In an apparent attempt by SM Goh Chok Tong to wrest back the opposition held single ward of Hougang and Potong Pasir, he promised to lift the party whip for PAP candidates Eric Low and Sitoh Yih Pin respectively. This privilege will be bestowed on them if they manage to capture Hougang and/or Potong Pasir for the PAP. This above statement was retracted by SM Goh the following day when he visited Potong Pasir.

This brings me to the question and the main issue in this essay: Why is there a need for a pseudo-opposition when there is real opposition around?

Let us look at the why is there a need for an opposition presence in parliament.

1. No political system or dominant party is perfect, and thus requires other systems to complement, balance and keep it in check.

2. It is delusional to believe that the PAP aligned in vision, values and ideals can represent the majority perfectly.

3. The opposition puts much-needed pressure on the government to respond to the people’s needs and opinion - the populace has differing needs and opinion and the opposition makes sure that the differing needs and opinions of the people are being heard and taken seriously.

As it can be seen, it is important for an opposition presence in parliament and a pseudo-opposition actually hinders the inherent purpose for a real opposition presence in parliament.

1. The pseudo-opposition does put pressure on the government to listen to the views of the populace provided the needs and opinions of the people do not breach the official stand of the dominant party.

2. The pseudo-opposition will eventually be pressured to toe the official line of the ruling party. Pseudo-opposition MPs will have to abandon their conscience and vote according to the official line. This is as good as having no opposition in parliament.

3. A pseudo-opposition pays lip-service to effective and efficient debate in parliament and democracy in general.

“Voters don't want pseudo opposition, they want the genuine stuff”, so said Mr. Chiam See Tong, secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) at a recent NUS political forum.

However, the author will leave the reader with the eventual decision as to whether is there a need for a pseudo-opposition over an actual opposition. Given the fact that in recent years, the Whip has not been lifted even for controversial issues such as whether casinos should be allowed in Singapore, despite appeals from PAP MPs, it is very questionable as to what impact that a pseudo-opposition can make in parliament, contrary to what SM Goh had in mind when he mentions lifting the party whip for Eric Low and Sitoh Yih Pin.





A Contradicting Senior Minister?