Govt concedes argument with WP and Singaporeans

Yxxxone SG

http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/10/govt-concedes-argument-with-wp-and-singaporeans/#more-1018

Govt concedes argument with WP and Singaporeans

Since the ill-advised announcement by the so-called PAP “grassroots advisers” of Hougang and Potong Pasir about the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) in the two opposition-held wards, the Minister for National Development has had to answer three letters to the Straits Times to justify their stand on the issue. Two of those letters were in response to Workers’ Party leaders Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim, and one was to a public-spirited Singaporean, Muhammad Yusuf Osman.

In his latest letter (copied below), the spokesman of National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan wrote: “We do not expect the Workers’ Party to accept these basic facts, and we will agree to disagree.”

In saying this, the Minister is basically conceding that his argument holds no water, and he has no more points to add that could better justify the PAP’s politically-motivated stand.

The “basic facts” were that the PAP grassroots adviser is the government’s official representative, and that he is “answerable to the government”.

I can’t see how the PAP advisers, being volunteers (I hope!) and not under the government payroll are “answerable” to the government. If they mess up, how are they held accountable? At most they get removed from their post and lose a bit of face, but suffer no other loss.

The opposition MP, on the other hand, may not be answerable to the government, but is answerable to the electorate in his ward. If he makes a mess of the LUP, voters may throw him out at the next election and he’ll lose his job and a $16,600 a month allowance.

Now tell me, who do you think will work harder to make LUP a success to benefit residents?

The Ministry spokesman ended by saying: “(T)he interests of Hougang residents are best served by concrete actions, not words.”

It is clear to voters that the opposition MPs in Hougang and Potong Pasir, who have been serving their residents for 18 years and 25 years respectively, have a far more distinguished track record of “concrete actions” serving their residents than the Johnny-come-lately PAP challengers, who are very good at plastering their faces all over the ward and claiming credit for things they never did.

* * * * *

Straits Times, 17 October 2009

Lift upgrading: We will agree to disagree

I REFER to Ms Sylvia Lim’s letter on Thursday, ‘WP rebuts ministry’s reply on lift upgrading’, in response to the Ministry of National Development’s (MND) earlier explanations on the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) in Hougang.

As we have pointed out, the LUP is carried out and funded by the Government, not the local Member of Parliament. The Government tasks the local adviser to grassroots organisations to work with all interested parties, including the MP, to implement the LUP. This is not a matter of protocol, but because of the need to implement government programmes through persons and agencies answerable to the Government. Opposition MPs do not answer to the Government, and implementing the LUP is not one of their constitutional or legal duties.

We do not expect the Workers’ Party to accept these basic facts, and we will agree to disagree. In the final analysis, the people of Singapore will decide. In the meantime, the interests of Hougang residents are best served by concrete actions, not words.

The MND and HDB will continue to work with the grassroots adviser and other stakeholders in Hougang to implement the LUP in the constituency.

Lim Yuin Chien
Press Secretary to the Minister for National Development

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For news about Singapore from non-mainstream media, visit http://singaporenewsalternative.blogspot.com

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Atobe SG

The arrogance of the reply from the PAP Minister is typical of their stance as seen in the statement made in their reply that - "because of the need to implement government programmes through persons and agencies answerable to the Government" - hence, the Government is not answerable to the constituents who do not have their Party Nominee as the MP.

If the MP from the Alternative Party is an Elected Official to represent the people in its Constituency, both the MP and the Government should be answerable for all matters in the Constituency.

While the MP may not be working as part of the Government, it should still have the responsibility as the co-ordinating office between the government agencies tasked to implement the LUP works in the MP's Constituency.

The entire matter is another one of the typical PAP Third World Petty Politicking mentality to score points with the electorates - at the expense of the tax-paying electorates.

The fact that the PAP Minister is prepared to concede "to agree to disagree" clearly show its position has no merit in the eyes of the public.

