TR EMERITUS

I refer to The Independent Singapore’s SG Politics column, “Opposition parties seek to strengthen parliamentary presence” (Nov 29, 2023).

As we know, Singapore political scene has been firmly dominated by the PAP since 1959. Thus, the opposition parties in Singapore have to face and withstand many challenges ahead amid of the dynamic influences of the geopolitical situation.

Let me summarize them briefly:

If the opposition party is unable to attract a group of young, promising and capable professionals who have good character, right moral values and integrity to join their team for their self-renewal and put forward constructive and far-sighted political opinions, it will be difficult to compete with the PAP's strong teams of well-trained professional elites who are broadly equipped with extensive working experience and exposure in the multinational companies.

If the respective opposition parties wish to effectively attract talents with expertise in various aspects, the opposition must regularly organize political symposiums or forums and broadcast them on their party websites, party newspapers, or try their best to gain opportunities to give special speeches at various universities and professional bodies to better explain the policies of their respective parties in order to persuade and lobby people of insight to join their team.

Certain vital but sensitive information and data are apparently and also not readily available or accessible to the opposition parties. For examples, (a) the existing accumulation of national reserves, (b) the detailed breakdown of construction costs for the respective types of HDB flats.

This makes it difficult and superficial for the opposition in making their policies with substantiated references.

The redrawing of electoral boundaries has challenged the principle of equality and placed the entire opposition in the position of disadvantage. For example, an opposition party had put in its robust efforts to serve in a particular constituency in order to lobbying their votes before and during the election, but its efforts could be completely gone into the drain once it was resolved and absorbed into a Group Representation Constituency.

So far, the number of opposition parties is still more than four. Moreover, the respective opposition parties rarely communicate and interact with each other during non-campaigning periods. Therefore, even when the election is about to come, they then begin to respond, communicate and synergise with each other, giving voters a feeling of burning the midnight oil at the last hour.

Moreover, the opposition parties are unable to step outside of their traditional box (or to think out of the box) and form a breakthrough cross-party alliance (WP, PSP and SDP still be independent). Only a strong cross-party alliance can effectively pool each other's resources, talents and connections so as to better utilize collective wisdom and strength to strive for better election results.

Finally, the respective opposition parties should try to avoid negative news being exposed and reported.

For example, in the past, there were news reports about opposition candidates got involved in corruption, cheating, misconduct, sexual harassment, extramarital affairs and other illegal activities. Therefore, the leaders of the opposition parties must be particularly cautious when selecting candidates. In short, they should prioritize and safeguard the qualities of candidates (honesty, integrity and
trustworthiness).

Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)

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