Iisterry 3rd Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 So... How will TPL fare without SM GCT? SPP, SDP criticise timing of announcement By Tessa Wong TWO opposition parties have criticised Singapore's two former prime ministers for the timing of the announcement that they are leaving the Cabinet. Said Mr Chiam See Tong, secretary-general of the Singapore People's Party (SPP): 'The question is: Why now, and not five years later? I think MM and SM owe an explanation to the public on this point.' It is the 'fair' thing to do, Mr Chiam added, arguing that the outcome of the polls would probably have been different if voters had known before the election that Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, 69, and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, 87, were planning to step down as ministers. His party would probably have won in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, he said, and added: 'In Marine Parade, they would not have gotten in if Goh Chok Tong was stepping down.' Mr Goh's People's Action Party team won the GRC, beating a National Solidarity Party team. Like many Singaporeans, Mr Chiam was taken by surprise when he heard the news, he told reporters at an SPP event in Bishan Park. On Saturday, about a week after the election, SM Goh and MM Lee announced their desire to depart, so as to give Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his team a 'fresh, clean slate' to carry Singapore forward. At a separate event in Ghim Moh, a member of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) who contested in the recent polls called on PM Lee to be 'fair' to voters by holding by-elections in the GRCs helmed by the two ministers. Said Mr Tan Jee Say, whose team lost in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC: 'Voters of Tanjong Pagar and Marine Parade may have voted for (MM Lee and SM Goh) on the basis that they continue to be Cabinet ministers. 'Now that they have stepped down, shouldn't by-elections be held?' Mr Tan, who was SM Goh's principal private secretary from 1985 to 1990, also called for the two ministers to step down from other public sector positions. 'If they're really serious about giving their new leadership a free hand, they should step down from all government positions, including GIC,' said Mr Tan. MM Lee chairs the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, a sovereign wealth fund, while SM Goh is chairman of financial regulator Monetary Authority of Singapore. Later, the SDP said on its website: 'If the motivation is for the younger generation to take over the leadership of politics in Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew should completely retire from the political scene. 'The clean break would truly signal a new beginning for politics in Singapore and for democracy to start its belated development.' The party also called for the two positions, as well as that of ministers in the Prime Minister's Office, to be abolished. It estimated such a move would save the Government $15 million a year in salaries, which it said could go to helping the needy. The SDP also said the MM and SM posts have 'served no useful purpose except to drain the national budget'. ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corgan Neutral Newbie May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 your point being? Stepping down from cabinet doesnt mean relinquishing his MP post. Come on. Get your facts right first. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iisterry 3rd Gear May 16, 2011 Author Share May 16, 2011 your point being? Stepping down from cabinet doesnt mean relinquishing his MP post. Come on. Get your facts right first. Que being. SM GCT. Now he will be MP GCT. They have always touted cabinet appointments as one of the main drawing factor why a voter should vote for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyt 4th Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 yeah. if SM Goh becomes MP Goh, i tink MP residents may not have voted him in and subsequently TPL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ender Hypersonic May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 By-Election, tan gu gu... Won't happen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rncw 5th Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 sekali the pmo create more positions to fulfill the voters calls for more job creation Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office Assistant deputy minister without portfolio in the pmo office Deputy assistant to the assistant deputy minister without portfolio in the pmo office senior secretary to the Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office deputy senior secretary to the Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office assistant senior secretary to the Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office .....so on.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hub_n_mona 1st Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 iirc, when one of the MPs passed away last year, there wasn't a by-election..so what more this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonjst 3rd Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 (edited) MP boh power ma ! Imagine , MP GCT ask for upgrading of lifts , PM say NO ! what can he do ? Edited May 16, 2011 by Jasonjst Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iisterry 3rd Gear May 16, 2011 Author Share May 16, 2011 sekali the pmo create more positions to fulfill the voters calls for more job creation Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office Assistant deputy minister without portfolio in the pmo office Deputy assistant to the assistant deputy minister without portfolio in the pmo office senior secretary to the Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office deputy senior secretary to the Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office assistant senior secretary to the Deputy Minister without portfolio in the pmo office .....so on.... Previously it was this headcount. Now it is unclear. Source Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toyo 1st Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 Politics is never fair. anyway voters in MP may felt betrayed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toyo 1st Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 MP boh power ma ! Imagine , MP GCT ask for upgrading of lifts , PM say NO ! what can he do ? Join the opposition Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffc 5th Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 MP boh power ma ! Imagine , MP GCT ask for upgrading of lifts , PM say NO ! what can he do ? Ask TPL for help! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relacklabrudder 1st Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 By-Election, tan gu gu... Won't happen will all those tin pei lings have gotten in if not mm , sm in TP and MP GRC??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrewl Clutched May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 (edited) Some will never be pleased with PAP in power. Thus, anything could be picked on. Listen and have a good laugh lor Edited May 16, 2011 by Andrewl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karoon Turbocharged May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 MP boh power ma ! Imagine , MP GCT ask for upgrading of lifts , PM say NO ! what can he do ? looking at the power divide, looks more and more this is likely scenario Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lethalstrike Turbocharged May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 Critise for what? The people of MP had voted GCT in, it's their choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christan Turbocharged May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 They should ask the people of MP & TP whether they feel "betrayed" b'cos of the sudden change, whether not having a cabinet minster would affect their choice of vote. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypermiler 1st Gear May 16, 2011 Share May 16, 2011 They should ask the people of MP & TP whether they feel "betrayed" b'cos of the sudden change, whether not having a cabinet minster would affect their choice of vote. Let the people in MP who voted for PAP repent for the next 5 years. ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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