SG Elections 2015 - Part 3

17. MacPherson SMC

PAP Candidate Tin Pei Ling was scorned left, right and center during the last election for coming in via the back door in 2011.

Fortunately, Tin Pei Ling made good on her opportunity windfall by performing well as an MP for her constituents. The word around town is that her residents think she did a pretty decent job so far.

Such was the confidence of the gerrymandering gahmen that they felt comfortable enough to cut her out of Marine Parade GRC to let her run on her own. And likely, to win it on her own.

The opposition, on the other hand, will not win on two counts.

First is NSP Cheo whose sexist remark offended every female voter in the constituency. There are still male voters left, you say? Don't forget, these male voters' grandmothers, mothers, aunts, wives, girlfriends, sisters et al. are from the same pissed off female voter pool. Check-mate.

Second, in every 3-cornered fight, PAP always wins as the two bungling opposition candidates will split each other's votes.

A solo victory for Tin Pei Ling and vindication of her calibre despite her age.


18. Mountbatten SMC

We read from the news that SPP's Jeanette Chong-Audross put in a lot of effort trying to reach out to the residents. Alas, it appears that Mountbatten is too deeply PAP-entrenched that she gets stone-walled everywhere.

PAP to win despite a valiant effort by SPP.


19. Potong Pasir SMC

PAP captured Potong Pasir during last election and the upgrading projects started coming in. Bus routes improved, amenities added and Woodleigh MRT station finally opened.

So all the goodies have come in already. Will the residents say "OK, thank you much, Mr Sitoh. You can go home now." ?

I believe it was a shock for everyone in Potong Pasir that the Chiams lost the ward that they have been looking after for close to 30 years tirelessly.

The margin of just a mere 114 votes may be a wake up call for those who didn't take the election seriously. I'd bet they'd probably were thinking "OMG, what dafug did we just do??"

Lee Kuan Yew started the "repent" back in 2011. Perhaps the proverbial table is turned in Potong Pasir 2015?

Too close to call here but I am rooting for Lina Chiam to return Potong Pasir SMC to Chiam See Tong.


20. Radin Mas SMC

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

Gossip in the grape-vine was that Han Hui Hui wanted to join Reform Party but was rejected as she was deemed too much of a nutcase for them to handle. In short, she was too kookoo.

Guess what happened next? She would purposely pick one ward where RP is contesting and made it her own 3-cornered fight. By now, we all know what happens to a 3-way, right? PAP will win.

Once again, HHH was crowdsourcing for campaign funds and by listing everything out, I can only assume that she is not going to come up with any money on her own. I would have respected her some if she were to fork out the election deposit and ask for money only for the other items like PA system for rallies, posters, banners etc.

PAP to win, Han Hui Hui to lose the election deposit, which she don't really give a rats' ass anyway. Not her money what....


21. Hougang SMC

The WP Ultras will be holding the fort steady while their brethren go forth and fight the Aljunied battle as well as all the neighbouring SMCs.

No contest here as WP remains victorious in the USA again.

Upper Serangoon Area.


22. Punggol East SMC

PAP sending in their Party Handyman, Charles "Mr Fixer" Chong to come and eat Punggol East orh luak. While he has been an effective fire fighter in the past. I doubt this guy is able to connect with the folks at such short notice.

So far, like PAP Tin Pei Ling, it is said that WP Lee Li Lian has managed her ward pretty well. As such, I believe her residents will continue to support her for another 5 years.


23. Sengkang West SMC

The columbarium saga was resolved by PAP Lam Pin Min but lest we forget it was the gahmen that screwed this up in the first place.

So how? Oppose the PAP for sneakily trying to squeeze a columbarium in and worse, gave the tender away without due dilligence? Or support PAP for it was da man Lam Pin Min who came in and save the day, appeasing all parties?

WP Koh Choong Yong had 42% during the last election and with WP's growing influence over neighbouring SMCs, it is possible that this ward may finally end up in the hands of WP.

The way I see this, PAP will still make it. I feel Lam Pin Min did well to clean up the gahmen mess.


24-29. Bukit Batok SMC / Bukit Panjang SMC / Fengshan SMC / Hong Kah North SMC / Pioneer SMC / Yuhua SMC

Paiseh. The remainder of the wards, I really not interested to look closely. Aiyah. Chin chai anyone win also can lah.


30 Pulau Uber SMC

Special mention goes to Shirwin "Sure Win" Eu. I like this guy. He is honest. MP is a good job and it pays well. 5-figure salary leh! Mai siao siao hor!

Too bad this fella never do his homework properly and was unable to get 10 resident's signature to qualify for candidacy.

Still, I feel it is a blessing in disguise for him as he saved losing $14,500 which means that at the end of the election, he will not be the worst-off.

Indirectly, he earned his first month's MP salary right there on nomination day. Correck or Corwrong?


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Image Credit: http://www.simge.edu.sg/simblogseason10/BooYiLin/

- Voxeros

SG Elections 2015 - Part 2

11. Chua Chu Kang GRC

All these while I thought it was spelt as CHOA Chu Kang. Oh well. #shrugs

Goh Meng Seng. The Party Boy of the entire candidates cohort. Worker's Party, then National Solidarity Party, now People Power Party. First Aljunied, then Tampines, now Chua Chu Kang.

This is what we call KLKK (kia lai kia kee). Walk Here Walk There.

Like a vagabond with no roots. I don't see how the constituents will allow him to come in. I have more respect for people like Kenneth Jayaratnam, Sitoh Yih Pin (pre-2011) and Lina Chiam who stuck around even when they were unsuccessful in their respective campaigns.

I don't see PPP getting anything back from this except the election deposit for where credit is due, this fella is GRC election sibeh old bird one.

PAP to take this GRC.


