Selected speeches on Day 2 - On Trees and Mushrooms; New policy options for the Singapore economy; Government constantly caught off-guard

PAP Lui Tuck Yew recites story of "Tall Trees and Wild Mushrooms"

Quotes: "Some mushrooms are pOIsonous!", "Protect the trees, avoid the mushrooms", "MAJULAH PAP!"


SDP Tan Jee Say demonstrates understanding of government finance, says Temasek and GIC losses remain unreported and could be more substantial

(On Dr Balakrishnan's claim that $60 billion is a lot of money and it took 10 years to accumulate that much)
Quote:
"You have not caught up with the speed in which your government has accumulated reserves. In the 3 years between 2006-2008, the general government finance have recorded surplus of $75 billion"


WP Png Eng Huat says we must hold PAP accountable for their policies

Quotes:
"When Mas Selamat escaped, the minister also escaped... from accountability",
"In 1990, Singaporeans formed 80% of the population. In 2010, we are only 64%. It was reported in the Straits Times that locally born population account for 57% of the population. If you give the PAP a mandate in this election, we will surely become a minority in our own population."

Friday 29 April - They have 5 years to regret and I have no doubts they will; Election rallies enter second day

Rally Roundup

- PAP: "Grow and Share Package is the best way to help the needy"; WP: "Co-driver's role is to slap the driver if he falls asleep or drives dangerously; NSP: "SM Goh ran Singapore like a corporation"; SDP: "Government has lost its moral compass" and balls to stand up against the 'father and son' (emphasis mine); RP: "Inheriting the legacy of JBJ" (Satay Club)

Manufacturing Consent:

- "Print media - Some things change, some things stay the same": With the advent of cellphone camera and rapid digital distribution channels like twittering and Facebook, it is difficult for the mainstream media to suppress pictures depicting favorable turnout at opposition rallies without hurting its credibility. However, placement of pictures, length of each article reserved for points raised in the opposition rallies as well as news coverage for parties still appear significantly favourable to the incumbents. While only 35% of young voters reply primarily on the mainstream media for news, the proportion for older voters is likely much higher. This situation allows the MSM to twist facts to suit their needs, hence it is important to watch out for biased reporting in the news and call for press freedom. (Yawning Bread)

- "Extensive Coverage given to PAP in the Straits Times": Lots of editorial space and pictures dedicated to the incumbent, the PAP compared to opposition candidates give a distorted view of sentiments on the ground. The mainstream media has also chosen to focus on "giving the PAP a mandate" for "leadership renewal" while ignoring key issues such as open-door immigration, rising cost of living and public housing property bubble.  (Singapore Election Watch)

Mudslinging:

- "The day Vivian lit a match": He is evil, says the author. By insinuating without saying explicitly, Vivian has casted seeds of doubt into the populace on that Vincent is both a gay and possibly a pedophile while the alleged video evidence surrounding the case is taken out of context and edited just enough to give only a shred of credibility to that conclusion. The entire episode is done to alienate Vincent from the conservative population, the Christians and possibly sensible Singaporeans who did not follow the episode closely, so that Vivian can secure a safe win at Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. (onesingaporean)

- "Vivian Balakrishnan" cast doubt on his own good character": Response from the online community has been uniformly negative about Dr Balakrishnan. (Mr Wang Says So)

Having the last say:

- "MM Lee steps into the Aljunied Battle": Aljunied voters will regret voting for the Workers' Party, says MM Lee. "They have five years to ruminate and regret what they did. And I have no doubts they will regret it," he added during a walkabout in Tampines. (Satay Club)

And that is all thanks to Ng Teck Siong of the SDA. One has to wonder if he is more than just incompetent?

Selected speeches on Day 1 - Teo Ser Luck dispels all my doubts about him

PAP Teo Ser Luck gives a rousing speech to supporters

Edited: I hear this clip was removed. Pity you can't see it for yourself. It was hilariously bad.
Edited 2: Oops, the post date has changed too. My apologies


WP Low Thia Kiang addresses supporters in Hougang

SDP Vincent Wijeysingha's first rally

NSP Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss at Mountbatten SMC

Singapore Political Party Broadcasts (Recorded on 28 April 2011)

The smallest and largest (incidentally the first and last to speak) political parties in the elections seem to be showering praises to the government's achievements over the last 50 years. Almost like describing Disneyland. Could they be in some way... coordinated?

