WP Youth Wing Forum

goh meng seng SG

Elections and Your Vote: A Token or Taken Right?

Public Forum organised by The WP Youth Wing

The third Presidential elections has come and gone in a flash. Two out of three Presidential elections in Singapore's history have ended with no votes cast. The nation's Elected President, Mr S R Nathan, had been officially elected without ever facing a contest throughout his tenure.

No emergence of contenders? This Presidential elections saw four applications but only one ruled qualified to be awarded a special certificate to stand as a candidate by three elite men appointed by the government, who had in the process decided the President for three million Singaporeans.

The upcoming General Election is due by 2007. Things are a little different in General Elections; there are no pre-approved barriers. However, again, not all Singaporeans will get to vote, for it is widely known that few Singaporeans are willing to be associated with opposition parties, much less become their candidates.

Default victories in uncontested constituencies, popularly know as "walkovers", have became a definite sight in General Elections in the last three decades. At the last General Election in 2001, only one-third of Parliamentary seats were contested. Opposition politics in Singapore is a "thankless job", and who do Singaporeans have to thank for?

The situation we have is uniquely Singapore. Is this uniqueness churned from the long years of "autocratic measures of the PAP regime" or because Singaporeans have been "cowed by their own free will"?

In short, elections in Singapore are fast becoming signs of going through motions. Is this trend unhealthy but tolerable, or unhealthy and intolerable? Is the Elected Presidency criteria too high (and mightly executed)? Is the Elected Presidency scheme even necessary in the first place? Are walkovers becoming an irritating bugbear? What can Singaporeans do, that is, if they want something done?

Organised by The WP Youth Wing - the official youth wing of The Workers' Party - this public forum discusses elections in Singapore and implications of the current situation, and examines the question of whether it is the authority that has to "open up" first or Singaporeans themselves have to begin taking charge of their own political affairs for it to progress.

Date: 15 October 2005 (Saturday)

Time: 2.30 pm

Venue: Workers' Party HQ, 216-G Syed Alwi Road #02-03 Singapore 207799

Facilitator & Moderator:
- Mr Tan Wui-Hua, President of The WP Youth Wing

Speakers:
- Ms Sylvia Lim, Chairman of The Workers' Party
- Ms Glenda Han, Deputy Secretary of The WP Youth Wing

Guest Speakers:
- Dr Kevin Tan, constitutional law specialist
- Mr Michael Cheng, youth social activist

You are most welcomed to join us!

For more information, please call us at 6298-4765 or e-mail us at [email protected]

Tan Wui-Hua
President
The WP Youth Wing
216-G Syed Alwi Road #02-03 Singapore 207799
Tel: 6298-4765
Fax: 6454-4404
URL: www.wp.org.sg/youthwing
E-mail: [email protected]

crazy monkey SG

last time the sexy reporter coming or not ? Laughing

ndmmxiaomayi SG

You persuading us to WP or what?

gorby107 SG

This is a great opportunity man Laughing But teenagers are allowed joined a not Rolling Eyes

[email protected]@ SG

is this a sign the GE is coming? Laughing

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Haha, not interested in politics. Know can liao. Don’t need to join. I don’t want to die early.

crazy monkey SG

dun want to die early but want to join police Laughing

goh meng seng SG

We welcome everybody to attend the forum, teenagers included. It wouldn't be long before you know that you are loosing the fundamental right as a citizen to exercise your vote.

As for those people who are "FEARFUL" about attending this forum, the more you should attend. The reason is very simple. Please reflect upon WHY you are fearful in the first place! And you should think for yourself and your future generations, do you want yourself and your future generations to live in FEAR for the rest of their lives?

There is no issue of illegality as WP would abide with the law, no matter how unreasonable it is for the time being. Indoor talks and forums are LEGAL and do not need a license. There is no issue of "illegal assembly" here.

BTW, the Constitution of Singapore grant us the RIGHT to assemble peacefully but we have been robbed of this right by administrative rules. As I have said, even if this rule is UNFAIR, we will abide by the rules for the moment, for the bigger picture.

Goh Meng Seng

ndmmxiaomayi SG

At least I die with more pride.

alien2 SG

Goh Meng Seng wrote

[The upcoming General Election is due by 2007. Things are a little different in General Elections; there are no pre-approved barriers. However, again, not all Singaporeans will get to vote, for it is widely known that few Singaporeans are willing to be associated with opposition parties, much less become their candidates.]

Is that a confirmed fact just a good Guess?

Do you know Our P.M.Mr. Lee had been busily going to out on walkabouts to promote the campaign against mosquitoes and even LOOK under drains to see what?

If he's that busily it's going to be a snap election sooner than U think_Lor!

Got to find out from

http://www.sgwiki.com/wiki/Our_Speaker_Corner[/b]

for <4 M?

goh meng seng SG

Dear Alien2,

All the signs are there but the earliest date possible is late Nov.

Goh Meng Seng

Originally posted by alien2:
Goh Meng Seng wrote

[The upcoming General Election is due by 2007. Things are a little different in General Elections; there are no pre-approved barriers. However, again, not all Singaporeans will get to vote, for it is widely known that few Singaporeans are willing to be associated with opposition parties, much less become their candidates.]

Is that a confirmed fact just a good Guess?

Do you know Our P.M.Mr. Lee had been busily going to out on walkabouts to promote the campaign against mosquitoes and even LOOK under drains to see what?

If he's that busily it's going to be a snap election sooner than U think_Lor!

Got to find out from

http://www.sgwiki.com/wiki/Our_Speaker_Corner

for

Spirit of Fire SG

The 1st step every Singaporean can do during the coming GE is to vote for the opposition liao, no need wait already. We've given the ruling party a lot of chances, & they still screw things up for the people. The society is so cruel to the people, but the people is still so kind to the ruling party by voting them again & again. Now is the time to give them the boot. If the goods are not delivered, so out they go, no doubt about it.

de_middle SG

The thread starter is asking for attendance, not asking you to comment which party is better & who to vote.

Save you freaking comments & get to the point here.

nanren4ever SG

It is not that Singaporeans are afraid of being arrested by the police, it is just that the opposition still have not realised 1 thing, that the reasons why they constantly lose GEs is simple: Singaporeans know that the Opposition is weak, and that they cannot put up a credible fight against the PAP. The by-election strategy is proof of that. They are already conceding defeat even the war begins, how can?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I know u don't want to die early, every Singaporean also has this mentality, but do u think it is fair or not, do u want our future generation to live with those whatever f**ked-up policies. I think it is very selfish of us. It is this very mentality that the ruling party have absolute control over the majority of the people. We've to respect ourselves 1st before they can respect us, & is to vote for the opposition.

I agree with you, but what can we do? Also, political parties, especially opposition parties like to promise a lot of things but will never do it in the end. At least PAP promised a lot and got fufill their promise for some of the promises they made.

shade343 SG

The constituition says that we are only allowed to vote once we reach the age of 21. So, ultimately, we still get to exercise our right to vote what….