By Dr Wong Wee Nam, Guest Contributor
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.
- Bob Dylan -
The young are the builders of tomorrow.
There was a time not very long ago when the young in Singapore were apathetic and too absorbed with material things and caring only about themselves. Indeed, many cared little for Singapore and quite a number, because they had the means, chose to migrate.
Who can blame them? For the last forty years a generation of Singaporeans has grown up in a stifling political climate. They have grown up on a staple diet fed by a controlled media and many aspects of their lives have been dictated by a lot of rules and regulations. They lived as if they were guests in a hotel and felt like children in a childcare centre supervised by a domineering nanny.
Who can blame them for lacking a sense of history?
Having a sense of history can only come from political awareness. For our young Singaporeans to be cohesive and be committed to the nation and to one another there must be space in this country to allow them to develop their political awareness and to imbue in them the spirit of participation in the affairs of the country.
If we want our post-independence generation to make Singapore a better home and increasingly take over responsibility for Singapore, then the political climate must be right. All our young people must be encouraged to think for themselves and to feel the responsibility of making this a better place. Not just the ones specially chosen and anointed to be the future leaders of Singapore.
Should such a state of affairs persist, our young people will continue to be apathetic towards the affairs of our country and Singapore will only become a hotel where its citizens and other immigrants will just stay to make money and hopefully retire elsewhere.
There is no doubt that the young people of Singapore want to be patriotic citizens, not hotel guests. There have said the Pledge in schools for years and the males have done their National Service. Thus they have every right to feel that they belong here. They have every right to want to have a say in the running of the country.
As more and more become educated and better informed through the Internet, these people are no longer easily swayed by one-sided views. Most are intelligent enough to see many sides of an argument and are able to come to their own conclusions.
The new generation no longer just want the right to elect a government; they also want the right to supervise them through discussions and feedback at every stage of the governing process.
This is not a bad thing. It is better than if the young of today are pre-occupied with materialistic things and not caring about Singapore’s survival. This was the situation few years ago and, together with the influx of new immigrants, it was cause for concern.
Not All Is Lost
Luckily for our country not all is lost. At the recent anniversary dinner organised by the Singapore Democratic Party, I met a lot of young people who gave me a glimmer of hope that Singapore still has a future.
The dinner was not the usual sort where boring speeches are made and where senior citizens form the majority. Instead there were plenty of youthful faces like that of Khalis, Priveen, Tian Jing and Jarrod. Some, including Kenneth, have yet to take their ‘O’–Levels. Goh Meng Seng, the young Secretary-General of the National Solidarity Party, could be considered an “old man” that night.
Tony and Justin from the Reform party were also there. Many years back I had breakfast with two senior administrative officers who they said that Singapore does not have alternative ideas because brilliant scholars who left the service were usually so fed-up with the system that they did not want to provide any alternative ideas. And many chose to migrate. It is, therefore, good to see Tony at the party because he and his wife are obviously not turning their backs on their country.
There was a lot of vibrancy and energy at the dinner party but this is not to say that the organisation of the function had not met with obstacles. Jaslyn Go, a young mother of two and the dynamo behind the anniversary celebration told me getting a place was the most difficult task. A reputable hotel had turned them down when they heard it was for a political party’s anniversary celebration, saying that they were fully-booked. Yet when a call was made later to ask if the place was available for a wedding they said it was.
This reminds of the time I contested the 1997 GE. I had a lawyer friend who was boasting to me how he would contest the elections if only his wife had allowed it. I thought surely a brave man like him would readily act as a commissioner of oath for my candidacy. When I approached him to engage his professional service, he declined citing something like “they” will come after him. For what? For practising his profession?
The spectre of fear is still hovering in 2010 as it was in 1997. It is, therefore, gratifying that there are still young people around who are free from fear.
The young people I met are not a bunch of fun-loving philistines. Neither do they seem to me a group of hot-headed radicals. They are idealists with sound views on social and political issues and their feet are firmly on the ground.
The outlook and the perception of the young may not be the same as that of the previous generation. It should not be. Circumstances are different and changing all the time. As they are the vanguard of the future, more and more must be encouraged to have the independence of judgement, the ability to think for themselves and the freedom to try out new ideas.
