The questions are in quotes for easy reference. Answers are below.
"(1) Are you prepared to accept the possibility of a freak election result where the opposition forms a coalition government since many people assume that there will always be enough people to vote PAP into government, thus it will still be safe to vote for opposition ? Your vote could be the swing."
Yes. We don't want a freak election result whereby the PAP is dominant again and continue with all the current flawed policies for all S'poreans. It is safe to vote for opposition. Your vote could be the swing.
"(2) Will you be comfortable for the current slate of opposition candidates to speak on Singapore’s behalf in international affairs and forums? Can any of the current opposition candidate be able to make us proud like DPM Tharman during his interview at St Gallen ?"
Yes. PAP candidate Lim Swee Say (current highly-paid, millionaire minister) already makes S'poreans feel very not proud.
"(3) Why do the opposition mostly focus on domestic issues and not international matters? Are they only capable of handling domestic issues? What are their views on world affairs as Singapore is very dependent and vulnerable to her external environment ? Will they be able to engage and talk in depth with the world leaders and business leaders?"
Because the current government is so focused on international matters with zero/little focus on domestic issues. S'poreans are dying because domestic policies are seriously flawed. Without domestic, there is no international. Domestic issues come first before international matters. If Singaporeans are already starving (literally if you are jobless) from flawed domestic policies, there is urgency to address the domestic issues first, before moving on to international matters.
"(4) Are you confident that the opposition can continue to maintain our good international relationships with other nations, especially given the sensitive relations with our neighbours and the big countries? How will they handle the haze from Indonesia and water issue from Malaysia etc? They cannot conveniently tagged on PAP’s solutions if PAP is voted out of government."
Yes. We already don't have confidence that Lim Swee Say can continue to maintain our good international relationships with other nations.
"(5) Is it so important to have a different voice in Parliament just for the sake of it regardless of the quality and credibility of that voice ? Does this voice truly speak for the people or merely to serve their personal agenda or grudge against PAP ?"
Yes. It is important to have a different voice in the Parliament because it WILL be the only voice that speaks truly for the people.
"(6) Are you looking at the big picture or do you only care about the details? If Singapore does not have enough water for its people, do you think we will still complain about MRT breakdown? Without the existing framework of stable and strong government, social harmony, economic prosperity, do you think you will still complain about foreign workers? We might have to be foreign workers ourselves."
With the supply of cheap, foreign workers hugely abundant, Singapore's job market (be it during economic boom times or recession times) may basically be akin to a perpetual recession for S'poreans and anyone planning to work long-term in Singapore (including PRs, new citizens etc). With perpetual recession for S'poreans, that is why we are complaining about foreign workers. We are already foreign workers ourselves in our very own home country. There is already no difference in migrating to another country and be 2nd-class citizens there because we are already 2nd-class citizens in our very own home country.
"(7) What are some of the knee jerk reactions if PAP is voted out of the government? Market will react, foreign funds will flee Singapore immediately, our currency will lose its value and our investments will drop. Do you think investors will risk their money and wait for the new government to prove itself? No investor like a politically unstable country. As soon as a whiff of a political unrest is detected, the ringgit went into a free fall."
The purpose of having foreign funds and investment is to provide economic prosperity for all S'poreans (not just a few self-serving S'poreans). If S'poreans are already suffering in situations (e.g. joblessness) SIMILAR to that of being in a country with low foreign funds and investment, we need to vote opposition.
"(8) Why do you want to give your vote to a new and unknown candidate who did not even contribute to the community before and penalize the person who has been serving the community through grassroots work ? Have he or she earned it ? Some candidates only appear every 4-5 years when election comes."
Are you talking about yourself? Because the old and known candidate is already not serving the community and only appear 4-5 years when election comes.
"(9) It’s very easy to be popular by saying what people want to hear and promise to give more, but it is even more courageous to implement the right policies for the nation long term and be unpopular short term. Nobody like to be the one to give hard truths, but someone has to do it."
The current policies are wrong for the nation in both the long-term and short-term. It doesn't take courage to implement them. It takes foolishness and greed. That is why you are not popular. You are giving false "truths". They are popular because they are giving the real truths that people want to hear and and will fulfil their promises to give more.
"(10) Is there a perfect government in this world ? Why are countries sending their diplomats to study from a small little red dot if our government didn’t get most of it right?"
No. You HAD gotten most of your policies right. Let's focus on the future and not the PAST.
"(11) Do you want a paralyzed parliament which is bogged down with bickering over short term national issues to gain political points from voters? You need a government with foresight and do long term planning. Marina Bay, Changi Airport expansion, PSA ports etc cannot be built in a one election cycle. Do you think a weak government fighting for political survival will have time for these long term projects ?"
We want a parliament with genuine, sincere and passionate debate over national issues. That is why they gain political points with voters. Not a lethargic parliament that lets flawed national issues pass through it (e.g. 6.9 mil Population White paper). We need a government with foresight that does long-term planning for the benefits and good welfare of S'poreans. This can be achieved within this election cycle. A weak country fighting for physical survival will not have time for these long-term projects anyway.
"(12) Why do we have to keep striving to be among the best in the world? Would other nations or MNCs or investors bother with a little red dot if we are just mediocre? There are so many big cities around the world with many natural and human resources, so how does Singapore stand out if we are just average? What captures the world’s attention on Singapore? As our PM said, the work is never done, there are still more peaks to scale. Can we afford to remain stagnant and be complacent as a little red dot?"
Are we currently striving to be the best (aka First-world) in terms of glittery infrastructure or citizens well-being? We are currently First-world in glittery infrastructure and
Third-world in citizens well-being. Other First-world nations have both. We will capture the world's attention, and MNCs and investors will still bother Singapore, as long as we are relevant to the world (And we will always be because we have our good strategic location, good human resources provided by S'poreans). We rather be more-than-mediocre in infrastructure and excellent in happiness, than excellent infrastructure and less-than-mediocre happiness.
There are still more peaks to scale in terms of achieving happiness for all S'poreans. Singapore has a lot of capital/financial resources. We have very good infrastructure, civil service and systems all in place. The country can continue from here with good management. We need good management now. Can PAP remain stagnant and complacent on this little red dot?
Vote Opposition! Vote for Change! Vote Wisely!
Patriotic true-blue Singaporean
Editor's Note:
Do you have a story to share? Please use our submission form or email us at editorial@allsingaporestuff.com. If not, why not give us a 'Like'?