Quora Answer: What is Your Opinion on the New Political Party in Singapore, People’s Voice?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What is your opinion on the new political party in Singapore, People’s Voice?”

It is far too early to make a measured, credible judgement of the People’s Voice.  What we have had are vague policy positions such as the proposal to review the hike in water prices, to slash ministerial salaries, and impose a minimum wage.  These are figures drawn in the sand; easily changed when the wind blows.

Another point of consideration, is that a political party with the stated intent of forming a government must convince the electorate that it has the numbers in terms of credible candidates to run, let alone, win the number of GRCs required in a first-past-the-post election.  Of these many potential Members of Parliament, they will need at least twenty or thirty of sufficient calibre to be Parliamentary Secretaries and the various gradations of ministers.  We have seen no such people yet.

Whilst we can applaud the grandiose intent, this party, like the 10 other registered political parties, does not have the capability of coming up with an alternative cogent argument against unpopular and contentious policies, let alone produce alternative policy papers.  In fact, it further splits the Opposition, and dilutes their potential vote share.

I do not see these squabbling political parties coming together as a grand coalition, this Opposition Front.  There are political leaders in that coterie who hate each other more than they oppose the PAP.  They have conflicting policy positions from everything from NS to taxation to military position.  Too many of them want to lead such a motley crew of discounted politicians, and not enough want to subsume their personal ambition for a greater cause.  I remain very sceptical.