"I have a statement to read. I refer to my claim for the submission of my application for a minority certificate at Elections Department on 26 April 2006. I wish to confirm I did not submit the said application on 24 April 2006 due to distractions caused by the busy schedule leading up to Nomination Day. Please accept my sincere apologies if my actions on 26 April 2006 caused any distress or confusion to the staff or the Elections Department. I thank you,"Low Thia Khiang, Secretary-General of Workers' Party:
"I think it has been settled. We came out clean and we made it clear. James has sincerely apologised for causing this distress to the Elections Department. I think we are fair people, we are not someone who is trying to make things difficult. It's an unfortunate misunderstanding, it’s an incident and we are open about it,"
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Your blog is fucked up. It is providing a heavily biased view towards the APs. If you slam the straits times for being biased towards the PAP, you're not much better yourself. You've got no moral high ground over the so-called "straits times dogs", because you are biased in your coverage too, and no better than them yourself.
ReplyDeleteI shall report your blog to the relevant authorities.
YOU ARE AN IDIOT.You think the authorities don't know about this blog,you stupid PAP dog?
ReplyDeleteAnd what can they do?This blog's server is based overseas,most probably in America,where there is freedom of speech and they respect human rights.We should learn the good things about them and ignore the rot.
My dear friend,you need some re education because the PAP has managed to fucked successfully with your mind and you are just one of the mindless idiots serving it's causes.
Have a good life ahead!!
I think James Gomes if he really wants to help the opposition should resign . He is a weakling and has tarnished the image of the opposition.
ReplyDeleteshame on you pap, behaving like a mad dog, barking and turning James issue from a molehill into a mountain.
ReplyDeleteMore than 50% of Singaporeans are deprived of voting rights because of walkovers, I really hope that those fortunate ones who are able to vote this time to come to the Internet blogs like this to get a different perspective instead of getting bombarded left-right-centre with ALL the local media which basically only carry a 2-word message - "Vote PAP".
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you. When an opposition party member makes a mistake, PAP makes it sound as if the sky has fallen down, and starts to ask him to withdraw from the election or even asking its party leadership to step down. What happens when PAP minister/member makes a mistake, eg lack of closer supervision resulted in old NKF problem or the tax-payers having to foot the $380 million dollars to SINGTEL? Doesn't the minister/member involved need to step down? Or, as usual explain it away with phrases like "let's move on", "let's look long term" etc
ReplyDeleteThat's being too strict to others and too lenient to themselves, and it's called "double standard". It happens if there is a lack of check-and-balance and when the ruling elites become too powerful.
The bigger issues in GE include: More checks-and balances and alternative voices in Parliament; more competition among the political parties; more rooms for freedom of speach, thoughts and expressions without being worried that you might be taken to court. Most importantly, the voters should be educated and asked if we want S'pore to be a "Sprata" (elitism) state model or a "Athens" (open and free) state model, which former top civil servant, Mr Ngiam Tong Dow, spoke about
I thought during election time, no one (except pap of course) is to talk about race or language issues. but this james gomez issue arose all because he's an indian. well quite funny we need james to certify he's indian. come on, does he look russian or chinese to us? the other day there's this singaporean who got pissed at the polyclinic for asking him to produce his child's birth cert to certify that he's indeed singaporean. this despite the fact that the child had gone to the polyclinic for treatments before. i guess when pap says they create more jobs for singaporeans, it means literally we have to do more to get less.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is fucked up. It is providing a heavily biased view towards the APs. If you slam the straits times for being biased towards the PAP, you're not much better yourself. You've got no moral high ground over the so-called "straits times dogs", because you are biased in your coverage too, and no better than them yourself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. I think you are right. All press are biased. No single press can thread the line of 50-50, 33-33-34, etc.
In Singapore, there is only 1 press, so you all know how fair that is.
It is for this very REASON we need to have multiple views and many press. All press are partisan in a way. But when you have 20 newspapers representing different views, the reader can then get a balanced perspective taking into account all views.
I thank you for making the valid point here.
While we are arguing our heads off about whether James Gomez should be crucified, election watchers overseas must be laughing their heads off at Singaporeans. Is the local political scene so lacking in major issues that talk about James makes headlines in our national press day after day? Want to talk about the character of candidates? Too short a campaigning period to go into that. The last I checked, PAP candidates are also human. Let's get on with the real issues. Economically speaking, we are not exactly riding on easy unlike what the PAP says.
