K Jeyaretnam sets up Facebook to call for abolition of GRC

last SG · 2010-02-27T17:44:12+00:00

well, they should get a neutral person like me to count the vote, those counter are public servant officers, alternatively, we can employ a third party to...

4sg SG

Kenneth Jeyaretnam sets up Facebook to call for abolition of GRC
February 26, 2010

Reform Party’s Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam has set up a Facebook group calling for the abolition of GRC or Group Representative Constituency which has garnered 140 members so far.

According to him, the facebook is:

“For all those who believe that GRC’s are simply an obstacle to true representation, have no place in a Democracy and that Singapore should go back to SMC’s.”

The GRC system was introduced in 1988 to ensure “minority representation” in Parliament though ethnic minorities had won in single seats against Chinese opponents in past elections most notably Kenneth’s father, the late Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam who won in the predominantly Chinese ward of Anson twice in 1981 and 1984.

Critics of the system claimed that it enabled “weak” PAP candidates to “ride on the coat-tails” of heavy-weight ministers and disadvantaged the opposition who is unable to find many credible candidates to compete in the GRCs.

The opposition has never won a single GRC since its inception. The closest they came to was in 1988 when the Workers’ Party trio of Francis Seow, Dr Lee Siew Choh and Mohamad Yakcop won 49.1 per cent of the votes in Eunos GRC.

As the redrawing of electoral boundaries fall under the ambit of the Electoral Boundary Review committee, the GRC system is open to rampant gerrymandering by the PAP to dilute bases of opposition support.

GRCs who witnessed closely fought contests often “vanished” into thin air without any reasons in subsequent elections.

For example, Eunos GRC which was twice won narrowly by the PAP was dissolved and absorbed in neighboring GRCs in the 1997 election.

Cheng San GRC was won by the PAP with only 54 per cent of the votes in the 1997 election. It “disappeared” from the electoral map altogether in subsequent elections.

The GRC system is instrumental in perpetuating the PAP’s political hegemony without which it will probably lose a dozen more seats to the opposition.

Despite rising opposition to the GRC system from Singaporeans, the PAP is unlikely to abolish it completely as this will mean dismantling their own power support base.

hundydude SG

I support abolition of GRC.

Dondontan SG

GRC is not fair to voters and oppositions.

Atobe SG

The GRC system is another way to ensure that the PAP will stuff Parliament with all the dead wood warming the chairs.

An unnecessary large Parliament is another LKY's kiasu idea of handicapping the Opposition Parties to find 84 candidates to challenge all 84 seats.

Added to this, each candidate will have to pay a hefty nomination fee that will be lost if the candidate cannot win more then the minimum 5% of the ballot in a constituency.

Singapore has a population of about 5 Million People, and need more MPs to help an over-inflated cabinet to run the country - which makes the Mayor of New York City or London to be more efficient then the PM of Singapore.

Compared to the productivity of the PM of UK - whether from the Conservative or Labor Parties - the political parties certainly know how to represent their respective constituents with more productivity per MP then the PAP in Singapore.

Calvin86 SG

GRC produces canary birds .... their job is to sing praises

Mason H SG

More like parrots, repeats all the times.

zélateur SG

GRC - short cut to winning elections. No fair play. If they are confident enough they will abolish the GRC to fight on one to one basis.

Clivebenss SG

GRC is a petty game. If the society is matured enough what we need men or women of capability; not by races or other assumed differences or segregations.

zélateur SG

Who are those in this Electoral Boundary Review committee?

Watten Estate is so far from Tg Pagar and is part of TG pagar consitutuency.

speak SG

greengoblin SG

GRC produces canary birds .... their job is to sing praises

That is some very expensive canary birds that GRC is producing then...

angel7030 SG

Objection!!!

As usual saying, if you can't win, dun blame your swimming trunk is too tight or too loose, as a ruling party, they have the right under the consitution to amend the boundaries of voting consitutuencies, if Mr K Jeya is the ruling party head now, i have no doubt he will the same. Just like a casino, as owner, I make the dens and set the rules and regulations, you place your bet, if you can win, god bless you, if not, dun blame it on the changes and the owner, blame it on yourself.

