Lawyer Chia Ti Lik considering retirement from politics
From The Newsroom Team
Lawyer Chia Ti Lik, who stood as a Workers’ Party candidate in East Coast GRC during the last general election has expressed his desire to retire from politics.
Writing on his blog, Chia wrote that he was feeling “depressed” and drained by his work which was compounded by ongoing police investigations into his “role in the screening of One Nation under Lee” last year. (read full article here)
Chia wrote:
“I had decided that i wanted to disengage from it all. But it seems that they would not allow me to……The Police had framed a possible charge of me obstructing a public servant in the situation of the private movie screening some time last year. This charge carries a fine of S$2,500. If i am convicted of this charge i would be disqualified from running in elections”
Financial concern is another reason for him to sit out the next general election. He is due to “settle the division of matrimonial assets” from his divorce .
Chia also does not think that the opposition will stand a chance to secure a breakthrough as the ground has “not shifted”.
As a young, educated and somewhat charismatic professional, Chia will surely stand a good chance of winning in a single constituency ward.
Few Singaporeans are willing to join the opposition as the odds are heavily stacked against them during the polls.
The only two opposition MPs in Parliament both got elected only after a few attempts.
Given the virtual monopoly enjoyed by the ruling party and its tight-fisted control over the civil service, media and police, it is almost impossible for an alternative political party to emerge out of its shadow to challenge it.
An entire system has been put in place to ensure that the ruling party triumph at every election and to exclude any dissenting voices from Parliament.
While a Parliament dominated by one single party enables policies and bills to be passed smoothly without being blocked by the opposition, the government of the day is given a free rein to govern without being held accountable to the people.
Can we expect the ruling party to check on itself? Only a genuine, effective and formidable opposition will keep the government perpetually on its toes.
Singapore inherited the Westminister system of democracy from its colonial master, the United Kingdom.
For the last 50 years, the United Kingdom has seen frequent changes of government alternating between the Conservative and Labor Party. Yet, the ruling party in Singapore has won every single election since independence.
The recent “reforms” introduced by the Prime Minister to increase the number of NCMPs in Parliament in a double-edged sword for the opposition.
Though it guarantees at least 9 non-PAP MPs in Parliament, it may stymie the growth of the opposition as voters are less pressurized now to vote for the opposition since the “best performing losers” will be given a seat in Parliament as well.
An opposition MP without a constituency of his/her own will be unable to build a grassroots support base to further expand and grow the party.
Mr Chia is pessimistic about the opposition’s chances in the next election and rightly so.
The status quo is likely to be retained with minimal cosmetic changes. The same old people will still be in charge of the country. It is impossible to vote the incumbents out of office.
Unfortunately, what is good for the ruling party is not necessarily beneficial for the nation. Even the PAP acknowledges difficulties in recruiting capable candidates to join them.
An apathetic citizenry with little interest in the affairs of the country has no sense of belonging. They will not hesitate to take flight to greener pastures elsewhere if the conditions are right.
We need more Chia Ti Liks to join the opposition, but how many Singaporeans are willing to support them?
With the majority of the population caught up in the rat race, the few opposition leaders remaining in the political arena face a lonely and difficult road ahead.
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lim on Thu, 25th Jun 2009 6:11 pm
Sad to see that the pool of opposition candidates are depleting..
zing on Thu, 25th Jun 2009 7:12 pm
He may not have won any election, at least he tried. He did not asked for so many so many thousands of signatures from the public to decide if he should stand for election, for that he deserves some respect. He just stood, for some cause(s) that he held dearly instead of opting for a better-make-sure-i-will-win-first-before-i-stand. 4 legs good, 2 legs was bad but now better.
Concerned Citizen on Thu, 25th Jun 2009 10:09 pm
I have long given up hope on Singapore, and I think with PAP in power, the degeneration is already set in motion. If you look at the younger generation of leaders, they have no desire to serve other than looking towards the cushy and fat paycheck which comes with ZERO accountability.
When I make enough, it will be bye bye. I will be much better off in countries like Australia, where I am virtually assured that my offsprings will have no need to worry about future with the abundant resources.
