Rally Roundup is a new column that brings you daily summaries from election rallies in the leadup to Polling Day
RALLY ROUNDUP (DAY SEVEN)
The second-last day of the campaign saw a continuation of the softer approach which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had set the tone for with his unprecedented apology.
At the PAP’s rally in Holland-Bukit Timah, Vivian Balakrishnan admitted for the first time that he was wrong for replying to Lily Neo so insensitively when she tabled a question in Parliament regarding public assistance for the needy.
However, some PAP candidates continued their attempts to discredit the opposition parties through attacks, with K Shanmugam saying that they were “full of bad ideas and empty rhetoric”, while Teo Chee Hean said that the Workers’ Party’s manifesto was “too vague”.
The opposition parties focused their efforts on addressing Mr Lee’s apology, which is expected to swing many undecided voters back towards the PAP. Some parties, like the SPP, accepted his apology and saw it as a sign of better things to come, but called on other ministers to follow the PM’s lead and apologise for their individual mistakes.
The WP used the PM’s apology to illustrate the need for a strong opposition, saying that he had been forced to apologise because of the fact that the PAP faces a tough challenge in the polls. The SDP and NSP discounted the apology altogether and said that it came too late.
PAP: NOT PERFECT, BUT STILL THE BEST OPTION
Speaking at a rally in Holland-Bukit Timah, Vivian Balakrishan said that the Prime Minister’s apology was a sign that the PAP understood concerns on the ground. He said: “We’re facing a tough election, aren’t we? Despite all our successes, despite everything we’ve achieved, there is still an unsettled mood on the ground”.
He also addressed the issue of his overspending on the Youth Olympic Games for the first time since the SDP brought it up, saying that PM Lee had approved an increase in the budget from $104 million to $387 million, and that 70% of the expenditure went to local companies providing services for the event.
He also admitted that his reply to Lily Neo in Parliament when she tabled questions on public assistance to the needy was “wrong”. He said: “It was one statement which will haunt me for my entire political life. Unfortunately, I’m one of those who likes to speak withut notes, and sometimes I make mistakes.”
Over at Nee Soon, K Shanmugam attacked the opposition for playing up emotions “for pure political gain”. He said that their policy suggestions were “somewhere been bad and downright crazy”, reserving his harshest criticism for SDP candidate Tan Jee Say. He said: “There is only word to describe this proposal – crazy.” He also said that voters could rest assured that opposition members will get into Parliament regardless of polling results, since the NCMP scheme guarantees at least nine opposition MPs in the next Parliament. Therefore, he said, voters should vote for “the team whch will best take care of their constituency”.
WP: PRIME MINISTER’S APOLOGY IMPOSSIBLE IF NOT FOR STRONG OPPOSITION
Speaking on a rain-soaked pitch in Ubi, WP leader Low Thia Khiang said that the Prime Minister’s apology would not have been possible if the opposition did not contest 82 out 87 seats in this general election, giving the PAP its toughest fight it has ever faced since independence. Mr Low also asked why Mr Lee had chosen to apologise only three days before Polling Day, instead of immediately after the mistakes were made. His answer: “Because there are not enough opposition MPs in Parliament to push him to move faster”.
Gerald Giam (WP, East Coast) questioned the timing of the Prime Minister's apology
East Coast candidate Gerald Giam also hammered the timing of Mr Lee’s apology, questioning why he had chosen to admit his government’s mistakes so close to the polls. He asked: “Do you want leaders who have the humility and take responsibility immediately after a mistake has been made, and not wait till four days before the polls?”
Mr Low and fellow Aljunied candidate Sylvia Lim then spent considerable time elaborating on their plans for the ward should they be elected. They said that the WP would work closely with voluntary welfare organisations to ensure that Aljunied would become “a town with a social conscience”. Mr Low also said that the WP would ensure that flats in Aljunied are fitted with lifts that stop in every floor. Both Mr Low and Ms Lim emphasised that if national agencies refused to cooperate with them, they would file questions in Parliament, and that as elected MPs, their words would carry weight.
Mr Low also took a dig at suggestions from George Yeo that the WP had been “staging” its own support, refuting allegations that the WP had arranged for “fans” to welcome candidates warmly during walkabouts and even lead cheers. He said that unlike the PAP, the WP did not have to “send buses to bring people” to its rallies, and asked the crowd if it came on their own accord. The more than 15,000 supporters obliged with a resounding “yes”.