A stifling atmosphere will destroy idealism, the individual’s motivations and his hopes for the future and his love for the country. Paternalism, therefore, should no longer have a role in this new age. If we want a vibrant and innovative society, then our young people should not be treated like dependent children.
Fortunately the Internet has now allow the younger generation to circumvent the control of opinion by the government and the main stream media and give them the freedom to express their our opinions and expose them to more informed and balanced views
It is such freedom that has made our youth feel that there is a future and that they have a hand in moulding it.
It is such freedom that will help prepare our young people to anticipate and meet the rapid changes in this modern world.
It is a pity, however, that the electoral system at the moment discourages the young from standing for election. Many young people from the opposition parties are discouraged from standing because of the hefty deposit that they need to put up. On the other hand, the young people from the PAP need a coat-tail to hang on. Because of this, Singapore is probably the only country in the world where many Members of Parliament have yet to fight an election by themselves.
This is a pity because the rough and tumble of an electoral contest would be able to show up the good leaders from those who are unable to stand on their own feet.
If any electoral reform is needed, it is to allow the future candidates to contend with one another for the right to represent the people. It is only in a one-to-one contest that the voters will be able to scrutinise the candidates offered to them and separate the wheat from the chaff. It is such a contest that will throw up strong leaders that will guide Singapore through the turbulent seas that lie ahead. It is only through the shouts and noises of an election that the voices of the common people can be heard.
President Roosevelt once said, “To conserve worthy institutions, one must adapt to changing times.”
Is Singapore worth conserving? From the youths that I met at the party, they seem to think so.
Yes, the times are a-changing.
___________________________________
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Singapore can have a future with CHANGE:
For example, in future, a new leader wins election and
1. Scrap the COE system replacing it with non-COE method of controlling car population.
This means, same effect without the people wasting their money on cars and can spend this on Retirement or anything they like.
2. Scrap the ERP system. The COE replacement system already would work and no need for ERP. Money saved can be money spent on more useful things like kid’s lunch money.
3. All expensive new flat prices to be scrapped and replaced with Revalued price befitting a PUBLIC Housing scheme pricing. Savings can give new flat owners more money for retirement, career upgrade, family holidays or donate to charities of their choice.
4. Give singaporean workers 1st priority for companies when hiring. But singaporeans should not expect very much higher salary than FTs. Their salaries will still be higher, however as they live in a 1st world with road tax and flats to pay and pay. With lower cost of living, singaporeans can live with slightly lower but decent wages.
The above are key Changes that is technically possible for a Future Singapore, if a new leader is elected and if he does what i suggested.
Change is easy.
Ever wonder why we are being represented by 2 opp mps when only 66 per cent vote went to PAP??? Should it translate to 30+ opposition mps? Is it possible that even if 25% vote goes to PAP mps, and 75% to opp, will the grc calculation formula be tweaked again to translate that to no more than 5 opp mps in parliament, too small to make a difference??? Anyone knows how the votes-to-mps formula works pls explain or is it undisclosed (not suprised).
Rather than making so many complaints about Singapore and its people, like “crony capitalism” and all these statements that are relatively unjust without any evidences, by the way, to our political leaders (by the way my political views are right at the centre, so no bias here), why not let us take action?
Since most people commenting here hate the PAP so much, why complain and talk so much “nonsense”-unconstructive comments here, when you know that you have the power to vote them out? (will you even do that? sometimes its a matter of NATO. Most of the times we say that in front of friends but 如果我们扪心自问, you may not do so…?)
Truly, Singaporeans are much more educated, which makes us being able to make more informed choices, and we are doing so right now, but why is the PAP still in power after so long? So, I guess babbling away is useless. Give up, and once you are of fine legal age (21, hoping for it to go down to 18 though), come up and make your choice, with many others, make a difference that you think will be best to Singapore. And that change will definitely come. But is it a definite good?
I dare not think of the future.I dare not expect anything from the younger generation.I only hope that the future generation do not chase me away from the five foot way where I may be sleeping.Don’t laugh,some of you people may be sleeping side by side with me .