Ashinigami on Thu, 25th Jun 2009 10:15 pm
If you keep bashing your head against the rock, it’s inevitable that you get brain damage down the road.
In this case, the “stubborn rock” is not the PAP, but rather the populace of Singapore for not seeing as to how the entire political scene is such a sham.
So Mr Chia, give it all up if you must, but don’t think that your efforts were ignored by all. Rather you and the rest of the stalwart opposition are in the wrong place, wrong time.
Soon Hock on Thu, 25th Jun 2009 11:07 pm
Why rock the boat?
Out there sailing, we see many boats, bigger ones, have already capsized. The US for instance is already in deep shit.
Why do we who are better off than many other countries want to puncture our own liittle boat to spring a leak. Drowning is certainly no fun.
No way. Must be MAD!
JC on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 12:25 am
Mr Chia
Hope you are reading this. I’ve been to your blog, and was thinking about leaving a comment, but I had to be a registered member first. So this shall suffice.
I suppose anyone in your shoes would feel and think the same way you do, and it would be highly hypocritical to ‘encourage’ you to stand up and fight for us, especially when we ourselves lack the courage and conviction to actually do what you did.
I can’t do that. I can’t ’support’ you with words of encouragement to fight on etc etc.
But whatever your decision is, I believe you have done much much much more than what anyone of us would have reasonably done. I may not always agree with your views and politics, but I wanna thank you. From the bottom of my heart.
In the words of Wayne Campbell, “We are not worthy’.
Merci
This is Anfield on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 9:54 am
The world has changed. The powerful become dominant. Just like football. A long long time ago, its possible for a small team like Derby to beat Liverpool or Man United and win the league. Now, its absolutely impossible for any team outside the Gang of Four to win it. The powerful have the resources – financial, organisational and the lot – to make the game their own little playground where everyone plays by their rules.
A long long time ago, when the likes of Ipswich won the league, the Barisan Socialis had Parliament in their pocket but lost it. Just like Ipswich. And the world has never been the same again.
Catch Liverpool in Singapore 26 July 09
mike on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 12:36 pm
another sad situation in the opposition arena. but i dont quite see that PAP triumph over this. my sentiments on ppl in sg is real pissed with the ruling party at this moment.
you’ll never what would happened till the end.
King on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 1:40 pm
Democracy is completely finished with the retirement of Mr Chia
and the fact that he is still young yet choose to retire speaks volumn. Either he is sick of all the obstacles or he has simply given up hope on seeing democracy being restore in Singapore. Thing is he should be better off emigrating to another country being a lawyer and let the ungrateful people continue their sufferings. They deserve it for being coward and idiot.
XisD Tay on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 4:05 pm
I think Chia Ti Lik made a wise move to opt out of the opposition party and running for elections. This is what happen at “every” election whenever a “problem” surface and needs “fixing”.
As per my other post on how the system overwork especially hard during pre-election, candidates with dust under the carpet or happennings best kept in the dark will be teh 1st to be “fixed.
If Chia Ti Lik had stood for election and won, he WILL BE charged in court for his pensing case and his seat will be vacated anyway, thats GUARANTEED!
Opt out now, he “might be” spared. Its as simple as that.
XisD Tay on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 4:10 pm
King said: Democracy is completely finished with the retirement of Mr Chia
and the fact that he is still young yet choose to retire speaks volumn. Either he is sick of all the obstacles or he has simply given up hope on seeing democracy being restore in Singapore. Thing is he should be better off emigrating to another country being a lawyer and let the ungrateful people continue their sufferings. They deserve it for being coward and idiot.
I cannto disagree but agree with you. Mr Chia is better off concentrating on making enough money and migrate somewhere else, not necessary a country better than Sinkapore, but FREEer than Sinkapore.
Sinkaporeans they themselves asked for it and if they don’t do anything to effect the vital and necessary changes but choose to live in the glass houses as slaves, then let them be.
