New Nation

Three thoughts that must have went past your mind at some point.

The Elections Department (ELD) clarified on Sept. 3 that it is not illegal to use the face of a political party’s leader in the posters of a constituency they are not contesting in.

This after other opposition political parties took issue with seeing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s face placed all over Singapore on campaigning banners.

ELD pointed out: “Under the law, the face of the political party’s leader can be used in the posters for the candidates standing for that political party, since voters would be able to identify the political party leader with that political party. This has been the practice in past elections.”

Here are three thoughts Singaporeans have:

“If the PAP can do it, I’m surprised there was even this need for clarification as they are the law.” — Zho Cheng Hu, 43-year-old civil servant

“I noticed this pattern where people from the Lee family like to have their face plastered everywhere in Singapore.” — Pai Zhao, 61-year-old photographer

“PM Lee should contest in all 89 seats since he is so talented and Singaporeans wouldn’t have to pay the rest of the PAP MPs who are obviously lousy and untalented.” — Qu Guo Hui, 18-year-old part-time model

Trust us, we know what we are doing.

Singaporeans from all walks of life, who have seen the PAP banner logo affixed upside down, have been assured that the situation has been fixed.

A PAP grassroots organiser, Pai Mah Pi, said: “After listening to the many feedback from Singaporeans, we have taken into account all the different input and come up with a solution to rectify the problem.”

“We know we are unable to satisfy everyone all the time, but we have successfully turned the lamp post upside down so that now the PAP banner logo is the right side up.”

“This is not the easiest thing to do, but once we have made the decision, we have to follow through to show that we are serious about doing what we say.”

“We sincerely hope those who were our biggest critics who pointed out the error and opposed us, can now see the error of their ways as their judgement of the situation was not correct to begin with as there are more than one way to solve a problem.”

“We can agree to disagree, voice your opinions and dissent if you must, but the PAP will come up with the best solutions to help Singaporeans and do things that are difficult and not to the liking of everyone.”

“And through this instance, we have shown we have what it takes to bring the country forward as we are a party of ideas and one that is ready to make difficult decisions on behalf of Singaporeans, that can at times be difficult for others to accept.”

“We hope you can trust us by giving us your vote, give us the mandate to rule, tweak your perspective to see things from our point-of-view and to work with the PAP to do the impossible.”

At press time, the PAP said it will have no choice but to turn more lamp posts upside down if it means doing so will be for the benefit of Singaporeans.

They said they are not pledging blind allegiance to the party but request others to see things their way.

PAP supporters from all walks of life, who are status-quo-loving and like to be obedient to authority, have come out to defend their political party.

This after photos surfaced online showing the PAP banners displaying the party lightning bolt logo, which are tied to lamp posts around various estates for the General Election 2015, to be upside down.

However, PAP supporters have come out to defend the banners and say that the PAP logo is correct side up as long as naysayers are willing to see things their way.

One PAP supporter, Zho Gou, said: “Look, I’m not pledging blind allegiance to the PAP, but it is the detractors who will soon come to see the error of their ways”

“If only people looked carefully, they will be able to see for themselves and tell that the logo is right side up. What is wrong is actually the lamp posts and the surrounding areas that are upside down.”

“This is the problem with opposition supporters. They simply refuse to see things from the PAP point-of-view and then try to make up an alternate reality and come up with all kinds of theories and speculations to pin the blame on the PAP and government, when in fact, all they have to do is understand the situation by changing their perspective.”

“And if only more anti-PAP Singaporeans can see things from the PAP perspective — the problem isn’t the upside down logo but the upside down lamp posts and surroundings — Singapore wouldn’t be saddled with social problems and our economy would be healthier.”

“This is why the opposition must work with the PAP and see and do things the PAP way.”

At press time, Singapore is still facing challenges socially, economically and politically.

PAP election campaign off to a good start.

Singaporeans from all walks of life, who like to see the PAP in action because it is an action party, have come out to congratulate ex-transport minister Lui Tuck Yew.

This after he was seen putting up banners by the road after his retirement from politics.

One Singaporean, Tom Bah Lek, said he is impressed that the PAP election campaign is off to such a good start: “It is nice to see the PAP get creative once in a while and mix things up a bit and taking liberties with their logo.”

“It can get kind of boring with the party, but seeing how they hang the banners this time makes me believe they either are going for something different or are really losing it.”

“Either way it is great.”

At press time, they hope to see Civilian Lee Hsien Loong upside down as well.