GE 2015 - Vote For A More Vibrant Political Development, Culture And Transparency.

The worst-kept secret has finally been revealed.  The President has issued a Writ of Election - Nomination Day for GE 2015 is 1 September 2015 and Polling Day will be 11 September 2015.

PAP's domination in Singapore politics is evident for the past 50 years.  The PM has just detailed for us the country's achievements in his National Day Rally Speech on 23rd August 2015.  Voters may wish to step back and reflect on how Singapore politics can evolve for our benefit in the following areas:

Political Development - Some people has termed our democracy as "autocratic", "dictatorial", etc. We have Government-created institutions like Nominated Member of Parliament (supposedly championing special public interests, etc.) and Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (losing Opposition Parties' members who garnered the most votes).  Many named them pseudo-Members of Parliament as they do not have powers to vote on certain Bills, etc. Are these measures initiated to maintain political dominance?  Many believe our political development has not kept in step with our economic success.  This has engendered call from the Opposition Parties for a "First World Parliament".

Political Culture - There is no visible culture of give and take in political discussion.  The sledge-hammer of defamation suits against political opponents or critics is not uncommon.  Some people were bankrupted and some had to seek exile overseas.  Will this hard-line approach ever moderate to welcoming more diverse discussions/views and competitive ideas?

Political Transparency - The AHPETC and the People's Association's lapses as reported by the Auditor-General's audit could be better explained to the public.  Each side tried to score political points.  The former issue was duly debated in Parliament and the latter was found to be above board (newspapers reported that the grassroots leader involved (there were monies changing hands and receipts issued and not issued, etc.) later resigned.

Our mainstream media is ranked 153rd position for being a free press.  Its role in educating our people in political education has been inadequate and lacking.  It seemed to be assuming the role of a Public Relations entity of the ruling party.  The next day after the PM NDR Speech on 23 August 2015 the PM's photographs were strategically published in five pages of the newspaper (one photograph on one page).

The media is also criticized for painting the Opposition Parties in a bad light - reports of in-fighting, etc. It is seen by some as the propaganda machine of the ruling party.

The voters are the only ones capable of engineering change in the Singapore polity.  With the Opposition Parties facing an uneven playing field, biased media, etc., it is obvious who are the underdogs.

Cast your vote wisely on Polling Day, 11th September 2015.  If you believe in a more vibrant, fair and democratic society, your rooting for the underdogs is appropriate and paying it forward for our future generation.

TIP - Switch off reading, listening or viewing the mainstream media from now up to Polling Day - there will an avalanche of propaganda from the ruling party.  Go to social media, attend Opposition Parties' Political rallies, etc. to get diversity of perspectives/views, etc.     

What You Should Do From Now Until Polling Day.

It is not a secret anymore. The strong speculation in every one's mind is that 12th September 2015 will be Polling Day for GE 2015.  To help you make a better decision of how you should cast your vote on that day, here are my humble few suggestions:- 

1) "Switch off" reading, hearing or watching reports in the mainstream media regarding the coming GE2015.  If you cannot avoid such an avalanche of propaganda, then treat such reports with a cynical and questioning mind.  Do not forget our media has been rated 153rd position for being "a free press". 

2) I find it remarkable that our mainstream media has morphed to become the PR machinery of the ruling Party.  The incumbents' plans, speeches, moves, etc were faithfully and strategically reported, filmed and projected to achieve the maximum impact; such as who and who is standing in which ward, SMC or GRC. Sometimes you wonder whether "campaigning" or "electioneering" has actually started although the Writ for Election has yet to be issued.

3) Mainstream media reports on Opposition Parties at best are minimal and sketchy.  In some instances such reports are packaged in such a way to put them in a bad light.  Being wary of such tactics by the media the Parties think it is best talking to them less. 

4) You on your part can resort to social media to access a more balanced perspective and diversity of views, etc.  You can go direct to Opposition Parties' dedicated websites or social political  websites such as The Online Citizen, The Middle Ground, Mothership.sg, Inconvenient Questions(IQ) and blogs like 2ECONDSIGHT, My Singapore News, Likedatosocanmeh, etc just to name a few.

5) The ruling Party will leverage on the National Day and SG50 Celebrations to extract maximum advantage for their campaign.  Videos capturing our Pioneer Generation of Leaders' speeches, ideologies, etc. will  be re-broadcast, re-telecast and re-cycle to win back peoples' hearts.  One thing they forget to highlight is the many of our ordinary citizens' co-operative sacrifices, hard work, sweat and tears, etc. which have contributed to the successes of the past 50 years of nation building.

Change is the only constant.  I hope in the next 50 years our Singapore politics will evolve to becoming more democratic, more vibrant, less divisive, less polarizing and more inclusive.  The electorate can only bring this about by casting their votes wisely on Polling Day.

Over to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!