Wednesday, August 5, 2009 16:13
“Pledge ourselves as one united people”
In Main Stories, Top Story • 1,832 views • 33 Comments
Ng E-Jay
What does it mean to be “one united people”?
Does it mean forging a national identity that can be shared by all Singaporeans regardless of race, language or creed? Does it mean accepting and respecting all our differences, whether in terms of political affiliation or sexual orientation? I can certainly agree with this.
Or does it mean adopting an unquestioning attitude towards Government policies and social issues, and agreeing to make personal sacrifices whilst the PAP reaps the benefits, in the name of “staying together, moving ahead” (PAP’s 2006 GE slogan)?
Does being united mean having to welcome large numbers of foreigners and accept them as part of the community, even if there are social consequences?
Does it mean agreeing to allow our heritage and our sense of belonging to be watered down in order to achieve some higher national goal that the Government tells us is right?
This year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called on Singaporeans to stay united on at least four occasions.
Touting the concept of “Singapore United” at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU) on 28 March, PM Lee called on Singaporeans to stay united and focus their energies on finding practical solutions to the economic crisis. In the past, this has meant accepting cuts in CPF contribution, lower wages and longer working hours, while the Government continues to fatten its coffers through indirect taxation like GST and our ministers continue to pay themselves multi-million dollar salaries.
At the same event, PM Lee also urged Singaporeans not to react emotionally during the downturn by lashing out at foreign workers and immigrants (Straits Times, “Singapore United the way to go”, 29 March 2009). This is an ironic way of passing the buck to Singaporeans, as it is the Government’s overly liberal pro-foreigner and pro-immigration policies that created the problems to begin with.
In his May Day rally speech, PM Lee again called on Singaporeans to stay united under stress, and he acknowledged that two potential divides that we have to overcome are the divides between Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans, and between different races and religions in Singapore (Transcript of PM Lee’s May Day Rally Speech by Prime Minister’s Office, 01 May 2009). He admitted that in a downturn, the Government is concerned that non-Chinese workers will be more affected because larger proportions of them have lower skills. After 50 years of nation building and paying themselves astronomical world-class salaries, the Government still has not found an effective solution to this conundrum.
Speaking ahead of Racial Harmony day on 21 July, PM Lee mentioned the threat of terrorism for the umpteenth time and told Singaporeans to stay united and resist that threat. I agree that the threat of terrorism is real and eternal vigilance is necessary, but by repeating it ad nauseum, the Government has slowly turned the issue into a bogeyman used to scare Singaporeans into focusing their minds on external threats rather than on the failings of the Government. By repeatedly mentioning terrorism In connection with racial and religious harmony, the Government has also indirectly reinforced unfortunate stereotypes that the Government itself tells Singaporeans to be mindful of.
And finally, at the opening of the Sengkang Sports and Recreation Centre on 26 July, PM Lee again urged the nation to stay united against any challenge the country may face (Channel News Asia, “PM Lee calls on nation to stay united to meet all challenges”, 26 July 2009). His reason for regurgitating this tired refrain escapes me. Is PM Lee somehow afraid that the government is slowly losing its grip on this illusive unity that it keeps talking about?
When we “pledge ourselves as one united people”, we are reaffirming our common identity as Singaporeans, that our similarities are more important than our differences, that we are proud to be collectively identified as Singaporeans regardless of our ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds, that we resolve to work together to tackle the nation’s challenges and make Singapore a better place for all citizens.
But this unity, this sense of purpose and the sense of having a shared national destiny can only be realized if we feel Singapore is truly our home, and not merely a stepping stone for all and sundry to use before venturing to greener pastures.
This unity and togetherness can only come about if the Government places Singaporeans first and refrains from treating us as mere economic digits in a rat race that they themselves have created.
PM Lee likes to parade his unique brand of unity, but his Government is not creating the economic and socio-political climate necessary for that unity to flourish. Until their policies change, all this talk about unity will be like echoes in the wind.
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33 Comments
Crap
Yang
Do I need to remind all of you what is PAP = PAY AND PAY Pay till you broke.
ram
We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people till the PAP government divided the nation into elites and non-elites, rich and poor, provides educational and job opportunities for the FT at the expense of locals, substituted HDB real subsidies for market subsidies, non transparency and accountability for losses in TH & GIC and helped themselves to multi-million dollar salaries.
conclusion
Singaporeans better wise up and be united against their abuser, the sooner they do, the faster they help themselves and save their children from further sufferings.
