8/29/2015

When PAP in minority position

Parliament has been the playground of the PAP for five decades. In Parliament, the PAP rules with absolute majority and the opposition could hardly be seen, heard or noticed. The PAP dominated all debates and any opposition that tried to make a stand would end up as a victim of jeering and sneering and dismissive laughter. The unfortunate ones would either be thumped down or suffered the glare of cold steely stare.

It is a very frightening experience for the opposition candidates in Parliament if they are emotionally unprepared for the ordeal. The sheer majority or the volume of sneering laughter would be enough to cower them into submission. Would the PAP ever be in a position of minority and how would they react?

The NUSS Political Dialogue gave a glimpse of what it would be like to be in the minority for a PAP MP. Sim Ann was the sole representative in a panel with 9 opposition leaders and a clever and mischievous moderator that was friendly to the PAP side but not without needling at the PAP. Actually it was all done with good humour without being offensive and dismissive like in Parliament. The moderator, Viswa, an ex NMP, knew how it felt.  Ooooohh…  He had first hand experience of the most menacing kind. Kishore said Viswa was slapped by the dictator.

With the nine opposition leaders taking their stand against the PAP, and with an audience that acted like the backbenchers of the majority in Parliament, laughing, jeering and sneering, Sim Ann must be feeling how it was like in Parliament for the opposition MPs. It was one against not only 9 opposition leaders but also the gallery. The PAP’s voice was a lonely voice in the crowd and often not well received. At one stage a group broke into loud laughter in the midst of Sim Ann’s commentary that disrupted her composure. ‘What was that, did I make a joke?’ or something like that was her response.


What would it be like if the current situation in Parliament is reversed after the next GE? It could be comical when the cold glare would come from the new ruling govt, accompanied by jeets and sneers. Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim should start to practice this art of killing by staring in Parliament. Jee Say should also learn this trick.

16 comments:

The said...

These are the quotes when PAP was in the minority/opposition position:

“But we either believe in democracy or we not. If we do, then, we must say categorically, without qualification, that no restraint from the any democratic processes, other than by the ordinary law of the land, should be allowed… If you believe in democracy, you must believe in it unconditionally. If you believe that men should be free, then, they should have the right of free association, of free speech, of free publication. Then, no law should permit those democratic processes to be set at nought.”
- Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition leader, April 27, 1955

“If it is not totalitarian to arrest a man and detain him, when you cannot charge him with any offence against any written law – if that is not what we have always cried out against in Fascist states – then what is it?… If we are to survive as a free democracy, then we must be prepared, in principle, to concede to our enemies – even those who do not subscribe to our views – as much constitutional rights as you concede yourself.”
- Opposition leader Lee Kuan Yew, Legislative Assembly Debates, Sept 21, 1955

“If we say that we believe in democracy, if we say that the fabric of a democratic society is one which allows for the free play of idea…then, in the name of all the gods, give that free play a chance to work within the constitutional framework.”
- Opposition leader Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Oct 4, 1956

“Repression, Sir is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love-it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack. All you have to do is to dissolve organizations and societies and banish and detain the key political workers in these societies. Then miraculously everything is tranquil on the surface. Then an intimidated press and the government-controlled radio together can regularly sing your praises, and slowly and steadily the people are made to forget the evil things that have already been done, or if these things are referred to again they’re conveniently distorted and distorted with impunity, because there will be no opposition to contradict.”
-Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition PAP member speaking to David Marshall, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Debates, 4 October, 1956

“…you attack only those whom your Special Branch can definitely say are communists. Then you attack those whom your Special Branch says are aiding communists. Then finally, when you have gone that far, you attack all who oppose you.”
-Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition PAP member speaking to David Marshall, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Debates, 4 October, 1956

“These powers will not be allowed to be used against political opponents within the system who compete for the right to work the system. That is fundamental and basic or the powers will have destroyed the purpose for which they were forged.”
- Lee Kuan Yew speaking in Parliament on the Preservation of Public Security Act, a precursor to the ISA, Oct 14, 1959

“I pointed to an article with bold headlines reporting that the police had refused to allow the PAP to hold a rally at Empress Place, and then to the last paragraph where in small type it added the meeting would take place where we were now. I compared this with a prominent report about an SPA rally. This was flagrant bias.”
- Lee Kuan Yew commenting on the Straits Times, 1959.

“Repression can only go up to a point. When it becomes too acute, the instruments of repression, namely the army and the police, have been proved time and time again in history to have turned their guns on their masters.”
- Opposition leader Lee Kuan Yew, Straits Times, May 5, 1959


Anonymous said...

RB wrote, " Would the PAP ever be in a position of minority and how would they react? "

Dream on to those who think the above would materialise. PAP has it all sewn up. September 12 and all PAP MPs and all PAP supporters will be the ones laughing.The possibility of the Oppositions in Singapore holding majority seats in Parliament is so remote that it is not worth considering.

