Leong Sze Hian
The foundations of a democratic society, arguably, are transparency and accountability.
Can we build a democratic society when there is a lack of these ?
The answer is no.
Whilst Singaporeans have over the years called for the government to be more accountable on various issues, perhaps the most contentious is that pertaining to our reserves.
In the reports, “CDCs urged to enlist more helping hands” (ST, Jun 30) and “Temasek helps local needy” (ST, Jun 26), the number seeking financial assistance has increased by 40 per cent, and those seeking help with jobs doubled, from October last year to April this year.
In May 2007, Temasek launched the Temasek Foundation with an initial endowment gift of S$500 million.
In June, Temasek announced the establishment of Temasek Cares CLG Limited (Temasek Cares), an Institution of a Public Character that will focus on supporting the community in Singapore.
Temasek Cares said that it has received a S$100 million endowment from Temasek Holdings, and hopes to spend about S$2 million a year.
Temasek’s funds and assets are originally derived from the Singapore Government, and these indirectly belong to the citizens of Singapore.
Do other Government entities create philanthropic activities?
The answer I believe, is no.
Why? Because in my view, money which belongs to the government and the people, must be accountable to the people. Thus rightfully, only governments can make decisions of philanthropy as governments would be accountable to the people through Parliament.
In the case of Temasek, not only are its returns somewhat lacking in transparency, there is also a lack of accountability to Singaporeans in respect of its philanthropy.
Temasek’s chairman, Mr S Dhanabalan, said in June, ““To-date, we have committed and contributed around S$1 billion directly and indirectly to the communities in Singapore and around Asia over the 35 years since our inception.”
According to its web site, 11 of its past 12 programmes were focused primarily on citizens of countries other than Singapore.
Why have almost all its projects in the past been focused on citizens in other countries, and why did it take so long for it to start helping needy Singaporeans?
This begs the question – why set aside $500 million for foreign projects and why is only $100 million set aside to help Singaporeans? And even this is limited to S$2 million a year.
How much of the approximate $1 billion that Temasek Holdings has committed and contributed to the communities in Singapore and around Asia since it was set up in 1974 was used to help needy Singaporeans?
By the way, according to the article, “Sovereign wealth funds suffer sharp falls” by the Financial Times, on 21 July, Singapore’s Government Investment Corporation (GIC) has an estimated US$350 billion under management, and sovereign wealth fund portfolios have contracted 18 per cent since the end of 2007.
If Singaporeans have to rely on foreign newspapers to guess the amount of our reserves and its losses (note : Temasek’s last reported returns was only until November 2008), we “sure have a long way to go”, to becoming a democratic nation, with transparency and accountability!
Finally, I would like to agree with the Minister Mentor’s recent remarks that Singapore is not yet a nation.
For a nation to not know how much and what constitutes our reserves is one thing. Not being able to question how they are used and to what extent to help needy Singaporeans, vis-à-vis foreigners, is something else altogether.
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To Andrew Chuah
Soviet is my nick since OCS and NUS time, I am Victor Soh, got it ?
I am an investment banker spent 2 years in tokyo, 2 years in hongkong and 3 years in swiss, So, please don’t bluff here about Switss model of democracy… they are not applicable to Singapore, they have a homogenous religion, 3 languages ( in private life) and one culture… period !
I advise you to go see the world before making big speech. You can go find UMNO, MCA or join Anwar.
You have strong prejudice about JBJ and actually you twist and turn your position, concelaing your die hard pap supporter identity
It is ok if we don’t see eye to eye or not even looking at each other, but it is amusing ( started as amzing ) to hear your Malaysian comparison with singapore.
In the movie of RED CLIFF, Guan Gong told Cao2 Cao1, YOU ARE OUTDATED !
Ok, back to topic… I like the definition of Democracy in what Thomas Jefferson said in the declaration of Independence
….We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
No anwar, No GRC, No ISA, No Lift upgrading, no life long ( some 50 years ) in power… it is Huamn Right and Check and Balances…
12/8/09
Hi Victor Soh
Good to hear from you. I am also an investment banker and with a boutique investment firm and I have travelled all the world also and still travelling . and seen more than you, perhaps you are much younger than me-I am 49. Inshort, I have more years in overseas banking then you have now.
