Chiam See Tong rapped for taking Potong Pasir residents “for granted”
November 10th, 2009 | 
Author: From our Correspondent
An irate Potong Pasir resident Thomas Teo has written in to the Straits Times Forum expressing his disappointment and anger at being “taken for granted” by its MP Mr Chiam See Tong!
Singapore People’s Party (SPP) had earlier written to the Forum via its Councillor Wilfred Leung rebutting claims by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that Potong Pasir residents are “short-changed” by the SPP.
In a recent interview with the state media, Singapore People’s Party Chairman Mr Sin Kek Tong said that Potong Pasir’s veteran MP Chiam See Tong may relinquish his long-held seat in Potong Pasir to contest in a group representation constituency (GRC).
Mr Chiam had not indicated who will replace him as the SPP candidate for Potong Pasir should he decide to contest in a GRC. There are rumors that his wife Ms Lina Ng will contest the seat.
Mr Teo felt “short-changed” by the latest public remarks made by SPP:
“The ease with which the SPP appears to discard our loyalty fills me with sadness and anger. We have supported Mr Chiam since 1984, believing Singaporeans need an opposition voice in Parliament.”
He also disagreed with the SPP’s self-assessment that it has done a “wonderful” job in Potong Pasir:
“The SPP is wrong to take a narrower view that Potong Pasir residents voted for Mr Chiam because Potong Pasir Town Council has done a wonderful job.
To be frank, Potong Pasir has aged more quickly since voting in an opposition MP and the constituency is in need of major upgrading.”
Mr Teo ended his letter with an ominous warning for SPP:
“The SPP should not take the ardent support of some 50 per cent of Potong Pasir residents for granted.
There is no guarantee that voters will give the same level of support to a new SPP candidate.”
A street interview conducted by Chinese paper Lianhe Wanbao in Potong Pasir last week revealed that most residents will not automatically transfer their support for Mr Chiam to his anointed successor should he decide to leave Potong Pasir.
Mr Chiam first won the seat during the 1984 elections when he defeated current National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan by a margin of 10 per cent of the valid votes.
Mr Mah was later elected into Parliament via Tampines GRC in the next election.
Though Mr Chiam is the longest-serving opposition MP in Parliament and is held in high regard by Singaporeans, he has so far failed to build a credible alternative to challenge the ruling party.
The next election to be held by 2011 may his last which explains why he may be leaving his stronghold of Potong Pasir to contest in a GRC.
The opposition has never won a GRC since the system was introduced in the 1988 elections.
The closest they came to winning one was in in 1988 when the Workers’ Party team led by Francis Seow won 49.1 per cent of the valid votes in Eunos GRC which was subsequently dissolved and absorbed by neighboring Aljunied and Marine Parade GRC after the 1991 elections.
The PAP claimed that the GRC was needed to ensure minority representation. Critics lambasted it as a ploy to perpetuate their political hegemony indefinitely.
Before the GRC system was implemented, minority candidates were able to win in single-seat constituencies. The late J.B. Jeyaretnam won against Chinese opponents twice in the Chinese-majority ward of Anson in the 1981 by-election and 1984 general election.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made a freudian slip when he admitted that the GRC helped ensure the electoral victory of first-time candidates who may otherwise not be keen to take part in the elections on a PAP ticket.
Given the perennial weakness of Singapore’s divided opposition, it will be an uphill task for them to capture any GRC in Singapore from th PAP.
Related articles:
>> Chiam See Tong leaving Potong Pasir: a political suicide?
>> PM Lee: PAP will not be taken advantage of again in Potong Pasir
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Posted in Editorial
the propaganda machine rolls on everyday.
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Did Thomas voted for Chiam or the PAP in the last election?
Was this a ploy by the PAP?
Though it may difficult to retain Potong Pasir if Chiam were to go to a GRC, nonetheless it is still worth the try.
If Thomas really voted in for the opposition for the sake of Singapore, we would be ever grateful. Then he would never be so petty by blaming Chiam.
I do not believe Thomas is a SPP’s supporter at all. I think he is a mole planted by PAP to ensure that Chiam’s reputation stink. Those who truly voted for opposition is not that narrow minded and would have wanted larger gain.
Politics is a dirty word and it also makes things even more exciting.
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if Sinkies don’t vote in opposition for a GRC….I suspect theer won’t be any opposition party to vote in when Sinkies need one!!!
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No. Politics is not Dirty. The Person In Person is very Dirtry.
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obviously written by the pappies…
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He is probably a stooge of the ruling party. As elections will most likely be held next year, they are going all out all guns blazing in the psychological war.
