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01-06-2014, 01:20 AM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/05/31...ersary-dinner/ (http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/05/31/oppositions-show-unity-at-nsp-anniversary-dinner/)
Oppositions show unity at NSP Anniversary Dinner (http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/05/31/oppositions-show-unity-at-nsp-anniversary-dinner/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/simages/dmca_protected_sml_120n.png http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostDateIcon.png May 31st, 2014 | http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostAuthorIcon.png Author: Editorial (http://www.tremeritus.com/author/editorial/)
Last Saturday (24 May), NSP held its 27th Anniversary Dinner at the Yan
Palace Restaurant in Hong Lim Complex.
Many of the members of other opposition parties were also present at the
dinner. They came to lend their support to NSP as well as participating in the
NSP’s 27th Anniversary celebration.
At the dinner, the other opposition parties whose leaders came, include:
Workers Party (WP)
Singapore People’s Party (SPP)
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura (PKMS)
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Singaporeans First Party (SFP)
Altogether, some 400 over people attended despite scant publicity. Although
this is a modest number compared to some of the dinners organised by PAP
grassroots organizations, the camaraderie spirit exhibited at the dinner remains
strong.
A reader told TRE, “The respectable turn out could well be a reflection of
the ground sentiments today demanding for more alternative voices.”
“The inclusion of all opposition parties to this auspicious occasion with
their leaders in attendance signaled a sliver of hope in opposition solidarity
and must be music to the ears of the populace in their unequivocal cry for
opposition unity,” the reader added.
The reader also urged all the opposition parties, “Set aside all intra and
inter party differences in ideologies. You all can be on different paths to the
mountain top united in purpose to serve the nation. Only when all of you reach
the mountain top then can you begin to climb and then can you truly sing and
dance.”
Prominent blogger Uncle Chua aka Red bean was also at the dinner. He met Jee
Say, leader of the new political party, SFP. Uncle Chua was apprehensive that
with more opposition parties being formed, opposition votes may be split and
thereby, weakening the opposition’s position. However, Jee Say assured Uncle
Chua that SFP will not be a vote spoiler. Uncle Chua reported [Link (http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2014/05/solidarity-of-opposition-parties.html)]:
Jee Say was quick to allay the fears of more splits and dilution of votes. He
would not be a spoiler to create confusion and three corner fights. He will work
closely with the other opposition parties in a united front, or at least would
not undermine their common cause…
The fact that Jee Say attended the NSP fund raising dinner could be seen as a
positive sign that he was willing to play ball and be a team
player.
Uncle Chua added:
For Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam to attend the function was a
good way to dispel the impression that the WP is aloft and would want to go it
alone, ignoring the other opposition parties as inconsequential. For the
opposition leaders to be seating together in the same table is a promising
start, that at least they are willing to talk, to eat and drink together and be
friends.
Opposition solidarity is the key to fight a successful battle in the next GE.
If the opposition parties are unable to come together, or at least not to split
and fight among themselves, the task to unseat the incumbent party would be that
much harder.
At the dinner, NSP Secretary-General Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, gave a rousing
speech [Link (http://nsp.sg/2014/05/26/speech-by-our-secretary-general-at-nsps-27th-anniversary-dinner/)].
She said that as Singapore reaches her 50th birthday, the cry for a new
consensus grows.
“Times have changed,” she said. “Last time, policemen wear shorts.”
Parliament Needs More Colour
She noted that since the independence of Singapore, our Parliament has
comprised a super majority of MPs from a single party.
“A dominant ruling party might have been what Singapore needed in the past,
but is that still good for Singapore?” Jeannette asked.
She brought up the point that when the GRC proposal was debated in Parliament
in the 80s, there was only 1 opposition MP in Parliament at the time – Mr Chiam
See Tong.
“He alone spoke for one side of this heavily tilted debate. Was that good for
Singapore?” Jeannette again, asked.
She also noted that under Singapore’s law, the Constitution can only be
amended by a two-thirds majority.
She said, “Since 1965 to date, I counted at least 37 acts of parliament to
amend the Singapore Constitution. More importantly, Singapore’s electoral system
has been amended at least four times since 1984, each of these amendments coming
into effect shortly before general elections.”
“If Parliament is dominated by one party with a super-majority, how sure are
we that decisions are always made in the best interests of Singaporeans, and are
not motivated to perpetuate the dominance of the incumbent?” she further
queried.
Jeannette is of the view that our Parliament is very dull and monotonous, and
needs more colours than just the colour white.
She concluded:
Yes, we can change the game. My friends, you can be an agent for change. You
have a vital role to play.
With your support, you can enable some of us here tonight to scale the
fortress, penetrate the monochrome gates – and enter the House, so as to refresh
it with lots more colour.
By doing so, you will author the change in the destiny of Singapore, for the
betterment of Singaporeans.
At the last GE, 40% also thought that our Parliament is dull and monotonous
painted with mainly the white colour.
Would the next GE break this white taboo?
What do you think?
