It is hellishly difficult to be a lover of democracy in Singapore.

When independent-thinking Singaporeans speak their minds, they must be ready to face dire consequences, as the government under the People's Action Party will bring out its full arsenal of repressive measures to try to beat them into submission. So when Chiam See Tong, chairman of Democratic Alliance and Low Thia Khiang of the Worker's Party got elected and denied the PAP its expected clean sweep last week, it was a big boost - even though temporary - for democracy lovers in the island.

Chiam, Khiang and their colleagues are rare brave souls. The fact that they retained their seats despite all kinds of state propaganda against them should be put down as some kind of record. It is not an overstatement to say that they are the most resilient opposition among all countries that call themselves a democracy.

Residents of Potong Pasir and Hougang and, of course, Aljunied and other areas are equally brave because they single-mindedly declined PAP's huge aid package worth millions of dollars, which was theirs to have if they elected the PAP's candidates. The ruling party promised voters in Potong Pasir that if its candidate, Sitoh Yih Pin, got elected they would get an upgrade programme worth S$80 million (Bt1.9 billion) for the estate. By the same token, an S$100-million upgrade plan was on offer if PAP candidate Eric Low was elected in Hougang. But, alas, the PAP underestimated the democratic spirit of Potong Pasir and Hougang. Money cannot buy everything in Singapore, at least not in these two constituencies.

It is amazing the way the Singapore government has gone after opposition parties and politicians who dared to challenge its supremacy. For instance, Dr Chee Soon Juan was declared bankrupt before the election. The vocal Chee has been targeted by the government for years. He has faced all kinds of intimidation and abuse. Now another young man has come along to stand up to the government, James Gomez. Gomez is a young politician who was to stand on the Worker's Party ticket but was disqualified last week. Unfortunately for him, Gomez forgot to file a minority candidate certificate, which he claimed he had. He apologised, but has been detained by the police.

Like other opposition leaders, who are not elected but have stood up to speak their minds, Gomez appears to be targeted for destruction over time. There is no place for such idealists in Singapore because they question the PAP's leadership. Gomez was prevented from travelling to Sweden on grounds that he was still under criminal investigation. Chee was likewise prevented from leaving the country because he was declared bankrupt.

Of course, the PAP and its mouthpieces would laugh at the political scenarios in the other Asean states for their supposed mediocrity and non-professionalism. Public protests in the Philippines and Thailand were treated condescendingly, not as expressions of the aspirations of the masses but as a political nuisance.

The question to ask of Singapore is, why can't people have their say? Why do they have to be controlled or punished every time they speak out? The question is, if the PAP is so good and perfect, why can't the government allow the public or the media to express dissenting views. After all, even though the last election yielded only two parliamentary seats for non-PAP parties, one-third of voters voted for the opposition.

Singapore will not suddenly collapse if it opens up more. With their highly educated views and their "win-win" pragmatism, Singaporeans would strengthen the island's democracy through public participation. There is nothing to fear.

It is now common knowledge in the rest of the world that Singaporeans cannot speak their minds, unless they are the chosen ones or members of the PAP. Indeed, the island's politics is only reserved for PAP cadres and those whose views conveniently match the party's line or, more specifically, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's thinking. It is interesting to note that our discredited prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is an avid student of Lee's political thoughts and methods. Thaksin has said on several occasions that he wanted to turn Thailand into several Singapores. We must not allow that to happen.

                                                      Home