My 1st rally this year

I attended my 1st rally of the year in serangoon stadium last night. It feels like a festival. WP flags, books, newsletters are being peddled around for a fee, people are sitting in and outside the stadium with the whole family, everyone seemed excited. But excited about what??

I paid $2 for a party flag, treating it as a small donation to the party's causes, and went into the stadium. Overwhelming crowd, sea of people everywhere. From the entrance, I couldn't see where the stage is, let alone identify who is speaking and on what issues. Finally managed to squeeze my way in eventually to have a better listen. In all honestly, the whole experience was a bit underwhelming, I had looked forwarded to and expected a better speech with more substance especially from CSM, but what disappointed me more was actually the crowd.

As impressive as the large numbers in the crowd may seem, a majority of them didn't seemed to be there to listen to the candidates speaking, to learn about what the party is doing or trying to do for them. I saw many simply having a picnic in the middle of the field, taking pictures, busy tweeting/facebooking then really listening to what is being said. To many, it's simply nothing more than a novelty, a form of 'entertainment'. Is it a new fad, especially for the younger crowd, to be seen as anti-establishment, a rebel? To be seen at an opposition rally? To take photos and 'check-in' on facebook just because its cool to be seen there?

Personally, that is not my ward. But I was there because I wanted to see how WP had evolved. The party is contesting in my ward, albeit with a different team. Not the 'A-team', but I wanted to get more of a feel on the party, and how they would make things better for us. I remember visiting quite alot of election rallies the last time round and the crowd was visibly different. There is a sense that people were taking things more seriously. This time round, people seemed to be taking it as entertainment, and the speakers seemed to be playing to the crowd as well, making generalistic popular statements that evoke emotions but doesn't really say too much.

I had hoped this election will be different.

I had hoped that it will be a next step towards a better future for us.

But I am not feeling so optimistic.

Lets pray it doesn't end 87 - 0

Respect

Really salute Mr Low Thia Khiang for his decision to move out of his comfort zone in Hougang and contest a GRC in Aljunied. Put me in the same position and I may not have the guts and resolve to do what he did. He could pretty much stay put and keep on doing the same job which he had been doing very well, and drawing a high 'allowance' at the same time. He could treat it as his own little retirement village, a little bit like a small village chief in the old days, where he will live a comfortable life, and commands respect from the people in Hougang.

I used to live in Hougang a long long time again. Long before I knew anything about politics. To me, Hougang was never any different from the nearby AMK (which I moved to next), nice housing, amenities, places of worship etc. Only real 'difference' or question to me at that time was why there are no MRT there. I did not feel that it had been in anyway 'shortchanged' or disadvantaged. There is no reason for me to feel that way.

Only much later in life, just like in the matrix movie, after taking the red pill, did I realise how many things work in our uniquely Singapore context. Learnt new terms, such as 'pork barrel politics', 'gerrymandering', 'character assassination' and 'fear-mongering'.

I often see Mr Low when I visit Hougang. I even see him around my estate once or twice over the last couple of years even though he isn't contesting here. Rumor has it that he attends every single funeral wake or wedding banquets held in Hougang. Not sure how much truth there is to it, but if true, speaks volume for his character. To voters living in PAP wards, I pose this question, "when was the last time you ever saw your MP if they didn't need something (ie your votes) from you?" For me, its easier to strike 4d than to meet my MP.

By choosing this route, he is basically forcing voters that are still sitting on the fence to make a decision. To break status quo. To bring WP and opposition in Singapore to the next level. I sincerely hope he succeed. Its not going to be easy, especially against George Yeo who seemed to be genuinely well-liked by many and to give credit where its due, had been doing a pretty decent job as a foreign minister. The other members in his team are certainly no TPLs and can be counted on to stand on their own feet, but the WP team seems intent to match them all the way by fielding an very impressive lineup as well.

For this election, I finally decided to start doing something. I've volunteered my services as a polling/counting agent with WP.

A small step forward, may it lead to a big leap next.

Empty vessels make the most noise

Was doing some bedtime reading before heading to bed when i saw the following article on CNA

It is healthy that there's political contest in S'pore: Ng Eng Hen

By Lynda Hong | Posted: 11 April 2010 1940 hrs

It is healthy that there's political contest in S'pore: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE : Education Minister Ng Eng Hen on Sunday said it is healthy that there is political contest in Singapore.

He was responding to reporters who asked him about the recent activity by opposition parties in various constituencies.

Dr Ng joined 300 residents in Toa Payoh for some Sunday morning exercise.

Elaborating on his point that political contest is healthy, Dr Ng said he would encourage would-be candidates and opposition parties to meet residents so that residents could ask them questions about what they stood for.

He said: "I think it is healthier for Singapore, rather than just appearing before the elections and then not continuing. I have noticed that opposition parties are doing this more regularly, and I think all-in-all, it is good for politics in Singapore."

Dr Ng said PAP MPs assume that there would be a contest each time, and so the MPs have been working the ground to improve the lives of residents.

This point was also emphasised by Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong at a separate community event.

Mr Gan also told reporters that there has not been a shortage of ideas within the ruling party.

He was asked to respond to Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam's comments in a TODAY interview that a one-party system will lead to a society closed to new ideas.

Mr Gan said that PAP MPs have been proactive in implementing their ideas.

He said: "During the last recession, you also see that we have rolled out many initiatives, including the Jobs Credit, SPUR and so on.

"They were very effective in helping our companies and workers cope with the recession and allowing our economy to recover very strongly, very quickly since the second half of last year."

Mr Gan added that the PAP MPs have also been focused on serving the residents and improving their estates. - CNA/ms

Not wanting to elaborate too much on the highlighted text, but based on my own personal very unscientific, biased and non-proven experience, I would like to re-account on the following,

I have lived in my current estate since year 2001. I have NEVER seen any walkabout by ANY political parties until 2006. Given that my estate was previously a walkover GRC, only to be remove and gazetted into another zone for the 2006 elections, it wasn't all that surprising. That was the first time I started seeing any parties appearing in or near my estate. So BOTH parties i would say are guilty of what Mr Ng mentioned, "just appearing before the elections". It was during this period though, that attending rallies etc that i know more or what each candidate, not just their party stood for, before I cast my first ever vote in 2006.

Fast-forward to today, 2010. My estate is a PAP ward. Over the last few years, I have seen the Workers Party people around my area, but they didn't come door to door I assume, cause I never did get to speak to them, but I recognised them through their party uniform. I also saw Mr Low twice, and said hi to him because I know and recognised who he is. On the other hand, I have yet to ever see any PAP people around my area, maybe they weren't wearing the party uniform, or they were not doing any group event, I honestly do not know. I have NEVER seen my MP, who is a full minister, and probably very busy with his work to come down from his ivory tower to talk to us lesser mortal.

Or maybe its just me who never had the good fortune of running into them when I'm in around the estate, and/or that I'm never home when they visited my place over the last couple of years. Just for the record, I think I have struck 4d about twice over the last couple of years, yet I have not met my MP before. So my personal conclusion is that, its easier to strike 4d than meeting your my MP?