Friday 22 April 2011

GE: Minister issues challenge to opposition

I'm sick and tired of these Ministers trash talking the opposition.
If you are so confident of your track record, then grow some b**s and agree to a debate.

Let voters see what both sides can or cannot offer.

So I'm calling PAP Ministers to be bold enough to say that they want to debate the opposition.




SINGAPORE: Education Minister Ng Eng Hen has called on the opposition parties to be bold enough to say that they want to form a government.

He issued the challenge on the sidelines of a market visit to Toa Payoh Vista on Friday.

Accompanying him were Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, Ms Josephine Teo, Mr Zainudin Nordin and Mr Hri Kumar.

The group will likely be contesting the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the May 7 General Election.

The GRC may see its first contest in 14 years, with the Singapore People's Party (SPP) staking its interest there.

While Mr Wong said that he welcomes a contest, Dr Ng had this challenge for all opposition parties.

"If they can convince voters that they can build a better government, be a better government, take care of Singapore better than the voters and the PAP government, voters will vote for them. Otherwise, voters will say 'I will trust the people that have delivered'," said Dr Ng.

As for opposition parties recruiting highly-educated candidates, Dr Ng said it all boils down to the parties' track record.

"The real question and the simple calculation that voters all over Singapore will make (is) a very simple one," he said. "You've seen our residents, they just want to ask:
One: can you improve my life? Two: will I trust you to be the government? And that's what voters will vote for, whatever party you come from."

"I'm asking a simple question as a voter......No matter how bright you are, whether you are in PAP or any other party, your brightness and your intelligence doesn't impact me, you know, if it doesn't improve my life," said Dr Ng.

The SPP recently said it is 'loaning' three of its members to the Reform Party (RP).

But DPM Wong said that this may lead to a confusion of party ideologies, "particularly if you assemble a team with different party members. Then, how do you know that they share the same philosophies?"

Separately, Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) secretary-general Desmond Lim has responded to Dr Ng's challenge for the opposition to form the next government.

He said: "Our long-term aim is to form a government, be it on our own or coalition with any other political party. I think we should have that in mind, but at this juncture, we believe in doing things step by step. Therefore what we need to do now is to capture a few seats in the Parliament and do our best and convince the voters that we can actually do the job. And in the long term, when the confidence level has been built up, I believe we will have more numbers of calibre candidates to join us, and to take up further challenge."

-CNA/ac/ir

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