Gomez slip: an interim measure

The WP is now under tremendous pressure to do something to parry off the attack on Gomez. To accept the PAP's suggestion and withdraw Gomez at this point in time will immediately destroy their chances in the election. Some WP supporters will see it as a betrayer of their own member. Some will see it as capitulation under PAP's pressure. While the public may see it as an admission of guilt. But not to do anything will allow some who have already been swayed by the logic and evidence presented that WP is part of a conspiracy or Sylvia being involved as well. And that WP is refusing to clean its own house. This is equally bad. Either way, WP's chance of a victory is gravely undermined. What perhaps is a compromise solution and to delay taking immediate action of any kind is for Gomez to make a commitment that he will resigned from the team if he is proven guilty in a court of law. Until a charge is filed against him, and until he is given an opportunity to defend himself in court, he is as innocent as any one. Let the due process of law take its natural course to prove his guilt. And till then, no one shall continue to talk about the case as it will compromise his defence in court later. With such an undertaking by himself, he and his team can then concentrate on the election itself. And should anyone continue to harp on the issue, it could be seen as attempting to interfere in a case pending trial. Now this I am not too sure whether this is sufficient to restrain anyone from passing more comments and further aggravating the situation. At least it is some kind of a response to what the PAP is demanding but without weakening their election effort.

does sylvia lim know?

Sylvia Lim is now expected to be answerable for the actions of Gomez. According to reported evidence, she went to the counter with Gomez to ask for the minority form. And when Gomez was filling the form, she left to attend to the press and returned later. This was what Today paper said: '...Mr Wong said that while Mr Gomez claimed that Ms Lim had seen him submit the form, the tape showed she was not with him when he put the envelope in the bag. "She must know that Mr Gomez has not been truthful. Instead...she has sought to trivialise the matter by saying we are splitting hairs."' Are the two above statements conflicting? Sylvia was not there when Gomez put the form in the bag. So how could she know? She can only know if we know that the two have colluded and planned the whole event. But is there evidence on this? Back to top '); //-->

gomez guilty

The Gomez issue has taken centre stage in this election. He is now faced with an accusation that he intentionally tried to cast doubts on the integrity of the elections department and the election system. This is a serious charge and the PAP expects the WP to take action against him, even to withdraw him from the election. Far from being a 'distracted' candidate who made an 'unintentional omission' and then apologised for it, Mr James Gomez set out to deliberately set up the Elections Dept with the eventual aim of showing that the Govt had no integrity, said Deputy PM Wong Kan Seng.... The acts show beyond any doubt that Mr Gomez lied.' said Mr Wong. 'This was no small lie.' quote Today. According to George Yeo the WP could still contest theelection without Gomez, with only 4 candidates. Should WP continue to field Gomez, then it stands to be seen as either an accomplice or supporting his wrong doing. Does WP has a choice of not doing anything now on the ground that Gomez has not been proven or found guilty by a court of law? Or is Kan Seng's investigation enough to hang him? And if WP take this stand, can the police arrest him and put him in custody pending trial? Is this a seizable offence? At the moment the WP's position is that it is an honest mistake. While the PAP said it is not an honest mistake but with intent to cause mischief. Can the WP continue to contest the election and wait for a charge to be filed against Gomez?

means testing is now not a PAP promise

Boon Wan has said that he is putting the means testing on hold. There are many practical reasons that have yet to be sorted out and if it is too cumbersome, he might not implement it. I hope he remembers that he has cautioned people from spending lavishly on healthcare, that prudence with their money is very important. People should be very careful to have enough for that rainy day, or days. Nobody knows how much is enough when such things are concerned. The other issue that Boon Wan might want to look into is the concept and policies on how to charge for medicare. Can medicare be priced the way a tv or a car be priced? Is the value of life of a young man different from an old man, a worker different from a millionaire? Should they be charged differently in a government/public hospital when everyone is assumed to be the same? Should people be given more choices on how to spread their little savings in their CPF to pay for medicare? Should the govt insist on how much people should pay and dictate the choices for them?

where is the beef?

After four days of rallies, all the people heard were promises of more good things for the people and one upmanship, or trying to run down the opponent. Is this the quality of debate in a general election of a first world country? For having a first world govt and being paid out of this world salary, the people can expect and must demand more quality and substance. It is time for the govt to go down to brass tacks and tell the people what they are going to do to give the people a better life. Yes Hsien Loong said that the govt is going to tackle rising cost of living issues which they have forgotten in the last few years. Ok it is alright to have amnesia and forget that they have to look after the people's interest all the time and not during a general election. Now the people must want to hear what are the steps the govt is going to take to solve the people's problems. How are transport fares and all other fees going to come down? Or they cannot come down, out of the govt's control as they are determined by external factors? What about high cost of medical fees and school fees? What about quality jobs, unemployement and senior workers? Tell the people what will be done and how and when it will be done. These are not new problems and many thinking heads must have been looking at them and would have worked out something by now. They can't be thinking about them now because there is a general election. And for being paid out of this world salary, the people would expect out of this world solutions. So far nothing out of this world have been said. The solution to pay ever higher medical fees by different schemes through insurance and medisave are nothing enlightening. The fees still go up and the people still pay. Show the people some brilliant solutions to justify the high salary so that the people will all shut up and even respect the govt more. But if the solutions are the standard regular increases in fees and fares to maintain good profits, then there is nothing unusual. Four more days to roll out what the govt is going to do, in details. Staying together, moving ahead must now be translated into follow up actions.