Foreign-born Ministers?

I said it is possible for the oppositions to win GRCs, but not because the PAP is complacent or slackening. It is just that some people think it is better to have more opposition MPs. Check and balance, accountability and transparency, they say. To do that you must have quality MPs.

I think the PAP also thinks it is possible for them to lose GRCs. So I believe they are prepared for this. Don't forget they always think long-term. I feel it really doesn't matter much. Unless there are some capable ones who perform very well, if not the oppositions MPs will just make more noise, the media will be very excited but after a half a year and a few sessions the excitement will die down.

Capable people who want to see changes in certain things they don't agree with are more likely to join the PAP. Because they agree more with the PAP than with the Oppositions and it is easier to get the changes inside the party than by opposing it. Or the ministers could convince them that what they do is best for the Country.

Of course there are people who say whatever the PAP does is wrong. I guess they are those with personal reasons, or those who just dislike the PAP or those who think freedom of speech is the only thing that matters even if they have to sleep on the street or eat bread crumbs.

With more and more foreigners becoming citizens, shouldn't the parties start recruiting able people from these foreign-born citizens. I'm not surprised if the PAP has already done so. In the future one or two ministers could be these citizens or their children.

Two-party System

A two-party system means there are two strong parties and each has wide support of the people. So any party can form the Government after a parliamentary election. It is not just about having an opposition party to check or oppose the Government.

Having enough good candidates is very important, if not how can you contest all the constituencies. At present, how many parties can field good candidates for all the constituencies? Only the PAP. So how to have two-party system.

If we want a two-party system, first the opposition parties should combine together. Then they should actively recruit good talented people to join them. To get people to join them, they must have a good manifesto and tell people what policies and programmes they would implement if elected.

If people think these policies and programmes good for the Country and would benefit the people, I believe good able people would consider joining the Opposition. Even those intending to join the PAP initially may switch to the Opposition.

Otherwise, the oppositions will just remain as oppositions, even if they win two GRCs which I think is possible. They would lose the GRCs at the next election if their MPs fumble. There won't be a two-part system.

Non-Chinese PM and GRCs

Non-Chinese PM

Even if we choose to have a non-Chinese PM, I don't think it necessary means that we are less race-conscious or more race-blind. There can only be one PM and I think we all agree that we let the best person do the job. There will still be other Chinese ministers.

Now, if we have no Malay or Indian ministers and the Malays and Indians don't mind, then we are really race-blind. Or if we have no Chinese ministers and the Chinese don't mind.

If this were to happen I believe everyone would mind because it is not a good thing. I feel that completely race-blind is not a good thing.


GRCs

If all our constituencies were single-seat and we really don't care about race, then we vote for the best candidate in each case. It could happen that in each case or in most cases the best turns out to be Chinese. Then we would have very few, or none, MPs from the minority races.

Then maybe we can have NCMP only from the minorities but I think no one likes that. Or we can stipulate that certain constituencies can only be contested by candidates from the minorities. Again I think no one likes that. So I think the better way is still GRCs.

GRCs are advantages to the PAP only because the oppositions do not have enough good candidates. There are quite a number of single-seat wards, how come the oppositions only won two seats. The same reason too. If the oppositions have enough good candidates, they have equal opportunities. Then they will not oppose GRCs, they may even like them.

Do it right.

I would say if the Government had scrapped building the dormitory if would lose more votes. Residents who didn't sign the petition and some other Singaporeans would see this as a weak Government. And it doesn't mean that residents who are happy the project is scrapped will vote for the Government.

So, no need to worry about votes, just do what is right.