Low Thia Kiang strikes back at PAP and HDB
October 10th, 2009 | 
Author: From our Correspondent
After keeping a dignified silence for a week, Hougang’s Member of Parliament Mr Low Thia Kiang has finally struck back at the PAP and HDB for unceremoniously sidelining him in the announcement of the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). (read Mr Low’s letter here)
PAP’s grassroots adviser and loser in the last general elections in Hougang, Mr Eric Low, claimed credit for bringing LUP to Hougang in a press conference last week.
Mr Eric Low was reported in the media to have said:
“Though I was not elected, I have been trying hard to lobby the authorities including National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan to upgrade the lifts in Hougang. Now that the lifts will finally be ugraded, I am extremely satisfied about it.”
Hardly hiding his displeasure at the attention-seeking antics of his rival, Mr Low Thia Kiang shot back in his letter:
“The HDB deems the grassroots adviser as the appropriate person to announce the lift upgrading programme because he gathers input from residents, ensures that the plans meet residents’ needs, can propose changes based on residents’ feedback, and seek residents’ support.
On what basis does the HDB assume that the Member of Parliament, who has the support of the constituency’s electorate, is unable to do the same and is therefore inappropriate to play the same role as the adviser?”
HDB and PA had earlier replied in the Straits Times Forum that “it is the Government’s practice to implement its national programmes for residents through advisers to grassroots organisations who are appointed by the Government to gather feedback from residents.”
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who entered Parliament via the “back door” after losing to Mr Chiam See Tong in the 1984 elections in Potong Pasir, went as far as to say that he does not expect non-PAP MPs to explain LUP:
“I don’t expect the MP who’s not … a PAP MP to explain why LUP is like that, why we need co-payment, what the co-payment is all about. The adviser is always the one doing it, and it’s no different this time round.”
Mr Low Thia Kiang went on to castigate HDB for “not respecting” the well of the people in elections by liaising directly with the PAP losers instead of the legitimate and rightful MP in charge of the ward.
“This says much of the respect of the ruling party for the will of the people expressed at general elections and how mature we are as a democracy,” he ended.
The use of supposedly non-partisan government agencies by the PAP to undermine the authority of the opposition MPs has sparked a public backlash against its perpetuators.
In a poll conducted here, 96 per cent of over 500 respondents agree that it should be the opposition MP who made the announcement of LUP instead of the PAP losing candidate or in PAP jargon – its “grassroots adviser”.
An irate Singaporean, Mr Muhammad Yusuf wrote a scathing piece to the Straits Times Forum a few days ago lampooning Mr Eric Low and Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, the PAP’s grassroots leader in Potong Pasir for announcing the news of LUP. (read letter here)
He wrote:
“Mr Low justified his announcement of the programme by saying it was the usual practice, even in PAP wards, for the grassroots adviser to lead the programme.
My question: Under what authority did both Mr Low and Mr Sitoh act as advisers to the grassroots organisations, given that the People’s Association is a government statutory board and should work with the elected MPs of the constituencies?”
Many netizens also question the political affiliations of HDB and PA which are supposed to be apolitical and neutral government agency and statutory board respectively.
rointan1 casts aspersions on the neutrality of PA:
“Sanjai Devmurari (of People’s Association), you didn’t address the pertinent question of why People’s Association appointed PAP members as “advisors” in opposition party wards!!
Why are all the grassroots advisors for the 82 PAP wards the elected PAP MPs, but not for Hougang and Potong Pasir???
Just admit that People’s Association is NOT non-partisan! It is just an instrument of PAP.”
Commentator questioned why the PA was involved in the running of town councils:
“What has the PA got to do with the running of Town Council?
The PA is a government organ not a PAP organization such as the PAP Foundation which runs kindergartens.
Therefore, for the PA to work only with PAP advisers and not the elected Member of Parliament of Hougang and Potong Pasir is tantamount to a govt body (the people’s public servants) taking part in partisan politics which i believe is illegal and prohibited.
Only in Singapore can such blatant behaviour be allowed without consequence.”
Legoass puts in bluntly:
“These 2 clowns are trying to defend the indefensible!! PA and HDB are all working for PAP.”
After 44 years of uninterrupted one-party rule under the complete dominance of the PAP, the boundary between the party and state have become increasingly blurred.
The incumbent has cleverly made use of its access to state resources to buttress its position in the government and curb the growth of the opposition in Singapore.
For example, the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee which is lambasted for the rampant gerrymandering to dilute and dismantle blocs of opposition support in various constituencies is appointed by the Prime Minister who is from the PAP.