Priveen,Jarrod,kenneth,Tony and Justin etc etc….How can I have hope with a generation with Ang Mo names?
Dear Mr. TA Balasingam,
I read your post and I do believe there are many in that generation feeling the same.What the PAP did from 1959-1965 was remarkable.After independence with no hinterland and a lowly educated but determined people we rose to build modern Singapore to what it is today.
Sadly,today,that generation’s sweat blood and tears and greatest of all the spirit to work against all odds is not being appreciated, clouded by the greed of success and material wants.
What is the point of singing to the world and patting ourselves on the back on how proud we are to leap from third world to first when we still have the remnants of that self sacrificing unsung heroes living in squalid conditions and to have such stringent rules to be given $330 recently rose to $360 i.e. $1.00 per day by PA.
The Billions lost and spent on undeserved policies and investments to draw new migrants could easily help pay the medical and living expenses of these poor,elderly souls locked away in despair.
Are they asking for hawker,food court or restaurant fare??? definitely not, all they are asking is a decent meal and medical care when needed.Is that too much for a 1st world country with supposedly Swiss standard of living???
Spare a thought brother they too need your support.How much more time have they in this world???
Who are they??? 1. The samsui women and elderly construction workers of that generation.2.The Indian road gangs and longshoremen in Harbor Board and the Malay daily rated workers clearing our streets and estates.
Where are they??? they can be found in the one roomers @ Redhill,Brickworks,Chinatown,Toa Payo etc.etc.living in squalid conditions slightly better than the exploited FW.
Is there a future when we cannot recall what these past generation had done to build our Nation?Some leaders are now saying that they came from this generation and expect the new wave of migrants to be likewise. How is that possible??? the sweat,blood and tears were spilled for this New 1st world they build for themselves and their children fully paid but not fully rewarded yet and they are now cast aside to make way for these new Migrants stepping in all ready to enjoy the fruits of their hard work.
My prayers are for these new generation to have the same spirit of the 1959-65 generation to build for themselves and their children what that generation built for them.
Lastly remember the less fortunate of that generation,there are not many of them left,seek them out if possible and give them the respect and dignity they deserve knowing that they are too proud to BEG or be screened thoroughly for a miserly $360 per month from PA.
They would rather work at hawker centre,foodcourt,picked cans and cardboards for a living and keep their last shred of DIGNITY.
VOTE PAP OUT !!!
For the sake of our future !!
That’s all..
tokseleho: I hope they do get their act together. But I don’t think my suggestions should be regarded as special. It is common sense. Doubt the nation is looking and neither am I looking for the attention too. All I hope for is a leader that cares for it’s people whether he/she is financially sound or unfortunately broke, legally adopt the human rights act, give adequate health care to all, stop looking at GDP growth as the answer, LISTEN and not use fear as a diversion.
PeterC: I know this all too well. I see these old men and women daily, lost, lonely, depress and severely underweight. I spoke to one and ask him what he had for lunch, he said, “boy, I can only afford milo and one piece of bread for the whole day. Drinking tea in the kopitiam is a luxury”. So SDP, maybe instead of using this old man as a political weapon in your campaign. Tell me, what can you do for him? What policies do you have that can change this man’s life? How will my golden years be like when I finally stop working for the nation? How can the aging population deal with the high cost of living? How will you cover my medical bills differently from the current administration? etc…. If you don’t even have these solutions, why bother to setup a political party? You are just but the same as old men complaining in the kopitiam. All talk.
Agongkia,
That’s really uncalled for. Does the name of a politician determine his or her efficacy?
We need a change. Our political landscape needs a change. I am a historian in the mid 20s and really feel disgusted when reading our own Singapore history. What is Singapore History? It is not only about PAP or any particular people but a history of our people, our ancestors, our nation-building, irregardless where they from. I have served NS for 2.5 years, given all my sweat and blood, when during the service, I witness the loss of a then 18-yo full time serviceman. I may be boastful about what I have done for this country, and foreigners may not appreciate what we Singaporeans have done for them and how much we have to endure. I am quite ‘old’ if not one of the oldest in my tutorial class in university. Certainly, the other male classmates from other countries like Malaysia, India or China are younger than me. Yes, they are more ‘energetic’ more active while I have to endure some ongoing backpains due to the 25kg field bag during NS. I would not want to complain as I believe that this small island, the earth and water that I live on nurture me. I believe in Singapore future and I believe that changes are needed in the current situation.
