Discord in the WP: yet another resignation
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"A RISING star in the Workers' Party quit the party yesterday in protest over members' right to speak freely on the Internet.
Lawyer and central executive council (CEC) member Chia Ti Lik, who led the WP's East Coast GRC team at the May General Election, said that he was opposed to a new resolution on Internet conduct passed by the party leadership.
The new ruling prevents CEC members from posting comments or statements on the Internet in their own name.
'This is about freedom of expression. Opposition members must be allowed to voice their criticism of the Government's policies and engage in any issue or debate that is of public interest,' said Mr Chia.
One of the WP's youngest leaders, Mr Chia, 32, is the second member in as many weeks to resign from the party.
On Tuesday, another CEC member, Mr Goh Meng Seng, said he quit the WP two weeks ago after creating what he called 'a bad image' for the party with his harsh online postings.
Party leaders met on Tuesday night at WP's Jalan Besar headquarters and passed the Internet resolution.
Mr Chia, who was not at the meeting, was dismayed by the move, saying it further limited the WP's 'scope and pace' of communication with the public.
'Since we often face problems getting our views across in the mainstream press, our only fallback is the Internet. This is a step backwards in public engagement,' he said.
He added that CEC members were now subject to a 'slow and tedious process of clearance' if they wanted to respond to any public issue.
Mr Chia joined the WP in 2004, becoming its assistant organising secretary a year later.
He revealed yesterday that the Internet restrictions were among other frustrations he had with the party leadership over the last six months, including during the polls.
One other issue was manpower. He said: 'During the General Election, we were very short-handed. Many supporters who helped out in East Coast GRC were not even party members. They were our friends and family.'
He added that he did not intend to join another political party any time soon.
Mr Perry Tong, a CEC member and the WP's youth wing president, told The Straits Times he was surprised by Mr Chia's resignation.
As for the WP's new Internet regulation, Mr Tong said he was 'comfortable' with it as the party needed to be cautious about participating in discussions that were 'not always responsible'.
Both the party's secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and chairman Sylvia Lim could not be reached for comment last night."
(Straits Times, 10 Nov)
As the Book of Great Learning states:
'He who desires to rule his nation must first learn to establish his own house' (http://libweb.zju.edu.cn:8080/renwen/JinDian/Ru/Ru.asp?title=%B4%F3%D1%A7%D5%C2%BE%E4)
If the Workers' Party cannot even keep its own leaders together, what hope do they have of trying to government an entire nation? -
when can there be an alternative if there are always discord just when the oppositions starts to get more creditable?
maybe the WHIP is still praticial to keep the house disciplined. -
haiz... ...
I hope these people can still contribute to our country's politics in other ways then...
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Well, at least you know the opposition parties have people who have views of their own and will stand by their convictions.
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have you ever thought that this is "establishing his own house" or getting "his own house in order" ?
as for what kind of order, we don't know yet...
i hope it's not some kind of Machiavellian thing where they crave success so much they become like the MIWOriginally posted by oxford mushroom:As the Book of Great Learning states:
'He who desires to rule his nation must first learn to establish his own house' (http://libweb.zju.edu.cn:8080/renwen/JinDian/Ru/Ru.asp?title=%B4%F3%D1%A7%D5%C2%BE%E4)
If the Workers' Party cannot even keep its own leaders together, what hope do they have of trying to government an entire nation? -
the one thing political chappies fail to realise is that the internet is a double edged sword ....
too often people have this "snipe from the gutter" mentality when it comes to internet "speech" ... it'll all come back to haunt them one day ....
at least some other chappies here are smart enough not to let out their party associations ....
can snipe and flame and call each other names without loosing face and being eased out of the party eh ....
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I reckon it all started off with that episode when one of the forumer who was unhappy with a WP's member's replies in a forum and complained. That triggered the WP to come out with some ruling that limits them so as to appease the general forum public. Hence they weren't happy, and they quit. At least it showcases the dedication they have at what they do, willing to give it all up for what they stand for.
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ah ... convictions ....
of course .... everyone has convictions ....
but remember that not everyone has to support or even like your convictions ...
people can either vote for you, or against you ... -
i would say that once you are a representative of something like a political party, you CEASE to be able to speak in a personal capacity in a public forum...
what any leader of any party says, will become representative of the party...
they have not changed their view on free press.. they have made things so that the party and each member of the party becomes responsible for the party...
irreparable damage can be made to the party if their own leaders do not toe the line of the party and expect those further down to toe the line... -
Why would resignations of this nature be seen as 'discord'?
Chia Ti Lik has at least stood by his beliefs and principles. Since he has obvious disagreements with the new resolution concerning WP's policy on the internet, and evidently was vetoed despite his probable protestations, it simply means the party's line is not his own. Therefore there is no point in pretending to stand united.
Better to seek greener pastures than to accept the party whip.
Such a move shows the willingness to think outside the box and stand firm in one's opinion. The WP allows freedom of expression and the daring to QUESTION party lines that members do not agree with.
Can any such maturity be found in the Ruling Party, where party members have to 'toe the line' and OBEY the party whip without reservation?
