Lee Jambun on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 7:50 pm 

I’m a resident in Nee Soon. I will vote for Worker’s Party if they are running for my ward. pap can’t buy the hearts of people who stay in pte property. Bleh!

cy on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 8:25 pm 

It will be interesting to see two female candidates going head-on.

but sylvia should not pick on the table tennis issue although LBW is in the wrong, WP’s manifesto should be elaborated instead.

Political SalesMaN on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 8:26 pm 

Singapore Pool will be opening a stake for bet. How many vote each will get or will win. $1 Pay And Pay $100. Bet on vote on win or lose! or % count in vote. Hurry —–Hurry Orang Tua Ah Pek, Ah Soh, Kin Chiew Lo Too, Main Chiew Tua Buay Hoo.

btan on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 8:40 pm 

Well, PAP will assume that those who stay in private property are well to do enough to believe in their system thus voting for them.

That said, it is good to hear even the more well to do folks may not vote for PAP.

citizenofSG on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 8:55 pm 

If both PAP and opposition candidates are equally yoked, it is likely the opposition will win so long as the grand old man don’t come up with his wise man tricks.
However if there is a single constituency seat available, a lot of opposition parties will want to contest and a three corner fight may occur.

It is mostly HDB dwellers that support the PAP especially the “wu zhi” housewife that enjoy durian party given by RC. Private housing dwellers are all mostly well informed and exposed to alternative news and media, they definitely are not gullible to mention the least.

XIIIblackcat on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 9:08 pm 

Hi Lee Jambun, I’m also a Nee Soon South residence! My allegiance to those who compete in this ward. Sick and tired of this LBW. Plain sickening to paste her face everywhere in our estate.

Political SalesMaN on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 9:23 pm 

Worker Party always like to pick issue like table tennis.
In Hougang they pick the issue on Papaya, Rambutan or Mah Bow Tan, Chiku, I smear something very funny.I hope this is not a diversion plot.
There are plentyful of sensitive issue like Electric Bill went up 12%.Propeeeety jet up.Old issue like the “STOP AT TWO” killing of the last lost generation.Arrest people without trial. it seen WP look very essentric type of people.

Time for Change on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:11 pm 

I am sure the MIW know they will lose big this time. They are theefore carving out some single wards with unpopular MPs and hope that Singaporean will be satisfied with the opposition winning a few single seat wards.

I seriously doubt this will appease Singaporeans. With millions more cheap foreign labour coming and the prospect of GST increasing to 12% after the elections, Singaporeans will want the opposition to win all the single seat wards and 4 or 5 GRCs.

This is the least we should expect. Otherwise we could be headed for a disaster.

janetnt on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:15 pm 

y not go for a 2nd shot at Aljunied and leave LBW to someone else.

JW on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:16 pm 

The PAP is not so stupid as to field Lee Bee Wah against Sylvia Lim.

Even if Goh CT or LKY were to throw their weight behind Lee Bee Wah she would definitely be defeated and soundly beaten.

fair and square on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:25 pm 

that’s the way to go!
if WP lets its’ chairwoman,SL,FIGHT in a single ward such as this,chances are good,if not high.
hope for the overall good of singapore society to benefit from the “best” candidates to serve the nation,more single wards be
re-instated the sooner than later.
ths PM would then have the best of singapore citizenry represented,not just the “studious type” but truly good
people to help him rein in the economy to new heights and
hopefully dish out more decent jobs for the pool of local
job-seekers from all collars.
for singapore and singaporean workers!!!

Mee Siam Mai Hum on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:34 pm 

Aiyah no need to worry for LWB…
Even if “freak” election resulted..there’s still consolation of perhaps grassroot adviser post. Else she being a talent, could simply go back to pte sector and earn millions

Mee Siam Mai Hum on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:35 pm 

Ooops should be “LBW”..my honest mistake

rico on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:49 pm 

It is interesting to see just how many readers here are PAP bootlickers by looking at the current MicroPoll on Lee Bee Wah vs Sylvia Lim.

dd on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:50 pm 

she’s got good rapport with nee soon south but the whole of ang mo kio hates the woman. Haha, therefore they(PAP) see this as win-win.

Ah Boy on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 11:05 pm 

Sylvia is abandoning her folks at Aljunied? And they haven’t seen her for a year already?

cy on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 11:13 pm 

March 1, 2007 ST

MS SYLVIA Lim’s speech yesterday was rebutted by three People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs, who said she had not given the Government due credit for the prudence and generosity of its Budget.

The Non-Constituency MP had criticised the Government’s decision to raise the goods and services tax (GST), saying it had revenue from various sources and a stronger fiscal position than was reported.

Ms Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio GRC) was the first to counter Ms Lim’s points, saying the Government’s funds for social spending should not be taken for granted.

Playing on the Chinese names of Ms Lim (Lin Rui Lian) as well as her own (Lee Mei Hua) she drew laughs from the House by saying her rebuttal was not meant to start ‘an Ah Huay dui (versus) Ah Lian debate’.

‘Spending on social services for a greying population by the Government cannot be taken for granted,’ she said, adding that only a ‘prudent and good government like ours’ could make the right fiscal decisions.

cy on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 11:32 pm 

李美花反驳林瑞莲–“不要拉屎时才找茅坑”

　　国会昨天上演了阿花反驳阿莲的一幕。

　　原来议员李美花（宏茂桥集选区）刚好排在反对党的非选区议员林瑞莲之后发言，对林瑞莲指政府“应等到有需要时才来调高消费税”的说服作出反驳，忆起她母亲自小就告诫她“不要在拉屎时才去找茅坑”

用高薪吸引最优秀的人才加入公共服务部门到底是不是明智之举？宏茂桥集选区议员李美花，巧妙地用了“瑞莲中学”和“美花中学”做说明

John Potus on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 11:49 pm 

“Laws that allow the authorities to impose restrictions on freedom of expression together with a pattern of politically motivated defamation suits, have created a climate of political intimidation and self-censorship in Singapore.” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Director. “This ruling further illustrates how press freedom is under threat in Singapore and sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of expression and journalism in the region.”