Most of the talented people who really know how to grow businesses online in Singapore are all in exile. They might be in Singapore. But all their soft and hard knowledge based are located outside your country. I mean instead of basing their servers in Singapore. They prefer to base in any country except their homeland. Instead of growing their e-business in their home. They prefer to put their eggs in the EU and other countries. Why is that? Maybe it is because your government has nothing good to say about the internet. In the EU we see the internet as the great hope to create jobs, wealth and new opportunities. We even expect our politicians to give us regular updates on how they are growing the e-businesses. In Singapore politicians are just paid alot of money to say bad things about the internet. No wonder even your greatest export the underground gaming fraternity has to base their servers in a foreign country. They dont seem to have faith.
//piso
of course the mps have no influence:
80 of them is paid by pap.
2 of them cannot push our agenda through.
elections should be coming soon.
LHL is training new election officers.
5cents worth of opinion….@
I definitely empathize with your post. All too often the oppositions use video clips and politicize the situation without much action. After all politicians are rated slightly higher or lower than lawyers whatever the case may be.
My concern are, what is the present govt. and future govt. has in store to lift the misery of these group out of their pathetic situation???After all they were part of if not a major contributor towards the success story of Singapore.
The successful ministers and citizens today should recall their childhood class of pri.1,2,3,4,5 and entrance exam and see if they can remember their classmates who did not make the grade academically but yet contribute through hardwork in other fields to be part of that generation making our nation a success. I wonder if they do meet or see them in their present status as less fortunate or unsuccessful would they 1. say hello and ask about their health??2. Pretend they never met?? most likely 2 if not a polite hello with a hypocritical smile and move on. “Lay Lum Lay” its your life not mine.
The gist of all this is; What are we doing to lift this group out of their misery or just pretend they do not exist???
All these HOO!!!HAA!!! is pointless if there is no action but LIP service or NATO as stated by Mr. Bala.
Well said PeterC!
I’m voting for Oppositions regardless of who’s placed, but let them take note that if they put a monkey there I’ll have second thoughts. Some areas has been managed well, and it’ll take more than a monkey to win it away. Also, avoid using monkeys because they tend to enjoy giving our MSM ammo to shoot them with.
Its not up to the opposition alone. We all have to do our part to forward such article links to our friends, families and co-workers.
There are hundreds of well-written critical articles online, but how many Singaporeans are reading them?
Also ask ourselves, have we done enough to disseminate them?
Yes there may be many of our friends who are not interested, but out of 10, at least 1 person will find a particular kind of article interesting. And that’s 1 more person’s mind and worldview that we’ve widened.
Time for us to stop being commentators, let’s be advocates.
Singapore can have a great future. But look at the way your government is nurturing growth. Take the internet for example. Your government seems to believe their role is just to provide the infrastructure. They do not understand just as bricks and stones do not make up a university. No amount of infrastructural investment in the IT architecture will be able to make it all happen.
What is strange to us. Your brightest even have to beg us to give us all to give them space. They are no better than gypsies. And they dont seem to want anything to do with your own government. This is very different from us. When we ask them why.? They say it is too long to explain. Better they go their way. We ours.
Some even believe your government has projected into online by using Trojan horse, reverse psychology methods to influence netizens. Recently, we were even shown evidence, if a poster disagreed with one site called Temasek Review previously called the Wayang Party, his personal details and IP address will be published for all to see. So what do you think will happen with all these abusers who abuse their power.
Do you really imagine for one moment these people who happen to be the most independent minded people and also the ones who at the leading edge of technology will take all this rubbish. They will not. They will not put one cent into your country. If possible they will even stop it. And the reason is very simple. No one wants to put good seeds into bad ground.
