Comments on: PM Lee meets with Malaysian opposition leader http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/04/pm-lee-meets-with-malaysian-opposition-leader/ Alternative proposals for a better Singapore Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:59:13 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Wok wif me http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/04/pm-lee-meets-with-malaysian-opposition-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-2496 Wok wif me Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:56:08 +0000 http://geraldgiam.sg/?p=652#comment-2496 Jacob, don't be so hard on Gerald lah. Most Singaporeans will find it difficult to understand the concept of federalism in countries like Malaysia. I also find this situation of having different parties in government and opposition at different levels a very chaotic one. The Singapore way is still the best lah. Everywhere you turn, you can rest assured the long tentacles of the PAP will also be there. :-) Jacob, don’t be so hard on Gerald lah. Most Singaporeans will find it difficult to understand the concept of federalism in countries like Malaysia. I also find this situation of having different parties in government and opposition at different levels a very chaotic one. The Singapore way is still the best lah. Everywhere you turn, you can rest assured the long tentacles of the PAP will also be there. :-)

]]> By: Jacob Lim http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/04/pm-lee-meets-with-malaysian-opposition-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-2495 Jacob Lim Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:01:09 +0000 http://geraldgiam.sg/?p=652#comment-2495 "... he is also a major opposition leader of a neighbouring country." You need to be more specific, Gerald. He may be an opposition leader at the Federal level, but not in the state of Penang. In fact, it is BN that is the Opposition in Penang. Well actually just UMNO since Gerakan, MCA and MIC got wiped out in the GE, but I digress :). “… he is also a major opposition leader of a neighbouring country.”

You need to be more specific, Gerald. He may be an opposition leader at the Federal level, but not in the state of Penang. In fact, it is BN that is the Opposition in Penang. Well actually just UMNO since Gerakan, MCA and MIC got wiped out in the GE, but I digress :).

]]> By: Gerald Giam http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/04/pm-lee-meets-with-malaysian-opposition-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-2493 Gerald Giam Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:10:47 +0000 http://geraldgiam.sg/?p=652#comment-2493 Jacob - Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I will correct my post accordingly. I am aware he was meeting PM Lee in his capacity as Chief Minister (that's what the press release said), but it does not take away the significance that he is also a major opposition leader of a neighbouring country. Jacob – Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I will correct my post accordingly.

I am aware he was meeting PM Lee in his capacity as Chief Minister (that’s what the press release said), but it does not take away the significance that he is also a major opposition leader of a neighbouring country.

]]> By: Jacob Lim http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/04/pm-lee-meets-with-malaysian-opposition-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-2492 Jacob Lim Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:29:04 +0000 http://geraldgiam.sg/?p=652#comment-2492 Firstly, Mentri Besar title is used in states that have a Sultan as the head of state. Chief Minister is used in the four states that do not have a ruler as a head of state. The two terms are not used interchangeably as you may have implied. Secondly, Malaysia is a Federation, not a Unitary state like Singapore. Hence, whilst the DAP is the opposition at the Federal level, they are in fact the Government of the State of Penang. Though it may not be inaccurate to refer to YB Lim EG as an opposition leader as he is also an MP in the Dewan Rakyat, his meeting with PM Lee is in his capacity as the head of the state government of Penang, not in his capacity as a Federal opposition MP. Firstly, Mentri Besar title is used in states that have a Sultan as the head of state. Chief Minister is used in the four states that do not have a ruler as a head of state. The two terms are not used interchangeably as you may have implied.

Secondly, Malaysia is a Federation, not a Unitary state like Singapore. Hence, whilst the DAP is the opposition at the Federal level, they are in fact the Government of the State of Penang. Though it may not be inaccurate to refer to YB Lim EG as an opposition leader as he is also an MP in the Dewan Rakyat, his meeting with PM Lee is in his capacity as the head of the state government of Penang, not in his capacity as a Federal opposition MP.

]]> By: Ravi Philemon http://geraldgiam.sg/2009/04/pm-lee-meets-with-malaysian-opposition-leader/comment-page-1/#comment-2468 Ravi Philemon Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:44:31 +0000 http://geraldgiam.sg/?p=652#comment-2468 The DAP was originally the Malaysian branch of the PAP. So, perhaps there were some renewal of ties??? The DAP was originally the Malaysian branch of the PAP. So, perhaps there were some renewal of ties???

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