12. East Coast GRC

People say that this is PAP weakest ward. I disagree. It may not be the strongest but there are good things to say about the incumbents.

• L.A.M. (05 Sep 2015) - On Which Town Council Was Managed The Most Wisely

On paper, it appears from the article above that East Coast GRC has the best run ship both 2013 and 2014.

Lim Swee Say was one of two who was singled out for special mention during the National Day Rally 2015. A public endorsement like that is almost like a 免死金牌 or a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card.

Granted that there has been some comments, deemed unfortunate, during the rallies, he was merely reflecting the sentiments of many folks on the ground (whether you agree or disapprove, that's another debate another time, another place). Problem is that from a foreign diplomacy point-of-view, that was a damning faux pas.

The WP side, headed by Gerald Giam, pose a credible threat and this will be contested down to the wire.

It could go either way but I think PAP has that fasterer, betterer, cheaperer little extra to nose the tape ahead of Worker's Party.


13. Holland-Bukit Timah GRC

IMHO, I feel that this is the weaker PAP GRC compared to East Coast GRC. Vivian B did not endear himself the last election for his obsessive harping on Vincent Wijeysingha's gay orientation. This time round, it is flinging personal barbs towards Dr Chee Soon Juan. It actually reflects worse on Vivian B for seemingly petty and foolish enough to be lulled into Dr Chee's game.

After Sim Ann's speech Monday night, she has earned my most annoying candidate award. Yes. Even beating Han Hui Hui to that coveted award. (Click here -->  https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/videos/10153005168982115/)

She also reminds me of a certain scary ex-Barfly but I digress.

If NSP Choong Hon Heng was SMLJ?! Then this one is SimAnnLJ?! (sorry. couldn't resist)

If PAP loses this battle, Sim Ann must hari kiri liao.

On the surface, Vivian B may appear to be PAP's lemon after the massive budget blow on YOG. His subsequent appointment from Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports to Minister of Environment and Water Resources was viewed by some as some sort of demotion (kena signed extra duty go jaga reservoir).

In the minds of many, we thought this one is "condemn sergeant" liao and perhaps not asked to run this election or maybe not appointed into the subsequent new cabinet. Well, the first is dispelled and the second remains to be seen (I think unlikely lah).

Alas, it was full redemption as he earned the spot of being the other of the 2 to be singled out for special mention at the National Day Rally 2015. I'd like to use my "Free Spin" now!

At the other corner, we have Dr Chee Soon Juan returning to contest after a 15-year absence. His eloquence at the rostrum is second to none and I dare say he is the best speaker amongst the lot. It is scary that he has achieve rock star status with his sublime performance on stage.

Would that translate to actual votes? Remains to be seen.

I have personally not forgiven him for the harm he has done to Chiam See Tong. The younger generations of voters may not be aware of the less-than honourable things that he had committed and the fear of the possibility of an SDP victory here is very real, especially with Paul Tambyah co-piloting in the wing.

Then again, the massive turn outs at SDP rallies, for all you know, is nothing more than bored people looking for a side show to be entertained. Once the novelty wears out, pragmatism kicks in with votes still going to PAP.

Some say this one is too close to tell as it can swing either way. I doubt it. I am placing my betting chip on PAP for I really do not wish the see Judas in parliament.


14. Jalan Besar GRC

While it appears that the Worker's Party is getting stronger, I reckoned this has to be WP's weakest team.

I think many will expect this to be a close fight. However, I believe Yaacob Ibrahim, Heng Chee How and Denise Phua have enough mettle to not only fend off the challengers successfully, but to surprise pundits with a stellar margin.

I'd go for a straight-forward win in favour of the PAP.


15. Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC

In football, we talk about a team's depth of squad and this is exactly SDP's achilles' heel. With all their strong candidates in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, this relatively inconsequential B-Team will not amount to much.

No worries as far as the election deposits are concerned as I do not think anyone has ever lost their deposits at the GRC level.

Incumbents to win.


16. West Coast GRC

This could have been PAP's first victory as early as nomination day, had S. Iswaran not pointed out Reform Party's mistake, on the nomination form, ahead of closing time.

My hat to Mr Iswaran, for that is certainly a class act.

Iswaran gets my vote. (Who says Chinese only vote for Chinese? Scrap the GRC system!)

While kudos to Kenneth Jeyaratnam for sticking to West Coast GRC despite last election's failure, I'm afraid he is going to be disappointed yet again. 3rd time lucky? We can only find out come 2019/2020.


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Image Credit: http://www.straitstimes.com/

- Voxeros

SG Elections 2015 - Part 1

We are mid-way through the election hustings and it is time for me to punt the outcomes of the various electoral battles. Some will be close. Some will be one-sided. Some will be unexpected and lastly there'd be one or two to return with empty pockets.

Let's start from big constituencies to small.


1. Ang Mo Kio GRC

If VR Man, Vietnamese Bride, Banana Boy and that CREEPY-Looking Auntie (standing behind VR Man and Ravi) were to join forces with M "PA... Reform Party" Ravi and Roy "CPF" Ngerng, it would have been the ultimate dream team pummeling Lee Hsien Loong and his team to a pulp with a landslide victory. (Tharman for PM?)

Alas, it was not to be for VR Man is missing, Vietnamese Bride was dumped, Banana Boy is underaged and Creepy Auntie is well...... creepy.

What a let off for Lee Hsien Loong & Co.! Team LHL was never really tested in the past with walk-overs and contested only in the last 2 elections, where he came in at 66% and later improved to 69%.

I foresee Team LHL doing very well this time round and likely be able to breach the 70% mark.

Tharman will have to wait another 5 years to see if he got chance to be PM or not.


2. Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

I think it'd be third time lucky for Desmond Lim for once, he gets to keep his deposit. Yay!

