I’d like to introduce you to the new kid on the blog(osphere) – http://publichouse.sg, or PH for short.

We went online on 1 September 2011, so we’re relatively new. However, viewership has been really encouraging so far.

PH hopes to be a hive of activities, with topics ranging from social issues to environmental ones, from politics to the arts – a reflection of the vibrant community that is Singapore. PH is not affiliated to any political organisation, the government or any other entity. It is an independent site run by volunteers, ordinary Singaporeans with a passion to do what they do best – tell stories of Singapore which you may not otherwise read or hear about.

We hope you will visit with us, and give us your feedback on the website so that we can improve.

See you at http://publichouse.sg !

We also have a Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/publichousesg

Thank you.

Regards,
Andrew Loh

PAP members and supporters address each other as comrades. Just go take a look at the Young PAP Facebook page. It’s a visit which will bring you back in time – to a period where communists were called “reds”, and when a little book of that colour was all the rage in China. Failure to adhere to its teachings would buy you a little visit from the devotees of one fella named Mao. And these Mao adherents weren’t gonna pray over you with gentleness. They would lay hands on you, no doubt, but not the way you might imagine.

But it is 21st Century now and we’re in Singapore. Even so, it seems wanton mindless adoration is not reserved just for Mao or – some say – his wannabes, the pure white demi-gods of the PAP. The newly-ordained Members of Parliament of the Workers’ Party too seem to attract the same devotion reserved more for followers of religious faiths.

Chen Show Mao, the very well-credentialled worldly-wise gentlemen from the WP seems able to do no wrong. Even the simplest of things that he does makes his supporters’ go weak in the knees, (some have been said to foam at the mouth too) and bend at his every word like lallang in the wind or at every sighting of the man, even if it’s just a picture on Facebook. (Some don’t even need to see his face – just a sighting of his hair alone makes one dizzy, it is said.)

Well, today – Saturday – the PM and the ministers were sworn in at the Istana. And so all MPs were in attendance, including our friends in light blue.

A picture of the WP MPs at the Istana was posted online and… goodness gracious… WP supporters seem to have left their senses and embraced Lady Gaga (and I don’t mean the singer). The reaction from WP supporters make the hairs behind your neck stand in bewilderment and you almost want to tie yourself to the stake and light the match yourself in a merciful act of self-immolation to get away from the mass hysteria of WP-worship.

Have a look here:

And the WP MPs haven’t even utter a single word in Parliament yet! Already, the hero-worship is in overdrive – and embarassing – mode. Here’s more:

From the comments, you’d think some super-intelligent, super-powerful alien life forms have descended upon us lowly homosapiens to save and deliver our pathetic souls from the evil hands of some oppressive megalomaniac murderous rulers. (Well, some actually do think this is so.)

And we express our gratitude for their selflessness with shameless (and shameful) unrestrained euphoria like the kind last felt at Hougang stadium on 8 May which, incidentally, was warranted especially when WP’s Aljunied win is an historic one. But I’d thought that the soaring emotions of that night had died down somewhat. Hmm..

I think lets pause and take a step back. Any kind of blind loyalty and extreme worship is bad. Whether it’s the PAP or the WP or any other opposition party on the altar of hope. But even as I cringe at the wanton and blatant expression of unbridled love (both from the PAP supporters as well as the WP ones), I find it amusing as well. How easily we bow down to the human gods we fashion after our imagination, and lay all our hopes on them, not realising that these human gods are well, human and are imperfect.

I am sure the WP MPs are a little – at least – embarassed at the unrestrained outpouring of LOVE.

Yet, on the one hand there’s this extreme hatred for the PAP (from some WP supporters) and this compulsive love for the WP. It is quite scary.

For me, I think it’s best to wait and treat the WP MPs as we would any other party’s MPs – servants, not masters, or rock stars, or demi-gods, who are there because of our votes and who are there to serve us.

Certainly, we didn’t put them there so we can all bend over, or bow down, or fall over ourselves in worship over their every move, word, action or picture or video!

So, get a grip, WP supporters! You’re becoming an embarassment!

The secretary general of the party, no less, apologised twice. This was then followed by several ministers doing the same. Its leader of the Aljunied team, George Yeo, made the most telling admission – that it was Lee Kuan Yew’s remarks about how Aljunied voters would have “five years to repent” which threatened to lose the GRC to the opposition Workers’ Party.

