Understanding the Workers’ Party
March 29th, 2011 | 
Author: 
Firstly we should commendate WP for attempting to field candidates in PAP controlled wards. To do that WP needs to submit a candidate deposit for all their candidates. Since WP do not enjoy a membership as large as PAP every dollar spent for election comes with a responsibility to their supporter.
Secondly, we need to study the tactics employed by WP and understand the rationale behind it before critising their actions.
From my observation WP is trying to balance the effects on the society at large with a potential change of government. Questions like:
- Are our citizens ready for such a big change?
- Is the business community ready for it?
- Are our neigbouring countries ready to exploit this change to the detriment of our country?
The answers are quite clear.
A big bang approach to a issue of this magnitude has proven in the past to be disruptive, unconstructive and is high risk. Think about the events happening in middle east. This is definitely a lose-lose-lose outcome for all.
I would rather WP (or any other non-ruling party) to employ the divide and conquer method:
1. Consolidation/ building credibility and track record i.e
a. Consolidate the strengths and take a few strategic wards.
b. Prove the worth to the constituencies after one term in office and build on from there.
c. Strengthen the base before moving on to capture new grounds.
2. Leverage on each other parties on strengths and make up for the weaknesses -
Build up credibility within the party first and work together with other parties to craft a coherent plan which tackles key issues faced by the community, avoiding overlaps and focusing on the merits of each party.
For example,
a. WP may focus on their efforts to address issues on foreign labour and increasing the skill set of local citizens, whereas
b. another party may focus on transportation and housing issues,
c. another party focusing on a 3rd set
In so doing, each party builds on the strengths of each other party and avoid a monopoly situation.
3. Educating the public -
Present ideas and action plans and engage the communities on regular basis through seminars, talks, forums and discussions, thereby educating the communities to the practical approaches of solving the issues..
In this way we can obtain greater buy-in at an early stage and during the elections period, there are less obstacles on the ground.
In this age and time, there is no such thing as ‘one man knows all’.
.
Azeron
Posted in 
Wong Kan Seng and Mah Bow Tan looks to have become PAP suicide squad right now
each taking turns to talk trash & smear the opposition especially our only voice in parliament, WP and directing all wrath on PAP onto themselves now
let’s be alert, other PAP members are also responsible for the mistakes, cover ups and empty promises, remember to also kick them out, not forgetting manpower which takes in FT like nobody business
Meanwhile, we will tell these two good for nothing on election day; ‘no need to come for work monday onwards, your skills are not relevant anymore. you need to go for retraining.’
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I’m a SUPPORTER of ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES in Spore. I just hope that all the Opposition parties in general will put on a good showing and win big in this GE. That’s my only Hope. WP, RP, SDP, SDA, SPP, NSP, whichever of these party that comes to my ward to fight against Mabok Tan, rest assured that the OPPOs will get my vote. But please NO 3 CORNER FIGHTS!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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@ Azeron
Thank you for this Article.
Hope more supporters come forward and support Workers party
PAP…No thanks. We do not wish to see your PAP Circus again.
Need to pay and pay $$
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If the PAP do a confidence survey like United States, they know they have already lose.
In fact, PAP already lose in this election!!!!
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The success of every govt depends on the massess. If a govt fail to capture the masses, they are bound to be ousted!! Ask your colleague, neighbour, friend, family or any Singaporean, who wants to vote for PAP???
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Slow approach of the WP
I think QUICK method is better !!
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In 1959, when a young lawyer with the gift of the gap named ‘Harry Lee’ and his team of young activists in a NEW ‘PAP’ was given the vote of confidence to form a new government in 1959 – they had ‘ZERO political track record’ and similarly had ‘ZILCH experience in government’ – were these self-doubts asked by the Singapore Generation of the 1950s ?
The situation in that the Singapore Generation in the 1950s faced were – poor and expensive housing opportunities that were limited in supply, poor job opportunities and poor wages – even as the job conditions were exploitative of labor, which resulted in so many labor strikes – that the useless LIM YEW HOCK government dealt with by sending his goons to create a ruckus amongst the strikers, so as to give the Riot Police an excuse to break up the labor strikes.
