WP is right to walk its own path but...

"The Workers' Party walks its own road -- albeit one that is heavily criticised -- not out of disrespect for other members of the opposition,” he explained, “but because we do not want history to repeat itself."

Mr Low is presumably referring to the past instances of opposition parties going at each others’ throats – at times publicly – or generally giving the opposition a bad name, as in this incident with the PKMS members in 2009.

While the WP has the right to go it alone, as far as the opposition cause is concerned, it must also keep in mind that politics is not just about numbers – the number of seats one has in Parliament. If it were, the ruling party would not be facing the problems it is facing today. It is also about diplomacy, about negotiation, about recognising that others too have contributed – even indirectly – to the WP’s ascendency of late.

Mr Low, being the shrewd and experienced politician that he is, must also know that the WP, although enjoying wider support than all the other opposition parties presently, is at a fragile and even vulnerable position. Mr Low’s remarks or dismissal of any opposition unity ideas have sparked some talk that other parties should impede its growth by not acceding grounds to it in potential 3-cornered contests in future elections. While the WP may boast of, attract and field credible  candidates in future elections, its ambition to win more seats by banking on its brand name alone will not be enough.

The WP will have to negotiate with other parties to avoid multi-cornered fights – unless the WP, and Low, feels that the WP’s brand is now strong enough to stand on its own. However, even if the WP wins Punggol East, one hesitates to see this as a sign that the WP’s brand alone will win it more seats in future – if it were involved in multi-cornered contests, especially in GRC constituencies. The WP’s opponents in the Punggol East by-election are, with respect, not exactly tough competition.

Mr Low says the WP’s unbelief in opposition unity is not because of arrogance but because the party does not want to let Singaporeans down. But surely a discussion to avoid a multi-cornered fight, or even about the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) suggestion of a joint-campaign, is something which the WP can do. The WP’s short and terse response to the SDP, the Reform Party and even to media queries about these show an apparently different side to the matter - that it was the WP which had chosen to adopt an unnecessarily snobbish and arrogant attitude towards other parties, which is contrary to what Mr Low said.

Be that as it may, the WP’s decision to go it alone is good for the opposition as a whole over the long term.

Any opposition party which is serious about winning seats in Parliament and in bringing progress to Singapore’s democracy will now have to contend not just with the PAP but also with a WP which will not hesitate to step into other parties’ turf if it feels necessary. This means the other parties will have to buck-up, else they will be easily pushed over by the big boys, as it were. So, it is good that Mr Low has put paid to the idea of any opposition unity.

In the end, it is Singaporeans who will gain.

Having said that, Singaporeans also do not want another party which is seen to be as arrogant as the PAP. In fact, this is one reason why the PAP is more unpopular now than in any time in its history. At slightly more than 60 per cent of the popular vote from the last general elections, the PAP’s popularity is at its lowest since Singapore’s independence.

The WP leaders’ snub of other parties may have the trickle-down effect of unconsciously encouraging its rank-and-file to behave the same. And indeed, several incidents during the Punggol East by-election may be signs of this. Supporters in the WP’s side at the nomination centre on Nomination Day were heard to shout the word “pig” at the candidate from the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), Mr Desmond Lim. A WP candidate in GE 2011 made a post on his Facebook page seemingly mocking Mr Lim’s online rally videos. And even the WP MP for Hougang made fun of the name of the PAP candidate, Mr Koh Poh Koon, during a rally speech in Punggol East. And online, some comments, presumably posted by WP supporters, bordered on the distasteful.

While one would not expect emotions not to run high and certain unkind remarks to be made during the hustings by the rank and file, one would expect that senior members of the party would rise above petty, derisory and personal comments targeted at their opponents.

And this is what the WP must be careful and be aware of – that it might attract criticisms (and even lose support) not because Singaporeans do not trust it, but because of its perceived arrogant attitude, even as WP leaders may deny this exists.

A little humility will go a long way – especially for a party which, despite being on the ascendency, had managed to win only 12.8 per cent of the popular vote in the last general elections.

"They often feel pained by the disparity between and disunity of the parties here,” Mr Low said, referring to Singaporeans’ disappointment with the opposition over the years, “and the state of the political opposition in Singapore. I understand their disappointment and hopes.”

Mr Low would also do well to keep an eye on the potentially destructive attitude among his growing flock as well. For that may be an even bigger disappointment to Singaporeans if allowed to come to the fore and to rear its ugly head.

Such behaviour in fact would not befit a party which aspires or claims to be a rational, responsible, respectable and a credible one.