Faisal Wali
DPM Teo Chee Hean endorses PAP candidate Desmond Choo
Low Thia Khiang’s unhappiness with Teo Chee Hean was very telling during the post by-election press conference when he stated pointedly that this by-election has degenerated to character assassination tactics and played up by the media that is equally culpable. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean expressed surprise at Low’s allegations of character assassination, and added that if Low felt aggrieved, he is free to take up legal action.
The best way to settle this is not through a legal action. The best way, befitting of Workers’ Party (WP) slogan of moving towards a First World Parliament is sending a six member team for an electoral battle at Teo’s ward of Pasir Ris-Punggol, which is also known as going for the jugular. This is the best chance to unseat Teo from parliament and the ministerial cabinet.
WP’s teams have performed quite well during the last elections with an above 40% average in terms of results. Hence, what WP has to do is to work on the support and keep growing that base. The party also appears to have a strong brand name, and should work on improving the brand.
However, the possibility of sending a WP team to Pasir Ris –Punggol GRC has its challenges. It has been contested by the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), and it is likely that the party will contest the ward in future elections, and lay claim to it ahead of others. Hence, in order to be able to send a team to Pasir Ris-Punggol, WP has to negotiate this issue with the SDA, and very likely, this will involve some electoral battlefield trading.
Challenges aside, it is the best way of sending out the message that tarring opponents, character assassination and what-not are not acceptable and should be “voted” out by the voters.
In the event of a contest, Teo should be aware by now that questioning opponents’ integrity isn’t going to cut it. If WP manages to send a team to Pasir Ris-Punggol, more worries will emerge on the PAP side rather than the WP. An opposition party with a 40% average performance is capable of doing better, and winning the entire ward in its entirety.
Teo said that Low can resolve his unhappiness through a legal action. A classier opponent will reply:”See you at the next election at your ward of Pasir Ris-Punggol.” A court of law is not the best way to settle this, but rather, it should be done in the court of voters’ opinion. Voters of Pasir Ris-Punggol should have every right to decide on this.
—
Photo courtesy of Alvin Ho, Yahoo! Singapore.
Teo Chee Hean tries hard to sound like the Old Man.
Let SDA do thier job, WP should stay focus in their strongest areas. It is about building a strong government, not fighting personal battle.
OMG someone trying to encourage a Lawsuits Culture. Times have changed and they don;t understand what is the new normal. Time to wake up and get real. No respect for this kind of people.
I’m in two minds as to whether WP should field a team to contest against TCH’s team. Like what Jack pointed out, this should not regress to a personal battle so as to spite the opponent. On the other hand, a contest would douse TCH’s arrogance, if WP can keep up its showing (even if it fails in its attempt, it would still garner more than 40% support).
Yes…Yes..let’s him taste the bitter pill. Singapore does not belong to him……not Singaporeans serving him!
I used to respect TCH alot. But now,seeing him challenging someone to sue just because of something so petty, I think differently of him now.
I suggest the opposition send in a youth team to fight Pasir Ris Ponggol GRC in 2016. Include a few members from the Pre-U seminar (they will probably be old enough to stand in 2016), plus some old guards to guide them. This may be good enough to unseat the minister and his team.