The Wayang Party Club wrote: <<<
According to The New Paper article below, 67 year old Malaysian opposition leader Mr Lim Kit Siang runs 3 blogs which are updated meticulously daily. Mr Lim Kit Siang also has a facebook account which he uses to connect with young voters. He is a vocal critic of the government in Parliament, making over 500 speeches in a year and in between serving his residents of Ipor Timur with a population of 710,000, he still has the time and energy to galvanize the civil society of Malaysia by leading the recent Bersih campaign to call for free and fair elections.
We applaud Mr Lim Kit Siang for his tireless efforts to promote and further opposition cause in Malaysia. On the contrary, Mr Low Thia Kiang who is the leader of the Singapore’s opposition and MP of a small SMC of 22,000 people is seldom seen in public other than making a few speeches in Parliament a year and praising the PAP government in the media. The WP website was not updated for the past 3 months since their anniversary dinner in November last year ! And not surprisingly, we don’t expect Mr Low to have his own personal blog or facebook since we never seem to receive a reply when we emailed him! >>>
My response:
It is extremely unfair of you to compare Lim Kit Siang, a Malaysian opposition leader, to Low Thia Kiang. This is because they have greatly differing roles to play in their respective societies.
Mr Lim Kit Siang is an opposition stalwart who has challenged the ruling BN coalition party of Malaysia on many issues, and has a lot of credibility to his name. Low Thia Kiang on the other hand is meant to play supportive role, providing a bridge between voters who want an alternative voice in Singapore and the ruling party. You are comparing apples to oranges.
The PAP government (may the PAP progress!) has a solid track record of outstanding governance, has created wealth and prosperity for our nation since our independence, and put Singapore on a firm footing as we venture into the 21st century. It is not afraid to enact unpopular policies which are for the long term good of our nation, and has avoided the pitfalls of pandering to the electorate in the short term.
Given the excellent track record and performance of the PAP, and its high level of integrity and incorruptibility, there is not much scope for Opposition parties in Singapore to credibly challenge them. However, the PAP reluctantly acknowledges that there is still a role for Opposition in Singapore. Opposition parties can play the role of middle man, connecting voters who want an alternative voice or who are not yet convinced that of the soundness of PAP policies, with the ruling party. That is where parties such as the WP come in.
By putting up a moderate and non-confrontational voice in Parliament, Low Thia Kiang and Sylvia Lim have added to the already lively and robust debate that goes on in those hallowed chambers. When PAP MPs rebut them decisively on issues they have raised, they are quick to acknowledge the validity of the PAP's stand. When Low Thia Kiang returns to his constituency, he can then bring the PAP's argument and point of view back to his people, and lay out the good points of PAP policies. That is the valuable role the WP plays in Singapore's political scene.
The PAP hopes that eventually, it will win back the two Opposition seats and secure 100% of the seats in Parliament. This is because it believes that its policies are robust and sound, and will stand the test of time. In the meanwhile, the PAP acknowledges the role the WP is trying to play and will continually try to win back the hearts and minds of the voters.
Majulah PAP! Majulah Singapura!
Goh Bock Seng
The original Wayang Party Club article is as follows:
http://wayangparty.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/malaysia-opposition-leader-lim-kit-siang-puts-low-thia-kiang-to-shame/
Malaysia opposition leader Lim Kit Siang puts Low Thia Kiang to SHAME !!!
According to The New Paper article below, 67 year old Malaysian opposition leader Mr Lim Kit Siang runs 3 blogs which are updated meticulously daily. Mr Lim Kit Siang also has a facebook account which he uses to connect with young voters. He is a vocal critic of the government in Parliament, making over 500 speeches in a year and in between serving his residents of Ipor Timur with a population of 710,000, he still has the time and energy to galvanize the civil society of Malaysia by leading the recent Bersih campaign to call for free and fair elections.
We applaud Mr Lim Kit Siang for his tireless efforts to promote and further opposition cause in Malaysia. On the contrary, Mr Low Thia Kiang who is the leader of the Singapore’s opposition and MP of a small SMC of 22,000 people is seldom seen in public other than making a few speeches in Parliament a year and praising the PAP government in the media. The WP website was not updated for the past 3 months since their anniversary dinner in November last year ! And not surprisingly, we don’t expect Mr Low to have his own personal blog or facebook since we never seem to receive a reply when we emailed him!
What has Mr Low Thia Kiang been doing lately ? Can he be busier than Mr Lim Kit Siang who has a much bigger constituency to manage and has to commute often between Ipoh and KL where his party HQ is based ? Is he still waiting for Parliament to convene so that he can “comment” on the latest government policies affecting Singaporeans ? What is WP doing to connect with the voters other than the usual wayang walk-abouts and weekly Open House on Monday whose crowds are dwindling ?
Without even a wayang to show for, we are afraid that WP will soon have to change its name from “Wayang Party” to “Worthless Party”. An opposition party that sits around and doing nothing, only popping up when the GE arrives is not worth the support of Singaporeans. It is in fact the biggest obstacle to the progress of real democracy in Singapore since it is merely a pawn used by the regime to legitimizes itself as a democracy to the international community.
Opposition party’s YouTube video is a hit with netizens
22 Feb 2008
JUST like in the ongoing race for presidential nominations in the US, Malaysian political parties are taking their campaigning to online video host site YouTube.
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| The English version of DAP’s video has been viewed more than 15,000 times at press time. The Malay version has been viewed almost 10,000 times. |
And it seems the Democratic Action Party (DAP) has made the first inroads with a snazzy promotional video that has been delighting netizens since it was uploaded two weeks ago, reported Guang Ming Daily.
The video shows a relay race, with Malaysians of different races and ages passing the baton as they run or ride taxis along the country’s alleyways and thoroughfares.
The baton finally ends up in the hands of DAP leaders standing on the steps of Parliament.
The one-minute video comes in Malay and English versions.
Its cheeky message, ‘Just change it’, shown at the end, spoofs Nike’s ‘Just do it’ catchphrase. In Malay, the closing message says, ‘Jam ubah (Time to change)’.
DAP said that the relay race is meant to convey the idea that the party carries the hopes and voice of the masses.
Entitled The Voice Of Democracy, Conscience Of Parliament-DAP, the English version of the video has been viewed more than 15,000 times at press time. The Malay version has been viewed almost 10,000 times.
Not to be outdone, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, yesterday launched the country’s first Indian Internet-based political television channel.
Called Putera iTV, the online video-streaming channel will feature the contributions and achievements of MIC and BN, reported New Straits Times.
In a video recording posted on the site, MIC president SSamy Vellu said the channel was a progressive way to reach the younger generation. Content on the site would include coverage of the 28 MIC candidates during the campaign period.
But it is the opposition parties which most appreciate the value of the Internet, reported AFP.
While mainstream media - many partly owned by BN parties - are awash with flattering stories about the government and its achievements, the opposition rates barely a mention.
‘Blogging is one way to get word out and an opportunity to circumvent media control,’ said DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, 67, who runs three blogs which are meticulously updated every day.
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