Chiam See Tong leaving Potong Pasir to fight in a GRC: A political strategy or suicide?
November 4th, 2009 | 
Author: OPINION
A widely respected opposition leader for over 24 years, Potong Pasir MP Mr Chiam See Tong has indicated his wishes to quit his stronghold to lead a team in to fight in a GRC in the next general election.
Mr Chiam said it is a personal wish of his to see the opposition achieve a breakthrough by winning a GRC since the system was first introduced in 1988.
The GRC has been a PAP fortress which allows its weak candidates to “sneak” into parliament either without a contest or by tagging on the “coat-tail” of a heavy weight minister.
The number of seats in GRCs has increased gradually from the original three to six during the 2006 elections.
The opposition came close to winning a GRC during the 1988 elections when the Workers’ Party team of Francis Seow, Lee Siew Choh and Mohamad Khalit won 49.1 per cent of the valid votes.
Since then, no opposition has ever come close to winning a GRC. The “A” team of the Workers’ Party managed to garner only 43.7 per cent of the votes in Aljunied GRC in the last elections.
Mr Chiam had the opportunity to build a credible team to compete in
a GRC when he was still in charge of the SDP. During the 1991 general elections, SDP won 3 seats to become the single largest opposition party in parliament.
Unfortunately, Mr Chiam failed to build on his success and had a fallout with the SDP Central Executive Committee. He eventually left to form the Singapore People’s Party in 1997.
Though Mr Chiam did try to bring the various opposition parties under the umbrella of his Singapore Democratic Alliance, it was a loose coalition of convenience which posed little threat to the PAP.
Mr Chiam’s star appeal at Potong Pasir has also diminished over the years. He won Potong Pasir by a whisker with only 52 per cent of the votes during the 2001 elections and improved slightly by 3 per cent in the subsequent elections.
With his own support base in Potong Pasir dwindling, is this the right time to leave his stronghold and venture into an unknown territory?
While it is commendable that Mr Chiam is willing to throw caution in the wind this time and take on the PAP juggernaut in a GRC, it is not likely that he will succeed.
Should he fail to win a GRC and his successor stumbled in Potong Pasir, wouldn’t his gamble be a political suicide?
At 74 years old of age and having suffered a mild stroke last year which caused him to encounter difficulties in speech and movement, it will not be easy for Mr Chiam to win over young, pragmatic voters with no political affiliations – the crucial swing vote.
Besides, there are no easy GRCs for the taking. Earlier reports from the press seemed to suggest that Mr Chiam is targetting Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC which has not seen a contest since it was formed in 1997.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng who is helming the GRC is no pushover. Though he may have received some flak over the Mas Selamat fiasco, he and his team still have a considerable grassroots support base.
Bishan is a sparkling new town where some of the priciest HDB flats are found. Its largely middle class voters enjoy numerous amenities and
facilities in the constituency such as covered walkways to bus stops, a
shopping centre, MRT station, bus interchange, library and swimming pool.
As for Toa Payoh, it has a larger proportion of elderly Singaporeans who will be more inclined to vote for the ruling party.
There are rumors going around that Mr Chiam’s wife Lina Ng will be replacing him in Potong Pasir should he leave the ward.
Mr Chiam was able to hold on to Potong Pasir for so long because of his credibility, personality and dedication to his constituents. It remains to be seen if he is able to transfer his support to his wife.
After being denied upgrading for more the twenty years, Potong Pasir is in need of a major makeover. Though the Lift Upgrading Program has finally come to Potong Pasir, it still lacks behind in its community infrastructure and amenities compared to the PAP wards.
The Potong Pasir residents may just bite the “carrot” dangled in front by
the PAP this time and vote for the tme. In any case, their chances of
winning back Potong Pasir will be greatly enhanced by Mr Chiam’s departure.
The next election may be Mr Chiam’s last hurray which explains him plucking his courage finally to make the great leap forward.
Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely to be his swansong and may herald the end of his otherwise long and illustrious political career.
Without Mr Chiam in parliament and with no capable successors in sight,
the fledging Singapore Democratic Alliance and possibly the Singapore People Party will fade into political oblivion eventually just like the Barisan
Sosialist.