This ward is no contest as it'd be a thumping victory for PAP to give their thumbs up for Janil Puthucheary who volunteered for national service. For Sun XueLing where she refreshed our memories that there was a time when we have hanyupinyin names (in brackets) in addition to our regular name. For Teo Ser Luck who is forgiven for his LKY91 antics falling flat.


3. Aljunied GRC

The fact that PAP is too chicken to send in a Minister to anchor this team is evidence that they are still smarting from the expensive lesson dished out to them during the last election.

With a bunch of noobs, we are reminded of the time back in 2011 when Reform Party sent in a squad of unknowns, only to walk away with nearly 50,000 votes from LHL's AMK GRC. This time round, it will be the reverse. PAP will stage a credible fight and walk away with a handful of votes. However, it won't be enough to wrestle Aljunied GRC back to PAP.

The fact that PAP sticks such a tiny wager on this bet is evidence that the almighty folks in white has already waved the white flag (no pun intended).

I was thinking why not send in Goh Chok Tong to lead the charge? Surely the senior statesman Goh has the mojo to deliver Aljunied back to PAP? If fail, the country saves $1 million per year (win-win!) but don't be too happy yet, he sure come back as President after that one lor (dammit!).

WP to return as victors while continuing to make sense of their financial numbers.


4. Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

People joked about how to tell who is from DPP and who from SPP in this joint-opposition team.

Answer? Got Hair and No Hair.

With Wong Kan Seng put out to pasture, PAP stands a better chance in this hotly-contested ward even though the new faces in the team has yet to impress (the Tiger Woods fist pump do until really siah suay). Still, I think chiobu Josephine Teo and Ng Eng Hen should nick this and come back for another 5 years.


5. Jurong GRC

Tharman for PM!! Enough said.

And SingFirst is a joke.. Enough enough said.


6. Marine Parade GRC

Marine Paraders love their ESM Goh (heng ah. never kena posted to Aljunied) and Tan Chuan Jin has fared well too. No chiobu Nicole Seah means opposition don't stand a chance. Lao Goh to return with votes in the 70% range. Mrs Goh would be most happy to be able to afford more peanuts hereon.


7. Nee Soon GRC

Too bad, it's the wrong Gurmit Singh. Had it been Phua Chu Kang, the yellow-boot one would have won outright, bringing Nee Soon, Johor Bahru and some say Batam back to Worker's Party.

PAP to win this one with Lee Bee Wah, the surprising superstar, stealing the show from Shanmugam.


8. Sembawang GRC

I suspect the reason NSP did not announce their candidates at time of Writ Of Elections is because they haven't found enough people to fill up the slots. (If people find out, very malu lor.) With the party imploding and key members mass exodus, NSP, from the days where people were starting to take them a bit more seriously with Goh Meng Seng and Nicole Seah, is now just another clown show.

They are trying to replicate their Nicole Seah success with another yew kee (幼齿), Kevryn Lim, but sequels, as we all know, are never as good as their predecessors.

PAP to win by default.


9. Tampines GRC

• Youtube (07 Sep 2015) - "Boo to PAP!" shouts NSP's Choong Hon Heng

That was one powerful speech so much so that he single-handedly hands victory to the PAP.

I say before, let us not make fun of those whose master of the English language is not as good. Hear what the person has to say. Not mock him.

In this case, whatever he was trying to say, nobody understood lor. I am sure it triggered several "SMLJ?" blank looks from the floor.

PAP to win with Baey Yam Keng, making all the aunties sploosh.


10. Tanjong Pagar GRC

This is the first ever LKY-less contest for the ward. The new candidates must be kicking themselves for not signing up earlier. This time round no more 100% guarantee plus chop sure win liao.

Luckily for them, their opposition this time will not amount to anything.

PAP to sail through with Indranee 好好嘢!!


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Image Credits: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/; http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/;

- Voxeros

Happy National Day 2013

Happy National Day, Singapore!

In case anyone has already forgotten, the above clip was taken on 16 Feb 2013 at Hong Lim Park where a protest against Gahmen initiative to populate the island further to 6.9 million by 2030 (worst case scenario, they say).

• Bloomberg (18 Feb 2013) - Singapore Protest Exposes Voter Worries About Immigration

The. next election is 2016. Nairmind. We wait.

- Voxeros

Kung Fu MP

Is it me or does our Minister knows the Tiger Kung Fu?

See both pictures above and below, then tell me if Mr Yaacob Ibrahim knows 虎拳?

Anyway, I feel it is damn dumb and insulting to attempt to regulate news stream.

First of all, there is no way to regulate it coz as many as there are big news websites out there, there are just as many small but significant ones too. Sure you can clamp down on Yahoo News et al. I would like see them plug all the holes.

And to decide what we can or cannot read, that is just down right insulting. They might as well follow QQLand's footstep and erect the Great Firewall too.

I hope they actually do that and then come 2016 see how we take the wall down with these idiots along with it like the Berlin Wall.

Oh please. Please. Please. Put up the Great Firewall Of Singapore. I beg you. Please.

Image Credit: http://publichouse.sg; http://utility.voc.com.cn

- Voxeros

Singapore Pride - Anthony Chen

First of all, congratulations to Anthony Chen for winning the Camera d'Or at this year's Festival de Cannes.

I watched the trailer (scroll down) and I like what I've seen. I can't wait for it to hit the big screen.

However, this post, despite the title is not really about Anthony Chen and his awesome award.

• mrbrown.com (27 May 2013) - Big Woot To Anthony Chen And His Cannes Win!

There were some people pouring scorn over the win due to the ties the movie had with the Gahmen i.e. the movie received grants from the Gahmen to fund the production of the movie.

Well, I am not going to talk about that either.

My issue here is a question.

What has become of Singapore that anything and everything, touched by the Gahmen, would be met with a torrent of jeers and scorn?

