TOC International is our new column and is made up of a group of Singaporeans who are currently living, studying or working abroad. From countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and China, they’ll write about their experiences, thoughts and observations about life away from Singapore. TOC International is headed by Donaldson Tan, in London.
Jason Lim / TOCI Writer
As a Singaporean working in China, I meet a lot of Chinese locals who are interested to know more about Singapore. Many were curious about how and why a small country such as Singapore, which is without any natural resources, can be so successful. To this, I answer Singapore has a good, clean and efficient government. The PAP government, which has led Singapore since independence, has done an excellent job in transforming Singapore into a modern city state. Do we not all mutter the same reason word-for-word to explain Singapore’s success?
Opposition in Singapore and China
Some Chinese commented that both Singapore and China adopt the one-party system, but this is not true. Singapore is a dominant-party state, where weak and ineffective opposition exists. While Singaporeans have the right to vote for the right and best government, choices are limited because the rise of any opposition is often marked by a quick dismissal, usually caused by bankruptcy, defamation suit, etc.
There are also systematic constraints in Singapore that curtail Singaporeans’ choices on political parties and access to opinions on politics and public policy. These constraints include the climate of fear, the ruling party’s monopoly on ascertaining public interest, limited freedoms of association and speech, incomplete data and statistics published by the government, and no free press. Dr Bryan Caplan (Associate Professor in Economics at George Mason University) made a very startling discovery, when he visited Singapore’s Civil Service College as a Consultant in November 2008, that the public’s opinion hardly matters in policy making.
On the other hand, China is one-party state whereby the Communist Party of China (CPC) is and will always be the only political party in power. Contrary to popular opinion, 8 opposition political parties actually exist in China, but they cannot participate in parliamentary elections. The close ties between the CPC and these opposition political parties date back to prior to the Chinese Civil War whereby these political parties pledged political and financial support to the CPC against the Kuomintang (KMT) which had outlawed them.
The opposition political parties form the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), along with other special interest groups such as trade unions, business associations and ethnic organisations, which make recommendations to the National People’s Congress (the Chinese Parliament) and the State Council (the Chinese Cabinet). The Chinese Opposition today are in fact lobbyists and key members of the opposition political parties are usually installed in important positions under the Chinese Administrative Service and the Chinese Judiciary.
Voting in Singapore and China
The Singapore electorate currently consists of 14 Group Representative Constitutencies (GRC) and 9 Single Member Constituencies (SMC). Each GRC or SMC is contested in a plurality voting basis, otherwise known as winner-takes-all. Though the government has assured the public that their vote is not traced and voting is supposed to be secret, the serialising of our votes remain a concern for most Singaporeans. This is especially so for people who work in the government sector. The question remains at the back of many Singaporeans’ minds: “Will I be penalised on my work if I vote for the opposition?”
Drawing the boundary lines for GRC and SMC just months before the election is certainly in the favour of the ruling government. GRC and SMC are constantly regrouped, and the MPs of the ruling party will know exactly where they should build the rapport but not the opposition. This is largely caused by the Election Department, which falls under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Office, setting rules in favour of the ruling party. In other estasblished democratic countries, the Election Department is an independent non-partisan body which does not side any political parties and their role is primarily to ensure a smooth and fair election.
In China, there have been direct elections since 1978. Instead of multi-party contest in a multi party democracy, a one-party system has multiple factions contesting. All candidates are CPC members but they represent different factions which are associated with different key CPC members in the CPC politburo. Election in China is multi-layered. The ordinary man can only elect their representatives at the county (a village or a few small villages) or municipal (town or small city) level.
A large city may consist of a handful of counties instead. The elected representatives are collectively known as the local People’s Congress. Each provincial People’s Congress in turn will elect a team which will represent the province at the National People’s Congress, which is the highest legislative body in China. The President and vice president are elected by the National People’s Congress for five-year terms.
Most political scholars criticise this – that intra-party politics dominates the layers between the County-Municipal levels and Provincial-National levels. Therefore, the Chinese feel helpless when it comes to having a say in running their own country. They are also not less apathetic than Singaporeans when it comes to national politics. In Singapore, while we are able to elect our representatives to parliament to a limited extent, intra-party politics dominates too in deciding who the Cabinet will be.
Taking Matters into Perspective
Singapore is a democratic country. We have the right to vote for our leaders. But, do we really have this privilege? The media, which is controlled by the government (same as China) often publish news pertaining to opposition in a negative light. Access to political opinion is restricted while public debates of government policies are not taken up by the various mainstream media in Singapore. Therefore, in most cases, many Singaporeans either make uninformed choices during the General Elections or to resign to walkovers in their constituencies..
Th PAP continues to be our government and make themselves the highest paid civil servants in the world (even with the recent pay cut, they are still the highest paid in the world). Even though they may have made some blunders along the way, examples – Mas Selemat’s escape or Government linked – Temasek and Shin Corporation investment fiasco or the losses at Singapore-Suzhou industrial park or even the recent mini bonds or town council sinking funds, they are all small blunders and they continue to be our government.
Unless we have a free press and open debates on politics and government policies, majority of Singaporeans will remain detached from the political environment and not take charge of their ownership of Singapore. Political apathy may be good for maintaining stability of a country, but too much of it can be bad for the country, especially when there is nobody to sound out the alarm or contribute a solution when Singapore is heading towards disaster.
Singapore politics is not really different from China’s in many aspects although they differ in details. In effect, both Singapore and China has an electorate which feels helpless with regards to the political situation and they are too resigned to deal with authorities or political figures. The helplessness is further compounded by the question of whether political opposition in Singapore or China truly represent alternative voices of the people and whether they are effective in influencing any government policy.
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About the author:
Jason graduated with BSc (Hons) Business with the University of London, and have been working in various parts of China including Shanghai and Guangzhou for the last 3 years. Being a Singaporean, he is particularly interested in Singapore politics. Disappointed with the apathetic attitude towards politics of many Singaporeaans, he feels that “we a need a political revival in our country. We need to have a stronger say and stand in running of our country, this is what a true democratic country should be.”
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If you are Singaporean and overseas, and would like to contribute to The Online Citizen, we would like to invite you to join the new TOC International group of writers. Send us an email at theonlinecitizen@gmail.com .
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“Mas Selemat’s escape or Government linked – Temasek and Shin Corporation investment fiasco or the losses at Singapore-Suzhou industrial park or even the recent mini bonds or town council sinking funds, they are all small blunders and they continue to be our government.”
Seriously, are these small blunders ? It is small is because that is what the government want to people to believe in order cushion the impact of failure and blunder. In fact these blunders are serious enough to affect the trust and satisfaction of the citizens towards the government.
Congratulations! TOC is going international. Hope that our past veteran politicians who are overseas can take this opportunity to air their views here and prepare for their comeback in two to three years time. I see it coming.
Kudos to you Jason. Your last second paragraph just about sum up the ground sentiments and the state Singapore is in. In my opinion, Singapore is far from being democratic. At best, I would say Singapore is “shady” if not “bogus” democratic with authoritarian guided rule. Until the smoke screens and covers are unveiled (god knows when this will ever happen even with the passing of the shadow “ringleader”), can you then truly say we are equal to countries that are democratic without a reasonable doubt.
Are Singaporeans apathetic when it comes to politic? This is debatable. I think the past few years had attested to is that Singaporeans are being made more aware of the country they live in and how they are actually being governed. Even if those who are non apathetic to politics, when given a change to cast that sacred vote, it will be hard pressed that change will actually take place if status quo is their finite choice due to their deep rooted believes that their personal benefit they stand to receive for making the aforesaid choice outstrip the will to vote for change. It all boils down to the will and attitude of the people. It is no easy job to change behavioral pattern that had its root sunk deep and wide in a generation or two. Not even this dubbed once a century financial tsunami will have any great effect. Another “not so far fetch draw” is that voting rules may be changed at will with the majority on hand to allowed PRs to vote. Who’s there to challenge and veto such rule change if ever this is needed? Where do you think the PRs will vote if they are given the rights with goodies attached?
We can rant and complain, but action speaks louder. If people are so determined to want to see change, people would take it to the street and make their voices heard regardless of any rules that prohibit such act. (This was the initial stage of new Singapore 40 some years ago when then we were still a colonial state). Evidently, we have not reached this crunching state as yet. Taking to the street is not necessary uncivilized behavior but the faith of being labeled radicals by the government and its avid supporters are expected albeit there is no intention of instigating but only purely a view expressed that may be shared by many. Moreover this is an option that I believed does not exist in many people’s mind. A day where you see 500 thousands citizenry march in the street is where you know things are really dire. I think the chances of striking the lottery jackpot are much higher than this.
Histories had time and again proved that big drastic changes to any society are never calm. It is inevitable that only a revolution will bring drastic change where “true” democracy is not at work. Our M&M knows it too well and for this reason he had publicly made a statement to bring in the army even if he had to rise from his grave to crash any “freak” election. As long as mindsets do not change, the incumbent will rule as a single majority for the next 20 or even 30 more years. When situations are dire and when it is a matter of survival or pass on, only in such circumstances will our inner human instinct take over and all that inner fear subconsciously dissipates. Only then, will we see the light at the end of the tunnel. That is how I personally feel the situation will evolve with one obscured possibility, inner circle belligerence. This cannot be ruled out as it may appear on surface the unity is there at moment, shrewd bureaucrats are great actors.
Jason rightly pointed out our system being similar to China’s.
that’s why Sg is NOT a democracy. A paper democracy perhaps, that’s why it can go on making long term paper losses in foreign investments!
Agree with #1 Daniel. These blunders are not small. Suzhou was a major embarrassment that showed how incompetent our officials were.
Of course there weren’t really the Internet then to counter the spin by the MSM.
I would like to comment on the quotes taken from the Financial Times.
Of course, the government is nervous about the impact the public reaction to this economic crisis. Unlike other governments which may promise their people greater better quality of life which may come in the form of greater cultural expression, the whole PAP mandate to rule is founded on its ability to deliver economic performance.
China’s leaders at least appear and take lead when crisis whereas our clowns hide behind the back, talkcock and sing song, and evade responsibility and let the little people take the rap.
But the author fail to caught the mindset of the younger generation… they are generally divided into 3 groups, the elite group; who come from family that are well connected and well off. They usually are from the “elite schools” and their responds generally is singapore is a great place to live and PAP is doing a great job; they may want to live in US or Europe but they would want to keep they sg passport.
Tthe middle group; they usually are well educated/late boomers and have well inform about current affairs. They generally range from feel that the goverment can improve or already give up on the country or the ppl in this country.
The Content: they usually are have not political standing and detech from current affairs or news in singapore. they may complaint but when election time they would want to be on the “winning side”. they can say things like i viote the p group because they sure win one why bother to vote the other group.The most scary thing this group of ppl are the largest grp of all 3.
Kudos to Jason and this article
and all the revelation is thanks to the net
Dear Observer(SG-HK) had stated some very realistic scenarios that are likely or will happen. I fully concur with him that manipulations will be made to the Voting System and there is absolutely nothing or no one able to stop them.
However, I like to add that whatever action they undertake to favour themselves to the maximum, it will never benefit themselves, the people or the country. As it is, nationhood does not exist, it died in the womb of independence and had since never able to be conceived. With the influx of immigrants of non homogeneous cultural backgrounds and ideological differences with the local born, the population is unlikely able to gel, hence will always be splintered. Such a mix will never augment nation building coherently. Every nation needs the love from its’ people; without the feeling of belonging to the country, the land is just a piece of ground that belongs to nobody but just for anybody to stand on when it is still worth to stay around.
As for the citizenry, dilution from the immigrants will cause the local to lose their faith in the Leadership and hence the country. Without natural resources, the high density in population, scarcity of employment/occupation and high costs of living , many will be driven to desperations and despondencies. Dare I say there are no sign of remedy for the malaise we are suffering now and GREEDs have brought hell upon us now and worse is to come.
Maybe without any idea to contribute to provide solution, I should keep my mouth shut, however, I must contend that we have highest paid in the World Politicians that are entitle to the DUTY. As all Singaporeans are awared, You and I are caged/captured birds, not even allow to cry for helps, otherwise we will be accused of whinning and ranting. And we have even lost our abilities to fly away from hell.
Whatever happens in the near future and beyond, one thing is clear, the poor and weak will be at the mercy of our leadership and Nature. To those who can control their fates, congratulations and to those consigned to fate, I do not know how to comfort You except to say I am in your company.
patriot
One is a family fiefdom and the other is not. A dictator is in power for 50 years and his son is installed as his successor. Whereas in the other country, leaders come and go without hereditary claims.
Parliament in peesai is a mere rubber stamp, a show, a facade. Its “economic success” is a myth. How could it be a “success” when the economy is projected to contract as much as minus 5%? The income gap between a small group of the rich — mainly foreigners, careerist ministers, their cronies, etc — and the ordinary citizens is ever widening.
The how about North Korea as an example?
2008 was an eventful year for China, both good and bad happened in this big country. It seems to me that they are finally starting to change their approach towards press freedom and information transparency. I read this article with interest about recent China development: http://www.zaobao.com/special/china/cnpol/pages2/cnpol090207b.shtml. I would translate this to “Illegal for officials to attack adverse online opinion”.
Turn our heads back to the local scene, I’d anticipate very soon we will be far behind China in terms of media openness, opinions expressions and debates etc. When China growingly gain their confidence and more willing to change their old practices, our government is still feeling insecure and trying their best to walk backward. Meanwhile many of us still believe there are a lot for us to ‘teach’ PRC officials on how to run a country. Time to wake up, everyone!!
“Whatever happens in the near future and beyond, one thing is clear, the poor and weak will be at the mercy of our leadership and Nature. To those who can control their fates, congratulations and to those consigned to fate, I do not know how to comfort You except to say I am in your company.” : Patriot
Looks like I’m in the bad company too.
If we are lucky enough, the POW’s (poor, old and weak) will be spending their dying years in JB. If Mr Khaw Boon Wan has his ways, Mah Bow Tan may help him build special chutes in HDB flats (not unlike the current rubbish chutes) where the POW’s can jump in and self-destruct without feeding themselves to white tigers, MRT trains or jumping from highrise. Then we shall be burden no more! To encourage more to jump, they may consider giving Self-Destruct Chutists a Pingat Hormat on National Day.
I joked about the self-destruct suicide chutes in my first blog, “When I die” in http://feedmetothefish.blogspot.com/2007/09/before-i-die.html However with the legal sale of body organs being legalised soon and euthanasia put up for discussion by Khaw, the self destruction of POW’s may be a joke no more.
When the greed for money and power is the only reason for being, the pragmatic destruction of ‘digits’ that are no longer productive is the way to “staying together, moving ahead”! In our Singapore ‘golden period’ human chain, we have no need for weak links.
Animal Farm, anybody?
feedmetothefish
We talk of change,but do we dare to change?Are we prepared for change?
We don’t want to see a group of politicians down and replaced by another group of opportunists. Just look at our neighbour, the “job-hopping” in Perak speak volumes of the calibre of the politicians.
While i don’t like the PAP elitism, i am not mentally prepared to axe them from power. What i wish is more checks and balances, perhaps opposition winning a GRC
People like cy and others who lament about the weak opposition we have, I hope you people realise that more check and balance will never come about if you keep on voting for papee.
It is sad that the middle ground do not realise the trap set by papee.
No, our politics is not the same, but is WORSE than that of China.
wow, I din know Communist China has 8 Opposition parties! shocking!
Kudos to Jason Lim !
An Eye opener for me.
Thanks TOCI!
The middle ground is aware Amy! You’ll be surprised. It’s just that there are not enough alternatives/substitutes to go around with. You sack Scolari, in comes Hiddink. After him, maybe Ancelotti. But here, the ruling party, like AIG in America, has grown to be this all encompassing structure that it is seen as “too big to fail” by the middle ground. Herein lies its aura of invincibility.
INTERESTING comparisons between SGP and Communist China !
I was shock that Communism also allow voting internally within the party.
Sounds like a bit Democratic ?
We are not even like communist china, more like modern time Hitler. Maybe when things really gone awefully wrong for these elites, they start shooting at sight at anyone who dares goes against them. You wouldn’t imagine what can happen in politics when one is power craze.
Thanks to Jason for a well-written article.
Many GEs ago, during a rally at Fullerton Square, CST listed many similarities between Singapore and communist China: compromised elections, controlled press and media, suppressed opposition, climate of fear, etc.
20 years later, we are still the same as before.
20 years from now if the situation remains the same, Singaporeans will be in serious troubles. The corrupt and inefficient leaders in future are so powerful that no elections or people power will be able to over-throw them. It will be like Zimbabwe now with inflation at more than 1 million %. Your $1 will be worth less than 1 peanut.
Called it what ever u like but it works and the majority are fully fed and clothed.
This system allows you to think of other things and gave u the free time to complain and not worry about the next meal. Do not act like a spoiled child but of cause we can improve and do better in other aspect of life. Thank GOD for TOC for it makes me realised how fortunate I am to be a Singaporean.
#22 – this system can also conduct mass murder when it likes.
What’s there to stop a Tiananmen from happening outside our Istana? NOTHING. :)
#22) cj21
Called it what ever u like but it works and the majority are fully fed and clothed.
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Sadly, many Singaporeans think like you. Only care for the present and the near future. Remember Lehman Bros, Merill L, etc . Past performances are no guarantee of future earnings. When this system collapses it will be too late for another party to take over. Singapore will collapse also. We may have to beg Malaysia to take singapore back. This is what LKY used to frighten us a few years ago.
Edward > Not just a few years ago. is everytime when the balance of power seem to tilt, the “rejoin” malaysia talk would come out again. Maybe we shd practise what is in US rite now. “CHANGE”
# 22) cj21 on February 12th, 2009 11.59 pm
Quote:
“Called it what ever u like but it works and the majority are fully fed and clothed.
This system allows you to think of other things and gave u the free time to complain and not worry about the next meal. Do not act like a spoiled child but of cause we can improve and do better in other aspect of life. Thank GOD for TOC for it makes me realised how fortunate I am to be a Singaporean.” Unquote.
Yah loh, I also same same think like you leh.
You so clever hor. I also like to be so clever like you,
and also like to thank GOD for TOC,
but I not sure which god to thank.
The Hindu God, Christian God, Muslim God, Toaist Gods or Buddhist Gods.
So many GODs. So many choices hor.
I rather confused now. Which one to thank har?
I think better choose the Human GOD who is the opposite of Kuan Yin.
Can or not?
Actuallly., in proportionate terms, China has improved by leaps and bounds.
But Singapore is still stucked the in the past politically. just look at
the countries that used to be run by dictatorships in this region -South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia or Malaysia and you know we are stucked in the well with the likes of N. Koreas and Burma.
And WKS is coming up with even more stifling laws
the easiest reason why singapore is so developed despite having virtually no natural resource (except having deep natural harbour in world’s busiest shipping line) is because singapore is small.
being small, singapore has advantageous economy of scale in its nation building. for example, in singapore it’s possible to build 1 large complex of primary, secondary school, and JC in the center of singapore without any hall of residence (i.e every student commutes between home and school) which can be reached by any child living in singapore. meanwhile, in large country like china, it wouldn’t be possible (commuting between shanghai to the centre everyday?!).
hong kong and iceland are also small country which experienced rapid growth. in case of iceland, even though it more land than france has, but the bulk of its population lives in its capital.
Even in China party members can vote their leader out. Does anyone believe that our party members will have the balls to vote against the leader or his choice of candidate. Therein is the basic fault of our political mechanism, its been planned in such a way that a select few will always remain immune. Many believe that change in the political landscape must come form within the party but that is never likely to happen for power will always remain in the hands will of the very select few and their families.
China execute corrupt officials—.Singapore feed zillions of dollars to the greed of officials to “PREVENT” them from corruption.
China sacked and jailed incompetent officials. —-Singapore say it is the GURKHA fault, “LETS MOVE ON”—–”IT’S AN HONEST MISTAKE”–Loss of $58 billion—”I HAVE NO REGRET”,”IT’S O-N-L-Y PAPER LOSS”
27) john tay on February 13th, 2009 9.38 am
Actuallly., in proportionate terms, China has improved by leaps and bounds.
But Singapore is still stucked the in the past politically.
I believe those changes in China happened only when the old guards died. When the old guards died and new ones take over, they are free to correct the mistakes made and eliminate their enemies in the process.
So, when our old guards go to the next world, we may see some changes in Singapore.
Bravo Jason, a very interesting and analytical comparison was struck between Sin and the PRC.
However to those who think that the PRC is ‘more democratic’ or has more ‘freedoms’ than us in Sin, I’d like to point out that 2 years ago, Chinese authorities cracked down on small scale oil refineries that were set up in the western provinces. These refineries or derricks were bought collectively by villages or communities decades ago when the CPC decided that the land was useless, so they are all legal, but recently when oil was discovered and huge profits were being made, the CPC suddenly decided to nationalize the areas containing the oil deposits, giving the people who owned them the bare minimum in compensation. When the owners protests, the police were sent in to round them up and publicly beat them as an ‘example’ to the citizens. The article is in Time news mag, only a couple or years back.
So judging from this and the recent Tibetan…incident, I would say that China is far from serious democratic change or any kind, and that when it does experience change, it will come in a very violent and unruly form. This is in my opinion.
That off my chest, I do think that Singaporeans are caged and oppressed when it comes to election and our politics. Most Singaporeans hold the same myopic and parochial opinion, which is “We have enough food and clothes on our backs, we should not complain etc etc.” My answer to that is “Is that ENOUGH?” Only a fool would think that food and clothes are enough to satiate a human being. If everyone were as foolish as # 22, then there would be a severe lack or institutions and schools of thought. Social change and advancement is what a society or community should move toward, not sit back and relax just because there is a loaf of bread on the table and clothes to wear. Do you think the black civil rights movement in the US was formed and carried out because the blacks were starving and naked? Do you think that the mass protests in Taiwan against Chen Shui Bian were initiated because the Taiwanese had no food and decided to go get their clothes back from the President? Perhaps in the future when you want to post something that is so parochial in perspective and use it to chastise us in this forum as being ingrates and spoiled brats, you should think about how it resonates cj21.
This system where the top of the civil service is paid millions a year is a system that cannot continue to work. Mr Lee KY insists that the percentage that the ministers are being paid is only a fraction of our GDP, but when u take into account the same fraction of GDP paid to the ministers and secretaries of the G8 nations, it does not compute. Mr Lee HL is paid the combined salaries of several world leaders, these include, then President Georg Bush (US), German Chancellor Angela Merkel, then British Prime Minister Tony Blair (UK) and then President Vladimir Putin (Russia).
Singaporean citizens believe that we have an ‘immaculate’ civil service and a ‘perfect’ form of government. Well, I guess it’s up to opinion then isn’t it? I don’t think that a government in which there is no form of opposition and a severely lack in checks and balances is a good form of governance, but that’s just my opinion.
The main reason why Singaporeans don’t care about local politics is because most of us don’t see this as a home, but just somewhere that we were born. Take a temperature poll and see how many want to migrate, without taking into account the feasibility of it. Then take the same poll in the US or any Western nation. Most of us want to leave if we get the chance to, those that don’t think that it is best to stay in Singapore because it is safe, but is Sin safe or it is linear and stagnant. Ask yourself that question. A US citizen will complain and rant and bitch about issues, but when it comes to voting, they go to the voting station and cast their ballot in faith of their system. When planes were hijacked and slammed into the side of the WTC Towers, Americans from the Rednecks who say ”GOD, GUNS AND GLORY MADE AMERICA” to the Liberals who protest for “GAY RIGHTS AND SOCIAL SECURITY” banded together in unity. When Singaporeans see a fellow Singaporean killed in Mumbai or a plane hijacked in the case of SQ Flight 117 in 1991, all we do is say “Aiyo…poor thing” or “See la, stupid go to India and get shot”. You see the difference? A US citizen is proud of his country and will stand up for it, A Singaporean citizen is inert in no matter what situation. So how about standing up and saying we deserve better and we are going to do better instead of just doing nothing. That would be a change.
Abraham Lincoln said the government was ”of the people, by the people and for the people.” Is that our government? Sadly no, as the article pointed out, public opinion is not even considered when policies are made. The people don’t recognise the government as ‘of the people’ or ‘by the people’ because we don’t even vote for most of them! Some posts rightly put it that there is no stopping our government from precipitating a Tiananmen Square massacre in Singapore. We only choose to believe that it won’t happen.
“What luck for rulers that men do not think.”
- Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945)
Perhaps it is time that we asked questions about what the state controlled media is telling us. About what the state controlled unions are giving us. Most importantly, about what the government is doing for us. Or maybe, you just don’t want to think.
Xy
To cy 14)
If you don’t vote for opposition, no one else can make this change.
It’s people like you who don’t dare to take the risk that keeps this regime going..
Calling all Opposition opportunists is unfair. You mean the imcumbents are not being Opportunists to change boundary lines at their whims and fancy to the point of being unfair? Announcing these boundaries late etc etc as per the article is not being Opportunistic? Raising fees etc after GE is not opportunistic? Electric Tariff? ERP, GST… Hows investing and losing billions in one sector for seeking opportunities for you. Have a sense of proportion. $58 billion.
It starts with you.
Wise up.
My Fellow Singaporeans :
Please wake up… look ahead to your future. WHen u are old and useless, u get thrown in JB.
What is there to look forward to?
Do something about it
One of the biggest myths that the PAP loves to perpetuate is that they are responsible for sg’s success. Wrong! It is the hardworking and loyal sg people and pioneers who made is island modern and clean. Besides that, sg has always been a thriving port city located in a prime spot in world trade routes. It has been that during the British colonial days, and even in the 14th Century it was a notable trading outpost in the Bugis empire.
The problem with most Singaporeans is the long embedded “Kiasu” (scared to lose) and “Kiasi” (scared to die) mentality, which has been directly or indirectly inculcated over time by the System of Fear Mongering.
Today, very few people are willing and ready to sacrifice their own selfish temporary comfort (or imagined comfort) for the greater good of the society. Even those elites who are cashing in on the selective meritocratic process have totally no guts to go against their perceived “Master”.
So this “Don’t Rock The Boat” syndrome becomes the norm of the day and the philosophy of “Live and Let Live” continues.
Personally, I think under the existing circumstances Singapore will never change even if the Dictator dies. As can be seen in historical evidence, a system based upon dictatorship (irrespective of whether it is good dictatorship or bad dictatorship) will always produce another similar Dictator to take over the rein. The only chance of removing a dictatorship system is a revolution or a rebellion to turn everything upside down, to weed out all the rotten pests from the system and get rid of the maggots, leeches and parasites that have infested the system.
The possibility of a revolution or rebellion in Singapore is a big fat ZERO as many people are not prepared for it. They had rather continue to suffer the suppression and to go about their “normal” life. This is called the unwillingness to take responsibility.
This unwillingness to take responsibility is something most people have unconsciously learnt over the decades from their leaders. It has been demonstrated very clearly during the Mas Selamat fiasco and now the Temasek fiasco.
This unwillingness to take responsibility – no guts to admit mistakes – will be the cause of the downfall of Singapore, because it permeates down to every strata of our society. Can a kiasu and kiasi society be able withstand an onslaught of a possible invasion by would-be aggressors?
Our present success is just like a meteoric rise. A meteor has only a very short span of life. It will fizzle out in a few seconds. We are living on borrowed time!
Disappointed with the apathetic attitude towards politics of many Singaporeaans, he feels that “we a need a political revival in our country. We need to have a stronger say and stand in running of our country, this is what a true democratic country should be.”
I kinda agree. I’m quite young and have started reading TOC a few months ago. When my friend saw me surfing TOC during lectures, she would ask me why am I reading about politics and I just kept quiet because they won’t be interested. My friends think that Singapore is a good country to live in, with the PAP putting education as one of their priorities. Sadly, my boyfriend thinks the same too, and sometimes I can’t help but to try to brainwash him. He would give me all that economics shit saying that the policies implemented are good, like the recent Budget.
hi all, thank you for all your comments..
Agree with #36 D
We live in a system whereby we are taught to follow the rules and that the policies and actions taken by the ruling party are always right. Sadly but true, majority of singaporeans have the mentality that politics is out of their reach hence its best left for somebody else. With almost everybody having this mentality, overtime, I’m not surprised with people in my generation, like D’s, don’t even bother about politics.
It’s pretty comforting to see that quite a number of people in this forum express concern with regards to our country’s well being. However, one has to understand that without power, one can hardly make any significant change to the society that we live in. Without change, we will all be just running round in circles, continue with our endless discontent on this forum. If the ‘youth’ of the nation decides to walk the talk, exercise his thoughts on the platform, perhaps it will be a good first step to seeing change.
Actually isn’t Singapore a new colony of China? Given how the govt is prostituting Singapore out with scholarships, almost-easy/free work permits etc, I surprised that we are not seeing Chinese national flag on our flagpoles. I have seen my neighbourhood change so much in recent years that at times, I wonder if I’m still in Singapore or not.
Er, i got question.
which country in the world ever was something close to a sg-type of system (need not be the same but kind of the same in some ways) that was TRANSFORMED or REFORMED or EVOLVED into something more like USA style of system?
your final answer?
28) confused
the easiest reason why singapore is so developed despite having virtually no natural resource (except having deep natural harbour in world’s busiest shipping line) is because singapore is small.
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Being small is only part of the reason. Our rapid development to reach First World standard in economic performance is due partly to LKY. Because he has absolute power just like a dictator he could suppress all critics against his development plans and social policies. There were no jungles for Chia T P to hide so he was kept in prison for 32 years. This and other undemocratic actions in turn created a climate of fear. Singaporeans become like robots. That is why a well-known veteran Taiwanese politician said that we Singaporeans are stupid.
But LKY is shrewd. He rewards his ministers and top civil servants with excessive pays. Pro-PAP businessmen and professionals are highly rewarded.
Human rights are secondary when your pockets are loaded. We had progressed rapidly at the expense of our political freedom.
Hong Kong’s economic development is comparable to Singapore’s. Yet it did not have a dictator. WHY? Because the people there have more freedom.
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35) Meteoric Rise and Meteoric Fall.
The possibility of a revolution or rebellion in Singapore is a big fat ZERO as many people are not prepared for it.
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Many young middle-class Singaporeans are already rebelling by migrating to other countries. If the political and social environment remain the same in the future the citizens that remain are the unhappy poors, the oldies and the rich ministers and PAP supporters. Then more Foreign Talents must be encouraged to move here.
#41 Edward,
“Many young middle-class Singaporeans are already rebelling by migrating to other countries.”
That is not called Escapism is it?
40) Virginia Valentine
Something that comes in mind will be Japan as due to U.S intervention, the divine emperor which was considered as the descendant of Sun-Goddess Amaterasu lost the right to that claim and can only be recognized as descendant of Amaterasu, losing their divinity.
#38) i on February 13th, 2009 9.17 pm
However, one has to understand that without power, one can hardly make any significant change to the society that we live in.
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You have the power. You can make change.
If every TOC reader who believes in democracy and human rights thinks of one idea each, you will have thousand of ideas to challenge the power of the PAP and force them to make changes.
I can think of some ideas:
1 Write letters to your MP listing your grouses and offer solutions.
2 Encourage your relatives, friends and neighbours to do the same.
3 Help them to write letters if they are not well-versed in English.
4 If more like-minded citizens send letters to their MPs they would be so inundated with mails that they cannot simply ignore all these grievances.
5 Pubicize TOC web-site to your friends, colleagues, etc.
6 Pass the Hammer (or other Opp newsletters) to your friends, neighbours, etc after reading it.
7 If you can afford, pay for the Hammer to be sent to pro-PAP colleagues, neighbours, etc. anonymously if you prefer.
8, 9,……… there are more…………………….
Description about the Author is , i quote, ”
Disappointed with the apathetic attitude towards politics of many Singaporeaans, he feels that “we a need a political revival in our country. We need to have a stronger say and stand in running of our country, this is what a true democratic country should be.”
Concur that it makes me very sad to also realised that the strong majority of singaporeans are so apathetic. Since 10 years ago, I observed this as a problem. Till now, i only see the problem getting worse.
I was apathetic when young. Slowly, with more information and spending time to analyze the news, I was lucky to have awakened.
29) Transparency on February 13th, 2009 11.21 am
Therein is the basic fault of our political mechanism, its been planned in such a way that a select few will always remain immune. Many believe that change in the political landscape must come form within the party but that is never likely to happen for power will always remain in the hands will of the very select few and their families.
The political landscape here will never change no matter how hard you try. Everything in the system are built only towards the benefit of the present party, whether you call it dirty, under-handed or unscroupolous system, they don’t give a damn shit, its politics and its a very dirty one too. Well, unless there are really powerful foreign intervention coming in, only then, maybe singaporeans may still see some hope, or else stay put and wait to die the way they want you die. If the govt can just rob you of your cpf life saving outright, imagine what other dirtier things they can do to you. We are all trapped here just like slaves because we allowed them in the first place, its our mistake, a very BIG one rather.
29) Transparency on February 13th, 2009 11.21 am
Therein is the basic fault of our political mechanism, its been planned in such a way that a select few will always remain immune. Many believe that change in the political landscape must come form within the party but that is never likely to happen for power will always remain in the hands will of the very select few and their families.
The political landscape here will never change no matter how hard you try. Everything in the system are built only towards the benefit of the present party, whether you call it dirty, under-handed or unscroupolous system, they don’t give a damn shit, its politics and its a very dirty one too. Well, unless there are really powerful foreign intervention coming in, only then, maybe singaporeans may still see some hope, or else stay put and wait to die the way they want you to die. If the govt can just rob you of your cpf life saving outright, imagine what other dirtier things they can do to you. We are all trapped here just like slaves because we allowed them in the first place, its our mistake, a very BIG one rather.
which country in the world ever was something close to a sg-type of system (need not be the same but kind of the same in some ways) that was TRANSFORMED or REFORMED or EVOLVED into something more like USA style of system? – 40) Virginia Valentine on February 13th, 2009 9.44 pm
You must be thinking of South Korea.
Guten Tag!
YES! We CAN!!!!!!