The Failure of SDP

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From: eternal_hap 7:27 am
To: ALL (1 of 1)

20978.1

The SDP has been tainted with law-breaking, police arrests and defamation suits – this may be unfairly painted by the mainstream media – and I believe their reputation as a party is ruined. Furthermore, they were the worst-performing party in the 2006 elections, with no MP elected since 1997. With such a bad reputation and past failure, and arguably unsound proposals like their recent ‘alternative budget’, they seem to be heading for political obliteration.

However, the forum on 7 February suggests the SDP is interested in reverting to operations within the legal constraints, to shed its bad reputation. Secondly, organizing such a forum requires a certain amount of hard work, which reflects their party’s leadership capability, indicating a degree of internal strength.

The forum is ironically titled “Opposition – Where To?”, when the future political viability of their party is in doubt. According to The Straits Times, “THE need for unity and identifying the future direction of the opposition in Singapore are among issues to be discussed at a forum on Saturday — but several key parties are giving the event a miss”.

They are holding it at some hotel, the Copthorne Orchid Hotel, which I think is near my school, but I haven’t seen it before. I’m not suggesting that the two elected and one non-elected opposition MPs are giving it a miss because they can’t find the hotel. More importantly, they are giving it a miss because of the perceived irrelevance of the SDP.

The issues discussed are important, “whether greater cooperation is necessary to attract votes”, but the three other major opposition parties see no reason to attend because the SDP’s goal remains dubious. They are still associated with the confrontational tactics of Dr Chee. Such tactics are frowned upon by most Singaporeans and it is good business for the rest to avoid any accidental linkages.

Secondly, some SDP members and supporters are still embroiled in court cases. Discussing on issues of opposition cooperation would lend legitimacy to the SDP tactics, especially when they are the host and organizer. The WP, SDA and NSP have different political approaches with the SDP, and it would be prudent if they were to stay away from a SDP-organised forum while the SDP leaders are plagued with negative publicity.

Perhaps a ‘neutral’ organizer would have drawn attendance from all opposition parties. Or controversially, perhaps the best-performing opposition party might have the credibility to organize it, given that their strategies seemed rather effective in 2006.

While the SDP has its strength, it has a long way to go if it were to gain political viability and the first move must be to depart from its troubled past.

good advice! should take a good hint from the writer. so there are many who can see a clearer SDP. i m amazed!!

by the way, are the chee siblings guest starring the events? look like they are absent. why?