Observations on December 25th, Campaign Day Two.

Yet another day of unashamed biased reporting by the local media.

1. On the news at 7:00 and 10:30 p.m., far less time was given to the non-PAP candidates than to the PAP blokes. Hng Kiang (West Coast GRC) is quoted to say that the upgrading is a PAP thing while in today's (Dec 25th) paper, Tony says that the PAP is not vote-buying by using the upgrading as a bait. MND Minister contradicts DPM! (Caveat - all I get to hear is what gets edited and aired on the state controlled TV station and to read from the state controlled newspaper. So, I will stand corrected if these confusions can be clarified).

2. On page 6 of the Nomination Day Special (dated Dec 24th 1996) pullout put out by the state run newspaper, the remaining 9 single member constituencies are listed. If you look at the way these were labelled, the one's with PAP incumbents are left "blank", while the rest were labelled all as "Opposition Held". By doing such labelling, the ST has shown how biased it really is. They should have labelled them according to the incumbent's party and not either blank (to mean PAP) and opposition (to group WP and the SDP). We *know* that the ST is a PAP mouth piece, but no need for such blatantcy.

3. Why was the Deputy Commissioner of CD (wearing PAP uniform) seen walking with some candidates on TV when I thought the Instruction Manual forbade civil servants from publicly supporting a political party openly (unless of course, he has retired)?

4. You know, I am beginning to really dislike Loong. He is unbelievably arrogant (sadly with his walkover, his arrogance has gone ballistic). He was asked a hypothetical question today - if Andy Gan as new Potong Pasir MP requests for a MRT station in Potong Pasir, would its construction be speeded up? Loong, in classic arrogance, says that sure, they will try to open up the station 6-12 months sooner and help build up the traffic. Loong's cabinet colleagues argument for not building it now is that is insufficient traffic. Wow, suddenly, with a PAP yesman, the traffic will automatically appear. Man, he should be stopped. Please, voters of Potong Pasir, keep Chiam.

5. George's reponse to a US State Dept spokesman commenting that Singaporean should not be bullied into voting for the PAP with upgrading carrots is laughable. He said that since pork barrel politics originated in the US it is surprising for the State Dept to make such a comment. By George, your comment has but one response, "huh?". Sure, the US has long had pork barrel politics, but they will call a spade a spade. Your party's linking upgrading to the PAP vote is disgusting and it is right for them to call your bluff. The US govt does not deny that they themselves are burdened with similar pork barrel politics, but having recognized their own shortcoming, why can't they express the comment when they see it elsewhere!

6. The labour minister, Lee Boon Yang (Jalan Besar GRC), was quoted on TV saying that "his team has been on the ground for a long time. But the opposition just comes out during the elections." Yeah, right! Dr Yaacob Ibrahim who is on the PAP Jalan Besar team is brand new. He is basically riding on the coat tails of Boon Yang. Folks, the PAP Jalan Besar GRC team has another infamous bloke - Choo Wee Khiang. He was the one who made the racist comment that "everytime I drive into Serangoon Road, it is a black out." Do we still want such people in parliament? He is our own Pauline Hanson. He does not deserve another term in the respectable Parliament and must not be reelected!