I am disappointed with the kinds of ad hominem attacks being made at the person from the PAP who is being labelled as the PAP’s youngest candidate to be introduced this time around.
It is one thing to comment on how the MSM covered her introduction with a “Ring”-like photo on the front page – the criticism is about how the MSM made the classic editorial mistake of a bad photo, and it is another to do character-assassination which seems to be what is being done. Give the lady a chance. Everyone deserves a chance. Yes, even though I will never vote PAP, I will still want to hear them out. I am sure she has some sincerity and clearly would want to serve. She says that she has been working on the ground in the Ulu Pandan area for 4 years. Kudos to her then.
The vitriol that is being made is with regards to her husband being the principal private secretary to Lee Hsien Loong (the Prime Minister). That there is nepotism and/or cronyism in play could be a fair comment; but that is a field that is well oiled with the ruling party, so one should not be surprised.
The scenario that would will disappoint my fellow citizens will be if she is grouped in the GerrymandeRed-Constituency-scheme and that GRC does not get contested. In that case, she walks into parliament without being actually voted in.
Remember – in 2006, only 34.27% of all voters VOTED for the PAP who went on to get 97.6% of seats in parliament! An unaccountable parliament could again be in place in 2011.
So, let’s take the higher ground. Let’s show the world that Singaporeans are fair and passionate people. See Cherian’s post on this topic.
[…] Mandarins on the Block – life one degree north, one-o-three degrees east: Taking the higher ground – insights, interests, intelligence: Tin Pei Ling and PAP – arguments for and against – Mr […]
I read Cherian’s article from your link. I agree with your views as well as Cherian’s.
I note also his lack of passion in not calling into question the ruling party’s knuckle duster approach to politics in the past. His use of the James Gomez episode is an example of the ruling party going after a WP candidate. In the case of the TPL, however the alternative political parties did not start or foment the flame throwing in the net. Give them some credit for their gentlemanly behavior.