So, be united,
UNITED to be free from exploitation.
singaporekia
What is the problem again TOC? At least the racial issue here is healthy, unlike our neighbour who only pledge to work for their own race and ended up squandering from their own race after 52 years of independent. The majority Singaporean can see the difference PAP did for our nation. Proud of PAP proud of being Singaporean.
Ng E-Jay “Jiak Bah Boh Sai Pang” bringing out such issue, don’t waste your time Ng.
theforgottongeneration
Great writeup but bit floggy on who the “one united people” referred to. True-blue S’poreans, those that had sacrificed 2.5years for NS, or the fast-tracked PR/FTs new citizens, etc? Melting pot my ass, just melt MPs salaries to median salary of populace for a start — just like NS allowance seems to be pegged to the lowest of the cheapest labor.
Recall, Hitler did a great job “uniting” the Germans in the 1930s, based on Nationalism (& hatred). An elite class sweared by him, the majority was herd-mentality into believing in him, while a forgotton 5 million ethnic Germans (i.e. those considered “second-class” ) got gassed in conc. camps together with 6 million unfortunate Jews. History thus shows a strong nation led by a moral deficient authority is nothing. Hope S’poreans not so stupid and look beyond their next paycheck, bonus, NDP celebration, etc.!
Loyola
Singaporekia,
It doesn’t mean that we can be complacent and look to the past glories all the time. Change is part of everything, and if they cannot provide what we need in the next 50 years, then they will become irrelevant.
Singapore comes first, not the party.
mice is nice
Singaporekia,
“The majority Singaporean can see the difference PAP did for our nation.”
why passed tense? any new achievement to harp on these years? anything Swiss or 1st world?
“Proud of PAP proud of being Singaporean.”
this should in passed tense also… :P
Muhamad Nur
Singaporekia> comparing our country with the neighbour up north? Why stop there? Singapore is 10 times smaller than the city of Melbourne. Even Putrajaya in Kuala Lumpur looks more grand than Singapore. Yes, the standard of living of Singaporeans improved during the 60s to 90s. But after that, there is negligible difference in the quality of life. For most Singaporeans, living here is very expensive. Majority do not have savings (thus no kind of overseas leisure to enjoy). People works only to survive till the next month. Open yours eyes or more importantly your heart to these common grouse. It’s real for most of us here in Singapore.
Time for change
5) singaporekia on August 5th, 2009 8.28 pm
Our leaders are even worse than those up north…..they have squandered the reserves from the contributions of all the races.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 6 Aug 2009
[...] Day 2009 – TOC: “Pledge ourselves as one united people” – TOC: “Regardless of race, language or religion” – geraldgiam.sg: Building a Truly Great [...]
Moe Gan Thai
#9 Muhamad Nur
I agree with you. After collecting salary, pay this and that , we left nothing, how to have saving ? Ministers are different, their pay is million dollar, assuming $100,000 per month , they have a lot of saving, how much they can eat one month ?
loop
It means the govt & rich should share the wealth with other citizens of Singapore.
I’m not sure about you guys, but “one united people” appears to me as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it sounds like an urge for a country to be stay together, to help each other, especially in moments of crises. On the other, it can be employed as a shield against dissenting voices.
Morally Right
The day he paid himself 6 times Obama pay.he has lost the moral right to lead.
Please spare us the Goebbels type statement about stayin together. Your salary has moved so far ahead that nobody can keep pace with you.
Have you notice that only the RC people are ‘celebrating’ your so-called national day in a nation were one in three is not a citizen.
All true blue want you to give us back the nation the way it was.
Nobody likes stayin in a hotel, disguised as a nation.
.
Us
‘One united people’ means must not let religion divide our society. Must love one another regardless of religion. Race also. Must mix around. Spread the wealth and charitable acts around, not only to those from same race or religion.
To singaporekia
Go and “chia kow sai.”
Your eyes and ears are stuffed full of mud.
Excellent article Ng E Jay.
doctorwho
These days never bother to listen to wat PM Lee said. He tell us to do this and that, however he never do anything himself, like fire his wife and papa!
Ken
@14 jackson:: of coz. nationalism is an old trick of dictatorships to squash dissent.
