PAP should not view Opposition as ‘enemy’: SPP’s Pwee

Now that the Workers Party has won Aljunied GRC which includes the division of Eunos, will it now investigate into the possible conflict of interests between the business activities of YPAP leader Sear Hock Rong and Eunos grassroots organizations?
Mr Sear was embroiled in a controversy in December 2009 when it was revealed online that his company R2E Concepts count among its clients several grassroots organizations in Eunos where he served as the Chairman of the Eunos Community Club Youth Executive Committee.
The stunning revelation sparked an outcry in cyberspace with many netizens posting on the YPAP Facebook Network Forum questioning Mr Sear if there is a conflict of interest.
For some strange reasons, Mr Sear had kept clear of defending himself, leaving it instead to his fellow YPAP member Mr Edgar Kieu to speak on his behalf.
Mr Kieu admitted that there is a “conflict of interest” between Mr Sear’s job and his grassroots work, but he claimed “that there are meticulous checks involved with both internal and external audits and processes involved in the decision making.”
“Conflict of interests should be managed appropriately. There is no difference between the total avoidance of the conflict and appropriate management of this conflict of interest in the decision making outcome,” he wrote.
Mr Sear did not answer questions as to why his company which was formed only 6 months ago, was able to obtain so many clients in such a short period of time including several Eunos grassroots organizations. He also challenge netizens who questioned his integrity “to make a report to the relevant authorities anytime.”
With WP now in charge of Aljunied GRC, does it have the power to launch investigate the matter and give a proper account to Singaporeans?

Good thinking. Hope SPP begins with itself ... it will not view PAP (or any ruling party) as an enemy.

One of the buzzwords of the election was change. Undoubtedly, Singaporeans went to the polls during the last General Elections to vote for change — whether change within the PAP (as promised by then George Yeo and the PM during their campaigning) or change through the opposition. There is a sense in which those who voted for the opposition in the elections doubted the authenticity of the ruling party’s promise to deliver change — to them, any change will only be superficial in nature and will not represent a clear change in tide in the fundamental ways in which policies are not only formulated but carried out.

Ironically, one of the greatest proponents of change within the ruling party, George Yeo, got himself voted out in a fierce electoral battle with the Workers’ Party at Aljunied. Even upon his departure, George promised to aid the ruling party to transform itself from within and change set-in-stone ways of doing things. But many then doubted if George will still have a continuing role to play within the party given that he had lost at the elections, and if he did, how strong an influence he might be. Losing him means the loss of a moderate voice within the party; many feared that the promised changes will not happen after the elections.

With the changes in the parliament made yesterday by PM Lee, he is indeed sending a strong signal to Singaporeans that the effort to change the rulng party is real. He must have sensed the strong currents of discontentment against the ministeral figures responsible for issues such as housing and cost of living, issues that Singaporeans have placed at the top of their priorities currently. The appointment of DPM Teo to the Home Affairs ministry, as a ministerial heavyweight having previously helmed the education and defense portfolio, seems like a sensible move. But others do indeed seem like a gamble — both Lui Tuck Yew and Khaw Boon Wan have been the subjects of heavy criticisms online, rightly or wrongly. There also misappears a mis-step as Singaporeans now have to contend with a new title for one of their senior politicians; Goh Chok Tong is now known as ‘Emeritus Senior Professor’ whatever that means. The reaction to this has been largely risible: local popular blogger mrbrown now calls himself Emeritus Senior Blogfather of Singapore. Add to this to the confusion that results from the fact that Goh Chok Tong himself announced his resignation from the cabinet a few days earlier, and one really wonders if this is a shrewd political move.

Even if the changes are cosmetic in nature, the message that PM Lee is trying to send is that the ruling party is not the obstinate and unchanging entity that many of its critics deem it to be. And that can only be good for the image of party. Despite this, however, one feels that there is a lack of a fresh supply of talents in the political party – that something has gone wrong with the success transition. Heavyweight ministers such as DPM Teo now hold several portfolios, and the question now is whether one man can successfully juggle so many responsibilities at once.

It may not be too far-fetched an idea to propose that credible opposition individuals such as Chen Show Mao, who himself had a stellar career as an international lawyer and is widely respected in the field, be eleceted into the cabinet, even as a ’second minister’ in the Ministry of Law. Singapore surely holds her breath right now to see the extent of reform that will be enacted upon the appointment of these new ministers to the cabinet. Until then, PM Lee has definitely scored a point.

