http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/08/national-day-or-mp-day

National Day or MP Day?

Gerald Giam / Deputy Editor

As August 9^th draws near, springing up all over the island are posters of smiling People’s Action Party Members of Parliament (MP) and Government ministers wishing Singaporeans a Happy National Day. While this might be a regular sight that Singaporeans have been conditioned to accept all these years, I question its necessity.

Like most other Singaporeans, I love National Day and the festivities that come with it. Singapore has achieved much over the past 43 years and we have much to be proud of and grateful for.

But why is there a need for politicians to splash their faces across every other National Day poster? In my little sub-constituency of Canberra in Sembawang GRC, I have counted at least two giant sized billboards.

When I travel through Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah and Tanjong Pagar, almost every other lamp post on the main roads is decked with smiling pictures of PAP politicians superimposed on pictures of children. The main intersection of each town has a giant billboard with all the MPs in the GRC waving, some even with their names and titles labelled on their photos, lest any resident forgets.

One huge billboard in Joo Chiat even has a politician with his fist clenched across his chest, as if reciting the Pledge. (Picture right).

The purpose of these billboards is quite clear: to give the MPs more visibility so that residents will recognize them and hopefully vote for them at the next elections.

Who pays?

I am guessing all these posters and billboards are not paid out of PAP coffers, but from town council funds — to which I contribute over $740 each year.

I emailed Sembawang Town Council and Tanjong Pagar Town Council to ask, but they did not reply. Strange, since my town council has always been very prompt in replying to the municipal problems I have raised.

Is this a prudent use of my hard-earned money, particularly in a time of a slowing economy and high inflation? Why should my town council payments be used to further my MP’s political interests?

Worse, some giant billboards are lit up the entire night with bright spotlights. What happened to our eco-friendly drive? And what about the cost of the electricity used, keeping in mind that the prices of fuel have increased recently.

In fact, some of these posters look no different from election posters sans the lightning symbol. Doesn’t the Parliamentary Elections Act prohibit election advertising outside of the campaign period?

I do not see posters of MPs in opposition wards of Potong Pasir and Hougang. In Potong Pasir, there are some posters, but without Chiam See Tong’s face. Hougang has a simple landscaped display of the Singapore flag along Avenue 2 – and no, Low Thia Khiang’s picture is not included either.

Views of other Singaporeans

I checked with a Singaporean friend living in the US whether such banners and posters appeared on the 4^th of July, America’s Independence Day. There were none in the city where she lives.

She emailed me, “I personally think that the banners…look hideous and distasteful. When I tried to raise this matter up with someone a long time ago, I remember being told off that those posters were being targeted at the heartlanders.”

She added, “To put banners like the one you sent me…when there is no GE (General Election) near in sight, that’s definitely propagandistic”.

Another friend, who works in the media, told me: “It gets very confusing here. Can’t tell the difference between country, state, government and ruling party.”

Suggestions

I would like to suggest that the PAP and its town councils immediately stop the use of public funds to promote their partisan causes. For a start, all the spotlights for the billboards should remain off at night to save electricity.

I hope our ruling party MPs realise that National Day is a day of celebration for the whole nation, not a season to honour themselves.

Click on pictures to enlarge.———

 

More like Pay and Pay showing off DAy.    Thanks for the pics.   I pass by a number of times can't help but notice that the TG Pagar GRC banners are with big pictures of MPs, Ministers and the people's pic are small.    These people have super inflated ego that their pics must be bigger than the residents .     Crap, nothing but crap.   When pass by the tekka, lagi zong for, see the lui tuck yew;s face, like shit, feel like punching him.

i told u all, today is PAP day, can we please get PAP flags outside our windows now!!!

where can buy PAP flag?

Originally posted by ^tamago^:

where can buy PAP flag?

U wait for the thunder to strike

look at the mp posters i feel like throwing darts on them.

Originally posted by ^tamago^:

where can buy PAP flag?

no need to buy, can steal from PAP kindergarden

Originally posted by ^tamago^:

where can buy PAP flag?

no need to buy......draw a circle, inside the circle a "z".

This place is run like some people family business what nation are we talking about? National day should change name to Lees' family business day. I did not know they are degrading that low and shamelessly use public funds for such purpose. Thanks for posing and keeping people update.

Originally posted by ivebeenhad:

i told u all, today is PAP day, can we please get PAP flags outside our windows now!!!

You say this kramnave the troll will come after you.   Pay and Pay created such impact, influence and it is not easy for people to leave them aside when talking about National Day.

I definitely for the first time purposely not going to watch the parade.    My heart is crying for those locally born and bred here who struggle to make ends meet and yet the greedy, inconsiderate gahmen is going ahead with price/fares hike.  

Originally posted by 798:

look at the mp posters i feel like throwing darts on them.

Same here, feel like throwing darts and slapping them.    Evil greedy autocrats.

Originally posted by 00011000:

no need to buy......draw a circle, inside the circle a "z".

Zorro party

Originally posted by (human):

This place is run like some people family business what nation are we talking about? National day should change name to Lees' family business day. I did not know they are degrading that low and shamelessly use public funds for such purpose. Thanks for posing and keeping people update.

Just travel along Thomson Road (inland REvenue House) and tekka (the stretch where LTA and the tekka mkt is located), you will see all these disgusting ugly big banners.     PAP purposely have their faces bigger than the common folks, this really tells something that they are above the people.    Conveniently, ungratefully brushed aside the fact that without the people there is no PAP.   

waste of public fund   

Originally posted by 798:

Any march by WP since there are two members in the parliament?    Shit, no wonder people said it is PAP Day.

father follows son on the route of becoming brokeback.

Originally posted by 798:

father follows son on the route of becoming brokeback.

Papa and anak duan bei san, ha ha ha.      Is that Lui tuck yew, the yucky looking  one above LKY ?

I no watch NDP, this year is the first time I boycott watching it.  

Considering most of the areas are walkover, the residents dunno who is their boss.

So, it is a good time to put their face on the poster that are paid by the residents.

This will explain and highlight to you why the cost cannot be brought down  as they have to spend money on these "important" purpose, instead of spending more money in helping poor you.

Not forgetting they have to also host very big dinner to reward their grass rot leaders and supporters with roast pig and shark fins.

 

Originally posted by 798:

father follows son on the route of becoming brokeback.

The pic is sufficient to prove he kiasi.   Is he the only one wearing the raincoat and cap?  

 

The purpose of these billboards is quite clear: to give the MPs more visibility so that residents will recognize them and hopefully vote for them at the next elections.