Low Thia Khiang’s Open Letter
to Voters of Hougang and Aljunied GRC
Dear Fellow Singaporeans
Leaving Hougang is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my life. Hougang has been such a huge part of me. It was the Hougang people who gave me their vote of confidence to represent them in 1991. Over the next 20 years, they courageously supported me despite the ‘carrots and threats’ from the PAP government. I am grateful for their unwavering support. I am honoured and proud to have been their MP. Personally, if I have a choice I would continue to stay in Hougang where I have made many friends and have many fond memories of people there.
However there are times when all of us have to make tough decisions. For the Workers’ Party and I, the time is now. We are at the crossroads of Singapore’s political development. Both the PAP and opposition have to focus on renewal of our party leadership. The new PM is likely to be among this batch of PAP candidates. WP too needs to ensure a credible and responsible batch of leaders to work towards a First World Parliament where the government is accountable to the people.
While I may feel a sense of satisfaction that the government has to answer my questions in Parliament, there is still no effective check and balance mechanism on an excessively strong Executive. The government can choose to ignore our concerns and we are helpless.
The single most important tool used by the PAP government to keep our political landscape stagnant is the GRC system. This system totally dilutes your vote by ushering in a group of PAP candidates on the coat-tails of one or two PAP heavyweights.
The constant gerrymandering also prevents Singapore from developing a First World Parliament. For example, the recent redrawing of electoral boundaries transferred more than 29,000 voters of Aljunied GRC to Ang Mo Kio GRC (the prime minister’s ward) and some other wards! Clearly the purpose is to disperse the supporters of WP into different constituencies to prevent WP candidates from being elected and posing a challenge to them in Parliament.
This Divide and Rule strategy helps the PAP to ensure that the process of ‘check and balance’ remains weak in Parliament. This is totally immoral and against the spirit of democracy.
I am already 55 years old and as the Secretary General of WP, I have a responsibility to the Party and the people who have supported WP. This is a heavy decision and we have mulled over it many times. I am aware of the danger that we might end up with totally NO elected MPs in Parliament but ultimately it is not a choice of ‘playing it safe or taking a risk’. We are only being true to WP’s vision of “Power to the People”. The government must be transparent and account to the people.
To do this we need a breakthrough in the GRC system. We must entrench more WP voices with full voting rights in Parliament. We need a First World Parliament. WP and I have therefore made the important decision that I should lead a team to contest Aljunied GRC.
I hope the people of Hougang will understand and support this important decision for the long-term good of our country. I hope the people of Aljunied will support us too.
WP seeks your support to take this step with us towards a First World Parliament. We offer you a team of responsible and credible candidates who will represent you in Parliament. You have the power to decide what kind of future you want to build for yourselves and your children.
Vote Workers’ Party, Towards a First World Parliament.
i support u... but.. u not in my area leh.....sianz...
he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
Originally posted by Rickor:he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
To be fair he can speak up and the Parliament won't care about him- you only get 20 minutes to speak. He might as well speak productively on other issues that they might listen to.
Originally posted by Rickor:he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
I think opposition had been raising this issue to the death already.
What do you mean only now?
like talking to the wall lor for so many yrs...
Originally posted by Rickor:he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
Think about this, only 2 opposition MPs in parliament, he cant really do any effective checks and balances.
He has actually voiced out on certain issues before, but is voted out against by the other MPs. With 82 PAP vs 2 opposition, everything he proposes is easily overruled although some PAP MPs may support.
Originally posted by Rickor:he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
You're the perfect epitome of naivety.
Do you for a moment believe you could have an effective check and balance mechanism when you command just 2.3% of seats in the parliament?
Try buying just a single lot of shares in Microsoft and expect to have an effective say on how the company should be run - or effectively veto the agendas you disagree with.
Originally posted by Rickor:he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
A classic example of an ignorant singaporean ..... The mediacorpse and SPH are controlled by PAPAYANS-gov and will they broadcast it to the public?? And how Sylvia Lim criticism of our ministers' salaries in parliment was it shown on medicorpse channels?? I only get to know from youtube and FB.
Rome wasnt built in 1 day
keep up the gud work
Originally posted by TIB1086D:
A classic example of an ignorant singaporean ..... The mediacorpse and SPH are controlled by PAPAYANS-gov and will they broadcast it to the public?? And how Sylvia Lim criticism of our ministers' salaries in parliment was it shown on medicorpse channels?? I only get to know from youtube and FB.
Mediacorpse severely controlled as well as SPH. Mediacorpse keeps tab on staff participating in political events or so . . .. lky meets up with sph mgmt staff rather often
I wish him and his team good luck and able to win this grc.
A hard battle...closely contested...narrow winning margin. One vote will make the difference.
Good Luck to ltk!
Originally posted by Rickor:he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
You never follow debates on parliment in tv and newspapers over all these years ah? Lol.
Self-pwn sial.
Originally posted by Rickor:he keeps claiming theres "no effective check and balance mechanism ".. but honestly hes a MP for so long, how come he didnt raise the issue earlier and make known to other Singaporeans who are not in his area of governance. Why now? Why didnt we hear his voice where the government implements their national policy?
Because he gets outnumbered and they still carry out their policy.
Other democratic countries, the opposition can block this and that, push for reform and then reach a compromise for progress and the good of all without million dollar salaries. Their process is dynamic not stagnant.
As you know , stagnant water breeds mosquitoes ...suck your blood and if you are unlucky, it kills you.
Dear Aljunied GRC & Hougang SMC residents:
Support the Worker's Party Low Thia Khiang in Aljunied GRC & Yaw Shin Leong for Hougang SMC.... dont fall onto the PAP trap!!!! Think of the long term issue , if PAP wins , we will have a Parliament filled with PAP that is where we will suffer. Too bad i dont stay in either 1 of these constituency.
Worker's Party , all the best , you will win Aljunied!!!
Folks , let's support Low Thia Khiang for Aljunied & Yaw Shin Leong for Hougang.