We don’t talk about quotas, that’s not our approach. We don’t talk about…so many places for Malays, so many places for Indians, so many places for Chinese. That’s a wrong way to go. It has got to be meritocratic. But assuming 10 people make the cut-off, try and look for some who are also from the Malay community.
Law Minister K Shanmugam, when asked on his earlier suggestion on “affirmative action” for Malays
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” It has got to be meritocratic. But assuming 10 people make the cut-off, try and look for some who are also from the Malay community.”
This means the definition of “meritocracy” has to be amended.
It is better to call a spade a spade.
Dear People,
First of all – by what yardstick or criteria do you choose those 10 people ? What if there are no Malays among the top ten choices ? Look – the Malays have a different world-view and value system. Are you prepared to have a Malay on top who pushes for Malay views and aspirations ? Malay values ?
At the end of the day – meritocracy is hollow when we do not have a level playing field and when we do not all share the same values. Meritocracy makes sense only if we all have the same starting points and the same general direction in life. But when we do not even have the same values – then what is merit ??
The rich and privileged can provide better opportunities and conditions for their children. Therefore the lower income bracket will always be short-changed by this hollow promise of meritocracy. Indeed – Singapore is not a meritocracy. Singapore is in fact an elitocracy ! Its the elites who can afford all the necessary advantages for their children.
I therefore reject meritocracy. If there is to be affirmative action, then it must be applied to ALL Singaporeans based on income levels – and NOT race or religion. Help ALL lower income Singaporeans !! Not just Malays.
Regards
Dr Syed Alwi
It seems that our government itself has failed alot of times in their own books of meritocracy. So who is to take resposibility for the failed investments of TH and GIC.
Who is to take responsibility for the losses in the TC and GIC?
Who is to take responsibility for the rise in inflation and the 7% GST?
Who is to take resposibility for sale of our power supply and the wishy washy fluctuation of eletrcicity prices?
Who wants to take MERIT for uplifting the needy such that they now recv S$600, instead of the current S$ 3600.
Who wants to take MERIT for suggesting Ministers take a pay cut of 20%-25%
Who wants to take MERIT for suggesting free transport without increase GST
Who wants to take MERIT for reducing the cost of HDB Flats such that it hovers at 100K or less?
Apparently this is meritocracy too …but as you can see PAP has their own agenda when it comes to meritocracy. $$
Meritocracy in Singapore is evil.
it should be …. S$ 360.00
It’s impossible for meritocracy to be “fair” in all definitions. But it is the fair in the way that is best for the society to function. Even Malaysia is reducing affirmative action for Malays.
What we should do is to make sure that performance appraisal is as accurate as possble, and social system allows those falling behind to make progress (which does not mean slowing down the people ahead)
Dear People,
No to meritocracy – especially if there is no level playing field. You mean to tell me that the taxi-driver’s children receive the same advantages – as the CEO’s daughter ? I’m sorry – but Singapore is more of an elitocracy than a meritocracy.
Besides – is pushing for more Malay views a thing worthy of merit ? If you ask the Malays – they might actually agree with it.
Do you ?
Regards
Dr Syed Alwi
Excuse me sir, are you sure you have got your facts right? Are you really our esteemed minister? You got to be joking that there are no quotas… please lets call a spade a spade… what about bringing in the PRC to ensure that the Chinese majorty is maintained< what about quotas for minority races in housing estates, what about quotas in different faculty of the University… what about GRC… YOU ARE SUCH A BAD LIAR!!!
our givt so obsessed with stats does not talk about quota?
O.O
no bloomin idea what shoemudgum is tryin to says
either he looked down on malays
or he assumed malays are too poor?
had he tried harder by visitin woodlands hdb heartlands
he would had seen many many malays who are proud owners of modern brand new cars and beautiful decorated 5 rooms flats as well
some young malay couples also fullypaid their 4/5 rooms flats as well
“our givt so obsessed with stats does not talk about quota?”
They choose whatever to fit their own agenda. When thing that they preach does not apply to them, their only excuse is that Singapore is different. Farting corrupted government still have the rants to insult Singaporean’s intelligence.
