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Where to, opposition?

The opposition parties ought to reorganize themselves, revamp their image and offer better proposals.

Published

16 years ago

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Aloysius Foo

The opposition parties must look within, rather than outside

At the start of 2009, TOC published an article “The opposition in 2009 – time to get united”, and the writer Mr Andrew Loh expressed his desire for a more united opposition to ‘speak for them (Singaporeans)’. Coincidentally, on 7 February, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is organizing a forum “Opposition – Where To?”, and they are inviting opposition parties as well as the public. Yet Mr Loh’s wish will remained unfulfilled.

The other opposition parties, the Workers’ Party (WP), the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and the  National Solidarity Party, are not sending formal representatives, citing a variety of reasons (or no reason), from having to attend grassroots events to work commitments overseas. The opposition may not be united, but their most serious flaw is a lack of political viability.

 “Political viability” can refer to “a capability to develop and expand; ability to influence; practicality and utility”. Political parties, especially the opposition, must be able to develop and expand like a business organization – increasing their membership, greater scope and focus of activities and more importantly, marketable products: their policies. The WP proved its confidence and leadership in the 2006 elections by presenting a series of young candidates, who looked similar to the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) and attracted more than its fair share of mainstream media attention. Their ability to renew its leadership smoothly is a sign of internal strength, surely an essential component for growth.

However, the performance of the remaining parties has been dismal. The SDP’s secretary-general, Dr Chee Soon Juan, has a stained trail of civil disobedience acts, imprisonments, defamation suits and electoral losses behind him. While the SDP is still surviving, it suffers from a reputation ruined beyond repair, as most Singaporeans are averse to Dr Chee’s confrontational tactics, and remain skeptical of the SDP’s goals. This is hindering their potential for growth. It may attract a small group of hardcore supporters, but simply cannot move beyond that, if it wishes to succeed politically.

Listen to us, please?

Next, political parties must have the ability to influence the public or the governing party, and that means achieving a degree of credibility or authority, such that people will sit up and listen. Of the major opposition parties, it seems none can claim to be an expert on issues such as economics, healthcare or education, though they have their respective stands. While they have their party manifestos outlining their visions for everything relevant, they have failed to influence the public or the government. Part of the reason is unfair media coverage, but the opposition parties have themselves to blame for poor proposals too.

The two long-serving opposition MPs, the WP’s Mr Low Thia Khiang and the SDA’s Mr Chiam See Tong, have mainstream media publicity for challenging government policies and offering alternatives. However, while Mr Low has built up a credible ‘alternative party’ through leadership renewal and internal organization, Mr Chiam has allowed the SDA to stagnate. Little comes from the SDA, despite it being an opposition alliance of four parties initially, now three. The SDP has a long wish-list, including its recent alternative Budget, which is economically unsound and unsustainable. The opposition parties must do more to develop their credibility, if they wish to influence the public.

Finally, opposition parties must be of utility to the electorate, appealing to a wide spectrum of voters to win seats, as political power is ultimately granted at the ballot box. The name of the WP is a misnomer; it does not directly represent workers and its present leadership is mostly drawn from the professional class. However, judging from the 2006 elections, it has some appeal from the population, accounting for its status as the best-performing opposition party. While the SDA only won one seat, it drew comparable results in the GRCs and SMCs. Only the SDP did not perform well, and one of its leaders, Ms Chee Siok Chin, challenged the validity of election results in court.

Only young ones need apply

Though none of the opposition parties managed to capture the ‘big one’ in the previous election, the WP was surprisingly close, despite the presence of Mr George Yeo, a heavyweight minister. The WP has sworn to continue ‘working the ground’, and its efforts will be seen in the next election.

It has been noted many times that the next election will have two significant changes – more than half of the electorate will be born after independence, and New Media will have changed substantially by then, even in a space of just 2 years. Presently, only the SDP has made good use of New Media to publicize itself, but it seems to be more interested in reaching out to Barack Obama or showing off its leaders in court trials.

Ideally, the opposition parties should create a heavy Net presence using social networking tools, podcasting, videos and blogging. The Internet costs little, and generates much publicity. If directed properly, it may force the reluctant mainstream media to pick up the news. Furthermore, it appeals to the younger voters who are more IT-savvy and willing to read/hear/watch alternative news.

The opposition parties should take the lead of the WP by renewing their leadership and recruiting fresh and young members. They should take care to pick young leaders who may resemble PAP candidates in some aspects, and most importantly, appeal to most Singaporeans. These Young Turks must be able to create credible and relevant proposals, if they are to influence voters. Yet doing all these will be tough, if the party itself lacks strong leadership and good organization.

While the opposition parties lack political viability, they are not at the point of no return. The WP has poised itself as the leading opposition party, with anticipations of a better performance in the next election. If other parties were to stand a chance, they ought to reorganize themselves, revamp their image and offer better proposals. Unless they do so, they will head for political stagnation or worse, obliteration, no matter how much opposition unity they talk of.

The writer also blogs at: http://www.eternal-hap.blogspot.com/

———–

The SDP-organised forum, Opposition – Where To?, will be held as follows:

Date: 7 Feb 09, Saturday
Time: 2-5 pm
Venue: Copthorne Orchid Hotel, 214 Dunearn Road
Admission: Free

 ———-

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Indonesia

Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesia chapter after harassment allegations

The Miss Universe Organization severs ties with Indonesia franchise due to harassment claims. Malaysia edition canceled.

Women allege body checks before pageant. Investigation launched. Safety prioritized.