Let them dig their own grave, why should we bother at all?
ayam on Fri, 26th Jun 2009 10:40 pm
XisD Tay,
but is a beautiful grave. clean,green and sentosa IR is nearby. i think the people are happy “digging their own grave” with the help of their MPs if necessary.
that said, i think mr chia is not jbl,and jbl is not mr chia. mr chia need not have to be a jbl and jbl need not be mr chia.
there is no shame being mr chia. your journey is unique and don’t let those who want to use, or abuse you tell you otherwise.
go with your guts!
A Tan on Sat, 27th Jun 2009 11:04 am
In the 1963 state elections, the Barisan Sosialis won 13 out of 51 seats, becoming the second largest party in Parly after PAP.
But they resigned in 1966.
If they had fought the next GE in 68?, things might be different.
A Tan on Sat, 27th Jun 2009 11:26 am
In HK, lawyers involved with the opposition Democratic Party were in forefront of helping minibonders. They filed writs in court, gave advice etc.
Nothing of the sort happened here.
Why?
Yet the WP etc say that they want to serve the people.
Stay the course. on Sat, 27th Jun 2009 11:55 am
If you want to go into opposition politics in Singapore, you need lots of stamina and be a little wiser. Then you can go the distance.
The time is about right. Lightning truck the Merlion, LKY lost billions for Singapore and PM Lee HL is selling Singapore to foreigners. The PAP is in deeper shit than at any time.
No one could tell that the Berlin wall would collapse so fast.
The only thing holding the PAP in power is money, threats and Singaporeans’ ignorance of the true situation. The younger generation is not going to put up any longer shit from the PAP
ayam on Sat, 27th Jun 2009 12:40 pm
XisD Tay,
but is a beautiful grave. clean,green and sentosa IR is nearby. i think the people are happy “digging their own grave” with the help of their MPs if necessary.
that said, i think mr chia is not jbl,and jbl is not mr chia. mr chia need not have to be a jbl and jbl need not be mr chia.
there is no shame being mr chia. your journey is unique and don’t let those who want to use, or abuse you tell you otherwise.
go with your guts!
(hey wayang, are you people objective? the above comment was legitimate, why wasn’t it published? y
yoyo on Sat, 27th Jun 2009 2:38 pm
S’poreans are so pathetic and ignorant. They think they opposition parties would magically appear to contest a General Election if the need arose!!!!! They thought they could just vote for opposition parties if PAP no longer cares for the people. They forgot that if they continue to vote for PAP, there would be NO opposition parties for them to vote for when they desperately need one!!!
One Solution on Sun, 28th Jun 2009 9:58 pm
As we can see very clearly, there is not much of a good future for our future generations in Singapore.
With the encouraged influx of foreigners as a concerted policy to tackle the dwindling population growth and the replacement of local talents who have emigrated or are planning to do so, the future of local true blue Singaporeans is very bleak.
It is better to get out as early as possible before the boat sinks and chaos becomes the reign of the day. Even migrating to neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia or even Indonesia is better than staying put in such a congested and overly-controlled tiny island, whose ego is much too big for its own good.
Therefore, one possible solution to help our future generations is to plan ahead to migrate as early as possible.
ISD Tay on Sun, 28th Jun 2009 10:43 pm
“The only thing holding the PAP in power is money, threats and Singaporeans’ ignorance of the true situation. The younger generation is not going to put up any longer shit from the PAP”
Sad but true, its not the younger internet savvy generations we should be worried about, its the older generation thats hindering the much needed changes.
Ang Sana on Sun, 28th Jun 2009 11:06 pm
If Chia quits like that, well , maybe he is indeed not suitable for this kind of career.
XisD Tay on Mon, 29th Jun 2009 11:12 am
Chia is a lawyer, I have not seen the video. However, it is safe to assume that Chia “obstructed” the officers when they barged into the PRIVATE screening demanding reason for the intrusion and whatnots in his capacity as a lawyer, which is legally correct.
HOWEVER being a FRAMED CHARGE with instructions from the TOP, any valid and legit defence will NOT go down with the Kangaroos at the Court nor the police as valid.
Whatever Chia did was illegal the moment instructions came from the TOP, nothing Chia said in the statement provided to the Police in defense so matters.
