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    Bitter internal conflict within SPP: sources

    By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo! Newsroom – Sun, Jan 22, 2012

    All is not well within the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) — and all this barely a week before its party congress.

    Rising differences within its leadership came to a head on Friday, when the SPP’s first assistant secretary-general Wilfred Leung, who was widely-tipped to succeed veteran leader Chiam See Tong as the party’s next secretary-general, told its central executive committee (CEC) that he does not intend to accept nominations to the committee for the coming two-year term.

    Leung’s announcement, Yahoo! Singapore understands, was accompanied by notice of an impending resignation from the party by another of its CEC members David Tan, who heads its SME businessmen affairs bureau. Tan is a long-time friend of Mr and Mrs Chiam.

    At the same time, second assistant secretary-general Benjamin Pwee communicated to the rest of the CEC his intention to decline offers to co-opt him back into the committee for another term.

    Yahoo! Singapore understands that at least three other key members of the CEC plan to either resign from the party or decline nomination or being co-opted into the committee for the new term.

    Several CEC members whom this reporter spoke to on Saturday admitted that internal relations among the SPP’s leadership turned sour after the 2011 May General Election, when seven members of the party stood in two single wards — Hong Kah North and Potong Pasir — and the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representative Constituency.

    A rift appears to have developed between newer members of the party’s CEC and those who have led the party for a longer time, and Pwee confirmed there were differences over the style of leadership within the CEC.

    “Most of us have been trying to move toward a more collective style of team leadership in the SPP, where we can consult with one another and make decisions together, or at least with a majority,” said Pwee, who added that other members of the CEC were more used to Mr and Mrs Chiam making all the decisions.

    Key veterans on the party’s CEC have also expressed their discontent with Mr and Mrs Chiam, saying they felt that the Chiams had “disappointed the SPP”. More vocal members of the CEC such as Pwee and Tan are believed to have locked horns with Mrs Lina Chiam on a number of occasions in recent months.

    More developments may follow in the days leading up to the party’s congress on 29 January, where the current CEC will be relinquishing their posts and a new one is set to be elected.

    Given the unwillingness of at least six of its current key members, the questions of who will take over as the party’s next chairman and secretary-general remain open and unanswered.

    Benjamin Pwee greeting a resident at Ang Mo Kio Central with a pair of oranges. (Yahoo! photo)

    Putting aside the internal tensions within the party, Pwee, his fellow Bishan-Toa Payoh candidates Jimmy Lee and Mohamad Hamim bin Aliyas as well as the SPP’s organising secretary Ting Sze Jiang were all smiles on Saturday afternoon.

    The group -- alongside members of the National Solidarity Party (NSP), a representative of the Reform Party and presidential candidate Tan Jee Say – took part in a community outreach effort at Ang Mo Kio, distributing oranges and greeting residents ahead of the Lunar New Year.

    Noticeably absent, however, were the Chiams, who Yahoo! Singapore understands planned a walkabout around Potong Pasir instead. Members of the Singapore Democratic Party were conducting parallel walkabouts as well, and the Workers’ Party had also been invited to the informal meet-and-greet session although they did not attend.

    Members of various opposition parties, their volunteers, supporters and friends pose for a photo with presidential …

    NSP secretary-general Hazel Poa told reporters that the outreach event serves to "create opportunities for (opposition parties) to have more interaction, and hopefully lead to better understanding and greater cooperation between the opposition parties in future".

    Tan also stressed the importance of the opposition coming together in order to work towards presenting a credible alternative to the ruling People's Action Party.

    "Ultimately we have a common purpose and a common destination... all of us are different, but we have a common objective, and we will work towards that and come together," he said.