Amnesty International urges the Singapore parliament to enact legislation that would ensure the media’s ability to perform its vital function as a watchdog while removing discrimination and undue restrictions from the laws on freedom of expression, to bring them into line with international law and standards.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGNAU2009111914127&lang=e

If you want freedom, vote for Sylvia Lim. If you want darkness, you know what to do.

Sinkapore on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:02 am 

Lee can go for ANY single and she will be thrashed. Better keep her in GRC if the PaPies still ‘wants’ her after all the wayanga and boos.

Anyway, I am VERY SCEPTICAL that there will be 9 single seats as ‘promised’.

rc on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:30 am 

hmm… seems like a tactical move. if that happens, it will be more like making Lee Bee Wah take one for the team, making space for a credible opposition member to be elected as an MP, acting as a safety release valve for the pent up pressure demanding for opposition voice in Parliament.

wat? on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:55 am 

they probably think LBW is a liability…. let her fight on her own to get rid of her…

citizenofSG on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 1:45 am 

My view is most educated Singaporean desires opposition in parliament to give PAP a good run for their money. Looking at the current spread of opposition most could hardly be considered very top grade. Only a small handful of opposition candidates are like the quality of Sylvia who really meet the grade.

Most talents who meet the grade would probably feel that it is better to be with PAP than with the opposition who cannot provide a very sound bed. With PAP they can sleep and eat well not worrying about a thing.

As for Sylvia if she wants to join PAP, surely she can make the grade. She doesn’t want to see democracy being treated in such a lopsided manner so she risks it all and go against the grain. Some day I hope she becomes someone great.

She is a woman with character and is willing to sacrifice for the sake of making true democracy to happen and deserve the people’s admiration and support. Till now she is not a elected MP and unable to stand tall I must say it is a bloody waste.

Vote Sylvia for the birth of democracy.

smlj on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 1:55 am 

quote dd: “she’s got good rapport with nee soon south…”

she enjoys good support at nee soon south then how ah lien go there and win? sure lose wat!

fair and square on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:11 am 

Whether it’s mere tactics or strategy due to weak ground support,itself a consequence of mass chroonic local unemployment,it doesn’t realy mattter.
i say it is still better fro our opposition to field more
members in hopefully more single wards;GRC,no matter how,no matter what is a real stumbling block for genuine political
aspirants from the oppostion.
let’s not always complain when even when there is something
good to look forward to…the more oppostion members in the HOUSE,the better the chances our voices would be heard!!!

Bruce W on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:37 am 

LHL’s GRC in AMK already suffered from below average of winning votes, beating an opposition team comprises of even new young chiobu.
If LBW is kept in the GRC in coming election, LHL will sure to suffer even more vote to the opposition.

Rainnix on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 3:59 am 

If Liu Guo Dong vs Lee Bee Wah in Nee Soon South, I’ll vote for Liu Guo Dong. At least he brought us the “medals”. Worker Party should use Sylvia to contest another ward or lead a GRC. She will have a better chance to win in that ward regardless.

Better still, let her go against LHL in AMK!

Oic on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 4:26 am 

LBW to be fed to the wolves? This way, she could be sacrificed without wasting time choosing another ‘credible’ pappy? Getting rid of an old despised MP in LBW would be alot wiser to losing a newly minted and potential minister!

Afterall the people and PAP are getting fed up with her. So let the electorate dispose of unwanted baggage rather than wasting time and effort with tea parties looking for new candidates.

jiangbao on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 9:04 am 

Its illogical for PAP to field Lee Bee Wah when Singaporeans cannot wait to see her fall flat on her face. Lee Bee Wah would likely be dropped. Beside din’t LKY once said that in all single wards, it be a chinese male vs Chinese Male? PAP is not that stupid to field Lee Bee Wah against Sylvia when Sylvia stands a good chance of winning

Ah Lian's secret admirer on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 9:30 am 

‘Spending on social services for a greying population by the Government cannot be taken for granted,’

Aiyoh,

dun pretend lah! So serious meh???

Ah Beng and Ah Lian’s ward favourite sons, daughters, ah kong, ah por and ah sor all get plenty more lah! Free abalone and shark fin breakfast porridge is just appetizers only. Free dinners cum in LUP cooked with home-grown Pappies dud lemon grass and ping pong-size fishy balls. After digestion, give it back to the jamban lah!

How cum I never get wan??

And Ah Beng and Ah Lian smile smile smile more (no need to say wan lah! ) looking for more votes lah!

Singaporeans well-trained orr-lady to pick up hints from hidden singlish messages – not like blind sotong non-voting air-flown imported foreigners here.

BryanT on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:12 am 

If I were living in NS South, I would definitely vote for SL. LBW is not only a liability to the nation, she is an politician in-extremis — attending grabbing, media-hogging, ultra thick-skin, sycophantic, and (using one of CSJ’s favourite words) vainglorious.

I doubt PAP will set her loose in single constituency ward, unless it is a means to deliberate lose a seat to bring SL as an “endorsed” opposition to replace the aging CST. But I don’t think PAP is so magnanimous.