George Yeo also said the PAP needs to “reform” and “change”.

The so-called apology is nothing more than a desperate move by the PAP to win sympathy votes. It shows that it knew not other ways to win fair and square. Indeed, given the way it campaigned in past elections – with carrots and threats, lawsuits and defamation suits, even arresting opposition members, control of the media and so on – the PAP felt helpless in an election where New Media came to the fore, along with a more daring and educated electorate.

Hence, the apology and display of remorse.

But make no mistake.

Lee Hsien Loong apologised for “mistakes”. He named four instances. This alone should worry voters – not because you might suspect the apology is not genuine, but because all these years the PAP had stoutly defended these policies. And in that process, they have hurt many Singaporeans.

The PAP remained oblivious – even when these were brought to its attention.

Further, Lee Hsien Loong did not disclose how he was going to rectify these “mistakes”. He only asked for more time – while he and his ministers continue to reap millions of dollars in salaries and generous, out of this world bonuses of 8 months. Lee himself is expected to pocket more than S$25 million in the next 5 years.

We do not see him – or any of the ministers – saying they will give these back, or donate them.

We do not see Lee telling us what he intends to do in order to “do better” and correct the mistakes.

There is not even a hint of which policies he will change.

Which is why, even if you accept the apology and display of remorse, you should know that only if you vote more opposition members into Parliament will you see Lee and his ministers do what they say they will do – correct the mistakes and listen to the people.

In just a matter of days, we have seen the effectiveness of the opposition – even before they are in Parliament. Do you need any more proof that what the PAP has been saying about them is borne out of selfish interest and hogwash?

I agree with the Workers’ Party that Singapore needs – very badly indeed – a First World Parliament. A Parliament where policies are checked and double-checked, where the PAP cannot hide behind its curtain of hubris, shield itself through propaganda by the media, and continue to clamp down on those who threaten its hold on power.

We need change.

And the time is now.

Just imagine, as I said before: You wake up on 8 May and find that duds like Tin Pei Ling, Janil Puthucheary, Chan Chun Sing and Foo Mee Har – and all the faceless clones in their new white uniform – have sailed into Parliament, continuing to perpetuate the same old ways of thinking, the same old manner of policy-making, raising their hands in support without question in Parliament; while the likes of Low Thia Khaing, Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Chiam See Tong, Benjamin Pwee, Nicole Seah, Tony Tan, Hazel Poa, Jennette Aruldoss, etc are all defeated.

We need change.

And the time is now.

And if the PAP is serious about wanting to change, there is no better way to begin than to ask Lee Kuan yew to step aside and finally retire.

In the past years, he has abused not only Singaporeans in general, calling them derogatory terms, but also particular communities such as the Malays. And his latest remarks about Aljunied residents are not and won’t be the last.

This is unacceptable – even if he is seen as the founding father. For no one is bigger than Singapore, and no minister has the right to condescend its own people. Never.

The hubris and arrogance is stunning – and LKY exemplifies the PAP and PAP members will emulate him as indeed they have.

So, lets get one thing straight.

An apology is meaningless unless backed up by action.

But lets not kid ourselves – as long as the PAP retains absolute power, there is no reason for it to change. The PAP has become so entwined with big business, the elites, the scholars, the rich, that it is almost impossible for it to change all by itself.

Only if there are others outside of the PAP prodding it, checking it, questioning it, will the PAP as a government change.

And this can only happen if more opposition members are elected by you.

The opposition has done its best – and should be commended for being able to present us the voters with real choices – credible, intelligent, experienced and most importantly, passionate candidates who have nothing to gain but more to lose.

So, do your part.

Do you want flats to not be out of your reach?

Do you want your neighbourhood not to be inhabited by foreigners?

Do you want to be able to spend more time with your families and loved ones?

Do you want to be able to see your CPF money?

Do you want your job to pay you better and be able to keep your job and not let it go to a foreigner at the whim and fancy of your employer?

Do you want your children to be able to get into local universities and not have to compete unfairly with foreign students who are given a leg up by our govt?

Think about these and you will realise that the only and most effectively way to ensure all these is to have alternative parties’ MPs in Parliament.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the PAP will address all these without anyone making them do so.