ReplyDeleteWhat were your first thoughts when the government said x number of jobs were created? Hmmm...happy that the dark days were over? Interesting if your thoughts stopped there. What about asking the government the amount of "real" wealth retained by Singaporeans with these jobs? Don't get me wrong. I truly believe in welcoming foreign investors and having them do the top jobs here. But tell the truth like it is, if new job creations are going to foreigners. While the number of jobs created matters, if wealth for the locals is not created, say it like it is. Do not stop at saying that jobs are created. Figures on wealth creation for the jobs, please!
Case in point. Say one foreign CEO job was created at S$30,000 per month. It would take 10 local jobs of an average pay of S$3,000 per month to balance that one CEO job. So if 11 jobs are created, the net effect on local wealth created is muted at best. Then the message to the people should be “Real wealth in job creation muted. Downstream revenue expected.” Say if these locals consist of people who were retrenched and who are used to earning higher pays, these jobs while providing temporary relief, should not be announced to the general populace as the joyous news that 11 new jobs had been created. Say it like it is.
Oh yeah, PAP supporter, you should have nothing to hide. You can make your name public. I am. I am a concerned citizen, not a political supporter of any party, but you can bet your last dollar that I am not going into the election centre uninformed and biased.
Yeah!! PAP supporter, you have nothing to hide. You can make your name public!
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest... better not identify yourself unless you are filthy rich and not afraid to go to court...
do any know if a chinese candidate needs to fill in the same form to prove that he's a chinese??
ReplyDeletef**king Pap... now they offended all indians and minorities...
people, wake up and think seriously about who you are voting for!!
For the past few days, the PAP’s lorry has been going round my housing estate with the loudhailers blaring away with the same recorded message.
ReplyDeleteToday (1 May 2006) at noon, the WP’s lorry did the rounds. The difference was, instead of just playing a recorded message over and over again, the WP candidates were standing at the back of the lorry in the sweltering noon heat and took turns at speaking through the loudhailer and waving to residents.
Is it too much to ask of the PAP candidates to do likewise?
Opposition candidates are more sincere and committed in their approaches in raising main issues for the residents in this election. Don't sidetrack the main issues raised by oppositions in this election.Our eyes are wide open and can differentiate between good and bad. Hardworking candidates who can speak out in parliament for the plight of suffering /oppressed residents since 2001.
ReplyDeleteGomez makes a mistake. He makes a silly mistake. He makes a big mistake. BUT he is man enough to apologised. That is enough for me. He get my support and win some more vote from my friends.
ReplyDeleteWhy those unreasonable ppl still keep attacking him? They are really childish to state the least. Who never make silly mistake? If he admits it, just move on. It is better than some ppl make mistake and never apologised.
My oversea friend just MSN me and ask me what the fuss about the Gomez issue he saw on the Headline news day after day..... I dun know what to say... I am embarrass and dun know what to say. To those high post ppl, please stop embrarassing the ppl of Singapore, we are not stupid. When we see a mistake, we will know it, and if the person apologise, just move on, no need to hype on it day after day. We got much bigger things to debate on.
I refer to a report in ST Home p8, 25th April 2006.I have heard of the scandal of PAP MP Ahmad Khalis's and his problem with police and Law Society for some time already. Its regarding a mortgage case he handled. The rumours has been circulating..., finally i saw a report of his case with law society. Heard that even forgery could be involved but police dismissed the case. then he was quickly advised to step down as lawyer and mp to avoid problems esp for this coming elections. Is this rumour about a another cover-up true? Please, can someone check it out for all of us!!
ReplyDeleteI am sick and tired about the whole JG's saga by the pap. You hear it on the tv news (at lease 15 minutes), you read it on the papers - big issue on front page, inside some more.
ReplyDeleteIs pap trying to discriminate the minority?
Please stop the nonsense now!!
I think they just scared of james' foreign connections. he works in switzerland (some democratic thingie - eee... scary) and should remit money back to singapore, just like all those bangla workers and filipino maids. should let our pristine men in white rule this beautiful little red dot.
ReplyDeleteHELLO, PEOPLE! I believe the James Gomez issue is the best thing to happen to Singapore!
