Daily Lessons from Life 29 January 2012 - Six members of opposition Singapore People's Party have resigned

"AsiaOne Jan 28, 2012 - Six members of opposition Singapore People's Party have resigned.

A local news source said their numbers include former civil servant Benjamin Pwee and Wilfred Leung, who many were expecting to succeed incumbent party secretary-general Mr Chiam See Tong.

The resignations come ahead of SPP's Party Congress to be held on Sunday, where a new Central Executive Committee (CEC) is to be formed.

The members cited differences in opinion about party leadership styles and the future direction as reasons behind their leaving.

They also said deep and long-term relationships within key CEC members were broken down, the news source reported.

Mr Chiam See Tong said on SPP's Facebook page that the party respects the six CEC members' decision to pursue their own interests.

"There is no change at the moment and it's operations as usual.

"The Party under the leadership of Chiam See Tong will continue to seek new passionate and talented individuals who will pursue the opposition cause cohesively for the betterment of Singapore," the post read."

An unsurprising development in local politics. The 'traditionalists' vs. the 'new upstarts'?

Lessons for me are:

1. SPP is held together by the loyalty of the Potong Parsir voters over the last 2 decades where they consistently voted for their MP Mr Chiam despite carrots and sticks were offered to them by PAP, the ruling party. Some joking said that the voters have guts and are a tough lot that showed the way in Singapore that you can make PAP eats humble pie time and again!

2. at the same time, the PAP has not given up. Their man stuck in and persuaded the party elders to let him do it his way. Changed the approach. No big guns rooting for him during the last GE. Continued to work the ground throughout all these years when Mr Chiam ruled!! The fact that Mrs Chiam was put in Mr Chiam's place to contest the GE made it easier for the PAP man to win - by less than 100 votes, or something close. This is the begin of the end for SPP, the party chaired by Mr Chiam.

3. Mrs Chiam is probably too close to Mr Chiam to accept that SPP will be better off with the new upstarts. She is simply too close. The elders may be too traditional or unable to let go. Much like the old PAP members, some of which are still clinging on to the old PAP way. This probably lead to this situation where 6 of the most promising members of SPP decided to leave the party. This is REALLY the END of SPP. Period. Where does this leave opposition political parties in Singapore? If these 6 members can join the Workers Party (WP), this will be great. It will provide even more challenges to the ruling party. That can only be good for Singapore as long as ALL involved keep the civil manner in which ALL have demonstrated during the last GE and in the new parliament.

Indeed, it is good bye Mr Chiam. Good bye SPP!!