Your
Letters
27 Jan 08
Dear
SDP,
That was an informative forum the SDP organised. I
am too shy to speak in public so I usually keep quiet. However,
I bought 2 books after the forum, so I can help spread the
message by passing the books around. I asked about the latest
book by Dr Chee (A Nation Cheated) as well, but was told the
hard copy would only come out later.
Dr Chee mentioned
that a Committee will be set up and those with the right skills
could chip in their effort. Well, I am in. Actually, I have been
using the internet to spread the message even before the
Election Reform Forum, so I consider myself to be already in.
One of his suggestions was to get bloggers to help. Don't forget
those cyber-activists without blogs too.
One action we
could take is to force the PAP into an engagement with us. The
print media may not want to publish our message initially, but I
notice that if things reach a certain boiling point in the cyber
world, they will react. Like during the Wee Shu Min saga. With
concerted action from cyber-activists (who need not reveal their
real names or faces), we could generate waves and waves of
dissenting voices on the forums and blogs. Not just the local
forums, but political forums based overseas too. When things
reach a certain pitch, the print media will be forced to reply
and the PAP will have to answer our questions.
S.
C.
__________________________________
Hello
SDP,
Thank you for organizing the public forum on
electoral reform on 20 Jan. All speakers delivered their ideas
passionately and sincerely. Now that we have a clear idea of the
deficiencies in our electoral process and the government's total
lack of accountability to the people, the time for real work has
begun.
An issue which was not adequately covered in the
public forum was what changes we should propose to replace the
present GRC system.
It is clear to me that while the PAP
claims the GRC system is to ensure sufficient representation by
minority candidates, the truth of the matter is that the GRC
system is the incumbent party's means of making it harder for
the opposition to win seats.
The issue of higher and
higher election deposits (currently $13,500 per candidate) also
has to be addressed. Should we go back to single member wards?
Should we incorporate some degree of Proportionate
Representation similar to what is being practiced, for example,
in the Hong Kong parliamentary system?
These are just a
couple of ideas I would like to throw to members of the
electoral reform committee for deliberation.
My writeup
of the public forum as well as additional photographs can be
found at: http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=60
E-JAY
__________________________________
Dear SDP,
I
study in Australia and all year long I have followed the
website,.. I have returned for holiday and want to contribute my
person in a crowd. Please let
me know or tell me of any group activity, be it a protest, that
u will have between now and 30th Jan 08.
SANJE
__________________________________
Hi
there,
I am one of those disgruntled Singaporeans who is
really disappointed about the fact that I am a first class
citizen but given second class privileges. The way this country
is run, it would not last.
Count me in on your vote! And
do keep me updated on your events.
Thanks.
ELLOUISA
__________________________________
Hi,
SDP,
Not many Taxi drivers know how to use the Internet.
Please help to fight a case for us taxi drivers. We are living
in a very tight budget. Working hard but earnings very little,
don't work company will remove the rental taxi and ban us.
Many
taxi drivers vote for the oppositions!
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/sgtaxidr/petition.html
SOOTY
__________________________________
SDP,
I
will always support democracy, keep it up SDP.
GARY
__________________________________
Dear
sirs,
Thank you for the support shown to our brothers
detained under ISA.
WAYTHA MOORTHY
Chairman
HINDRAF,
London
__________________________________
Dear
Dr Chee,
I understood that you have given an interview to
The Online Citizen's Mr Andrew Loh recently.
In case you
are not aware of the background of him and The Online Citizen,
let me shed you some light.
Mr Andrew Loh used to be a
fervent PAP member/supporter till he suddenly made a switch to
WP in 2005 under mysterious circumstances.
The Online
Citizen was started by him in 2006 which is now handed over to
Choo Zheng Xi, a second year law undergraduate.
Choo
Zheng Xi is an elected grassroots leader of the Buona Vista CCC
under the PA. As you may already know, the Chairman of the PA is
none other than PM Lee himself. Mr Choo also wrote in his blog
that he aspired to join the civil service in the future.
You
may be surprised to know that the other Co-Editor of The Online
Citizen is Mr Ephraim Loy, a YPAP member whom Mr George Yeo
blogs with. Mr Loy is also a a member of the Bedok
Reservoir-Punggol CCC.
The other prominent members of
TOC with links to the establishment are Mr Yeo Toon Joo, an
ex-ST journalist and Mr Gerald Giam, a committee member of the
Media Development Authority.
The Online Citizen has been
vilified by many netizens for its links with the establishment
with many suspecting it to be an affront for the authorities to
monitor and manage the internet.
In your interview with
Andrew Loh, he has deliberately hijacked your forum to promote a
long-forgotten WP manifesto in 2006 to mislead readers to think
that WP is the orginator of the call for election reforms while
in reality, it's ideas were all copied from its ex-SG JBJ.
An
alternative news blog - the SgPolitics
(www.sgpolitics.net)
has been set up by prominent internet activist Ng E Jay and Chia
Ti Lik to counter the propaganda of TOC.
I beseech you
not to grant any more interviews to TOC and Andrew Loh as not
only are they making use of you for their own hidden agenda,
your credibility in the eyes of opposition supporters will also
be undermined by your association with them.
JAMES
