CNA: A Political Forum on Singapore's Future Pt1/4- 02Apr2011

[Porkincarnate]

Opposition fail. Their standards are still far from thenpap

[stn0404]

i watched this video many times and i now know why SPP lost. Lina Chima is totally unprepared for this forum and she really a bad speaker. It's better for her to give up. But good to see SDP and WP getting better after each election.

[tanchongkee]

Vincent Wijeysingha actually gets what Josephine said and could rebut her on a fundamental point. He could also rebut the problem of using median income as a gauge in language that everyone can understand. Unfortunately the other three opposition reps are stuck in their prepared script.

[zachng]

josephine's rhetoric is old and crappy. seriously. bring something new to the table.

[JansenCassidy]

Start the Singapore Revolution to end one familee rule.

[nitrobloodriot]

typical PAP copy down all the things that other people say.. den use it against them

[fukingmoron]

No offence, but i think SDA will need a better representative. Dr.Vivian is a good reference. It is very important to keep your composure and confidence in the political life.

[n0styl3]

Pak Cik!!!.........

[chuaong]

Lina, my vote for you

[babu7584]

the programme timing is kinda unfair

[telpat]

Mrs Chaim u r so apologetic for no valid reasons. U r a walk over by even this two lower caliber PAP MP. How will u survive in Parliament, have u thought of that? R u going to apologize from start to the end of Parliament. R u going to be able to do justice for your voters. Some simple question to ponder on? Seriously should u be involved in this arena at all.

[liquidhuo]

@crackowacko87 Get this right, UBS has been publishing this series of reports for the last 40 years. I don't see any reason why we can't trust a report like this which has no apparent vested political interest.

[ckhoong186]

Rubbish format...as usual the dices are loaded

[JLJS]

I'm sorry but seems like only Tharman & Vincent are ready for the speech. If the oppositions are not even ready for the debate, I'm not sure they are ready to run the government.

[Solitude075]

@JLJS You forgot LTK and nicole seah.

[JLJS]

@Solitude075

Low Thia Kiang is already in the government. Nicole Seah is the stand out opposition. Hopefully she can beat the odds and somehow win SM Goh.

Best New Opposition Member: Nicole Seah (NSP - Marine Parade GRC)

Worst New Opposition Member: Lim Zi Rui (Reform Party - Ang Mo Kio GRC)

Best New PAP Member: Tan Chuan Jin (Marine Parade - GRC)

Worst New PAP Member: Chan Chun Sing (Tanjong Pagar - GRC)

Well, it's just my opinion, hopefully PAP don't track me down! =]

[Solitude075]

@JLJS Don't worry lah if PAP tries to ban internet because you criticize PAP then singapore will end up like protester in thailand. ;p

[chou040195]

@JLJS Hm i agree with you about Nicole Seah, she a very good candidate, she comes across as really sincere and concerned. But i have to disagree with you on her team winning Marine Parade GRC; compared to SM Goh, do you think she would come across as a better candidate? Also, Dont forget its a GRC, not a SMC, you have to look at the whole team. I know there's a big hoo ha over TPL as a candidate, but i think i'd rather count on her over a warehouse assistant to serve.

[JLJS]

@chou040195 Obviously SM Goh is much better, but I feel perharps they should set a age limit on being a MP or Minister. They might not have energy to serve the country anymore like Chiam See Tong.

With a country so small like us, a PM is more than enough. If he fails we still got 2 DPM. MM and SM's pay also not cheap too. The day when they trusted Lee Hsien Loong to the PM job, MM and SM should retire.

That said, I won't take credits off them. They were solid and proven leaders.

[crackowacko87]

Seriously Lina, you would have saved so much time by not turning up for this forum. You are not even thinking as a candidate.

[coldsilver]

@crackowacko87 Not true. Coalition governments are everywhere. Check coalition government under Wiki.

Bill Clinton's presidency only got better after the Lower House was revoted in with more Republicans.

The UK government has had a coalition government since the last election and it came out with a lot of economic policies.

When you have a 2 party system, any policy that manages to pass parliament would have been well argued for. What's not to be liked by that??

[chou040195]

@coldsilver Well, its true that there are benefits to a coalition government, but there is also its cons. Just look at Thailand as an example. If a political uprising of Thailand's magnititude were to happen to Singapore,we with no resources whatsoever cept for manpower, is doomed. Also in US, coalition government have resulted in government shutdowns, which would be disastrous for a small nation like us, it might work for big nations like US, but not SG, who cant afford any political meltdown.

[crackowacko87]

Lina, I think you are not capable enough to even be an MP. There is no such thing as a 2-party system. You will only create more conflicts as there is a higher tendency to not reach a common agreement to something in parliament. You said "2-party system" like as if it's so easy to establish. Do you realise how much changes that are needed to be done? By the time those changes are sorted out, you would have wasted so much time which could have been dedicated to further develop Singapore.

[crackowacko87]

Dr Vincent, that is UBS's report, not the world's report mind you. It's not sufficient to decide the actual standard of living of Singapore.

[coldsilver]

@crackowacko87 if we are not to trust a report from an independent body, what report could we trust? science/economics are based on articles written by a few scientists/economists. if there's actual facts and figures to base it on, it builds a case. and really, are the government's words, pluck from thin air, much better?

[crackowacko87]

ok Nazem, you're out.

[colmecolin]

Nazem... What the hell was that. Come on.

[Michelle1999ism]

it is always the same , when they need you to vote for them , you see how they smile and shake your hand, but when it is over, when you need to see them at meet the people, their attitude change. They seem to act like a big shot and treat you like you are owing them a favour, . when you ask them to help you. Also how many of you have seen your friendly neighborhood MP walking or visiting the neighborhood or shake your hand... until the voting day. Dont believe me, see for yourself.