You have no idea what it means when they say, the underground gaming hub has been relocated from Singapore to Germany somewhere in Bavaria. If your government knows what this means. If this happened in my country. Someone important would have to resign. Heads will roll. As it is like BMW moving out of Bavaria.
But what is curious is in Singapore all this is treated like garbage. It is not only unworthy, it is treated like shit.
@ observer
What is the thrust and contents of your Comment published above?
I have extracted the following citations from your Comment:
1. “They are no better than gypsies.”
2. “these people who happen to be the most independent minded people and also the ones who at the leading edge of technology will take all this rubbish. They will not. They will not put one cent into your country. If possible they will even stop it.”
3. “You have no idea what it means when they say, the underground gaming hub has been relocated from Singapore to Germany somewhere in Bavaria.”
Who or what are you referring to when you use the pronoun “they” in several sentences of your Comment? I observe also that your frequent use of the pronoun “they” in relation to different nouns in the same paragraph is confusing and makes it difficult to understand the thrust of your argument in that paragraph.
Finally, you have discussed so many points in a given paragraph such that these points are difficult to understand individually and collectively, for example, the paragraph :
“Do you really imagine for one moment these people who happen to be the most independent minded people and also the ones who at the leading edge of technology will take all this rubbish. They will not. They will not put one cent into your country. If possible they will even stop it. And the reason is very simple. No one wants to put good seeds into bad ground.”
Thus the result is the arguments in the paragraph are incoherent.
I look forward to your Comment to be written again in plain English.
Thank you.
God Bless my Singapore and my fellow Singaporeans.
@T A Balasingam:
If you don’t roam around the net all too often at too many different places you probably won’t hear of them. It’s not that big a deal to know who they are or what they do. Just take it that this group of people have found a good way to make a living and they do generate a good amount of money wherever they go. They don’t call these people Underground Gamers for nothing….so don’t bother digging information out if you’re not interested since information on them is scattered all over the place. I myself had a hard time observing these people…too much work, and too much time needed to read everything they write, including the BP and others, also there’s too many rumours on what they do floating everywhere.
But they do entertain me every now and then with their chats and articles, these group of people are definitely intelligent, and brutally efficient sometimes(viewing past track records) . It’s always entertaining when some of them speak. Singaporedaddy is one of them btw, so if you’re really interested you might want to question him more.
Observer,
The only reason why ‘they’ have decided to relöcate their gaming hub to Bavaria may have something to do with the fact, the European Patent Office is located in Baader-platz.
It may or may not have anything to do with the government policy in Singapura. But I agree with some of the things you said. It does not help matters when the internet is always treated as a place for where only undesirable people populate it. Just as China will suffer from the Google pull out. So will you all when they decide to relocate to Müchen.
There is a German saying, what you think is worthless, I think is valuable. ‘they’ can stay as long as ‘they’ want. We welcome talent from all over the world. Life would be boring without them. Some say ‘they’ like to quarrel, but that is fine with us. We are not here to put people into straight jackets. we welcome them like our bruders. ‘they’ may be right. You go your way, ‘they’ go theirs.
@ randomnessinmind
Thank you for clearing some fog on who are “they”. However your Comment does not answer what ”they” are, If they are gamers, what is the relevance and significance for “observer” to discuss them under this forum - “Has Singapore a future?”
What is “observer;s” message when he harshly indicted Singapore by writing “But what is curious is in Singapore all this is treated like garbage. It is not only unworthy, it is treated like shit.”
Is “observer” a prophet of doom warning Singapore?
You are right, “randomnessinmind” when you commented “It’s not that big a deal to know who they are or what they do. ……I myself had a hard time observing these people…too much work, and too much time needed to read everything they write, including the BP and others, also there’s too many rumours on what they do floating everywhere.”
I agree with you.
Paraphrasing “observer’s” Comment ” “They” are not only unworthy, “they” are treated like shXXt.”
Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers. ”They” are no example for we Singaporeans to take heed of or emulate.
Thank you again, “randomnessinmind”.
God Bless my Singapore and my fellow Singaporeans.
Mr Balasingam
“If they are gamers, what is the relevance and significance for “observer” to discuss them under this forum - “Has Singapore a future?”