This election – the apology, the contrition, the admissions – all came about because there was another voice shouting at them!

Bring this voice into Parliament!

And when you do so, you would have done your part in turning Singapore away from the dangerous cliff which the PAP had been taking us towards, while sleeping at the wheel.

We cannot give the PAP all the power.

It is dangerous – as can be seen by their admissions.

The PAP now talks of building nuclear plants in our tiny island.

Think about it.

Your vote will ensure that these sort of things – like casinos – will not take place.

Only you can insure your future from danger.

Only you can ensure that the PAP’s apology is meaningful and hold them to it.

And you can only – only – do this through your vote for the opposition.

That’s what I will be doing.

For Singapore’s sake.

It is not time for PAP to change.

It is time for Singapore to move ahead and away from fear.

Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-religious society. That much we’ve always been told. And that much is true. We have also been advised to speak with care and to show respect towards our fellow Singaporeans who may not be of the same race, religion or persuasions as ourselves.

And so it was with shock when I read the statement issued by the PAP’s Holland-Bukit Timah GRC team on the matter of a video which was shot in November 2010 of a public forum on the issue of 377A.

The leader of the team, a Cabinet minister, no less, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the previous day had accused the team members of the Singapore Democratic Party of being “strange bedfellows”, and that two of its members had not done their “due diligence” before they decided to join the SDP.

The SDP team comprises Dr Vincent Wijeysingha, Mr Tan Jee Say, Ms Michelle Lee and Mr Ang Yong Guan.

Dr Balakrishnan accused the SDP of  ”suppressing a certain Youtube video which raises some very awkward questions about the agenda and the motivations of the SDP and its candidates.”

He did not elaborate further how the SDP was “suppressing” the video, nor did he disclose which video he was referring to or what these “awkward questions” were. Apparently, the reporters present did not ask him to clarify these allegations.

But here’s where it gets me. After saying all that, he continued:

“I am not going to go further into details but I think saying that and publishing that, the netizens will know what to do and they will discover this.”

First, he was the minister who once accused The Online Citizen (TOC) of being “irresponsible” and of “spreading falsehoods” about homeless people. And he did so in the august chambers of Parliament, no less. Indeed, the PAP government has a hate-hate relationship with netizens whom it has regularly and consistently ridiculed and castigated.

Yet, here Balakrishnan is saying “netizens will know what to do…”

Suddenly, netizens have become – in his mind – credible sources of information.

Second, it is also clear that here is a minister who is too cowardly to do his own dirty work. He wants others to do it for him – others whom he and his government has always castigated for being irresponsible.

When pressed by the SDP to state which video he was referring to, he and his team issued a statement instead. And it is this statement which is so filled with vile and vulgar insinuations that it is truly beyond comprehension that the other team members could not, did not and would not see this.

The statement:

Dear Friends of the Media

Please find below a statement which is being sent on behalf of the PAP team contesting in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. We would appreciate it very much if you could kindly publish the statement in full, and attribute it to the PAP team contesting in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, led by Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Kindly call me at [phone number deleted] if you have any queries or if you need any clarification.

What is his agenda?

A video has been posted on the internet showing Vincent Wijeysingha participating at a forum which discussed the promotion of the gay cause in Singapore.

The discussion at the forum also touched on sex with boys and whether the age of consent for boys should be 14 years of age.

In the video, Wijeysingha was introduced as being from the SDP.

In addition to other comments, Wijeysingha stated: ‘I think the gay community has to rally ourselves. Perhaps one outcome of today’s forum would be, for those of us who are interested, to come together to further consider how we can address the 377 issue as well as further rights issues in relation to gays and lesbians.’

We believe that candidates should be upfront about their political agenda and motives, so that voters are able to make an informed choice.

The issue is not Wijeysingha’s sexual orientation. That is a matter for him.

The video raises the question on whether Wijeysingha will now pursue this cause in the political arena and what is the SDP’s position on the matter.

Vivian Balakrishnan
Liang Eng Hwa
Christopher de Souza
Sim Ann

There are so many subtle, insidious and evil (yes, evil) allegations and insinuations in this horrid statement but I will point out one in particular.

And it is this: Balakrishnan’s statement tries – ever so subtly – to make that tenuous connection between Vincent Wijeysingha being gay, and the age of consent (14) which was only mentioned in passing at the forum, as captured in the video.