Is there any honor to play politiks with tax payers' money for the benefit of the party that is controlling the dispensing of the development funds ?

4sg SG

I don't think they are conceding defeat. It is more like the Durai case where the govt was alone in a little corner and noboby was with them.

charlize SG

I think the government and HDB have finally realised that they are digging themselves into a bigger hole if they keep trying to rebut the arguments put forth by the opposition.

Any logical person can easily see and rationalize who is right and who is wrong here.

charlize SG

I don't think they are conceding defeat. It is more like the Durai case where the govt was alone in a little corner and noboby was with them.

You notice that for once, they decided to cut their losses and stop trying to explain themselves?

Unlike in previous times when they were explaining policies, they will go all out to have the last word and whack the opposition relentlessly.

I think they realise very little people are believing them now.

soul_rage SG

Urm, isn't the opposition MP part of the Govt? I mean, what constitutes the govt? I need to get this clarified, because in Singapore, Govt and PAP lines are very blurred.

The PAP use govt funds from taxpayers money to threaten voters to vote for them.

zenden9 SG

Urm, isn't the opposition MP part of the Govt? I mean, what constitutes the govt? I need to get this clarified, because in Singapore, Govt and PAP lines are very blurred.

The PAP use govt funds from taxpayers money to threaten voters to vote for them.

When is the next MP/Government meet the people session or Lao Goh, Lao Lee or Xiao Lee attend any public event where the people got the chance to ask them questions.

I feel like throwing those questions at them , video it and see how they respond.

Annilator47 SG

simply put: they already announce in the whole reply that they are biased, only their policy works with the grassroot leaders who are PAP members..so when the LUP was announce to the opposition wards..who did they chose to announce first already tell the very obvious signs.

dare82 SG

So much for the nasty works of the PAP government to make the Opposition scapegoat!

I will be with the Opposition always! Don't let the PAP rule Hougang or in fact, forever! PAP only serves the selfish interets of the elites!

4sg SG

You notice that for once, they decided to cut their losses and stop trying to explain themselves?

Unlike in previous times when they were explaining policies, they will go all out to have the last word and whack the opposition relentlessly.

I think they realise very little people are believing them now.

Correct! No more like in the past where they rammed everything down our throats.

This proves that the core of politic is really a two-ways traffic, in as much as the govt will not admit.

Herzog_Zwei SG

Shortly put, it is a stupid idea for PAP aligned grassroots leaders to jump gun and influence people in a opposition ward.

pearlie27 SG

Agree with charlize that HDB and the govt have digged themselves into a big hole. It is time for them to wake up and stop treating us like idiots

the Bear SG

also, note that they got Mabok Tongue to front this BS...

it's been a "damage minimisation" thing from the start.. since no one believes the MIW's official liar

the MIW can be brought down by logic and reason.. unfortunately, few argue with them like that...

i really hope that the next lot of opposition will do better than the clowns and charlatans of the past GEs, and give the people a voice...

hopefully, the clowns and charlatans who made the most noise and gained the least support during the last GE will STFU coz their BS usually allows the MIW to divert attention away from the real issues by flooding everything with meaningless exchanges and then somehow obfuscate their way through...

Atobe SG

also, note that they got Mabok Tongue to front this BS...

it's been a "damage minimisation" thing from the start.. since no one believes the MIW's official liar

the MIW can be brought down by logic and reason.. unfortunately, few argue with them like that...

i really hope that the next lot of opposition will do better than the clowns and charlatans of the past GEs, and give the people a voice...

Somehow those who are taken in by the dramas created by the MIW are the ones most enthused in this artform as their own supreme roles being the ‘Drama Queen’

How many in Singapore will swallow the venom of the MIW towards their political nemesis ?

It is quite obvious that the unthinking drama addicts will fall for the scripted dramas that have been creatively crafted by the MIW to "fix" those who pose the biggest threat to the political fortunes of the MIW.