All of us should work together to achieve the best results for our nation.And we must remember,regardless of what we think we are,we are just that little red dot.Some people are so happy now(i mean not Sporeans).For so many years,some neighbour PM practised hate policy towards us,but we survived.Even joint exercises of 2 big guys on our national day in Kota tiggi in 1991 didnt scare us.Cos we are one determined nation.We dont care about crooked bridge,and luckily we discover New Water before some contracts expired.We survived because we are one nation.Always working for each other,Never fear if we ourselves are united.If we are divided,the wolves will come.Maybe,some of us may not know.Just implementing our law of not allowing long hair persons to enter Spore was enough reason for war.So do stay united,whether we are PAP or opposition.People are watching us.Thank you.

So important to hv people to check on them. Just look at Maris Stella ex-principal, in school he has all the power which teacher dare to check on him. That’s why he is being charged. If earlier there are teachers care & dare enough to check on him, this ex principle may not end up in court.
Same with govt, don’t wait till hole is too big. Big thankful got oppositions to check on them. This is to prevent future mistakes (honest or not). Small illness don’t see dr, big problem no cure already.

Benjamin Pwee is 1 of the more mature n reasonable sounding alternative candidates (as opposed to opposition candidates) to have emerged in GE 2011. At least there are attempts to explore alternative solutions vs merely lambasting govt policies. Keep it up, Pwee. See u in GE 2016 !

As for their 8 months bonus and their overblown political appointments budget Y2010 by 30%, I am still waiting for their explanation. Our unemployment rate is 2.4% which is considered high, in truly good times, the UNEPLOYMENT rate should not hit even 1%.

We truly need opposition parties to be united as one to act as a check and balance to look after Singapore.

In Australia, they call this the shadow party, in the shadow party, they have also so-called Ministers for various portfolios. They question the governing party and parliament debates are live telecast. It is professional and quite interesting to watch.

We should not view any party as opposition as the meaning itself is to oppose.

A better term for opposition party could be shadow party or coalition, since we do not have yet a good strong party to check and balance.

All parliaments should be live telecast for viewing for many reasons. Mainly to draw more professionals and qualified people to PAP and/or coalition parties. It serves as a training ground to show that coalition are not there for the sake of opposing but to truly voice the good for all Singaporeans.

Pray that you opposition parties unite together for PUBLIC SERVICE and not personal glory.

My suggestions are that since WP have worked their way in and have the confidence of voters, all opposition party should come under the umbrella if WORKERS PARTY.

All should be humble like Mr. Chen Shao Mao, to serve with heart and soul for the better future of Singapore for our children and future generations.

If opposition parties truly wants a better future, they should put aside their differences and be united as one. If one is not willing to sacrifice to be united, how can we have a good coalition party?

Talking is easy, let's see how you can vision a united coalition party for the good os Singapore and Singaporeans.

Without prejudice

we are gald PM Lee willing to change and listen to us... Credits to PM
Singaporeans are getting more mature towards politics and more willing to comment...
yesterday Gerald Giam Criticise PM Lee's action and many singaporean were unhappy with WP comment.. many online citizens had express their unhappiness towards Gerald Giam..
Pwee singaporeans do take note what you said and we hope you dun treat PAP as enemies too
and pls work for singaporean rather for your own party sake thank you!!!!

Hopefully oppositon dun Criticise just to Criticise but do think about singaporeans and not playing political game..

TO TAKE A LEAF FROM THE SINGAPORE PLEDGE ......

"AS ONE UNITED PEOPLE ....
PAP and the OPPOSITION have been elected to represent THE PEOPLE

AND WITHOUT A DOUBT MUST WORK 'AS ONE' FOR THE PEOPLE OF SINGAPORE....

Ben Pwee is so right to put emphasis on this before Parliament sits!

The MPs elected must behave in a matured and dignified manner.

ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLES INTEREST MUST BE ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT IN ANY POLICY
MAKING DECISION !!

Hi Mr Pwee,
Yes, the PAP should not view opposition parties as enemies.
Likewise, the opposition should not criticise government locally or internationally just for the sake of criticism or make irresponsible populist statements.
Ideally, the opposition should be able to comment constructively and offer alternative solutions.

In engaging and working on the ground, the leaders of the PRC did a better job . When Sichuan province was hit by Earthquake back in 2008, Premier Wen visited the quake site immediately and comforted the villagers that the Central government will do everything possible to save life , to assist and to re-construct.

Also Mr. Hu went round to see to the needs of the people.

If our Minister thinks that a handshake is their way to get voters to vote for them and to support them, I think they are being very naive.

In a democratic society, both incumbent and opposition can and must work together for the good of the nation. The task is to get good candidates who can supplement their experience and knowledge bank to the ruling Party.

