Every time I come across an article like this, I get even more
convinced that Singapore is (and possibly has never been) truly
democratic. Even if we don't support the opposition, should we not
respect them? Should we not give them their rights and respect (the
correct) authority?!
October 10,
2009 by admin
Filed under Top News
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From our Correspondent
After keeping a dignified silence for a week, Hougang’s Member of
Parliament Mr Low Thia Kiang has finally struck back at the PAP and
HDB for unceremoniously sidelining him in the announcement of the
Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). (read Mr Low’s letter here)
PAP’s grassroots adviser and loser in the last general elections in
Hougang, Mr Eric Low, claimed credit for bringing LUP to Hougang in
a press conference last week.
Mr Eric Low was reported in the media to have said:
“Though I was not elected, I have been trying hard to lobby the
authorities including National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan to
upgrade the lifts in Hougang. Now that the lifts will finally be
ugraded, I am extremely satisfied about it.”
Hardly hiding his displeasure at the attention-seeking antics of
his rival, Mr Low Thia Kiang shot back in his letter:
“The HDB deems the grassroots adviser as the appropriate person
to announce the lift upgrading programme because he gathers input
from residents, ensures that the plans meet residents’ needs, can
propose changes based on residents’ feedback, and seek residents’
support.
On what basis does the HDB assume that the Member of
Parliament, who has the support of the constituency’s electorate,
is unable to do the same and is therefore inappropriate to play the
same role as the adviser?”
HDB and PA had earlier replied in the Straits Times Forum that
“it is the Government’s practice to implement its national
programmes for residents through advisers to grassroots
organisations who are appointed by the Government to gather
feedback from residents.”
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who entered Parliament
via the “back door” after losing to Mr Chiam See Tong in the 1984
elections in Potong Pasir, went as far as to say that he does
not expect non-PAP MPs to explain LUP:
“I don’t expect the MP who’s not … a PAP MP to explain why LUP
is like that, why we need co-payment, what the co-payment is all
about. The adviser is always the one doing it, and it’s no
different this time round.”
Mr Low Thia Kiang went on to castigate HDB for “not respecting” the
well of the people in elections by liaising directly with the PAP
losers instead of the legitimate and rightful MP in charge of the
ward.
“This says much of the respect of the ruling party for the will
of the people expressed at general elections and how mature we are
as a democracy,” he ended.
The use of supposedly non-partisan government agencies by the PAP
to undermine the authority of the opposition MPs has sparked
a public backlash against its perpetuators.
In a poll conducted here, 96 per cent of over 500 respondents agree
that it should be the opposition MP who made the announcement of
LUP instead of the PAP losing candidate or in PAP jargon – its
“grassroots adviser”.
An irate Singaporean, Mr Muhammad Yusuf wrote a scathing piece to
the Straits Times Forum a few days ago lampooning Mr Eric Low and
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, the PAP’s grassroots leader in Potong Pasir for
announcing the news of LUP. (read letter here)
He wrote:
“Mr Low justified his announcement of the programme by saying
it was the usual practice, even in PAP wards, for the grassroots
adviser to lead the programme.
My question: Under what authority did both Mr Low and Mr Sitoh
act as advisers to the grassroots organisations, given that the
People’s Association is a government statutory board and should
work with the elected MPs of the constituencies?”
Many netizens also question the political affiliations of HDB and
PA which are supposed to be apolitical and neutral government
agency and statutory board respectively.
rointan1 casts aspersions on the neutrality
of PA:
“Sanjai Devmurari (of People’s Association), you didn’t address
the pertinent question of why People’s Association appointed PAP
members as “advisors” in opposition party wards!!
Why are all the grassroots advisors for the 82 PAP wards the
elected PAP MPs, but not for Hougang and Potong Pasir???
Just admit that People’s Association is NOT non-partisan! It is
just an instrument of PAP.”
Commentator questioned why the PA was
involved in the running of town councils:
“What has the PA got to do with the running of Town
Council?
The PA is a government organ not a PAP organization such as the
PAP Foundation which runs kindergartens.
Therefore, for the PA to work only with PAP advisers and not
the elected Member of Parliament of Hougang and Potong Pasir is
tantamount to a govt body (the people’s public servants) taking
part in partisan politics which i believe is illegal and
prohibited.
Only in Singapore can such blatant behaviour be allowed without
consequence.”
Legoass puts in bluntly:
“These 2 clowns are trying to defend the indefensible!! PA and
HDB are all working for PAP.”
After 44 years of uninterrupted one-party rule under the complete
dominance of the PAP, the boundary between the party and state have
become increasingly blurred.
The incumbent has cleverly made use of its access to state
resources to buttress its position in the government and curb the
growth of the opposition in Singapore.
For example, the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee which is
lambasted for the rampant gerrymandering to dilute and dismantle
blocs of opposition support in various constituencies is appointed
by the Prime Minister who is from the PAP.
As a result, no opposition has managed to win a GRC since its
introduction in 1988. In that year and in 1991, Eunos GRC was won
narrowly by a margin of 50.1 per cent by the PAP. It “disappeared”
from the electoral map in the 1997 elections.
Similarly, the hotly contested Cheng San GRC was won by less than
55 per cent of the votes by the PAP during the 1997 elections.
Cheng San GRC was never seen again in subsequent elections.
Singapore’s Election Commission amazingly comes under the auspices
of the Prime Minister’s Office instead of being an
independent non-partisan organization.
Due to its control of treasury, the PAP often threatens residents
that their estates will be deprived of upgrading and “turned into
slums” if they do not vote for them.
The two opposition wards of Hougang and Potong Pasir were denied
much needed upgrading by HDB though residents living there pay
taxes and serve National Service like the rest of Singapore.
Though many Singaporeans are displeased with the way the ruling
party has manipulated the system to perpetuate its hegemony, there
is little they can do sa the police, media and grassroots
organizations are all under its tight-fisted control.
Related articles:
>> Lame
reply by HDB and PA on why LUP are announced by PAP losers
>> Mah
Bow Tan:” I don’t expect non-PAP MPs to explain LUP”
>> Eric
Low rapped for stealing limelight of Low Thia Kiang
>> Eric
Low claimed credit for bringing LUP to Hougang
http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/10/low-thia-kiang-strikes-back-at-pap-and-hdb/
