Busy

Today marks the end of one-third of my holidays.
And I am still...
Busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy... ... ...

But still, since I've less than sufficient time to blog properly, here's a more sane way to increase the number of words in this entry to a thousand.

Yes, I'm not thinking straight and photosynthesis is not lighting up my day.

Chimerical Comics

The parrot that "sabo"

A doomed escape

Fresh Perspectives to everyday life...


Even the innocuous birthday situations are not spared



Unlikely Heros

With more unlikely accidents

And yes, even the touching farewell scene...

From the Perry Bible Fellowship Comics

Holly Holiday

Holiday Plan
- Vote
- Commence on a rigorous exercise regime
No IPPT scheduled for me this year, which means less $200...
- Watch ヒカルの碁(Hikaru no Go) anime
The only board game which I seriously got interested in. Beautifully drawn and written, this anime and manga is definitely a must watch/read.
- Play more online wei qi/Go on Yahoo!
- Successfully pass my (much neglected) piano grade 5 examinations. Gulp.
- Hopefully join the Ridge, NUS Publications (Eisen, are you reading this? :p)
- "Top up" the list of my items on Yahoo! auctions
- Venture into online selling on eBay International *ka-ching!*
- Achieve a decent grade for my special term paper, Physics in Life Sciences
- Delete at least 3GB (or maybe 5GB?) of songs from my computer
- Repair or replace my Creative Zen Mp3 player
- Buy a bag, organizer, shoes... Handphone? Camera?! B&O Earphones??!!
- Read JB Jeyaretnam and Lee Kuan Yew autobiography
- Create a website for my father's company
- Join the NUS badminton interest group in their regular session
- Bask in unadulterated UV pleasures to shed off that unhealthy pale look
- Make this blog look a bit less generic

Election Jibe

Thousands of people attended large rallies of the opposition Workers' party that were pointedly underplayed by the media. The PAP's share of the vote fell to 66 per cent from 75 per cent in 2001. More significantly, in his multi-candidate constituency Lee Hsien Loong was challenged by a group of Workers' party candidates in their twenties and - unusually for a sitting prime minister - did worse than the PAP as a whole.

Mr Lee said his new leadership team would "see Singapore through the next 15 to 20 years", although the electoral mandate is only for five. He may learn that five years can be a long time in politics, even in PAP-ruled Singapore.

Financial Times
May 8, 2006

Heh, and remember Mr Lim Boon Heng's high 80s election hope for Ang Mo Kio GRC? His fateful interview is now immortalized on YouTube.


Credits to SG Rally and Singapore Window

General Election 2006

THE STRAITS TIMES
Headlines (3rd May 2006)
- It was 'all wayang'?
- Gomez lied, facts show that clearly: Kan Seng
- Gomez is a disgrace and liability to WP, says MM
- 'Gomez told me it was just another wayang'
- Do the right thing, George Yeo tells WP

"If, as proposed in our manifesto, our General Election were run by an independent elections commission, then I think they (the PAP) don't have to agonise over all these issues. It would be taken care of by independent people...
If you trace back the chronology, we've never made this a public issue with the Elections Department... We are not the ones that are making a fuss out of this at all. It is them."
Ms Sylvia Lim, Chairman of Workers' Party (WP)

"I will tell the PAP, please don't be grandmother and grandfather. Don't keep on nagging. I have told the press. I have explained. They want me to account for James Gomez. I did. I accounted for it..."
Low Thia Khiang, Secretary-general of WP

THE STRAITS TIMES
Headlines (4th May 2006)
- S'pore big advantage: 'Small software'
- PM: Health-care system one of the world's best, and getting better
- Main hurdle to enter polls is quality: PM
- Tharman: Rich or poor, education here gives best chance to succeed
- Gomez's plan was to fix the Govt: PM
- A crime if Gomez was out to discredit dept: George Yeo

"For the PAP... a better approach now is to turn its attention to the issues that residents are clamouring to know more about. Will their flats be upgraded?"
Chua Lee Hoong

"But the James Gomez matter has drowned out all the other planks in the PAP's campaign. Can't more time and energy also be spent on those issues that will have a more direct impact on my life?"
Sumiko Tan

"I want to cast my vote wisely. I desire to hear a healthy debate of national policies and issues. One might boast that MPs have carried out massive upgrading in one's estate but isn't it the people's money you are using? Holding voters captive, defamatory remarks and bragging of your credentials are do not help Singapore to progress.

