NSP doing damage to its own reputation

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http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/21...wn-reputation/

NSP doing damage to its own reputation


August 21st, 2015 |
Author: Contributions




NSP during an outreach event


The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has announced its intention to contest in
the upcoming elections in MacPherson SMC, in what looks to be a three-way fight
against the Workers’ Party (WP) and the People’s Action Party (PAP). One may
feel that MacPherson residents should welcome this move as it provides them with
an added choice to select someone they deem most suitable in running their
estate and to speak on national issues.

However, the talk in town is about NSP’s “attack”
on WP. NSP’s position appears to be that WP should “give up” MacPherson SMC in
return for NSP not competing in Marine Parade GRC, where NSP previously
contested in 2011, but lost. NSP says it is keen to compete in MacPherson SMC
as it is an area where “considerable outreach has been done prior to the 2011
General Elections”. The party also claims to have received positive pledges of
support from residents (see their statement here).

Is WP behaving like a bully? From my perspective, no. This is because:

• WP has gained a foothold in Aljunied. It makes sense for them to continue
  the momentum, applying a strategy of “geographical domination” within the
  East.
• It makes for manageable and efficient running of the town council if they
  were to win the GRCs/SMCs contested in the East.
• They have been actively recruiting new candidates in the past four years and
  have been able to attract high-calibre individuals.
• In Parliament, WP MPs have consistently brought up issues of national
  importance. However, their disproportionate number vis-à-vis the number of PAP
  MPs means most of the policies debated are passed despite objections
  raised.
• Apart from the AHPETC controversy, they are well established in the
  arena.
• WP has, from the start, made clear the GRCs/SMCs they will be contesting in
  and the party is standing by what it has declared.

Singaporeans are generally conservative. They do not vote for the opposition
just for the sake of it. They look at a candidate’s background, charisma, how
well they connect with the people on the ground, and what are the issues these
candidates intend to bring up in Parliament.

NSP’s reputation, meanwhile, is suffering.

They have had eight resignations of Secretary-Generals over the years, with
Hazel Poa being the latest. Steve Chia was implicated in a scandal involving his
domestic worker in 2003. The party seems to have issues in succession planning,
and the new candidates they have attracted do not live up to the expectations of
many.

Here are my thoughts on NSP:

• NSP will be contesting in Tampines and Sembawang GRCs and Pioneer SMC, with
  a total of 11 candidates. For a party that’s pretty “shaky”, I feel they should
  focus their time and energy on how to win these three electorates instead of
  throwing tantrums for one more seat from WP.
• Geographically, it does not make sense for NSP to contest in MacPherson.
  They are spread too far out from the other GRCs/SMC in which they are
  contesting. It is highly unlikely they can harmonize their town council systems
  (if they win all).
• If NSP was so adamant to contest in MacPherson, they should have retained
  Hazel Poa and made her contest there. However, she has since left the party due
  to this reversal.
• Now that Hazel Poa has left, NSP will have a hard time finding someone as
  genuine as her. She was one of NSP’s bright sparks after Jeannette
  Chong-Aruldoss left the party. Perhaps SPP should recruit her to contest in
  Bishan-Toa Payoh.
• Instead of opposition unity, NSP seems to have faltered with their
  self-interests.

I hope that the NSP will throw in the towel with regards to MacPherson SMC.
Be gracious and let the best party contest. I want NSP to be able to win the
rest of the GRCs/SMC without all these distractions. For now, it looks like the
winners from this debacle may well be Tin Pei Ling and her PAP supporters.

By Sofian Razali

* Article first appeared in The Online Citizen.


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