“I was in politics for 23 years until I lost in the last election. The opposition leader who beat me, when he was interviewed, said: "We won not because my opponents [meaning me and my team] did not do a good job, but because people wanted us in Parliament." I thought if there was not something that I could change, because it was not something about me, maybe it was time to open a new chapter of my life.”(http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1059881/handling-it-military-precision)
After reading the interview of George Yeo with
the South China Morning Post on 13 October 2012, we can conclude that George is
acknowledging the political reality in Singapore: voters want to see more
opposition in the Parliament even the PAP did nothing wrong.
What happen if the PAP really does something
wrong? For example, wrong policy of immigration, housing, transport, education,
CPF and even our reserve. Then the demand
for opposition voices in the Parliament will be even stronger. Perhaps, George and the PAP leaders have to
think twice whether they have done a good job for Singaporeans as good as 20,
30 years ago.
Average Singaporeans will not enjoy the life of a
paradise as the Swiss standard of living is no more achievable. However, to the
PAP leaders and the rich in Singapore, life is still like a paradise except
those losing PAP candidates in 2011. They have to humbly accept the life of ‘businessmen’.
By acknowledging the fact in Singapore politics,
George sees no chance of winning back Aljunied GRC in 2016. He
could not change the reality and so he decides to be a businessman and escapes
from the PAP paradise. The paradise of winning election is just like a piece of
cake and drawing the highest ministerial salary in the world need no due
justification.
The interview tells us the picture of the future
PAP and why they need to have an election campaign of National Conversation as
early as possible. They know there is no more paradise of easy election wins
even with the strong backing of the government machinery, NTUC, PA, and even
GLCs.
It is very likely more opposition candidates are
to be elected in the next election and so the preparation for the PAP has to
start early rather than later. This can help to reduce the losses of the PAP
and may be maintain the status quo – no increase in opposition seats in the
Parliament.
George is telling the new political norm: no more
paradise for the PAP and to face more competitions, more opposition members of
parliament in future.
There is an uncertainty that may be change the
reality in Singapore and helps to keep the paradise of the PAP. That is the economy. The Singapore economy is
expected to slow down and we have yet to see the impact and seriousness. Being
the masters of economic progress and achievements in Singapore, the PAP may
once again play the card well and stop the opposition advancements.
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