Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Political changes in Singapore

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Political changes in Singapore

What are your views about the proposed political changes announced by Prime Minister Lee? Give your views here.

Here are the survey results (48 replies).

8 comments:

Rockeye said...: It will not sway my decision to vote for the opposition parties in the next GE if I'm given the chance to vote. FYI, I stay in Old Lee's Ward.

I'm NOT impressed with PAP approach to govern Singapore because it is always based on TRUST which IMHO is BLIND TRUST from the TOP to BOTTEM.; May 28, 2009 10:49 AM
C H Yak said...: The gesture to increase single seat constituencies and to downsize GRC is positive but meagre.

We should return to the good basics; just like the world's financial system after the meltdown, i.e. have more single seat constituencies.

The electorate must learn to be mature and free to elect any good candidate, even if he is from a minority race.

The USA has voted in a Black president as a nation, why not any single seat constituency here.

It is better to make it compulsory for political parties to field a minority candidate in a cluster of constituencies, but whether or not each candidate is picked as an elected representative should be left to the electorate and based on each candidate's own merits and motivation to represent the ordinary citizens, regardless of race, language and religion.

The willingness to represent the common people and be elected by them should rank above all in priority.

For management purpose, the single seat contituencies may be grouped later on after respective MPs are elected.

The GRC system was mooted based on an old mindset which now seems irrelevant to a more sophisticated electorate. The political sytem must evolved over time and not continued to be managed incrementally.

It should be made "compulsory" to field a minority candidate in a cluster of constituencies, but not "compulsory" enough to let minority candidates ride in on a free ticket with the help of popular Ministers or MPs anchored within the GRC.; May 28, 2009 1:13 PM
zhummmeng said...: Some of the candidates in GRC came in by the backdoor and not on their own merits.
If these candidates are worth their salt make them stand alone. Then we can truly say the MPs are truly representative of the people and by the people.; May 28, 2009 2:19 PM
Unknown said...: Let's stop kidding ourselves. It's not as if our opinions actually matter anyway.

I ... One nation
II ... One country
$ ... One Singapore

We are here to make money and babies for Singapore.

And please emigrate before you get old and sick and a burden to Singapore.; May 28, 2009 5:32 PM
C H Yak said...: The quality of decision making does not depend on whether it is single seat or GRC. This can be demonstrated by 2 recent incidents :-

(a) the investment losses from a single seat constituency (Bukit Panjang)

(b) the corroded metal railing incident involving a GRC (Tanjong Pagar GRC)

We should go back to the fundamentals - single seats. Representation of and election by the common people.; May 29, 2009 3:26 PM
Unknown said...: In USA, the citizens say "I'm running for (political) office"

In England, the citizens say "I'm standing for (political) office"

In Singapore, we say "I'm waiting to get nominated for office" ... our Nominated MPs.

Messiness, protests and strong disagreements are part and parcel of an active and participatory democracy. Passions run high because the citizens care very much about their country. The AWARE saga shows that most Singaporeans are not comfortable with the resulting messiness.

Let's not kid ourselves.

Leave it to the Western nations to be the real innovators and defenders of human rights, free speech and democracy.

As our Minister for Community Development (Mr Balakrishnan) puts it " ... focus on choosing someone who will ... look after your homes, ... keep it safe, keep it clean, keep its value up" Straits Times 29 May, page C2.

This is our lot in life here in Singapore. We are digits. Know your proper place. Accept it. And say thank you.; May 29, 2009 9:52 PM
David said...: Excluding communist countries and dictatorships where no election other than internal party elections is held, which democratic country which has elections has consistently 50% walkovers, 66% mandate and 98% seats at elections for the winning party?

If none, then another uniquely Singapore.; May 30, 2009 8:14 AM
Redstar said...: My personal observations are :

1. The latest changes are commendable and should move our nation in the right direction.
2. Most citizens have been cultivated since young to accept what is broadcast by the mainstream media, and to just shut up and not to question our decision-makers. They have lost independent minds, and cannot make sound decisions and judgments for their lives.
3. In my personal opinion, the GRC concept is (A) the only one of its kind in the world (B) it is illegal and not a just system (C) it should be abolished because I could get elected to be a lawmaker by the merits of others (D) if the PAP lose a GRC seat, it could be disastrous for our nation.; May 30, 2009 12:38 PM