The PAP machine is so well oiled and running at maximum efficiency that the Oppositions will never be able to gain a majority. Like it or not, the PAP government knows how to figure out how Singaporeans tick. They have 50 over years of experience in this. A few handouts and a few bonuses at the right time would ensure victory of the PAP.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Hahaha. You are so funny, The.

jjgg said...

It really proves an indelible point...politicians talk cock..and the bigger the politician the bigger the cock ( now..don't go sizing up the crotch ok.. It's only a figure of speech )t hehe

Anonymous said...

The [IQ Exclusive] Political Dialogue @ NUSS: General Election 2015 is well worth our time in watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aZGutMJir4

Much as I loved how isolated PAP's Sim Ann was ... a lone voice in the wilderness.

I was even more encouraged and heartened by the sense of shared values and common ground among the representatives of the nine Alternative Parties.
- truly, if we had a coalition government of these nine Alternative Parties
- I believe Singaporeans will be in good hands

I think the 9 representatives on the podium are more credible and qualified than most PAP MPs were in 1965.
So if PAP (1965) could keep Singapore safe.
Why not the Alternative Parties (2015) ?

Stay true and honest to our Singaporean Pledge.
A Pledge is an Oath.
A solemn promise.
"To build a democratic society.
Based on justice and equality."

Support and vote for the Alternative Parties.
Because our Pledge does not appear to be happening under the present PAP government.

PS:
LKY calls our Singaporean Pledge an "aspiration".
Does this mean he does not think it's a solemn promise worth keeping?

http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=8994

Anonymous said...

Take a long hard look at LKY as he talks about our Pledge (what LKY calls an aspiration) in this video.
http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=8994

Please don't let a tired old man and his political party take away the dreams, courage and vitality of our Singaporean children.

If we vote PAP, it will be another 50 years of "LKY say this, LKY did that" in parliament.
Just a bunch of overpaid parrots with no new ideas for the next 50 years.

Anonymous said...

Hi RB, can you check your yahoo mail please? Thanks.

Anonymous said...

What would it be like if the current situation in Parliament is reversed after the next GE?
RB

Ask this question only when the Sinkie opposition is ready to be govt.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ RB:

>> What would it be like if the current situation in Parliament is reversed after the next GE? It could be comical when the cold glare would come from the new ruling govt, accompanied by jeets and sneers. <<

Actually it could notch up even more.

Let's face it, Singapore parliament is BORING to watch. The PAP are clean and efficient govt---nary a scandal, monopolistic dominance of the parliamentary process---aiyah, predictable and no fun.

Now consider redbean's scenario. WOW! Firstly: PAYBACK'S A BITCH, BIATCHEZ!! No more majority. Sure kena "bully", and people will cheer.

However it is still boring. In other cuntries, occasionally their parliaments will degenerate into a free for all---Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine etc...all have histories of their Members of Parliament smacking the living fuck out of each other.

Or what about Russia when only recently the opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was murdered? Yes, yes, yes!!! This is what I fucking want---politics so passionate that they are willing to slaughter one another over their differences. I don't just enjoy this, I encourage it: Go out and KILL politicians!

So yah. If the opposition are fortunate enough to get a parliamentary majority, I hope they do a BETTER JOB than the PAP in bringing some colour, vigour and theater to the political fray and parliamentary processes. Fights, attempts on each others' lives and if blood runs in the streets to "entertain" us, so be it!

Which politician would you like to die today? :-))

Virgo 49 said...

Anon 10.04 must br s die hard well oil brained washed PAP supporter.

Hi matilah, you cock sure the papies clean and efficient government with no scandals??

Don't guess too fast. After GE 2015, even the opposition do not form the government.

Everyday new discoveries won't make your life dull.

Cheers


Anonymous said...

Anon 10:04 is a machine. Nothing inside the head.

Anonymous said...


Getting Very Exciting!

The more I read, the more "eat strength" (in hokkien) about this GE.

Wawawa.....what is happening?

Is it true that the oppositions are going to win many more seats?

Wawawa.....what is happening?

Like the hokkien say this GE is going to be "very eat strength"!

Is it PAP "very eat strength" or Oppositions "very eat strength"?

Will know on 12 Sept 2015 early morning!

Sure many will be very very very surprised by the results!

Cheers.

Anonymous said...

Sure many will be very very very surprised by the results!
Anon 3:05 p.m.

Tiok. If PAP win big again, many will be very very very surprised. But if the opposition win big, many will also be very very very surprised.

So for sure many will be very very very surprised, whatever the results.

Hands-On Green Matters said...

Check out 2 green PDF read for GE 2015 Manifesto
• Empower Your Future from WP
• With You, For You, For Singapore from PAP

Anonymous said...

JOKE:
============
PAP (2015) will be renamed LKYSS Party.
The “LKY Say So Party”.
- Party insiders jokingly call themselves the MFSS Party
“My Father Say So Party”.

The name change was deemed necessary because PAP(2015) does not foresee that it has anything new to offer beyond what LKY has already said in his last 50 books.

Anonymous said...

Its time to fixed the PAP.
Hahahaha.