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    208 comments

    • Cheers
      Cheers  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Have you seen a situation in broad daylight Father cannot tell Son anymore so Father annouce through LOCAL Media.........LOL NOW THAT IS NO SMALL CONFLICT ;)
    • KenluckyL
      KenluckyL  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      They need to conduct a conflict management procedure to establish a corrective action plan. Seems like they lack a good strategist to reconstruct their party and political agenda. In order to resolve all these nuisance, there must be no over ambitious opportunists thinking of trying to override their leader's leadership motive. If there's one black sheep in it, then the party is down.
    • AH BENG
      AH BENG  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      DON'T WORRY EVERYONE, WP IS COMING TO WIN
      ANOTHER FEW GRCs IN GE 2016
      GD LUCK TO PAY & PAY
    • Dio
      Dio  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Although I supported the alternative voice in Singapore,I felt that the Opposition party should merge and consolidate their resources and form a formidable coalition that have same vision for Singapore.Apart from WP and SDP with Mr Low and Mr Vincent,I see a weak front from other Opposition party.I really hope to see leaders in the Oppo camp meet and draw up plan with vision of Governing Singapore.They should come up with a blue print of how they could lead and proof to the citizen of their plan if they should form a Govt come 2016.Without this blue print,the PAP would always criticize the Oppo for lack of vision to Govern.The leaders should always remember to put country over self interest than I think the Opposition party could earn the trust and respect from the people.
    • INSTINCT
      INSTINCT  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Conflict is not unhealthy. In the end, those who look in the same direction will continue the work and evolve. Better than hypocrites who are united by money and pretend they have a mission. They say what their bosses want to hear, and in turn their subordinates say what they want to hear.
    • B
      B  •  1 month 5 days ago
      Im not a fan of the MIWs but its worrying to know that if an opposition party like SPP cannot coordinate from within, makes me wonder how can they lead the country if they won the election? This is a clear cut scenario of the head not talking to the arms and the arms dont give a damn about the legs even though they make up one body ... its every man for himself. Im sure PAP has the same thing going on - either they manage it better or they're good at keeping it quiet from the public. The way i see it, if SPP dont get their act together and re-strategize, then there is really no point in giving them the credit and support they deserve. Might as well stick to the old guns instead, at least there is still some guarantee that these goons take the country's welfare seriously ....
    • Lightning Blues
      Lightning Blues  •  1 month 6 days ago
      SPP is a washed out party.When Lina Chiam spoke in Parliament,the speech was flat but trying to evoke memories of CST,might as well flog a dead horse.
    • Guticpak
      Guticpak  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Despite any internal conflicts, Singaporeans will always respect Mr Chiam's years of contribution toward Singapore's democracy, whether SPP will emerge to be the alternative political party to replace PAP is subject to rule of survival, only the fittest, strongest, and united opposition party that is capable of replacing PAP will be chosen.
      Mr Tan Jee Say sum it up well "Ultimately we have a common purpose and a common destination... all of us are different, but we have a common objective, and we will work towards that and come together,"
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      When you work as a team, it must always be multiple perspectives, and mutiple talents. When you speak with the Public you need to be simple and lucid and not be overly complicated or too smart by half..
      Serve with humility and not puffed up self importance or behave like the judicial high court bullies.
    • Andy
      Andy  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Instead of fighting a separate battle, the weaker opposition parties should consider coming together as one coalition party.
    • Roland
      Roland  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 3 days ago
      Can I trust them to rules Spore?
    • Pink Floyd
      Pink Floyd  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 4 days ago
      The current governing party has learnt and reformed from the recent General Elections and has beeen humbled to listen to its citizens since then-looking at the plans to upgrade the HDB blocks in Potong Pasir, one can forget about the electoral ward returning to the opposiiton party again - which is good because growing numbe of residents can now see the benefits of having PAP to bring regreshing changes to the growing slum in the district. SPP has to grow beyond dynastic policy i.e., passing the baton from husband and wife and set an example by promoting the worthy candidates of sunstance, without which the SPP will become insignificant and marginalised player in the next GE.
    • MIW Haters
      MIW Haters  •  1 month 4 days ago
      Untill today PAP also have their conflict internaly but the media have to do a covered up
    • Steven
      Steven  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 5 days ago
      The reason why opposition gain foothold in the election is because the Government has lost touch on the ground. People concerns need to be addressed and the Elected MPs must show their worthiness to continue in office. Be transparent, honest and caring is the way to go. The Singapore society is now more educated and for that we give thanks to the Government for its past effort. So we now knows how to think and decide better for our future through the VOTES. "A great Leader takes care of the PEOPLE FIRST".
    • retro
      retro  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      When the going gets tough. THE TOUGH GETS GOING.
    • Jonn
      Jonn  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 5 days ago
      Conflicts are not news. It afflicts all aspects of life. ... Politics, family, Siblings, business partners. Face conflicts straight on and learn from all conflicts, big or small, bitter or sour.
    • hippo
      hippo  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 6 days ago
      Small party like SPP already got so many internal squabbles and haven't even win one bloody seat in Parliament. Where got hope in GE 2016?
    • DASS
      DASS  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 5 days ago
      i was thinking only pap get flamed here(some times for no reason) then here the opposition supporters start fighting among themselves when a story breaks about them.....this shows the opp supporters are all fragmented yes pap got 60% the opposition got 40% but 40% divide by the main 4 opp parties === to 10% think think ----the 60% are not worried because they know this
    • Marcus
      Marcus  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 5 days ago
      SPP, don't waste your time trying to accomplish anything in SG... you all are just like 'a plate of loose sand (in chinese) & make a mockery among yourselves.

      Get dissolved & disappear for good lah...
    • DASS
      DASS  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  1 month 5 days ago
      was thinking only pap get flamed here(some times for no reason) then here the opposition supporters start fighting among themselves when a story breaks about them.....this shows the opp supporters are all fragmented yes pap got 60% the opposition got 40% but 40% divide by the main 4 opp parties === to 10% think think ----the 60% are not worried because they know this
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