And Vincent was not even the one who spoke about the age of consent.

It is an unbelievable stunt that Balakrishnan tried to pull here – in all its profanity and concocted by his debauched twisted mind.

Balakrishnan, being the coward, dared not spill it out. So I will do it for him to show the vile animal that he is.

Balakrishnan is saying:

“Vincent, being a gay person, wants the right to have sex with boys of 14-years old.”

In effect, he is calling or insinuating that Vincent is a pedophile, or at least that Vincent has those tendency.

Can you now see the absolute vileness of that statement and the person/s who issued it?

How does one get to be so evil as to so easily and so proudly try to destroy another human being through words poisoned to hit at the heart? It is not even about being in an electoral contest. It is not even about wanting to win.

It is about being humane towards a fellow human being.

And Balakrishnan has none of this ability to be one. In his desperate bid to win cheap votes, he resorts to cheap tricks, cheap smears. For that is what it is – smearing not only the name of the person but the very person himself.

The very person himself.

Balakrishnan has no qualms about destroying a person – his name, his feelings, his reputation, his pride, his dignity, his integrity. He has no qualms whatsoever in doing these things just as long as he wins the cheap vote.

Yet, what Balakrishnan has done is even more dangerous.

He lit a match.

He lit a match in our multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-religious society – and threw it into that mix.

Balakrishnan’s political aims here is manifold:

1. Subtly reveal Vincent is gay, without explicitly saying so. Indeed Balakrishnan says Vincent’s sexuality is not the issue. Being the coward that he is, of course he would say this. But it does not fool us. He reveals Vincent is gay in this manner to the media which he knows will report this. Thus, he would successfully alienate Vincent from the conservative and some in the Christian crowd.

2. Balakrishnan attempt at linking Vincent being gay to the age of consent (14 years old) is to insinuate that Vincent is somehow mentally unsound, or at least that Vincent wants to do something which majority of Singaporeans would find repulsive. Thus, he would not only have alienated Vincent from the conservative and some in the Christian crowd, he would also be alienating Vincent from majority of Singaporeans.

Game. Set. Match. Balakrishnan wins – the election in Holland-Bukit Timah.

He may indeed yet win the constituency. But he will forever be remembered as the minister who, on one fine day, descended to the very depths of the gutter, the sewer, to feed his vulgar craving for power. And that he did so by reaching for the heart of a fellow human being and, without batting an eyelid, ripped it out.

I have no respect for Vivian Balakrishnan. None whatsoever.

I do believe, and indeed I do hope, that one day, what he has wrought will come back to him. And when that day comes, as it must, I will not be shedding a tear, nor will I bat an eyelid.

Indeed, I would not even care. For why should one care for he who is evil and who wrought evil?

Balakrishnan, you are a complete and utter disgrace to Singapore and Singaporeans.

And to us as human beings.

You lit a match but the one who gets burned is you.

And rightly so.

And we all know where evil belongs.

And that’s where you should go.

And Ms Lim Hwee Hua is one of these “Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office”.

Commenting on the criticisms levelled at two of the PAP’s new candidates – Tin Pei Ling and Foo Mee Har – Ms Lim said, “I certainly hope that people will rise above the gender perspective.”

The Straits Times reported her as expressing ”a hope that people would not target candidates because they are women, adding that ‘that would be very sad if it were true’.”

I think Ms Lim should not be confused by the issues here. The criticisms thrown at the two women have nothing to do at all about their gender. The criticisms are about precisely what Ms Lim asked the public to measure the two women on – “conviction to serve, and their competencies and abilities.”

Nowhere on the Internet or anywhere else have I seen criticisms of the two women simply because of their gender.

Ironically, Ms Lim’s team-mate in Aljunied GRC and fellow minister (but not without portfolio), Mr George Yeo defended PAP critics’ claims that the PAP is out of touch. Mr Yeo said the charge is ”completely untrue“.

“I know what I do as an MP and what my colleagues do. We spend a lot of time just working with ordinary people… We can’t solve all problems but we do what we can.”

He added, “So I would say we are more in touch than those who criticise us for being out of touch.”

But the comments by his Aljunied colleague seems to give the lie to what he says – Ms Lim seems totally out of touch with what the criticisms of Ms Tin and Ms Foo are about.