As a result, no opposition has managed to win a GRC since its introduction in 1988. In that year and in 1991, Eunos GRC was won narrowly by a margin of 50.1 per cent by the PAP. It “disappeared” from the electoral map in the 1997 elections.
Similarly, the hotly contested Cheng San GRC was won by less than 55 per cent of the votes by the PAP during the 1997 elections. Cheng San GRC was never seen again in subsequent elections.
Singapore’s Election Commission amazingly comes under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office instead of being an independent non-partisan organization.
Due to its control of treasury, the PAP often threatens residents that their estates will be deprived of upgrading and “turned into slums” if they do not vote for them.
The two opposition wards of Hougang and Potong Pasir were denied much needed upgrading by HDB though residents living there pay taxes and serve National Service like the rest of Singapore.
Though many Singaporeans are displeased with the way the ruling party has manipulated the system to perpetuate its hegemony, there is little they can do sa the police, media and grassroots organizations are all under its tight-fisted control.
Related articles:
>> Lame reply by HDB and PA on why LUP are announced by PAP losers
>> Mah Bow Tan:” I don’t expect non-PAP MPs to explain LUP”
>> Eric Low rapped for stealing limelight of Low Thia Kiang
>> Eric Low claimed credit for bringing LUP to Hougang
Posted in Editorial
Coz it’s true to character of...
PAP is arrogant toward opposition parties and the citizen because they think they have the best brain in Singapore. Their arrogance will cost them to lose at least a GRC in next GE !!!
They are dogs, PAP’s dogs.
Why Mr. Low need to urge with dogs?
Take the matter straight to the elitist rulers.
BuiTaHan,
“…they think they have the best brain in Singapore.”
What would you think if Liverpool’s Manager comes out to the public and announce that though this is a world-class football team, but unfortunately non of the players is good enough to be the team’s captain?
We have a self-proclaimed world-class political party (PAP), all the leaders of this party are millionaires, and they are so called the bests among the bests in Singapore. But non of them is good enough to be the 4th generation PM.
What does this tell you?
I don’t think PAP is being arrogant by doing so. Rather, it sees this as a chance to woo back supports for the losing PAP candidates in Hougang and Potong Pasir; it is a change of tack, because it is plain to see that threatening the voters in the 2 wards with putting them last for upgrades actually backfired on the PAP in 2006.
Since continuing with this strategy isn’t going to work to achieve their aim (to get Hougang and Potong Pasir), they have decided on the new strategy to woo these voters by allowing the upgrades. Part of this strategy is to have the 2 losing PAP candidates make the announcement. This serves to boost the profile of the 2 losing candidates. In fact, we can see that both of them attempt to portray themselves as the ones who lobbied for the upgrades.
However, they have not offered any example or evidence of what they have done differently from the elected MPs (who have been lobbying long before the 2 losing candidates started contesting the wards) to change the HDB’s mind on the upgrade.
This makes it obvious that they played no significant role in the decision.
At any event, I expect that 2 losing PAP candidates would probably contest in the 2 wards again, and it is likely that they will capitalise on this event to attempt to show voters that they have the capability to get things done.
I’d actually prefer it if they lose more than just one GRC, but that’s for the people to decide.
The underhanded methods used by the ruling party to win or buy votes had backfired badly.
HDB says Sheng Siong cannot convert wet market to supermarket.
When this government starts listening to the people, you know that elections are around the corner.
This time I am not buying it. They can throw cash at me but I am still going to vote for the opposition. I have learnt my lesson the hard.
Vote for Change. Vote for Opposition.
@Roy
If thats their strategy, then I would say that it is not a smart move, given the current backlashes.
Politics isnt about securing credits, telling people what they have done and how satisfied with the results etc. This may be applied to the older generation, but not for the current younger generation who have better access to information and a clearer view on the political climate here in Singapore.
And you mentioned about their capability to get things done, I have to pose this question to you, is it THEIR capability that got the LUP or is it THEIR political strategy/political masters’ nod that got the LUP??
Mr Low and Mr Chaim had repeatedly fought for facilities upgrades in Parliament but has the ruling party ever agreed once? Even the street lamps issue in Potong Pasir became a joke after the last election. If the losing candidate came out and assume responsibilty for those street lamps, I can safely say that he would have score quite alot of points there but he simply ignored it.. How much does that tells you about the way the candidate works? I will serve the ward only if I get elected but he is missing the point that there will be another election 5 years later. I dont fancy his chance even if he chose to contest again this time round.
