ESM Goh to S’poreans: What kind of politics do you want?

If SIngapore is divisive now, it is first caused by the opposition parties who stroke the unhapiness of high cost of living. I can understand their motive as that how they can get voted in. But what I cannot understand is the netizen online who keep harping about the problems even through the GE is long overdue. So far, I saw mostly negative comments and skepticalism online and no constructive suggestion of how to improve Singapore. On the other hand, we see the government steps to address the issues of transportation,housing, etc. It is common sense that focus on the problems instead of solution will not make the problems disappear , but amplify one's unhappiness and perception of the problem's severity. You say PAP government don't listen?? If that the case, they can just keep status quo for the next 5 years before the next election is due. The election is long overdue and I think the people online should move on with their life and focus on how to make it better.

If you are really so unhappy in SIngapore, perhaps you may consider giving up your citizenship like what the local actress just did. Hopefully, you can find a country where there's low cost of living, high quality of living, low taxes, low unemployment rate, high security, very effective government, etc. If you manage to find such countries, please let all Singaporeans know about such wonderful places. I am sure a lot of Singaporeans will be grateful to you. If such country only exist in your imagination, it will be better if you choose to focus your ener---- to make life better for yourself and your family.

Singapore mostly LAME citizens (always know how to complain only AND had forgotten how to fight for what is ours , the hard way , as done by our forefathers) -

ARE TRULY UNABLE TO STAND UP ON OUR OWN TWO FEET . . .
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE HANDOUTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT . . .
THE MINORITY CREATING THE MOST NOISE WANT A POPULIST GOVERNMENT . . .
HAVE NOT EVEN FOUGHT A BATTLE AND YET DECLARE THEY HAVE LOST THE WAR . . .

SADLY , some of the majority SITTING ON THE FENCE SINGAPORE CITIZENS are falling into this NASTY TRAP - we will follow the GREECE financial trap soon , if we are not careful or logical , in our CHOICES

Dear Mr Goh, in the first place, who created divisive and confrontational politics on this small beloved island country of ours? It's not us, but your party. Think about this carefully before you heap blame and shift all the responsibility of what happened to us.

Allow me to ask you the following questions.

Who created the GRC system which led to unfair electoral procedures and in the end, skewed political development which favours PAP and disadvantages the other political parties? Where is the fair one-on-one contest which will better allow the people to give mandate to whichever party candidates rather than the 'buy one get four or five free' dilemma one is facing. Your party got backfired by this GRC system, your own creation, at Aljunied this GE, and whose fault is this? Who should repent?

Who played pork-barrel politics? Who used public welfare, which is paid by taxpayers no matter in PAP or non-PAP wards, as political instruments to hold people hostage for not voting PAP? Who divided the country by distinguishing and giving differential treatment to those who voted for PAP and those who don't? Now, isn't this divisive politics? Didn't residents in oppies-held wards pay taxes to the country and contribute to you PAP ministers' fat pockets?

Who opened the floodgates and allow so many foreigners into the country without paying heed to the negative effects on landspace and public infrastructure, not to forget the rising costs of living and the unfair job and educational competition? Who's here more concerned about those elusive GDP growth that translates into fat ministerial renumeration than the people's concerns? Who's playing divisive and confrontational politics here?

Who controlled the media and exploited the national laws to the point that disgruntled Singaporeans find it hard to speak up frankly without fearing reprisals from the PAP? Who caused the current internet boom in the country and the torrent of alternative and dissenting voices in the new media? Whose fault is this? Who drove us to the wall?

Who called names at Singaporeans and pandered to the foreigners? Who deliberately tried to cover up for its failed policies and people's resentment by pushing blame to the locals and making so-called comparisons between locals and foreigners? Are we to blame for the falling birth rates? Are we to not hardworking and hard driving enough? What we're merely asking, is that unfair to ask from you PAP government? Who's playing divisive and confrontational politics here?

