Recently, after the casino decision is made by PAP, we received
letters, emails to urge us to stand for election in their
constituencies so that they could exercise their votes against
PAP.
This is a good sign yet a very depressing situation. This brings
back memory of Today newspaper's interview with Mr. Low TK, in
which he says, "We (opposition members) are all suckers, aren't
we?"
It is a good sign in the sense that Singaporeans realize that it is
the political front that will matter to PAP. It is a depressing
situation because Singaporeans are merely treating opposition
parties like "punching bags" that could provide them the avenue for
them to vent their frustrations against PAP whenever they are angry
at PAP.
For so many years, most Singaporeans are either apathetic or
fearful about joining the fight to build up a good alternative
political platform. They will only remember about opposition
parties when they need one to vent their frustrations against PAP.
They would neither contribute to the development of the alternative
platform either by activism nor financial support. Sometimes, they
would even degrade opposition politicians due to ignorance or
proporgandas effects of the media.
There are some improvement shown recently by some social activists
in the sense that they are willing to help or be identified with
opposition political parties or individuals. But this is still not
enough. We need people to help us to provide a long term political
educational process to the masses so that they would make a better
balanced views of alternative politics.
Of course, we need people to work on the ground or even make
themselves count in the electoral process by manning polling
stations as polling agents or stand as candidates.
Singaporeans believe PAP's claims every elections that opposition
members are only active on the ground when elections come. However
they never realize that it is their total neglect of the
alternative political process has in effect created such
situation.
I sincerely hope Singaporeans could see what damage PAP has done to
the political system of our Nation. The de-politicization of the
Nation would have long term effects on our long term survival as a
Nation. Imagine that a thirty something citizen came and complained
that he has no chance to vote or participate in the electoral
process for his whole life, what does that tell you? It means that
he is being marginalized politically, de-politicized as a citizen
and he would not have such a pride in being a citizen. He would
lost his sense of citizenship in the process and eventually, no
sense of belonging to this Nation, least sense of "ownership" of
this Nation.
It is time to create this political awareness among our citizens
that each actions carry a result. The apathy and neglect of our
citizens would naturally result in the overall weakness of our
political system.
Goh Meng Seng