Anyway, LBW is only around because she rides on the coat-tail of the heavy-weight in AMK GRC (ie. the PM). Alone, she perishes. I think the best arrangement is to quietly jettison her and send her to some political wasteland.

btan on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:43 am 

Personally, I would like to see Sylvia anchoring a GRC. She already can obtain 45+% in Aljunied. I am sure with the current sentiments that is strongly against the PAP government, she and her team can easily take over Aljunied GRC. The only thing is will PAP be up to their old trick by reshaping Aljunied to their advantage (after all, they have results of previous election up to precinct level and they have the information via HDB of who moved in and out of a precinct).

Only when opposition can take a GRC will PAP reconsider abolishing GRCs, as losing one means they lose 5 seats. Losing two will make LHL unable to cope since he cannot fix more than 10 opposition MPs.

Chua Mui Mui of Bai & Bai on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:17 am 

That face is simply beauty beyond words.
I am speechless.

David on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:19 am 

It goes without saying that Silvia Lim is of a high caliber candidates than LBW. In fact, she doesn’t have to give LBW any face at all. If Lee Hsien Loong can lost 34% of trust in AMK against the WP juniors, I am sure Silvia Lim can take on Lee Hsien Loong without much effort. If AMK, Toa Payoh and Bishan, Hougang, Potong Pasir & Aljunied GRC are under control by alternative parties, it really is a cause for MUCH JOY to true blue Singaporeans. I am very excited about this coming election, really so much grievances are bottled up in many singaporeans and I highly regard our alternative parties as a force that brings warmth and light into this sinking Singapore already under LHL poor leadership.

NSSresident on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:23 am 

Wow! Seems like almost all of the comments here are rather one sided.

Personally, having been a resident in NSS, I feel that LBW has been a rather good MP for our constituency. That said, I am very curious why people outside NSS, and even some inside, are so critical of LBW. Is it because of the LGD incident?

Can someone please summarise all the grievances everyone has against LBW? (for easier reading, rather than to read thru all the comments)

smallfly on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:33 am 

sorry to correct you, coach liu was not nominated to compete for the “best coach of the year award” by the stta, with the reason given by lee as: “a best-coach of the year should couple-with ‘high level of integrity’ besides than other coaching achievements”, this open statement to the media infuriated liu to ‘trigger’ a libel-suit against lee for defamation

non-renewal of ‘coaching-contract’ had been initiated by liu not lee, i.e., liu refused to re-new the coaching-contract with stta with the reason of unsatisfactory remuneration package

kikoman on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:44 am 

Sylvia Lim- If you are in my constituency ,You have my 1000 percent support, not for who you are but for what you are . You have the leadership qualities,charismatic,determine ,resilience and above all i admire your courage and humble .

As for the other lady fella,she does not have MY RESPECT

VOTEWISE on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:47 am 

@btan
Aljunied is no easy push-over,really.
No doubt,it was asterling performance last GE
but 55 pct of the rest would likely remain pro-PAP.
It would most likely be the case.
Contesting the likes of GEORGE YEO and LIM HWEE HUA is
no easy meat…many less adventurous would probably stick
with them,thta’s my humble opinion.
If SL can get into Parliament,even,if it’s one person,that’s
a lot in terms of incremental…we need more such incrementals to speak out for us.
anyway,the sooner the GRCs are abolished,the better.

Repressed Citizen on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:56 am 

I will support Lee Bee Wah because she looks prettier than Silvia Lim (Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder).

But I will cast my vote for Silvia Lim because she is more intelligent, sincere and down-to-earth.

jolly on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:08 pm 

is this the way the party get rid of its sub standard ministers? One thing for sure they lack charisma and beauty.

Ah Beng on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:19 pm 

Why only LBW foto here, why not Sylvia?

Izit becos LBW prettier?

And Justice For All on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:20 pm 

Let’s look at it from another angle.

PAP obviously think after the table tennis boo boo Lee Bee Wah is now a liability to them. Instead of showing her the door which is not good for party morale, they are could be using this as a mechanism to get rid of her ? Sylvia Lim has got quite a good ground in votes and the electorate’s passion is with her. I am sure the PAPies are aware of that.

Then why throw LBW to the wolves when they know the chances of her winning there is questionable ?

Political SalesMaN on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:54 pm 

Not only LBW, there are few more Papies staff going off the ward.Look at Aljunied BG Yeo sure to go off, the resident want him off.previous vote on this own ward had zero.Followed by another Jayakurma ,OLdfart will told him off. Waste so much money to fight for a small stone (Pera Banca-White House)instead fighting back for Sabah or Sarawak in international court.LHL himself ward lost by 40% vote so he had to go off (now he is a walking bomb).Will opposition and voter, don’t count the chicken before they are hatch!

NSparkle on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 1:14 pm 

I suppose most of u are not NSS resident… I feel very sad for ur blindness. LBW is a very good MP here. She has helped many of us residents. My neighbours and I have gotten a lot of help from her. Managing an association and managing a constituent is very different and i will say she has done her job very well. It saddens me to see so many of you have only seen one side of her and are blindly commenting as if u know her so well. As a resident it is not impt how she handles LGD or SL but it is of grave impt in how she cares for us. Moreover she is not only an MP for the HDB dwellers, but us private property owners as well! Hence she has gained support from us too! We the private property owners, hereby support Ms Lee in the fight!

citizenofSG on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 1:18 pm 

For those euphoric individual, the feeling in cyber space and the feeling in the actual ground is two different things altogether.
In the last election, the cyber warriors voted overwhelmingly that the opposition will win plenty just to realize that it is not so.
Hence if we think that PAP is going to lose big times because of what you are witnessing in TR, you are going to be disappointed eventually. For those of us who think that Sylvia will surely win, we better not just take it too lightly. We have to go to support her rally.

