Singaporeans must do their part

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Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Singapore Democrats

Even as the opposition heaves to overcome the extraordinary odds in establishing a working democratic system in Singapore, the people must not sit back and expect it to do all the heavy lifting.

Without the active involvement of Singaporeans, political change will always be something we talk about, not experience.

Show me credibility

"Show me what your candidate can offer, and I may consider voting for you." Unfortunately, such what's-in-it-for-me attitude will continue to keep Singapore firmly at the bottom of the democratic league.

The prevalence of fear of politics in society means that opposition parties have a terrible time convincing the people to join them, let alone persuading them to stand as candidates.

This is not to say that Singaporeans should lower the bar when it comes to electing opposition MPs. It is to say that Singaporeans must not wait for the next guy to take the first step of joining or volunteering their help to opposition parties.

As long as the people hold back their active support in campaigning, donating, or behind-the-scenes work, little progress will be made.

Elections is not a spectator sport. Being passive observers is not an option. Without supporters getting actively involved in the campaigns, elections will remain an academic exercise.

One of the reasons why the opposition has performed so abjectly at the polls in the past is because those who know and care have not come forward to help. The PAP triumphs not because of the approval of Singaporeans but because of the apprehension of opposition supporters.

To paraphrase John F Kennedy: Ask not what the opposition can do for you, ask what you can do for the opposition.

I'm just a...

So often we hear Singaporeans say "I'm just a so-and-so, I'm in no position to help." One thing that democracy does not do: It discounts the participation of certain classes of citizens. Everyone counts.

If you cannot fly, run; if you cannot run, walk; if you cannot walk, crawl. Just don't stand still. Do something.

With the elections impending, the Singapore Democrats are shifting our work up one gear. But we are up against a regime bent on holding on to its autocratic ways.

We are confident, however, that we shall overcome the odds by fighting hard and fighting smart. But we cannot do it alone. We need all the help we can get from you, our supporters.

We need funds to help print flyers, to rent equipment, to purchase supplies and so on.

We need volunteers to help with the enormous work of reaching out to the public.

We need the skills and expertise that make campaigns work.

If you can contribute in one or all of the above ways, please don't hold back. Don't wait for the next guy to come forward to make a contribution. Do it. Today. Send us an email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll get in touch with you

Support the SDP. Your Voice, Your Party.

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Comments (14)

Tue 24 Nov 2009 5:43 PM | quantum

Tell that to BryanT.

Tue 24 Nov 2009 9:40 PM | Brendan - Timely message.

I have said this before on numerous forums and I'll say it again. I WILL vote for any opposition in the next election even if they are monkeys.

Even if the opposition is not creadible or capable, they wouldn't cost you much and they are easier to remove than the MIW.

We are in a no-loose situation. Vote PAP and you PAY AND PAY more and may not get results. Vote Opposition and [u]you sure to have more humble leaders[/u], even in the event they can't perform (although it's too early to judge).

As for my commitment to the SDP, it's not a matter of if BUT when. I am considering other issues. SO don't be suprised to see me at the polls in 2011!

Tue 24 Nov 2009 9:57 PM | Seelan Palay

Dr Chee Soon Juan is the one who inspired me to do my part. I will always respect his strength and determination.

Tue 24 Nov 2009 10:04 PM | tewniaseng

We should change the mentality of singaporeans,many are kiasu, not daring to vote for oppositions.You lose nothing if you vote in more oppositions.Don't ask what they can do for you.Ask what you can do for them

Wed 25 Nov 2009 1:31 AM | AN

Vote for PAP and GET SCREWED for another 5years!

Vote for SDP and BE HEARD for the next 5years.

The choice is ours. Vote wisely and VOTE OUT the useless bunch of millionaire ministers.

Wed 25 Nov 2009 11:07 AM | nobody - money talks in this bloody-mercenary-society!

I voted for the opposition-singapore worker's party for east coast grc, during last general election, but to no avail!

pap has its strongest "dirtiest-oldest-man" as its anchorman, what opposition has? Unity makes the oppositions stronger; so, please work with other oppositions to improve sdp's financial status to "fight" against this "unscrupulous giant"! Money talks in this bloody-mercenary-country"

Wish sdp good luck pertaining to this coming general election!