Chia is a promising lawyer and opposition member who is HIGHLY LIKELY to win a Single Seat Ward if he so choose to contest in the coming election. That is a “problem that need fixing” and it shall be “fixed”. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
IF Chia chooses to stay out of politics, he MIGHT BE SPARED (with the case KIVed till further action required). IF Chia remains in politics and contested, then likely he will be:
1. Charged and guilty verdict returned, fined $2500.00 and barred from any election.
2. NFA for the time being till the election is over. If Chia contested and won, then hauled to Court, fined and MP seat vacated.
30 years back, Chia will join the ranks of Francis Seow, Tang LH, Nair, etc etc etc but given the recent changes to how the system “fixes problem”, my dollar would be the Kangaroos will be putting the “finishing touch” on Chia, not the IRA or ISD.
From observation, apparently the system is diverting from using the ISA under ISD to “fix the problem” and is leaned towards IMH and the Courts. Eitherway though, Chia is already 50% a GONER and if he choose to remain in politics, then he is 100% GONEded!
Minibonder on Mon, 29th Jun 2009 5:38 pm
Mr Chia, Not to late to help mini-bonders.
Two lawyers went AWOL, other it seems may not have enough clients to mount something serious.
Contact Tan Kin Lian who still trying to help
http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2009/06/rally-in-hong-lim-park.html
He may have exhorted others to be brave to speak out,while admitting he could only speak out after he retired, but on miinibonds he has tried his best to help.
IXL on Mon, 29th Jun 2009 6:21 pm
more like IMH would be used …….. msm would invent justification that person is insane/mental case, as international NGOs doubting Kangaroos. eg. VP of DBS-Hwang VP, Boon Suan Foo reported in msm to be shouting from public place in KL.
goner on Wed, 1st Jul 2009 12:42 pm
with the Kangaroos under spotlight – re Wall St Journal & FEER contempt cases – more likely that IMH method would be used
hahaha on Wed, 1st Jul 2009 4:48 pm
We have just witnessed another PAP victory.
Political games are very draining on individuals, and especially so when you do not have Billions to recruit millionaires to run as oppositions.
Thomas Seow on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 7:24 pm
I had always thought Ti Lik should bide his time instead of plunging headlong especially into SDP’s brand of kami kazi politics.He is made for better things. But I suppose that is part of his learning curve. Now he must be commended for his honesty in making such an open and frank review of his political journey. Something – for all their gusto and commitment – JBJ and CSJ – did not do. They attracted wrong advisors. Or not simply open to wise counsel. And of course CST and LTK just wanted to dance to the PAP’s tune once they found their oppo niches. All – whatever – have not moved the political ground at all. In fact things have gone from bad to worse in Singapore whereas in Malaysia historic progress has been made by the oppo so much so the BN ruling party themselves are conceding they have failed in so many ways and are making drastic reforms, even within their own internal party culture while putting up a brave front against the opposition trying to whack them right left and centre.
Congrats Tik Lik. James Gomez latest book says it all.
divorce attorney on Sat, 4th Jul 2009 1:47 pm
Why Chia Ti Lik is taking retirement from politics has he just got fed up with politics.
JKOH2007 (YOUTUBE) on Sun, 5th Jul 2009 11:03 am
one election lost then he quit ?? does he want PAP to have a good laugh.
XisD Tay on Sun, 5th Jul 2009 11:36 pm
JKOH2007, Chia quit because he was forced to and not because he wanted to.
The system is in motion and Chia is one of the problem scheduled to be “fixed”.
If Chia does not withdraw deom politics, he will be a goner for good.
Give-up-now on Tue, 7th Jul 2009 3:02 am
Hi Ti Lik,
I applaud you for your efforts, but I think it is a good idea you retire and give up. I do not think you have what it takes to be a good leader. You are still immature in your thoughts and actions, too egoistic in approach, and have delusional tendencies of grandeur and self-importance. You may write “humbly” in your blog, but if one read between the lines, would be able to gauge the undertone arrogance of what I have reflected here. Giving up now may be a grace, instead of a curse. You are better off being a kid, enjoying your bikes and audio, playing with toys. This is my frank comment.