Political SalesMaN on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 1:18 pm 

Ai-Ya! Mee Siam Mai Hum. U forgot If there a “freak” Election, LKY will sent in the army. Don’t forget LKY declare we have Uraknian & Junta people in our “Army”. These army will act like 64-Tianamen square killing if require, Singapore we don’t have Tianamen Square, we have China Square & City Square,

Sawdust on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 1:26 pm 

I hope Sylvia Lim don’t compete in Nee Soon South with Lee Bee Wah (LBW is a nobody!). It must be a decoy if this is true. Put any opposition the result will be the same. High chance LBW will lose! Sylvia must go where the big guns are! Her popularity will be an advantage.

gambit on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:24 pm 

a forgone conclusion! unless aunty bee tries to win over the amk taichi aunties which count for a lot

ayama on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:42 pm 

True independence and freedom will be bestow upon us on the day that the PAP is kick out of parliament.

When the day the PAP lost on the grip of power,they will realize that they are not invincible,if they do return to power once again they will then listen to you and me the voters because if they dont they can be rid of once again.

Closing down sales on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:46 pm 

I seriously doubt LBW, a “foreign talent” imported from M’sia, can earn millions in private sector as a professional engineer in civil engineering unless she becomes the new CEO of Capitaland.

The chief minister from Penang had said before that S’pore hospital will close down if all M’sian doctors leave S’pore and return back to M’sia. He should also say that S’pore parliament will close down when all M’sian MPs leave S’pore for M’sia!

Nangista on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 2:47 pm 

Should have compared Sylvia with Lee Hsien Loong, Lim Swee Say, Vivian Bala , George Yeo or Teo Ho Pin or that finance minister.

Rainnix on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 4:55 pm 

@NSSresident on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:23 am

“Can someone please summarise all the grievances everyone has against LBW? (for easier reading, rather than to read thru all the comments)”

Instead, can you summarize all the significant things that LBW had done for NSS besides following PM around and posing for pictures? The some of the top level positions in STTA are actually grassroots volunteers in her ward. What have you got to sat about that?

Another Perspective on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 7:20 pm 

I suppose some of you are not NSS residents I feel very sad for your blindness. LBW is not exactly what the MSM has been trying to paint her. Though she seems to have helped some of the private property owners, she had not helped many of us residents living in government-owned HDB flats. My neighbours and I are not very happy with her. We think she has no emotional intelligence at all.

Managing an association and managing a constituent is not very different and I will say she has plenty of rooms for improvement in our constituency.

It saddens me to see some of you so shamelessly speaking well of her just because you happened to get some ‘help’ from her. You have only seen one side of her and are blindly praising her as if you know her so well, just because she has benefited you. Such is a very selfish narrow view poisoned by a calculative cost-and-benefit mentality.

As a resident it is also very important to know how she has treated her subordinates in STTA, how she behaved herself at the Olympics 2008 in Beijing and how she had to make a public apology subsequently. It is also very important to know her ability in handling Opposition Candidates during the elections. All such events have grave implications in how she treats her us, her constituents.

Moreover, as an MP, she should not be seen as bias towards some of the private property owners but paid little attention to most of us HDB dwellers! Hence, she has lost the support from most of us! We, the HDB dwellers, hereby will not support LBW in the next election!

sixty-niner on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 7:41 pm 

How about compare Yeo Guat Kwang with Sylvia?
Or maybe Lui with Sylvia?
Lui recently visited Hougang GRC , large banner on the streets.
Wonder will he be part of HG GRC team?

HuM ChEe PiAn on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 8:01 pm 

Look at LBW faCE LIKE hUM cHEE pIAN. hER CHest WITH TwO ChAr SiEw PaO & TaO SaR PaO. In ThE PaO ThErE ArE TwO TurNiNg PoInT OnE CaN TuNe To 98.5Fm nExT Is 93.8Fm. BeLow Is A BLaCk PaTcH oF BlAcK FaTt ChOy. Good Luck (Sarah Palin)

Political SalesMaN on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 8:10 pm 

The PAP is very good in tackling Old Auntie & Ah Pek vote.
They got woman wing in RC.MOst of them either divorce or die husband. Every Fuction they use young man to arract Old auntie & young PAP girl to arract Ah Pek vote. Go back home to find out whether your Ah Soh or Ah Peh don’t fell into PAP trick.Now I think they use PRC young fairy to arract Ah Peh.

smlj on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 9:47 pm 

Come on be sensible keyboard warriors.

What you’re seeing here is just a ruse by the opposition lah. Sylvia Lim knows that she can’t fight Lee Bee Wah in Nee Soon South. It’s a fact. The latter has done so much for the constituency. This article is trying to discredit LBW and attempt to get someone else to be fielded in Nee Soon South, which may work to SL’s advantage. But seriously, FAIL LAH!

I can understand that the people here are mostly anti-PAP, hence all the negative comments painted of Lee Bee Wah. But have you really gone down and understand what she’s done for the Nee Soon South community or not?

Sylvia Lim wanted to contest for Aljunied GRC last elections, why now go to the North? Jumping around just shows her fickleness. And, what has she really done for the the residents of Aljunied?

And Justice For All on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:00 pm 

Political Salesman

Now, that was funny.

Anonymous on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:22 pm 

@ sixty-niner on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 7:41 pm

Lui going to HG? He must have got some unforgettable warmth and reception recently. The way the LUP were hawked by this friends and discredited in alternative media does not leave much to speculate of his chances if he ventures there either as a single ward or even a GRC member.

The last election of 2006 is revealing of how hurt feelings will respond to monetary-linked incentive. Money don’t buy souls nor votes – not in HG and Potong Pasir at least. Maybe he should linked up with LBW in a GRC to add to publicity exposure for maximum effect of outcome.