Is it any wonder why there are almost no resignations from the White T-Shirt gang given such a compliant atmosphere where the voice of one man reigns supreme? -
no one ever wondered why the MIW never quit or there is such a low turnover...
all have joined the party not to serve but to get a piece of the action... with such mercenary reasons, they'd die before they quit...
a clear example is the Mabok Tongue.. how many times have the MIW used him to come out and defend the indefensible?
i would think that people quitting the party, is a natural thing... if people cannot go in one accord, and are true to themselves, they will walk away...Originally posted by BillyBong:Is it any wonder why there are almost no resignations from the White T-Shirt gang given such a compliant atmosphere where the voice of one man reigns supreme? -
it's amazing how people'd selectively associate persons with parties ....
when that MP and his "elite" dotter said the wrong things, people immediately pinpointed their associations with the pappies .....
and now some when some woppies said the wrong things on the net, it's their "personal opinions and convictions" ? ...
*lubs chin ... -
The tangibles have a way of keeping you in one state of mind, in public.
But I do think Chia and GMS may form their own party one day, hard to see them quitting the scene altogether. Would be good to see a new party akin to a Reform List. -
good riddance to them then ....
what Singapore needs are not more "orators" .... but a group of people who's able to form an alternative front to the pappies ....
if I want to listen to some good grips, I may as well go to the kopitiam, or engage some taxi uncles, right ? ... -
I'm trying to visualise The Taxi Driver's Party. Now that would be a hoot to listen to when it's boring days in the evening.Originally posted by Fatum:good riddance to them then ....
what Singapore needs are not more "orators" .... but a group of people who's able to form an alternative front to the pappies ....
if I want to listen to some good grips, I may as well go to the kopitiam, or engage some taxi uncles, right ? ... -
sigh....they forgot that they need to work as a team and compromise is always needed for a team to work. Everybody has our own view and will standby our convictions. If these people cannot put aside their convictions for the unity of the party, how can we expect them to do anything for the country. We don't vote for them so that they can fulfil their own convictions.Originally posted by charlize:Well, at least you know the opposition parties have people who have views of their own and will stand by their convictions.
It is proven once again, the power of PAP partly comes from a weak opposition.
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Many people are discovering that being an activist is easier than a politician, because all you need is to band together, and not necessarily be elected as a visualised outcome.
It's something new to the scene, but having increased activism and lobbying should provide more dimensions. Voices and opinions are diverse, and not everyone can be a politician. However, that does not mean they should sit down and shut up . -
as much as everyone want alternate voices that speak up for everyone, i guess it got too alternative and the party needed to prioritise their objectives. sadly, this cause some of them to go
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Originally posted by LazerLordz:I'm trying to visualise The Taxi Driver's Party. Now that would be a hoot to listen to when it's boring days in the evening.
the other big nightmare for the PAP is The Elderly Party.
cranky old people with nothing to lose.
and with the increasingly grey population they can do a lot of damamge at the GEs. maybe punch a few more MPs -
Ditzy so serious these days.Originally posted by ditzy:I reckon it all started off with that episode when one of the forumer who was unhappy with a WP's member's replies in a forum and complained. That triggered the WP to come out with some ruling that limits them so as to appease the general forum public. Hence they weren't happy, and they quit. At least it showcases the dedication they have at what they do, willing to give it all up for what they stand for. -
Never mind, SDP will always welcome them one.
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That will be a hoot, but we all know the truth. We never take them seriously, and come the polls, they will get worst than what SDP got this year.Originally posted by LazerLordz:I'm trying to visualise The Taxi Driver's Party. Now that would be a hoot to listen to when it's boring days in the evening. -
It will be a strange way of doing so..Originally posted by the Bear:have you ever thought that this is "establishing his own house" or getting "his own house in order" ?
as for what kind of order, we don't know yet...
i hope it's not some kind of Machiavellian thing where they crave success so much they become like the MIW
"..Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.." (Matthew 12:25) -
Originally posted by BillyBong:
Such a move shows that the WP will never be able to establish a credible government when all it can attract are prima donnas who will not be subject to authority or discipline. Having had a free vote, a basic instrument to settle disputes in democratic societies, and having lost it; they refuse to accept the decision of the majority. Instead, they choose to cut and run.
Such a move shows the willingness to think outside the box and stand firm in one's opinion. The WP allows freedom of expression and the daring to [b]QUESTION party lines that members do not agree with. [/b]
Such ex-leaders of the WP set a bad example for Singaporeans. There will always be disagreements on policies in civil society. It is a mark of a mature democracy that the majority decision should prevail following a fair vote. Unless these persons are alleging that the vote in their own party was rigged in some way, their refusal to accept the majority decision only serves to demonstrate that they are incapable of working as a team. With leaders like these in the WP, there is snowballÂ’s chance in Hell that they can unite the people and make crucial policy decisions for the nation. -
Ya lor. Now, we elect our MPs is not because of their calibre, but we are choosing who is of the lesser evil.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Such a move shows that the WP will never be able to establish a credible government when all it can attract are prima donnas who will not be subject to authority or discipline. Having had a free vote, a basic instrument to settle disputes in democratic societies, and having lost it; they refuse to accept the decision of the majority. Instead, they choose to cut and run.
Such ex-leaders of the WP set a bad example for Singaporeans. There will always be disagreements on policies in civil society. It is a mark of a mature democracy that the majority decision should prevail following a fair vote. Unless these persons are alleging that the vote in their own party was rigged in some way, their refusal to accept the majority decision only serves to demonstrate that they are incapable of working as a team. With leaders like these in the WP, there is snowballÂ’s chance in Hell that they can unite the people and make crucial policy decisions for the nation.