Dear Mr Goh, if you and your MIW kakis can go back to examine these questions in depth, perhaps you can realise that we the people are not the ones playing and wanting divisive and confrontational politics. It's none other than you chaps sitting in the ivory tower. All you yearn for is simply just status quo for your party - ultimate political monopoly in this country. The answer is pretty clear on this score about your assertion.

"It is much easier to agitate and criticise than to come up with alternative, sound policies that will solve problems for the majority. Will Singaporeans choose constructive politics and debate policies rationally in the future, or choose confrontational and divisive politics based on stoking envy and resentment?"

PLEASE, just name ONE instance where an alternative presented by non-PAPies was accepted!

Every single one was shot down with almost perfect synchronicity by your PARTISAN PAPies, without so much of a persuasive explanation, just threats and MORE threats!

If Ministers' salaries were right, why review?

If HDB policies were right, why review?

If Transportation policies were right, why review?

If Health policies were right, why review?

If Environmental policies were right, why replace the Minister?

If MCYS policies were right, why replace the Minister?

If none of your elites did no wrong in their respective portfolios, why remove them?

And PLEASE do NOT come up with lame excuses like renewal or trying them out in other portfolios. How else could YOU explain the same overpaid PAPies helming their respective portfolios all these years till the last GE?

Not to mention another OVERPAID one WITHOUT any portfolio at all! YOU know WHO!

All too often, we were and are still being threatened with a weakened Parliament/Government if more Opposition were to be voted in. Well, Singapore is still ticking after all these years!

This is because Singaporeans are PRAGMATIC enough to vote in ONLY credible Opposition.

If being a President cannot do or say anything unless with the blessing of the Cabinet, then WHY this statement: "he wants the presidential office to be occupied by the best person who can rise above partisan politics and strengthen Singapore's governance framework."?

NOTE the key words are "above partisan politics".

SINGAPOREANS have had ENOUGH of THREATS, we will scrutinize, dissect and digest EVERY single word and action and will VOTE WISELY.

Reading the various comments coming from the ground, my own sense is that Singaporeans do not want confrontational politics for its own sake and they are mature enough to know the risks of populism. What they want is a govt that truly looks after Singaporeans' interests.

How can that be the case currently when FTs are being let into the country at the expense of our own people; foreign students are being given free lodging, allowances, school fees in exchange for a light bond; until recently there has been very little distinction between being a Singapore citizen and a foreigner. The problem is that Singaporeans have accepted years and years of long term pain but they now realize that they have seen relatively little benefits vs the hard work they put in while large numbers of FTs are allowed in to gain these benefits with little restriction. Hence Singaporeans now demand more immediate solutions to their problems. Look at what is happening to our old folk who unquestioningly toiled to build up Singapore during the 60's and 70's and are now told to die overseas.

The Gini coefficient has widened the most and is one of the widest in the world during the rule of the PAP so this environment of huge income disparities and the source of much anger was caused by the PAP govt itself. One needs to look no further than the Minister's salaries.

The PAP should stop putting the blame on ordinary Singaporeans trying to make ends meet in a high cost environment created by the PAP themselves and instead look inwards at their own policies for creating these problems. The ball is in your court.

Singaporeans want politics that works, where citizens have good jobs, affordable homes and healthcare, decent education for our next generation, old folks are able to retire gracefully and taken care off, and a safe and clean living environment.

The current pursuit of GDP growth as 1st priority and senseless unrestrained import of foreigners towards that end is not what we want.

I dont want any kind of politics. I want an effective government and you are not it.

Confrontational or constructive? Pragmatic or populist?... the list for description tells: 1 message, "agree" with me or "against" me. Is this politics? There are many people, young and old, want to have a feeling of being individual, being respected as individual, being respected with the rights s/he learned from education. That why democratic system works as it respects both sides as individuals, of equal rights to exchange views to reach final settlement on issues affecting the rest of population.

