GRC and the ?FTMP?: A sad case of political duplicity?
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Before we introduce the FT MP, how about reviewing the (duplicitous) GRC system of elections? (The Parliamentary Elections Act)
Before PAP decides to introduce a FT MP scheme (dun pretend, U know what the abbrv.'FT' means), lets free minority political representation of the duplicitous GRC system of elections, as PAP ceaselessly invites more and more foreigners to run our little country ...
(Old story, 'Former NTUC (Asst.) director Amy Cheong is an Australian citizen')
By extension, I wonder if under the PAP's talent search scheme such as 'GRCs make it easier to find top talent: SM' ST, 27 June 2006, SM GohCT: "Without some assurance of a good chance of winning at least their first election, many able and successful young Singaporeans may not risk their careers to join politics" due to the lack of able and successful young Singaporeans we should also soon see more FTs in positions of authority [see in quotes 'Can PRs be judges?']- a FT Chief Justice, FT Police men, FT Army, FT Admin Service perhaps even FT MPs- it doesn't take too much stretch of the imagination what the PAP would do, how about a FT SS for Singapore, would make SG more stable and prosperous under a 'united' strong ruling party... (Perhaps, using the Workers' Party of (North) Korea as its template of 'success').
In Quotes: 'Can PRs be judges?':The Straits Times; Published on Apr 15, 2013; My point
Can PRs be judges?
IN THE ongoing trial of law professor Tey Tsun Hang, it was mentioned that he is a Malaysian national and a Singapore permanent resident ("CPIB used strong-arm tactics, says prof"; April 2). It was also stated that he is a former district judge in the Singapore judiciary system.
Some of my friends in the legal industry said they were not aware that a PR can be a judge here. As far as they know, only a Singaporean can be a judge.
Can the Ministry of Law clear up the issue?
Joshua Selvakumar
Copyright © 2013 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.
My pointPerhaps by removing the anti-competitive and quite unnecessary GRC system of election from statute, there can be more competition amongst all political parties through fully single seat parliamentary elections so that only the best candidates can win. If the PM loses his own MP seat due to the opposition scheming to usurp him from his seat, then he doesn't deserve to be PM. In anycase, I think that SG has reasonably safe hands in DPM Tharman and Mr Heng SK currently if not temporarily.
And what about the sacred minority representation issue originally legitimizing the GRC system of elections?- PM Lee has answered his own question... the NMP and subsequently NCMP scheme was meant to revive the almost extinct opposition voice in parliament (or notional semblance of such), it succeeded overwhelmingly. A simple tweak of rules under the NCMP could now introduce the new NC(RM)MP scheme- the Non-constituency Racial Minority MP scheme.
Under the NC(RM)MP scheme, the current system of 'guaranteeing' 15 minority MPs in parliament will be maintained (Wiki: '(GE)07May2011. There are fifteen GRCs'). Minority MPs will, like all other candidates, all stand as single seat candidates, however, any short fall of minority status candidates elected will allow the remainder best performing loosing candidates to take up NC(RM)MP seats such that no fewer than 15 registered racial minority MPs (or such number deemed appropriate) shall be represented in the SG parliament. Alongside the scrapping of the duplicitous GRC system of elections, the NCMP scheme shall also be scrapped (The NMP scheme can continue its circus act although with liberalization, more entertainment value is expected).
GRC system duplicitous really?
Tell me, if PAP were really sincere about racial minority representation, notwithstanding PAP's paranoia about the adverse outcomes of by-elections, what other reason could there be for the Parliamentary Elections Act, Section 24 [source]:
(2A) In respect of any group representation constituency, no writ shall be issued under subsection
(1) for an election to fill any vacancy unless all the Members for that constituency have vacated their seats in Parliament.
Thus, having passed elections, there is basically no interest whatsoever placed upon whether or not the minority race MP is indeed seated in parliament (he could die/ be sacked by the PAP but the show goes on like nothing happened). Since this is a stumbling block to PAP of the GRC system of elections whereby if minority rep. were really adhered to, then the PM might have to undergo by-elections if the essential member of the GRC were to have his seat vacated.
If the problem were to be determining when a NC(RM)MP should be allowed to have his vote in a matter counted, then surely PAP again has the correct answer as it currently decides when the whip in Parliament is raised (only 3 times in 4 decades before 2002[Lift the Whip]) so (by inverse logic perhaps) perhaps by default, NC(RM)MPs should only be banned from voting 3 times in 4 decades- every issue has a racial slant if U think hard enough... anyway, for now, unlike FT (Foreign Talent) judges and Ast Directors at NTUC, MPs are still all, by statute, Singaporean- males of whom have served NS with other races so they should not be too parochial in their thinking and 15 really isn't a majority in an 87seat (or more) parliament- by any count.
So dear Mr PM Lee, before you choose to introduce FT MPs, please consider my NC(RM)MP scheme, it's do wonders for your reputation if you can even be bothered to read it; really.
Written by a Singaporean who wants his humble vote to count, even if it means spending time researching and forgoing whatever distractions life might bring...
No, no, no... FTs must not be allowed to vote in Singapore parliamentary elections.
Perhaps the best guarantee of PAP winning elections is a high chance of not winning, otherwise to the Workers' Party of (North) Korea here we become!
Rgds all,
B.C.
[Pict source: Why people should not hate Tin Pei Ling....]
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[pict source: HDB as a political weapon]
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Singapore, politics, GRC, racial minority, racial harmony, leadership, democracy, poverty, dictatorship, autocracy,