SDP: APOLOGY IS NOT ENOUGH
The SDP’s candidate for Holland-Bukit Timah, Ang Yong Guan, said that the Prime Minister’s apology was not enough to atone for the mistakes that the PAP has made in the past five years. He said: “You pay someone $3 million to $4 million a year, he’s the best talent, a professional. Can you allow him to say ‘sorry, I will try harder?’ It’s a very expensive sorry. And it is too little and too late.”
Ang Yong Guan (SDP, Holland-Bukit Timah) says that the high rate of ministerial pay means that there can be no margin of error
His fellow candidate, Tan Jee Say, addressed the issue of voters who wanted to vote for the opposition but were afraid to do so. He insisted that there was nothing for them to be afraid of, as voting was secret. He revealed that he previously voted for the opposition while serving as a civil servant, and suffered on repercussions.
In fact, he said, he was promoted in good time, and faster than a lot of his cohort. He also lambasted the PM’s apology, saying: “Here, we have the PM saying sorry for the mistakes that they have made. The people of Singapore are long past the sense of gratitude to the PAP, because the PAP have shown themselves to be incompetent.”
James Gomez, a candidate for Sembawang, said that the SDP plans to rejuvenate the constituency by reviving commerce and tourism in the area and servicing nearby prison and military installations. He unveiled a master plan titled “Creating Jobs, Building Community” that included the creation of jobs in support services for the installations, such as catering, housekeeping and maintenance work. The plan also highlights the tourism potential of the Sembawang area, noting attractions such as the Kranji War Memorial and the Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve.
SPP: OTHER MINISTERS SHOULD FOLLOW PM’S LEAD
At the SPP’s rally in Potong Pasir, candidate for Bishan-Toa Payoh Jimmy Lee said that while the Prime Minister’s apology was welcome, other ministers ought to follow his lead and also apologise for their mistakes. He said: “How about the rest of the ministers who are hiding behind him? Can’t these ministers stand up in front of everyone and speak for themselves?”
His fellow candidate Benjamin Pwee also highlighted that the PAP’s mistakes came at a very high cost to taxpayers. He said: “For every wrong decision, for everything they have said sorry for, what is the cost in taxpayers’ money that was lost because of that?” A guest speaker, David Tan, said that the apology was not backed by action because ministers such as Wong Kan Seng did not resign or lose their jobs following the mistakes which they made.
Candidate for Potong Pasir, Lina Chiam, unveiled her plan for the constituency, assuring voters that she would be able to do as good a job as her husband, outgoing MP Chiam See Tong. She promised that ongoing lift upgrading projects would carry on, as well as look into facilities such as a fitness corner, a polyclinic, a day-care centre and a library.
NSP: PAP NEEDS TO “REPENT”
Speaking at the NSP’s rally in Tampines, party leader Goh Meng Seng completely rejected the Prime Minister’s apology. Borrowing words from the PM’s father Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Goh said that: “The Prime Minister has said it is very hard to say sorry. But we do not want a sorry. I want them to repent and see who are the judges. Are they the gods? Or are we the gods?”
Goh Meng Seng (NSP, Tampines) said that the Prime Minister's apology was not enough, and demanded more accountability from PAP ministers
His team-mate Reno Fong said that Mr Lee’s apology was a victory for the people of Singapore. He said: “The scoreboard reads – the people of Singapore one, PAP kosong. Despite the goalposts being smaller than the ball, we’ve scored a goal. Finally, our Prime Minister has admitted to making mistakes in public.”
His team-mate Raymond Lim said that apart from the PM’s apology, the NSP has also made its pressure on the PAP tell by forcing Mah Bow Tan to agree review the HDB’s income ceiling. Mr Mah’s announcement came just two months after he resolutely defended the existing ceiling in Parliament.
Mr Goh also criticised Mr Mah, saying that if he had been in the private sector, his past policies such as the COE, ERP (implemented when he was Transport Minister) and current housing policy would be seen as a great success, since all of these have yielded great profit. However, Mr Goh said: “Unfortunately, Mr Mah is in a business that should put Singaporenas first.”
RP: MUNICIPAL PLANS FOR WEST COAST UNVEILED
Speaking at a rally in West Coast, the Reform Party presented its plans for the constituency, with leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam pledging to increase public bus services, build cycling lanes and re-open the defunct Pandan Garden swimming complex. He also promised to build more carparks to ease the crunch for parking space.