After working tirelessly for the Potong Pasir residents for so long, Mr Chiam
seriously deserves a good rest. He will be missed not only by them, but
by the rest of Singapore as well.
For all his ineffectual performance in parliament, Mr Chiam is a symbol of
hope for long-suffering opposition supporters who yearn to see more opposition MPs in parliament.
Their wishes will soon be granted ironically by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who promised to increase the number of non-PAP MPs to twenty in parliament.
As Mr Chiam is likely to be one of the best performing opposition candidates
in the next elections, there will be less impetus on the part of voters to
vote for him or his team knowing that he will be given a seat in parliament
anyway.
Perhaps without his municipal duties weighing on his shoulders, Mr Chiam will be able to let go of his inhibitions and truly live up to his name as
Singapore’slongest serving opposition MP.
Posted in Opinion
42 Responses to “Chiam See Tong leaving Potong Pasir to fight in a GRC: A political strategy or suicide?”
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Mr Chiam is a good man. I will vote for him if he were to contest in my GRC.Opposition only has a few good man and Chiam is one of them.
Let’s grant him the wish. Do not judge a man by his status or physics, judge him by his heart for as long as he lives. Singaporeans need people with a good heart. I want him in my GRC, I will not feel proud having greedy PAP people loitering in my town and demanding higher fees for this and that with many conditions attached to how we, Singaporeans, want to live our life peacefully.
Go CST! all the best to your team.
I think it is too late for him to do that liao
he should have done earlier
Well, it won’t end with him winning like Mr Bond did.
Its time for PAP to stop manipulating our lives
The time to vote in more alternative voice is now at this coming election.When there are more oppositions MPs in Parliament then only will more good men or women come in to stand for the next election.
Nobody will want to stand for election if chances of winning is very very low.So if you want to have change in Spore, we have to start now.By voting for oppositon MPs you are not anti or being disloyal to Spore,As a citizens of this country you have the right to have the country run differently other than those prescribe by the PAP.
Dont be fool by the PAP that without them this country will go down the drains.Of course they will want to hang on to power,with power they can do whatever they want and whenever they want.This new generations of Pappies are not the same as the one in the early days. they are more driven by greed,than in serving the people of this country.
If CST were to contest in my GRC, I will vote him in with my eyes closed since I was one of the 33.3% from the last election!
@Chua BK, I agree with your sight,Even if he loss in the GRC, he has nothing to lose. This disguise is a hand over back to the PaP.Tang Kow Liao.
He is actually quite a brilliant strategist. CST was the one who is credited with the form of an alliance for 4 small parties, by-elections strategy and winning of 3 seats back in the 90s.
Since this is likely to be his last election, due to his advanced age (unless he has the fortune of LKY to live till pass 85), it is a very good political swan song for him. If he does not get elected in a GRC, he can retire gracefully and be proud of serving Singapore for much of his life.
If he wins a GRC, then he will score another first for the opposition camp of winning a GRC and send shock waves throughout the political landscape of Singapore.
As you can see, this is a win-win strategy for CST.
The only concern now, is which GRC he intends to contest in. Rumour is Toa Payoh-Bishan GRC. This puts him in direct contest to SDP, the party which he created. If there is a direct conflict, the MSM will have a field day trying to stir up conflict (imagined or otherwise) between SDA and SDP.
Since SDP has been working the grounds in Toa Payoh, I hope CST can give way to SDP and contest in another GRC. But if CST is adamant about it, SDP should give way for the sake of the fact that CST was their founder and that this is likely to be his last election.
Clever move but must ensure potong pasir-hard won seat-must be passed to a strong successor.
Mr Chiam may like to consider to be mentor to a new but strong batch of candidates and perhaps garner enough TRUE
SINGAPOREAN supporters to win yet another ward for the LOCALS!
“chia-yu”!!! and GOD bless you “old” Mister Chiam..like they
said in PRC.
I think is the time for CST to leave Potong Pasir since the chance of winning there might be small this time. So by contesting in GRC, there is still a hope, though is small.
Chiam want to try his best in a GRC this ge. He has my support and well wishes.
There never come a better time than now. A new and younger generation of educated and better informed voters matching on to secure their future.
