Reform Party urges PAP to embrace need for political reform in Singapore
February 6th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
In a press release posted on its website yesterday, the Reform Party urges the ruling party PAP “not to be half-hearted or timid about embracing the need for reform in Singapore.”
It claims that the PAP appear to have incorporated many of their economic proposals in its new economic strategy unveiled by the Economic Strategy Committee (ESC) lately and calls upon it to follow by by adopting political reforms they have been advocating.
These reforms were previously mooted by the late opposition leader and founder of the Reform Party J.B. Jeyaretnam and includes abolishing the GRC system, repealing the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act and removing the draconian restrictions on freedom of assembly and peaceful non-obstructive protest.
The ESC report bears uncanny similarities to some proposals put forth by the Reform Party earlier such as reducing Singapore’s over-reliance on foreign workers and boosting labor productivity.
The Reform Party is currently led by Cambridge-educated economist Kenneth Jeyaretnam.
The press release also highlight the progress made by the Reform Party since its founding in 2008 by attracting credible candidates into its fold:
“The Reform Party has effectively changed the mindset of Singaporeans and demonstrated that the opposition can attract high-calibre individuals, that the opposition can put forward credible policies (so credible that the government has now adopted many of them), and that the opposition can one day be entrusted with the government of Singapore without adverse economic repercussions.”
The Reform Party has been trying to reach out to Singaporeans via a series of closed-door seminars with the latest one on education being held two weeks ago.
It advocates a more pluralistic political landscape in the form of a two-party ssystem for Singapore and is optimistic that it will become a reality soon:
“……Singaporeans can perceive the current one-party dominance giving way in the not too distant future to a genuine two-party system with both parties alternating in power. This has happened in much of the rest of Asia, in particular in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia.”
Unfortunately, its call to the PAP to reform Singapore’s political system is likely to fall on deaf ears.
Last year, Law Minister Shanmugam defended Singapore’s system as one which “works” for the nation.
He also floated the idea of introducing “political education” in Singapore schools to educate students on the different political systems present in the world today so as to enable them to reach an “informed” decision on the system which best “suits” Singapore.
Since coming to power in 1959, the PAP has brought all institutions of the state under its control including the civil service, media, police, grassroots organizations and trade unions.
The incoming U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Mr Daniel Adelman told the U.S. Senate earlier this week that he is aware of the fact that Singapore is not a democracy and he will make use of “public diplomacy to work towards greater press freedoms, greater freedom of assembly and ultimately, more political space for opposition parties in Singapore to strengthen Singapore into a multi-party democracy.”
Read the Reform Party’s press release here
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15 Responses to “Reform Party urges PAP to embrace need for political reform in Singapore”
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The last bastion that is holding Singapore and Singaporeans from scaling the height of accountability, democracy and flowering-of-the-mind is political reform and we need this reform badly – now.
LimPeh already have support from family and friends to get rid of these good for nothing idiots…………..said want very high paid in millions then can work………at last how ???? lost billions $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
No more talking because LimPeh sure vote against pap to save everyone from suffering !!!!!!!!!!
That is the best form of compliment.
Reform is possible.
Nothing is perfect.
Continous improvement is only Unavoidable for Change is the Only Constant.
No one can be immortal.
Well done RP!
The current government’s obsession to cling to power is too extreme.
Dear Ah Beng Ah Seng ,
How are you going to vote against teh PAP if 50% of seats are uncontested and yours happen to be an uncontested ward?
Just some food for thought
Will you volunteer yourself as a candidate?
politics is about staying in power. other countries can’t afford to do it the singapore style, cos they risk riots, protests and maybe even war.
Obama has to deal with 50 states, have 11 aircraft carriers, Natural catastrophe.. like katrina, huge deficit, etc…. I should think he deserve more recognition and pay then our politicians.
Out of curiosity, can someone do the math and figure out how much the equitable pay for Obama should be if he be paid the same as out PM Per capita…america has 300 million people.
yay go reform party! go go go! i am your firm supporter!
btw ->Last year, Law Minister Shanmugam defended Singapore’s system as one which “works” for the nation.
it doesn’t work for singapore, it works for the PAP please get that clear.
if it worked for singapore, singaporeans wouldn’t all be living in fear. there wouldn’t be walkovers for 50% of contested seats because of fear. singaporeans who exercise their political rights like dr chee soon juan wouldnt be jailed for just gathering with his friends to give out flyers.
singaproe wouldn’t be called a third world country all over the world. everyone wouldn’t be calling singapore a facist state which is what it is. our press wouldnt be ranked 144th in the world.
and finally singaporeans who are the most able and skilled would not be leaving singapore because there is no democracy and human rights here.
works for singapore? i think you meant works for PAP!
you ferking fool!!!
TH borrowed a lot of monies in USD.
Yet most of the companies of TH are Singapore based.
Imagine a sharp drop in the Singapore currency.
we will end up with companies paying huge debt to service the TH bond.
(This happened in the Asian financial crisis.)
I am worried.
We need more young talents to join in the ranks of opposition!
It is the PAP that fears for the inevitable changes in politics.
I may consider to join if i can afford reschedule my time. Singapore has so many University graduates, aren’t they apathetic to our own politics? For i know some working in govt companies dare not speak against the PAP for their rice bowl is of concern. Many of our younger generation want changes but refuse to do something!
The least we can do is to vote wisely and not in fear of…
My2cents , the opposition is getting backing from the barack obama administration so the time for changes start now.
Replying to NTU graduate on Sun, 7th Feb 2010 10:42 am
Please don’t ask anyone to join nor vote for opposition.
Never trust any Singaporean nor any netizen over here.
They can talk alot but end of the day there will be no action (NATO)
I have tested them – on raising funds for opposition. So far no one dare to reply. No reply meaning there is no seriousness nor commitment. When come to money or things to be done at their expenses they will just back off.
So let us not take this forum seriously. Just make this forum as a cyber place where we passed time and talked cock.
How to fund the opposition where most lower income household only make enough for their needs.
If rather opposition can come out with some sort long term investment, may more soul will had hope and cast a vote!
Before one oppose party even start campaigning, already slacking off people, how you going to win.
We need ideal maker, not slackers.
indeed toratoratora,
we will all vote for pap come election nevertherless! because we are singaporeans!
Replying to 45with2zizag on Sun, 7th Feb 2010 8:10 pm …………….
For your information, I am not afflilated to any opposition party nor a registered member of any opposition party. I am just an ordinary folk like most of the forumers over here who are greatly upset by the high cost of living. The elites have lost touch with the ground. Their money minded policies had hit hard on an average Joe.
As I read the threads in TR forums, everyone demanded for change. They complained. Not enough opposition candidates. Too many walk overs. Got no chance to vote. Balh, blah, blah….
People like you sit in front of the computer – talk alot but no action. Change what?!
So let us all just talk cock and sing song!
There won’t be any change – because Singaporeans are selfish and self-centred. Period!