Except for the lack of avenues for Singaporean Generation of this 21st Century to express our poor employment situation – as the Workers’ Unions are all wrapped up in the NTUC controlled by the “Pro Alien Party” – all the other situations concerning jobs and housing that Singaporeans faced today are similar to the Singapore Generation of the 1950s had faced
Did the Singapore Generation of the 1950s bothered about those few businesses that existed in the 1950s and were exploiting the Singaporean workers then – when they decided to give their votes to a young lawyer named Harry Lee and his team of young activists in the NEW ‘PAP’ ?
Did the Singapore Generation of the 1950s bothered what the governments of our neighboring countries think about Singapore – when a young Harry Lee and his team of young activists in the NEW ‘PAP’ took over the government when both had ‘ZERO political track record’ and even had ‘ZILCH experience in government’ ?
The situation faced by the Singapore Generation in the 1959 General Election was critical, as the useless LIM YEW HOCK government was clueless in leading Singapore forward with all the problems of failed government policies over the previous few years.
Today, the Singapore Generation of this 21st Century faces similar problems as that faced by the Singapore Generation in the 1950s – and should act in similar decisive manner, as to give more time to the “Pro Alien Party” to disenfranchise Singaporeans.
As matters stand, over the last 52 years, the “Pro Alien Party” has cunningly removed our political rights by bastardising the Singapore Constitution into a worthless bundle of paper – and prevent us from even exercising our voices to hold them accountable for all their failed policies, and make the Government to be more transparent.
After the 1959 General Election, a young Harry Lee and his team of young activists in the NEW ‘PAP’ walked in to form the NEW GOVERNMENT – and was shocked to discover that the useless LIM YEW HOCK government had bankrupted the Singapore Treasury !
After 52 years of unaccountable and non-transparent government, what shock will await us this time if a NEW GOVERNMENT is formed ?
Are you too afraid to find out about the TRUTH – in the same manner that the “Pro Alien Party” is afraid to be held accountable and to be transparent ?
We should ask the Worker’s Party for a reason as to their lack of confidence to replace the “Pro Alien Party” to form a NEW GOVERNMENT ?
What were their personal goals and that for the Worker’s Party when they entered the political fray to challenge the “Pro Alien Party” ?
Was it simply to block JBJ from using the Worker’s Party as a platform – after his expected bankruptcy is finally achieved ?
Why was WP LTK not prepared to say what need to be said – in his Parliamentary debate confrontation with PM LHL – and insist that WKS should resign for the Mas Selamat debacle ?
Why is there a difference in the values of LTK not prepared to be a NCMP, while his WP Chairman – Sylvia Lim – is prepared to accept this position from the “Pro Alien Party” ?
The statements made by LTK and SL can only be seen as dubious, and given the kid’s glove treatment accorded to both of them by the “Pro Alien Party” for the last ten years – alot more questions will need to be asked, given the statements that both have made recently about NOT being able to form a viable Alternative Government, and their undermining of the positions of all other Alternative Political Parties.
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I once was a proponent of opposition unity. However, after observing the political scene in Singapore for a while, I’ve come to realise that is not possible. At best alternative parties can come together to TRY to avoid 3-corner fights, emphasis on the word “try”.
The reason why there will be no opposition unity is because the various parties have different political leanings best illustrated below.
(far left)SDP RP NSP (centre) WP/SPP PAP(far right)
As you can see, PAP is the most vested in maintaining the political status quo and the most conservative as far as political change is concerned. While SDP is the most radical when it comes to political change. Small wonder that SDP has the greatest clash with PAP.
And when you look at it, WP is ideologically quite close to PAP (for that matter SPP of Chiam See Tong). Unfortunately, this has led many far left voters to be jaded with WP and SPP because they see them “in cahoot” with PAP. The fact is that these voters are actually politically ignorant of the leanings of WP.
WP do not want to change the system. They see the system as fundamentally OK but need some tweaking. This of course do not go well with the voters who are howling for a revolution.
And WP’s strategy, in my opinion, is to try to capture the conservative bunch that repeatedly voted for PAP. Those misguided, illusive 66% of voters. This is because the 33% hardcore opposition voters (actually close to 20 to 25%) is not going to get them seats. They need the fencesitters and they need the PAP voters who have suffered under PAP and want some change but not rock the boat to much.