After reading the few sentences, one can guess the entire message of the speech. It is the old message that has been running for 46 years, other messages are: "bite the bullets", "for long term interest"(without promise), "without MBT, flat prices will collapse", "without strong govt, singapore will spiral down", "vote for them and repent for 5 yrs"... All telling 1 message, "give in to me to decide for u for the unpopular policy that never go wrong (including stop at 2, grad mother), u daft people shut up, u have no brain like me, my intellect is top in the world, like my pay, top in the global, cannot be wrong."

Please don't give us extreme choices. What pragmatic ? What populist?

We want Clean Politics. Accountable responsive Politics. We want Democracy, Justice and equality. We want intelligent yet compassionate Leaders. We want Government for Singaporeans; not Government for their own pockets.
We want moderation in policy execution, not knee jerk reaction such as sudden influx of FOREIGNERS, Casinos royal x2 ......

And all these, You can't deliver, nor can LHL.... sad.

It is Shameful to call yrself as ESM. Do u really live up to this so-called name as before SM? We dun think so. There are so many things that u n yr kakis have not made very clear to Singaporeans. Instead of u n party say n do the same things all over again yearly, before GE n after GE, ~ same patterns, same color, same price increased,..etc

goh choke tong's euphamism defined:

1. "Populist"- "a government ELECTED BY the PEOPLE FOR the PEOPLE".

2. "Pragmatic government"- "a signed BLANK CHECK with unlimited resource FOR the government to do AS THEY LIKE even AFAINST THE PEOPLE."

"What kind of politics do Singaporeans want?" you asked...

i tell you what kind of politics I want.

One that does not have you collecting pensions, speaking nonsense, threatening Singaporeans and bullying those who want to serve Singapore under a different political party.

In short, as long as you and the likes of you leave our political scene, is the kind of politics I want for Singapore.

GCT, please retire gracefully. take your millions you amassed from our taxes and sit one coorner and have your kopi-o and shut the gap !!!

mr goh, you lost our respect ever since ms tin pei ling joined your grc. please retire.

Still clueless on what Singaporean want after all the hassles? Give me your salary and benefits for the past 2 decades and I will let my K1 attending grandson tell you. So lost and how to touch the heart of the people to know their needs? It is an obvious sign of a Great Social Divides even the dominance politicians do not know what is going on in this tiny red-dot after 46 years of ruling. God, please help us!

If you and your kakis can't even pay due respect to the citizens elected Worker's Party MPs that will represent constructive politics and debate policies and continue to treat them as invisible, you think you can listen to us?

Oh shut up you piece of wood. Every time this idiot opens his mouth, he says something wrong and offensive.

Mr Peanut, you are the BIGGEST joke in our politics scene!

Remember your 2010 World Cup target?

And the Singapore Lion Dance wayang you staged? (Another waste of tax payers' $$$$$$$$)

You are simply incapable!

So in the name of not having populist policy, you continue to slam all kind of charges/taxes/duties on Singaporeans?

Donate 98% of your net worth and repent!

Before GE 2011 he said that Tan Jee Say his former Principal Private Secretary is not Permanent Secretary material.

If Tan Jee Say wins the elected Presidency, woody would have to eat his own words.

Dear retired minister goh,

We singaporean do not want to choose extremist politics.We are playing feedback politics. When u do wrong we point it out to u therefore it is confrontational.Things that u dont like to hear are confrontational . Things that please your ear are constructive. Giving social benefits to elderly above 55 years of age who have had contributed to the success of singapore is considered a populist politics.U will use supporting evidences to back up the argument of not turning singapore into a welfare state. But when bonuses and salaries amounting to millions of dollars are paid to ministers and top civil servants it is considered pragmatic because without these millions dollars ministers who created and implemented policy of importing million of foreigners into Singapore. Singapore just cannot create jobs and ensure the survival of singapore.Are these really elite ministers and top civil servants? or are they a group people who look after their own interest at the expense of singaporean .They asked singaporean to bear short term pain while they enjoyed short term gain.

where is the swiss life you promised, gct?

like the old fart, you will be dying soon, but the swiss life is no where to be found.

are you a big liar too,or maybe a bigger liar?