Punggol East SMC, 还我公道

The similarities in the Michael Palmer affair and that of Yaw Shin Leong were unparallel, almost identical. The Yaw Affair put the WP in a very bad light and caught Low Thia Khiang with hands tied behind his back. There was nothing that he could do except to swallow humble pie, took the slaps, left and turn the other right, meekly. What else could he do otherwise?

It was a great triumph for the PAP. They stood on high moral grounds and principles. They slammed the WP thoroughly with everything they got. Every point that could be scored was taken. The defeat was almost complete, nearly, if not for the result of the by election. That was a rude awakening to the PAP, that despite standing on high moral grounds and from a recent moral victory, they still lost the seat to the WP.

Though the WP managed to secure Hougang, they were treading on dangerous ground. They need to take a very low profile, be very careful and meticulous, not to make any mistake till the next GE. They must hold the ground tightly. Another scandal will be the end of all the good works they have done.

The PAP was waiting outside the fence, looking for holes and waiting for a clear opportunity to score a decisive goal. They needed time for the shaky ground to turn sour for the WP.

No one in the WP or the PAP could ever dream of this Palmer Affair that is going to present the WP with a penalty kick. In the last assault on the WP during the Yaw Affair, the WP must have conscientiously recorded every word the PAP and its ministers had said. Low Thia Khiang may have even etched these words on his back, never to be forgotten. Now he is being presented a chance, on a golden platter, to serve the same words to the PAP with glee. I can see him smiling.

Every PAP ministers who had spoken would now be put to test to stand by what they preached, on high moral grounds, to say the same in the Palmer Affair. Twisting and changing their stance would compromise their integrity and subject them to public scrutiny as men and women of principles and high morals. Not chastising Palmer/PAP in the same way they did to Yaw/WP is unacceptable and will call into question their honesty and sincerity as men and leaders of a just and fair society. Would they deny what they had spoken, steered away and hide in the corner to wait for the dust to settle? Unfortunately this dust will not settle until they say the same things once again, to Palmer and to clear their party of such improper conduct, to be seen as fair and consistent on acts of misconduct and behaviour. Everyone of them will have to account for the same mistake of Palmer.

It is a tough call, to swallow one’s own words. There is no where to hide. Every word they said is on record. Would it be apologies not enough?