The ironic of GRC is placed in a way that if one wins, one wins big, the Govt is also at Odd in doing it, but the main reason is for gathering towns together to gain an economy of scale in decision implemention and progression. Just like if one town wish to plant flower on the road side, the whole GRC will be the same, with just one contractors, cheaper, better and faster, yet with MPs coming together to settle resident issue, the brain will be bigger and the decision will be more decisive and good for all. Even in term of organising and co operation, it will be more wholesome and better teamworking.

If Mr K Jeya is smart enuf, he should agree to GRC formation, go along with the trend, take on a few GRC as his targets, bet on it, rally on it, and if he wins, he won big, one shot takes 4 to 5 seats, in fact, it is an economy of scale to him. Do not be succumbed to GRC issue, take it on to your advantage rather than looking at it as disadvantage, and if you notice that the govt is going soft on GRC, that mean they are reducing GRC, maybe from 6 GRC to 4 GRC, you can sense that the Govt knows what is at stake and therefore withdrew their strategy on increasing GRC and instead reducing it.

Can someone please pass my comments to Mr K Jeya, he is not as smart as his father.

Angel

Perm Sec

Atobe SG

What more can be expected from an 'Attention Seeking Whore' - existing as a Taiwanese 'hum' ?

It is the daily hour when it will hang out its ‘Labia Majora’ for public display.

Should anyone be surprised at the callous attitude to associate an electoral process with the luck of the draw at the casino ?

Is there anything to prevent any groupings of single constituencies to pool their needs and resources to enjoy economies of scale in servicing their constituencies ?

The GRC system will simply allow any candidates rejected by the constituents to enter Parliament - on the success of the other GRC candidates.

Only a worthless Taiwanese 'hum' will have shameless moral standards to accept a false entry pass to enter Parliament.

With its brains shrouded by the ‘Labia Majora’ - it will flap the PAP smear that cums from its incentious relationship with its PAPa, and will support PAPa till its last days as a carpet beggar.

angel7030 SG

Uncle, last time when i was young i saw uncles and aunties gambling on election results leh, even percentage also they bet on it, hougang and potn pasir was the the most bet...then Ang Mo Kio was the best paid bet on the Odd...$1 paid $20 for opposition..follow by percentage, even election is not likely to start this year, peoples are already betting on Tampines GRC liao, a dollar to a dollar that shorty Ninja brother Shorty Mah loose ok...wha so hot now...i think now i can also bet..go back lane and see illegal betting boss first.

likeyou SG

An uphill task for KJ.

hundydude SG

Objection!!!

Can someone please pass my comments to Mr K Jeya, he is not as smart as his father.

Angel

Perm Sec

Don't use one bamboo stick to hit all people in the boat. There is nothing for you to object. chau chee bye early morning comes here show her stinky cheebye.

If Singapore is made democratic the boundaries will not be decided by a ruling party. YOu cheap whore is good for nothing, only expert to continue to display your private part here.

You object for the sake of por PAP lumpar only!!!

hundydude SG

You are billion times worse than those uncles and aunties gambling on election results. chau chee bye cannot control yourself , arrive here everyday display your stinky chee bye. You can go and ask any guys here interested in your chau chee bye.

angel7030 SG

Atobe SG

The ‘Labia Majora’ will work better with a larger ‘Labia Minora’ to reinforce the daily performance at spreading the stooopidity of a Taiwanese 'hum'.

Both will help the 'Attention Seeking Whore' to get the much sought after attention.

4sg SG

GRC is a petty game. If the society is matured enough what we need men or women of capability; not by races or other assumed differences or segregations.

Good point.

And may I add, if they are really concerned about minority representative in parliament, there are many ways of doing it.

a) NMP for minority race.
b) political party to have minority candidate or political party to work with minority political party.
c) a house of representatives for special or minority interest.

There is no need for GRC.

GRC is an undemocratic means for the incumbent to rope in weak candidate on the back of stronger candidate or party's reputation.

Let the best candidate enters parliament based on personal effort, personal commitment and personal ability to connect with the people.