Apart from these, Mr Jeyaretnam also promised to engage more cleaning contractors, build more sports facilities and set up a wet market in Telok Blangah. The RP says that the plan was formulated based on the feedback of residents over the past two years. He also said that the PAP does not understand that Singapore has changed, and that many of its policies are now outdated. He said: “They may have worked very well 20 or 30 years ago, when Dr Goh Keng Swee was around. But they don’t work anymore.”
The RP also promised that a “Reform Committee” would be formed, comprising only local residents, to work with existing residents’ committees towards addressing municipal issues affecting the ward.
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VIDEOS OF RALLY SPEECHES
TEO CHEE HEAN (PAP, PASIR RIS-PUNGGOL)
NICOLE SEAH (NSP, MARINE PARADE)
VINCENT WIJEYSINGHA (SDP, HOLLAND-BUKIT TIMAH)
BENJAMIN PWEE (SPP, BISHAN-TOA PAYOH)
LINA CHIAM (SPP, POTONG PASIR)
George, wow, you know so of his life and the secret politics between MM and Shanmugam ah.. damn power la.. share how you know leh..
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Recently we were updated online that incumbent Law Minister & Nee Soon GRC PAP candidate Mr Shanmugam had dumped his 1st chinese wife of many years for a traditional Indian wife in order to meet the party political requirements. And also top demands of his party under MM Lee before he took on the appointment of full Law minister and previous portfolios.
The main reason was to project him as a main core part of the Indian community he was supposed to represent and then be appointed as Law Minister as per PAP career planning in accordance with MM Lee’s requirement.His Chinese wife was a liability for his aspirations as his role have been upgraded as a main champion of the Indian community. This currently required someone to master Tamil well which was a main gap among most Indian PAP ministers has none were conversant in the language as they reflected the growing community which included Indranee and Tharman.
Shanmugam had made the personal trade off which was a party demand to make changes to his personal family life for his career advancement .
This brings to question if this man who resorts to dumping his own wife of many years regardless of her Chinese roots and earlier trust in him to marry him; for his own & party’s political ambitions – what will he do to hold to power at the disadvantage of his own residents next?.
Someone who is willing to destroy his family and dump his wife and agree to various other trade offs for political gains is who
the people of Nee Soon and Singapore would want as their elected MP and Minister.
Please people think, review and scrutinise carefully.
Think carefully on the quality and integrity of the person before you vote.
FYI:His family matters have come to light by his own family members leaking them online in forums and can be scrutinised openly as going viral.
The price of being overly being conceited and arrogant -your own family tells on you.
Ex Young PAP
Shanmugam is one of the most vile and dislikeable PAP ministers from the new batch. His tongue drips with venom. He loves making pointed attacks. He needs to know that while his sarcasm might have served him well on the Bar, politics is a different game. He comes across as being arrogant and conceited. I just can’t stand it whenever he speaks.
IMPORTANT:
Reminder For Singaporeans Before Election Day
Especially future “Repenting Singaporeans” & “footloose” Young Singaporeans As MM Lee
branded you.
HARD TRUTHS:Looking Back at PAP: From 1950s to Now
Before your votes are cast, remember this:
1. In Year 1981 a small time Singaporean call Joshua Benjamin Jeyaratnam (JBJ)broke the PAP’s dominance and full control of power since independence by winning a seat in Anson(the first opposition in a 100% PAP parliament under Lee Kuan Yew)
2. It was late JBJ who raised the issue on corruption by PAP and former HDB minister Tay Cheng Wan who later commited suicide after investigation.
3. It wa JBJ who raised the question of special discounts given to Lee Kuan Yew and his son Lee Hsien Loong while serving as PM for property purchases in Orange Grove (high end).
4. Fast forward,Few years back when MM lee’s wife collapsed in UK, he decided to use the entire SQ SIA plane as makeshift hospital to bring her back to Singapore. Only after public questioning and outcry, he told through government he will bear the costs for that flight back.
5. The assumption that he owned SIA as his decries the very notion he is the public servant and not master as nothing is “given” nor he owns Singapore.
6. The financial losses from 1990s during Singapore’s first foray into China – Suzhou project saw losses of more than $40 Billion dollars lost under a new in charge Raymond Lim under Lee Kuan Yew.
7. LKY later told public it was ok and a good lesson learnt and moved on to bring Raymond Lim as a new PAP minister with various portfolios.