I am not a PAP supporter nor its boot licker, and I am only trying to be objective. I am not prejudice about JBJ as I knew him personally during my Singapore banking days and I had the opportunities to drink coffee and tea with him and went to his old office in Colombo Court many times. JBJ went to personal and failed to put Singapore above all things, and to an extend a very selfish man who wanted his old and obsolete ideas accpeted including Welfare state which I had many opportunities to brainstorm with him. Welfare State has no place in our Modern Singapore and help must be given to those who really deserve help and not across the board.
I am all for a good Singapore Opposition and quality MPs in our Parliament and not those who are half baked and quarter baked who are very dangerous and can be bought by money. Modern Singapor cannot afford to have these people who will go all out to burn Singapore.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
12/8/09
Hi Victor Soh
The PAP government in Singapore has not reach the state like Malaysia’s BN-UMNO, Indonesia under the late Suharto or Manila under the late Marcos or Thailand under the former PM Thaksin, and what the PAP government need is a few good men in the next Parliament to give them a run for their money and not total replace with a half baked or quarter baked government like we saw in our early and Dark Ages days, no wonder or grandfathers and fathers kept voting the PAP back into power. What we have now is too many Elites in the PAP and we now starting to see an Elite in the Opposition. Our Modern Singapore does not need Elites to run, the first Lee Kuan Yew government which was made up of just ordinary men who put Singapore and her national interests above all things.
I am just an ordinary Singaporen Chinese with no political ambiltion but doing my little part replying to postings on Online Citizen, Discuss-Singapore.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Andrew Chuah
Andrew Chuah
you simply just don’t see far,
The toads in the well are noisy
Re 52 AndrewChuah
U r just showing a deplorable ignorance and obstinacy and barking up the wrong tree.
If u dunno the context of THIS thread which is about the Singapore PLEDGE, which has already been pointed out to u that it is FOR the SINGAPORE CITIZEN BY the Singapore CITIZEN, then u just show us what’s wrong with the the pappies in maintaining a ultimately destructive policies in so far as the lesser mortals and even the rest of the population except the elites are concerned.
For all that’s spent on defence, the JI’s almost blew up Yishun MRT and other targets in Singapore, and not forgetting that Selamat managed PRISON BREAK and swam to JB
I think we should ignore Datok andrew chuah
1) At 49, he talks like a 4+9
2) He has zero understanding of Democracy, he think sit is a fashionable thingy, so he likes to say modern singapore, well, the thinking Democracy came from Greek Time, and Confusius said something about that too…
Are their thinking outdated ?
3) He lived in Malaysia’s dream… go fight umno, leave Singapore to us
What motive he has to compare PAP with suharto and unmo, for all you know, Suharto was corupted but his salary was S$700 per month in 1997.. still high figure to average indonesian but surely lower than our govt titans
The one eye laughing at the blind.
4) How selfish was JBJ ? selfishness is self benefiting, at others’ expense.
JBJ got jailed, made bankcrupt, strike off lawyer license, sold his house to pay pap… just b’cos he won anson,
Go National Statistics Board to check, during the 5 years when JBJ wa sin Parliament, the late 70s soar of housing price, Bus fares, taxi fare , utility bill all came to a halt, because he raised the issues in Parliament
See what happen after GE 2006, GST up by 2%, Ministers’ salary up by 21%
Who is selfish here ??
5) We are here to disagree, but why hit others below the belt, JBJ was your sworn enemy or you are the proxy of pappies ?
In a mutured country, there is space to debate but don’t use the govt’s typical trick, that is to demolish others. I read your other writing monthe back, u hit hard at Ken Jayaratham … why did u do that ? u also have coffee with him and he offended you ?
Let’s grow up, at 49 you still can grow, but not too much time left though… by 50, you are supposed a senior citizen, so don’t mislead the young turks , luckily most bloggers here have sharp eyes and sound mind.
