Breaking News: Singapore confirms first case of H1N1, Influenza A. She is a 22-year old woman. She was in New York from May 14 to 24. She arrived in Singapore on 26 May and her GP sent her to the hospital on the same day.
Gerald Giam / Senior Writer
I strongly reject PAP MP Hri Kumar’s suggestion in Parliament that the Prime Minister should be given the option to appoint individuals from outside the rank of elected MPs to his cabinet. He had argued that the pool of talent available to the PM will “increase substantially” and he can draw on the experience of many “capable individuals”.
This is a dangerous line of thinking which is not just undemocratic, but foolish as well.
What Mr Kumar is asking for is to insulate ministers from the rough and tumble of elections, so that there is no need for them to shake the hands of “commoners” and appeal for their support at the polls. He is saying that a cabinet minister should not need to be directly accountable to the voters, so as to free him up to make decisions however he deems fit, with little regard for the views of the people. He is saying that the definition of a “capable individual” does not necessarily include having the ability and EQ to relate with those less intelligent or successful than himself.
Most glaringly, Mr Kumar is saying that what we need are technocratic managers, not politicians, to lead our country.
This reflects the view of the right wing of the PAP, but if accepted, will take our already struggling democracy down a path that many will live to regret.
Singapore will be worse off if we are led only by scholar-technocrats without the common touch. We need ministers who can emphathise with ordinary Singaporeans. Who see themselves as ordinary Singaporeans who had extraordinary opportunities.
I am not saying that it is impossible for an unelected official to have the common touch. But if we open the doors to this segment of society to lead us politically, we will be fishing from the wrong pond. We will, in the long run, attract the wrong sort of people to lead our country — people with a different set of values and motivations. Our country will then really turn into an “administrative state”.
In any case, it’s not as if we aren’t already led by technocratic managers, given that many of our scholar-ministers have never had to face an election fight to get into office. Many of those that did were shielded by heavyweight ministers in GRCs. Mr Kumar himself entered Parliament without a fight.
We need more inspirational leaders, not corporate managers. The cabinet should not be an extension of the Civil Service or the corporate boardroom.
I don’t know why the PAP hasn’t figured out why it is so hard to convince intelligent and principled men and women to join the party. Surely having a chequered history of jailing and abusing well-meaning social activists should not be that big a barrier to joining the party? Or is it?
Some may argue that this is the system in the US and it seems to have worked there. There is a big difference between the US system and the Westminster system: The US President is directly voted in (for all intents and purposes) by the people, whereas in Singapore the Prime Minister is simply the MP who has the most support in Parliament. In the US, cabinet members are an extension of the President, who is accountable to voters for their successes and failures.
All said, having a US-style cabinet without a US-style presidency will erode our democracy.
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sorry typos:
“Even the US model is not perfect – it all depends on the integrity ….”
“This erstwhile Parliament debate …”
Maybe, Hri Kumar was tasked to make such proposal, in order to bring in Ho Ching to the cabinet, without going through a election.
When it do happen, any say from citizens then on the nomination?
Or we will be told of the same reason given when HC joined Temasek?
#39 – Good point raised lah…the gahmen should not be the ONLY centre of nation-building. And there is really no lack of technocrats within state agencies – these institutions themselves, and to a large extent Singapore society require alot more diverse competencies than tehnic/technical capabilities.
Tan Kim Lian and all, let’s not be too quick on the draw.
There is no hang-up with moving to the US political system which is after-all time-tested. But converting in bits and pieces of the choice of, and to the advantage of the ruling party, is not it. With history behind us, it will be naive to expect the PAP’s motivation for a switch to be noble and for the common good of the nation.
The critical pre-requisite for such a switch to be workable, just and fair has to be a robust multi-party environment and a clear division of power between the executive, legislator and the judiciary, and I think an actuarially large-enough electorate. It is clear where Singapore is on these criteria now and in the foreseeable future. All these 3 arms are firmly under the PAP’s whip and control or party-friendly.
To claim let’s kick-start off by first allowing non-politically elected ministers is a lame excuse to consolidate power base within a select group of people. regardless of public opinion and election of each of them. This smells like the Mother-of-all GRCs with one GIGANTIC GRC under the PM slot to vote in the Executive as a whole. Under such an all-or nothing system and without a sizeable and viable alternative govt on hand, most level-headed Singaporeans will have literally no choice but to vote for a PAP-PM and hence government. Power will then be more and not less concentrated.
It may be a good proposition to widen the net for more relevant talents. But if these technocrats/managers do not want to be politicians and to serve the people, then don’t make them ministers and give them political powers. Surely the Civil Service can be expanded to include Super Perm Secs on a super-duper commercially attractive pay scale to entice and place these people for them to do a great job.
Here are my concerns and fear. Reading between the lines of Kumar’s suggestion are that:
1. normal-mortal MPs will serve the electorate and the constituencies. Higher-mortal Ministers are too elevated and important to serve and be accountable to the people, and for their career in government to be ruled by lesser-mortal popular vote. Cronyism will become a big risk and chosen ministers are immune to accountability or consequences to poor or bad performance.
2. the gate will be open to bring in FTs to become ministers by giving them fast-track citizenship. By extension, matters of government may even be outsourced to friendly or co-operative foreign countries, say external defence to China, healthcare and property development to Malaysia, IT business development to India etc.
3. the govt will really become Singapore Inc. with commercial vision and objectives. People’s interest will be at risk further to be put on the back burner and we will become digitised units. Why? because our increasing population of lesser-mortals of poor, sick and aged and an ungrowing Singaporean population to serve as economic units are seen as unpromising and a financial-drag for the ruling party and its Elite chosen few.
Think hard and the above is not mere Sci-Fi. Let Singapore be warned that for everything, there is a good reason and a true reason. We hear about the good reason. How about the true one???
Recall that he only managed to win narrowly the last election against a team of unknowns.
Of course, this back door, if it exists, may prove useful for that day when Lee Hsien Loong does NOT get re-elected.
Hi Indignified
I am very heartened to see that there is someone whose thinking is just as, (as someone once said to me) ‘irrational’, as mine. The point here is that with the PAP, nothing is too far-fetched for the imagination, and, we have enough reasons to tread with trepidation, when such news come out from the very same people who have shown themselves to be twisters of the English language.
We can be optimistic, like Mr Tan Kin Lian is calling us to be. However, we cannot be optimistic without considering the underlying reasons for such ‘too-good-to-be-true’ proposition coming from the PAP. We have to be cautious.
There are many scenarios we can potentially be looking at, and most of them painted here are possibilities, no matter how ridiculous they may sound or seem. Amid all these scenarios, there is only one aim where the PAP is concern – the consolidation of its powers, or, the fortification of whatever power it is presently left with. There can be no good news for the opposition, and this is easily translated to no good news for us, the citizens and the electorate.
Even if the ministers are truly sincere in wanting a robust parliament in the form of more opposition representation, it has to first consider its members and their interests. As it is, its large pool of members are already pressing for recognition and even for bit parts in the governing process. It already has its hands full toward this end, what makes you think it will waste time to prop up the opposition?
One poster had suggested that we take stock and ask if this is the true sentiment of the PAP against what is talk-only. I agree that the words coming out from SM Goh are just a vain attempt to colour that which is definitely grey – and which we will find out soon enough, what these are. I am dead sure we will get to hear them in the coming days.
good call Gerald!
I read Tan Kin Lian’s highlights of the advantages of the US system. However, I remain uneasy and doubtful of such a system for Singapore. How can we benefit from the US system and yet prevent against cronyism and napotism?
this is the sign of ‘usual’ PAP annoucement of recent 3 principles changes by such leader GCT and followed up with its cronies to dilute and test water with public views.
watch it…….the final annoucement is to confimed what the cronies said will be more or less final. there, the game started…..
i am tired such tricks all the times.
I’m not too well versed with the US system. But if someone argues that following the US system is favorable, then, allow SG to have freedom of speech – current US practicse, allow non-govt driven MSM – current US practise. If these two areas are not allowed, that is no point discussing on the US system.
“watch it…….the final annoucement is to confimed what the cronies said will be more or less final. there, the game started…”
Worry not, like all PAP’s losing game, the game will end the moment it started because it has MOVE ON.
“Don’t turn my country into an administrative state”
Gerald,
i assume you mean its already not like that and just that you fear it might become that?
Oh, that our MPs would display such wisdom!
All it shows is that the PAP is a party that has reached a dead end, that it is unable to attract talented and caring Singaporeans to join it and that it is bankrupt of new ideas.
This puts the lie, once and for all, to the MMs thesis that “it is necessary to pay top dollars to get the best brains to join government”. No amount of money will draw some people to join the present PAP government.
The PAP government in 1965 was a different one. Today, it is a different beast.
By the way Mr Kumar, Who voted you in?
Seriously guys. Do you really think MP Hri Kumar dare to make such a radical speech and suggestion. There is no doubt that that is a prepared speech from the PAP. Haven’t we seen it coming when PM Lee said in a PAP meeting that 1-party ruling is the key for Singapore? When SM Goh mentioned political changes, haven’t we seen this coming. This is what they are going to do…. sooner or later. They knew Singaporean are getting more and more intelligent and now know about what is human rights and true freedom. They have to make sure that it will become more and more difficult for any parties to replace them. Fairness is never PAP’s agenda.
The PAP has always been against checks to be put in place as what MP Low of WP raised it up in Parliament. If PAP has been honest and have high integrity, what is the problem of checks being put in place?
This economic crisis has woken up many citizens, so that is why this big and radical changes going to take place. Singapore is not an unique country from the world, we do not need to dilute democracy to suit ourselves. It is a myth that PAP has been telling everyone that the freedom and rights of HUMAN of the western world do not suit us. We are HUMAN too.
As long as the people support his idea, Kumar’s recommendation may be realised.
Any online petition to sign against this?
If this suggestion is realised, election will be just a show… Just like the recent North Korea election…. People are dancing on the street…… How fake can that be?
Think about it. If key positions or ministerial position holders are chosen and not elected then General Election is meaningless. We might as well call ourselves Singapore Limited…… and all of us are just employees…. not citizens anymore.
This piece by hri kumar is dangerous.
There’s nothing I can say.
Oh dear, it’s clear that public discontent over policy makers being out of touch is going to be a real issue. This guy has just taken a big fan to fan the fire…..
His suggestion to insulate ministers is a career-limiting move.
#54 Indignified – Fantastic piece of work!
Just to add-on to #54 Indignified’s comments – the writings are already on the wall: MM’s recent visit to China heaping the accolades on the Commerce Minister and lamenting about how Singapore needs talents like him to be in gahmen, plus the fact that Singapore’s Ministerial comp-ben is one of the best, if not the best in the world make the scenario of a ‘professional’ Cabinet not unlikely if such electoral changes take place!
Woa….Nice Hri Kumar, as expected from someone from Bishan-Toa Payoh…
Just like what the people here has suggested, it seems that this is like a move to defend their power position…the way it is, the way they are doing it, we should really just hand them a one party state on a silver platter and we will become like some place a little to the north-west
That man proved to me, just me only, something about a human.
Its proven. Right in front of our eyes. Solid evidence.
Allow me to digress, my fren wants me to ask a question :
Given there are so many talents based on the 81 talents in the house, why none of these join the Alternative party to make singapore Democracy proud and more robust?
Time to have my siesta.
Wow, such a talent serving the people.
You all deserve it. You had the choice and you actually made the right choice. Well done.
#8 T -
Actually that is exactly what is being done in Malaysia. Some of the UMNO losers in the March 08 GE got appointed as Senators, so they could be appointed as Ministers. I believe the woman who lost to Anwar’s daughter was one of them.
I thought we are supposed to progress? The thought of detention without trial frightens people, now this! Are we going back to the dark ages?
Let consider some hypothetical scenarios to test this guy’s suggestion:
1) A Mr K. got in due to his “talents”. He rubs the PM well and is able to recommend his similarly talented … err “large pool of capable individuals”, who soon join him in Parliament. $10K++/mth a piece.
2) E.g. the current STTA saga. Say LBW got democratically booted out by the PEOPLE in next election(?), regardless whether she is really devil or saint. So, loss of a person that got Singapore a silver medal after 48 years with only 1 month at the helm of STTA — read as quick results in short time = very capable leader. To ensure continual success in 2012 games, she get re-appointed back as, say, Sr Sport Minister due to her passion for TT, proven record of steering STTA to an Olympic medal 2008 and whatever good points that got her in Parliament in first place. $14K++/mth, slight EQ/mouth deficient.
aiyoyo
looking at these bla bla bla folks,
not sure commoners tax paid, is it worth?
aiyoyo
#2#3) Tan Kin Lian
The advantage of the US system is that the elected members of Congress can focus on their main job as legislators. Laws are well debated, before they are passed.
The secretaries of various functions (i.e. ministers) do not have responsibilities to represent the people who elect them. They can focus on running their departments well. ”
Agree on your point about running their depts well. The ministers’ time is spread so thinly to attend to so many umpteen social functions in the wards they rep, it is a wonder how they could have trime for anything else. There is a human limit to multitasking.