Gum on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:25 pm 

Political SalesMan,

unfortunately, i have to reveal to you that most of these ah peks usually do not surf the net nor read english much.
So, its practically impossible you can reach them.

yishuner on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 10:44 pm 

Well, while LBW might not have been able to reach out to everyone, she has done her part to help those who approach her for help. Be it if you are from pte housing or HDB, you need to go approach help if you need and can’t just sit there and wait for help to arrive.

Sure, she might not have done a lot, but she has put in quite some effort in helping residents who have approached her for help and even trying to get closer to her residents. While it may not have been excellent job done, it can at least be labelled as excellent effort

cy on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 11:33 pm 

sylvia lim is blogging for the 1st time

sylvialimsblog.blogspot.com

Exposer on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 12:00 am 

I bet if some minority clowns receive favour and benefit from Godfather, they too will sing the praise of Godfather and God-Son too !

BarelyAlive on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 1:52 am 

PAP leaders must be wondering why didn’t Sylvia Lim join them. A female politician of Sylvia’s calibre is really hard to come by. Instead having to make do with a certain LBW. I think the way LBW handled STTA matters were unprofessional and that has tarnished PAP’s image. PAP has the issues of HDB prices, freedom of the press and influx of foreigners to tackle this coming election. I bet they wouldn’t want opposition to take this opportunity to question the quality of candidates brought into parliament via the GRC system. ie. riding on the coat-tails of a heavyweight MP. They could do with one less controversial issue.

ahboy on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 1:52 am 

@Another Perspective, wow, have you met LBW before? YOu sound like a resident in NSS. What do you think can be improved for your estate? I mean HDB since you said she’s done much for the pte estates and not for HDB.

Not sure about the accuracy of the article lah, but if we want our online voice to be heard, then we’ve got to be rational about our arguements. Futher, respect others for their views lah.. dun poison others with your arrows too.

cognitive dissonance on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 9:49 am 

ahboy on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 1:52 am

Nice words of yours below

“…we’ve got to be rational about our arguements. Futher, respect others for their views lah.. dun poison others with your arrows too….”

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE LAMPOONING ‘ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE” EXACTLY?

ARE YOU NOT RESPECTING THIS BLOGGER’S VIEW AND IRRATIONAL OF YOUR ARGUMENT OF ATTACKING HIS/HER VIEWPOINT WHILE PRETENDING YOURS AS OVERRIDING VALIDITY?

Practise what you preach – if you wnat to talk about “rational” about conduct and not “posion other with your arrows”

Otherwise, please keep out. It is Work In Progress here of thoughts sharing

Political SalesMaN on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 11:30 am 

Gum! Ah Pek don’t suf in net. they always go to RC every weekend they have Party fuction.U can go to have a look.When election is on they will go to their house to pull them out. I think U’re one of the Ah Pek.

Political SalesMaN on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 11:35 am 

And Justice Foe All: Who are U to ask me this question.What so funny. Are U one of LBW Darling

yishuner on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 11:49 am 

@ cognitive dissonance

what ahboy is trying to say here is, let’s keep our cool, don’t have to show your anger, relax lah.

C’mon, we are all citizens of a civilised world, let’s show it. He is not attacking anybody, but just asking Another Perspective to substantiate a little more so that he can understand it clearer.

I mean, Another Perspective said that LBW had been biased against HDB dwellers and some are ’so shamelessly speaking well of her’ just because they happened to get some ‘help’ from her. Put it in this way, those people must have spoken well of her because of the value of the help she offered. Sure, it might not have been much but it must have most probably meant alot to these people who appreciate the help given.

Moreover, so far I’ve only seen how people complain mostly about what a poor STTA pres she has been, not much substantiated complaints about her as an MP. Why not list them out and we discuss them with a cool head?

I might be wrong but just list the reasons out, no need to rant, chill guys

pekingduckie on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 2:25 pm 

Hmm, i m a HDB dweller in nee soon south and i think she has done a lot for us HDB dwellies. at the very least, she has made my living envt in Nee Soon South very comfy and cosy, like i feel as if i m in my small kampung=))and for sure, my problems have been brought to light and attended to. for that, i feel assured my MP takes my needs and requests into consideration.
dd:how you noe the whole amk hates her? AHAHA at least my fren and ah ma living in amk doesnt hate her. hmm..

LHL on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 3:20 pm 

Why don’t PM Lee goes for single constituency instead of hiding behind the AMK GRC ? He should let people vote whether he has done a good job as PM.

NSSresident on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 1:06 am 

@Rainnix on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 4:55 pm

“Instead, can you summarize all the significant things that LBW had done for NSS besides following PM around and posing for pictures? The some of the top level positions in STTA are actually grassroots volunteers in her ward. What have you got to sat about that?”

- secured lift upgrading for all blocks in NSS
- house visits to get to know the residents better every week
- voicing out the resident’s woes in parliament
- helping out residents anytime, anywhere.

I’ve met her at the coffeeshops on sunday mornings quite a number of times and have even approached her during meet the people sessions for help and i’ve seen her always taking out her phone to contact relevant agencies whenever the residents need help and she have the contacts

So what if grassroot volunteers are helping her in STTA? does it really matter? As long as STTA functions properly,I think it doesn’t matter who is in the committee.

And please dont bring STTA into this matter. Politics and sports should be handled and viewed seperately.

NSSresident on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 1:08 am 

and i have to agree with what yishuner said:

“While it may not have been excellent job done, it can at least be labelled as excellent effort”

LMS on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 1:57 am 

Come on be awaken, everybody.

What you’re seeing in some of the comments is just a ruse by the PAP cyber insurgents gang lah.

