The New Democrat, flagship publication of the Singapore Democrats, is out (see the bottom of this website’s frontpage). The cover story reveals the string of PAP’s broken election promises. It flushes out what PAP leaders said (in retrospect rather embarrassingly) during the last elections, and then contrasts these with developments post-elections.
For example, PM Goh Chok Tong said during the elections on 3 November 2001:
I would want to form an alternative policies group in Parliament, comprising 20 PAP MPs. These 20 PAP MPs will be free to vote in accordance with what they think of a particular policy. In other words, the whip for them will be lifted. This is not playing politics, this is something which I think is worthwhile doing.
Barely six months later, the same prime minister did a complete about face when he addressed his MPs: If you sing Jailhouse Rock with your electric guitar when others are playing Beethovan, you are out of order. The whip must be used on you.
Then our dear PM goes on to observe – get ready for this – Cynicism and sceptism arise when the government does not do what it says. But this is a government that does exactly what it says.
This is the result of a government that has functioned without an opposition to hold it accountable for decades. There are more – and more egregious – instances of PAP broken election promises. It’s all in the latest issue of The New Democrat.
Also featured in this edition: a photogallery of the recently held International Youth Conference for Democracy.
DON’T JUST COMPLAIN, SUPPORT DEMOCRACY! GET A COPY OF THE NEW DEMOCRAT!
Democrats will be out selling the newspaper daily at various locations all over the island. You can get copies of the newspaper by sending your cheque, made payable to ‘Singapore Democratic Party’, to 1357A Serangoon Road, Singapore 328240. A minimum of 5 copies at $15 (postage included) is required for postal order. Alternatively, copies can be purchased at the above address.