8. Neither LKY nor Raymond Lim was made answerable for that loss and brushed off without any censure from public, media nor PAP controlled parliament.
In 1990, $40 Billion was a huge sum like today.
9. The last 5 years GIC under MM Lee Kuan Yew, Tony Tan and PAP appointed Ho Ching who heads Temasek Holdings saw terrible losses and bad investments of more than $150 to 300 Billions of dollars and were never questioned, censured and most importantly fired from their jobs like in any normal financial organization or government.
10. Ho Ching was a PAP appointee by Dhanabalan who heads Temasek as recommended by her father in law Lee Kuan Yew and this was done not by proper corporate selection agst the best from the financial industry with proven track records.
11. A perverse family control of Singapore’s finances and reserves have been maintained by Lee kuan Yew who took on as chairman of GIC which he stills holds, Lee Hsien Loong as Finance minister (only appointed PAP man Tharman as Finance Minister few years ago) and his wife Ho Ching remains Head of Temasek Holdings as untouchable despite various losses.
12. Both Lee Kuan Yew and Ho Ching do not come with proven investment track records, financial experiences as heads of investment funds like in normal business investment environments other than what they claim to be and backed by a PAP parliament which does not question, censure or hold them accountable.
Basically not qualified as in today’s times.
13. In all none of them have been accountable whereas in major developed countries like USA, Europe finance ministers, heads of major banks like BOA, Citibank have been fired for bad investments, poor performance and accountability.
14. With a dominant PAP parliament stronghold wo any opposition this accountability has been continuously forsaken by the ruling party especially MM Lee, Ho Ching, lee Hsien Loong and PAP government.
15. It should be noted that there were many accomplished and proven financial investments experts available and ready to be hired from open markets in Singapore and elsehere who can take over and provide better returns and good investment decisions for Temasek, GIC then current incumbent.
16. These are professionals vs Lee Kuan Yew and Ho Ching but sensitive reasons provided to keep our reserves under the family control of Lee Kuan Yew in today’s times where many accomplished professional are available for hire.
17. In the financial crisis of 2007,2009 even PAP town councils and ministries made terrible bad investments in toxic investment products and were quickly dismissed as one off and nobody was censured, held accountable or fired. All these again with tax payers’ monies.
18. During the time of late Elected President Ong Teng Chiong, PAP government was asked to provides accounts on our national reserves and detailed data for his scrutiny.
19. This was not honoured by a troubled majority ruling PAP government under MM Lee and Lee HSien Loong with Goh Chock Tong.Again accountability was brushed off.
20. Simple mediocre answers were given that it will take years to consolidate and out down all our assets and reserves details.
21. When Islamic Terrorist Mat Selmat escaped from Singapore’s prisons under the watch of DPM and then Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng again he was left without much censure and neither did he resign nor was fired.
22. Still again no accountability and worst PM Lee went on to public declare it is not the policy of PAP government to fire any of it’s ministers or MPs for mistakes done as will upset their government or political makeup angering Singaporeans.
23. Again party and stronghold interests of ruling elite became first and important than accountability and option to answer to public.
24. Fast forward the YOG budget under Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was over estimated with huge losses (as over costing due to bad calculations and planning)
by inexperienced, inacapable minister and yet still left off the hook by majority PAP government without censure nor accountability.
25. Public did get a single apology nor accountability until 2 days before election where Dr Bala apologises and admits his mistakes.
26. Normal cases people are fired for such mistakes and yet again PAP protects its core people.
- So now Singaporeans do you think this nonsensical and above the law, Ivory tower and elite group of untouchable ministers and MPs of PAP should be brought down to earth and made answerable to the very public they are serving?
- Can we have accountability and people like Ho Ching needs to be fired and replaced by capable professionals.
- Can we break this family owned mentality and take back our national reserves and keep it under the professional management of people accountable to the government with multiple voices and public they are serving.
- Our reserves are not ,NOT ,NOT, NOT ,the ATM for any single family, person or ruler to paly with without accountability but the Public’s and SIngaporeans.
- Do we need another 5 years of proven “Yes” men to serve you and yet remain unaccountable serving PAP party and all might lord MM Lee?
Or we take our rights, country, reserves and our lives back into our hands and vote in the Opposition for a start.
You decide what you want Singaporeans on May 7th 2011.
Singapore for Singaporeans.