WP’s Yaw Shin Leong gives free bullets to PAP to shoot at the opposition again
March 1st, 2009 | 
Author: By Eugene Yeo
It appears that Workers’ Party Organizing Secretary Yaw Shin Leong still hasn’t learnt his lesson from the furore he stirred last year when he proclaimed proudly on his blog that he voted for PAP MP Teo Ho Pin during the last elections whom he described as a “good MP.” His post was circulated around in the internet chatrooms and was subsequently picked up by the print media which as expected, add a spin to it to make the PAP look good.
This time round, Yaw has fired an early salvo of WP’s emerging clout as the “Big Brother” of the opposition by warning the Singapore Democratic Alliance led by respected veteran politician Chiam See Tong to stay off WP’s “turf.”
Yaw was writing in response to a TODAY article written by Loh Chee Kong in which he suggested that Mr Chiam may lead a team to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in the next election.
Hey wait, it didn’t come from Mr Chiam or SDA. It is merely a suggestion mooted by the TODAY reporter himself. But PAP wannabe aka WP “big shot” Yaw Shin Leong will have none of it.
He has got his M16 ready, cocked and take aim at his supposedly fellow opposition, never mind if the target is appropriate or not.
Thumping on his chest with all sound and fury, Yaw expressed his “disappointment” at SDA’s purported move to compete with WP to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh:
“Organizationally, I’m slightly disappointed. This is because quiet grassroots cultivation efforts have been put in by dedicated members of WP Central Area Committee over the past 20 months.”
Hello, Mr Yaw, what is the BIG DEAL about WP ??? Are you insinuating that only “dedicated WP members” are allowed to work the ground at Bishan-Toa Payoh and not any other parties ??? So what if WP members have put in “efforts” to cultivate the grassroots ? It is their own business and they have no right to tell others what to do !
As a political leader, Yaw should be aware of the significance and repercussions of what he post on his personal blog. I have surfed the personal blogs of Malaysian opposition MPs Tony Pua, Lim Kit Siang and Jeff Ooi and have yet to come across such an audacious post !
All Yaw does is to attract cheap media publicity to himself and giving the spin doctors at SPH free ammunition to shoot at the opposition again.
What is Yaw ranting at when there was no official announcements from SDA that it will contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC ? Just based on an unsubstantiated speculation made by TODAY reporter ?
Furthermore, the elections hasn’t even been called yet ! The Workers’ Party should be working hard on the ground in most, if not all constituencies to raise their national profile and understand the concerns of ordinary Singaporeans instead of restricting their grassroots activities only to those they have interest to contest it.
Lastly, should there be any discussion between WP and SDA, it should be called only at the behest of the party leaders, Low Thia Kiang and Chiam See Tong and not Yaw. Can Yaw make such a major decision on his own without going through his party bigwigs ?
It is very rare nowadays to hear a WP leader making a squeak when they are mute most of the time. Unfortunately, if Yaw is going to bark up at the wrong tree, he better shut up and say nothing. Why is he not making noise at the PAP for losing our reserves ???
Yaw Shin Leong should remove his offensive blog post immediately and issue an unreserved public apology to SDA and to Mr Chiam in person. Seriously, I doubt he has the guille to go far in his political career. The next time he speaks at an election rally asking Singaporeans to vote for him, many will be wondering if he will vote for PAP again at the back of their minds.
Since WP already has a ruling in place forbidding CEC members to post in internet forums using their own names, perhaps Mr Low can consider gagging his erstwhile protege to send all his blog posts for vetting before publication to prevent another PR disaster from happening. You wouldn’t want to spend time doing fire-fighting in your backyard when you should be slaughtering the enemy on the battlefield instead.
Posted in Opinion
23 Responses to “WP’s Yaw Shin Leong gives free bullets to PAP to shoot at the opposition again”
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moles in the opposition? just a thought.
very funny article
Could be a ’self-declared’ mole – as in he wants to help the PAP by going into the opposition and discrediting them. Either that or he could be a someone who wants (media) attention, hence the obvious sensational remarks.
Either way, it would suggest that he is not in this for the good of the nation but for other selfish reasons – what a pity.
The entire new WP or Wannabe PAP has already been brainwashed and co-opted by the PAP. This two bit charlatan party is given all the space and more to grow by the PAP while genuine oppositions and parties find themselves bankrupted and spending more time in court.
It just shows how disunited the opposition are, just concerned about guarding their turf and not cooperating to get a big scalp.
Easy Eugene, the Opposition need to cooperate and fight the PAP in the coming electons. The Workers Party is after all the original WP.
Their leader missed the best chance to answer ‘WONG KAN SENG MUST RESIGN OVER MAS SELAMAT’S ESCAPE’ when asked by PM Lee in parliament.
In politics there is no permanent friendship. But for now, the PAP being so powerful, there is no choice but to divide into the categories ‘PAP’ and ‘non-PAP’
I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT!! To call Yaw Shin Leong a PAP wannabe is too kind, he’s a downright Benedict Arnold! Someone please ask Sylvia Lim to get rid of this shit before he messes up the whole opposition camps! We can’t afford to wait for Strike Three – could be fatal.