Fortunately, they have been using this same old tactics for the past 50 years. It is not going to work this time.
Previous, Singaporeans could only rely on the Shitty Times and could be easily influenced. Now most Singaporeans are turning to New Media. Shitty Times is totally unreliable as a new source as everyone knows it is the propaganda machine for the ruling party.
For me the most important issue for this coming elections is jobs for Singaporeans. Thousands and thousands of Singaporeans are jobless and are struggling to put food on the table for their children. Singaporeans wants jobs that pay decent salaries and we will never get it under the present government. They are more interested in giving jobs to foreigners first.
Mr Teo, please don’t waste our time. Don’t make yourself the most hated person in Singapore by such disgusting display of sucking up.
Singaporeans have made up their minds and will vote for Change.
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Teo mentioned about ignoring PAP 80m upgrading carrot to support CST. 80 millions come from where? From PAP ministers pockets? What a joker.
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If I were he, I would ask the PAP how come he has to pay taxes when he does not get the same privileges as those in consituencies run by the PAP? Does he not feel short changed by the PAP?
Looks like he will be a pretty good candidate for PAP in the next elections.
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I don’t think this Thomas is living in Potong Pasir at all! Shameless ploy by PAP and Shit Times.
“To be frank, Potong Pasir has aged more quickly since voting in an opposition MP and the constituency is in need of major upgrading.”
How come he never blame Sitoh since it is this grassroot adviser who should be pushing for upgrading in Poting Pasir? Utterly shameless.
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yup.. another phanthom writer taking potshots at OP.
卑鄙，下流，无耻
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Chiam’s reputation stinks?
Well, he has only himself to blame.
http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?p=336945#post336945
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For the information of uninformed readers out there Chiam See Tong is a distant relative of LKY in case you guys didn’t know.
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if PP residents want to change camp, its okay. afterall they have been loyal for a long time. time for other constituencies to take up the baton
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I remember Potong Pasir was just a low lying area covered with mud tracks and ponds in the early 70’s. When I was doing my national service in 1972 we soldiers had to do a “gotong royong” community project in helping to lay the gravel road to improve the kampong residents’ mode of transport. And in 1979 there was a great flood there too.
But it had come a long way. Glad to say that besides Anson (which was the first consituency to do so), Potong Pasir and Hougang residents are holding the flag for the opposition on behalf of all of Singapore.
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@Jim
can you explain this?
In 1981, an unprecedented libel suit took place – Chiam became the only opposition member ever to receive a public apology and out-of-court damages from a PAP leader. He had sued then foreign minister S. Dhanabalan for undermining his professional ability and competence at an election rally. Then defence minister Howe Yoon Chong, Chiam’s opponent in Potong Pasir, also made amends for having made similar remarks.
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1536_2009-07-03.html
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As I have commented ealier in another page of this forum – Chiam See Tong is a relative of LKY. And that probably explains his “immunity” from PAP persecution,..er I mean prosecution.
If you were to cast a more observant eye the next time round, note how on the eve or near the 11th hour of D-Day (election day) either MM Lee. PM Lee, or SM Goh will say a few words of praise on Chiam and sure enough he will be returned to office the next day.
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@jim
LKY only take care of immediate family not distant family.
Distant family members can run into hundreds, do you think these distant relatives will ever get to meet to see him in person?
What has distant relation got to do with anything?
I don’t even know who are my distant relations so don’t try to smear opposition. You must be from the PAP trying to do the opposition in like Thomas.
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Kan_Cheong – that was a good point you raised. Chiam was the only one who stepped into their playing field and beat his opponent(s) on their terms.
Having said that, maybe you should also cast your net a bit wider and retrospect to another 2 individuals who were never sued by MM Lee despite having made many (not one) disparaging remarks on the old man. The late Dr Lee Siew Choh is one and the other being Harbans Singh. Well, Dr Lee was originally from PAP but broke ranks in the 60’s to join the splinter group Barisan Socialists, and Harbans Singh was a previous PAP cadre member !
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CitisenofSG – by the phrase “distant relatives” here is meant to denote relatives from the maternal side. Thanks for the runner though.
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Now we also have a Chinese Harban Singh. In SDP.
Trying to stir discord among voter. Look out for genuine opposition. PAP had plentyful of Money. The cheque is yours put in the zero U want.
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Glad that Political Salesman you got the bigger picture. The circumstances leading to Dr Chee Soon Juan joining the SDP and thereafter subverted its management are really points of contention.
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This guy should thank Chiam for a job.
He is obviously sent by PAP.
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None of the people from gen 2 PAP onwards have gotten a stroke.