Also, the PAP’s fielding of Ms Tin especially, shows a PAP so out of touch it thought it could simply ferry Ms Tin on the back of a senior minister without any backlash.

Now, we hear yet another minister saying something which looks like a u-turn, as far as its young candidates are concerned. Channel NewsAsia reports him:

People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Chairman Lim Boon Heng said the party is close to deciding whether the younger candidates it has been testing out will fit the bill in all the Group Representation Constituencies (GRC) and in particular, Jurong GRC which he currently helms.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the PAP Community Foundation in Jurong GRC, Mr Lim said he does not rule out surprises on Nomination Day, if necessary.

A hint that the PAP may withdraw Ms Tin perhaps?

We wait with bated breath – and the fall-out from this if indeed the PAP withdraws her.

So you see, my friends. The PAP is out of touch and out of their mind. It may also be out of the league.

It had – because it is out of touch – thought that it could, like previous years, just bulldoze its way through. This time by fielding a young candidate in Ms Tin who has proved to be a disaster which is not unlike a meteor hitting the earth at lightning speed.

The PAP is so out of touch that it never thought its candidates would be scrutinise in such intimate and meticulous fashion.

The PAP is so out of touch that it doesn’t even understand New Media – just consider SM Goh Chok Tong’s foot-in-mouth disease by playing that “joke” on his Facebook about Tin Pei Ling.

So my dear PAP, please keep in touch.

Otherwise, when you see the election results on results night, you may truly be shocked. By then, it no longer matters if you’re out of touch.

For then you will be moving out.

“By the opposition’s own admission, if you ask them, are you ready to form a government… they say, no, no, we’re not ready.”

I think Mr Teo should not shoot his mouth off too fast without his brain having process some vital information first. While he ridicules the opposition’s admission that they are not yet ready to form the government (actually it’s only the WP who’s said so, contrary to what Mr Teo said – “opposition” as a whole), Mr Teo should remember that it is his own PAP which has been telling Singaporeans this past few weeks that its new candidates are also not ready – not even ready to be MPs.

That is why they have to be “understudies”. Like Tin Pei Ling and even army general BG Tan Chuan Jin.

So, Mr Teo, don’t be too quick. Your own new candidates aren’t even ready to be MPs, for goodness sake.

And that too, by your own admission.

Mr Teo then went on:

“So what they’re actually asking you to do is to pay a very high premium for a so-called insurance, which.. they can’t deliver.”

Again, Mr Teo, hold your horses ot you’ll get cake all over your own face.

Rewind to just the past week or so.

What Singaporeans will actually be paying a high premium for are “understudies” who aren’t ready to be MPs and to pay S$15,000 a month for each of these 20-plus “understudies”.

Do the maths.

$15,000 a month per “understudy”, is equal to S$900,000 for each of them for a five-year term.

Multiply that by say 24 new PAP “understudies” and you and I will be paying a premium of : S$21,600,000 !!!

This must be the most expensive premium for “understudy MPs” anywhere on this planet.

Considering that these “understudy” MPs will also only be part-time MPs and you see the premium you will be paying for them.

Part-time MPs who are also “understudies” who make almost a million dollars.

Does it get more ridiculous than this?

And this is suppose to be Singapore’s “real insurance”, according to Mr Teo’s words?

Really?

Tin Pei Ling is S’pore’s “real insurance”? She who needs to be mollycoddled by the Senior Minister to waltz into Parliament?

BG Tan, again another one who needs to be pampered and carried into Parliament by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong?

Janil Puthucheary, he who equates “saving kids lives” to doing NS, is S’pore’s “real insurance”?

Desmond Choo, Desmond Lee, Ong Teng Koon – all sons of former MPs or ministers – are Singapore’s “real insurance”? All of whom are going to slip under the radar and hide under the skirts of ministers and ferried into parliament?

I think we Singaporeans should be aware of the nonsense which the PAP is putting out there nowadays. They are being termed as “hard truths” so as to hide the stupidity of what they say.

Let me ask you a simple question:

Do you think Singapore’s future is more secure in the hands of someone like Low Thia Khiang, or Sylvia Lim, or Chen Show Mao, or Hazel Poa, or Vincent Wijeysingha, or Tony Tan than someone like Tin Pei Ling, or Janil Puthucheary, or any of those “sons-of”???

