About Time

With the by-election in Hougang set on 26th May, campaigning for the seat is now well underway. After a few boring days, the campaign for both the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and the incumbent Workers’ Party (WP) has only recently went into high gear.

The traffic accident along Rochor Road is still hurting the PAP and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean had to come out and say that people (cough, the opposition, cough) are trying to use a “tragic accident” to hurt the PAP. The PAP then launched an attack on WP’s candidate Png Eng Huat, claiming that he is dishonest over his intentions surrounding the non-constituency Member of Parliament scheme. This follows a leak of the minutes of a WP meeting where Mr. Png was spoken of as a candidate for the scheme. WP’s Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang then came out to condemn the anonymous leak and say this is a “weak attempt at the discrediting the WP”.

Basically, both sides are claiming the other side is using cheap shots against them.

About bloody time I say! I was worried when the first few days of the campaign were so boring that the by-election wasn’t even on the front few pages of the newspaper. All the talk of this being a “gentleman campaign” was nauseating. Seriously, this is the way politics should be. Down and dirty; accusations and counteraccusations flying around; and both sides trying to come up on top. About time both parties get serious about it!