From: Wakalukong
Subject: Stinging rebuke
PAP's loss of Aljunied (as well as Hougang by an increased margin) and
the near loss (retaining by only 50-odd percent) of a number of others
(including Marine Parade) is a stinging rebuke to the party.
A number of people are sad for George Yeo; they prefer some other
characters, such as WKS, to fall. But it's something that must be
done. If you feel sorry for George Yeo, blame LKY's GRC strategy,
which is his way of depriving the peasants of a voice Now the GRC
strategy is in a shamble.
It will be very difficult for the PAP to regain Aljunied because they
can't afford to risk a minister to challenge the WP in the next
election. At most they can put up George Yeo again, together with
some ministers who are due for retirement and can be sacrificed (eg.
GCT & WKS). But George Yeo & other retiring ministers may not want to
look like fools, so the PAP will have a huge problem trying to regain
Aljumied. Serves them right.
The NCMP (best 3 losers) could be WP's Yee Jenn Jong & Eric Tan and
SPP's Lina Chiam. Unfortunately, Nicole Seah is 4th best loser.
The day has come for LKY to repent. It' the beginning of the end for
him and he's too old and feeble to do anything about it.
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TIME TO STOP THE GRC - Tampering with the democratic process by PAP
This is the result of Singapore's controversial group representation constituency (GRC) system: the loss of a strong, highly visible foreign minister and of a veteran opposition leader, and the addition of a foot-stomping 27-year-old rookie.
In one fell swoop, three office holders of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) -- Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua and Senior Minister of State Zainul Abidin Rasheed are out. Was that the intent of Aljunied voters?
On the other side of the fence, veteran opposition leader Chiam See Tong lost his seat -- a voice that now needs to be filled in Parliament. Blogger @mrbrown wrote on Twitter, "Chiam See Tong, you fought the good fight. No one can say you didn't. I salute you."Again, was the removal of a respected political leader the real intent of voters?
In sad irony, one of the real winners in all this is Tin Pei Ling. At 27, she is the youngest in the PAP's lineup this election. Compare that with Chiam See Tong, who has been in service to the nation for the same 27 years. Talk about a freak election.
The GRC screwed up Singapore and screwed up PAP themselves. The GRC is now proven to be a double-edged sword that can cut both ways, and in this GE, the PAP had come off worst.
This is the stark reality of our political system -- an all-or-nothing bet that, at best, raises a new generation of leaders. At its worst, it compromises the very thing that we all seek as citizens: a responsive, credible and respectable government.
Politicians are not born -- they are groomed. But the use of the GRC ticket as a fast-track path to politics is irresponsible and dangerous for nationhood. What we've done on election day was to swap experience with youth. But at what price? Is that the intent of voters?
Experiments with the GRC system must end. It's time to abolish the GRC before we further undermine our democracy.
-Alan Soon
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