The wind of change is coming on. We will see a change of the way people in Singapore are thinking because of the advent of the Internet. They want opposition and they want it NOW.
Do they deserve good opposition in Singapore? YES.
Come on Mr. Chiam , ready, get set, GO…..
不入虎山，焉得虎子
nothing ventured, nothing gained
No chance for Chiam in Potong Pasir this time. Kena potong.
The facts of the case – chk out the declining trend over the last few elections in Potong Pasir. He barely scrapped through with 50% at the last election.
Anyway, he can even walk straight now. Time to call it a day and rest.
Potong Pasir & Singapore thank our Chiam for being a constructive opposition over the years.
Mr Chiam is a SINCERE oppostion leader who did us proud at Potong Pasir despite the odds upon that time..he was almost a one-man party,with the faithful support of his wife and family.
This time,i am sure he can drum up even more support with the same zeal and SINCERITY he has for the people he would represent….GIVE THE MAN A TIGER!!!
get ready your banner…..
I think after the LUP, even without CST there, even a donkey will win against PAP.
If you contest in a GRC, I for one will vote for you and tell everyone that I know to do likewise.
Thank you Mr Chiam for all you have done for Singapore.
Which is better? Join GRC or fight for abolishment of GRC?
I think that it is a calculated move by Mr Chiam and an well-considered one. Given he is already 74, this may be (although hope not) his last election so like it or not, he has to bring another person to take his seat in Potong Pasir soon anyway. So why not use this “vulnerable moment” and go out all gun’s blazing? If he succeeds, it will really be his crowning achievement for his long years of service to Singapore and Singaporeans. If not, well, his only failure is that he wasn’t able to groom someone to fill his shoes. Given the political climate here, that’s hardly surprising.
I have tremendous respect for the man. It is not easy to persevere and successfully navigate through the many “minefields, booby traps and no-fly zones” that have been put in by the establishment. Just look at the body count of prominent opposition figures over the years and you can see what I mean.
If JBJ was the personification of the “never say die against all odds” attitude, then Chiam to me is living proof that good-spirited, honest and competent people exist outside the make-belief “heavenly realms” of u-know-who.
I wish him the best of health and every success in the coming elections.
I am sure the PAP leaders will be breaking out in cold sweat!
This is the best attempt the Opposition have made to derail the PAP supremacy. Ceratinly looking for it.
If he comes to my GRC he will get my vote. He is an iconic symbol of an honest man serving tirelessly for his people and not a money gouging politician.
i feel that this is a bad move by CST. not so much for fighting GRC, but for announcing it way ahead of election before the boundary is drawn.
Potong Pasir has always been “gentlemen agreement”-kinda arrangement; Not absorbed to any GRC for as long as opposition r still winning. Now, that Chiam said he’ll contest a GRC, PP could be absorbed to a GRC ..and it’ll look like PAP is giving him a “discount”, a guaranteed votes in PP part of the new GRC.
haiz, i dont think he has a chance. but he’ll in parliament nonetheless.
The PAP leader will not be breaking out in cold sweat.
The opposition will break in cools sweat, last minute if someone stir the momemtum, just like in Election 2001.
Some body shouted at Goh Choke Tong to disgrace the opp.
Opposition can take on the PAP anytimes.They are already season to lose.
The only political suicide in Singapore is when you join as opposition. Whatever it takes, Mr Chaim, you have my utmost respect and vote.
Kaffein
Mr chiam make the right choice, If he give up His potong Pasir and fight in GRC, If he lose the GRC he have nothing to loose. he can rest as he have serve resident od potong pasir for 24 years. If he win the GRC it good for us so Garmen no we have the power. Chiam fight for GRC. If Win u stay till u death call u, If u lose u retire as a winner.
btan: Rather than a win-win strategy, this would more appropriately be called the nothing-to-lose strategy.
@contrarian
IN POLITICS,THERE IS SUCH THING AS AN UPSET…
BUT IT DEPENDS ON PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND US!
vote wisely,vote for your destiny!!!
“For all his ineffectual performance in parliament, Mr Chiam is a symbol of hope for long-suffering opposition supporters who yearn to see more opposition MPs in parliament.”
Ineffectual performance? Do a Hansard search on his speeches before you write stuff like that.