Moe Gan Thai
FYI, there are 1 million foreigners in S’pore.Read today’s ST, speech by labour MP Joeshpine Teo
As one over-taxed people
For as long as Temasek last US$50B with no accountability,
For as long as politoical leaders get a annual salary package that
a) The average middle class excs may take 25 years to earn, or
b) The average singaporean will take 100 years to earn,
we will NEVER be an UNITED people..
国富民贫。。。国富民贫。。。国富民贫！
Pay and Pray
Erm, the people are also in their own ways responsible for whatever.
The people running were selected by them.
Period.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 32
[...] ridge common: Singapore: A young-nation on the rise – Article 14: Celebrating National Day – TOC: “Pledge ourselves as one united people” – TOC: “Regardless of race, language or religion” – geraldgiam.sg: Building a Truly Great [...]
As one over-taxed people
If there is always 45% of total eligible voters have chance to vote for many GRC are uncontested, then, at 62.5 of vote the ruling party got, these leaders are elected by 28% of eligible voters, do tthe govt represent the majority ?
so, 28% people supported the government who taxed on 70% of people ( some 20% of singaporean don’t pay significant taxation ), to feed the higest wagers of top 10% in Govt
Is this rational ? Is this equality ? Is this democracy ?
how to forge a nation as one united people ?
Daniel
“FYI, there are 1 million foreigners in S’pore.Read today’s ST, speech by labour MP Joeshpine Teo”
Two years ago is 1 million, last year is 1 million, this year also 1 million. Next and the future may also report 1 million. No wonder foreigner always not enough and Singapore overcrowded with foreigner because the foreigner count is always 1 million.
5) singaporekia
///////// What is the problem again TOC? At least the racial issue here is healthy, unlike our neighbour who only pledge to work for their own race and ended up squandering from their own race after 52 years of independent. The majority Singaporean can see the difference PAP did for our nation. Proud of PAP proud of being Singaporean.
Ng E-Jay “Jiak Bah Boh Sai Pang” bringing out such issue, don’t waste your time Ng./////////
This type of issue generate a lot of traffic, mah. The moment they write pro-gahmen, boh seng lee, TOC gotta close down.
So, maybe they also smoking the readers in a way by writing “politically correct “stuff in context of the audience they can attract.
Charles Stewart Lee
The pledge has had a huge impact on my life. Even when I left Singapore, it very much stayed with me in its meaning.
There’s one thing that Singaporeans should be very fortunate for and that’s that the racial harmoniousness in Singapore does indeed unite all Singaporeans as Singaporeans.
We have similar issues in Australia and put it this way, if the local/foreign balance in Australia was like Singapore’s, with all its attendent issues it brings up, it would not be as civil as in Singapore. Racism in a society is the biggest constraint holding back a country’s development.
Singapore does not have a lot of divisive issues that hold it back like that.
Even looking at all these blogs and postings, so many Singaporeans are united in their disatisfaction at the leadership and want a change that is for the best benefit to all Singaporeans.
Such a shame though, that the impact of a few people’s decisions and pride make up for the uneven spread of wealth to every Singaporean.
There might not be ‘a fair shake of the sauce bottle’, but the choice of dishes are there for you to choose which one you want to feed you.
Have a look around for the best resteraunt to cook these dishes!!
28) Charles Stewart Lee
Dissent blinds some to the extent that they cannot see any good even if it is rigt in front of their eyes.
Toh Chin Cai
IF the ruling party allows the educated generation to have speech freedom, i think the voice of dissent would be more constructive, but the more the Govt keep the lid tightly closed, the more the radical dissent will follow
Actually, the govt knows it but they want to paint all dissents as extremists, just look at how MP Irene Ng repeatedly called MP Low TK as Trouble maker, our PM said he would need to spend time to “fix” opposition, this points to the IMMATURITY of the ruling clan
If we want one united people, there must be space for different voices, if they only want loyalists, then PLEASE DO NOT EQUATE SINGAPORE TO RULING Party
i love my country, we served our nation, we pay taxation,
I vagely remembered a dissent said some years ago, the late neuro surgeon Dr Barathaam, that, Singapore belong the Singaporean, it does not belong to the government”
The NDP is great, but behind this colourful events, how many old folks lied at home without the affordability to stay in nursing home, how many household have only $2,000 or below per month income while the Government leaders earned $2,000 in less than an hour.
Singapore is a great place, we kowtow to the founding generation, including those first generation leaders who dared to spaek up even to their own parties, we remember the samsui women, the street side hawkers, the trishaw riders who raised fund for former Nanyang Uni,
But after 50 years of self rules and 44 years of independence, we see the widening of income parity, the number of family who lived below affordable life, is increasing by day.
