okay maybe the thread title is abit misleading but here goes (this is from wikipedia) :
Merger Issue
The party's program included anti-Malaysia campaigns. It believed that if Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia, the anti-Communist Malaysian government would deal them more harshly than the PAP government in Singapore. In addition, it was believed that the merger was done to serve both the interests of the PAP and UMNO, both of which were extremely anti-Communist (while ironically practising socialist policies) and would cooperate to eliminate 'communism' from the Federation. In the referendum on merger with Malaysia, the Barisan Sosialis called on its supporters to cast blank votes, in which roughly 25% did. However, the PAP effectively ended Barisan's approach by counting all blank votes as a vote toward a loosely federal, autonomous position for Singapore within Malaysia. Thus, they failed to prevent the success of a referendum that approved Singapore's merger with Malaysia.
im 20 this year, i've read about Barisan rallying people to cast blank votes but i never knew PAP went to count the blank votes as something else. needless to say, i feel cheated.
what do u fellas think?
the thread title is not misleading. it is completely wrong.
this section from wikipedia is quite different from what atobe posted, which was from the barisan socialis's secretary-general himself. look for it in dr who's thread,
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Originally posted by sebosebo:okay maybe the thread title is abit misleading but here goes (this is from wikipedia) :
im 20 this year, i've read about Barisan rallying people to cast blank votes but i never knew PAP went to count the blank votes as something else. needless to say, i feel cheated.
what do u fellas think?
Did you read the history about PAP stating that blank votes are considered towards agreeing to merger before the votes were to be casted? Thus, they did not alter the votes at all; it was stated before the vote was cast; the people had a choice.
That said, you should also look at the choices that were presented to the voters... Totally unfair... If I'm not wrong, there was no choice on not wanting to merge with Malaysia.
im not sure if they actually state tht they're gona do that beforehand. but 25% blank votes, the referendum should already be null and void isnt it?
that said yea...it shouldn't be "altered' my bad. sorry.
Originally posted by sebosebo:im not sure if they actually state tht they're gona do that beforehand. but 25% blank votes, the referendum should already be null and void isnt it?
that said yea...it shouldn't be "altered' my bad. sorry.
They did state. But I lazy to look up any references right now... Had one whole thick bounded book of articles on Singapore Politics cuz I took a module on it for interest...
The choices didn't give a choice of not wanting to merge I think... Thus, technically, 75% would have agreed to merge in that case...
Obviously, the referendum is biased, it would be better to have straight forward, yes or no ballot
Actually it doesn't matter whether PAP used any trick to change the voting result. Because eventually Singapore still separate from malaysia after the merge.
What I can't forgive what the singapore government has done in the 陈群� case. really very disappointed of what they did.