The facts that even agencies like HDB and PA can be so arrogant clearly indicate to us that PAP thinks Singapore belongs to them, not to the citizens of Singapore! They are now behaving more like tyrants rather than a responsible government!
But we have ourselves to blame, because elections after elections, we fall for their “carrots” and then regret much later. Common Singaporeans, let’s be gutsy and lets show PAP who we are and who they are – vote for the opposition in the next elections to ensure that we have sufficient alternative voices to censure and challenge assholes like HDB, PA and the most idiotic Mah Bow Tan!
what is the purpose of PEOPLE-ELECTED MP?
there is only 1 thing we can do. period.
They are just plain arrogant and taking the citizens for granted and think that we all owe them a living. They just don’t know what humility means. They should take some lessons from the most powerful man on earth – OBAMA.
Roy,
Yes, agree with your comments. Though I empathise that these 2 losing PAP candidates are probably being manipulated as well by their party as baits to lure back the lost votes, and instructed to execute the actions that caused the outrage.
What the incumbent party probably didn’t anticipate was the backlash reaction from the public. We are thinking people and any fool can see thru the actions of these 2 candidates. The bitter aftertaste left little to be desired.
Both of them could have adopted a more gentlemanly approach by graciously inviting both CST and LKT to announce the upgrading plans. I think they would have garnered more political mileage and respect. Now they will have to do some serious damage control.
The fact is that Spore is still not a democratic country. Very sad as a Sporean.
Mr Low Thia Kiang who became the WP’s Secretary General swiftly pledged to chart WP from the “confrontational politics” promulgated by his predecessor and to serve as a “constructive opposition” in Parliament. He was later accused by Jeyaretnam for helping the PAP to oust him.
Low’s open deference to the PAP has made him an instant blue-eye boy of the regime and the media. MM Lee praised him in public as being “credible” and “acceptable”. The media began to run favorable reports on WP and its new generation of leaders. This ringing endorsement by the establishment net WP the biggest number of votes during the last General Election in 2006 with 2 MPs in Parliament.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2008/03/
Hope that the residents know which MP actually got them the upgrades.
Alright, no point arguing so much, let us singaporeans unite and vote these two thick skin candidates out and at the same time vote Mah out also.He said HDB is still affordable,but he does not realise the ground sentiment.
Lets hope opposition opened their mouth in parliament more often so that we can hear PAP making a fool of themselves everytime their high mortal mouth opened. Eic Low & Sitoh, you are such a losers. A losers is forever a losers because HG & PP residents detested these two clowns. Failing to win mandate twices still appears like a winner all because of their retarded master. Oh,…almost forget that LHL did not win great in AMK GRC too. I think it has to do with his retarded behaviour and funny gesture as appear in this year National Day message. Gosh!! so nauseating.
MBT is one sickening minister and the fact that he didn’t get voted in directly but has to go through the back door shows that the GRC has failed the people of S’pore.
Which minister that is capable is produced by the GRC system?
Bala the turn coat or GY?
Absolute power and complete dominance of a ruling party breeds arrogance and potentially corruption; we need more alternative voices in the parliament to perform its checks and balance. Please do not be intimidated and misled by notion of chaotic scenario if current ruling party is voted out. It won’t happen especially with its constant re-zoning, re-sizing exercise. (we all know what it takes, why it happens and how it affects the result) It is time for change. People must make it happen when it matter, step by step, term by term, bring on worthy opposition and make Singapore a truly democratic nation.
If PAPies had indeed wanted to get Potong Pasir and Hougang so badly, all these need to do is to instruct the Elections Department to redraw the boundaries and merge Potong Pasir and Hougang with an adjoining GRC, end of stroy.
However, there is a risk that they might lose the merged GRC altogether if Sinkaporeans and residents of the Potong Pasir and Hougang gets really pissed off by the move and set about ‘influencing’ those in the GRC.
The people are right not to vote for MBT in Potong Pasir. The GRC is flawed because it allow MP who did not win Singaporean mandate to pass thru the backdoor. Singaporeans have reason why they do not vote for MBT or any particular losers. Look at what he did todate, a total screwed up as expected. If he is not voted and was not given the mandate by voters, he should not be in parliament at all but PAP dragged him in to screw everybody thru GRC system. This is so fxxk up!
#just speaking up on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 6:01 pm
Hi “just speaking up”, I think we are running out of time to do it step by step. I believe the next election will be the last chance we have to do anything meaningful to stop the PAP.