(edited comment above) 

Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) candidate Harminda Pal Singh

Singapore People's Party (SPP) secretary general Chiam See Tong

Reform Party (RP) secretary general Kenneth Jeyaratnam

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Tan Jee Say

Workers' Party (WP) candidate Pritam Singh

National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidate Tony Tan

People's Action Party (PAP) secretary general Lee Hsien Loong

Thursday 28 April - Day 1 of Election Rally

Says a 1000 words:

- PAP rally at Ponggol-Pasir Ris (top) and WP rally at Hougang (bottom), courtesy of 3-in-1 kopitiam

Mudslinging:

- "Allegations are false and my conscience is clear": Steven Tan, one of 24 new PAP candidates standing for elections has dropped out of elections at the last minute. Rumours on internet forums point to harassment issues when he was working at NTUC, and letters against him by former female colleagues were reportedly sent to the Prime Minister's Office. Originally slated for Tampines GRC, the NTUC unionist told the Straits Times he "absolutely refutes" the rumour. PM Lee reiterates that it was a 'personal decision' by Tan which the PAP 'accepted', saying that the party and Mr Tan could have 'pretended there was no problem and carried on'. Baey Yam Keng replaces him in Tampines GRC while new candidate Dr Chia Shi Lu replaces Baey in Tanjong Pagar. With Tanjong Pagar GRC uncontested, media has also questioned how and why Dr Chia got a 'free pass' into Parliament. (Yahoo Singapore News)

Remaking Singapore:

-"What umbrellas show about alternative voices": A citizen pens a letter to Today's column noting that PAP supporters, many of whom are senior citizens, were standing in the sun waiting for their party candidates while WP supporters were seen sporting umbrellas with the Worker's Party logo. This appears symbolic, as it goes to show that no party has a monopoly of ideas, and good solutions may come from outside the box. (Today Online)

- "A General View on Opposition Prowess": The avoidance of 3-cornered contests with the PAP shows opposition parties resolve in unseating the incumbent MPs. Aljunied GRC will be a hotly contested one, with Low Thia Kiang, stepping out of Hougang SMC shows he is going for broke. GRCs under fire include Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Tampines GRC, Bishan-Toaa Payoh GRC and Moulmein-Kallang GRC. SMCs under danger include Joo Chiat SMC and Mountbatten SMC. The percentage of votes for PAP in Marine Parade is likely to be decreased with the media's comparisons between new candidate Tin Pei Ling and NSP's Nicole Seah. It would be a laughing stock if she causes the defeat of the PAP team in a freak election. (Singapore Recalcitrant)

- "Paul G BauchananL A door cracks open for little red dot" (The Scoop)

- "Singapore debates the PAP's future" (Asia Sentinel)

- "Voters to determine how Singapore's story unfolds" (The China Post)

(Apologies to readers: Post to be updated later today)

Wednesday 27 April - Ng Teck Siong fails to submit nomination papers for Tanjong Pagar; 82 out of 87 seats contested this GE

Tuesday 26 April - Mudslinging goes into third gear; PAP's unspoken track record

Bread and Butter - The CPF and Housing Conundrum:

- "A wrong sense of housing affordability: NSP's Goh": NSP secretary general Goh Meng Seng says zero downpayment on public housing does not imply that prices are affordable if mortgages need to be extended to 30 years. Cash would being depleted from CPF, making retirement expenses difficult. He adds that immigrants of the "migrant" nature is undesirable, proposing that public housing ownership should be viewed as a benefit to citizenship (rather than to facilitate residency in Singapore). He points to a number of municipal issues in Tampines, including aging population, lack of car park spaces and poor estate maintenance, and proposed a community hospital to be built in the constituency. (Today Online)

Manufacturing Consent:

- "Strange bedfellows" in SDP team (abridged article online at Straits Times), TOC's response includes a picture showing the original article with the same title on print copy is much longer than the article available online (The Online Citizen)

Mudslinging:

- "Dr Balakrishnan, please don't panic": SDP's Dr Vincent Wijeysingha responds to PAP's statement that the SDP team being "strange bedfellows" and his suggestion that Dr Ang and Tan Jee Say did not do sufficient due diligence before joining SDP. (Singapore Democratic Party website)

- PAP team for Holland-Bukit Timah undersigned a statement, pointing to the video that Dr Balakrishnan referred to in question. The statement accused Dr Wijeysingha of pursuing the gay agenda, pushing for legislation to lower the age of consent for sex with boys to 14. (Today Online)

- Former NMP Siew Kum Hong speaks out against PAP's attempt to raise the issue of sexual orientation of on one of SDP's candidate, in order to win the votes from a segment of population that will vote based on this issue. The Youtube video (link here) is edited, and Vincent Wijayasingha made no mention of campaigning to "lowing age of consent for sex with boys aged 14". SDP has posted their response to Dr Balakrishnan. While Holland-Bukit Timah constituency has a higher than average number of conservative Christians, the smear campaign will likely result in a backlash for the PAP, as did the last election. (Siew Kum Hong's blog)

- Alex Au commented extensively on the Dr Balakrishnan's accusations in previous posts. In this segment, he gave a blow-by-blow account of the accusations. He has also sleuth work detailing how the video was uploaded on Youtube 10 days before Dr Balakrishnan insinuated in the press regarding Dr Wijeysingha's sexual orientation. (Yawning Bread)

- "Singaporeans outraged by Vivian's dirty tricks", Another excellent account of Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's smear campaign to discredit SDP candidate Dr Vincent Wijeysingha (The Satay Club)

- "Holland-Bukit Timah GRC: Start your engines": Blinkymummy compares the profiles of candidates standing for elections at Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, weighs in on Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's performance as Minister for MCYS, including: 

1) $200m cost overruns on the YOG event, 

2) waste of taxpayers' money on the construction of $25m *SCAPE, 

3) delays on the construction of Sports Hub (first it was "rising construction costs", then it was the financial crisis)

4) his infamous comment to Dr Lily Neo in parliament about public assistance for the poor: "Do you want three meals at a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?" 

On the other hand, SDP faces an uphill task in demonstrating their legitimacy to voters with its activist roots in civil disobedience. Dr Balakrishnan's reference to the video is aimed at swinging votes from conservative population by attacking the candidate's sexual orientation. Voters now need to choose between a candidate with a 9-year track record of proven incompetence and one who is allegedly gay. (Blinkymummy)

- On a lighter note, a mysterious commenter from Vientiene defended Teo Ser Luck on her blog during the Youth Olympic Games. Teo Ser Luck is Senior Parliamentary Secretary and among the many advisors on the YOG panel. Read for yourself the nifty sleuth work and inductive reasoning made by the author and judge for yourself. (Blinkymummy)

Says a 1000 words:

- MM Lee heaped praises upon PAP's new candidates being "of proven character, of high calibre" among other things. He did not mention maturity, or their connections to the nexus of power. Ms Tin is married to the current Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. At age 27, she is the youngest candidate fielded by the PAP this election.

Having the last say:

- MM Lee has urged voters to look at the fundamentals. Do not mistake the past for the present, adds Mr Wang. He opines that Singapore under the PAP has done well in many areas in the past with Goh Keng Swee, Lim Kim San and Rajaratnam. However the PAP today is different from the past. 

In the last 5 years, we had: 

1) stagnant wage growth, 

2) deterioration of public transport, 

3) escalating healthcare, 

4) ballooning public housing, 

5) increasing income gap between the rich and the poor and 

6) increasing GST. 

