SINGAPORE

Spread across the island at four rally sites, the Opposition sang from the same hymn sheet as they harped on a litany of what they argued were results of the PAP’s mismanagement:

The recent flooding incidents,

the influx of foreigners,

the congestion

on public transport,

the growing income disparity,

the rising cost of living and

the high property prices.

Contrasting the high ministerial salaries to the sums that those under the Public Assistance scheme receive, some of the Opposition candidates also attacked the PAP for not caring enough for the people.

These are signs that the “new PAP” cadre, [@s ounded like terminator ? ? ? ?  @]  a term coined by Singapore Democratic Party candidate Michelle Lee, do not match up to their predecessors — a comparison drawn by three of the four Opposition parties that held their rallies last night.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, National Solidarity Party secretary general Goh Meng Seng said, Singapore used to be a “good country” with jobs, cheap housing and low healthcare costs.

“Old ministers like Goh Keng Swee ... were very Socialist, they took care of the people,” [@ he is prOmOted to be  a buddha now @]  said Mr Goh speaking at a rally site near Geylang East Central.

At the SDP’s rally in Commonwealth, Ms Lee said the new PAP has many “blemishes on its track record”. “We have been reminded not to rock Singapore’s foundation and we have absolutely no intention of rocking that. The new PAP, on the other hand, are building houses of straw on these strong foundation when they should be building houses of stones,” she asserted.

Over in Hougang, Workers’ Party candidate for East Coast GRC Gerald Giam, a former civil servant, said the PAP’s 52 years in power “has made them complacent and arrogant”.

Criticising the Government’s lack of forward planning, he told the crowd: “Our cost of living is shooting up, electricity bills are shooting up, bus fares are up, food prices are up, even the flood-waters are going up.