Are we filled with so much hatred for the Gahmen that we become blind to what they do, regardless of good or bad?

Granted that the Gahmen has done quite a lot of sucky things of late (the disastrous PUB Save Water video for example), surely we mustn't be blind and condemn them all with a single swat?

There are good things that we should applaud regardless how relatively incompetent the Gahmen has become compared to the yesteryear. Credit where it is due.

As much as it is wrong for the people to 不分青红皂白, the Gahmen must reflect deeply and buck up.

2016 is getting closer as we speak.

Media Credits: Facebook - Ilo Ilo 

-Voxeros

The Red Dot Awakens 2.1

• Facebook - PAP Confessions (15 Feb 2013) - Letter From A Grassroots Leader To PM

Read the above link before proceeding.

The letter was supposedly written anonymously by someone active in the PAP grassroot camp. While some say that the letter was fabricated, it nevertheless resonated with a lot of us. The letter said a lot of things that have been in our hearts all this while.

I personally do not think increasing of our island population is wrong but I just felt that it was too knee-jerked.

Remember the "Two Is Enough" campaign back in the 70s & 80s? The gahmen then was afraid of a population explosion as Singapore was growing at a stellar rate.

What they didn't foresee was that the outcome of that campaign was so successful that it backfired and the rapid aging population problem was to become a full-blown reality.

Anyone also recall "Two Is Enough But Three Is Better" (or something to that effect)?

So now the gahmen says let's open the floodgate and push it up to 6.9 million by 2030.

Let me ask you this. Do you see a trend here?

It's knee-jerk, knee-jerk, knee-jerk.

I have come to notice that this is the trait of our current gahmen. We are run by a bunch of myopic knee-jerkers.

But what really got my goat was the way the gahmen handled this. Bulldozing without a regard of what the people of the land has to say about it.

Remember this? --> JayWalk Online (25 Apr 2005) - CasiNo? CasiYes?

Essentially, the supposedly letter to the PM above is talking about the same thing as my blog entry circa 2005.

If anyone recall a person by the name of Pauline Hanson? She was an Australian politician who had a big beef with her own country's immigration policy where she said that they were "in danger of being swamped by Asians". I remembered my first reaction to that 1996 speech was "What a xenophobic cow!"

And here we are at Hong Lim Park protesting against the massive influx of foreigners and I and starting to understand where she was coming from.

There is a difference between xenophobia and cane toads.

• Scienceray (08 Sep 2008) - Australia’s Worst Environmental Disaster 

The next article below was an interesting one as it talked about a similiar plight faced by Britain.

• AsiaOne News (10 Feb 2013) -  London May Launch Ads On 'Horrors Of British Life'

They too, got the short end of the stick when they inadvertently let in too many people in too short a time and then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown lost his job as a result.

This got me thinking. Come 2016. What if PAP loses Ang Mo Kio GRC?

Under this scenario, while I am sure PAP would still return to power come 2016 GE (likely by the skin of their teeth), Lee Hsien Loong would be out of a job when Ang Mo Kio GRC falls.

Who then would be the one to steer the PAP ship? What would PAP be like without the Lees?

So who will be the next PM? Lee Kuan Yew coming back to the front line at the ripe old age of 93. Seriously? 93?

How about Goh Chok Tong coming out of a more recent retirement instead? Would Teo Chee Hean stand idly by and let his career advancement be stalled?

So perhaps it will be Teo Chee Hean then?

How about Chan "Kee Chiew" Chun Seng who is supposedly a future candidate for that PM seat? Too soon?

Someone else? Who?


Would this be the end of the Lee Dynasty?

Think about it.

Image Credits: http://www.straitstimes.com; http://3b1ssblog.edublogs.org; Reuters

- Voxeros

The Red Dot Awakens 2.0

• Bloomberg (17 Feb 2013) - Lee Kuan Yew Discharged From Hospital After Mini-Stroke

It's a sign.

It's a sign that marks the beginning of Lee Kuan Yew's political career coming to a close. While I wish him all the best of health and am glad to hear that he has been discharged. However, I wonder if this is the curtain call to LKY's reign.

He has done great things for the country. Singapore will not be where we are if he had not sacrifice blood, sweat and tears for us. I thank him for that from the bottom of my heart.

Problem is, "where we are" has two meanings these days. Where we are from a Malayan discard to a state of the art metropolitan. Where we are from a happy nation of one united people to an unhappy one of us versus them.

LKY is mostly associated with the former more than the latter.

The general election of 2016 will be one of great interest. Will LKY continue to run at the age of 93 (which he will end that term at 98)? If no, will the current batch of Tanjong Pagar GRC back-door MPs survive the polls without LKY's shelter? If yes, will LKY live to 98 and complete his term? What about thereafter at 103? Will he have the longevity to go on all the way to contest 2021 GE?

What about Wong Kan Seng and Mah Bow Tan? Will they survive without the backing of the elder statesman when the latter is gone?

We can only wait and see as the Red Dot Awakens.

Image Credit: Reuters/Tim Chong

- Voxeros

Chiam See Tong 2013

After the defeat at the 2011 General Elections, we don't really see much of Mr Chiam See Tong anymore.

He recently got onto the internet media bandwagon, putting up his views on the recent Singapore 2030 Population White Paper.

I am not here to critique his views on the white paper. You can google that somewhere else.

I am more concern about his well being. Obviously, the stroke has taken a very big toll on his health, albeit he is now very much better.

I notice the 5-minute video took several takes to complete and his speech was made with great difficulty. (Btw, was it me or did he say that Singapore became independent in 1957 despite the subtitles saying 1965?)

IMHO, I feel that this great servant of Singapore has paid his dues and should hand over the reigns to the next generation. I admire his spirit and fire but one cannot ignore the fact that physical condition trumps everything else.