The PAP government has ample chance but fails to deal with:

a) falling birth rate,

b) unequal opportunities for NSmen,

c) an escaped terrorist from high security prison,

d) failure to account for loss of investments in GIC and Temasek

Has the PAP government achieved anything good at all? (Mr Wang Says So)

Monday 25 April - Silence fools! HE will address the nation

Says a 1000 words:

- The Emp... err.. Elder Statesman strikes a stoic pose to the reporter. Here is the MM addressing an audience in Mandarin. (video at Straits Times)

Bread and Butter - CPF and the Housing Conundrum

- Former PAP supporter disappointed by Mah, saying that HDB has deviated from their mission of providing affordable housing for the masses. Taken as a proportion of income, HDB flats are 2 to 4 times more expensive today as compared to 1986. Price of resale flats should remain unchanged regardless of new flat prices if general demand for flats does not change. Mah's "illegal raid on reserves" statement is irrelevant, and if the goal is to provide affordable housing, a (steeper) subsidy may be necessary. (The Online Citizen)

Manufacturing consent

- "MM Lee says Singapore is not Disney World" (Channelnewsasia), "Make the right choice for your children, grandchildren" (Today Online), "Don't rock the foundation: MM" (Straits Times)

- "Voting is not a game" PM Lee": It is not about who wins the argument; it is about who can make things better for Singaporeans; It is about choosing the leaders you want, and then working with them to make a difference. (RazorTV),

- "Lim Boon Heng warns about consequences of freak election result" (Channelnewsasia), where quoted verbatim the interview with the PAP Chairman implied nothing of that sort. Quote:

"I am actually happy that most if not all the seats will be contested, because for too long we have had elections where half of Singapore don't actually need to think about who to vote for. At this time around I think it is good that Singapore citizens sit back, think about who they want to vote for and why they want to vote for that person. It is an important thing to do every now and then because the future of Singapore depends on it.

I think as a voter myself, my biggest priority would be who among the candidates being offered for me to choose will be able to give me and my family a better future. I hope this is the question that all Singaporeans will ask themselves."

Think well, fellow citizens. Globalization has transformed Singapore dramatically over the last few years. So has the incumbent's public policies.

Can you see your own future in this nation?

NSP's white-collar job idea won't work: Gan (Repost from ST print copy 23 April)

Laying low eh, Mr Minister Gan? 


I would like to remind Singapore voters that you are the Minister responsible for the large influx of white-collar foreign workers.


Lax immigration and PAP labour policy is a hot button issue in this election and yet this article is not available online. I have reposted this article together with the original print version. 

NSP's white-collar job idea won't work: Gan 

By Cai Haoxiang 

RAISING the salary threshold for Employment Pass (EP) applicants to $4,000 from $2,800 now will not protect white-collar workers from global competition they are already facing, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said yesterday. 

He was commenting on an argument by the National Solidarity Party (NSP) that such a move would protect the majority of local workers who earn less than $4,000. 
The opposition party's idea is part of a broader strategy in its manifesto to raise local wages by restricting the supply of foreigners. 

Asked for his view during a visit to residents in his Chua Chu Kang ward, Mr Gan said: 'It is important for us to recognise that many better-educated Singaporeans, especially at the higher-income level, are in jobs that don't face local competition, but competition with companies and enterprises around the world. 

'A better way to strengthen their resilience against global competition is to give them training, upgrade their skills so they are competitive not just against EP holders here, but also against millions and millions of highly qualified talent globally.' 
The Government already has a more comprehensive set of policy instruments in place, he added. 

These include a recently introduced skills training programme for white-collar workers, policies to encourage firms to introduce productivity-enhancing measures in the workplace and tightening requirements such as academic and skills qualifications for EP holders. 
The NSP manifesto, released on Thursday, targeted several hot-button issues, including the foreign worker policy. Other than raising salary thresholds, it suggested a foreign worker quota of 25 per cent for jobs that pay below $4,000, except in industries unpopular with Singaporeans. 

Mr Gan, who leads the People's Action Party (PAP) team in Chua Chu Kang GRC, which is being targeted by the NSP, said he hoped the NSP would explain how its plans and programmes will benefit residents at the national level as well as the local level. 
'I think our comprehensive approach will be more effective,' he said.

NSP CEC Spokesperson Hazel Poa responded within the day, quoted in full:

Response to “NSP’s white-collar job idea won’t work: Gan” in the Straits Times, 23 April 2011

(NSP Press Release, also available on Channelnewsasia 23 April)

I refer to the article “NSP’s white-collar job idea won’t work: Gan” in the Straits Times, 23 Apr 2011.