Can a “narcissist” know how to take the heat under the spotlight, when it has yet to step on center stage while it gripe and make childish criticism of the efforts made by others ?

We can trust the narcissistic ‘Drama Queen’ being familiar with its own supporting cast of charlatans and clowns for its unique "circus of dramas".

It is pathetic that while most Singaporeans have shown sympathy and empathy towards JBJ - who have been undeservingly derided by LKY as a 'charlatan' - clowns like the resident ‘Drama Queen’ will wish to pass on this label to CSJ.

If the ‘Drama Queen’ is to be credible, it should admit to its volumous fraudulent claim to be a fence sitter with its quack knowledge of the political circumstances and events that has give comfort to the MIW inflicting pain and suffering on the main actors from the alternative political parties.

A credible ‘Drama Queen’ should be honest enough to admit to its true role - and will at least be able escape its own shroud of being a 'charlatan' in its own BS drama.

charlize SG

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_446885.html

According to them now, lift upgrading is now a "national project" which means they were wrong to deliberately not upgrade opposition wards, leaving them last behind some younger PAP held estates.

If it is a national project, then party MPs should not be using it as a reason to canvass for votes during elections.

4sg SG

The letter was a direct rebuttal of a biting commentary published last week by Straits Times senior correspondent Sue-Ann Chia who earlier questioned the seemingly conflicting roles of a MP and grassroots adviser.

Mr Lim wrote that “the roles of MP and adviser are distinct and separate, even though government MPs, wearing their other hat of advisers, are expected to perform both roles.”

“Opposition MPs cannot be appointed advisers, because they do not answer to the ruling party. They have no constitutional or legal obligation to carry out national programmes on the Government’s behalf. Nor can the Government hold them to account if they perform this role unsatisfactorily.” he added.

That’s where Mr Lim is wrong. There is no such thing as a “government MP.” The correct term to use should be “PAP MPs”.

The PAP is NOT the government of Singapore which can be formed by a coalition of parties.

Mr Lim re-emphasized that “the LUP is not a town council programme. It is a national programme which receives most of its funding from the Government.”

And where does the government receive its funding from? From every citizen of Singapore including the residents of Hougang and Potong Pasir.

There is absolutely no reason why opposition MPs cannot be appointed as grassroots advisers unless they decline to work with the government.

The root cause of the problem lies in the lack of a clearly defined demarcation between the state and the party which resulted in many supposedly apolitical institutions like the People’s Association being made use of by the PAP to serve its partisan interests.

As the People’s Association is a statutory board, its members and grassroots advisers should have no political affiliations.

It is disingenuous of the PAP to appoint their losing candidates to continue “serving” in the opposition wards under the veneer of being the “grassroots advisers” appointed by the PA.

http://sgblogs.com/entry/continues-throw-smoke-bombs-over-role-grassroots-advisers/365866

charlize SG

Actually, I thought they would leave this issue to die by itself.

Instead, they chose to reply to the ST correspondent and re-ignite the matter again.

What are they trying to do now?

the Bear SG

Actually, I thought they would leave this issue to die by itself.

Instead, they chose to reply to the ST correspondent and re-ignite the matter again.

What are they trying to do now?

dunno...

there is a smell of GE in the air.. so maybe they want more face time in the papers?

who knows what they are up to?

and frankly, who cares?

charlize SG

dunno...

there is a smell of GE in the air.. so maybe they want more face time in the papers?

who knows what they are up to?

and frankly, who cares?

Definitely the GE is going to be called within the next 6 months.

Perhaps they are trying to highlight "small" problems to push attention away from the bigger problems during the past 2 years - billion dollar losses, non accountability, exponential increase in population, town council losses, decrease in wages, sky rocketing HDB prices etc.

the Bear SG

Definitely the GE is going to be called within the next 6 months.

could be... i won't put it past the MIW assholes..

just hope that the people on the other side do not get sidetracked and turn small things into their main platform..

and i really pray that attention-whores do not derail the whole thing either...