I feel that unless he gets even better in health, he should consider retirement or at the very least take a step back.

Problem is that he has no successor. Dr Chee Soon Juan left. Wilfred Leung left. Desmond Lim left. Benjamin Pwee left. It was obvious that something inside that SPP machinery was not right, resulting in a messy implosion. The SPP today is now merely a mom-and-pop setup.

With all due respect, I think the SPP will never get to see another light of day again. Ever.

That, however, does not diminish my respect for Mr Chiam who has served Singapore dilligently for more than 30 years.

Like it or not, it is time to call it a day when the sun sets.

Take a bow, Mr Chiam. Take a bow. I applaud you.

- Voxeros

Do You Hear The People Sing?

• Channel NewsAsia (26 Jan 2013) -  WP's Lee Wins Punggol East By-Election

In my earlier entry, I feared that PAP would win the election due to the inclusion of SDA and RP in the polls, where the latter two are likely to split the WP's votes.

I was glad to be proven wrong.

So.

A hearty congratulations to the Worker's Party for capturing another constituency and adding another seat in Parliament.

A hearty congratulations to Ms Lee Li Lian for winning the election the second time round after a valiant first attempt two years ago.

A hearty congratulations to the people of Punggol-East SMC for making themselves heard and sending a reminder to the gahmen, on behalf of the rest of Singapore, that the people are not to be taken for granted.

I am glad that the folks at Punggol-East SMC were smart enough to understand that a vote for either RP or SDA is a vote taken away from WP needed to win the PAP. As such, none of the votes went to SDA and RP, sans the 500-odd sympathy votes.

The result? WP whooped PAP's ass by almost 11%.

I am glad Kenneth Jeyaratnam lost his deposit but I did feel a bit sorry for Desmond "The Android Robot" Lim for losing his.

One thing we all learn from this by-election is that you need to be physically present during your campaigning and in this case, I was referring to the rallies. A rally on youtube isn't going to be able to replace the actual hustings. 150,000 views converts to a mere 168 votes. Now we know.

So.

What is next to see?


WP
Yes. It is yet another victory for WP but it doesn't mean that the opposition is ready to take over political leadership of this nation. That is still a long way to go.

Come 2016, on top of consolidating their own consituencies, perhaps making another move on neighbouring constituencies like Seng Kang West SMC, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC?

Question is, does WP have enough credible non-idiot candidates to stand?


PAP
Dr Koh Poh Koon vowed to stay on and serve the residents of Punggol-East SMC even if he is not elected. 

Let's see if Dr Koh keeps his word.

I doubt it.


RP
Let's see if Kenneth Jeyaratnam will continue to show his face around Punggol-East now that the election is over and he is $14,500 poorer.

No more broken promises? We shall see.


SDA
I feel sorry for this little fella but I think if he has another $14,500 stashed somewhere, we will see him again come 2016.

However, instead of rocking the boat that WP is now at the helm, how about working in cooperation with WP and tackle Sengkang West SMC instead?

It is, after all, just next door.

Do you hear the people sing?  

Singing a song of angry men? 

It is the music of a people  

Who will not be slaves again! 

When the beating of your heart  

Echoes the beating of the drums 

There is a life about to start 

When tomorrow comes!  

- Les Miserables - Do You Hear The People Sing?

Image Credits: Facebook - Yee Jenn Jong; Reuters via http://www.themalaysianinsider.com; http://www.popscreencdn.com

- Voxeros

Punggol East SMC By-Election 2013

Tomorrow (26 Jan 2013) is polling day for Punggol East SMC.

Chances are, the PAP will win it again.

Now see the picture below.

This is the phenomenon at Singapore political rallies. The difference in turnout between PAP rallies and WP rallies is likened to heaven and earth. One is 12,000 (according to the above picture but some claim it to be 8,000 to be more realistic) while PAP has already been a paltry couple of hundreds (give and take a couple more).

Yet.

It is almost always the PAP emerging as the victor.

So what is going on here?

Why is it the party with the fewer supporters getting more votes? How did that happen?

If tomorrow's poll is a PAP vs WP fight, WP actually has a good chance of winning this. Alas, we have two jokers in the hat sharing the spoils as well.

Problem is, every vote that the RP or SDA gets, is a vote less for WP. It will never be at the expense of the PAP, which is why I said earlier, PAP will probably win tomorrow.

Oh and another thing. If the rally turnout is even worse than PAP, chances are that the respective candidate(s) is going to lose his/their deposits as well.

What was/were he/they thinking?

Media Credits: Facebook - Jake Wang; Occupy Singapore

- Voxeros

Dumbasses Of Punggol East

It all started when a certain microphone was plugged in wrongly, resulting in the speaker (worth SGD 550,000 per year) being replaced.

So here we are. A by-election for the Punggol East SMC.

I have been following the headlines in recent weeks and sad to say, most are head-shaking worthy, where you wonder what the hell these guys were thinking. I fear for the constituents of Punggol East SMC as they are at risk of voting in an idiot.


Dumbass #1

• ChannelNewsAsia (12 Jan 2013) - PAP's Dr Koh Says Will Serve Punggol East Regardless Of Election Outcome

I'd give him credit for fast tracking the Rivervale Plazsa project as a carrot ahead of the election but to make such a statement is plain foolish.

If I were a voter, I'd be sure to vote for the best opposition candidate. That way, I get NOT ONE, BUT TWO! candidates working for my constituency. Dr Koh say "regardless" one right?


Dumbass #2

• TodayOnline (11 Jan 2013) - SDP Proposes Joint Campaign With Workers' Party

I find it laughable that SDP were to make such a insolent announcement as if they were the better party amongst the opposition. Let's look at the numbers. WP 6, SDP 0. Heck, they are not even second. Mrs Chiam's seat as an NCMP means even the SPP fared better.