The government have never come clean how many relatives of the inner circle are polulated into key civil services position, GIC, GLC, etc
MM and PM and SM like to say that there is not enough local talents, but the fact is that, there is not enough ltalents who are willing to serve as loyal yes men/women.
Where is the Singapore Dream ?
mice is nice
hi KopitiamApek,
“maybe they also smoking the readers in a way by writing “politically correct “stuff in context of the audience they can attract.”
i see that developing by “andorsing” articles liened to Stomp…
“Dissent blinds some to the extent that they cannot see any good even if it is rigt in front of their eyes.”
i agree with your statement above, its all too easy to fall into a “mob frenzy” with a huge & prolonged pent up resentment. such a frenzy can justify extreme measures tocalls for containment. i wonder if there are people tasked to drive people into that mode. ;)
Charles Stewart Lee
KopitiamApek and Mice is nice……….
“Dissent blinds some to the extent that they cannot see any good even if it is rigt in front of their eyes.”
i agree with your statement above, its all too easy to fall into a “mob frenzy” with a huge & prolonged pent up resentment. such a frenzy can justify extreme measures tocalls for containment. i wonder if there are people tasked to drive people into that mode.
KopitiamApek………….Is that from the Govt’s point of view as well?
Are they not a reflection of the people to a certain extent?
Can they not see the positives in front of them?
Can’t the talents of Singaporeans be harnessed better.
Singaporeans are very talented and hardworking.
Mice is Nice…………If there are solutions that can be implemented right now to address the people’s needs directly , that are also in the best interests of Singapore, should these then be implemented. Is this not being pragmatic?
I don’t know if there are people being tasked to drive people into a mob frenzy by playing on their real pent up resentments at the stagnation of the country. Singaporeans, in general, are too smart and savvy and want their own say on the country’s direction to be heard.
Why would the Govt want to coral the feedback of the people.
They are’nt any extreme public demonstrations in Singapore are there?
I hope it is apparent to the Government that the fact the people ‘complain’ like we do is because this feedback indicates that the people really love the country.
Some do it from Singapore, others from overseas, the common thread binding us all is that we were all born in Singapore.
People, after all, only air concerns so honestly and passionately because they really care about this Little Red Dot. By criticizing constructively, does this not show that people are very engaged and really care.
Isn’t this a hallmark of Democracy?
George
The motto here is “do what I say” “don’t do what I do.” Sinkaporean had heard it all. Those that could vote with their feet, had already do so and many more are planning to fellow. PAP had Sinkapore to themselves for the last 50 years and the situation we find ourselves in is totally a PAP making. They had no one else to blame but themselves. Legalised curruption by those in power, abused of the judicial system to further the power of the ruling regime and asking us Sinkaporean to stay united so they could continue to abuse us. Are we so naive and stupid to fall into this trap again. We will be united to vote PAP out that is our wish. With more disaster on the horizon like the opening of the Northern passage shipping route between Asia and Europe becoming a reality soon, our prime asset naming the natural harpour would be redundant or reduced to just serving the southern hemisphere. That would literally reduced one of the major income of the country. I wish LKY lived to see this happen as nature give and nature take it away. There is nothing PAP or LKY could do.
Charles Stewart Lee
George…..Really good point about the Northern passage. This looks like definately becoming a reality as the ice melting at such a fast rate indicates that the
tipping-point has been reached. Apparently, it will be navigable within 20 yrs.
How else do you reckon that shipping trade income will be reduced by the presence of more Northern trade?
“Until their policies change, all this talk about unity will be like echoes in the wind.”
================
That’s a great closing statement. Just treat the daily propaganda by the lap dog Straits Times as “wind near the ear” (Chinese phrase).
Our so-called talented ministers went for the easiest solution (in tackling the declining birthrate) by opening the floodgates to foreigners. Recent years have taught us that they don’t have the slightest clue how to revive the economy, despite each of them being paid several millions of dollars each year.
When times are bad, S’poreans were forced to swallow “bitter medicines”, but when good times came (like in 2006 and early 2007) S’poreans got NOTHING. No full restoration of CPF contribution rate, etc. Instead, our ministers implemented MEANs Testing at govt hospitals….they implemented compulsory CPF annuity……they implemented MVC wage component so that employers can cut wages as and when they fancy…..they jack up GST.