Ugly Carrot

so Ms Chee Siok Chin has asked the High Court to declare the GE null and void. one of her reasons is because using upgrading as a tool to win votes is unconstitutional. of course we konw that that is true. we all know that using taxpayers' money for partisan purposes is unconstitutional. but, elections aside, i wonder whether there is a case for class action suit against the PAP for misuse of public funds.

further, the HDB, which supposedly manages the flats and decides which estates are upgraded, are supposed to be, as all other Public Services are, beyond fear and favour, i.e. while they serve the government of they day, they are supposed to serve the nation's interest, rather than be a tool of any political party. however, in using upgrading to buy votes, PAP has made HDB into a tool of the party. where then is the much vaunted impartiality of the public/civil service? is that not trampling one of the great principles of governance that our nation prides itself on?

next, PAP's use of upgrading effectively shows that they are only interested in their own victory, not the welfare of Singaporeans. because if they are, then they would decide which estates to upgrade based on a transparent set of guidelines that would not include whether that estate voted for them nor who the MP of the estate is. because regardless of whether the people in that estate voted for PAP, they are still Singaporeans and the government has a duty to take care of those people. and if the HDB and any public service is to be truly beyond fear and favour, then they have to be seem as being non-partisan, with fair and reasonable guidelines that dictate their decisions, guidelines which are known to all and seen to be fair and strictly non-partisan to the reasonable Singaporean on the street. speifically for upgrading, it won't be too difficult to come up with such a set of guidelines.

also, the PAP's use of upgrading is trite. is that the best that they can do? if they think that that will win Singaporeans over, then they have underestimated us. i am sure we care a lot more than whether our estates get upgraded. i'm sure we are more concerned about whether the candidate will further our national interests, contribute to discussion that will bring our country forward, bring up ideas that will help the nation meet the challenges of the future. so perhaps the reason why the PAP is using upgrading as a tool to win votes is because they cannot think of better ways to win votes. if that is the case, then perhaps they do not deserve our vote.

having said that, i don't think SDP presented any convincing case to win votes either. they sound too airy fairy, full of hot air but having no concrete substance whatsoever. i think that they give the opposition a bad name. the WP on the other hand. i think they have the right moves. if they keep up the momentum, they should be able to get the foothold in parliament that would allow them to truly give Singaporeans a choice, a voice. so for people who support the opposition, i say that the best bet is to give up on the SDP and perhaps even the SDA. rally behind WP.

anyways. i digress. what i wanted to say is that there is not a snowflake's chance in hell that the High Court would declare the GE null and void. however, if anyone really wants to do anything about it, perhaps some Singaporeans should file a class action suit against the PAP for misuse of public funds. i am no lawyer. i don't know whether there's indeed a case for it. any lawyers like to comment?