Sylvia Lim knows that she can fight Lee Bee Wah in Nee Soon South hands-down. It is a fact that cannot be denied. The latter has disgraced herself by displaying her behaviour for all to see and has done very little for the NSS constituency except to be seen rubbing shoulders with Multi-Millionaire PM Lee and other Multi-Millionaire PAP Ministers, such as the useless pseudo Labourer Chief, dancing on stage and singing the “Upturn the Downturn” craps.

This article is not trying to discredit LBW but to point out the recent events concerning LBW as published by the MSM, and attempts to open the eyes of voters in Nee Soon South. Whether it will work or not is up to the voters of NSS. It so happens that Silvia Lim has been seen in the area keeping in touch with the people there. But whether she will contest in NSS is another story. In fact, I think Silvia Lim should rightly angle a GRC to fight against an unpopular heavy weight of the PAP, such as the one who let Mas Selamat escaped. Anyone from the Workers Party or any Opposition Party can easily taken on LBW in NSS any time. Sure SUCCEED LAH!

I can understand that some people here are mostly anti-Opposition, hence all the negative and unsubstantiated comments and ad hominem personal attacks against this article and commenters who criticised LBW and praised Silvia Lim or the Opposition. But have you really gone down and understand what the Opposition is doing for Nee Soon South community or not?

Sylvia Lim contested for Aljunied GRC in the last elections, for the first time. Yet she managed to get 44% of the votes against a PAP heavy weight Foreign Minister George Yeo. Why is she now going around in NSS is not because she is “jumping” around, but because as the Chair Person of Workers’ Party, it is her responsibility to go around the whole of Singapore to keep in touch with the ground, to show that Workers Party really cares for the people’s welfare and well being.

What has Silvia Lim done for the people of Aljunied. She has done a lot but the PAP-control Straits Times and other newspapers, under the control of SPH, have refused to publicize her works. From the little that they have no choice but to oblige, in order to pretend that they are not bias against the Opposition, we can see that Silvia Lim has spoken out sensibly and vigorously for Singaporeans, especially against PAP’s double standards, unfair treatments and failed policies such as the language policies, which has been confirmed by MM Lee himself just last week.

Get Real on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 10:04 am 

NSSresident on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 1:06 am

“secured lift upgrading for all blocks in NSS”?

You meant public policy making in MND and in Government is made on the run of an ad hoc impromptu? Not a carefully considered of policy substance and optimality of decision-making process?

Are you not stretching imagination and failing to recognise the inherent complexity in public policy making?.

Or maybe you are right, policy decision making in Government has always been on the run!

Maybe that is also the reason why all NSS blocks are designed on inadequate and/or inappropriate policy considerations such that all blocks needed LUP now when other estates do NOT require across-the-board lift upgrading.

And maybe a phone call and it is all is considered done of rectification after the fact?.

What happened to the word “organisation”? Not in your vocabulary and MND is a fiction along Maxwell Road?

A bit stretching of your wild imagination I would say.

Get Real on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 10:13 am 

NSSresident on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 1:06 am

STTA thing won’t go away anytime soon. It is not about LGD. It is national pride hurt incapable of redemption.

It could not have been worse handled – poor leadership was found in much of the cyber public protest petition, almost scary for my thoughts.

ahboy on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 12:17 pm 

Hahah, say anything bad and you’re a hero, say something good, and you’re PAP lackey or troop. How rational can that get?

Get real, gd point on the planning of the HDB flats. I suppose we have to add in the fact that these HDB flats are built over 10 years ago where technology wasn’t that advanced and having lift landings on every floor might be too costly.

STTA issue, we’ve heard much about the issue from one party. There’s another party that hasn’t really spoken. Our general assupmtion is there is something they are hiding, but perhaps it’s something else? I’m not sure..

On issue management, yeah, it could be better. That I’ve got to agree dude. Not sure what constraints she had, or what are the considerations the Association made then though.

But I suppose now STTA is for the better. Quite proud of our nation’s young athletes and table tennis players that are now being groomed.

Get Real on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 3:25 pm 

ahboy on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 12:17 pm

IT IS NOT…

…Hahah, say anything bad and you’re a hero, say something good, and you’re PAP lackey or troop. How rational can that get?….”

It is rationality.

“…we have to add in the fact that these HDB flats are built over 10 years ago where technology wasn’t that advanced and having lift landings on every floor might be too costly. …”

NSS was actually built after Potong Pasir and Hougang but NOT all in either estate require LUP. But NSS require estate-wide LUP – surely the technology has NOT gone BACKWARD as time progresses and HDB would got the benefit of hindsight of experiences building block across the island. I believe that policy-making in design choice for NSS was a case of BLANKET BLINDSIGHTED at best and incompetent at worse.

It is added costs to community and residents having to cough out money in these trying times when construction costs would be much higher than 10 years or more ago. Gathered on the gravevine that it will now likely to cost each resident (apartment) about $10K which might be tough for some out of work folks.

Correcting BIG mistakes in hindsight of any major public policy with national-wide impact is NOT virtue of electoral appeasement or attempt at appeasement after the fact of errors.

I suspect that many in Potong Pasir and Hougang are already retirees with no income. Many of the flats could be more than 30 years old by now. Children must be depended upon for assistance. They got no other choice having accustomed to prevailing living and social environment.

Quite sad that LUP had been insensitively and brutally politicised of old folk’s misery. They should have quietly and dignifyingly resolve all these planning mistakes.

Dirty Old Man on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 4:43 pm 

## LHL on Sat, 21st Nov 2009 3:20 pm

“Why don’t PM Lee goes for single constituency instead of hiding behind the AMK GRC ? He should let people vote whether he has done a good job as PM”.

————

Great point.

