TR EMERITUS

In a political contest, expect the exchange of barbs. And we do not lack any of it in the rallies held all over this little red fiery dot.

Barbs are the sharp projection near the end of an arrow or fishhook. The aim is to make extraction difficult, due to the way the arrow/hook is angled.

And every party, from the one effectively ruling for the last 60 years to the ones merely existing, hopes to land a KO on the other party with their speeches. The goal is, to hard-sell themselves.

They say it is the bait that hides the hook. And while there are some truths in what politicians say, during an election, the point is to fire up the masses with the slip-ups of the other party, instead of giving credit where credit is due.

Every election is skewed towards a certain script, one that shines the light glaringly on your own potential and achievements, leaving your opponents in the dark. It is largely an emotional game, because we are social animals with an unfortunate thick spread of schadenfreude (“damage, joy”).

The hot issues that fire up oppositional imagination are GST, the cost of living, the Income-Allianz deal, more affordable housing, healthcare and inequality. Personal infidelities and convictions are fortunately left out. That much shows our political maturity.

That said, SDP Chee took a jab at inequality by saying, “when billionaires come in by the hundreds and snap expensive properties in Singapore, they raise land prices. And when land prices go up, they drive up property prices and the cost of living for us.”

“As the PAP keeps stoking the spectre of race and religion that will split our society, it is the widening inequality between the rich and the rest of us that will tear our society apart.”

That bonfire of the rich/poor is stoked for maximum firepower because democracy is a number game, with one-person-one-vote, whether you are rich or poor. And the rich knows they can’t match the numbers when it comes to the ballot boxes. This is one way the majority gets a chance every five years to register their disgruntlement.

And we have the lighthearted (but seemingly out-of-place) moments when it comes to serious issues like the GST hike from 7% to 9%. For this, we have Minister Grace Fu to thank.

“She said the Government understands the pain caused by the GST on people with low or no income, adding that this is why the GST increase is accompanied by a “permanent” support system, which includes the GST Voucher programme and other rebates to help the lower- and no-income households”.

Here comes her punchline: “We may be taking a chicken wing from you, but we are giving you a whole chicken.” Ouch.

I think she has mixed up cold hand-outs with warm generosity. Such remark conjures up an image of crumbs falling from the rich’s banquet table as a result of a carefree sweep of the arm of those seated in privileged seats. If there is such thing called implicit racism, this is implicit elitism.

As the sustainability and environment minister, I felt her clever jibe is neither sustainable in today’s widening rich/poor gap nor did she correctly read the environment in the room.

I trust that most people would rather she keep her whole chicken that is tossed out for free and give them back the chicken wing, which is earned through the sweat of one’s brow. More relevantly, this is an issue of dignity, not one of frozen poultry.

At such rallies, during such time, most politicians get carried away, being held under the sway of voters. It’s a let-your-hair-down week, even for the most publicly dignified amongst us.

After all said, I guess Minister Murali puts it most sensibly. “In life, things can go wrong. When they go wrong, politicians should not duck. They should accept responsibility, square with Singaporeans, and make the system stronger.”

I believe that statement applies to all the parties and their hearts to serve. To make the system stronger. To stand out to be counted. To do their best for the nation, whether it is white, blue or otherwise. Stripped of all the barbs, the out-of-place remarks, even the racist slurs, I trust they have the interest of Singaporeans at heart.

So, come this Saturday, on election day, welcome to the happy hunger games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Michael Han