Really?
SINGAPORE : Voters are calling for more candidates from the post-independence generation.
While many have welcomed the People's Action Party's (PAP) diverse slate of candidates introduced so far, what they want to see also are the new faces from the opposition.
15 new PAP candidates had been introduced so far and Singaporeans said there was a good mix on the PAP's slate.
"They are very credible and they are from a younger age group which is good for the country," said one member of the public.
"It's a good start to have the post-1965ers coming into Parliament so our views (of post-1965ers) can be brought up," said another.
"Some are quite impressive but impressing is one thing. The most important thing is if they can work. Ultimately, they have to prove themselves," said a third.
And there were others who said the type of candidates introduced did not come as a surprise.
"I wouldn't say I am impressed because it's pretty much expected, the kind of candidates. It's always the professionals, the people serving at the grassroots level," said one resident.
"I have not seen anyone who is completely different from the usual PAP mould. By and large, they are quite predictable in the sense that you would expect PAP to go for that kind of backgrounds and credentials, so there is no real big surprise," said former NMP and political watcher Zulkifli Baharudin.
"In the past, there had been a lot of candidates from the civil service and the Singapore Armed Forces, but this time a large number of them are working in global multinational companies. So these kinds of changes are apparent."
Many voters also echoed the PAP's call for the opposition parties to introduce their new candidates for the upcoming General Election now, rather than wait till Parliament is dissolved. This gives voters more time to size them up.
"They must show us, like what the PAP has already shown, so that people can assess if they are suitable, eligible and if they can serve the community," said a member of the public.
Another agreed: "They should bring them in as well, so that it's more of a fair competition instead of just fresh faces from PAP but not from the opposition."
So far, the opposition's strategy seems to be to preserve an element of surprise and keep their slate of candidates close to their chest.
"People are now scrutinising the PAP candidates and want to see the kind of candidates from the opposition, especially when there has been expectation built up that the opposition has been able to recruit a larger pool of better qualified and credible opposition," said Zulkifli Baharudin.
"So I think people are waiting for it. By naming the candidates late, especially for those not exposed to the public, may not put them in a good position," he added.
More PAP candidates are expected to be introduced on Friday.
While many have welcomed the People's Action Party's (PAP) diverse slate of candidates introduced so far, what they want to see also are the new faces from the opposition.
15 new PAP candidates had been introduced so far and Singaporeans said there was a good mix on the PAP's slate.
"They are very credible and they are from a younger age group which is good for the country," said one member of the public.
"It's a good start to have the post-1965ers coming into Parliament so our views (of post-1965ers) can be brought up," said another.
"Some are quite impressive but impressing is one thing. The most important thing is if they can work. Ultimately, they have to prove themselves," said a third.
And there were others who said the type of candidates introduced did not come as a surprise.
"I wouldn't say I am impressed because it's pretty much expected, the kind of candidates. It's always the professionals, the people serving at the grassroots level," said one resident.
"I have not seen anyone who is completely different from the usual PAP mould. By and large, they are quite predictable in the sense that you would expect PAP to go for that kind of backgrounds and credentials, so there is no real big surprise," said former NMP and political watcher Zulkifli Baharudin.
"In the past, there had been a lot of candidates from the civil service and the Singapore Armed Forces, but this time a large number of them are working in global multinational companies. So these kinds of changes are apparent."
Many voters also echoed the PAP's call for the opposition parties to introduce their new candidates for the upcoming General Election now, rather than wait till Parliament is dissolved. This gives voters more time to size them up.
"They must show us, like what the PAP has already shown, so that people can assess if they are suitable, eligible and if they can serve the community," said a member of the public.
Another agreed: "They should bring them in as well, so that it's more of a fair competition instead of just fresh faces from PAP but not from the opposition."
So far, the opposition's strategy seems to be to preserve an element of surprise and keep their slate of candidates close to their chest.
"People are now scrutinising the PAP candidates and want to see the kind of candidates from the opposition, especially when there has been expectation built up that the opposition has been able to recruit a larger pool of better qualified and credible opposition," said Zulkifli Baharudin.
"So I think people are waiting for it. By naming the candidates late, especially for those not exposed to the public, may not put them in a good position," he added.
More PAP candidates are expected to be introduced on Friday.
- CNA /ls
The oppositions ain't stupid.
ReplyDeleteThey wouldn't want their candidates' past O'level results of B's and C's to be splashed all over the Straits Times. They wouldn't want their ex teachers, ex bosses, ex wifes, ex husbands, etc to release statesments or comment on national television how useless/@#$@#$/%@#% etc these oppo candidates are.
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ReplyDeleteNifty ad hominem there. I am sure you like stereotyping the opposition candidates as that of sour grapes, and besides even if it was, what does that have to deal with administration proficiency? Since when were the O levels a gauge of affairs of state, or listening to the people, anyway? After all, do we see a subject entitled "POS 460" or "political science" in there? Hardly. Besides, even without addressing this ad hominem, the emphasis of the post was to show the fact that weasel words were being used. Which members of the public? Of where do they hail? Is this a verified statement?
ReplyDeleteSee, the point was that the newspaper article was ironic. They attack the opposition for not revealing many of their candidates at this stage, but isn't it immensely situationally ironic that the supposed "opinion" concepts don't come through?
If anyone who had B's and C's for O level results, it is probably the CNA editors, who have no idea how to craft propaganda effectively or write a proper argument that doesn't immediately give itself away as contrivance and conceit.