He understands where WP is coming from

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Apr 27, 2011
He understands where WP is coming from
AS A first-time voter, I view the ongoing scrutiny and debate over the Workers' Party's campaign slogan, Towards a First World Parliament, as bordering on the irrelevant and unproductive.
If we were to extend this same standard of scrutiny to the People's Action Party's campaign slogan, Securing Our Future Together, then one could question, among other things, whether the PAP will change its policy of differentiating between citizens living in PAP-held and opposition-held wards in terms of upgrading policies and so on, in the future.
After its various clarifications, the WP's intentions behind its slogan are crystal clear to me: It does not intend to form the next government as yet. Its role is to provide an alternative voice so as to present robust debate on policies during Parliament; and that voice must have teeth - that is, the power to vote against any constitutional amendment or Bill that is against the national interest.
The WP does not strike me as wanting to either rock the foundations of good governance in Singapore or lead the country towards the path of failure. On the contrary, what it is proposing is in the interest of Singapore's future - that is, how Singapore should progress politically, and gradually, albeit on an alternative platform. There is nothing wrong with the idea of adding to the political discourse. Such a marketplace of ideas and differing political philosophies can only be good for Singapore's democratic development, and helps voters make an informed decision as to which philosophy they wish to choose.
There are more important issues to focus and debate on. As the campaigning begins in earnest soon, let's focus on the policies that both the ruling party and opposition parties have proposed and scrutinise them, as rightly done by the various ministers on the housing and economic policies thus far. A campaign slogan is hardly up there in the priority of items worth scrutinising.
Houston Johannus
http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/Online+Story/STIStory_661470.html


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27Apr2011: He understands where WP is coming from