Is the PAP calling for snap elections soon? It sure seems that way. The Elections Department has been a little more than active in the past few months, first training civil servants as election officials, then updating the register of voters and the latest news: announcing the redrawing of the constituencies today at 5 pm.
Of the three activities, the gazetting of the constituency boundaries is the most significant. This is because the PAP has the habit of announcing the new boundaries at the last minute - the time span ranging anywhere from a couple of months to just the day before it dissolves Parliament. This, of course, ensures that the opposition has as little time as possible to work the ground.
If the PAP does go for a super-duper early election, it will be an indication that it is unsure of how to handle the country's economic future and needs to quickly get the general elections out of the way before things slump deeper.
With the disastrous adventures of the GIC and Temasek that have blown a gaping hole in our reserves and the ill-advised foray into the murky world of tax secrecy jurisdictions where hundreds of billions of dollars could be made -- and lost -- in a matter of months, Singapore's future has never looked more uncertain.
But calling for early elections would signal one thing that should worry Singaporeans a lot. It shows a Government on an unsure footing and needing to resort to opportunistic holding of elections to continue its grip on power instead of one confidently going to the people to ask for a genuine mandate to tackle the country's problems head-on.
But, of course, the PAP has always been about power first and everything else second.
The pressure during an election might prove too much for Harry Lee. After all, no matter how much they try to manipulate the result, there is only so much an old man could take.
Thu 19 Feb 2009 1:01 PM
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Ted
pap is a bunch of cowards!!! Just as I thought, they do a bunch of calculation and then have them redrawn to their advantage. Despicable!!!
Thu 19 Feb 2009 1:56 PM
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Ben - Using fear to win election
The economic downturn brings a period of uncertainty for Singapore. Pushing the election forward, the PAP will be able to start using their previous track record to win elections again.
I believe it is a tactic because LKY knew that Singaporean are too fearful/kiasie to let some other pary take over the country in this recession time.
I can imagine LKY saying "look at our past track records, we a strong team of delicated minister to steer the economy right blah blah blah..."
Thu 19 Feb 2009 3:11 PM
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exSINgaPOORean - Tell me when?
In the ERECTION rally Singaporeans should make signs like:
In the erection rally, please announced and distribute flyers with the website addr and keep repeating the "truth" of
$300 billion lost in 8 months by Temasek and GIC i.e. $100,000 per Singaporeans and Singaporeans would not see this money again. Lost for good!!!
If LKY said it is not $300 billion then get him to qualify his figures with "audited" proof ... not just blindly believing him.
No more fear!
If PAP wins with a resounding victory then GST will be increased to 10% (even 15%) to "help the poor"...but majority of this increase is to pour back to the loses by daughter-in-law and father-in-law team.
Wake up Singapore.
Gain back you human dignity! Vote in at least 2 GRC!
Thu 19 Feb 2009 5:32 PM
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VP - Voters are smarter now
Voters are smarter now.
They will vote in many opposition MP
OR even perhaps take over the government.
The trend is in this way. Nothing can stop changes happening here in Singapore.
Thu 19 Feb 2009 8:52 PM
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Tan Tai Wei
"Power first, everything else second."
If those declassified documents in London indeed reveal the true motives of LKY at pushing us into merger with Malaysia, ie. to secure his power against the threat of Lim Chin Siong and his Barisan Socialis, rather than to save Singapore from the grip of communist insurgency, then that is the classic example of PAP's "power first, all else second".
And at what risk LKY was willing to sacifice Singapore's interest, just in order to sustain his power struggle!
He knew we were entering Malaysia at great risk of racist conflict that could have spelt our doom.
Eventually, it was the Tengku's magnanimity that allowed Singapore to separate from Malaysia. The powerful Malay extremists were about to arrest LKY and the PAP leadership, and LKY was seriously studying escaping with his government to Cambodia and be "government in exile".
The blood-shed back home would have spelt the doom of all of us. (There was no SAF, and the Malaysian armed forces and police were Malay.)
Thu 19 Feb 2009 9:04 PM
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Seelan Palay
I could only laugh finding out about this news, and thought to myself, "What's new? Kiasu tactics again."
