Apr 26, 2011

Vivian Balakrishnan Casts Doubt on His Own Good Character

Oh, Vivian. SM Goh Chok Tong would be so disappointed in you.

Just a few days ago, Goh expressed his desire that the elections would be “a clean fight” with “no personal attacks”. Now here you go, with your cunningly crafted press statement on Opposition candidate Dr Vincent Wijeysingha.

"Cunning? But what was the cunning part?" you innocently ask.

Please Look at the Fundamentals Before You Vote

From Channel News Asia:

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has a simple message for voters in the heat, dust and clamour of the election campaign - he has urged them to look at the fundamentals.

In a statement issued just two days before Nomination Day, he reminded Singaporeans not to risk their assets, property values, and job opportunities.

He said the People's Action Party is fielding 24 new candidates of proven character, of high calibre, and with a track record of performance that showed they will not fail in taking on responsibilities.

This, after the Party combed the whole of Singapore to select those with the highest integrity and ability to chart the way forward for the country.
I also urge Singaporeans to vote wisely.

Not only that, I will provide a few concrete & useful tips about how to vote wisely.

Apr 24, 2011

Lui Tuck Yew Shocks a Citizen During His Walkabout

I saw this on my Facebook. The story seems to be getting a lot of attention in cyberspace. It's all about a Moulmein resident's unpleasant encounter with PAP candidate Lui Tuck Yew.

Dear Friends

I am forwarding you an email I sent to the incumbent MP for Moulmein, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, and his subsequent reply. (They are reversed in order below). I have only deleted my name/addresses and Mr Lui's address for the sake of privacy in the event that you may wish to forward this to your own friends. I trust you will not use this email to "flame" (hope I used the term correctly), but instead to educate and perhaps generate informed discussion.

Apr 23, 2011

Singapore's Top Election Issue

This simple, heartfelt letter to the ST Forum reflects the nation's top election issue:
Apr 23, 2011
A senior citizen's musings...

SENIOR Minister Goh Chok Tong acknowledged that the prevailing high cost of living in Singapore would be a likely issue in the coming general election ("Rising costs a likely issue: SM"; Tuesday).

He asked the people to decide who they thought would have a better solution to such problems.

I appreciate his forthrightness and am thankful for his timely reminder on this matter. But his comments have evoked mixed feelings for me.

Every time we are assured that things are still affordable, we find prices rising higher. Now we are cautioned to choose the right team to provide the solution.

The ruling party has had ample opportunity to resolve these issues, but the problems still plague us. I may now be an economically unproductive senior citizen, but I still love my country.

Fu Jiat Joon
I'll add some perspective.

Mah Bow Tan is "Proud" of the Asset Enhancement Policy

While busily arguing with the Workers Party, Mah slipped up and uttered a blooper. He said that he was "proud" of Singapore's asset enhancement policy.

People who understand this topic will remember Mah's statement, long after the 2011 elections are over. For this statement is a very naive and foolish one.

Apr 22, 2011

Mah Bow Tan is so Disappointing

The Workers Party had a few ideas about how to make public housing cheaper for Singaporeans. The main idea was to peg the prices of new HDB plans to the median incomes of Singaporeans applying for them.

I did not find this idea impressive. By that, I mean that the idea did not make me go "Wow, brilliant!". I did feel that the idea was generally okay - it was reasonable; sensible; not terribly exciting; and some gaps needed to be filled in. But overall, the idea was at least worth further consideration.

What appalled me was the PAP's reaction to the idea. More specifically, Mah Bow Tan's reaction. It was an utterly misguided, defensive and insecure reaction. The worst part was when Mah accused the WP of trying to "raid" the nation's reserves, as the government would have to sell land at lower prices.

Apr 1, 2011

Tin Pei Ling and the Real Reason Why Singaporeans Are Annoyed

So I understand that the PAP is fielding one of its youngest candidates ever - a certain Tin Pei Ling, aged 27 - and that many Singaporean citizens are annoyed. There is a flurry of angry posts and comments on the Internet about how Pei Ling is surely too young, too immature or too inexperienced to be a Member of Parliament.