You're never too early for politics

Although the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee ("EBRC") was formed 2 months ago, its formation was not disclosed until questions were posed by 2 MPs in Parliament on Monday, 13 July 2015. 

Once the EBRC report is published, parliament may be dissolved anytime soon. The EBRC is chaired by the Secretary to Prime Minister and will consider the population shifts and housing developments since the last boundary delineation exercise. 

The re-drawing of boundaries for every election has become part of the rules of political contest in Singapore. This has been the subject of much political debate. The main accusation is that it tilts the playing field in favour of the ruling party. Being a sports nation, perhaps a sports analogy will be useful. With the EBRC, we are seeing a sportsman who is competing with his team and unilaterally laying out the playing fields. He also decides on the timing of the competition and how many players for each field. 

Now that the EBRC has been formed, the task to redraw the electoral boundaries have begun. Based on past elections, the completion of this task may take up to four months and the re-drawing will have an impact on where and how potential candidates will contest in the elections. 

Once the report is published, parliament may be dissolved and a writ of election issued even within a day. All these uncertainties which favour the ruling party do stand in the way of healthy and constructive politics and it is hoped that there would be changes to improve the electoral system to make it a more level playing field that is imbued with both the spirit of sportsmanship and fair-play.

Politics has the power to close one's minds instead of opening them. For politics to continue to serve the purpose of the larger good and not become a tool of unsavoury politics, participation especially from those who are truly concerned about social justice and equality, is instrumental. Age is no barrier. You're never too early for politics. Only too late. 

Come join me in my journey to make Singapore a better place. Email to me at happylivingsg@gmail.com with your name, age and contact number, so that I can keep you posted on my upcoming walkabout at Whampoa SMC and if you are free, just join me and serve the residents together. 

My Choice - Whampoa SMC

Today 14 July 2015, marks my last day as a member of NSP. Early in the morning, I sent a text to the party's President to bid him farewell and to wish him and the party well. He responded cordially with his good wishes.

Since stepping down as Secretary-General of NSP, I have been invited by other political parties to join them. Unfortunately, I had to politely decline each of their kind offer. At the breaking-of-fast dinner held at the Islamic Restaurant this evening, attended by representatives of the various alternative parties, I was interviewed by the media and press, and they were interested to know my plans.

I have already made up my mind to go independent and informed the reporters of my intention to contest in Whampoa, one of the places where I have been regularly visiting to do volunteer work in the past years. To some my friends in politics, both the idea of going independent and disclosing my choice of ward to contest in the next election so soon were against conventional political wisdom. But, why should that always be the case? If they earnestly wish to improve the electoral system, they must be ready to challenge conventional wisdom and think out of the box. 

 

I was asked if I was concerned about three-corner fights. This seems to be a common worry for potential candidates and the voters. Again, my thoughts are quite different. I feel that voters are entitled to make their choices and to decide who to vote for without interference. With closed-door negotiations to avoid multi-corner fights, the voters' choices become limited to only those who are allowed to contest by private treaty. That seems to run against the very idea of an open democratic system.

In any event, for a maturing democracy, voters should not be afraid of making choices. If the voters' objective is not to dilute the votes for the alternative party candidates by them agreeing not to engage in three-corner fights, the voters themselves will unwittingly stifle the development of a truly multi-party political system. The voters need to find the courage to face the ballot box just as much as the candidates themselves.

Ultimately, it will be the voters who will decide the outcomes in every election. May the voters not only have the courage to choose but also the wisdom to know how.

Trolleys full of old cardboards

They have become part of our social landscape. They are seen pushing their trolleys full of old cardboards with their backs bent and attracting sympathy from onlookers. These rugged old folks have recently become the focus of a group of young people who are interested to know more about them.

Photo Credit: Tan Chuan-Jin

For years now, these old folks have been plying their trade, collecting cardboxes and selling them, and Why do they have to do it? Some observers speculate that these folks collect cardboxes just for the money. Others think they do it out of boredom. Well, they are all correct.

Photo Credit: Gilbert Goh

I have met many of them and spoken to them. There is a small number who do it out of boredom. These folks are already receiving some financial aid from the CDC or Comcare but would rather spend their time collecting cardboard. The majority, however, do it to make some money.

But there are many more old folks that I have come across who sit alone in the void decks and open spaces, often doing nothing at all. They are the lonely old folks who seem to have nothing to look forward to and wither their time away in loneliness. Whenever I stop to speak with them, they have so much to share with me and are happy to know that someone cares enough to listen to what they have to say.

We will all grow old one day. Then, will we also be pining for someone to talk to us like these lonely old folks?