When I heard news that Lim Tean has resigned from NSP, I wasnt surprised of the reasons for his resignation. Curtailment of his freedom of speech is one of it. Often times, it's the alternative parties that espouses freedom of speech but in reality, fall short of implementing it within its own organization. I encountered many times where alternative parties feel uneasy when its members are vocal about issues they feel strongly about. Issues like LGBT, Tudung issue, discrimination, religion, 377A, article 154 etc.
But of course not all of the alternative parties hold such unwritten rules. It depends on the leader at helm. Some may argue that members need to toe along the party lines to achieve unity within the organization but by doing so, it instead create artificial harmony within its rank. These parties are then no better than the PAP, the very one they hope to replace. In this aspect, I'm proud to be a part of The Reform Party where its leadership never once tried to curtail my freedom of speech as long as it is done in a responsible manner. I wish Lim Tean all the best. It is better to move away than to be in a party and gets zipped up. That can spell the end of democracy.