I mean, seriously.

Mr Teo, you FAIL.

Try harder next time.

But to be totally serious, Singapore’s political system needs an upgrade. We seriously need to vote in more opposition members. This is something which we have been yearning for and this time round, we have good choices.

So please give your support to these opposition parties and their candidates.

I am saying this because I remember what the PAP did these last five years. They are too many to list but if we give them full support again, it only tells them that what they have done is alright and that we want more of it.

The PAP’s latest batch of candidates are the worst lot I have seen in a long time. Clearly, there is a serious problem the PAP is facing in recruiting people of real calibre. To give your support to them is not just helping the PAP live a lie.

It is also the surest way to do Singapore in.

Vote opposition.

That, despite what Mr Teo is trying to tell you in his selfish and self-serving way, is indeed and truly the only insurance we Singaporeans have for our country.

By the way, please add your name to this call for the PAP to field Tin Pei Ling in an SMC. More than 4,000 people have done so in the last 3 days. But will the PAP listen? Of course not. So, why would you give your vote to them?

Dear comrades,

A two-party system cannot work for Singapore. We, the greatest, most honest and most capable party on the face on the face of this earth, and indeed in all of human history, east, west, north and south, knows what’s best for you.

The opposition parties do not.

We are so good that even China, that great great country, emulates our political system! When a communist country copies you, that tells you something, doesn’t it? SO, please. If you believe in the greater good of this our homeland, join us! make us better! We come to serve and not to be served, comrades!

Lets together run the next lap! Lets together take the great leap forward!

But we can’t do it if you vote for the opposition!

We have all the talents. Anyone who says they also have talents is suspect and is a liar because we alone – and alone – have all the talent.

Anyone who claims to be talented but is not wearing white, don’t believe him!

Because we and we alone have all the talent!

And why wouldn’t talented people join us – we have everything for them. We pay them highly obscene salaries. We make it easy for them to ‘win’ through the GRC. We control the media so only good things are said about them. Do you believe everything you read in the Straits Times? You should because it has won many awards! And Singaporeans keep buying the paper too. Why would they buy it if it didn’t always tell the truth?

It is easy to be a PAP MP or minister.

This is why talented people will only join the great White Party!

The opposition do not have talent.

Only we have the talent.

We tried to listen to Singaporeans’ desire to have a two-party system and thought of splitting the PAP into two. It was a great idea which requires great sacrifices on our part. But we wanted to do it because we love our great motherland and you, our comrades!

But we found that although we HAVE ALL THE TALENT, they were not enough in numbers. So, don’t be fooled by the opposition who tell you they also have talent.

WE have all the talent. Not the opposition.

They say, “Singaporeans must buy insurance in case the PAP fails.” But why buy insurance when you can help make sure the PAP doesn’t fail?!! It is such a stupid idea! Don’t be fooled by the opposition! When you are healthy, you must make sure you remain healthy! When you are healthy, you don’t keep thinking that you will fall sick and buy insurance and wait for you to fall sick!

But the PAP is not sick. In fact we are so healthy that many many countries want to copy our methods! So, we must become even healthier! We must eat organic food! And organic food can only come from clean, white and pure soil! And the PAP is this soil!

So, don’t be fooled by the opposition.

The PAP understands your concerns. The PAP is aware of your needs. The PAP has the experience to help you.

The PAP loves you!

We love you, our fellow comrades!

Vote for us and we will deliver more good years to you!

Singapore cannot afford two-party Parliament. Even China cannot afford to have this, and that’s why they’re learning from us!

Please. We love you. Vote for us.

“We have heard nothing specific about policies the PAP will introduce to reduce the suffering it has caused to the people of Singapore,” Mr Gomez says. (Click here.)

And he is right, of course.

The PAP likes to conjure up – in its imaginative hubris – images of doomsday. Apocalyptic meltdown of Singapore should it falter and more opposition members get into Parliament. It is a game played out at every election. This is how the PAP hijacks a national referendum into one which is narrowly-focussed and self-serving. 

But as The Online Citizen’s Andrew Loh correctly points out: “It is not Singaporeans’ business to ensure the PAP survives or renews itself. That, to put it bluntly, is the PAP’s internal problem.”

