Landscape of Singapore city in day morning time from Shutterstock.com

With the accelerating tension between Malaysia and Singapore over disputed waters,  I cannot help but think that unity between all of our elected representatives is all important. In view of this, I am heartened to read the statement issued by the Workers’ Party expressing grave concerns over the rising tensions and expressing solidarity with all Singaporeans.

It is important to remember that at this point, the Workers’ Party still has the albatross of a high profile lawsuit against its own town councils hanging around its neck. I would hope that just as the Workers’ Party would like to stand united with all Singaporeans, that the Peoples’ Action Party (PAP) will similarly recognise that party politics aside, the Workers’ Party are members of the government too. At this point, I would hope that all differences be set aside and everyone in power can work together for the good of Singapore.

While the lawsuit is not directly related to the PAP dominated government, the whole saga erupted at the behest of the Housing Development Board (HDB) which is a statutory board – in other words, government affiliated.

Even if the government is removed from the process in paper, is it possible for this whole debacle to have turned into a lawsuit without the government’s sanction? Some have speculated that the lawsuit was potentially motivated to take down the Workers’ Party ahead of the rumoured general elections next year. While there is no hard evidence that this is indeed the case, the government does have a history of taking out defamation suits against opposition politicians.

Friction with our neighbour, Malaysia aside, there are also other issues in Singapore to contend with – such as the rising inequality in Singapore. So much so that the issue of a lack of workers’ rights have been raised in the Australian Parliament! With these arguably more pressing issues in sight, it would perhaps be a good time for the government to put aside differences with opposition parties and focus instead on issues that affect our country as opposed to a seeming dispute between political parties.

Perhaps it might be a good time for the Workers’ Party and the PAP to issue a joint statement of solidarity at this juncture. Whether or not the PAP likes the Workers’ Party, it is a fact that members of both parties collectively form our elected Parliament. Even if they are in the minority, they are still elected by the people. .

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

70-yr-old Singaporean male from SAFRA Jurong cluster confirmed as 10th death from COVID-19 infection

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of a 70-yr-old Singaporean…

Public transport fares up 2.8% by April 2015, public unhappy with Minister

Fares for bus and train rides will go up by 2.8%, or about…

【武汉冠状病毒】结束近三周隔离 本地男子竟确诊

男子在结束隔离后却确诊感染,他曾于确诊前到榜鹅战备军协俱乐部。 根据卫生部昨日的文告,该名26岁男子(第138例),是第83和91例(54岁夫妻)的家属,并曾与第66起患者(神召会恩典堂感染群)近接触。 卫生部透露,男子因知道曾与感染群接触,于2月15日至本月6日期间进行隔离。 他在结束隔离的六日后,曾到过榜鹅战备军协俱乐部,并于同天下午确诊。至于为何在隔离结束后才确诊感染,卫生部并未说明原因,但值得关注的是,目前该病例已超过14天的病毒潜伏期,相当令人关注。 截至本月8日中午12时,本地新增12起确诊病例,其中九位新增病患,与早前在裕廊战备军人协会俱乐部(SAFRA)举行的歌唱班团拜晚宴有关联。 目前该感染群为我国自神召会恩典堂后,第二大感染群,共有30名病患。 本地累计确诊病例也已飙增至150例,仍住院病患多达60人,大多情况稳定或有起色;有九人病况严重,需待在加护病房。 神召会与基督生命堂感染群 上月25日,卫生部宣布调查结果,发现生命堂以及神召会恩典堂感染群的相互关联。 第83和91病例是夫妻。上述夫妻上月19日曾到过生命堂,相信也曾在同日,遇见过两名来自武汉的旅客(第八和第九例)。