Selected speeches on Day 3 - "I am not a brave man. But I love Singapore, and I love Singaporeans," says Chiam; "Lose weight or else get off my boat" says Gan

SPP Chiam See Tong's homecoming at Potong Pasir

Quote:
"The reason why I go to Bishan-Toa Payoh is to promote democracy in Singapore. You cannot have democracy in Singapore with just 2 opposition members in parliament."

"Do you know Mr Lee Kuan Yew said in one election rally one day? 'Who is this man Chiam See Tong?' He took the trouble to go through my O Level results. I am not ashamed of my O Level results. I have 5 O Levels, but I later became a lawyer."

NSP Steve Chia shows the incumbents the unhappiness of the masses, chides PAP for losing its focus 

Quote:
(Hands up on cost of living, escalating housing prices and widening income gap) "This is what we want the media to show. Do you want the media to put it (the video clip) up? Mediacorp, mainstream media will you put it up?"
Steve Chia is former NCMP for NSP. More at Steve4Pioneer channel on Youtube.

PAP Tin Pei Ling wants to install energy saving lightbulbs in Marine Parade

Pei Ling's public speaking style is still far from one of a seasoned politician. Her speech in the first 5 mins reminds me of my own story recital in Primary School. The "energy-saving lightbulb" idea sounds like something taken out of a Pre-U Seminar session. Sorry to say that her political credibility has been completely tarnished.

PAP Gan Kim Yong addresses constituents, defends his Ministry by highlighting Jobs Credit and Workfare programs

Quote:

"It is like a race. One way is to get rid of all those that can run faster than us, so that we are the only ones running. Another way is set rules to disallow others from running faster than us, so that we can win. This are ways to win, but the win is not real. In the global marketplace, we cannot prevent others from running, nor can we set rules to prevent others from running."

The turd Gan Kim Yong's statement actually makes sense, but that is just bad analogy. I prefer another analogy, that the economy is more like a dragon boat race. In our economy, lighter rowers are replacing less stronger workers on the boat. Remember, lighter does not mean better, some are complete duds. The stronger rowers in the original team may have to row harder if many of these new lighter rowers are duds. You can only hope the that lighter rowers become stronger over time.

Even if this is feasible, what do you do with displaced rowers? Your policies have not shown to be particularly effective at integrating displaced workers back into the economy. In fact, it appears to be aggravating structural unemployment in Singapore. 

Here is an abstract thinker, possibly even competent. The minister is convinced of the benefits of competition at the workplace and the righteousness of his policies. He has conveniently failed to notice and deal with the problems and other structural issues that unbridled competition will bring about. 

Mr Gan, don't be daft. Instead of training average rowers to row better in the global economic race, you decide its better to throw them off the boat and let them swim back to shore. I don't mind if you send the FTs packing, but the fact that significant number of Singaporeans are affected should tell you your policies, at best, are subject to poor implementation and misaligned civil service incentives. 

Would more GDP bonuses for your ministry help make it better, Mr Minister sir?