[anasnaknota]

@Michelle1999ism that's true

[peterhuazq]

I like Tharman Shanmugaratnam's hair, he's being relevant by attracting our local youths with his Homer Simpson hairstyle. Nonetheless I think Dr Vincent Wijeysingha is really solid! This guy knows his stuff better than that Homer Simpson wannabe

[etjl]

We should have more debates, with the big shots of each party!

[etjl]

Thanks for the upload!

[anthtan]

Tks for uploading.



[jjgal92]

thanks for recording this man! much love!

[hannahtorres09]

Thanks for uploading!

[LookMaNoBrains]

This is WORST than secondary school debates. The whole session was never structured or conducted in a manner that would deliver the PROPER information the voters need. The moderator's skill is failz. The debaters aren't getting to their points. The quality of the debate as a whole is just very AMATEURISH. Pretty much sums up the level of political culture in Singapore.

[anasnaknota]

@LookMaNoBrains true...i see this as a competition to see who can speak the fastest with the most words in the limited given time

[edbertina]

@LookMaNoBrains sadly, i have to agree.

[debboo]

erm did WP sent a WEBMASTER as their representative?

[krazyrockstar]

@ aikenifyed

I think you are missing the point entirely. What Dr. Vincent is saying that Singapore, despite being so rich and developed, has actually a very low standard of living, almost as bad as Russia...

[lesterchuaideas]

Nazem can't talk for shits

[hadibohari]

SDA just lost my vote. Lol.

[aikenifyed]

Members of the opposition party (except for the obvious two) are unable to even speak in proper sentences and communicate their points. I would not trust them to run our govt. I think that we have a great govt and we Singaporeans should learn to stop complaining and be grateful despite standing issues. We're so comfortable in our little bubble that we fail to compare and our living conditions with mentioned places such as Russia.

[MajorYT]

I like this Vincent guy. PAP must have been struck by his eloquence and confidence.

[ZabiimaruZ]

If everyone have higher incomes and higher pay, lets say if i have same salary as someone else, why would i have to work so hard to get the same amount of salary

[KiraKirin]

The World Cup of Politics in Singapore. Happens every four years, just that they boo boos would not happen.

[shoexy]

NTU NUS mostly foreigners lo...... provide for local ?? lan jiao

[shoexy]

ya la ya la, PAP wont listen after they got the vote .... CCB one !

[Tide007007]

I think this whole debate is a good start, and some of the major issues are covered conceptually. However, the opposition should ask very specific questions.For eg. What is the basis for equitable distribution of GST receipts? What percentage of GST receipts is disbursed, and what % go into the various programmes?

Conceptually, I think most of the current policies are on firm ground, but it's the details and the follow up results of these policies that are lacking a robust discussion...

[tancheeken]

1,144 hits.

Singaporeans are simply not interested in politics.

[KiraKirin]

@tancheeken cause we are politically repressed for many decades. It takes time for us to come out of this closet. This is like the 1st time in my entire life that i see a political debate in Singapore about Singapore on the TV news. It easy to find US, England or other countries debating about politics on TV but not Singapore. If the mainstream media is going to be political censored for so many years, please do expect that for another decade or so.

[tancheeken]

@KiraKirin You are probably right. The ruling party should have done this earlier :)

I think it sheds very positive lights on the ruling party. I used to think in the past that our opp parties are being framed. lol!

[pillaisoma]

SDP did a good job sending a able rep very impressed got quality my earlier image erase this guy saved them,workers party no need to say always the best alternate voice the rest need more practice wasted a golden chance to in a state media send better rep in future we need quality

[fujilena1]

The difference between a leader and a tyrant is that a leader works hard for the sake of everyone else, while a tyrant makes others work hard for him.

[fujilena1]

Greatness as a human being is not determined by educational background or social position. A truly great person is one who can be a friend to those in suffering, pain and misery.

[shredderbassist]

2:36, first bull shit detected.

[ispeakisay]

04:17 "with long term challenges that is facing singapore, i believe the economic growth, we should stay relevant in the glo- in the glap-golber-kor-$&^!&!-on the gombak globalsation age, whereby, i think we should find new niche a niche to compete !^*%!(&%!("

you guys want someone like him to be in our parliament?

[jo3304]

The SDA candidate sit like he is in his grandfather forum.... a leader like that for you??? not for me for sure.... the rest seems ok....

[yuujin7788]

I will definitely give these opposition members a chance to prove themselves and even to 'learn on the job'.

This is because, they have the right motivations and aspirations. They can be trusted to do whats good for us Singaporeans.

[yuujin7788]

PAP ministers cannot be trusted, whatever they say.

Do not forget all that done

[richiephua]

I don't understand what is the point that SDA speaker wish to make?

[mraj79]

@richiephua

he doesn;t have public speaking and he is damn nervous

[tam17081990]

listening to the sda speaker was really painful. must give credit to the sdp and wp speakers, they sounded way more credible

[boretime]

why the time given for each speaker only 2 mins? CNA.. staffs cannot claim OT?

if viewers cannot get more information from speaker.. then what is the point for this progamme? Lesser the speech lesser the mistake they make?

[ararara89]

@boretime This is a political debate, you represent your party and elaborate the CRUX of 1) your party's stand 2) your attacks on counterpart's shortcomings/flaws. Ever participated/watched a debate? If viewers want information, they can go and google it and read all they want. Aaaaaaand besides, there are other regular programmes queued up after this debate.

[motsu84]

A very interesting debate. I think this broadcast could prove to be a turning point for the fate of SDP.