So SDP to stand as candidate and should the candidate wins, he/she gets a seat in parliament while soooo generously giving the task of running the Town Council to WP.

Oh the nerve!

There was a later turnaround saying that it was misinterpreted as Dr Chee meant to say that SDP to stand for election then WP to run Town Council OR vice-versa. I think Dr Chee drink too much Glucolin again.


Dumbass #2.1

• TodayOnline (15 Jan 2013) - SDP Knew WP Would Rebuff Plan, Says Chee

Here's the thing. If you KNEW WP would rebuff the plan, why even initiate it in the first place? Dumbass.

• Facebook - Tan Kin Lian (11 Jan 2013) - I Am Quite Disappointed...

On a separte note, I disagree with Tan Kin Lian view on WP's refusal to talk to SDP as petty. I view it as NOT WASTING TIME.

• Bertha Harian (13 Jan 2013) - A Possible WP Response To SDP

Bertha did a spoof reply to SDP on behalf of Low Thia Kiang. Very well written as I laughed to the very last letter. KUDOS!

Update: SDP has decided to withdraw from the electoral race. OK. Good. 1 idiot down, two to go.


Dumbass #3

• TodayOnline (15 Jan 2013) - SDA's Desmond Lim To Contest In Punggol East

With only 4.45%, Desmond Lim lost his deposit in the last election. He was lucky that his result didn't affect the outcome of the poll. WP's Lee Li Lian's 41.01%, even with Desmond Lim's 4.45% (total 45.46%) still can't beat's Palmer's 54.54%. Had Desmond Lim garnered 9%, he would have been labeled Sabo King Of The Year.

So anyway, coming back, it looks like Desmond Lim has another SGD 14,500 to throw away. I really don't know what this guy is thinking. Even if he triples his votes this time round, it still won't win him the election. So why bother?

I am starting to suspect Desmond Lim being an undercover saboteur planted by the PAP. 无间道 siah!

Dumbass #4

• AsiaOne (15 Jan 2013) - Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaratnam Will Contest

For someone who has been working the West Coast constituency (South-West, if I may add), Kenneth Jeyaratnam suddenly shows up in the North-East wanting to win the election. Seriously??

Between the two Jeyaratnams, I admired the late Joshua Benjamin. A true fighter who earned his creds from the the ground up. Kenneth should do the same and not, according to some folks on the internet, ride on the coat tails of his late father.

• TodayOnline (16 Jan 2013) - Reform Party Chief Vows 'No More Broken Promises'

I find it distasteful that he said that the WP candidate has been missing in action since GE 2011. Not that I am a supporter of WP, but I feel that it is not his place to judge since he himself didn't exist in Punggol East until what? Last week?

In any case, this is another sucker destined to lose his SGD 14,500 deposit.

To wind up this entry, here's the recap. We have a PAP candidate, a WP candidate and two sabo kings (independents excluded). Looks like PAP will retain this seat at the end of the day.

Image Credit: http://www.straitstimes.com/

- Voxeros

The Ten Dollar Peach Garden Carrot Cake

• AsiaOne (19 Jan 2012) - Don't Underpay Our Ministers: Lee Kuan Yew

I agree that we must not underpay our ministers lest we risk them seeking "alternative sources" of income like those in corrupt countries around the world.

However, what LKY did not do was to follow up with a subsequent statement i.e.

We cannot OVERpay our ministers and argue that their sole reward, if not main, should be money above their contribution to the public good.

Coming back to Chan Chun Seng's $10 Peach Garden carrot cake.

I know what he is driving at. He is advocating 一分钱一分货. The fact that a BMW 740 will definitely be more expensive than a Kia Picanto because one is a German luxurious marvel of automobile technology, the other a Korean tin can on wheels.

The problem is that, and this is where we realise the horror of how we have made the mistake of voting in a simpleton into the cabinet, the price that we paid for the BMW 740 is in fact more than enough to buy a Ferrari 458 Italia.

Yes, BMW 740 is still an excellent car but I much prefer to pay the price of a BMW 740 and get the BMW 740.

I don't have any qualms paying my Prime Minister 3 millions dollars a year and my ministers more than 1 million dollars a year. Each.

Question is that have they performed up to the mark where the people feel that these millions spent were justified.

In short, were they underpaid as LKY hinted?

Judging from the sliding vote numbers with each election and the government scrambling to assemble a ministerial pay review committee to appease the people.

The answer is obviously NO.

Uncle, you want me to pay $10 for a plate of your carrot cake? 
Your carrot cake got enough standard or not? 
Come back when you as good as Peach Garden, then we talk about your $10. Wokay?

Image Credit: http://facebook.com/thecartoonpress

- Voxeros

Support That Really Counts

Chen Show Mao via kwout

mrbrown highlighted to us, back in December 2011, Chen Show Mao's facebook test status while being an entry of zero content, it still garnered 45 "Likes" and 19 Comments (See below).

I just did another screen capture (dated 18 Jan 2012), the numbers have climbed to 144 "Likes" and 29 Comments.

All for a blank entry.

Popularity is one thing but it isn't worth anything. Chen Show Mao is lucky that at today's current level of technology, people are not yet able to fling their panties at Chen Show Mao via their monitor screens.

Lucky him.

This reminded me of the US elections back in 2000 where despite Al Gore winning the popular vote (48.49% to Bush 47.97%), he lost the presidential race to George W. Bush simply because electoral vote was what decided the presidency.

Same goes for our recently concluded General Election 2011. The opposition won 39.9% of the votes but yet out of the 87 parliamentary seats available, the opposition won only 6. By simple percentage arithmetic, it should have been 34 but that was not how the rules were set.

Support is important but it has value only when it is converted into electoral presence.

Electoral Presence is important but it has value only when it is converted into valid votes.

The disunity amongst the opposition parties was what threw the Men In White a lifeline during the last election.