“it has got to be meritocratic?”
ooh? reward for good work *check” (high pay), punishment for shoddy work (too many to list…)? where is it?
ooh, how can expect people to be less fussy, take on more tasks & be paid less (moderate expectation?)? oh, that wan is open to “market forces”….
may the force be with you (lah)…. the “dark side” is growing stronger.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
can you spot the clones? :P
I would like to see how Mr Shanmugam explain away the GRC thing.
Dear People,
At the end of the day, meritocracy is a myth. It all depends on who decides what is worthy of merit.
Is affirmative action for ALL lower income Singaporeans (irrespective of race or religion) worthy of merit ?
Is losing billions of dollars in bad investments (e.g. GIC & Temasek) worthy of merit ?
You be the judge and tell me whether meritocracy really works.
Regards
Dr Syed Alwi
NO to meritocracy ! NO to elitocracy !
YES to Democracy !
If there is no quota, Malays will eventually be the dominant race in Singapore. Meritocracy my foot.
[We don't TALK about quotas, that's not our approach.] We only DO it. You can find it in our GRC system, our allocating of HDB flats, etc.
meritocracy
Dr Syed Alwi , to me, that word is more of hypocrisy
#15
To be the dominant race, you need to become the majority in sheer numbers. :)
Meritocracy is just another form of bumiputra that benefits only to a certain group of people that the government is made up of.
#19-actually the Malays are the majority in sheer numbers. Or else, why is our policies with regards to the Malays must always take into account Malaysia and Indonesia positions.
aiyoyo
red dot to become “xxxx truly asia…”?
aiyoyo
In hard times, like now, those struggling to make ends meet, must be provided state help. The nation has to take into the account the efforts of the slowest sectors (usually also the lower income groups), if it is wants to preserve its altruistic democratic values.
But please provide nets, not just bits of fish. Out-of-work managers need to generate income to put food on the family table and preserve whatever dignity they have left.
Entrepreneurism should be encouraged (to counter the slowdown of job generation) and government coffers should release seed money for those able to come up with business ideas that can generate income.
Even in the streets of New York, those able to operate a pushcart can generate an income. We should encourage more of such efforts in Singapore.
We need ideas now, and less griping.
#20
Please prove that the number of Malays in Singapore far exceeds the number of Chinese/Indians/Eurasians to become the majority. Thanks.
As for the policies, you know that Msia and Indonesia are not friendly towards SG. Anything we do can trigger unwanted sparks with them. No point getting into fights with these two giants since we are a small country. :)
To Juliana, Dr. Syed Alwi, nothing like being straight to the point, well said !
there is still a quota for Malays doing NS and a quota on their promotion.
it turns out newly promoted BG Ishak is not a Malay afterall as pointed out by some netizens.
can anyone recall a Malay attaining a very high ranking position in the SPF ?
meritocracy is a good tool to use but i have my doubts on the PAP’s claim.
look no further than Ho Ching, with her resume and experience, can the system claim her appointment was based on merit ?
what about a bloke like Lim Swee Say ? also on merit ?
then all these PAP talents should have no qualms standing as independent candidates and not hide behind the famiLee system of meritocracy.
To TripleThreat. I'm sure what Muhamad Nur meant was that at the birth rates of each of the three main races in singapore, the Malays will become the dominant race in the next few decades IF there wasn't quotas for immigration. I quote the 2009 Total Fertility Rate: 1.08(Chinese), 1.14(Indian), 1.82 (Malay).
When Muhamad speaks of Malay majority in "sheer numbers" he may be referring to the fact that Singapore is surrounded by Malay-dominant countries namely Malaysia and Indonesia. Affirmative action for Malays are (IMO) due to the demographics in our region. You must understand Singapore is the odd one out in the region, where the majority race of the population is not Malay due to colonial history. .tensions plagued the country and I believe fault lies still exist today, only less obvious.Another reason is the respect of indigenous rights. Thus affirmative action is still deemed essential today.