http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/02/09...n-white-paper/
Given its more than 90% parliamentary control, the PAP knew it had no problem bull-dozing the Population White Paper through.
However, it probably did not expect such degree of strong heat from the ground. Men in the street were angry, women were unhappy, students were talking about it and the cyber-world was fuming!
A friend even told me that when her husband saw a minister walking towards his direction the other day, her husband waited for the minister to walk to within a close distance from him, then turned his head, pretending to look at another direction, and shouted the 4-letter word, F#@% You! Yes, she was not pleased with her husbands public behaviour, but at the same time she could share his anger on three occasions, their secondary school daughters glasses fell off as a result of being squeezed on-board the MRT train during the morning rush-hours!
It was believed that even the PAPs loyal grassroots organizations were not supportive of the White Paper painting a population of 6.9 million people. AWARE, a womens organization issued a public statement expressing its concern over the governments focus on economic growth rather than the well being of Singaporeans.
While the PAP could not understand why the public had to react with such degree of resentment, it could probably feel the heat from the raging inferno.
Hence, we could see not only the PAP had lined up its MPs as well as old and young ministers to do the sales pitch, it even needed to activate (force may be a better word) retired prime minister and ex-ministers to join in the fire-fighting apart from hoping to cool the ground, it was probably intended to show grassroots members of the other factions within the PAP that the party had closed rank on marketing the Population White Paper.
Why then the ruling party did not invite its octogenarian to deliver lectures in parliament? My guess is that they knew nowadays he was more of a liability than an asset to the party his lecture would likely to add fuel to the hot fire instead!
So did the PAPs hard-selling and offensive advertisements convince Singaporeans on the need to have a 6.9 million population? I honestly do not think so. Instead, I see the prospect of Opposition Camp denying the ruling government a 2/3 majority in the next GE, has never been so good! The Opposition Camp should cherish this mistake of the ruling party and aim to do well in the next general election.
.
Celia Lim
Given its more than 90% parliamentary control, the PAP knew it had no problem bull-dozing the Population White Paper through.
However, it probably did not expect such degree of strong heat from the ground. Men in the street were angry, women were unhappy, students were talking about it and the cyber-world was fuming!
A friend even told me that when her husband saw a minister walking towards his direction the other day, her husband waited for the minister to walk to within a close distance from him, then turned his head, pretending to look at another direction, and shouted the 4-letter word, F#@% You! Yes, she was not pleased with her husbands public behaviour, but at the same time she could share his anger on three occasions, their secondary school daughters glasses fell off as a result of being squeezed on-board the MRT train during the morning rush-hours!
It was believed that even the PAPs loyal grassroots organizations were not supportive of the White Paper painting a population of 6.9 million people. AWARE, a womens organization issued a public statement expressing its concern over the governments focus on economic growth rather than the well being of Singaporeans.
While the PAP could not understand why the public had to react with such degree of resentment, it could probably feel the heat from the raging inferno.
Hence, we could see not only the PAP had lined up its MPs as well as old and young ministers to do the sales pitch, it even needed to activate (force may be a better word) retired prime minister and ex-ministers to join in the fire-fighting apart from hoping to cool the ground, it was probably intended to show grassroots members of the other factions within the PAP that the party had closed rank on marketing the Population White Paper.
Why then the ruling party did not invite its octogenarian to deliver lectures in parliament? My guess is that they knew nowadays he was more of a liability than an asset to the party his lecture would likely to add fuel to the hot fire instead!
So did the PAPs hard-selling and offensive advertisements convince Singaporeans on the need to have a 6.9 million population? I honestly do not think so. Instead, I see the prospect of Opposition Camp denying the ruling government a 2/3 majority in the next GE, has never been so good! The Opposition Camp should cherish this mistake of the ruling party and aim to do well in the next general election.
.
Celia Lim