Responding to our proposal to increase the Employment Pass (EP) threshold salary to $4000 from the current $2800, Mr Gan said that “many better educated Singaporeans, especially at the higher-income level, are in jobs that don’t face local competition, but competition with companies and enterprises around the world.”  He seemed to be confused.  It is the companies that face competition with other companies around the world, not the jobs themselves.  Whether Singaporeans face local or global competition in employment is determined purely by our manpower policies on foreign employees.  I shall presume he meant the companies.

Our  proposal to increase the EP threshold affects jobs paying between $2800 to $4000.  It ensures that 75% of the jobs at these salary levels go to Singaporeans.  The Minister implied that by doing so, the competitiveness of the companies would be compromised.  Why would he think that?  Is he implying that Singaporeans are unable to do these jobs as well as foreigners?  If so, he should have a good chat with the Minister for Education.   If it is a matter of not enough Singaporeans wanting to fill those jobs, then we have provided for a higher quota upon application and assessment.   Foreign talents would not be affected since they would presumably be paid above $4000.

Mr Gan reiterated the stand of using training to enhance earnings.  We have had training for blue and white collar workers for many years but have not seen any improvements in our national wage levels.  If we are wrong about this, we would love to see statistics on the number of people trained under the various approved training programmes over the last 10 years, the amount of money spent, and how all their wages have progressed over the past 10 years, not just anecdotes of success cases.

It is our view that the incentives for productivity-enhancement would have limited success and the tightening of EP requirements does not go far enough.  We disagree that our current approach is “comprehensive”, nor is it “more effective”, as stated by Mr Gan.

The pain felt by many Singaporeans is real, and should be taken more seriously.  We cannot hide behind an unemployment rate of 2.2% and adamantly overlook underemployment.  With little social safety net in place, most Singaporeans would be forced to take up any job just to pay bills.  The so-called “full employment” situation could actually be the result of the cost pressures we are facing.  We need to look further into the situation and not be blinded by one single piece of statistics. Only then could we have a truly “comprehensive” approach. The NSP regrets that it is currently unable to do more than raise the issue due to a lack of publicly available data as well as a lack of resources to launch further, comprehensive studies to investigate the extent and severity of the underemployment situation.

Mr Gan, voters are reasonable people. You better have good reasons to justify your liberal labour policy.

Sunday 24 April - The Root of all Evil; APs ready to form government by next election if the people desires it

Says a 1000 words:

- SDP secretary general Chee Soon Juan speaking to voters in Hokkien

Manufacturing consent

- Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that GST will not increase for at least 5 years (ST Online), comment by "bob557" mulls over pressures arising from high oil prices translating to petrol, transportation and electricity price hikes

Bread and Butter - Cost of living, jobs, wages and immigration:

- Cost of living is likely to be the main issue this election. While the problem of mounting inflationary pressures is a global phenomenon, what made it worse for Singapore citizens was the government's liberal immigration policy which depressed wages and productivity. Companies are simply not properly incentivized to improve productivity or increase wages with limitless supply of labour. In other words, wages have not kept pace with costs, and it is largely the fault of the incumbent's liberal immigration policy. (Mr Wang Says So)

- Tan Kin Lian chips in on the minimum wage debate, arguing that the minimum wage suggestion is a well-meaning one that ensures wage earners can earn sufficient to meet daily needs, increase domestic expenditure and give workers the dignity of an honest day work in supporting themselves. Minimum wage is not without drawbacks, but the current rhetorics require further examination. 1) Minimum wage may increase cost of living, but part of the burden will be absorbed by downward pressure on rentals, company profits and govt levies, 2) It will improve the lot for foreign workers in low wage sectors, but such jobs can also be taken up by Singaporeans if the conditions are right. Mr Tan also conceded that while jobs in the service sector, such as cleaning and domestic services will remain in Singapore, low-cost manufacturing that rely on abundant cheap foreign labour will likely shift overseas as a result. Many other countries have debated and decided on implementing minimum wage, while SG has resisted because of the lure of greater benefits accruing to various direct and indirect stakeholders as mentioned in point 1. (TKL and Associates)