Move on, we want flesh air…
13/8/09
Hi Soviet GRC-Victor, Ee Yan Sen & Dumb Doggie
I made my stand clearly, please read the article Democracy does not involve the presence of an Opposition, we do need a a good Opposition in Parliament.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
13.8/09
Dear All In The Forum
Let us all as Citizens of Singapore, do our very best for our Modern Singapore and serve her in our best way and put her above all things, not serve the PAP.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Andrew Chuah
Did u engage JBJ to fight your personal legal matters and was turned down ?
who are u to judge JBJ by a coffee chat ?
Are u in the selecting committee for candidates to conform by pappies criteria ?
Your disclaimer came too late as u have been exposed ruling proxy or fence sitting at best
此地无银三百两。。越描越黑啦 ！
14/8/09
Hi Robin Sim
Good to hear from you…..that time the late JBJ was not back in legal practise ok.I seeked him legal view and gave to my commercial litigation lawyers which did their very bests but that day at Supreme Court, only two judges instead of usual thre.
I made my disclaimer long ago in other postings if you have read them and was never a proxy or afence sitting at best. I have been pro opposition since 2001, please see Discuss-Singapore.
As Citizen of the state of Modern Singapore, we have every right to express our views objectively and constructively, and I shall continue doing so.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Andrew Chuah,
read your msgs and found a pitiful lonely soul is crowing now and then…
What the hell is this “modern ” singapore thjing about ?
Democracy is not a fashion design, so, read and think before you talk….
15/8/09
Hi Chin Chye Kong
Democracy is part of our state of Modern Singapore and we can still further improve whatever Democracy we have now and yes it is a long road but together we can do it objectively, constructive and successfully.
Yes, I am a pitiful lonely soul who have suffered injustice in Singapore also unlike those young punks who thinks the road to real Democracy is very easy as the state of Modern Singapore under the PAP has not reached its worse like our neighbours in Malaysia under the BN-UMNO, Thailand under Thaksin government which led the Military overhrowing him and his cronies finally, Indonesia under Suharto or Manila under Marcos.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Regards
Andrew Chuah
dont waste time..
u failed to understand what has democracy to do with modern states
you lived the past, lived in Malaysia’s past too
U said things that can’t back up, swiss model and so on,
like many before me, i think reading your writing is an insult to our intelligence
16/8/09
Hi Chin Chye Kong
We are living in the present and I must again maintain that the PAP government has not reached a stage that it has to be replaced totaly.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Democracy is not about presence or past, it is a universal value that does not go fashion with time…
The first 3 rulers in China history, were elected by tribal leaders, Yao, Shun, Yu, that was 2500 BC, got it ?
Nobody said that having opposition party is to replace PAP, that exposed your identity as a pap proxy !
17/8/09
Hi Chin Chye Kong
Good to hear from you…..we need to build up a good Opposition in our Parliament ie equal or better than the PAP and give them a run for their money. As I have written, the present PAP MPs do not live up to the expecation of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew (so just ask ourselves, the present Opposition should be far worse then these PAP MPs).
We all must for the good of the state of Modern Singapore and hence there will be a better place for all Singaporeans. Yes, there are weaknesses in the government policies and insitutions and they need to be fine tune only, not totally replacement as the majority of Singaporeans have been very dependent on them.Financial help must be given to those who really deserve it after a thorough study and not across the board or a blank cheque.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
andrew, pls define the modern singapore and what it has to do with democratic principle. or baleh malaysia and stop BS here
25.8.09
Hi Jacob Nair
Are we not Modern Singapore or are we still in Dark Ages….like our grandpas and dad’s period which were easily mislead by the Main Streams medias ie TV, Radio and papers. Yes, there are democracy in our Modern Singapore and each of of use can think and come next GE which is around the corner, will exercise our votes as I have already explained. I am a Singapore born why must I “baleh Malaysia” or stop BS here. Perhaps, you should balik India or Malaysia yourself if you are not Singapore born.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
Mr. Chuah,
You seems to be provoking everyone here with outdated views…. go get some life in KL.