I think it is a very good move. Change is in the air, it has happened to several countries already. I hope many people can smell the change in the air and vote in more opposition for the future good of our country. And I hope this good man goes down in our history for achieving the almost impossible.
@contrarian. yes i totally agree that this is a nothing-to-lose strategy (:
admittedly, mr cst’s chances of winning a grc are much limited but we have to applaud his courage and willingness to serve the people of singapore who have continuously voted in a >90% majority single party government. this is likely his last shot as a politician and i look forward to his speeches. hopefully he will be able to put together a team that can seriously contest in the next election. at this point in time, it seems like a uphill challenge because his team will comprise of political unknowns who have little time to prove their capabilities to the voters. whatever happens, i just pray hard that the next election will not be yet another “clean sweep” for the incumbents.
kudos to mr chiam again for his hard work all these years, standing upright and fighting in isolation.
It does not matter it there are unknowns…people have been pushed to the corner by PAP to vote for any opposition REGARDLESS of who they are or where there are from.
That’s the sentiment these days. Singaporeans are not stupid.
@ Name (required)
“Ineffectual performance? Do a Hansard search on his speeches before you write stuff like that.”
Instead of asking pple to do Hansard search or in the case of the other Opp supporter to visit their website, why don’t pple like u give some good examples of the contribution of Chiam or whoever their supporters on this forum claim?
I for one feel that the existing Oppo MPs are a nett NEGATIVE, who only serve to make the gahmen more credible in the eyes of foreigners.
Comments after yours…
QUOTING…
JJ on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 12:25 pm
Its time for PAP to stop manipulating our lives.
UNQUOTING
Indeed lky. gct & lhl has been more than “manipulating” OUR LIVES!!!… As they have in fact and reality been MANUFACTURING them and do you think so in agreement???… And also to cover up their errors, misjudgement, misteps, etc…
As didn’t it take the ‘great’ mentor…
1. JBJ’s query of high bankinterest rates at one time against CPF’s much lower interest rates… to prompt this ‘mentor’ to act after bank rates had dropped and to adjust CPF rates SouthWards!
2. And also JBJ’s comment about high HDB Prices not commensurate with the private sector’s lower prices for lower floors… to prompt the ‘great’ mentor to CHARGE NorthWards for Higher HDB Floors!!!… What business-like entrepreneuship without forward acumen when he has said later too… That all new PAP ministers MUST have such qualities!!!…And yet he obviously lack it in self or not???… You decide!!!
3. Plus WE At-Large shot-back at them MIW that IT WAS “Their STOP AT 2″ AND “The less you have, THE MORE they HAVE” (Children of course!) Policies… and then the GCT GAHmen’s ‘fixes of “Have MORE If you CAN AFFORD IT”!!!…
SEE their FLOUNDERING AND TUMBLING SO-CALLED… “visionary” ways for now what did they say… “the next FIFTY Years”???…
When they didn’t even managed the Last TWENTY-FIVE Years bloody well enough did they??? You decide on them facts guys!!!
QUOTING…
JJ on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 12:25 pm
Its time for PAP to stop manipulating our lives.
UNQUOTING
deoxin,
i agree with you. I think PP will now be absorbed into a GRC.
@Cuckoo on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 1:38 pm
[[Instead of asking pple to do Hansard search or in the case of the other Opp supporter to visit their website, why don’t pple like u give some good examples of the contribution of Chiam or whoever their supporters on this forum claim?]]
It’s because of lazy people like you who keep voting for PAP that our country suffers under them.
Stop sleeping, wake up and do your research and don’t expect people to spoon feed you.
Your kind disgust me.
why are so many comments deleted?
only want to hear the good and favourable comments?
i had once thought TR is better than the msm and toc.
i may have to change my mind now?
@ btan on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 4:52 pm
“[[Instead of asking pple to do Hansard search or in the case of the other Opp supporter to visit their website, why don’t pple like u give some good examples of the contribution of Chiam or whoever their supporters on this forum claim?]]
It’s because of lazy people like you who keep voting for PAP that our country suffers under them.
Stop sleeping, wake up and do your research and don’t expect people to spoon feed you.
Your kind disgust me.”
