FAQ

1. Why should I vote for WP?

WP offers voters a choice. Fellow Singaporeans are given a stake in charting Singapore’s destiny by pressuring the PAP government to perform and take responsibility for its political decisions. WP also checks on the incumbent government to ensure there are no abuses of power and that the electorate is consulted.

2. Is WP capable enough to be the alternative government?

While it is true that WP does not have the capacity to become an alternative government in the immediate future, we are currently able to field good candidates as MPs and are continuing to develop the Party’s capabilities.

Constraints such as changing of electoral boundaries and the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system, imposed by the PAP government, have posed serious challenges towards building up a shadow government to watch over the PAP government.

The ability of WP to build a critical mass of capable people depends on the calibre of Singaporeans who believe in the necessity of having checks and balances on any government, and are prepared to join us and stand as candidates.

It is critical to win more seats in Parliament so that the electorate can evaluate the party’s performance and capability to be an alternative government in the future.

3. Can WP come up with policies or deal with macro issues for the country?

Our past and current Manifestoes contain many proposals in public policy areas which even the PAP government has adopted. To take very recent examples, our 2006 Manifesto proposed Medisave for outpatient treatment, reviewing teachers’ workload and their professional development, reviewing of National Education, scraping the Streaming in primary school and so on, which were adopted since the General Election in May 2006.

WP was able to make the alternative proposals with limited resources and no access to the professional civil service or classified data. If placed on the same platform as the PAP government with access to state resources, WP believes its contributions would be even more significant.

It should be noted too that there have been instances when issues affecting our society have also been mishandled by the PAP government. For instance, the PAP’s Graduate Mothers’ policy had to be scrapped, and the “Stop at 2″ policy has now contributed to our population shortage.

4. What is WP fighting for and is that not what the PAP is fighting for too – specifically the country?

WP’s consistent activism in the sphere of political development is to ensure that democracy is more than a shell in Singapore and that the mechanisms of a functional democracy are entrenched in our country.

The PAP is essentially a ruling party with elitist emphasis since we became a nation. While it is true that WP and PAP may be fighting on the same platform for the country seeking the betterment of life of Singaporeans, the mindset, focus and considerations would be different in policy formulation.

WP wants Singaporeans to take part in the political process. Decision-making in a one-party system runs the risk of having critical decisions being made behind closed doors and the legislature rubber-stamping the executive’s proposals.

5. How does WP plan to attract people of calibre?

To have the courage and the heart to want to serve the country and its people are the fundamentals in a political leader. By carrying out responsible politics, WP hopes to attract people of such calibre to join us.

6. What about the role of Nominated MPs? Can’t they provide the alternative views?

NMPs are appointed and do not contest elections. Can they really speak for the people if the people have not given them any mandate?

Moreover, they are also not able to provide an organised and credible party backup should the current political regime fail to deliver.

7. What are the activities WP members are involved in?

WP members are involved in a wide array of activities. There are

• Political activities such as political dialogues, conferences and talks
• Welfare activities such as rice distribution, free haircuts, collecting of used items for charities
• Social activities such as cycling in Pulau Ubin, bowling sessions and casual gatherings
• Grassroots activities such as constituency walkabouts and meet the residents sessions.

8. How does WP raise funds?

Party funds come primarily from the sales of our newsletter, Hammer. WP also welcome qualified donors to contribute to us.

9. How does WP choose its candidates? What criteria must they possess?

WP takes into account the following qualities of members before deciding his/her candidacy for election: Credibility, Capability, Character, Passion and Public spiritedness (3Cs and 2Ps).

10. How many members does WP have? What about the Youth Wing?

Presently WP has a few hundred active members and the WP Youth Wing has about 100 members.

11. Why should WP continue its work if the people have not voted for WP?

While WP offers a choice to the people during General Elections, WP also respects the choice of the voters.

By its status as an opposition party, WP seems to be standing up only for the minority. However, the issues raised by WP cut across the whole spectrum of society. While WP may not have been able to convince the majority of voters to vote in its candidates, it did receive substantial support from the constituencies it contested and winning one constituency with a convincing majority.

WP also recognises that the minority need someone to speak up for them much more than the majority would. As numbers make up for a louder voice, the weak and the oppressed, nonetheless Singaporean, would be drowned by their compatriots unless someone stands up for them.

The essence of Democracy is one where the majority respects the rights of the minority; otherwise we risk becoming a tyranny of the majority.