SM Goh Chok Tong said WP "First World Parliament" is Nonsense! - 29Apr2011

SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has questioned the originality of the Workers' Party's (WP) campaign slogan of a "First World Parliament".

What is more useful to debate, SM Goh said, is the merits of a first-rate government.

At a community event in his constituency at Marine Parade Promenade, Mr Goh noted the populist tactics used by the Opposition to attack the government.

Mr Goh said he did an online search on the WP's campaign slogan and found a reference to this by Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party in Malaysia, in a speech of 2004.

"So I took the liberty of checking on the definition on Google because in Google, you can find anything," Mr Goh said.

"And lo and behold, there were only two references to First World Parliament.

"The first was by (Malaysia's) Lim Kit Siang of the Democratic Action Party.

"He made a speech of First World Parliament in 2004.

"The second is WP's First World Parliament. So I do not know whether WP was inspired by the DAP's First World Parliament, or WP plagarised the slogan of First World Parliament.

"By definition, First World Parliament, according to Opposition Workers' Party, is a critical mass of opposition in Parliament.

"Because by definition almost every parliament in the world, is a First World Parliament.

"That includes Zimbabwe, that includes Myanmar, but that excludes Singapore. So I laugh at that is that a First World Parliament?

"That is too simplistic. That's nonsense."

Mr Goh said of more value for debate is to consider the merits of a first-rate government.

"First-rate government is a government which produces results," he said.

"First, it's got to have a vision. It must be able to deal with challenges and then most importantly, (be) able to serve the interests of the people."

Mr Goh said he noticed several other trends, such as the Opposition approach to attacking the ruling party - to undo the good work done by the government.

"The Opposition takes a shotgun approach; just fires away and hoping one of the bullets may hit a hot button issue which will resonate among voters," Mr Goh said.

He said it uses populist issues - such as reducing the GST and duration of National Service.

Mr Goh responded to his Marine Parade opponents, who said they want to focus on Mr Goh's accountability for the policies introduced when he was Prime Minister.

"In 1991, I fought my first battle as PM -- I won 61 per cent of votes," Mr Goh said.

"Then I put in place certain policies. In 1996, I won 65 per cent of votes. In 2001, my last election as PM, I won 75 per cent of votes.

"So I have been scrutinised by voters and accounted for my actions in Singapore".

Mr Goh said he would speak more at a rally on Saturday.

Category:

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• Singapore
• General
• Election
• GE2011
• Senior
• Minister
• Goh

[keeyk118b]

hao lian. mr goh what happened to the money loaned to indon when you were pm ?? 5 billion lei what happen ?? interest got collect or not ? if so the interest should be used to help singaporeans.

[penguinwee]

He will lose the marine parade to nsp in the next five year. We shall see about that.

[vamtire]

@meyerchamp the election is long over but I will still choose PAP if there are experienced people like Goh Chok Tong,LKY or LHL inside

[meyerchamp]

@amandapyh PAP responsible for CRAP FT POLICY.

[meyerchamp]

@vamtire But you also never realize that PAP also decide alot of WRONG things because they are the only decision makers. Example the FT Policy, which is turning local born Singaporeans lives upside down in everyday life (transport, jobs, social, housing). Do we really need 87 out of 87 MP all be PAP people? All from 1 Gang? Please think carefully.

[1blursotong]

He getting more and more arrogant....few years later maybe he will scold the citizens like his empolyees....or they will just treat this small dot like his land, his property and we are their money cows..squeeze for more money ignoring whether we are happy or not...

[SGE1111]

Yes Opposition is just there to pull the legs of PAP. Hey stop it opposition, let PAP make their decision without obstacles. From increasing ministers' salary to bringing in more talents. Cool...one red dot with so many ppl, so cosy.....Come, the more the merrier...from 4 million to 5 million and moving forward to 6.5 million... Nice!!!!

[vamtire]

@tommy99addams What arrogant?If having mass opposition is good,then look at taiwan,they have 2 parties that are quite equal in strength but the problem is that they always argue and never get things done.In Singapore whenever PAP decides on something,they can do it immediately like if they want to invest in China,then the opposition stop them,it will delay and not get things done,all over the world its like that,you know 50 years ago,Singapore was as bad as the other countries but now its great!

[tommy99addams]

So damn arrogant!

[antsman1959]

Last election, Goh Chok Tong talked about the opposition in Potong Pasir in favor of PAP and Sitoh the candidate.

What Goh talk and how he talk impressed on me a 'small man' not befitting the expected his 'statemanship'.

He is well remembered in my generation with the word 'let things be maket driven' and his wife 'peanut' ...S$650000 peanut!