Indonesia winner to compete in November finale. Height requirement controversy.

Published

1 year ago

on

14 August 2023

By

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — The Miss Universe Organization has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, it announced days after allegations of sexual harassment, and will cancel an upcoming Malaysia edition.

In the complaint, more than a half dozen women said all 30 finalists for Miss Universe Indonesia were unexpectedly asked to strip for a supposed body check for scars and cellulite two days before the pageant’s crowning ceremony in Jakarta.

Their lawyer said Tuesday that five of the women had their pictures taken.

“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, ethics, or expectations,” the US-based Miss Universe Organization posted Saturday night on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

It said that it had “decided to terminate the relationship with its current franchise in Indonesia, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.”

It thanked the contestants for their bravery in coming forward and added that “providing a safe place for women” was the organization’s priority.

Jakarta police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said Tuesday that an investigation into the women’s complaint has been launched.

The Indonesia franchise also holds the license for Miss Universe Malaysia, where there will no longer be a competition this year, according to the New York-based parent organizer.

In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, Indonesia franchise director Capella denied involvement in any body checks.

“I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the process of organizing Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking,” she wrote.

She added that she is against “any form of violence or sexual harassment.”

The Jakarta competition was held from 29 July to 3 August to choose Indonesia’s representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

Miss Universe said it would make arrangements for her to compete in the finale, scheduled for November in El Salvador.

This year’s Indonesia pageant also came under fire for announcing a “significant change in this (year’s) competition guidelines” with the elimination of its minimum height requirement after it had crowned a winner.

In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization said it wanted to “make it extremely clear that there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide.”

— AFP

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Malaysia

A Perodua service centre in Kuantan, Malaysia went viral for its strict dress code, Perodua responds

A dress code for vehicle servicing? A Malaysian car brand’s service centre dress code signage has puzzled netizens, raising queries about the need for attire rules during a routine service.

The manufacturer responded with an official statement after a flurry of comments, seeking to clarify and apologize.

Published

1 year ago

on

10 August 2023

By

MALAYSIA: A dress code signage positioned at a service centre belonging to a prominent Malaysian car brand has sparked bewilderment among Malaysian netizens, who question the necessity of adhering to attire guidelines for a simple vehicle servicing.

The signage explicitly delineates clothing items that are deemed unsuitable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, abbreviated pants, and distressed jeans.

The car manufacturer swiftly found itself flooded with comments from both inquisitive and irked Malaysian netizens. This surge in online activity prompted the company to issue an official statement aimed at clarifying the situation and extending an apology.

In a post that gained significant traction on the social media platform, politician Quek Tai Seong of Pahang State, Malaysia, shared an image to Facebook on Monday (7 Aug).

The image showcased a dress code sign prominently displayed at a Perodua Service Centre in Kuantan. Within the post, Quek posed the question: “Is this dress code applicable nationwide, or is it specific to this branch?”

The signage reads, “All customers dealing with Perodua Service Kuantan 1, Semambu, are requested to dress modestly and appropriately.”

Adding visual clarity to these guidelines, the sign features illustrative graphics that explicitly outline clothing items deemed unacceptable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, short pants, and ripped jeans.

Delineating the specifics of the dress code, the signage stipulates that male visitors are expected to don shirts accompanied by neckties, opt for long pants, and wear closed shoes.

Conversely, female visitors are advised to don long-sleeved shirts, full-length skirts, and closed-toe footwear.

Perodua’s dress code sparks online uproar

Following the rapid spread of the post, Perodua’s official Facebook page found itself inundated with comments from both intrigued and frustrated Malaysian netizens, all seeking clarifications about the newly surfaced dress code policy.

Amidst the flurry of comments, numerous incensed netizens posed pointed questions such as, “What is the rationale behind the introduction of such regulations by the management? We demand an explanation.”

Another netizen expressed their dissatisfaction, arguing against the necessity of the rule and urging Perodua to take inspiration from the practices of other 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts, and Survey) automotive dealerships.

A concerned Facebook user chimed in, advocating for a more lenient stance, asserting that attempting to dictate customers’ clothing choices might not be in the company’s best interest.

Someone also commented in an angry tone, “Oi what is this? Going there for car service, not interview or working, right.”

As the discourse unfolded, it became evident that while some inquiries carried genuine weight, others chose to inject humor into the situation, playfully remarking, “If I wanted to buy a Myvi, I should buy or rent a formal attire first.”

“I sell economy rice at a hawker centre, I have never worn a long sleeve shirt and a tie… I guess I will not buy a Perodua car then.”

“I guess they will not serve those who wear short pants.”

Perodua addresses dress code controversy

As reported by Chinese media outlet Sin Chew Daily News, the manager of Kuantan’s Perodua Service Centre had acknowledged that the images on the dress code signage were misleading.

In response, the manager divulged that discussions had transpired with the head office, leading to the prompt removal of the signage to prevent any further misconceptions.

The manager clarifies, “We do encourage visitors to adhere to the dress etiquette, but we won’t go to the extent of restricting their choice of attire.”

He also revealed that currently, no complaints have been directly received from the public.

However, feedback from certain customers was relayed through Perodua’s agents.

Perodua also released an official statement by chief operating officer JK Rozman Jaffar on Wednesday (9 Aug) regarding the dress code on their official Facebook page.

The statement stated the dress code etiquette is not aligned with their official guidelines and they are currently conducting an official investigation on the matter followed by corrective measures to avoid the same incident from happening.

Perodua also extends its apologies for any inconvenience caused.

 

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