We know what is the real hidden agenda of converting so many foreigners to new citizens.
My only hope is that time is still on the side of Singaporeans who have seen the true colours of PAP. People need to realise that this PAP is no longer the PAP of the past.
FriedKwayTiaoWithHum on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 11:18 pm
You are absolutely correct. There is not much time left for Singaporeans if they want a better life.
The coming GE is crucial. Vote the PAPies out entirely or Sigaporeans and their children will suffer.
The PAPies knew immediately after the 2006 elections that they would lose the next one if they didn’t do something drastic.
Instead of listening more to the people, they brought in millions of foreigner to Singapore hoping to convert them to new citizes. Thankfully, many of these foreigners are here for the money and have no interest in becoming citizens.
But we have to act now. If now, they will bring in another 3 or 4 million foreigners. I think it is of no concern to them even if foreigners make up 70 to 80 per cent of the population.
All they want is to stay in power and continue to receive their multi million dollar salaries. And keep their skeletons remaining in the closet.
The party in power formed the government. As the governing party, it has every right to claim credit for any good that it does for the people, especially for those who voted against it. They are being magnanimous. The opposition party has absolutely no moral right to claim any credit because it is not the one who make decisions on the LUP. The government is able to see the LUP through by matching words with deeds. There is no need for it to consult with the opposition party in any way because it is “the” government and it is doing this for the people of Singapore. So the opposition party should not be too thick skinned to claim any credit, if that is what it intends to do. For as long as the ruling party is able to produce results in improving the people’s lives, it will continue to win the support of the people as a whole. Opposition parties must not oppose for the sake of opposing. They should give credit where credit is due. Instead of wasting their time in crying foul when there is none, and in wallowing in petty issues, they should spend more time in understanding the needs and aspirations of the people and the greater issues facing the country. By now they should know that the ruling party understand the people better than them and have the ability to deliver. Winning an argument does not mean that you are right. The ruling party concentrate on, and does what is right. This is the reason for their ability to win elections. So wake up and think beyond the LUP.
MBT can only talk rubbish and gives poor excuses like Tharman and WKS.
S Llm Phwa on Sun, 11th Oct 2009 12:20 am
It is because of the policies of the ruling party that Singapore is in such a big mess.
Talented Singaporeans are leaving this country in droves. 80 per cent of students who study overseas don’t ever return here.
There are more poor Singaporeans now than 20 years ago.
There are more Singaporeans seeking psychiatric treatment than ever before, and many of them are just in primary school!!
Young Singaporean couples cannot afford to buy their own housing.
Senior Singapore citizens cannot afford to retire and must work till they kick the bucket.
Foreigners are stealing the jobs of many Singaporeans,both blue and white collar workers, because there is no level playing field.
You may refuse to acknowledge it but the tide has turned. It was inevitable. The people of Singapore are just plain fed-up with the PAPies. And the PAPies know it. That is why they are delaying the next GE.
Time for Change. Time to vote Opposition. Time for a new Singapore free of tyranny and injustice.
Peace.
Mr Low, come to Jurong GRC please and show PAP the meaning of…
BOOMZ!!! Democracy!!!
Come next election, the opposition is going to be reduced fifty percent from the two elected MP to one.
The fact that Mr. Chiam is not in the pink of health and his constituency is only charmed by him, Potong Pasir is going back to the PAP.
Mr. Low of WP should be cool. It is only a small matter. He should concentrate on working hard for his constituency and build a strong opposition instead of quibbling over such small matter.
Good luck
TALK IS CHEAP. OR RATHER, TALK IS FREE. DO SOMETHING WHEN YOU CAN. STOP TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING. JUST DO IT
I READ ALL THE BLOGS. LOTS OF TALK. DONT BECOME ANOTHER NATO — NO ACTION, TALK ONLY.
MOST OF YOU DONT HAVE THE B***S TO DO ANYTHING. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT.
DONT YOU GUYS GET TIRED OF TALKING AND TALKING? THE PAP KNOW THAT. JUST TALK ONLY..
All those who get the chance, vote for the opposition! If you want to be heard, voice out through your votes! It doesn’t matter who the opposition is , just vote for them! Only they can speak for you!
The PAP has once again insulted the people by bypassing the people’s elected MP. They need to be reminded who is the real masters. Voters need to open your eyes wider in the coming election and understand what is the consequences if they get full mandate (as in 82 out of 84 seats in parliament) again. More slavery for the next 5 years.