ReplyDeleteThe JG issue is so trivial that nobody is genuinely bothered when the PAP keeps harping on it. There are only 3 more days for the PAP to try and dig up any dirt on opposition candidates. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they keep attacking on the JG issue, which is not going to win them any votes. Meanwhile, it proves that they have no other dirt to throw at Mr Gomez and the other opp candidates. WELL DONE to all the opp parties for a great selection of candidates.
It will be great to see the PAP fully concentrate on the JG issue. My advice to Mr Gomez is to ignore all the taunts and don't fall into a trap like Tan Liang Hong did.
According to the PAP, Gomez would have claimed that the Elections Department deliberately lost his form and he would have accused the ED of colluding with the PAP to deprive him of his Indian Minority Certificate....which....Gomez did not require to contest in Aljunied GRC (Aljunied GRC requires a Malay candidate). Doesn't make sense, right?
ReplyDeleteThe WP has declared that Gomez was never considered for contesting Ang Mo Kio GRC which requires an Indian candidate. This explanation makes PERFECT SENSE: it would be highly unlikely for Gomez to enter parliament by defeating the PM in AMK GRC. Furthermore, the WP team fielded in AMK GRC is obviously the weakest WP team with the least chance of winning. So I believe that all along, Gomez planned to contest Aljunied GRC (Gomez has been courting Aljunied since 2001) where he, along with the strongest WP team, would stand the best chance of winning.
This begs the question: Why did Gomez bother to apply for an Indian Minority Cert? I think Gomez really wanted to keep PAP guessing whether he was going to lead the WP in AMK GRC. It was a 'wayang' for the media and the PAP so as to hamper PAP’s preparation for the election. There is nothing wrong with a bit of deception to keep your enemy guessing what your strategy is.
The real question is: Do you believe that Gomez wanted to submit his Minority Form and he forgot about his non-submission due to too much distraction? If this explanation sounds reasonable and possible, you must also accept that when Gomez showed up to collect his form, he was genuinely upset about the form being misplaced (hence his irritated reaction) but he was NOT trying to frame anyone.
Do you believe that Gomez is trying to FRAME the PAP and Elections Department for losing his form? Can you recall who started the media controversy and the name calling?
What does Gomez have to gain out of framing the Election Department? PAP says Gomez would have made the integrity of the ED and PAP an election issue; where is the proof? The WP does not have the track record of SDP when it comes to questioning PAP integrity. Even if we assume Gomez was going to frame the ED and the PAP, who has the immense resources to convince the public otherwise? Who is the public likely to believe?
Did Gomez really expect to get away with framing the ED? Gomez was in a closely monitored environment with multiple CCTV cameras which PAP claims Gomez was not aware of. Even from the CNA video footage of the Gomez incident (go to the CNA website), I can clearly see the CCTV cameras and they are not concealed. Moreover, every opposition politician knows that the ISD monitors your every move, especially during elections! It would have been a suicide mission for Gomez to attempt framing the ED.
There are a lot of speculative "Gomez-would-have-accused-PAP/Elections Department-of-collusion" accusations being made by the PAP. The PAP has an excuse to attack Gomez because of the lack of independence of the Elections Department. The WP Manifesto is right: the Elections Department should be a neutral and independent office and not under the direct control of the PAP. Why must every public service in Singapore, from the LTA (fixing flooded roads) to the Election Departments be linked to the PAP?
All this self-righteous sound and fury is very distasteful and not becoming of a first world government.
well done PAP leaders! you have just proven how stupid you all are for continuing your personal attacks towards JG and how brilliant the WP candidates are for dealing with the JG's saga by simply ignoring you all! hahaha!cheers for sylvia and low!
ReplyDeleteOmg. this Gomez is really an "indian" who twist his tongue after he tried to find trouble when he did not even hand over the form..I am totally disgusted with them. If he can say its a mistake, what will happen if he is in charge of affairs in th parliament??
ReplyDeleteThis Gomez saga have shown how underhand the oppositon party have gone to! I will definately not vote for them after i saw the leader say to the media that PAP is very lor soh, just like grandmother.. How uncultured!!
ReplyDeleteMy 3-year son said James Gomez is really an Indian judging from his appearance. Why need to apply minority certificates ? Just produce B.C.on the day of Nomination Day. why make it so complicated ?
ReplyDelete