In short, you die your business.

Singapore must and will carry on.

And in order for Singapore to do so, it is imperative, it is important, and it is incumbent upon all Singaporeans to think very seriously about our future and ask:

Do we want a government which refuses to listen to its people and do whatever it likes – such as paying itself obscene salaries including a mind-numbing 8 months worth of bonuses for its ministers?

Do we want a government which only springs to life when its dominance is at risk – once every five years? Suddenly, as the election nears, you see PAP ministers coming out with upgrading programmes, monetary handouts, introducing more trains and run them more frequently, cutting the influx of foreigners, increasing the number of BTO flats, etc.

All of these done in the last one month or so – just when the elections are about to happen.

Why?

Obviously, they have either been sleeping or didn’t care about what Singaporeans think – until the elections approaches.

The question here is this: what happens after the election if the PAP wins a convincing majority again?

My guess is that the PAP’s hubris will set in and its arrogance come to the fore and rear its ugly head once more.

Then, we will all have to grit our teeth and bear with it – until the next elections come. By then, it would be too late.

So, take the advice which Lee Hsien Loong himself gave during GE 2006, and I paraphrase him:

“If you don’t want a Pay and Pay government, don’t vote PAP. Vote opposition.”

This election is about us, the ordinary Singaporeans. We, who have had to live with failed policies these last 5 years, while those like PM Lee get paid millions plus 5 to 8 months bonuses. We, who have to live with  crowded trains, suffer high HDB prices, long for that elusive 3-room flat, live in fear of losing our jobs to foreigners, see our wages stagnate, our elderly scraping a living, etc.

And the PAP has the gall to turn this election into one where the only issue is about its own renewal!

If they are really serious about this renewal, let it begin with getting rid of that relic who calls himself “mentor”.

Otherwise, we ordinary Singaporeans have more important things to worry about.

Don’t be fooled by these men in white, whose only motto is to serve itself.

Remember: this election is about us, not them.

It is about those, like the elderly picking cardboards and tin cans, who are being left behind and disregarded by the PAP.

Indeed, the man is becoming a joke.

The latest to disagree with his views is no other than the man at the very top – PM Lee himself.

“Mr Lee said he also disagrees with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s recent opinion that future ministers may end up serving only two terms. Mr Lee said that is not possible because of the lack of numbers.” (Channel NewsAsia)

Yesterday, it was Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng who distanced himself from the joker’s comments and said: “That is SM’s opinion…”

The man is famous for gaffes like these. There are too many to list down here. But as the General Election is around the corner, it reminds me of one of the biggest boo boo the man made – that of first enticing and then threatening the voters of Hougang and Potong Pasir.

SM Goh had been tasked with a “special mission” by Lee Hsien Loong in the 2006 GE to win back the two wards. But what happened in the end?

Chiam See Tong’s percentage of votes increased instead and he won Potong Pasir.

Low Thia Khiang’s vote share shot up so high it was a personal record best – at 62-plus per cent!

And all thanks to Goh Chok Tong.

So, seems everyone has a reason to hate him:

- Sitoh Yih Pin – losing PAP candidate in Potong Pasir

- Eric Low – losing PAP candidate in Hougang

- Tin Pei Ling – the target of Goh’s practical joke

- Wong Kan Seng

- Lee Hsien Loong

And farmers, of course.

But no matter what, in Singapore, gaffes by PAP ministers go unpunished. SM Goh will continue to receive his lifetime pension (of millions) and his annual S$3.4 million salary.

So you see, the joker has the last laugh.

The joke, really, is on us, the taxpayers.

TODAY, 2 April 2011, reporting on what SM Goh Chok Tong said:

Noting that surveys indicate how people in less-developed countries are happier, he said: “Because they don’t know what life is; they’re quite happy. They wake up, they brush their teeth, then they’ll farm, and then they’ll sleep. But do you want it that way?”

Goh’s words are so stupid and dumb that I have nothing to say about it except to say that it is very sad to hear someone as senior as him in government saying farmers are ignorant. Goh forgets that it is these farmers who enables him to have food on his plate. What an idiot, really.

But I am glad Natalie Cheong, who is some 50 years younger than Goh, has something more to say about it. She wrote to the TODAY newspaper to rebut Goh.