Bringing it one step further, I would suggest that all MIW Ministers stand in a single ward constituency to let voters decide / reject their policies.

Responsible Ministers should live or die by their policies, as practiced in other democracies / countries.

However, I doubt our MIW Ministers have the balls or courage to do it, and would prefer to hide under the skirt of a GRC, so it will likely remain an unfulfilled dream for Singaporean voters.

yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 12:58 am 

@ Dirty Old Man

If let’s say you put PM Lee in a single ward, do you think the voters will be casting their votes based on whether he has done a good job as a PM or MP?

They are quite different you know…

Single ward on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 9:04 am 

yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 12:58 am

If he is a “good” PM and “poor” MP – an unlikely combination, he would survive the ward because he macro public policy would have been beneficial to all Singaporeans including his ward. But if he is a “bad”PM and “good” MP, he might survive also because he at least take care of his ward.

On the other extreme of he is a “bad” PM and “bad” MP, well it is the same for all other “bad” MPs, he is out the door. The converse would be true too.

It is positive compensating for negative but negative aggravates negative if PM is in a single ward. Positive uplift positive.

So for PM to stand is a single ward is fair because it is level playing field for all candidates.

Are you looking for unfair advantages?

yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 9:46 am 

@ single ward

How many would actually care about the consequences of the macro policies he actually made? Even so, what if majority of Singapore benefitted from the policies he has made and it just so happened that the people of the single ward he is in is not too concerned about that, but more of whether he has been a good MP making his rounds every week greeting residents?

You think we should leave an issue like this to chance?

Dirty Old Man on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 10:48 am 

## yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 12:58 am

“If let’s say you put PM Lee in a single ward, do you think the voters will be casting their votes based on whether he has done a good job as a PM or MP? They are quite different you know…”

The fact of the matter is that in a democratic country / election, all Parlimentary candidates should contest in single ward constituencies (eg Australia, Britain, India, Japan etc).

Singapore is the odd man out with its own GRC system.

All Ministers, including the PM, should be capabale of handling both roles if elected into Parliament, because if they are not able to, then they should not be standing for elections in the first place.

Personally, I would vote for the MP based on his appointed higher office, because if he is doing a good job for the country, he will be doing a good job for his constituency.

Nevertheless, to each his own when voting for your MP / Government.

single ward on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 12:59 pm 

yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 9:46 am

“How many would actually care about the consequences of the macro policies he actually made?…..You think we should leave an issue like this to chance?”

You are SPECULATING about the risks of voters’ irrationality.

My answer is very simple.

Why don’t you ask PM to buy insurance policy to hedge against this chance risk?

By the converse of your proposition, should Singapore give PM or any candidate the advantages of non-level playing field in an election in any democracy?

Does any candidate – incumbent or opposition – needing mommy’s baby-cuddling fit to govern this country?

I am looking for dynamic leadership, not crying babies to govern and lead this country.

IS THERE ANYBODY AMONG ALL CONTESTING POLITICIANS ANNOINTED IN HEAVEN WITH THE RIGHT TO GOVERN in any democratic process?

Why don’t you directly answer my question

Are you looking for unfair advantages, Yushiner?

yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 5:58 pm 

It’s very simple, if it’s guaranteed that people will vote just based on the policy decisions they have made, so be it.

Want to talk about other democracies? Are our countries really that similar after all if you really consider it?

It’s not an issue of voter rationality, but sure for enlightened individuals like single ward who will make a fair judgement, what about those who do not really care abt macro policy decisions? Some people cannot be appeased because they are just all out to go against PAP.

Put it this way, lotsa people are sick and tired of PAP dominating politics for so long, that is why they want something new, something to try out, and keep whacking PAP at all costs.

You ask me to answer your question, here it is. We are looking for dynamic leadership, those people who can lead well. But ultimately, lotsa people have different way of judging leaderships and some people just want to find fault, so is that really fair to begin with?

Haha, but as we all know, we all have different views. Like I said in my earlier post, this is just a forum man.. chillz… you don’t have to ask questions by WRITING IN THIS MANNER, NOT THAT I HATE IT OR ANYTHING BUT IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM EXTREMELY PLEASING AND I HAVE NO ISSUES IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE POSTING IN THIS WAY.

Lol, that said, I respect your views as well cuz we are all entitled to our own views, and I’m just offering my stand

single ward on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 8:13 pm 

@ yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 5:58 pm

Top performing politicians never look at the polls. It is the ballot box outcome that counts. Voters’ volatility is an unknown equation but there is a core voting majority that is rational of thought of where they want this country to be 5 to 10 years down the track.

That is already evident in 2006. Election “bribes” don’t work in Potong Pasir nor Hougang – that is living proof of voters’ maturity of rationality over volatility. People cannot be persuaded by ANY inducement. A core majority will stay on rational thoughts.

I am sure that if any politician from any party comes baiting for votes on the promise of LUP or even a BMW to each Singaporean voter, a lot would simply respond with two words -”UP YOURS”. I, for one, certainly will do exactly that.

My country counts infinitely more than the BMW I will get!!

So no politician of substance needs shelter behind a GRC cover. You are worth what you stand for in a single ward contest – level playing field for all. This country deserves only the best, not cry babies needing mommy’s breast milk.

As Dirty Old Man on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 4:43 pm says

“Responsible Ministers should live or die by their policies, as practiced in other democracies / countries…”

I support that view fervently.

That said, Obama will get a second term or not depends on WHAT HE DELIVERS in the first term. Nothing else counts nor should counts.

yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 10:18 pm 

which explains very well why our policies are planned more for the long run rather than the short run.