Don’t blame it on WP. Blame it on the kiasu and kiasi voters who want change but don’t want too much changes. WP has to appear conservative and stable and not too far from PAP but still a little different from PAP so as to capture the former PAP voters in addition to their own tradition supporters.
And if this caused the loss of the support of those who want to overhaul the system, so be it. This is a number game. There just are not enough of these “revolutionaries” to make a difference. SDP has been trying hard to educate people to civil disobedience and Singaporeans are just simply not hungry or fearless enough to go to the streets to protest, Tunisia-style. They rather complain in the comfort of the coffee shop or their own home.
As such, WP, who once was far left leanings like SDP, has no choice but to change tactics to suit the voters’ mentality. Enough that they can capture a GRC and hopefully let the snowball effect takes place.
This, in my opinion, explained the things that WP said in the past.
As for those who liked to bash or criticise WP. Either you are a PAP mole, or you are one of those “revolutionaries” who just like to sit on your ass and complain. In which case, you are irrelevant.
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Well said , If WP declared that they are going to form the next Garvernment , they may scare away those fence sitters whom are not ready for change .
Attack this piece of dead-wood (PAP) like a termite !!!
VOTE FOR CHANGE !!!
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how can you tell PAPigs already lose in the coming GE ?
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many thanks to Azeron.
my pleasure to have you in TR here,
thanks to you too “When We Are United” agree !
hi “Lan Jiao” why you use this nick “Lan Jiao” ?
…dont always dip into it hor hahaha…wl become “En Sng” (hokkien)
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Thats why PAP banned exit polls.
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I would say WP is quite a creditable party . Two ex WP members went on to become the leaders of the other 2 opposition parties. That should be considered a compliments to WP because it showed that WP provides a good training ground for aspiring politicians .
Go Hammer Go !!
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“Firstly we should commendate WP … ”
I didn’t bother reading further. Can’t really expect someone who can’t differentiate “commend” and “commendation” to understand the difference between “wayang” and Worker’s Party anyway.
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You sure or not?
When the VOTES are COUNTED, the reverse is true.
I agree with EDUCATING the PUBLIC for 1 good reason.
1. Once the Education system is REFORMED, all citizens will have learnt the skill of QUESTIONing about political issues. How to question without getting into trouble. The people would then learn how to communicate their concerns across Openly and Bravely without FEAR .
The People may know how to question their mothers and fathers but they are Ignorant of questioning political things. They never learnt.
By virtue of being a voter, one is already politically involved and relevant. One can ignore this fact only to prove his abandoning of his responsibilities and duties of a citizen. These should be called for tea. What are they trying to do? Ruin Democracy out of self preservation? What is there to fear if the question is Pertinent?
A complete overhaul and REFORM of the entire education system should be carried out IF opposition wins 51%.
Even if that guy retire, they are set to rule for another few elections as long as the people continue to accept without question and the population breaks its own record after this election.
This is the last Election.
All or nothing.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, FEAR is nothing!
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“Is it safer to play safe” ?
1. If you have nothing further of value to lose, and your back is against the wall, what is there of any value, left to be lost?
2. Fresh, untried, untested, without exprience, young? what transpires in the real commercial world is also represented in politics is’nt it?
Compare your entry as a newbie into the business world after NS, if they reasons I reiterated above were unshakeable, would any of us been employed at all to start with?
3. If your arguement is on the premises they Miw have been around for “ages” and therefore a “safe” bet,? is groundless and without merit.
Like you favourite chair of 3o years at home, there comes a time when everything becomes “beyond economic repair’ and thus, have to be replaced, unless, you choose to sit on the floor.
4. The arguement here is not 5, 10, 15 opposition into parliament. is it going to be 9 NCMPs select by PAP to “represent the citizens”?. What citizens?, from which constituencies?, representing who’s and what’s interests??. Do they have a mandate? NO, so say, talk what? will miw listhen? Its all again, a t/c sing song session, just like the “getai” show. After ts.. sing song, can fold costumes and go home until next hungry ghost session?.
5. What lampa chee “bite” as “Christopher” of Holland says he has,(every Hollander now needs anti-dog bite injection for rabies) chia lak, does the NCMPs have a bite,? no man, how to bite when no teeth or wear dentures? and cannot use medisave to buy new teeth?
