How The Election System in Singapore Can Be Reformed With Wisdom

TO THE HEAD OF ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT,
PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE:


Every sincere and honest Singapore citizen is crying out for the reform of the unfair electoral system in Singapore. In its present form, it is a disgrace to democracies all over the world and an insult to our intelligence.

You, as the Head of Elections Department, have played your part in ensuring that our system of democratic elections is not to be respected in any way. Were you even-handed and equitable in your handling of election matters--like electioneering or campaigning requirements or regulations; voting rules, procedures and practices; and the use of your official jurisdiction in dealing with opposition parties?

As you surely know, ordinary Singaporeans are already prevented by the PAP Government-controlled media from free and open access to comprehensive and fair reporting of the campaign issues and subjects raised by opposition parties during the unjustly short campaign period. They are denied vital information about opposition parties' candidates--their character, educational and professional backgrounds, political beliefs, intentions, plans, messages and views (all of which play an important part in influencing their voting decisions).

Given such an obvious handicap created by the government-controlled media, the least you can do, as the honourable and respectable Head of Elections Department, is to ensure that you do not persist in supporting our PAP leaders in cheating Singaporeans of their democratic rights--by ensuring that all election candidates have a fair and equal chance in the elections. Otherwise, you would be throwing whatever remaining little trust we have in the system of our government here into the dustbin of history. I am not accusing you of corruption and dishonesty; I am just asking you to be independent, autonomous and democratic.

Please read carefully Dr Chee Soon Juan's book, YOUR FUTURE, MY FAITH, OUR FREEDOM (2001; pp. 39-41), on the much-needed vital reform of our election system. You will be surprised that a "psychopath" like Dr Chee can give Singaporeans and readers all over the world such an instructive and perceptive overview of the necessary steps and measures needed to transform our presently unequal, fettered and untrustworthy election system--into one which citizens all over the world can finally respect and applaud without reservations.

To summarise very briefly what Dr Chee has proposed: The GRC system is a blatant insult to the intelligence of the citizens of Singapore. It is supposedly designed, in theory, to ensure minority racial representations in Parliament. But in practice, as Dr Chee says in the above-mentioned book, under this system, voters are prevented from choosing the candidates they want.

Also, MPs should be elected by the people if they are to have seats in Parliament. Dates for elections must be fixed and be well-known in advance by candidates. Campaign periods must be longer than the presently stipulated usual ones. Contesting parties should be allowed the freedom to choose the time and sites for their rallies. Finally, and most importantly, an independent Elections Commission must be instituted. (Can you submit this particular proposal, as the Head of Elections Department in the PMO, to PAP leaders--so that your department can be replaced by the said commission instead? The decisions of this proposed commission must be submitted to parliament for approval and it must be accountable to the courts.)

Please do read attentively the full text in Dr Chee's book, Mr Lee Seng Lup. It is full of political wisdom and democratic insight--all that is missing from our current autocratic and authoritarian PAP Government. I hope you will respond positively to the proposed and discussed changes to our present election system.