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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Didn’t PM Lee admit to fixing opp party and buyer’s supporter vote ? When he already been partisan and wanna preserve his regime, and you request for more power to allow him to select more “YES-MAN” ? But then, there is nothing to stop him from doing that anyway.
The fact that these ministers and PM Lee only care about preserving their own regime and downplay opp party only shows they do not have the best interest of Singapore, only to themselves.
“Mr Kumar himself entered Parliament without a fight.”
That says it all.
I agree with Gerard Giam on many matters, but on this occasion, I wish to present a different view from his. I support the suggestion put forward by Hri Kumar – to allow ministers to be appointed from outside the members of Parliament.
This is the system used in USA. The people elect their representatives to Congress to pass the law.
They elect one person to be an executive President. The elected President picks his minsters (or secretaries of the various departments) from any eligble person in the country. They could be politicians, academics or business leaders). The nominated person has to be approved by Congress, or a committee of Congress.
Where the appointed person is a politician, e.g. elected member of Congress or a state governor, there is provision for the relevant party to nominate a replacement to take over, without the need for a fresh election.
It is better for Singapore to move to the US system, as it is more democratic and more robust. Perhaps this is the change that is proposed by Goh Chok Tong, based on the three principles that he has outlined. I hope that this change will materialise.
I have written about this matter earlier in my blog. If I am not mistaken, my views have also been published in The Online Citizen.
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.
The accountability comes from the oversight by Congress. Many of the Congress hearings are televised. The people can judge what is going on and ask for those who failed in their duty to step down. This has been done on many occasions. There is greater accountability and transparency under the US system.
who say govt no welfare, just look at those who entered through the backdoor. all easy life, easy money. lol…
no wonder few can connect with the ground. many high high in the sky, heads in the cloud feeling.
From the various amendments and introduction of new laws for the purpose of control and ease of execution by the security and police forces against the citizens and the citizens’ wishes, plus the new proposals (the three principles as spoken by SM Goh) and this back-door entry MP Kumar attempting to make the PM more powerful (when he is already too powerful), we can know see very clearly which direction the PAP is leading our country into.
I believe if this trend continues, we may be worst than North Korea and Burma. Our citizens and permanent residents will have no say whatsoever to influence events in the country in a very short time. This will encourage more local talents to emigrate and allow scoundrels (both local and foreign, under the guise of “talents”) to flood the stage of power and enrich themselves in whatever ways they deem fit.
Just read at all those nonsense of PAP MPs that anyone here with sound mind could easily have shoot it down. Isn’t any wonder that only PAP MPs voice is allowed ? Just read at the amount of one-sided view in the following article. Haha, Woody still talking about diverse view and fairness of opp party. My foot ! U just can’t hide wayangness.
“http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/431930/1/.html”
“Indranee Rajah, Deputy Speaker and MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, replied that the citizens of Singapore have the right to vote against the PAP, and said Mr Low’s suggestion is unsound.”
Hello, mrs, I didn’t get the chance to vote, or am I just the only unique one ? So what’s right you talking about ? So convenient not to mention those who did not get to vote in walkover GRC ? You think only 10% did not get to vote or u sleeping in Ivory Tower or just going to bootlicking mode ?
“She said: “If that day ever comes, then the people are at liberty to vote out the PAP government and should do so in that situation. ”
Hello, will you be there then during “freak election” or in some countries enjoying life of blissful and compassion ? You dare to defy the old one ? Aren’t you afraid of the great army of the dynasty ?
“The premise of Mr Low’s suggestion is flawed. He’s really saying just in case PAP becomes corrupt in the future, then people had better vote for the opposition now. ”
Haha, still trying to be deceptive and kangaroo by wanting to catch Mr Low to say that it should be fact and not just “in case” ? Please lah, don’t try to wayang, everyone on the ground can see it.
“But if you apply the same logic, then the argument can also be made that if you vote in the opposition, then they may become corrupt in the future, so in order to avoid that, you might as well vote for PAP now.”
So why the distraction ? Mr Low says that opp party is providing check and balance against corruption and other misdeeds of government, there is nothing to say the opp party is the government, and just because you vote in the opp party , the gov cannot not provide the same “check and balance ” against opp party ? Why is it that it all or nothing ? That it is either government or opp party exists both not both. The opp party check the gov and the gov check the opp party, how come cannot be this way ?
How is it a MP having narrow-mind and joker like you can be elected into the parliament ? Did you go by the backdoor ?
“Ms Rajah stressed that it has been acknowledged internationally that with the PAP government at the helm, Singapore is one of the least corrupt countries in the world.”
So what is your definition of corruption ? Leegalised corruption not consider corruption ? Just because of leegalised corruption doesn;t make them any less corrupted. Just because the upper echelon define corruption and shred themselves with secrecy and self-justificaiton in their own ways doesn’t make them any less corrupt in monetary and morally.
Disgusting MPs hookwinking Singaporeans again… but what’s new. The clowns are running the show.
To add to Gerald’s comments on the US, there is also an extensive network of checks and balances to cabinet appointments. Congress has to approve the appointments and there are mechanisms and guidelines for impeachment.
Unless a similar framework exists in a fair and transparent manner in Singapore, a PM-appointed cabinet is open to serious abuses of power.
It will happen. Don’t doubt it. PAP MPs don’t speak out of turn. It’s a carefully scripted wayang.
What the PAP is afraid of is a “freak” (to their minds) election result. If a GRC falls (and a minister goes with it as well), they want to be able to appoint that (ex) minister back to the cabinet. Our sacred vote is diminished if it is such.
I feel sad, worried, angry and frustrated seeing how PAP has twisted our political system to hang on to power.
If Singaporeans still do not want to wake up, it will really be a road of no return. The so called ‘scholars’ are nothing but PAP’s dogs, they don’t care about Singapore. Some MPs have become ‘preachers’ giving ‘sermons’ on filial piety, not to spend excessively, not be mollycoddled and not to depend on the state. I am dreading the day they sell out Singapore to China.
Is this guy even educated?
He made a very uneducated suggestion. There are so many hot issues that he could have made proposals, wonder why this?
That’s the US style is not the best and neither is the British style. One ask the Minister to devote his time to also caring about constituents. Miliand has to bother about constituents while Clinton can focus solely on the job. No need to worry about voters.
Sure the British style gets more accountability. But it strains the Minister–he has to travel back and forth fro mthe capital to his constituency. Then he has to travel internationally. How can he devote his time to both groups equally?
TOC, could you kindly post me the links of all the articles that you ran in this website on the Marxist Conspiracy? Sorry, I did not have the foresight to save the links myself, and I am having difficulty finding them now. Thank you.
While it is comforting to hear a mp suggesting for the pm, i would have expected the pm knows best what he needs.
What a superb suggestion by this, unknown to me, mp. I hope he do an SMC.
In fact, I wonder he also feels that all politicians can just be appointed. what a smart guy. hope his pay increase.
The young man has to do his job to try to move up. He is ambitious, but suprisingly unable to read the mood of the people.
Best wishes
I would like to hear from him his views on the Concept of Election and the definition of Democracy.
By the way, how come I nebber heard of this guy before?
Sorry Gerald, we are already an admin state.
Having this will not make any difference.
Anyway we know who will become minister if this is introduced. Clue — Shin, ML, ABC.
So as rapists tell their victims, “Juz relax, and enoy it”. (((((
A great speech by the MP. I hope to vote for him in an SMC (only).
Harold,
They’re all here: http://theonlinecitizen.com/category/truth-or-propoganda/
I actually agree with A Tan that we are already an admin state. And, unless we start doing something about it, more unknown smart Alecs like the one pictured above (so many of us have never heard of him), will be giving their two-cents worth in the coming days and we will soon be entrenched in it permanently.
It is still not to late for us to wake up and seriously consider the implications that such clowns with self-serving agendas, whether it is carry b*lls or just being too clever by half, will have on the future of our homeland, and start doing something about it.
I am hoping that this coming election will be a telling one in the history of Singapore’s political landscape. I am hopeful that we can see the same type of fervour we had just seen from the Aware saga. I am hoping that Singaporeans are already awaken and now biding there time to create history – by telling this PAP government what they need to hear – and to hear it loud and clear.
We have had enough nonsense to last us a lifetime already.
Leave it to the PAP to do what is best for our country. Had they ever failed us? Be grateful. Where would we be if not for the PAP? MP Hari Kumar had as good as enounced the inevitable. Live with it.
aiyoyo
not sure is he involve in economy recovery?
not sure how come he got so much time to talk so much?
not sure will there be more of this type elite? talk, not sure where’s the result…
aiyoyo
“All said, having a US-style cabinet without a US-style presidency will erode our democracy.”
how about adding that a US-style judiciary is also necessary for check-and-balance in the system.
why are we having all this idiots running the country????
I think he must be thinking of his own promotion. It is all greed, isn’t it?
I am sure this is not I wanted him to discuss in the Parliament. He should be thinking about social problems and how is he going to improve citizens’ life. Is he the right person to represent the people?
Call them what you want. They are running the show. What are you going to or can do about it?
As usual, want to apply the advantageous aspects – have the main man choose his people, but don’t want to follow-up with the fundamentals of the concept – having the mandate from the people to be that main man in teh first place.
It looks like they are exploring new strategies to circumvent the obvious growing discontent of the people which is going to directly lead to more opposition members in parliament.
Having this system in place will enable a heavyweight politician who loses in a GRC to be still appointed later back into parliament through this particular backdoor. It’s too good not to implement for the ruling party, so my guess would be that they have probably finalised the details and Mr Kumar was selected to get the wayang ball rolling so that this thing gets passed before the next election.
There is nothing the people can do to stop this…
According to a friend, this Hri Kumar can’t even get police and PELU to close all the massage joints that provide ‘special services’ in Thomson Estate. Maybe he’s hoping to be moved to AMK GRC when Lee Bee Wah ‘decides’ not to run in the next GE for ‘health reasons’ or some other excuse.
2) Tan Kin Lian
“Perhaps this is the change that is proposed by Goh Chok Tong, based on the three principles that he has outlined..”
I think you are spot on; it is probably what Goh Chok Tong was saying in his second principle. I also think if the elected Prime Minister appoints good people from a bigger pool of talents, it will be better for Singapore. However I fear that there is more than meets the eye. In anticipation of very poor results in the next election, some Ministers may not get elected. Maybe Ministers lke WKS may be “punished” by the voters. Hence this new system will allow the booted Ministers to continue to rule over us. I cannot imagine the same cabinet Ministers ruling over us; we really do not need the Westerners to do us in; we are perfectly capable of doing ourselves in.
I agree with A Tan (#17( and Gemami (#19) that we are already an administrative state.
But I am hopeful that the proposed political changes based on the three principles (suggested by Goh Chok Tong) will mean that we are moving towards a US style of government, in many aspects, including the role of the judiciary (see Anon #22).
It may take a few years for the political changes to be made, but it would be a useful step in the right direction.
Who the hell is this Kumar at the first place???
Thanks Mr. Kumar. You have reaffirmed my belief that the GRC aka “backdoor” system is the biggest flaw in your political system that need to be abolished immediate. Between this and the ISA, I will pick this anytime.
PM appointed cabinet? I wonder if you can next time recommend you wife, your son, your daughter-inlaw to the PM and have them appointed into office? Is this what you are planning for?
Tan Kin Lian,
but who is the one with authority that is responsible and accountable for the change ? In a project, you have a project champion to ensure that the project will be successful, but come to government, who is the change champion ? Isn’t this thing about change been going on for decades with government undergoing many “new order” and revival ? So what’s there this time with nobody that is Change champion.
Is Goh Chok Tong the change champion or just talk champion ? With no one is there to ensure that change take place in the government echelon, what we have is cycling in roundabout. Yes, change is constant but what matter most if the change is accelerated to ensure there is good level of acountablility, transparency and responsibility of government and the faster. the better in this aspect.
aiyoyo
if talk about US style,
where’s this country’s Obama???
those elites perform like US style???
aiyoyo
With a miserly government like the PAP, where the interest of the party comes before governance of its people, and where change has always been seen to benefit the party more than anything else, I think we are being overly optimistic with the three principles put to us by SM Goh.
If the PAP is serious about these changes, then it has to immediately come out with a blueprint to clearly state what these changes are instead of the extremely vague outlines presented thus far. If not, I am inclined to take Daniel’s side that this is just a talking exercise and not one geared toward real change.
Such persons would lack empathy.
I won’t be surprise if SG PM pick his own wife to be in the cabinet. Alas, how many more redundant salaries SG have to pay using tax payers $$$.
In the kind of democratic system we embrace, one who is not prepared to stand up in the electoral platform has no right to govern. Besides government has many agencies and institutions that can co-opt talents. The government should not be the only centre of nation building. There must be more pistons firing in a dynamc society. The point that we need more technocratic managers in government is also misplaced. There is no lack of technocratic managers in our present government, what is lacking is diversity. Facing the challenges ahead we need more than doctors, lawyers, engineers and MBAs. The challenges ahead is more than runnig our HDB effectively and playing a role in the Washington Consensus. We also need people to be able to build solidarity in our community and engage with the societies in emerging economies around us. The challenges is embracing diversity to achieve our common universal values and vision.
Another suggestion potentially subjected to exploitation. It’s clearly we’re not going to adopted the US election system, nor the judiciary system.
I believe #30 Lightning Strikes Again got it spot on. I quite surprise Mr Tan Kin Lian has missed the point by a “feet”. Anyone can see clearly what this policy is all about and capable of doing.
With this policy passed, tomorrow, future PM can appoint their family and relatives to be Minister of defence, Minister of Finance, etc. Where’s the check and balance?
If the current govt dare to put all “Not Contested GRC” in the election with the elegible voters rights to vote for “No Confidence” in these “Not Contested GRC”, then i would respect the current govt means what they say.
Our Govt’s really good in exploring ways and spending time to keep in power. If they can spend more time to make their citizen happy, they would not need to resort to this stratergy in the first place. I would vote for them first.
It’s just simple but difficult for them.
“If the citizen happy, the govt pocket not happy. So, it is better for the citizen not to be happy and as long as my own family happy. So, I must always think of way to make it stay that way. Got it, u stupid citizen!”
See what have talents from our technocrats & Admin Service pool brought us?
To an ossified economic model that hasnt been changed for years. To losses in Temasek and GIC. To dumb bureaucrats who have become totally insulated and cloistered behind their wealthy houses and who will never understand and empathise with the lower strata of society. To quibbling about giving some small handouts to the needy. To casting our grandparents into hospices and homes in JB. To control everything and yet to be competent in the fields of control. To allowing complacency into our security services so that a limping terrorist could escape.
High time people like Hri and Indranajee slog it out in single ward constituencies and test their own mettle before opening their mouths.
I believe Hri is just testing the waters for his master SM Goh’s suggestions. How can Singapore still trust PAP to change the system that really benefit the Opposition parties? It is all a big hoodwink job. So I say, don’t hold yr breath. PAP leaders indulge in gobbledygook and double entendres. It looks like change, walks like change, but there will really be no change. Wanna bet?
The next step to what Hri has relayed from his masters is this:
They will eventually do away with the General Elections and have an Executive President that will be favourable to the PAP because he will be handpicked by the PAP Ministers. Then this EP will rubber-stamped the list of new Ministers picked by the outgoing PAP Cabinet. Perhaps less than a quarter will be reserved for the Opposition so that they will always remain a minority.
So Goh CT’s 3 criteria will be satisfied. One being that now a fair chance is given to the opposition; two, it results in a strong govt (as strong as if not stronger); three, there is diversity of views (not that it matters, but the trick is to appear open to diversity, not really making it matter).
#8 (T) raised a very possible scenario. It could be used to bring in any ex-minister who failed in ‘freak’ election.
But again, PAP is robbing in broad daylight, taking away our basic rights as the citizen of singapore. Taking away our rights to vote by tweaking the voting system to their advantage.
Their fellow MPs are nobody but dogs. Dogs follow orders. Bark or shit, they see their master face before doing it. MPs is a failed system. It produces many paper smart talent who care more for their well being rather for Singaporean.
Wouldn’t it be nice for Mdm Ho Ching to be appointed Finance Minister? After all she had under her belt experience in handling billions of dollars. Financial security for the future! Majullah Singapura!
Hi TOC,
To build on #13 Harold’s request on May 27th, 2009 5.43 am. Could you create a “All entries about Marxist Conspiracy” post to facilitate future reference. Thanks!
Great work, folks.
If like that anyhow change the political system also can, then scrape the GRC. Just create 3 NMP positions, one for each of the minority ethnic groups. E.g. 1 for Indian rep, 1 for Malay rep and 1 for Others rep.
Have to get my ticket out of this fast degrading “democracy” quickly!
By scrape the GRC, I mean, all constituencies should be SMC.
In addition, we don’t need so many Ministers at PMO, especially those without portfolio. Ministers with more than 1 portfolio should NOT GET FULL PAY for each portfolio, but pro-rated according to the hours they clock-in. Hey, you want to measure against private company pay, then follow private company time-charging practices.
My vote, empathetic NO! to the suggested changes. The 1st steps should not be giving PM more powers but putting the checks-and-balance in place.
1. Free media
2. Remove ISA
3. Freedom to assemble and protest for the people
4. Independent judiciary. Remove appointment of Chief Justice by the Executive.
5. Independent elections committee
6. Review laws limiting the political advocacy
Then, and only then, are we ready to consider moving to USA style politics. For now, all the proposals are hogwash.
there are too many loopholes or gray areas from the current model to the US model. even the US model is perfect – it all likes in the integrity and competency of people. Sg already admits to a small pool of talent (it does not mean the talents are not out there). Especially by the same token, Sg is too small a place to experiment with changes.
Therefore in what ways will the new model improve matters when even the present GRC had not improved matters? I presume these are such early days – so can it be presumed that Parliament will also go through a remaking as well.
Ultimately, it is how conflicts of interests and differences are dealt with. And I suspect that any changes ahead will be either be cosmetic or limited or both. That is the probable reality based on the past and present reality. This erstwhile Parliament debates is not to be mistaken from an idyllic perspective.