6. What is the realm of the possible? so what LTK says is the reality. If you have only $300 to buy table for 10 for “yee sheng”.. how can you “how lian” and order 30 table?
7. If the rest of 66.6% sinkies want to “buay karch’ng” for the rest of their miserable,screwed up life!, so be it! but we are made to suffer for their close eyes, mouth, ear, brains.. only thing open is their kar ch’ng which lau lee and his Kakis all know.
8. Maybe, maybe halfway.. 66.6% realise after the election that they already kena F, wholesale and retail. Then the blur sotong can go to Miw and say “give me back my vote” or “own self die” singlish for commit sucide into the the brand new circuit road canal.But, knowing how bloody daft we are.. they will do it at low-tide.. so “action2, ownself die, but cannot die!
Being a sinki is exasperating enough, but what fellow cartoon sinkis do, buay tahan! vomit blood also cannot, no more blood left!
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Its true,the blind, deaf or dumb can do what most the rest of the MPs can do, by uttering rubbish and saying yes. Since they are not making any material difference to change the mindset of the policy makers, we should vote in some voices of conscience, which hopefully will make the Ministers try harder. Just look at the period running into elections ! We get goodies and all the aid from pre schoolers to upgrading… the whole works. Life is like that. Their listening power increases when threatened. Lets heal the Deaf frog Lim from his hearing problems
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m a loyal WP voter & hope WP will not engage in 3 or 4 corner fights ,,,please gave way or your own HAMMER will fall back on your head…can go other places tat you not familiar with & still many many wanting to vote u in…be patient and do not rush thing or your own HAMMER will would never even nail anything….losing is one thing but going home with nothing is another.
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The endless politically motivated lawsuits and the victimization of opposition candidates has the effect of shrinking to pool of credible opposition candidates. This is a grave disservice that the PAP had inflicted upon the nation, the net effect is that there are no opposition ready to take over in the event that PAP get ousted. Is this short term or long term thinking by the PAP?
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vote for wp to understand them even better.
vote wp.
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TR ,
why my post at 4.06pm still awaiting moderation ?
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To fight the Pap you have to do what PAP does. They are not going to give you any chance, concession, mercy. The writer is living in a dream world, whoever feels the same has no business to contest the GE!
One should contest to win or contest strategically to enable his/her colleagues to win! Do the same to PAP as what they are doing to you! Have confidence, unite, co-operate, have a common agenda/manifesto, and the voters will come out to support you.
S’pore will survive and thrive due to our natural geographic location and the english language, not because of one man or PAP!
Cheers and maju Singapore.
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IF PAP wins they will use THUNDER ON US and electric US TO DIE!
IF WP wins they will use HAMMER to build homes.
VOTE FOR ALL OPPO!
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Dear WP supporters, let vote for WP in all the constituencies it contests. Bring in more WP candidates into the House and wake this arrogant this govt up. Put more pressure on the govt be4 it implements any policy which will affect most Singaporean adversely.
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The targets for the Opposition to aim at in the new 87-seat Parliament, in increasing order of difficulty, are as follows:
(1) 9 elected MPs (to nullify the NCMP scheme)
(2) 30 MPs (to prevent the PAP from having a 2/3rd majority in Parliament)
(3) 44 MPs (to deny the formation of a PAP government)
(4) 59 MPs (to form a non-PAP government with a 2/3rd majority in Parliament (with power to change or abolish the GRC?))
Looking at the PAP’s success in past GEs, it is very difficult to achieve even (1) above. (2), which requires the capture of 5-6 GRCs and a few SMCs, is even more far-fetched while (3) is probably a pipe dream. As such, Low Thia Khiang (LTK) was frank and realistic when he agreed with Sylvia Lim (SL) that WP “is not yet ready to form a new government” since WP probably does not have enough resources to field a sufficiently large slate of strong candidates for (3) to be achieved, or to form a Shadow Cabinet, shadowing or mirroring all the ministers in the Cabinet, ready to take over the government if WP wins a majority of seats in the GE.