It’s like a candidate going for a job interview telling the prospective employer to check his past school magazines and with his/her school for the record of his academic results………when the candidate is supposed to provide his copies of his/her exams certs, testimonials etc.
Sigh, who should really feel disgusted – the interviewee or the prospective employer?
@Same on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 1:27 am
[[It’s like a candidate going for a job interview telling the prospective employer to check his past school magazines and with his/her school for the record of his academic results………when the candidate is supposed to provide his copies of his/her exams certs, testimonials etc.
Sigh, who should really feel disgusted – the interviewee or the prospective employer?]]
Funny you mention about recruitment. I have personally interviewed thousands of professionals and I can tell you every single one of them, I will scan through their resumes and whatever information they furnished. Not asking for information when they are presented there in front of me.
Besides, political parties are more like content or product providers. We voters decide if we want to patronise their “products” based on their “advertisements” and “product specification”. They have provided both and now you as “consumers” have to do your homework.
It’s like you trying to decide to buy an iPhone or Blackberry but you have to do your research first. Same thing here. You vote for PAP or opposition, you have to do your research first. Do not expect others to spoon feed you! They have given you the links to the information, so stop being lazy and go read and find out.
@ btan on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 4:52 pm
Hi,
Perhaps u might like to know that the online version of the Parliamentary report is only available for the last two years of Parliament sitting. So how to access those since 1984 without having to thumb through thousands of pages just to look up for what Chiam might have said?
Perhaps u might also like to remember what Chiam had famously said in Parliament:
“If the (then) Prime Minister (Lee Kuan Yew) said so, it must be so”.
So where was the debate?
@PK on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 11:54 am
[[Hi,
Perhaps u might like to know that the online version of the Parliamentary report is only available for the last two years of Parliament sitting. So how to access those since 1984 without having to thumb through thousands of pages just to look up for what Chiam might have said?]]
Firstly, now that the report has been online in the past two years, what have you done in the past two years since you want to check up on the performance of opposition?
[[Perhaps u might also like to remember what Chiam had famously said in Parliament:
“If the (then) Prime Minister (Lee Kuan Yew) said so, it must be so”.
So where was the debate?]]
Yes, yes, if we remember the time when policemen wear shorts, there will be a lot of grudges to remember.
Chiam and other opposition MPs have done a lot of good things, some not so good things and some really stupid things. But I see it as the entire performance. And the entire performance tells me people like Chiam and Low had done a shit load of things.
Even people like Chee Soon Juan has done MANY things. PAP has secretly even implemented some of his ideas but not given him credit.
Without people like Tang Liang Hong, do we even know about the sweet deal that LKY and his family had in the condo deal?
@ btan on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 6:28 pm
U said:
“Yes, yes, if we remember the time when policemen wear shorts, there will be a lot of grudges to remember.”
Why’s the need for smoke & mirror?
Chiam’s attitude/modus operandi has not changed since.
U said:
“Chiam and other opposition MPs have done a lot of good things, some not so good things and some really stupid things. But I see it as the entire performance. And the entire performance tells me people like Chiam and Low had done a shit load of things.”
If there are “shit load of (good?)things”, then please list out the major ones, rather than ask people to go through the entire Hansard record since Chiam (& Low) became MP.
So can you please list a few of their great/good deeds for the lesser mortals on a national scale………& not just how good their are as town councillors.
U said:
“Even people like Chee Soon Juan has done MANY things. PAP has secretly even implemented some of his ideas but not given him credit.
Without people like Tang Liang Hong, do we even know about the sweet deal that LKY and his family had in the condo deal?”
Excuse me, but we are talking ONLY about Chiam, in this thread, and to a lesser extent, WP’s Low.
Care to do as requested in the previous point on examples of their “shit load”?
Wa-lau….really or not!!!! Is CST “throwing smoke bomb” to confuse his residents or what !! Make his residents worried n get them to “beg” him to stay and get them to continue to support him ?
How can he just leave Potong Pasir just like that one….just because he want to fulfil his own desire to try fight and win a GRC ? Personal wishes over his residents’ support ? How can like that one !!!! Think, he should continue to serve the people who elected him from day one till the day he cannot serve or the residents don’t want to support him anymore….