- Lim Hng Kiang adds to his discourse on Tan Jee Say's proposal, pointing out that high-tech and low-cost manufacturing sector" accounts for 0.5m jobs, half of which goes to "Singapore citizens and PRs". Furthermore, he believes it is unrealistic to expect the services sector to absorb the job losses of manufacturing sector if his idea is implemented. (Today Online)

Bread and Butter - The CPF and Housing Conundrum:

- Tan Kin Lian acknowledges that housing prices may fall as a result of implementing WP's suggestion of pegging new flats to median income, and that is the result of not arresting the situation earlier. He offers a suggestion for HDB/SLA to build and offer large supply of rental flats to families by pegging them to median income. His remarks also sheds light to the perverse incentives of agencies to maximize profits for their own bureaus [a revelation to some about the inner workings of the civil service] (TKL and Associates)

Potshots, Mudslinging and War of Personalities:

- Chaim See Tong to Ng Eng Hen: "If the people (voters) desire an alternative government, the Opposition will be ready to do so by the next election" (Lianhe Zaobao)

- Wong Kan Seng to Chiam See Tong: Chiam's track record of extracting accountability is lacking, as evident from DPM Wong giving his testimony on Mas Selamat's escape to parliament. Chiam had only posed one question. (ST Online)

- SM Goh takes on NSP's challenge on accountability for national issues such as housing and transportation and welcomes hearing the opposition's view on this. His team has also suggested municipal/constituency level programs such as a marketplace and community outreach program. His suggestion of implementing a "buddy system" of MPs implicitly acknowledges that not all candidates are made equally (some are more equal than others). Hazel Poa noted that it has reinforced the view that the GRC system allows weaker candidates to enter parliament together with a stronger one. (Channelnewsasia)

- A resident recounts her exchange with Lui Tuck Yew during the latter's Walkabout, and was shocked at his reaction to her question posed regarding his candidacy for office. Apparently his reaction was described as one of seething anger and non-response. An email exchange many hours later had also proved unsatisfactory; The resident has expressed disappointment at RAdm Lui, but was construed as/misunderstood to be an apology to the "Great Minister". (The account has likely become viral, also published in full at Mr Wang Says So)

Having the last say:

- Goh Choke Tong posed the rhetorical question to voters: "Which party can solve the (cost of living) problem?" To which Mr Wang said in his blog: "Which party caused the problem? Which party is the problem?"

Saturday 23 April - Is it prudent to link retirement savings to housing? Jobs and immigration debate warming up

Bread and Butter: - The Housing and CPF Conundrum

- Goh Meng Seng responds to Mah Bow Tan's comments on housing issues, argues that 1) public housing costs puts strain on saving sufficiently for retirement, adding that linking asset enhancement scheme to retirement savings is imprudent 2) Land Acquisition Act had been an act of raiding the wealth of citizens, and NSP party proposal merely aims to slow down accumulation of reserves, not to cause a deficit 3) market for new HDB flats will not crash as HDB has monopoly over its supply (Temasek Review)

- "Asset rich cash poor" - Asset enhancement is a flawed policy because on one hand it makes your flat more valuable and hence more expensive, on the other it drains cash from CPF savings which makes it difficult for citizens to afford retirement. (Mr Wang Says So)

Bread and Butter: - Jobs, wages and immigration

- Leong Sze Hian criticized Lee Hsien Loong's claim that foreign workers have helped create good jobs in Singapore, citing that the statistical group "Singaporeans" represents both Singapore citizens and PRs, The department of statistics is clearly able to break down the statistics representing citizens and PRs separately on several occasions, but yet the PM has chosen to use the amorphous statistical group "Singaporean" makes the initial claim largely suspect. Furthermore under current MOM policies, it is possible to hire 100% foreigners, a few examples like of S-pass, SG PRs, employment pass, interns from foreign universities. (The Online Citizen)

- Lim Swee Say opines that minimum wage will threaten jobs, reiterating PAP's stance that Workfare and upgrading is a better long term solution. He cites average security guard pay scale increasing from the "bottom 10%" to "above 20 percentile" of the workforce within the last 5 years. As a parting shot, he also stressed that if companies decide to move out of Singapore, the effects are irreversible and detrimental to local workers. (Today Online)

- Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang takes aim on SDP candidate Tan Jee Say's proposal, stating that the Integrated Resorts have spillover effects to other parts of the economy, adding that the negative social ills of the IRs are far-fetched (Straits Times)

Manufacturing consent

- Sembawang GRC gets S$500m upgrading plan to upgrade homes, parks and cycling tracks (Straits Times)

Mudslinging

- Ng Eng Hen to voters: Vote opposition and you may get weaker government. A weak government will not deliver better healthcare, transportation, housing and it is against voter interests. (ST Online)

Friday 22 April - Housing policy debated with one-liners and several hours' delay, more taunts from the trenches, war of personalities

Says a 1000 words:

- Chen Show Mao spotted on an MRT (iAltair via twitter)


Manufacturing consent

- Forum letter opposing two-party democracy heavily edited (published in Straits Times); original writer responded here, protesting against editing his original letter which suggested reforms towards representative democracy as an alternative (ST Forum); comparison of the letters, original vs published, can be found here (Wend Right)

Potshots and more Mudslinging:

- Lee Hsien Loong shocked at WP's candidate selection process (Straits Times)

- Ng Eng Hen challenges opposition to be bold enough to say they want to form new government (Straits Times)

- "Parliamentary deadlock" is PAP's bogeyman for 2011 elections; not 1, not 2, but 6 mutually exclusive scenarios to illustrate how parliamentary deadlock will unlikely emerge after this election (Yawning Bread)

- Pitting Tin Pei Ling (PAP) vs Nicole Seah (NSP), Tin seems lacklustre (Kent Ridge Common), but with Goh Chok Tong in her team, voters' choice is virtually predictable (Blinkymummy)

Bread and Butter - The Housing Conundrum

- Low Thia Kiang counters to Mah Bow Tan's assertion that WP proposals are dangerous and akin to raiding reserves; opines that lower prices for first time buyers are unlikely to affect the resale market because of the minimum holding period before resale; supports asset enhancement since it is beneficial to homeowners, but disapproves of channeling national reserves selectively to constituents during the election campaign (Today Online)

- Mah Bow Tan's reasons against WP proposals flawed because 1) many transactions in the resale market are second properties for renting out, hence only buyers who bought for commercial purposes would be affected, 2) lowering new flat prices benefits first time buyers and does not contradict with HDB's mission of providing quality affordable housing, 3) claim that WP is "raiding the reserves" is ludicrous (Singapore Recalcitrant)

- WP's idea is not brilliant or exciting, still it is a reasonable alternative given the aim is to keep new flats affordable to new homeowners; Mah's defensive posture on the issue is disappointing, shows insecurity; His defensiveness is understandable given that he has not done a good job in ensuring public housing remains affordable; "raiding" statement unjustified as reserves will still increase, albeit more slowly with WP's policy (Mr Wang Says So)

- PAP's policy of linking public housing to retirement is even more dangerous, as an ever increasing price for housing is unsustainable and is likely to end badly for homeowners (Diary of a Singaporean Mind); also mentioned - means testing, sharp foreigner influx straining existing infrastructure, selective upgrading plans for residents in some constituencies during elections are issues to be addressed


Bread and Butter - Jobs, wages and immigration
- Lee Hsien Loong defends immigration policy, citing S$3.4 billion wafer fab plant as an example of how foreign workers helped to create more jobs in Singapore; 3 in 5 employees are Singapore citizens or PRs, while 2 are foreigners, and foreigners made it possible for the plant to be located in Singapore (Today Online)

Having the last say:

- "Can Singaporeans afford to 'gamble' again by voting for the PAP?"
By taking your chance with the PAP by voting them in, and avalanche of events will unfold; 1) greater influx of immigrants leading to 2) strong economic growth shared disproportionately between businesses and wage earners, 3) intense competitive pressures on wage levels, cost of living, 4) Higher HDB housing prices puts greater strain on CPF and greater reliance on sustained HDB prices for retirement, 5) greater repression of civil liberties and criticisms on PAP policies (Temasek Review), (site is down as of now, google web cache retrieved here)

p.s. Some sites may be inaccessible during these few weeks, so make good use of google's cache function :)