I ask around at coffeeshops, at Pub, at beer gardens, and at gatherings why elections dept wants to redraw boundaries every GE
Though i do not have the real picture, this is what most of the people say.
Every Polling station is catered to a cluster of HDB flats or a certain cluster of homes. There are small people at various polling stations to record the percentage of Pro-PAP and Anti-PAP votes.
Let say last GE--Block A to block K are anti-PAP voters that caused PAP votes to drop at one GRC, these blocks will be chiseled away next GE to another GRC with stronger PAP votes.
Is this a myth or the truth ?
I hope Oppo parties unite and start asking the election dept why they need to redraw elections boundaries every GE?
I also hope Oppo parties probe further whether is it true that people are at the polling stations to record percentage of oppo votes and PAP votes becos i think perhaps, through only this exercise,can they redraw boundaries successfully.
i hope SDP finds out more about this redrawing exercise and who decides to redraw .
thank you SDP.
Fri 20 Feb 2009 1:09 AM
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leesjuanpat - The redrawing of boundaries
Here they go again. Every time a constituency has a high percentage of opposition vote, PAP will redraw the boundaries. The last election Aljunied GRC registered a high 44% of opposition vote. Two elections ago, it was under Eunos GRC with Francis Seow in the opposition and 48% of opposition votes. So they redrew to Aljunied GRC (still not bad with 44%)
And Francis Seow was sued (accused of tax evasion). He was forced to leave
Singapore. Many good oppositions were not spared. Steve Chia had his shared
of PAP conspiracy (with those nude photos). Tan Liang Hong also live in exile.
PAP always used underhand methods to
slander good opposition candidates into trouble and sued them into bankruptcy.
With this announcement of electoral boundary, it is always to their advantagement. PAP are the law. They do want they want. How can Singaporeans
still believe in them. Now, not only they are kiasu to lose, they will do anything to strategise their stronghold of power and try to break the oppositions.
So citizens of Singapore please wake up and vote in more oppositions at least 2GRC to have stronger voices in parliament to overcome the one voices
of PAP, which is absolute power to them. PAP take Singaporeans as stooges,
that can be manipulated by them. CAST the right vote to show them we are not.
LKY, a wise man's words - fame, fortune, power are transient. You will not last forever. Your croonies will tumble when the time is up. Nothing is permanent. A good reflect of self is sentient. Live and let's live.
Fri 20 Feb 2009 1:27 AM|
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Muhammad Shamin - I support Opposition!
I, Muhammad Shamin, citizen of Singapore who has never beieved in the myths painted by the PAP will vote for the Opposition in my consituency in the next general elections.
Salam Reformasi!
Fri 20 Feb 2009 3:41 AM
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Low Fuk Loong - Afraid to loose? Why not behave like Myanmar
Many people do not understand why PAP is so afraid to lose elections.
Is it the end for PAP if they lose one GRC?
Win or lose is a feedback to success !
Conversely, they have now built up a massive group of naturalised citizens who are grateful to PAP.
So why so scared ?
Like sports, do we really so hard up of gold medals. You see public schools have agressive PE tests and activities but then when it comes to regional and international competition, it is the foreigners at the spotlight. WTF !
Back to elections, if PAP really wishes to stay in power forever, why not call in the army, put back the uniforms and behave like Myanmar.
No elections, no headache and PAP can do what they like.
Cut the crap of redrawing boundaries, short notice to elections, risk of defamation suits, high deposits......
If elections are forgone conclusions, why bother to wave at crowds and put on a plastic smile and waste everybody time to exhibit to the world . Let the power come from the guns, nevermind the wrong side of the history.
Fri 20 Feb 2009 7:10 AM
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Seelan Palay
Govt gazette publishes boundaries of altered polling districts - http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=2289
Fri 20 Feb 2009 7:31 AM
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Ada Style - You Never Know!
Heard it from the grapevine that they'll be merging Bedok with Lim Chu Kang!! If they could incorporate Braddell with Marine Parade, anything is possible!!!
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
Singapore Democrats
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