Tan Kin Lian's Blog: GRC and arrogance

Monday, January 03, 2011

GRC and arrogance

Dear Mr. Tan,
I refer to your blog entry "Damage caused by the GRC system". I fully agree with your friend that this system has actually resulted in the typical arrogance (get out of my elite face) we see in MPs nowadays. Our ministers and MPs even publicly called us names such as "daft", "champion grumblers" (LKY), "very very selfish" (Vivian), "lesser mortals" (Charles Chong), etc.

That said, the recent announcement by PM Lee to have smaller GRCs and more SMCs is telling. Basically, the PAP is very afraid of losing a GRC at the next election, thereby knocking down 6 MPs at a sweep. Thus the party wants to reduce the potential damage.

Thanks.

6 comments:

captaincaveman said...: LHL has instructed the election department to update the registers electors list yet again. The 3rd time since last election and the 2nd time within a year.

Local msm has reported all the reasons for such a move except the one reason that I think is the main reason - get as many newly converted citizens in the list as possible before next GE.

Just wondering is there any chance for the 2 opposition MPs to ask the pap to tell us how many of the voters are newly converted citizens during the next parliamentary sitting.

By the way pap, you can just pass the bill in parliament to allow all PRs to vote. The bill will be passed without any problem and you will get all the PRs to vote for you. Why go through all these wayang of updating the registers electors list?; January 04, 2011 8:49 AM
StocksKeeper said...: yet there are people who vote for MPs that called them names! maybe they dun mind after getting a small sum of money to shut their mouths. pity them, they have sold their souls and pride!; January 04, 2011 9:01 AM
symmetrix said...: Let's face it. Most Singaporeans are masochists. They get pleasure from being suppressed, oppressed, ridiculed, belittled, pushed and shoved by the govt. They enjoy being dominated, and want more of it.

I believe this is a reason why most ppl have voted for the current govt over and over again especially over the last 3 decades. I dare say the same thing will happen in the next GE.; January 04, 2011 2:46 PM
yujuan said...: With the old guards of the PAP, we held them with respect and gratitude, as they really fought and worked for the people, even sacrificing their own interests and health being to push our country upwards.
Not anymore, now we want to see a makeover.; January 04, 2011 10:23 PM
Tan Choon Hong said...: The party has awoken to the possibility that the GRC scheme can cut both ways. With a more knowledgeable and mobile electorate, they could lose big. The question is, when the party is over, will they bow out gracefully with a "thank you for the opportunity to serve you" or declare marshal law as is speculated in some quarters.; January 05, 2011 1:42 AM
Vincent Sear said...: The GRC system started under LKY as PM actually made sense both politically and logically. It was selected clusters of 3-member (2 + 1 minority) GRCs only. There's no such thing as "minority-majority" as in Malays or Indians or others outnumbering Chinese in any ward, there's a real concern of minority under-representation in Parliament.

With due respect and apologies to GCT, I'd have to say that it was under him as PM that the GRC system bloated into super GRCs that's apparently used as an election tool complemented by the free hand on gerrymandering.

However, I don't think that LHL now as PM, declaring a reduction in GRC sizes and increases of SMCs and NCMPs, doesn't mean he fears a loss of a big GRC. I think that he realised he needs legitimacy not only legislated but also acknowledged after his below-par performance in the last GE.

He's not fearing a loss of power. All opposition combined also can't win over power, not to mention the state of disunity and infighting among them yet. I think he'd welcome a few losses, to clean up and wake up his comrades and colleagues. Even if opposition still can't made headways, he'd give them more NCMP seats.; January 06, 2011 5:32 PM