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp2.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp8.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp9.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp1-pkms.jpg
NSP Dinner (with PKMS members)
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp7.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp10.jpg
NSP Dinner
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?182974-Oppositions-show-unity-at-NSP-Anniversary-Dinner&goto=newpost).
http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/05/31...ersary-dinner/ (http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/05/31/oppositions-show-unity-at-nsp-anniversary-dinner/)
Oppositions show unity at NSP Anniversary Dinner (http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/05/31/oppositions-show-unity-at-nsp-anniversary-dinner/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/simages/dmca_protected_sml_120n.png http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostDateIcon.png May 31st, 2014 | http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostAuthorIcon.png Author: Editorial (http://www.tremeritus.com/author/editorial/)
Last Saturday (24 May), NSP held its 27th Anniversary Dinner at the Yan
Palace Restaurant in Hong Lim Complex.
Many of the members of other opposition parties were also present at the
dinner. They came to lend their support to NSP as well as participating in the
NSP’s 27th Anniversary celebration.
At the dinner, the other opposition parties whose leaders came, include:
Workers Party (WP)
Singapore People’s Party (SPP)
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)
Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura (PKMS)
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Singaporeans First Party (SFP)
Altogether, some 400 over people attended despite scant publicity. Although
this is a modest number compared to some of the dinners organised by PAP
grassroots organizations, the camaraderie spirit exhibited at the dinner remains
strong.
A reader told TRE, “The respectable turn out could well be a reflection of
the ground sentiments today demanding for more alternative voices.”
“The inclusion of all opposition parties to this auspicious occasion with
their leaders in attendance signaled a sliver of hope in opposition solidarity
and must be music to the ears of the populace in their unequivocal cry for
opposition unity,” the reader added.
The reader also urged all the opposition parties, “Set aside all intra and
inter party differences in ideologies. You all can be on different paths to the
mountain top united in purpose to serve the nation. Only when all of you reach
the mountain top then can you begin to climb and then can you truly sing and
dance.”
Prominent blogger Uncle Chua aka Red bean was also at the dinner. He met Jee
Say, leader of the new political party, SFP. Uncle Chua was apprehensive that
with more opposition parties being formed, opposition votes may be split and
thereby, weakening the opposition’s position. However, Jee Say assured Uncle
Chua that SFP will not be a vote spoiler. Uncle Chua reported [Link (http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.sg/2014/05/solidarity-of-opposition-parties.html)]:
Jee Say was quick to allay the fears of more splits and dilution of votes. He
would not be a spoiler to create confusion and three corner fights. He will work
closely with the other opposition parties in a united front, or at least would
not undermine their common cause…
The fact that Jee Say attended the NSP fund raising dinner could be seen as a
positive sign that he was willing to play ball and be a team
player.
Uncle Chua added:
For Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam to attend the function was a
good way to dispel the impression that the WP is aloft and would want to go it
alone, ignoring the other opposition parties as inconsequential. For the
opposition leaders to be seating together in the same table is a promising
start, that at least they are willing to talk, to eat and drink together and be
friends.
Opposition solidarity is the key to fight a successful battle in the next GE.
If the opposition parties are unable to come together, or at least not to split
and fight among themselves, the task to unseat the incumbent party would be that
much harder.
At the dinner, NSP Secretary-General Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, gave a rousing
speech [Link (http://nsp.sg/2014/05/26/speech-by-our-secretary-general-at-nsps-27th-anniversary-dinner/)].
She said that as Singapore reaches her 50th birthday, the cry for a new
consensus grows.
“Times have changed,” she said. “Last time, policemen wear shorts.”
Parliament Needs More Colour
She noted that since the independence of Singapore, our Parliament has
comprised a super majority of MPs from a single party.
“A dominant ruling party might have been what Singapore needed in the past,
but is that still good for Singapore?” Jeannette asked.
She brought up the point that when the GRC proposal was debated in Parliament
in the 80s, there was only 1 opposition MP in Parliament at the time – Mr Chiam
See Tong.
“He alone spoke for one side of this heavily tilted debate. Was that good for
Singapore?” Jeannette again, asked.
She also noted that under Singapore’s law, the Constitution can only be
amended by a two-thirds majority.
She said, “Since 1965 to date, I counted at least 37 acts of parliament to
amend the Singapore Constitution. More importantly, Singapore’s electoral system
has been amended at least four times since 1984, each of these amendments coming
into effect shortly before general elections.”
“If Parliament is dominated by one party with a super-majority, how sure are
we that decisions are always made in the best interests of Singaporeans, and are
not motivated to perpetuate the dominance of the incumbent?” she further
queried.
Jeannette is of the view that our Parliament is very dull and monotonous, and
needs more colours than just the colour white.
She concluded:
Yes, we can change the game. My friends, you can be an agent for change. You
have a vital role to play.
With your support, you can enable some of us here tonight to scale the
fortress, penetrate the monochrome gates – and enter the House, so as to refresh
it with lots more colour.
By doing so, you will author the change in the destiny of Singapore, for the
betterment of Singaporeans.
At the last GE, 40% also thought that our Parliament is dull and monotonous
painted with mainly the white colour.
Would the next GE break this white taboo?
What do you think?
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp2.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp8.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp9.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp1-pkms.jpg
NSP Dinner (with PKMS members)
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp7.jpg
NSP Dinner
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/nsp10.jpg
NSP Dinner
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?182974-Oppositions-show-unity-at-NSP-Anniversary-Dinner&goto=newpost).