http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_506229.html
GRC deprives Singaporeans
of the true representation in the parliament. Even
if near 40% of the Singaporeans vote for the opposition, PAP still
gets 95% of the seats in the parliament as seen in the
1991
elections, a gross anomaly by any
standards.
Come next round of elections, chop
the near win opposition GRCs into three pieces and give out money
and upgrading to win votes and use the state controlled media -the
only source of information at that time, to sing praises everday.Oh
bankrupt a few opposition politicians along the way
too...
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MR TAN Hong Ngan has advocated a ban on walkovers in the General
Election ('General election: Ban walkovers'; Tuesday).
His rationale is that walkovers have deprived many Singaporeans
of their basic human right to vote. He blames the group
representation constituency (GRC) system for creating this
situation because it disadvantages the opposition in terms of
resources and credible candidates.
The GRC system is not the reason for the lack of opposition. As
Mr Tan acknowledges, walkovers occur because of the opposition's
'lack of resources and credible candidates'.
Suppose all 84 constituencies were single seats.
Would the opposition have the resources and credible candidates to
contest all wards? If yes, then they should also be able to raise
the required number to fight in GRC wards. After all, the sum total
of elected Members of Parliament is still 84. If no, do not use the
GRC system as an excuse.
Second, voters decide who they wish to pick in a General
Election. Parties do not get into Parliament on their own volition.
It is unlike sports like football, where the players decide the
outcome of a match, not the spectators.
Thus, even if the People's Action Party (PAP) holds the
advantage, it can still lose it if voters so wish.
Conversely, no matter how rough the playing field, the
opposition can still win if the people feel they have had enough of
the PAP.
In 1959, when the PAP contested the General Election for
Singapore's first fully elected self-government, the ground was
rough for the party.
The ruling British were not enamoured with it, imprisoning many
stalwarts such as C.V. Devan Nair, Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee
Suan. The PAP also had to contend with the communists and the
communalists.
Yet the party won, and by a landslide, too. As then
secretary-general Lee Kuan Yew declared immediately after the
results were announced: 'The verdict of the people is a terrifying
thing.'
Today's playing field is also rough for the opposition. But
instead of complaining about the GRC system, it should focus on
finding able candidates to match those of the PAP.