• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Goh Meng Seng calls PSP and WP names and hints about having 3-cornered fights

by Correspondent
20/06/2020
in Politics
Reading Time: 5 mins read
21

Goh Meng Seng in Hong Kong

Goh Meng Seng, the secretary-general of People’s Power Party (PPP), posted a Facebook message on Thursday (18 Jun), saying that his alliance of smaller parties “may go into a big clash with PSP”. Progress Singapore Party (PSP) is currently led by former Member of Parliament, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, who nearly beat Dr Tony Tan during the 2011 Presidential Election.

He said that politics is not about size of the party nor the number of candidates fielded but sending the “right” people into Parliament.

“We must ensure people we have sent into parliament, regardless which party are they from, must have the intellect, talent or expertise to bring onto the table of public debate and discourse in Parliament!” he said.

He went on to explain why he stood by the side of Kenneth Jeyaratnam, the secretary-general of Reform Party.

He said, “I chose to stand by the side of Kenneth Jeyaratnam not because he is son of JBJ. It is because I have read what he had written over the years and apparently, he knows his stuff well, even though I may not agree 100% with his ideas or points altogether. I just know that he will have something to offer to this dysfunctional Parliament of ours, to revive it, strengthen it into a stronger faculty of Democracy.”

Goh took the opportunity to criticise PSP, arguing that PSP has not made known their beliefs, ideas and ideals to the public. “How many of them spend most of their waking hours in thinking about public policies? Have they put up any views or opinions to scrutinize the various PAP (People’s Action Party)’s policies?” he asked. But actually, back in Feb, PSP has already announced some of its policy proposals publicly.

Goh also said that if it wasn’t for him and his smaller allied parties “hammering PAP away” in GE2011 on the inadequate public infrastructure in view of huge population increases, many things would not have happened like:

  • New hospitals would not have sprung up quickly
  • MRT networks won’t be built in such a great speed
  • New HDB flats won’t be built in such large numbers
  • Noise Barriers along MRT lines within HDB estates would not be installed

“The list goes on,” he added. “It is a collective effort of all of us hammering PAP effectively in GE2011, that makes a very significant difference to Singapore over the past decade… Imagine what more we could have done if all of us are voted into Parliament!”

Then, Goh started to indulge in name-callings, “We are DEFINITELY NOT PAP 2.0, so to speak, or just a passive ‘Co-Driver’ who may fall asleep as well from time to time.”

Even though he didn’t mention the name of the opposition parties, it was clear that he was referring to PSP and Workers’ Party (WP).

Dr Tan Cheng Bock was formerly with the PAP. He was the MP of Ayer Rajah from 1980 to 2006. As for the ‘Co-Driver phrase, it came from WP chief Low Thia Khiang mentioning during 2011 GE that his party’s role in Parliament is likened to that of being the co-driver of a bus. “A co-driver is there to slap the driver when he drives off course or when he falls asleep or drives dangerously,” Low said.

Concluding his message, Goh alluded that there would be 3-cornered fights involving his alliance. He said, “While it is regrettable that our Alliance may inevitably walk into 3 corner fights but in the Spirit of Democracy, that’s the Contest of Ideas and Ideals. Even if it is a 3 Corner Fight, we will fight it gentlemanly. Do not need to push blame on who is at fault because no one is at fault.

Goh Meng Seng, former party member from WP and NSP

Goh first joined politics through WP in 2001 and actually became a WP CEC member subsequently. He first contested in 2006 GE in Aljunied GRC. He was part of WP’s “A team”, contesting together with Sylvia Lim. The team garnered 43.9% of the votes, finished as one of the top performers among the oppositions.

Shortly after 2006 GE, he was embroiled in an Internet forum “brawl”, with mudslinging and name-calling aplenty (‘PPP Secretary-General: I will not support WP anymore‘, 17 Oct 2019).

A netizen subsequently sent a letter to WP, complaining about Goh’s unruly conduct online. He commented that Goh was narrow-minded to have called a forum participant “scheming” and “lacking in integrity” after “losing an argument”.

Defending his actions, Goh told the media at the time, “What I said could have been harsh but you have to look at it in context. People who argue with me will find me argumentative. But since his agenda is questionable, I am not going to engage him in discussions any more.”

Following the online fracas, Goh resigned to take responsibility for tarnishing the reputation of WP. In fact, had he not involved in the online squabble and continued to stay in WP, he would likely have been fielded again in the following 2011 GE in Aljunied and win the election, to enter Parliament with Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang together. Goh certainly missed his chance.

In any case, after leaving WP, he joined NSP to become its Secretary-General. He contested in 2011 GE in Tampines GRC but still lost to then unpopular PAP Minister Mah Bow Tan. He subsequently left NSP and in 2015, he suddenly announced that he was starting a new political party called the People’s Power Party. He contested in 2015 GE, garnering only 23.1% in Chua Chu Kang GRC.

After 2015 GE, he returned to continue to live with his family in Hong Kong.

In an interview with asianthinkers.com, he said he likes Hong Kong “because the air smells differently”. He also praised Hong Kong’s democratic core values saying that they are very much similar to those he embraced. He even got his daughter to study in Hong Kong. “The Chinese education system is much more advanced that in Singapore. I am happy here,” he said at the time.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.
Tags: Goh Meng SengPPP

Related Posts

Current Affairs

Goh Meng Seng proclaims his party not a ‘sinking ship’

22/07/2020
Politics

PPP’s Goh Meng Seng: We will be back!

14/07/2020
Current Affairs

GE2020: Final Count Results

11/07/2020
Current Affairs

GE2020 Results: PAP wins MacPherson SMC with 71.74% of the vote

11/07/2020
Current Affairs

GE2020: Sample Count Results

10/07/2020
Politics

National Solidarity Party lets People’s Power Party run for MacPherson SMC

27/06/2020
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
21 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Rescuers battle cold as Turkey-Syria quake toll hits 5,000

Rescuers battle cold as Turkey-Syria quake toll hits 5,000

07/02/2023
Hazel Poa proposes singles be allowed to buy 3-room HDB flats

Hazel Poa proposes singles be allowed to buy 3-room HDB flats

07/02/2023
Jamus Lim: House prices are too High

Jamus Lim: House prices are too High

07/02/2023
Ministers get away with excuses that ordinary citizens cannot hope to get away with

Ministers get away with excuses that ordinary citizens cannot hope to get away with

07/02/2023
Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth

Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth

07/02/2023
国会内庆妇女节 女议员获赠鲜花

15 companies barred from hiring new foreign employees after serious safety lapse found at worksite

07/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

India’s Adani Enterprises shares rocket 20%, trading suspended

07/02/2023
China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot

China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot

07/02/2023

Trending posts

Cognizant India transfers staff to work in Singapore as recently as this year

Local IT grads can’t find jobs while engineers constantly transferred from India to work in SG under CECA

by Correspondent
05/02/2023
108

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
48

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
26

...

No response from Josephine Teo on whether Mediacorp has been instructed to stop coverage of SMT circulation scandal

No response from Josephine Teo over alleged blackout of coverage by Mediacorp over SMT circulation scandal

by Terry Xu
06/02/2023
12

...

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Japanese-Canadian junior high school girl breaks national record with 3km in 9:02 mins

“I want my normal life back,” Sherry Drury withdraws from National Junior High School Tournament due to overheated public attention

by Yee Loon
06/02/2023
3

...

June 2020
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« May   Jul »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz