The Internet’s reaction to PM’s speech
Tuesday, 19 August 2008, 10:04 am | 1,089 views
Here are some reactions from the Internet to PM Lee’s National Day Rally Speech.
Xeno Boy Sg - Terminal loops
The rally speech, an annual discursive masterpiece, piping us like little children merrily to wonderland. A textual orchestra of sensible cadence, reasonable rhythm, looping and re-looping like that hypnotic techno riff that is re-mastered, re-assembled, re-presented as new music this year, next year and next and the year after next. A rally like last year’s rally, like last year, and last year and the year before last and that last year.
My Singapore News - The Hsien Loong shocker
If things are what Hsien Loong had said, we are marching into a new revolution, a New Age of Internet. And every blogger is a pioneer and active participant in this revolution. And we should be proud of ourselves to be in this movement.
One Dimensional Man - PM’s National Day Rally
So what has changed? In substance, nothing much. But, I refuse to be a cynic, much like others in cyberspace. I actually think PM does want to move forward. But he is being held back by a conservative Cabinet. These rules are in place to check SDP really. I would think that if say a normal dude goes onto demonstrate, they will certainly have no problems doing so. Is this progress. Yes. Undeniably. But is it enough. No. Unfortunately.
Tan En Hui – National Day Rally speech 2008
The government will also be giving out “hongbaos” this year, due to budget surplus! 
Cool! Absolutely smashing!
Article 14 – errrrrr..p – who wrote the rally speech?
National Day Rally speeches are not intended to be funny. I am sure, however, that any good speaker would throw in a joke or two in the speech just to hold on to the attention of the audience.
Groundnotes – National Say barely speech
At the end of the day this will happen. The formal ban on political films and demonstrations will be lifted. The local media will go to town with it. But as to exactly what constitutes a political film, how it is defined and, most importantly, who defines it, will be left to the civil servants and bureaucrats. And we all know how that’s going to turn out.
Looking For Words – Singapore’s PM Lee as tech-savvy as Obama
PM Lee is a scholar, with a first class in maths from Cambridge. One suspects he will do even better if he allows critics to speak up and engages in debates with others.
Ian Tan – Once again, fathers do not exist in SG
They forget it takes two hands to clap. For goodness sake, the Gahmen is not the other half that wives need as much help they can get from - we husbands are. But where are we in this wonderful Singapore Fertility Equation? We’re nothing more than the petri dish or the titration tap.
Martyn See - Oops, we were too restrictive: PM Lee
I told them that I fully welcome the changes, that it was the biggest stride taken by the Government to loosen up political expression in the last 20 years (including the opening up of Speakers’ Corner in 1999 and the waiving of police permits for indoor functions in 2004), that it was step in the right direction in meeting my dual objectives - lessening the climate of fear and a total review of the Films Act, and that the changes were brought about by the recent actions of activists and filmmakers who had pushed the envelope.
Indecorum – National Day Rally Speech
I can’t figure out which is worse… getting more locals to give birth (higher taxes and more children on the streets) or getting in immigrants. As I was discussing with my colleagues earlier, we can’t imagine which is worse.
Simply Gab – PM Lee Rally speech: Men in White or Men in Grey?
And of course here comes the caveat. This ‘privilege’ only remains “as long as the demonstrators adhere to basic rules of law and order, and stay away from issues of race, language or religion.” – a huge grey area if you ask me.
Mr Wang – Education and the great pain of rather useless things
I like the general theme of PM Lee’s speech, but I think he still missed the point. Frankly I do not care whether our schools are more or less stressful than those in Korea, or Japan, or anywhere else. Here’s the more important question. After all that stress, what do our students actually get out of it?
Longest Flight – What pro-family measures?
It’s not easy to juggle between finance and raising a family. While any help from the Government is welcome, but the measurements announced this year is still not going to meet my needs, and to the people around me.
Suety – NDR 2009
Sometimes, I can’t help but feel fortunate because Singapore has a PM who looks after Singapore like a father looks after his sons. Yes, prices are increasing, but probably like he say its not something he can control. Giving subsidy is not a long term solution either. Sigh.
Andy Boi Republic – PM Lee turns Prime “Matchmaker”
Fancy turning to every channel and see your favourite PM Lee appearing. My mum says “kns” in a joking manner of course, coz her 9pm fann wong show will not be appearing today. LOL.
Saucy Pine - I like PM Lee
i never knew the government did so much and gave us so much money. i wonder if they receive any thank yous and if so, from who. cause all along, i’ve never heard anyone thank the government, i’ve only heard people complain and blame and resent the government. those people, shen zai fu zhong bu zhi fu. (my chinese quite pro now right!)
Andi Noordin - Life in technicolour
A yet comprehensive speech by our PM Lee but its fully appreciated but i think to some the speech kinda gave them a sense of hope for the future. As for me i’m not too sure cause living condition in here will keep on updating and changing and all one’s needs to do is just play along and play it well.
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can someone kind enough to record or take note or take pic or take video. to see he do what he say tks
I wonder how PM Lee arrived at $122 or $198 ERP charges a motorist typically pays for the entire year of 2008!!??
Let’s do some simple math:
There are 52 weeks in a year.
According to MOM, there are 10 public holidays in 2008 (equals to 2 weeks).
Let’s assume a worker gets on average 20 days annual leave (equals to 4 weeks).
That means a typical motorist drives to/from work (assuming office is in CBD) 46 weeks (52 - 2 - 4) in 2008. 46 weeks equal 230 work days.
compare 230 driving days with the $122 or $198 given by out PM.
Is our PM saying that the average motorist pays less than $1 a day for ERP??!!!
Assuming the average motorist pays $6 per day for ERP charges, total ERP charges paid for 2008 would be $1,380 !!! This is significantly more than the amount of road tax “savings”!!
“I wonder how PM Lee arrived at $122 or $198 ERP charges a motorist typically pays for the entire year of 2008!!??”
Pinkish clown never will want to say how he arrive at such figures as usual but dig him further, he probably sprout nonsense like motorist will typically resort to taking public transport to avoid ERP, therefore reducing the cost to his estimate cost. $122/198 is just humdumb to make the figure and himself look good. He can’t possibly quote $10 and that might make him a greater fool.
oppss sorry, he is no longer pinkish clown. From the photo, he is now greyish clown.
Something tells me the hongbaos will be miserable. Governor, please prove me wrong!
4 months maternity leave? Well…may be it will work! But I think 10 to 30% pay increase for almost everyone is more effective!
Daniel: Not surprising for him to say something silly. Remember Mee Siam Mai Hum? In trying to come across as being familiar with the average Singaporean, he ended up saying something so silly and foolish that in the final end, he looked more like an ignoramus and totally blur as a sotong and out of touch! It became a monumental laughing stock of the town!
I suggest the way is to reverse the retirement age limit back to its original 55 years and return all the hard earned life long savings back to the people, this may still be the only hope to save the ruling garment from losing more seats in the next election since so much damages has already been done to the people. What do you all suggest?
“4 months maternity leave? Well…may be it will work!”
More discriminations toward pregnant employees and more inclination to employ immigrant workers.
“4 months maternity leave? Well…may be it will work!”
More discrimination towards pregnants employees and more inclination to employ migrant workers.
c’mon guys, i do agree with you people. but look on the brighter side. there is a little bit of change, at least. what i felt from hearing the speech is that. this guy is trying to make an effort to change our current society. yes, he is being held up by his old buddies, but we should definitely applaud his efforts. AND lets not forget, his is just the start. hopefully, more changes are made to our ’system’.
I personally find it hard to believe there’s any real change at all. So much for liberalising political discussions online. Views have been exchanged on fora like TOC for some time now; it isn’t so much the government’s benevolent magnamity to ‘allow’, as a begrudging realisation that they might as well throw their hands up and accept that these exchanges already exist.
How is LHL attempting to change our current society? Hard-pressed to see how politics has been liberalised at all. No mention whatsoever about the GRC system and how that continues to impose a structural impediment to any kind of opposition. Recent comments from LKY on how the PAP will still continue to be the future of Singapore — it just needs to ‘renew itself’ (I paraphrase) in an entirely endogenous process continues to underline the government’s stance that S’pore will continue to champion itself as a one-party state.
From the rhetoric on parenting, dating, a return to matchmaking and so forth, coupled with the decision to now merge SDU and SDS, the nanny state looms larger than ever, ever-ready to intrude even further into the (love) lives of Singaporeans.
Perhaps they should re-name the entire exercise. I certainly didn’t feel ‘rallied’ by the Speech — judging by the comatose audience, I don’t think they did either. We might all have our own judgements to pass on LKY, but there’s no doubt he was and still is a far more powerful speaker than his son.
AKM speakth my sentiments exactly.
i think there is an effort to make the general society a better place. Not just for a certain group of people but for everyone in Singapore. Changes have to be made gradually and the challenge lies in making the right decision that will benefit Singaporeans on the long run and not making easy decisions just to pacify Singaporeans.
11) Suety on August 20th, 2008 11.52 am
Hi, I have through your web site and some mentioning on Macro/Micro economics and demand supply stuff. I wonder you have read some of the books by joseph stiglitz, very unconventional person of looking at economic issues. Not those conventional tired pieces that you will often hear being regurgitated out by most persons.
Child Care leave is granted to only employees with any child below 7 years of age. Can the government consider increasing the range of the children age group, preferably to at least 12 years old? Although Children in this age group are more independant, they would still need our attention, guidance and companionship.
Since Childcare Leave is meant for parents to spend more time with their children – to care for them and to tend to their needs, isn’t it more meaningful if it is being extended to employees with children beyond the age group of 7 years old?
The 6 days of Child Care leave granted makes a great difference as it is almost half our annual leave. The annual leave is set aside to meet contingencies needs for our parents and children. The extra 6 days leave would help to lighten the burden on both working parents who have to juggle their time between work and home
12) Suety on August 20th, 2008 11.52 am
thank you for sharing my point of view. really appreciated. i just hope more singaporeans would agree with me. and let me again stress on the fact that we have leaps and bound to go before we achieve a satisfactory legal system. so let all stick together and move FORWARD. yea? cheers!
are we over-emphasizing on baby-making ? how to convince people to get marry is the first step, right ? do you think singapore men nowadays want to marry foreign women than singapore women ? can it be because of our women charter act ? aren’t we avoiding the address of this issue. i am puzzled.
Even a documentary is more interesting that his bed time stories… I mean speech…
Everyone has different needs. Baby bonus can only help some people. Baby bonus started implementing a few years ago. Our population is still not increasing much. Why can’t we just get couples to adopt abandon babies? Any couples who wishes to have more than 2 children should be asked to adopt instead. These infants also need the love & care of parents. Placing them in an orphanage is not good for their overall wellbeings.
We should look at the plight of some elderly people instead. Have the PAP walk down Orchard Road recently? Many elderly are reduced to selling tissue papers to make a living. Any help given to these people? Has anyone tried to find out why they are not willing to seek help from social welfare groups?
Why are we funding dating agencies? Are they not running a business? We should provide help where it is needed. Waiving off electricity & water bills for a few months for middle-income & below would be a great help.
When SDU was started in the late 80s, it came under the purview of a divorcee, emperor of SDC. No wonder it turned out to be a total failure. How could LHL, then Ministe of TDI put the SDU under a man whose own marriage went bust for one reason or another, most probably womanising.
One solution to this dilemma I’d suggest is to scrap NS entirely or defer NS until a male citizen has completed post seconary/college education with all his credentials achieved, ready to enter into the job market, earn a living and more ready to get hitched and settled down.
In my observation over the years, most students are trying or going steady at Pre-U. And the moment they graduate from college, they would like to continue with their post education at the same time. The NS disruption for their male counterparts is disastrous.
My nephew was going very steady with his girlfriend when they were at ACJC and so was his younger sister. But when all of them graduated, both my nephew and niece’s boyfriend were enlisted into NS while my niece and nephew’s girlfriend proceeded to NUS, Their relationships went on for a while more before the time bomb exploded. Both the girls dropped their boyfriends like ten pins. I asked them why? Their reply was that the girls were not prepared to marry someone behind them in their paper chase. This is just a single example involving two couples. There may be hundreds or thousands more.
Maybe, LHL should give serious thought to my preceding suggestion and give it a shot, now that the citizen armed forces is well established and with no imminent dangers lurking around the region. Otherwise his revival of SDU will lead to another disastrous failure and his covert attempts, if any, at producing a super-talented race through super genetic engineering may be at jeopardy too.
As is happening in most developed countries, immigration is the most likely alternative to replenish a shrinking population. SIN-ans should be prepared for such a drastic change and the government must have in place all that is necessary to meet these challenges and changes in the myraids of landscapes in the city of SIN.