 3- or even 4 cornered!. ( A
really uncanny imagery comes to mind of someone who puts a 100 bucks on a bench
and goes walkabout , then comes back 10 minutes later to see if it is still
there). Phew! Lucky I got back my 100 bucks or damned it- some thief stole my
money . Boo hoo hoo! They try again 5 years later! Come on already!
In most mature countries (ok- some will argue that we are
anything but this), each ward is contested by all the major parties. In the UK,
we do not expect the Lib Dem to horse trade with Labour to rob the Tories of a
win? Heck (I mean, well), the Greens are there , as are eccentrics like Looney
Tune Party ( or whatever). Hence when the time is right (either due to economy cycle
or strong leadership or even Falklands war etc), parties win or lose and the people's wishes are heard and the
nation moves on.
This come-together of strange bed-fellows (to me) is only
defensible in tyrannical regimes , eg Syria or Nazi Germany , where your
enemy’s enemy is your friend and your only aim is the overthrow of the despot
and after that all bets are off? Are we there already? Look at Libya and Iraq…
overthrow the tyrant, then what?
How did the PAP go from an opposition party to the ruling
party it is today ( some say, they played dirty and were ruthless
etc) ? Did they go from GE to GE giving way to other parties each time?
We need serious political parties who seriously have a serious plan:
We need serious parties to become credible parties with fire
in their bellies to be ready to rule at a moment’s notice. We need alternative
policies ( not good enough to say, we like PAP policy but we will be better…).
We need parties to come out of shadows and to have Shadow ministers for all
portfolios so that Singaporeans can know where they stand on issues like
economy, education, taxation, foreign affairs, ISD, press freedom, right to
protest etc.
She is not Nicole! NS would not dress like this at this event! Duh! WWNW
On a more serious note, it has come to my notice that there
is a comparison between Nicole Seah and a young lady named Kevryn. This is
unfair… for Nicole. Nicole ( and to some her mother too, ) will forever remain etched in our collective memory of what we want from a young Singaporean. Articulate
without being show-offish, glam without being crass. Gorgeous without needing
to shorten her skirt! We really miss Nicole. Join PAP or whoever you want.
Singapore needs you!
Kevryn Lim, on the other hand…
Most understand that many young people model ( for money or
for any other reason that slips my mind now), and these Singaporeans may still rightly
aspire to be our future leaders. But to turn up for a political event in an
unparliamentary outfit , full knowing the presence of the press, is ( almost)
political suicide. No need Long sleeve or cover ankle... just think WWNW ( What Would Nicole Wear?)
Perhaps it’s just me, or it is also true to my very few
readers who are (is) still reading this, that political parties always try to
be politically correct ( which I actually think is so passé ) ? Someone from my
daily coffee club says that actually what Kavryn wore was not revealing enough
( I think he was joking but I cannot be sure)!
So perhaps, I was expecting some words from Ms Lim to try to
ameliorate with words what her dress could not, but apparently, she is feisty
and is fighting on (there is hope in this young lady – perhaps I should just
ignore what little cloth I see).
Read these feisty words from Kevryn (
here) Perhaps Kevryn is thinking " What does not kill me makes me stronger! " Nietzsche or Kelly Clarkson ( if you must).
Then let the voters decide- put her in
Macpherson against the aunty killer PAP’s Tin Pei Ling!
Anyway- congratulations to Tin Pei Ling (another very feisty politician) who is now proud mother of a bouncy baby boy!
Cheers,
Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan
Dear Friends,