BP, I suggust the word "Oppositions" should not be used to refer to those who are not members of the ruling party.
We should have the word "Alternatives" to replace it.
This is to show everyone that they are not elected by the citizens to oppose, but to give alternative views as a check against abusive policies put up by the ruling party parliamentarians

Precisely. B. Pwee has said it very well. Thats maybe 1 of the reasons why ppl are swinging towards oppo, bcos pap kept treating them like enemies, wanting to put them down, they (PAP) never have interest to work with oppo hand-in-hand to lead this country. Makes me feel like oppo are representing all citizens' views, if pap does not want to treat them with respect, neither would I want to treat pap with respect.

Mr Pwee,
I have watched and heard you in GE 2011. Well done !!
Congratulations for being appointed the Asst Sec-Gen of SPP.. Yes, the time is ripe to re-think a new era of the changed political landscape. I have posted comments to PAP and PM that the term "Opposition " parties versus PAP conjures adversarial and confrontation attitudes and mindset. PM as the Leader should project goodwill and grace in parliament.In a way he is the Leader of the House .Like all PAP MPs,the PM sets the tone, the rest will follow. The new DPM Thaman has already set the example during the political forum broadcast that he welcomed a strong opposition. He is a man with WISDOM.Therefore if PAP welcomes a strong opposition, then we can see a fair and keen competition alive and may the best talents and professionals win the debate of the day before passing of thought-throug bills for the people of Singapore.

The main concerns are the poor and sandwiched middle class....
This way the rich do not get riches like some of the Ministers and
The income gap is not widen to create employer-employee dissatisfaction and labor unrest

PAP has through the years used NTUC to build industrial harmony and reduce labor unrest...Same they should now go into their "retreat" to look at Singpore politics in the New Decade , A FIRST WORLD PARLIAMENT is a good Slogan and Mission for a start to change the political landscape.
After all the voices have told PM - He Listened,Acted and now remains to be seen The Execution and Outcome..

There are also other government and civil service machinery like The Election Office,a govt department, People Association,a statutory board, NTUC and others which require a RETHINK .The office and facilities should be considered for all to use NOT to just support PAP grassroots etc.. ( it is an unspoken rule - these organisations support PAP only)

The Rules of Engagement for political parties can be re-defined in the next 1-2 decades to have a 2 strong party system like in US Republicans and Democrates..... Sinagapore PAP and WP

I look forward to the 1st parliamentary sitting wher PAP and WP MPs exhibit professionalism and good exchange of words in debate deserving for people of Sinagpore to be
proud of them. Aithough your party is only represented by MP Lina Chiam...it is also a time for all opposition parties to close ranks,co-ordinate to raise issues on behalf of one another so that PAP MPs will inevitably show respect to opposition politics in Singapore.

Blessed

Hugs you Benjamin- Indeed I strongly agree that the presence of opposition is NOT an enemy to the ruling party but to provide an alternative voice before any policy implementation. So WP and PAP please work well together by forwarding constructive criticism and not mere argument for its own sake! We will all be watching your performances for the betterment of the sons and daughters of Singapore.

I totally agree! To make Singapore truly first world class, the parliament should have an equal amount of voices. Each party should listen to the voice of another party, like this the check and balance is there.

I fully agree with Benjamin Pwee that the government should have "a relook at Singapore's wealth distribution model, saying the government needs to move away from running the country like a corporate organisation and more toward a cooperative...". I can still remember how NTUC Co-Operative was formed in the early days with the main objective of keeping prices as low as possible and the co-operative was not profit centered as it is doing now. Utility charges are very high nowaday ..... can they be lowered by reducing their profit margin??

Ministers' pay should not benchmark with GDP. Instead, they should consider pegging it with medium income or GDP per capita. It can also have some weightage benchmarked with the average income of the lowest 25% of the household. This will give more incentive to the ministers to work hard for the average Singaporeans or for the bottom quarter of the population. If their pay remains benchmarking with GDP, they will only work hard for the MNC.

Dear Singaporeans Brothers and Sisters.

hello, many many many people dont really trust Nicole Seah lah. she very good in media relations as dun forget she is in advertising. people have brains, at least most. why u think she popular and much much more popular than HAZEL POA? becos nicole seah pretty mei mei while HAZEL POA look like a piglet. i dun think NISCOLE SEAH is as smart as Hazel Poa. and after all the crap NICOLE SEAH said during GE, We are now demanding she answer and be accountable for what she said. for NSP to remove contact number to NSP leads to more suspision that they are screening those who want to question them.

People are also now questioning how can a potential govt official perform, we demand NICOLE SEAH to show us her CV. tell us the true reason why she left her 1st job, what did her bosses both 1st jib and current job said abt her. very very very impt, her HEALTH, she was seen carrying babies, but did she not tell people in her 1st job she had some back problem or something? NICOLE SEAH must come clean and answer these questions. we singaporeans demand the right to know as NICOLE SEAH said she is here to SERVE us, so what give you the right to serve us? nicole seah, we regular singaporeans want to see your previous job performance. let us know as we demand it. u must be open and truthfull hor.

