Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Irony

I really shouldn't blog about this but how could I resist? The GE is throwing up truckloads of gems for me to chew on...such as these...

"I look forward to a mature debate, a clean campaign. Not a dirty campaign, defaming people, saying nonsense or innuendoes. Let's grow up, let's be mature people. Singapore is now 40 years old, no longer in the 1960s or the 1950s. So let's debate issues."
- Khaw Boon Wan, 24th April.

"If the opposition acts like a First World opposition playing by the rules, the Government will return the courtesy. If they behave like hooligans, they must expect to be treated like hooligans."

- MM Lee, 23rd April.

Erm...say again?! No dirty campaigns, no defaming people?! Debate issues?! Such as hooliganism, I suppose?! And by the way, ruling political party ≠government (there are still 2 "opposition" members in the Parliament, if you remember).

"You remove the logo and the name of the party, and it is like the PAP."

- DPM Wong Kan Seng on opposition pamplets promising upgrading, help for poor students, bursaries and the like.

If you go by such immaculate logic, remove the logo and name of party on PAP pamplets and conversely, the pamplets will look like the opposition, wouldn't they? Nobody has a monopoly on ideas.

"This is not a cat and mouse game - it is a serious decision about Singapore's future. Yet they take voters casually. I don't see how this reticence helps them, especially in persuading voters that they are a serious alternative to the PAP."

- PM Lee on the opposition's secrecy over their plans, and refusal to confirm their full slate of candidates.

How long did it take PAP to unveil their manifesto after the opposition had unveiled theirs? Are they taking voters casually too?

"Do Singaporeans need an opposition, do they want an opposition? And if they do not want, then what am I doing here?"

- Low Thia Khiang

How about serving the Hougang community? This single-minded approach harping on having an opposition in the Parliament for the sake of it is a little wrong-headed.

"That is what Sitoh Yih Pin will do for every floor in Potong Pasir."

- SM Goh on PAP's potential Hougang candidate and his election manifesto.

Even if he's not elected?