Chiam worked so hard like Kang Si and suffered a stroke and this joker called him a betrayer?
Must be a guy send over by pap.
They are now really low.
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No matter what, I will still support OPPOSITION parties. It’s better than having a bunch of undeserving retards from pap ruin the lives of singapore citizens and squander the nation’s wealth.
Argue with my vote.
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Jim :We got one coming up in RP. This one is not Harban Singh.
Idiot From London.(Ape-Man)
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I smell a rat in this letter that attempts to discredit Mr Chiam.
The timing of this letter is already a suspect.
If the problem has persisted for so long, why only come out with this letter now?
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if i am resident in Potong Pasir, i will feel the same too.
it’s like “i’ve been supporting you all these while and u are forsaking us just beacause u want to fulfill the dream of winning a GRC!”
However i do admit that he’s one of the more outstanding OP
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The best form of defense is offend. Why is the point of Chiam be all defensive for his ward against those PAP rascals ? PAP is now very confident of taking over PP because they assume Chiam is defensive. Now Chiam adopting the offensive strategy to counter the PAP so that PAP becomes defensive rather than offensive. Did anyone not study strategy of war ? If the enemies are 100% confident of wiping you out, isn’t you going to adopt a different strategy that unpredictable to counter and confuse the enemy ?
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i guess if thomas is for chiam, then SPH will never have publish his letter. this goes to show how slanted sph is all this while. they never publish my letter unless it sounded pleasant to their ears.
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Political Salesman – The RP man doesn’t have much political mettle. He is incapable of playing politics. I mean a real politician would immediately distance himself from Naidu – that’s called political survival instinct. He went for “loyalty” instead of “discretion”. In politics, once an item has lost its usefulness and becomes a liability it has to be dropped. This ability to meander has made LKY virtually invincible for the last 50 years. But our RP man doesn’t have this quality, so how long more do you think he can exist on this uneven political battlefield ?
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Jim: This RP man can’t exist further. He is going to committed
sucide. Or lari Kuat Kuat back to London.Watch out for further News coming up in the ST.
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If things are as bad as what Thomas had mentioned
I was just wondering how come the People’s Action Party (PAP) adviser for Potong Pasir did not do anything? He would have won lots of vote if the adviser took some action
Potong Pasir was really rundown as compared to other places, it is depressing to see fellow Singaporean paying the same tax do not get the same treatment and the people money is used as bargaining chips or pay for Lehman brothers bond
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Chiam should have contest GRC early to break the ice-berg of the PAP. After three term in Parliament. He has earn enough.entitle to pension.So it times to hang back this ward to the Master PAP.Win or lose never mine.A nice exit to retirement.The wolf has waited very long to cook this ward.Increase SC levy triple.
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CK The PaP takes our money not buying Lehman Brother Bond.
They has buy themself a Time Bomb!It times for them to be buried.
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I live near Potong Pasir and I intend to live in Potong Pasir next year. Mr. Chiam have served in PP and contribute tireless for many years. If I were to be a resident there, I would have feel proud that Mr. Chiam is going for greater things. Afterall, MBT left after losing1
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With more unhappiness created by current PAP government since last GE, it is possible that opposition party can win one GRC. Therefore, an established opposition politician like Mr Chiam should give a go at one of the GRC !!!
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First of all, kudos to TR for highlighting the fact that Mr Mah Bow Tan lost in his first election to Mr Chiam ST in GE 1984. It is a slight on Mr Chiam’s achievement that Shitty Times has been whitewashing this FACT for the last 2 GEs by claiming that Mr Mah enter politics in 1988. After all, MBT joined SPH after failing in his maiden parliamentary attempt.
As for Thomas Teo’s remarks about Mr Chiam, there’s no stopping him from exercising his vote whichever way, regardless of who SPP fields in PP. If our ruling party is always talking about renewing themselves, why shouldn’t Mr Chiam be doing the same? He can’t be there forever, so maybe it’s a good time for him to hand over to someone within his party. After all, 25 years of hardwork can’t be unnoticed within the constituency.
Have anyone been to the market in Toa Payoh Lorong 8? This is within PP boundary and you’ll be amazed that it has not gone through any upgrading works yet, like it has been trapped in some time warp. I don’t think it’s the fault of Mr Chiam or the PP Town Council as I believe this is not within their hands/scope. So what’s holding it back when all the other markets in Toa Payoh have completed some minor/major upgrading already. Your guess would be as good as mine.
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If you analyse the tone Thomas Teo’s letter, you will
find he is actually a PAP bootlicker in disguise,
cleverly masked as a supporter of Chiam.
You do not need to be a ratcatcher to know a rat.
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