Will the opposition learn their lesson in the next General Election in 2016?

We shall wait and see.

Opposition MP Chen Show Mao posts a test message on his Faceb... on Twitpic via kwout

- Voxeros

Wrong System Of Pay Will Get You The Wrong Team

PM Lee: Wrong system of pay will get you the wrong team « Editorial « TR EMERITUS via kwout

• TR Emeritus (18 Jan 2012) - PM Lee: Wrong System Of Pay Will Get You The Wrong Team

There has been much talks over Ministerial Salary after the review committee has revealed their recommendations.

While I appreciate the fact that the exorbitant salaries has been brought down significantly (pending passing of the legislation), I feel that the number is still a bit off from what I felt would be a fair number.

MP Chen Show Mao's speech on Ministerial Salary Review via kwout

Chen Show Mao reveal that his Worker's Party proposed a monthly SGD 11,000 for an MP, SGD 55,000 onward,  to SGD 99,000 for the PM.

This, I felt is the correct level of pay that is enough to provide a very good living for the office bearers and yet at the same time not 劳民伤财.

I disagree that to have the pay cut to WP's proposed level is such a big sacrifice that it creates hardship for the office bearers. Mind you, SGD 11,000 per month will provide a very comfortable living and do not forget that we have to multiply this for 60 months, totaling SGD 660,000 before the next election. Do a good job and this 60-month tenure may be multiplied by a second term or more.

At the very least, it is ONE GOH CHOK TONG PEANUT to bring home even for a lousy job.

I concede that having money is a good thing but it will come to a point where the next dollar will not bring you the utility of the previous. There is only so much rice one person can eat after all.

All Your XMMs Are Belong To JayWalk - Voxeros [JayWalk] on Plurk via kwout

The way I see it, please spare me the bullshit of lower pay not being able to attract good enough candidates to run the country.

Chan Chun Seng's $10 carrot cake analogy is seriously flawed where if the carrot cake quality is good, $10 is a fair price to pay and that if the quality is bad, even $1.50 is a bad price to pay. On the surface, it may sound logical but do look at it again and deeper this time, who says a $1.50 plate of carrot cake is guaranteed to be bad?

So a word to all the "aggrieved" MPs and Ministers. If this reduced pay is causing such pain to you, I suggest you refuse the job and resign. I am sure there are just as many candidates out there who are just as capable, if not more, willing to take over and accept a more decent level of salary.

Public Service is a calling. Get that drilled into your brains.

"Wrong System Of Pay Will Get You The Wrong Team".

Yes, PM Lee, for once, I absolutely agree with you.

We definitely got the wrong team because I felt our current system of pay is wrong.

Image Credit: http://www.tremeritus.com; http://www.asiaone.com

- Voxeros

A Flu Worth Four Thousand Likes

• New Nation (14 Jan 2012) - Chen Show Mao Is The God Of Social Media

I saw the above cartoon above and it was just too funny for words.

Then when the joke has subsided, I began to worry.

Yes, Chen Show Mao is a very popular figure, especially on the internet but it seems that this "worshipping" has gone out of control.

It reminds me of the old days where there was a Bandung Vader blogger whose zombied fans just idolise the author regardless of what rubbish she puts up on her blog.

Having a lot of support is a good thing but when the credibility of this support is compromised, it may just amount to nothing at the end of the day.

Perhaps this is why the White Pants Party people aren't too concerned about the huge gap difference between their online popularity and CSM's.

Image Credit: http://newnation.sg

- Voxeros

Do You See Where The Problem Really Is?

Twitter / @ctrlaltreboot: I swore myself that I'll t ... via kwout

Twitter / @JYSQstars: Singtel 3G sucks max . ... via kwout

Twitter / @vOn_vOn_: StarHub 3G network sucks!! ... via kwout

These days complains about our mobile network are a dime a dozen. You hear one every other day.

We have only 3 Mobile Telcos to our name and yet not a single one was spared from someone's wrath at any one time. So the question is, if this one no good, that one bad and the third one is pathetic? Where do we go from there?

Are our telcos so bad or is there another underlying reason explaining all these?

Let's pause for a moment here while I jump to another topic before tying everything up together. Then you will see where I am heading with this.

This is a picture familiar to all those in Singapore. Everyone must have seen this particular picture at one point in time or another as it was widely circulated in cyberspace when the Circle Line of the SMRT was just launched.

This was a scene at one of the MRT station when the train broke down. It wasn't a one-off incident but it seems to be happening every other day now.

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see the link between the two MRT pictures above.

So. To tie up everything as mentioned earlier.

I do not think that any of our mobile telcos themselves are that bad except for spotty coverage and the odd system crash in certain parts of the island.

I do not think that our SMRT train system itself is that bad except for hints of cutting corners at the expense of proper maintenance.

I see the real problem is capacity inadequacy. Our SMRT train system and mobile telcos simply aren't geared to undertake our present load of usage.

You may blast them for their failure to plan ahead but seriously let me ask you this. 

How many of you actually expected our population to explode at such a ridiculous rate 10 years ago? 20 years ago?

Kee chiu!

Perhaps it was info privy only to a certain white pants club but to the rest of us, I don't think anyone foresee it.

Yes, we need population replenishment from the outside given that our total fertility rate was a pathetic 1.15. But the open the flood gates like a cheap aging prostitute is just plain stupid.

Just because you missed your breakfast and lunch, doesn't mean you have to eat 3 portions at dinner. Yes, you would probably eat more than you would compared to a normal dinner but certainly not 3 times the regular portion.

The problem would not have been so bad if we have vast spaces of land to further develop and expand but may I remind you that we are on a tiny island that starting from Changi Airport, a Formula 1 racing car would only need less than 10 minutes to overshoot itself into the sea off Tuas. Less than 5 minutes if you start from Causeway towards Sentosa.*

* Simple straight line calculation.

