Following Gilbert Goh’s internet petition to the UN I
browsed through some of the comments and have made a few observations which I
think those in power should seriously look into it. The victory is sealed and
nothing can be done to it. But why the petition and the negative sentiments
from those who put their signature to the petition? At last count more than
1,200 and growing? It could be an exercise in futility and at best a pyrrhic
victory of sort, or just to make a statement, but the sentiments and
perceptions are real and cannot be simply ignored. The people who signed the
petition must be very disturbed and angry with the election for whatever
reasons they perceived to be wrong and unfair. Let me make a few comments here. I also copied some of the comments penned in
the petition and attached below.
1. There is a negative perception that the election was
rigged, unfair or something was wrong, but no one could prove anything. The gut
feel is disturbing enough even if it is untrue or wild imagination. It is how
the people are seeing and believing.
2. There is a high proportion of Malay citizens feeling
very sore about the election and govt policies. This would create doubts as to
why their votes were not reflected in constituencies that should count? Their
unhappiness with the govt was not registered in the votes and the results were
contrary to this negativity.
3. Among the unhappiness raised were influx of
foreigners, high populations, loss of jobs to foreigners, being treated as
third class citizens, a govt that behaved like a bully, CPF money, university
places, govt agencies taking sides, fear, integrity of the govt, cost of
living, greed and a growing resentment against foreigners and many related
things expressed in the social media.
4. The people are worried about their future and the
future of Singapore despite the assurance by the PAP that it is there to work
towards a better future for Singaporeans. Why the mismatched in perception?
The govt needs to look at the comments in the petition
and recognise them as the fault lines, problems that the people are really
angry about and work on it to rectify them or they would continue to simmer in
the minds of the people. The problems are serious and would not go away after
the landslide victory.
Here are some of the comments:
I love my Country..I want to be a First Class Citizen in my
Country...
Paul Long
I find the ruling party a big
bully towards all opposition parties. The prime minister Lee openly admitted
that his job is to fix the opposition parties and make sure they dont survive.
It is sad to hear that.
I want all singaporeans to have a better life in their own
country, not becoming a 2nd class citizens in their own country, not having a
low pay jobs while foreigners & new citizens has a higher better salaries
jobs, say no to 6.9 million population in a tiny country, compete everything
with foreigner ect. I want all singaporeans to have a voice in their own
country.
I'm not satisfied with PAP governing my Country anymore...
So many Policies that has Angered The Locals here...
Foreigners are given priority compared to the Locals...
Our CPF Retirement Monies is being held by the Government, till
we have to work until the day we turn 67...
We may never get to see our Hard Earn money...
Local Children unable to get a place in local University because
most of the slots is taken up by Foreign Students on Scholarships...
Even after Graduating from Uni, Local Graduates have to fight
for a job with the Foreign Talents who's receiving lower salary than the
locals..
Locals are unhappy with the current government as of late...
We want a change but after the 70% landslide victory by the
ruling party just doesn't seem right.
I'm signing because I love my country..
Let's have a fair ethical GE in Singapore
I look forward to a fair clean election system for a better
future of Singapore, my beloved country
Stability and welfare of Singaporeans first before that of the
work permit, employment pass holders, prs and so called "FT's".
Peoples
Association is meant to be setup for the benefit of the community of
Singaporean but alas it seems to be setup for propagating the activities of the
ruling PAP constituency but not the oppositions held constituency. This is
grossly unfair as funds for PA comes from all tax paying residents of Singapore
I want a
FAIR election and a balance representation in the parliament. I believe in
democracy, NOT ONE PARTY RULE!
I'm signing
this because I still believe in Democracy which Singapore's govt claims to
have. I believe that there is something going on during the election and prior
to the election. So UN I beg you to do a proper inspection on Elections
Department.
I'm signing
this because, as a ruling party that has antagonized, instilled fear within its
people & clearly embezzling the monies of Singaporeans for their own
benefits whilst also, benefitting their close kins - spouses, relatives,
siblings, children or even close friends, should truly practice democracy as
mentioned repetitively in our Pledge & National Anthem. Why should a
government terrorize its people & practice double standards in the laws
which they've laid out & they, themselves, broke. Singapore deserves a
decent government, not some million-dollar-ministers, whom without fail, would
push their burdens or blames onto others without even trying to understand the
actual situation. Singapore deserves humbled Ministers not some mafia-wannabes.
The past 50
years, our parents & elderlies have suffered under PAP. We can't lose
Singapore to the foreigners flooding our job industries as well as our Home.
Singapore has to be actually AFFORDABLE to live in comfortably & more
welfare should be focused upon the elderlies, the homeless, the less fortunate
before actually showering the foreigners with better paying jobs, salaries
& even scholarships.
Singapore
should be for Singaporeans, FIRST, something which our greedy
million-dollar-PAP-ninisters seem to have neglected ever so often.
Lastly,
& most importantly, we have to stop the damned PAP from rigging every
elections!
Peace!
#MajulahSingapura
I strongly
felt something wasnt right in the GE 2015. After l heard of people being paid
money to vote. New citizens brought in deliberately to cast votes for the
ruling party. This is entirely not acceptable. Unfair election.
Firstly,
Singaporean hard to get a job !! Doesn"t mean we asking for high pay, in
fact, foreign worker also ask for high pay. If Government advise Singaporean
not to ask for more in such a high living standard country, than WHY their
Salary is the WORLD Highest!
Secondly, disagree Govement to increase population in
Singapore !! Not only affected our living, if more "foreign citizen"
or PRs in Singapore made the local to feel like we are in other country like
3rd class citizen living in Singapore !!
The whole
election does not tally with the election rally.
I want free
and fair elections as I don't eant the PAP to make crazy policies and bills
like the White Paper which will destroy our Singaporean core and identity and
the foreigners will end up lording over us.
We should
not be 3rd class citizens in our own country and being treated like rubbish by
FTs.!!and they are ruining the harmony we singaporeans once had in singapore.!!
Clearly the
results do not reflect the actual sentiments of the born-and-bred-in-singapore
people.
It is a real
fear that we will become a minority, in our own country, in the next 10 years
and this is worrying for my children.
