Ms Lee Li Lian the BEST candidate?

Finally the Worker’s Party called for a press conference to announce their candidate yesterday morning. Some experts and analysts have expected WP to field Mr Yee Yenn Jong and not Ms Lee Li Lian. 

WP's choice left many scratching their heads. Some people said that Ms Lee Li Lian was chosen because she contested at Punggol East SMC in GE2011 & won 41% of votes, so it was her right to ‘chope’ seat however I not think so. There are a few factors to consider otherwise. 

Excerpt from theonlinecitizen [here]

"The party believes that Li Lian is the best candidate to represent the WP in this by-election," said WP chairman Sylvia Lim in a press conference at the party's Syed Alwi Road headquarters.

 

"She has the correct experience in the ward and there is some understanding of the concerns and the profile of the ward," Lim added.

Note: If she is the best candidate, why do they even need to ‘consider’? The response below by Ms Sylvia Lim (which is also an excerpt from the same TOC news link above) seems to refer to the contrary.

“Responding to a question on why the party took a longer time to unveil its candidate compared to last year's Hougang by-election, WP chairman Sylvia Lim acknowledged that the party leadership had a "choice of candidates" this time round, and took a little bit more time to choose its candidate.”

 

Note: In the statement ‘….took a little bit more time to choose its candidate’. So now does it make any sense that Ms Lee Li Lian is their best candidate at all?

The Worker’s Party is now between the devil and the deep blue sea. On their right is the PAP’s candidate Dr Poh Koon Koh, ‘Son of Punggol’. On their left might be SDP’s Dr Paul Ananth Tambyah or Dr Vincent Wijeyasingh? (It is not confirmed yet up to date). Besides the Reform Party will also field Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the ‘Son of JBJ’…

Latest: SDA has announced their candidate in Mr Desmond Lim Bak Chuan. See below.

Ice-breaking humor: hey we have a ‘Son of Punggol’ and a ‘Son of JBJ’, so SDP & SDA please give your candidate a suggested title, ‘Son of …..’?

 

On Worker's Party Strategy

I think the Worker's Party Mr Low had a serious thought whether to field their second best man or their third best. All their first ‘best’ men are already MPs. They have no other possible candidates. What if their second best choice, Mr Yee Yenn Jong is defeated? Mr Low rather reserves him on bench for GE2016. 

Smart move… did Mr Low read Sun Bin’s strategy "田忌賽馬"? There was a scenario I recalled reading where Sun Bin deployed the strategy on horse race. The first best horse against the opponent’s second best horse, the second best horse against the opponent’s third best horse and the third best horse against the opponent’s top notch horse! In other words, the third horse is…. a suicide horse?

Above diagram image sourced from NTU

Given Mr Low’s situation, the odds are against the Worker’s Party without their top notch horses. Rather than sacrificing their second best, he opts for the third best as he knows that a multi-corner fight is a disaster. If the Worker’s Party backs out of the By-Election, the hammer head’s will be buried six feet under. So they went ahead not because their third best horse is the BEST candidate but they really do not have any other choices. In case they lose, they can claim that the other opposition parties have foiled WP's plan. They can play victim again.

Ms Lee Lilian has previously won 40% of the votes at the GE2011, has walked on the ground before, residents remembered her & she currently has an ‘advantage’ over her opponents but in a strong multi-corner fight, based on the figures shown at GE2011, votes may be split amongst the candidates.

Unless Mr Low decides to accept Dr Chee’s joint candidate proposal which I see no way he would do so as the Worker’s Party sees & prides itself as the ‘Hyung’ (형) in Korean means "big brother" of Opposition party in Singapore...

On SDP, RP and SDA's move to contest

Many of us who lack the understanding of 'politics' would jump on the bandwagon to criticize SDP, RP and SDA for their actions citing them as spoilers, laughable & stupid as their moves would ensure PAP their victory at Punggol East SMC. 

Let's take a moment to think.

Note: WP’s GE2011 Manifesto & Slogan, “Towards First World Parliament”

'Slapping' actions from the co-drivers of the 'First World Parliament' wannabes

1) The Worker’s Party does not believe in the Social Media. Mr Pritam Singh ‘slaps’ citizen Andrew Loh. See [here]

Did WP ride its success in GE2011 & BE2012 through publicity on other people's social media platform? So what do you think their chances are in BE2013?

2)  The Worker’s Party does not give face to other Opposition parties. Mr Low Thia Khiang ‘slaps’ Dr Chee not once but a few times. See [here]

Is this how an Opposition behaves towards their fellow Opposition comrades? They took no courtesy to reply & when they did, they rebuffed. Is there opposition unity?

3) The Worker’s Party does not listen to their fellow opposition comrades. Ms Sylvia Lim ‘slaps’ SDA’s Desmond Lim. No room for negotiations. See below.  

4) From TR Emeritus: 'Has the Worker's Party forgotten Hougang?' See full story [here]

Has WP done anything to help their resident Mdm Vellama? Did WP forget about her after happily winning the BE2012? Many said that if it wasn't for Mdm Vellama, WP would not be able to contest in May BE2012. Is WP only too obsessed with winning elections?
 
5) Pritam Singh and Chen Show Mao's plagiarism of other writers' work and treating the two episodes with nonchalance. See Andrew's article [here]
  
With the above actions, I can't seem to put head or tail where this is leading for 'Towards First Parliament'. I dare say we are taken for a ride, they are not the credible opposition party they claims to be a voice for Singaporeans.

Opposition supporters say the ruling party PAP is arrogant and is not listening to them, I dare say that The Worker's Party is even more arrogant and deaf! So should the Worker's Party enjoy immunity of criticism from the public? No!

That's where the Opposition Parties like SDP, RP and SDA can step in. So in this BE2013, my gut feel tells me they are not simply going to block Worker's Party from scoring another BE2013 victory but they will also try to win this election for themselves. SDP, RP and SDA contestants are also heavy weights with experience from past elections. Especially SDP, if they field Dr Paul Tambyah, we will have a good idea of our current healthcare system in Singapore and if he wins, he will add value to our health-care related policies.

To end my blog, this Punggol East By Elections 2013 is going to be a very interesting multi-corner fight scenario where we will see a Winner, Loser and Hero. Just my two cents worth. Thank you for reading,

Little Fish.
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BREAKING NEWS @4.45pm, Singapore Democratic Party backed out of the By-Elections contest.  

It seems the other rumored contestants will be backing out of the contest on 16 January 2013! So it will be likely a one on one fight tomorrow.