Do you see where the problem really is? 

Hint: It is not the mobile telcos or SMRT for their respective failures to plan ahead (except for a few misgivings here and there).

Image Credits: http://staticc02.insing.com; http://l.yimg.com

- Voxeros

Can CSM Do No Wrong?

Daphne Maia (daphnemaia) on Twitter via kwout

Daphne's tweet got me thinking what I felt was a very good question.

The way I see it, as long as he remains in the limelight, he will continue to do good.

We have seen how the other politicians are where as soon as the spotlight is no longer on them, they slack off.

Over the last decade of two, our political apathy has given our incumbent politicians a free pass to 为非作歹. 一手遮天.

During the election period, when the media spotlight was on each and every one of them, you see how they are so on the ball doing this and that and this for the people.

Now that the media attention has faded, do you still see them as goodie as before?

For the case of Chen Show Mao, the media attention is still very much on him, not from the mainstream media but from his own updates on Facebook. Perhaps that is the very fuel that keeps him going and as far as I am concerned, I say he is doing a great job at it.

Keep it up and come the next election, he will get to keep his seat.

Well done, so far. :)

Image Credit: Facebook - Chen Show Mao

- Voxeros

Singapore PresiTAN Election 2011 - Vote Who Ah?

It is only a few hours before the polling starts for us to vote for the next president of Singapore.

I am still undecided at this point and so I thought I share my thought processes here. Hopefully, I have a better inkling by the time I pen this.

1. Tony Tan is definitely eliminated from my list as he is PAP. From one angle you see PAP returning to power in the General Elections 2011 earlier in the year with 60% of the vote. When people don't realise is that there is 40% of the electoral votes out there who actually oppose the PAP. If you were to look closer you would have also noticed that the votes for the PAP, over the years, has slid from 75% to 66% to now 60%.
   
   People are not happy with the PAP. So voting Tony Tan would be to add one more PAP man into the foray and add to the aggravation.
   
   
2. Tan Jee Say is also eliminated from my list. I see him as a person who rocks the boat and making everyone sea sick rather than to help the Gahmen steer it. I saw him in the TOC Face2Face forum and I find him a tad too aggressive and confrontational. You have to understand that the president has no executive powers and if anything thing needs to be done, it would require the help of the Gahmen to do it.
   
   Tan Jee Say is certainly one who will not be able to get much support from the Gahmen.
   
   
3. Tan Cheng Bok is a likely candidate for me to vote. He was a respected MP in the past and is known not to be a Yes-Man in amongst the rank of the Men In White. What Tan Jee Say, can't do. Tan Cheng Bok can. He has lobbying power to the fellow active MPs to support him.
   
   However, his silence from doing something about the exhorbitant $4 million salary per annum that comes with this position leaves a sour taste in my tongue and I still regard him as a PAP men, albeit less of a concern with regards to Tony Tan.
   
   
4. Tan Kin Lian is a person I have gotten to know, via the web, when the Lehman Brothers toxic minibonds fell apart. I appreciated his efforts to organise events to get the affected investors together and help them seek help from the various authorities. I felt that was one class act.
   
   Tan Kin Lian is the only one we can see running around and actively doing things for the people for quite a while already. He is not your typical MP candidate who merely show up shaking hands just mere days before election time. All claimed to be the people's president but in terms of crebility, Tan Kin Lian has the edge based on what he has been doing all this while.
   
   I also appreciate the gesture that he pledged to donate more than half of the president's salary if he were to be elected. Granted Tan Jee Say came in subsequently to "undercut" at $500k, I say the impact is not there if you weren't the first strike.
   
   Unfortunately, I think the shoes of the president may be a little too big for TKL. I am not sure if he has what it takes to be President. If Tan Jee Say does not have much leeway to lobby for support, I am afraid that Tan Kin Lian may not fair any better.
   
   If the Gahmen were to oppose Tan Jee Say, then on the same token I would say that the Gahmen would bor hiew Tan Kin Lian. Lagi worse coz at the very least Tan Jee Say will get some attention from the Gahmen.
   
   One of the functions of the president is to receive foreign dignitaries but I felt that Tan Kin Lian isn't eloquent enough to hold a decent English conversation. It may proved to be a challenge to represent the country in a slightly more elegant and dignified fashion. Still, this should be something that can be  resolved if Tan Kin Lian were to engaged a speech coach, just as if Tony Tan were to hire a Mandarin tutor.
   
   Perhaps Tan Kin Lian should go watch the movie, The King's Speech. It should inspire.

Decision. Decision. Decision

Image Credit: http://theonlinecitizen.com

- Voxeros

Singapore President Lelong!! Lelong!!!

• TodayOnline (21 Aug 2011) - Tan Jee Say: S$500,000 Is Enough For Me
  
  
• JayWalk Online (28 Jul 2011) - Singapore Presidential Election 2011

Remember when I mentioned in my previous Singapore Presidential Election 2011 entry that I would vote for the cheapest candidate since none of them will be doing much, since the Gahmen will be pulling all the stops to cock block whatever the newly elected president said that he would do in his campaign speeches.

First, we have Tan Kin Lian who shaves the President's salary (SGD 4 million+) by half, promising to donate at least half of his salary away.

Now, we have Tan Jee Say who comes in at $500k, thereby shaving Tan Kin Lian's intended salary to just a quarter.

So going by geometric progression where we have 1 > 1/2 > 1/4, that means the next candidate who plays the next salary cut card, shall declare his salary to 1/8 of Tan Jee Say's i.e. SGD 62,500 per year.

I like where this is heading. Heh heh.

Lai ah!!!! Singapore President Lelong!!! Lelong!!!

Image Credit: http://sin.stb.s-msn.com

- Voxeros