TRS: I understand that you have been shopping around with Reform Party, SDP, SPP, NSP and WP. So how have you been volunteering with opposition parties? What are some of the activities that you have been doing?
CJ: There are many ways for you to volunteer. For example, you can make a cash donation which is the easiest and simplest way to do so. Another is their outreach activities. Every time, they publish their newsletters, you can volunteer by peddling around their newsletters, going up door-to-door to residents who may not eat at coffee shops etc.
For Workers Party, they need definitely more volunteers as People's Association don't work with them, so their volunteers are needed to conduct more MPS, community events such as Countdown 2014 or festivals etc. It's hard work as you are expected to stay as long as past midnight. The level of commitment is high and all for no money at all.
For those volunteers who wish to do more in policy research, policy debate or writing their Manifesto, it's only when you have volunteered enough hours and gained some trust before they allow you to get involved in this area. For me, I am satisfied with playing just the supporting role.
TRS: Having volunteered in PAP and Opposition Parties, are there any significant differences you have observed?
CJ: I have attended some open houses events in opposition parties and there are definitely some anger, resentment and some are loose cannons.
PAP volunteers are usually more reserved and even if they do voice out some real issues and if the RC Chairman over-rides them, they will usually compromise. During these meetings, People's Association full salaried staff also sit in so even if these staff don't really see eye to eye with RC Chairman, they keep quiet as their jobs are at stake.
Opposition party volunteers, being non-salaried and nothing to lose, can be rather opinionated and stubborn and challenge their Senior volunteers over issues or policy debates or nominations over CEC.
That's why sometimes, you have read about how some former SDP members Tan Jee Say, or ex-Reform Party members who left over differences of opinions. For some reason, they cannot compromise and have nothing to lose so they leave. But overall, this is bad image.
Most swing voters want to see reliability. No matter how qualified you are, but with this track record of going public or leaving in a whim when you feel shortchanged, any political party or voters will think twice before recruiting you.
TRS: Any good things to say about PAP, despite your change in alliances?
CJ: I have volunteered in PAP MPS too and also organised People's Association Sing-a-Nation and CountDown parties in previous years. These mega-events are really tough to manage because we need to back goody bags, ensure that the stages, chairs, seating arrangement and logistics are in order.
Only salaried staff from People's Association take charge of this events and we volunteers just follow their orders. Most volunteers aren't rewarded but we also get our hands on goody bags.
Although it's tiring but it's worth it, for the sake of building a nation.
I believe Workers Party also will steal some of these ideas for their celebrations as People's Association don't work with them.
On these occasions, PAP MPs also contact needy families through People's Association and get these families to join in these celebrations.
Many residents had a great time during these events and it's this kind of events that make people want to vote for PAP again.
Already, PAP has monopolised so many festive occasions and always show up on these occasions so the brand name is there. Familiarity breeds comfort and so residents may still vote for PAP.
Therein, lies the danger of ignorance. Residents should be informed of how Parliament works and if their MP is not doing a good job in Parliament, they should think twice about voting for them again.
At the end of the day, after cheering festive celebrations have ended, have the residents' lives improved?
Do they have better jobs? Or has their salaries stagnated? Has it become easier to take public transport?