What LTK and SL said is not inconsistent with the WP’s GE 2006 manifesto (presumably to be updated for GE 2011) on the WP’s website: “As a political party, the long-term goal of the Workers’ Party (WP) is to be an alternative government. While in opposition, we will play an active role as a check and balance on the ruling party. WP is Pro-Singapore and believes national interest should precede party interest.”
There is nothing really wrong in LTK saying, “It is more important to be honest with voters than to over-promise … I am against all kinds of empty promises.” To promise and not deliver will make LTK and SL to look like clowns in a circus. Credibility is important.
It is premature to speculate that WP will not be ready to form the next government if the unexpected should happen in the GE and the PAP loses its Parliamentary majority. However, it may be reasonable to expect WP to take up the mantle of forming the new government – even if it is a coalition one – if WP should be the party with the most number of candidates elected, judging by SL accepting the NCMP post after the 2006 GE because of strong support from Aljunied GRC voters even though WP had opposed the NCMP scheme. The scenario here assumes that no opposition party with elected MPs will align with the PAP to form a PAP-led coalition government in a hung Parliament.
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Yeap, WP say ‘not ready to form next government’ is because of the spineless character of Sinkies. By openly declaring that they are ready to take over the government will help push votes to PAP.
This is the same as the ‘return of power to PAP on nomination day by competing on less than half of the seats’ strategy. Since the oppositions had compete on almost 90% of the seats, WP had to say something to calm the nerves of the super kiasi Sinkies.
But it is also very pathetic to acknowledge that most Sinkies had sunken so low to be afraid of a scumbag government like PAP to lose power.
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only give thumbs up for pap moles……: how about this, guys…:
how about this, guys…:
obvious pap moles are all over here checking on who gives a thumbs up and down to whatever,
should tr readers not give only thumbs up for all pap moles so that they can report back to their master that all’s well to go for a sure-win election soon.
america lost the vietnam war because all reports back to washington was saying how well the usa was doing here there every wwere on the battle fronts in vietnam when actually american soldiers were dying like flies there because of us soldiers laying their guns down for conscience reason, black and white racial disputes amongst the us soldiers, drugs, etc, etc.
think about it.
confuse these moles.
———————————
good idea.
only give thumbs up to pap moles.
will this be an slight improvement, though?
that way, the pap moles cannot size up what the tr pro-oppos numbers are.
with their lighting again, if the pap wins again, the pap will set your houses on fire !
vote the pap out !
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As long he or she is from any opposition party my vote will go to them,even if the dead comes back and stands for the opposition i will still vote for them but not not a single hunch for a PAP candidates.That will be over my dead body.
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Worker party is one of the opposition parties that give us hope.
Through their persistence and dedication. It inspire us to be brave even facing lots of obstacles.
Life is like that just see how struggles the opposition parties.
Although they were always fail but one day they will successful.
One day, Singaporeans will fully understand the contribution FROM SINGAPORE WORKER PARTY.
This type of fighting spirit against at all odds must be carry on.
Imagine if opposition parties including worker party give up, then what is the outcome of Singapore.
The outcome will be miserable for our future geberation, they are totally depend on PAP, THIS WILL BE VERY BAD FOR SINGAPORE FUTURE.
So, inclusion, we have to vote in worker party’s candidates with high percentage.
All voters please help to motivate PAP by voting more opposition parties candidates. let PAP wake up from the dream of total power addiction.
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NO 3 CORNER FIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
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We only need one or two strong opposition parties to take on the PAP.
We do not want PAP paid moles to dirsupt and force a 3 or 4 corner fight the coming election.
So this is the ‘HOW TO VOTE CARD’ for the opposition supporters.
1. Vote for any opposition parties in wards that there is only one opposition party contesting with the election cheating PAP.
2. Vote only for WP or SPP in event of 3 or 4 corner fight. Because WP and SPP have demostrated their credential as a responsible elected opposition MP.
Remember, we MUST NOT ALLOW these PAP moles or ISD agents to succeed in spliting the opposition votes via a 3 or 4 corner fight – thereby handing an easy win for these money greedy PAP YES MAN .
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pay and pay can put tom, dick and harry
or ah kow, ah bay, ah ter..they still
will win.. pay and pay have the money
any corner you still loose…how to
beat pay and pay..????
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