Why, George Yeo, Why?

Foreign Minister George Yeo is one the Singapore leaders I respect the most, which is why I am particularly disappointed. He held a press conference yesterday, together with his Aljunied GRC PAP members and started slamming the Work...ers’ Party.

If he was slamming them on the basis of policies, that’s perfectly understandable. But personal attacks? Come on Mr Yeo, you are better than that. At the nomination day speech, he had graciously labelled his opposition as ‘worthy’ opponents. Now, perhaps the heat has really gotten to him.

Why did he have to say all that he said yesterday?

He said the difference between the Hougang and Aljunied wards is “Stark. STARK.” He further said that Low Thia Khiang has “abandoned” voters in Hougang who voted for him. Not wanting to feel left out, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance, said that Low Thia Khiang has not been transparent in his town council dealings in Hougang.

Now Mr Low has replied in detail to that during his rally speech, do go to www.wp.sg for the whole transcript. Now, I have a few questions of my own for the Aljunied team.

1) Mr Yeo, since you claim that Mr Low has abandoned his voters in Hougang, can I ask: has Dr Maliki ‘abandoned’ his voters in Sembawang GRC? Did Mr Lim Swee Say ‘abandon’ his voters by coming to East Coast? Has Dr Faishal ‘abandoned’ his voters in Chai Chee? Did Mr Baey Yam Keng ‘abandon’ his Tanjong Pagar grassroots people by coming to Tampines? If you answer yes, then I will agree with you, that Mr Low too has abandoned his voters. If not however, I would like to ask: why the double standards? Somehow, when the PAP does this, it’s ‘strategic’ but when Mr Low does it, he is ‘abandoning’ his voters. And Mr Low has already explained why he has done so. In great detail.

2) Mr Yeo, if the difference between the wards is “stark”, again I ask, whose fault is it? Is it due to Mr Low’s incompetence? Or is it because of the PAP not being fair to the taxpayers of Hougang by not giving them the same benefits that PAP wards are entitled to? Please answer this, Sir: voters want and deserve to know.

3) Mrs Lim, you had asked Mr Low to be transparent, which is a fair request. Now he has already done so, it’s my turn to ask; can you be transparent and tell us, in the capacity of Second Finance Minister, how much reserves does Singapore have? And how much of Singaporeans’ money have been lost through the losses of GIC and Temasek Holdings? Can you be transparent, Mrs Lim?

4) Mrs Lim, according to Mr Low in his reply, the reports that you have asked for have been circulated to each Member of Parliament. Can I ask, did you get a copy of the report and read it? If yes, then why did you still have to ask this? And if it is for clarification purposes, why now, days before the election? Why not in Parliament?

5) Mr Zainul, you did not say much at the press conference. Can I know, are you comfortable with these tactics employed by your team-mates? Because this is not the Mr Zainul I know. Then again, this is not the Mr Yeo I know, so I am curious as to what your personal dispositions are.

6) Miss Cynthia Phua, what is the update with regards to the low-IQ boy who slammed your door with a chair leading to him being arrested by the police? Has he been charged? Does he have a police record now? Can you please clarify Ma’am?

7) PAP Aljunied Team, the team has 2 Ministers, 1 Senior Minister of State and future Speaker of Parliament, 1 potential flag-bearer; so why did the PM have to campaign for your team? Surely with such an array of talent, you could fight your own battles? It is hard enough for the WP that they do not have the help of grassroots organizations and the carrots dangled by the ruling party: now they have to go up against the very top of the ruling leadership as well? Honourable Minister Yeo, I plead with you and your team: please, please do not make Singapore elections be about personal attacks. Singaporeans have a colossal amount of respect with you, so please do not let that respect be eroded.