So, I was reading the Channel NewsAsia report about the "star" candidates recruited by the local opposition parties ahead of the General Election, when one statement caught my eye.
Huh? Wait a minute. So here we have an article listing different people and their biographies ahead of the GE, but the reporters weren't able to interview the expected candidates from the leading opposition party?
What is the message here? We have great candidates! The best candidates! Just, please, don't ask them any questions.
Of course we know the party got burned somewhat on their previous selections in 2020, with the consequences of putting Raeesah Khan in the parliament still felt by the secretary-general Pritam Singh himself.
But if WP wants to prove it has moved on and patched its holes, why would it decline interviews for such a big piece in one of the major news outlets. After all, it's sold to readers as a remarkably positive development.
Though, perhaps WP leadership had the text in advance and read what PSPs "star catch" Mr Lawrence Pek, the former secretary-general of Singapore Manufacturing Federation, who explained his motivations to run in GE as follows:
“The PSP, in particular, is attracting individuals who believe in constructive politics, who aren’t afraid of scrutiny, and want to make a difference.”
Yes, this is not satire :)
Is Pritam’s conviction and pending appeal dragging the party down?
Though maybe Workers' Party was simply afraid of the liberties journalists may take with the questions for their candidates, given the conviction of their leader, who is now appealing it in the High Court.
One could easily imagine that a fellow lawyer and counsel of the Supreme Court of Singapore, Harpreet Singh, could be asked whether he would continue backing Pritam if he is ultimately convicted in the second instance.
After all, this is a criminal matter and rallying behind a leader with a record "should" at least be hard for people who want to convince Singaporeans about their integrity.
The media might also ask about how it feels to step in the empty space left by Raeesah Khan, Leon Perera or Nicole Seah. Or maybe of the WP's commitment to internal discourse and free speech after it expelled Daniel Goh for asking tough questions and criticising the leadership for mishandling a scandal that nearly sank the party?
Don't we often hear the Workers' Party demanding more transparency of the PAP?
Shouldn't they lead by example?