I am ashamed that this general election has polarized bloggers and the mass media especially when the latter is construed to be partial (to the PAP). I feel sorry that the ruling party has chosen not to engage with opposition parties on local issues and chosen to announce ostentatiously about upgrading plans. I am bored by the uninspirational topics that the Singapore Democratic Alliance has brought up. I am saddened that the ideals upheld by the Singapore Democratic Party did not resonate with the general audience, with only a minority understanding about civil disobedience.

But I am proud of the Workers' Party. Constructive politics and proposals were systematically spelt out selectively from its 52 page manifesto in their rallies. Although I am disheartened by the local media for not choosing to reveal to the public the slew of proposals suggested by WP, I am encouraged by the overwhelming turnouts for every single WP rally, regardless the location.

Photos courtesy of SG Rally: The Singapore Elections Rally Archive

Come May 6th, some Singaporeans will exercise their chance to vote.
Vote not for the sake of opposition.
Vote not for potential upgrading plans.
Vote not because one party discredits another.
Vote for constructive politics.
Vote for the future of Singapore.
Think before you vote.
Remember, you have a choice."

Kelvin Lim

Rally

Like many other "sua gu" Singaporeans, this is my first political rally I've been to. Compelled to lend my support to the Low Thia Kiang (I lived in Hougang for the earlier half of my life) and since Aljunied GRC was also contested by WP, I accompanied my father on my virgin visit on 30th of April.

With jams stretching along Hougang Avenue 2, 4, 8 etc, it was a nightmare trying to avoid the mysterious surge of traffic. This is the first time I've observed traffic jams in the rather deserted roads of Hougang...





Having to parked around 400 metres from the rally site, we made our way by foot. Upon arrival, all hopes of getting to meet the seasoned Low were dashed. Just attempting to recognize the speaker from the closest distance I could get proved to be an impossible task.




Speaking on issues ranging from means testing in hospitals, rising costs of living, estate upgrading, the lack of level competition of Singapore elections, speeches were punctuated with humour and a generous dose of anti-PAP stabs in Chinese, English and Teochew. Entertaining and even thought-provoking.

However, what struck me most was not the rally per se, but the election coverage of the rally by Channelnews Asia. It is simply no exaggeration when I assert that only 20-30% of the issues covered by WP were reported.

With the James Gomez maelstrom brewing, I urge all to attend your friendly neighbouring opposition rally. You never know what you're missing out on. And if you still harbour the archaic fear that ISC (Internal Security Council) might track you down, think again.

(Can you spot me?)

Partisan Press?

thesundaytimes

Headlines (30th April 2006)

PM: Come clean
Gomez: I'm Sorry
- On the Campaign trail with PM

Page 3
- What keeps a Singapore prime minister awake at night?
- Workers' Party 'more worried about its own future' (Factual claim)

Page 4
- Govt must account to voters, says Low (Alleged claim)
- WP Chief Sylvia Lim defends Aljunied slate

Page 6
- Wong Kan Seng asks:

WHAT SORT OF PARTY IS THE WP?


THE STRAITS TIMES
Headlines (1st May 2006)
- Gomez apology only raises more questions: DPM Wong
- PM Lee: We are tackling rising costs

Page 2
- $70m savings - thanks to NTUC co-ops

Home Headlines
SDP split widens

Page H4
- Sitoh the better - and younger - man, says SM
- On lifts and swimming laps (About lift upgrading and Mr. Chiam swimming 25 laps)
- Chiam slammed for suggesting economic union with Malaysia
- SDP a divided party without credibility, says Khaw
- Second park planned for Sembawang
- Opposition 'piggybacks' on PAP ideas, issues'

Page H6 (On the James Gomez "scandal")

'An issue that cries out for explanation'
(Spanning an amazing 1.5 page!!!)
Still many questions left unanswered: George Yeo

Page H7
Apology sincere, let voters judge: Low (Spanning less than 1/2 page with a picture of a disgrunted Mr Gomez)
Gomez goof-up, or Gomez-gate?

Conclusion:
If you want read about the opinions of the PAP government, consult the Straits Times. If you're remotely interested about alternate views, visit your nearby rally by the opposition parties.

"For an accurate picture, you need to read the newspapers, you need to see what the Government says, what the government documents and figures actually show."
- PM Lee Hsien Long (April 30, Pg 6, the sunday times)

Partisan Press? Ha.