I’m not saying other democracies implement only short run policies but as compared to Sg, they go more for short run rather than long run. The GRC system no doubt helps ensure some politicians to stay on in the gov’t at the expense of democracy to some extent, but at least it ensures implementation of policies in the long run. Comparatively, other democracies like the UK actually implement more policies in the short run because they are constantly campaigning but that may actually be detrimental to the country.

Hmm… so at the end of the day, it depends on what you are looking for. Short term goodies with real enjoyment of democracy or ‘unfair advantage offered by GRC’-democracy and enjoyment of long term stability, knowing that those who take over know exactly what to do because they are from the same side that implemented them years ago.

Ministers live and die by their policies, in bigger countries with bigger economies, they can bear the cost of a major change in policies or political slant, but can our comparatively small economy withstand the same heat?

Anyway, this is boring me… from LBW-SL talk till about ‘cry babies needing mommy’s breast milk’, this is interesting… Shows alot about online Singaporean discussions, haha.

I’m a Singaporean businessman based abroad and I’m really appreciative of S’porean governance after staying overseas. But as I said earlier, we are all entitiled to our own views and I can see where you are coming from.

Since this topic is kinda deviating from the main line, I’m going off, nice talking to you guys! ciao!

single ward on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 12:29 am 

@yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 10:18 pm

Stability is NOT a virtue in a changing world. As a businessman, I am VERY surprised at what you said. Stale mindset is a killer because opportunities (the flipside is risks and failure) changes faster than the blink of your eyes. And it is the same for Government managing the economy. This is reality.

I am also in business. My business life touches on things maybe only a dozen Singaporeans ( or lesser in numbers) in their lives have touch these and my opportunities is the globe 24/7.

The 2008/2009 global meltdown shows how fast and brutal a stale mindset can wreck 10 years of consistent achievements. I have no illusion about speed, change, adaptation and riding ahead of the tide nor of the necessity to learn and LEARNING HOW TO LEARN AND THE FALLACY OF CONTINUITY OF EMERGENT THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

GRC is not modelled for stability. It was modelled to allow weaker ones (admitted by MM publicly) to ride on the coat-tails of heavy-weights and, in so doing, letting in the untested in the election battlefield to hopefully survive in a stable world which is EVIDENTLY NOT and very dangerously damaging.

The world has changed and changed beyond recognition of its political and economic landscape.

single ward on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 8:20 am 

@ yishuner on Mon, 23rd Nov 2009 10:18 pm

Stability is NOT a virtue in a turbulent world. So I am VERY SURPRISED that you spoke of “policies are planned more for the long run rather than the short run…” – not that I believe this is what is happening in Singapore. In fact I thought and observe lot was in the contrary. Give you four obvious examples that came to mind

a) sudden huge influx of foreign migration in recent years abruptly shut down two months ago amidst public outcry

b) Temasek Holding’s 2003 Charter to spearhead Singapore’s “International Inc” drive abandoned in 2009 – no explanation why long-term strategic direction following economic strategy review recommendation changed in such a short time

c) hired Chip Goodyear to lead directional leadership change, glamourise the appointment in MSM and then the bombshell a few months later citing “differences of strategic direction” which one would have thought was discussed what the direction should be – the exact purpose of his transformational leadership sought

d) Economic Restucturing Committee -26 members – again deliberating over restructuring options and policy direction for long-term which is less than 6 years from last one. AS A BUSINESSMAN, you must know that the very successful South Korean shipbuilding industry now overtaken Japanese lead took them more than 2 decades of consistent policy efforts. If we keep changing policy every 6 years we would be poorer by repeated failures of hit-and-run-short term failures in repetitions as we have seen so far.

UNLESSS YOU WANT TO CALL THESE MONUMENTAL FAILURES OR ABOUT TURNS, there is to my mind serious short-term hit and run public policy making.

Like you, I am a businessman too spanning decades. All my opportunities are offshore and in corners of the world not even regional of interest. Businessmen are acutely aware that in a turbulent world such as 2009 global meltdown and Asian currency crisis, what has been built up 10 to 20 years can be wiped out in a few month. So the stability mindset is HUGE NEGATIVE in both business and economic management in Government. This is reality even non-businessmen are well aware of.

I am a strong believer of change, rapid adaptation to change, riding ahead of the tide in globalisation, learning AND LEARNING TO LEARN and that continuity of “relevant” past is a complete fiction in a world of ever escalating turbulent change.

GRC was NEVER modelled on stability consideration. It was public admitted by MM that weaker incoming MPs coat-tailing heavyweights to get into Parliament via GRC route – and if the undisclosed intent is also an effort toward continuity in Government – it is a very serious policy flaw of false assumption of assumed “stability” of macro-political, economic and technological world. It never has been – the Asian currency crisis of the late 1990s and 2008 global meltdown prove the falsity of those assumptions for all to see. You see that in policy failures I have documented above of just a few examples

Having said that, Singapore is small economy. Politicians if not allowed to fail and replaced is a terrible sin because the inability to “take the heat” ( in your descript) threaten our survival. Even big countries change despite their stronger resources-backed base. We, are without resources, and that is all the more reason, we need to be nimble and adapt to change the way business do. Change and adaptation is forced upon us, NOT for us to choose to accept change nor adaptation. It is the same in politics and Government in Singapore. Inactivism in false pretense of stability will render us completely irrelevant in a changing world.

I am looking for a vibrant Government and society here just like the way I like and enjoying doing my business in a truly turbulent world. I dare say, confidently, less than a handful of Singaporeans in my life time touch on things my business is focussed on.

In respect of LBW/SL choice, I look for “youth”, vibrancy and contemporary mindset, someone with a hint of global awareness of environmental change. The one that is focussed on past and dead history will NOT get my vote.