Nicole Seah, very very rare on planet earth did a RACE apologise to another RACE. you self appoint yourself to speak on the entire chinese singaporeans and apologise to our malay friends. who gave you that right? what did we do wrong? did we, chinese singaporeans did as bad or anywhere near as terrible as the Germans did against jews? thats the last time i heard a race apologise to another. did the japs apologise to the chinese for WW2? no! but you NICOLE SEAH DID!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!!

Nicole seah, you said in front of thousands that grassroot people in MP 'SCOLDED' that $80 woman. we demand you to say who those people yu accuse are. did you lodge an investigation and find out if its true? if not why? you accused of the PAP grassroots people of being 'without heart', SCOLDING people, we demand you to apologise if you did not find out as you cannot go around accusing people of things due to HEARSAY!!!and since you have so much heart abt refund of $80!! please EXPLAIN to us singaporeans how do you and how will you handle PUBLIC MONEY if you are elected!! we must know as you are looking after our millions and millions of funds. we do not want to to just give out money or just do refunds just like that, these MONIES are NOT FROM THE NICOLE SEAH FOUNDATION but PUBLIC MONIES!!! and since you accuse PAP grassroots people of SCOLDING residents, do you judge base on HEARSAY??? how do we regular singaporeans trust that you can do the job?? do not hide nicole seah!! come out and give us a proper explanation as you WANT to be a POLITICIAN, as you want to SERVE US SINGAPOREANS as you want to be in GOVERNMENT.

do not think just becos you are the opposition, you can
say what you want and not be ANSWERABLE and be ACCOUNTABLE to the PEOPLE OF SINGAPORE. do not think just becos NSP removed CONTACT TELEPHONE number that we cannot DEMAND and answer from you.

Singaporeans , PAP has shown made the first step to change and consultation. its now the opposition's turn, people like NICOLE SEAH cannot take us for a ride and think we are dumb stupid people who believe in tears. we want to see proof and how qualified you really are as you NICOLE SEAH choose to be a GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. by the way, are you NICOLE SEAH always LATE FOR WORK???

please let us know. you do not have a track record, the only record you have is your work record!!! if any co workers or people who had worked with NICOLE SEAH in the media industry, please tell us. Do help by spreading this!!

NICOLE SEAH. WE singaporeans await your answer. YAHOO, please investigate. bet you will get alot of juicy news.

It is hard to accept how callous, mean and bullying the government administration and its civil servants have become. How flippantly they make decisions that affect our very livelihood. And, how shabby we treat our own citizens. Grievous indeed. I fully connect with Nicole Seah when she wept. I too wept for this desperate mother.
Background of the family: This woman and her husband, both illiterates, eke out a living as itinerant stall-holders. They have 3 young children, including a mentally and physically-handicap child. The primary child-minder is the aged maternal grandmother who has undergone repeat heart surgeries.
Origin of their problem: It dated way back to Dec 2009 when the child failed to gain entry into West Grove Primary School which is located literary at the bottom of the block of flat where the family lives.
Hence, the child was alloted a place in a school much further away. As school transport is needed, it increased the financial burden. Additionally, it added to physical strain on the frail grandmother too.
The truth surfaced: The mother was initially very hopeful when the West Grove Primary School agreed to put the child on their waitlist. From time to time the mother would enquire on the status. She also enlisted the help of her MP and MOE. During this span of 18 months she came to know the vacancies were given to other children. Finally, the truth surfaced, the Principal of West Grove Primary told the mother point blank, “You don’t need to wait anymore……Even if I have a vacancy, I would not give it to your child.”
Recently, in desperation, she turned to PMO but was tossed back to MOE and the whole bureaucratic nightmare starts all over again. Guess what? MOE replied to the mother: no place now….please continue to wait…West Grove Primary will contact you directly when a vacancy arise…..and it will be on a ‘case-by-case basis’ (whatever that ambiguous phrase mean). Swift and prompt reponse. Flippant indeed. I am surprised that MOE did not take it upon themselves to investigate why there has been an 18 month wait, what happened to those vacancies and why was this child not considered. Shouldn’t MOE establish whether the Principal actually carry out her words to deny the child a place. It calls to question the transparency of the school administration and its governance. I bemoan how weak and lethargic civil service has become.
Ming-blogging: This is a very simple request. Yet it remained unanswered after 18 long months and despite all the expensive resources of the various government administration. Incredulous. It is time civil servants take recognition that gone are the days when problems just go away when they toss it around long enough.
Evidently, there is no will to assist this poor desperate mother.
PAP, you promise to listen. So, are you listening now?