Hi John,
I beg to differ. The present WP, or WP Baru is different from the original WP founded by David Marshall and led by JBJ for over 2 decades as it has lost the fire in its belly to fight for the common folks.
Low Thia Kiang has failed miserably as the opposition leader in Parliament where he failed to check on the PAP on many critical national issues such as GIC losses.
Nevertheless, we will still lend support to WP as it is the strongest opposition party which capable of snaring a GRC right under the nose of the PAP for now.
The loss of a GRC will be a psychological blow to the PAP and will encourage more Singaporeans to join the opposition thereby boosting its numbers, strength and credibility which will augurs well for a stronger opposition to check on the ruling party.
Eugene
Hi Ganga,
I would give Yaw the benefit of the doubt for now. After all, he did lead a team against PM Lee in AMK GRC during the last election and gain a credible 33% of the votes.
He seriously need to improve on his political acumen. Making controversial remarks like this publicly isn’t going to endear him to opposition supporters.
Eugene
I have some personal information about JBJ’s thoughts on Worker Party in the recent years, but I don’t think is good to post them here. Let me just say that cannot trust WP after JBJ is not there!
SUPPORT RP, NSP, SDP!
This shin leong boy is all wrong he simple does not understand parlimentary democracy………….I am just sad that JBJ is gone when he would have been our best bet now to form a team and win a GRC……….anyway may his soul RIP………….
This is just as funny as the time we were called Lesser Mortals….really, I think our new bred of politicians are trying to make us laugh more to stay healthy.
this article, why by admin? who pen it? why no name? just admin? is it a common practice?
I really hope the non pap supporters understand that as long as a member is a non pap supporter, he/she should help each other out.
The biggest enemy is PAP.
internal bashing among the opposition is bad for the country.
None of the elected opposition has ever lost as much money as Ms. Ho.
So, we cannot be soft hearted with PAP.
Hi neversaydie,
Please rest assured that we will lend our support to WP simply because there are no alternatives in sight.
You can now post your views in our discussion forum here immediately without waiting for approval:
http://www.wayangparty.com/forum/
Hi, Admin.
What happened to my earlier posting?
I cannot find them to consolidate into an article.
Hi neversaydie,
They are scattered in earlier threads. Please check by clicking on the “next page”.
[...] Election 2009 – Little Speck: Snap election In besieged Singapore? – Wayang Party Club: WP’s Yaw Shin Leong gives free bullets to PAP to shoot at the opposition again – A Lesser Mortal: Elections Register [...]
Great article… the quality of the opposition has not been good, especially not from the WP. I have not seen a croak from any of them on the various crucial isues that have surfaced recently and they apparently are not representing the people who have voted them in. After collectiong their MP’s allowances, they are playing it safe?
When Yaw should be standing up in parliament where they have a seat and make a difference, he is picking on the other opposition members based on a suggestion mooted by the TODAY’s reporter?
Why don’t Yaw tell the PAP not to work with the grassroots at Bishan-Toa Payoh instead of aiming his pot shots at the other opposition members? no ba..ls? What makes him so cock sure that the WP is better than any other opposition who may potentially consider that constituency? WP is where it is today beacuse of JBJ not Slyvia Lim or Low Thia Kiang. The original vision of the WP appears to be now diluted and far removed.
We don’t need stooges in the parliament to represent us… it will be interesting to vote in, and see the effect to have SDP – Chee of even the people from the Reform Party which JBJ set up have a voice there.
I really don’t care which P,
as long as it is not PAP.
I will vote for any P.
We are in serious need of another P
to get into the P.
Why not???I used to live in Bishan-Toa Payoh and I’ve been living there for around 20 years…..My favourite minister,DPM Wong shouldn’t be blamed for this as I’m sure that he’s now relieved that the notorious Mas Selamat had been re-arrested back in JB…..Meanwhile,frankly,I don’t think the SDA led by that Potong Pasir great man Mr Chiam could give up the lead in my place,though Potong Pasir is right closer to my GRC…And I was hoping for the first contest,but dream on WP!!!Dr Chee’s SDP should contest in the place as he’s been targeting this GRC since last year….But I’m sure that the PAP will definitely win both the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir in 2011 soon….And I really love to vote it up when I’m 21 sooner….
Hi Mr K (8:55pm),
It is your freedom to choose who to vote for, and I certainly respect it. But if you have been following wayangparty, you will realize the call to replace DPM Wong is not just over the Mas Selamat case.
Simply put, an overwhelming majority in parliament has contributed to a lack of accountability and transparency. Far too many mistakes have been made by different people, and nobody was held accountable to prevent further mistakes.
If we do not vote in enough opposition to provide some checks and balances, the behemoth of Singapore Inc. might not prosper for much longer.
I have commented previously that any opposition unwilling to work with the others (thus creating a 3-way fight) may very well be a proxy.
Cooperation between opposition parties is not just for the electorate. It is rational for the opposition to spread themselves out, for it will greatly enhance their votes and thus their own success.
Elections may not be near, but it is time for the opposition to start communicating and carving out territory. The battle will be already half lost if they refuse to do this.