You can run but you can’t hide. The statement is especially true with the rise of social media. We talk behind the back of the government offline; but these buzz aren’t recorded, aren’t searchable and aren’t amplified. With Facebook, things are very different.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) is the leading political party in Singapore. Despite holding a majority of seats in the Parliament of Singapore, the PAP has been criticized for limiting free speech amongst other issues. These criticisms have been flicked off many times by the PAP, and many disgruntled users have started voicing their opinions on a Facebook page, titled “Vote The PAP Out“. Just a week since its launch date, the page has gathered more than a thousand fans.

Mr Alex Tan, creator of the page took time to list out all the concerns that bother him.
1. Over-influx of foreigners

2. National Service disadvantages

3. Sky-rocketing property prices(average 30 years mortgage loan)

4. High medical costs(CPF’s Medishield cover no shit)

5. Low dispensable income(thanks to CPF)

6. Low CPF’s interest rate(2.5%) leaking value to inflation

7. Inflation due to GST 7%

8. CPF unable to provide retirement(a bulk of the fund is spent servicing a housing loan)

9. Singaporeans unemployment rate not declared(could be higher than gov’s data which is mixed with PRs)

10. No heads rolled when Temasek Holdings and GIC lost billions of our national reserves

11. Heavy shortage of subsidized university places for qualified Singapore students

Source: Pen Olson

More than a thousand members within a week!    That’s much more impressive than “Friends of SDP”, which has been around for a while and to date has only 360 members.  It suggests how the man-on-the-street can play a major role in local political activism.  Further, a “lay person’s” gripe may resonate more with the public than an opposition figure’s manifesto.  An opposition member has inherent political agendas while the man-on-the-street only wants to live.

Comments

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