End of Opposition politics ominous for Singapore.

Is the opposition irrelevant to Singapore?

Should we should just abandon the opposition parties, and the elections, and just allow PAP to govern the country indefinitely?

First, did all 75.3 per cent of the voters vote for the PAP because they are grateful, intelligent and pragmatic? I am sure many are, but I am also sure some voted out of apathy, lack of information and fear of change. All election results give mixed signals, so let’s not start thinking that we know the exact reasons for all their votes.

Second, it may be argued that the lesser number of votes for the two incumbent opposition member are clear signals by the people that this is the beginning of the end of opposition politics in Singapore. This is a sweeping assertion. Well, what about the offer of upgrading in opposition’s precincts that voted above a certain percentage? Let’s not forget about that!

We need to ask ourselves some key questions about whether opposition politics is relevantto Singapore.

Will Singaporeans rejoice if there are no opposition politics in the future? Honestly, didn’t you wish you were living in a contested constituency, with more offerings of amenities and facilities by the PAP and the Opposition?

If we do not need opposition politics, why is PM Goh setting up a shadow cabinet, and lamenting that opposition candidates are only contesting so few seats, robbing PAP of much needed electoral legitimacy in uncontested wards?

I urge Singaporeans to think twice if they believe opposition politics have no place in our society. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I do not believe Singapore is unique in world history, that our leaders require no checks and balances.

It is presupposes that opposition politics equates to suspicion and conflict. On the contrary, a system of checks and balances is another form of mutual support. The existence of many government-initiated and non-government committees is the PAP’s way of creating a proxy of this system.

However, we need to realize that while a one-party dominated government may work now, it places our system of government in a state of unstable equilibrium. Even with artificial measures in place, the lack of competition in the political arena presents the same drawbacks as a monopoly operating in the private sector.What will happen if the incumbent party becomes ineffective in the future?Who will take over the government?

The opposition can only make the PAP better and more sensitive to the needs of the common people, just like how M1 makes Singtel more customer-oriented.

It will be truly ominous for Singapore if we think that opposition politics have no relevance in Singapore.

Political maturity at the cost of losing PAP?

In response to “the dilemma of voting in a well-run country” on 25th October 2001, Ms Chua argues that if all the young and educated Singaporean who believes in political maturity for Singapore votes for the opposition, the PAP will be thrown out of power.

Is that even possible? Singaporean had been returning PAP to power for the past 42 years, with more than 90% of the seats in the Parliament ever since independence.

Is the size of this group of Singaporeans substantial enough to vote in more than 42 Opposition candidates, an increase of 2000%? Ms Chua by expressing her personal fear that the PAP may be voted out of power by this group of Singaporeans appears to be influencing them to vote for the incumbent.