Wed 25 Nov 2009 2:55 PM | BryanT - Active Support, not Moral or Verbal

Dr Chee, let me do you a favour by reiterating your intent....
----
It seems that most readers here may not have gotten the intended message in this article. It is NOT preemptively soliciting for votes at the next election. “Well wishes” are good but NOT what SDP needs now.

CSJ is asking for active and closet party supporters to come forward to help out.... physically and financially. Verbal and moral support is not enough. “Passive observers” must go beyond observing.

It needs volunteers to give “active support in campaigning, donating, or behind-the-scenes work.” And not to forgot the deep pockets too – “funds are needed to help print flyers, to rent equipment, to purchase supplies and so on”.

Some of us may disagree with the key ideology that SDP stands for, but we certainly want all political parties to be able to put up a decent fight at the elections. The electorate can then properly make up their minds where to put the crosses, and there will be lesser walkovers, deliberate or accidental.

Come on guys!

Wed 25 Nov 2009 8:58 PM | | seebeng - We need free media, independent elections commissi

[color=purple]Some of us may disagree with the key ideology that SDP stands for, but we certainly want all political parties to be able to put up a decent fight at the elections. The electorate can then properly make up their minds where to put the crosses, and there will be lesser walkovers, deliberate or accidental.[/color]

For "a decent fight at the elections", the mainstream media has to be freed from the clutches of the autocratic PAP.

A free and pluralistic media will then be able to provide alternative views and programmes for the electorate
to "properly make up their minds where to put the crosses".

Also, an independent elections commission should be responsible for conducting free and fair elections and not by a department under the authoritarian PAP to "fix" the opposition and "engineer" the election results.

Thu 26 Nov 2009 12:54 AM | compassion republican - Overseas Monthly Donation

Hello, currently SDP does not enjoy the same financial muscle as PAP. That said, everything else is lacking behind.

Fundings and Donation
You want to catch small fish go to the S'pore longkang, small drain. However if you want to catch big fish go to the big Ocean

1)Singaporean fundings the most effective way is "drop in box" what to do it had to be very discreet. The fastest way of funding is "overseas donation"

2)Building Strong Comradeship
It means SDP had to travel alot, give alot of speech starting with Malaysia Opposition Party. Sell your party, sell your montly SDP subscription magazine. How SDP view Rayat struggle? comment on Malaysia politics? Make the magazine interesting. Of course with our local politics too. Inside the magazine, there is a (donation slip) Benefits: share experience, share strategy, exposure of your members. Go as far as Thailand red shirts, Taiwan, Hong Kong...etc

3)Building up Overseas Networkings
From time to time re-visit Liberals Democrats (Conservatist Harry label Obama as Socialist) this is a good chance for SDP to build up strong relationship with your fellow Liberals. Sell your party, sell your montly SDP magazine, ask for donation. Nothing to be shy about, minister travel overseas from Dubai, Russia, Brazil..etc to sell Singapore for more FDI investment too.

Rome is not build in a day. But we are heading towards the right direction

Thu 26 Nov 2009 8:15 PM | quantum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6hz_s2XIAU
Famous Failures

Fri 27 Nov 2009 12:49 AM | Aiseeliao - Sooner than later

Many years ago the malays were making noise about unfair practice where employers stated only chinese speaking in their job advert.The singapore chinese laughed because it doesn't concerned them.Now they CBCB because employer stated only PRC or PR needs to apply for the job advert!the exec are lauging now because they think it doesn't concern them...Last time when we approached Our MP for help in building steet lamps and pub taps for our Kampung,It was done.Now we ask the MP for help ,they tell us they are from a broken family,craped about how he make it,without due credit to a beautiful sister!senior Civil servant talks and behave like king,forgetting we are paying their salary!.....Education places are being taken by others,locals ended up suckers!it doesn't concerned you today but it will surly hit you someday.Its time to wake up and support SDP!

Sat 28 Nov 2009 1:32 AM | ahchan - First they came...

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.

- Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

Sat 28 Nov 2009 8:06 PM | quantum

Aiseeliao:
You are right. Many are made to feel so much guilt that they kill themselves.

Tue 01 Dec 2009 5:09 AM | singexpat53 - To vote or not to vote

If you vote oppositon,you're voting forchange. For PAP, you are playing safe, you reckon. But to do nought, then you can,t complain cos you deserve what you got. Another 5 or 10 years of misery and the comfort of internet criticism of a regime you took no part in removing