Young Personal Priorities - Old Party
Priorities
A CRUCIAL BALANCING ACT
Small political parties struggle to juggle
expectations of old-timers and newcomers
REPORTS: KOH HUI THENG and LEDIATI TAN
POLITIAL party renewal is not new. But sometimes, the process
can be painful, and public.
Veteran Workers' Party (WP) member Poh Lee Guan, 50 surprised
everyone, including his party leadership, when he said he was the
unofficial backup candidate, the "spare type".
The WP stalwart had contested in the 2001, 2006 and 2011
General Elections (GEs).
His action raised questions.
Party insiders said he was unhappy at being passed over
in favour of Mr Png Eng Huat.
Mr Png, also 50, a businessman, is the party-endorsed
candidate.
Renewal can be a "touchy" issue for veteran politicians,
said Mr Goh Meng Seng, the former secretary-general of the National
Solidarity Party (NSP).
Said Mr Goh: "Sucess should not just belong only to those
who get elected, but should also be credited to the whole team.
"Politicians largely want face.
"If they were to step down, you have to do it properly,
pat their backs and recognise whatever contributions they made.
Don't brush them aside."
Ms Hazel Poa took over as NSP's secretary-general after
Mr Goh stepped down in June.
But others step down because they did not get key
positions. (See report on facing page.)
Last week, Mr Sajeev Kamalasanan, 42, quit WP because of
unhappiness over the selection of cadre members.
He had joined WP in 2006
What is it about being a cadre member that's so
important?
For WP, insiders said, cadreship in the party is
exclusive. While there is no quota on the numbers, less than 10
people are made cadres each year.
A central executive committee (CEC) member must nominate
a member to become a cadre. The CEC then decides if they should
approve the choice.
The cadre can vote on who makes up the CEC, and you have
to be a cadre in order to be elected to the CEC.
The New Paper understands that WP has more than 60
cadres.
The party did not reply to queries by press time.
Parties tend to reward members who have stood as
candidates by making them cadres.
Calling cadreship "an issue of fairness", former WP
member Eric Tan, 56 said: "It's not about pitting other members
against the candidates."
Recognising contributions
Mr Tan, who joined WP in 2004, added: "Some backroom members have
contributed a lot to the party. They are also important.
"All who have contributed and performed well should be
made cadres."
And since opposition candidates undertake some personal
risks as they put their jobs on the line when contesting the GE,
"the party must recognise and appreciate them for courage and
contributions", he said.
Said Mr Goh: "The rationale is that if we offer you as a
candidate in the election,there should be no problem for you to be
made a cadre.
"The selection process for a candidate should be
stringent enough."
opposition watcher Wong Wee Nam said that the problem of
managing the expectations of both the old-timers and newcomers in
the party is something that every political party faces.
Said Dr Wong: "People who fought the battle must be
recognised in whatever way.
"You can't just cast them aside when they are no longer
of use."
But he conceded that it's more difficult for smaller
political parties to manage the problem due to their limited
resources.
However, even as others leave, the party has also
attracted new members over the past year.
Party insiders said it's normal to see more volunteers
join the ranks during the GE period.
A WP member said their numbers swell in the run-up to the
GE and during the first two months after the voters go to the
polls.
But numbers tend to taper off post-election. usually,
less than half of the volunteers who sign up remain.
Gone since GE
SINCE the General Election last May, a number of opposition
politicians have left their parties.
Workers' Party (WP) Eric Tan left last May after he was
passed over for the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament position,
which went to Mr Gerald Giam.
And Mr Mohamed Fazli Talip quit in February, citing
disappointment with the cadre selection process.
It's the same at other parties.
Six members left the Singapore People's Party (SPP) in
January.
Those who resigned included former civil servant Benjamin
Pwee and industrial design manager Wilfred Leung, who had been
tipped to take over leadership from SPP veteran Chiam See Tong.
They cited differences in opinion over the party's
leadership style and direction.
Likewise at the Singapore Democratic Party.
Mr Jarrod Luo, the former honorary secretary of the youth
wing, left in February.
Mr Luo had questioned the central executive committee's
handling of issues and the delay of party affairs.
News, Battle For Hougang, The New Paper, May 18 2012, Pg
12-13