That is the difference between ‘they’ and you. “They” believe the internet is everything and more. You think it is a place only where people loiter around as they should be doing something else like painting your party placards.
“They” believe the internet holds out possibility for creating new business enterprises, opening new opportunities for employment and wealth creation to enrich a country and its citizens.
You on the otherhand see it as only a threat to your hegemony and your way of perpetuating your system.
Just because you do not believe it is relevant does not mean it is irrelevant. It just means you have no idea how to do the things “they” do so well. You need to research it.
Dont worry, you people are famous for throwing away pearls. We will pick it up gladly.
Start by not criticizing everyone in the internet so much. Begin by being more considerate and less confrontational, do not come up with unproductive and non-constructive statements like,
“Paraphrasing “observer’s” Comment ” “They” are not only unworthy, “they” are treated like shXXt.”
Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers. ”They” are no example for we Singaporeans to take heed of or emulate.
How many people do you think even support you? Do you even know what you are throwing away? You sound like Adolf Hitler. Please consider changing your attitude Balasingam.
TQ
“What is “observer;s” message when he harshly indicted Singapore by writing “But what is curious is in Singapore all this is treated like garbage. It is not only unworthy, it is treated like shit.”
Dont try use cheap xenophobia and blind patriotism to prop up your hatred for them. Try to be a real man and stand on what you have to say to the people here. Use logic and common sense.
All observer said is your government seems to do nothing except criticize everyone and everything that comes out from your internet. You also say your state owned newspaper is the best in the world.
All observer is saying your ministers should instead be set clear key performance indicators to grow businesses online. Their salary should be tied to how much businesses they can grow online. This is what every minister in the EU is tasked to do in his portfolio.
So now we hear from ‘they’ you happen to be highest paid civil servants but all you do all day is whine like a old woman.
I did not know the real reason why ‘they’ wanted to relocate so badly. Now that I have spent sometime in The Online Citizen. I have been observing and noting down everything here. I will explain to the Muchen Guilds that “they” were wise to have done what they did. We did not understand. Now we do.
It is impossible to work with people who are so narrow minded they only want to see the world like a frog in a well.
With people like you Balasingam God will have to bless you and your Singapore.
I do not really understand what this underground gaming brotherhood is all about but one thing that I do understand is the influence is so great that it has created either a “monster” with a mind of its own or its a tool of the “Devil” or bless their souls a bunch of guys who live in a world of their own.
Whatever the case may be,lets look at the subject on hand, can Singapore have a future? if not,what can we the ordinary Singaporeans do about it.
5cents worth and Bala are two different generations which will seldom meet but both have their say and ideas as true blue Singaporeans.
Let us HEAR MORE of this and not deviate as time is the essence and I am sure politicians are looking for snippets from true blue neutral Singaporeans.
We may not be political aligned but we definitely would like to be heard and we are the silent majority with the brains but not the GUMPTION to participate for reasons best known to ourselves.
Allow dual citizenship and leave it up to the individual if he/she wants to withdraw CPF. Not all the Singaporean dispora are ‘quitters’, in fact many of them care about the Singapore. They have the courage to start again in other countries and the resourcefulness to survive in totally new environments. These are real Singaporeans who are entrepreneurs. I am one of them in Australia.
I’m sorry Mr Bala. It is your own wish to treat them as trash and waste. They deserve every little respect I have for every fellow human being out there. The internet itself is bustling with opportunities these days. I’ve made used of it, and am still making use of it to generate my own wealth.
And your reference to gamers may be a little off here. And no observer is not a prophet of doom. Also, the way things were done in Singapore pissed a good many people off, especially online.
Plainly put, some nice operation plans that could make money didn’t came to Singapore because some “nice” people were being very silly and stubborn, and also more than irritating. Observer was just ranting about it, it’s all good read if you were more concerned about it.
It’s still no big deal to you in a whole. And I suppose why he’s ranting here is probably because he’s just trying to have a conversation. What’s so bad about that?
@ Beckenbaure
The Internet is one infinite electronic stage. There are many forums playing concurrently. Online writers and correspondents have the freedom of expression of their views. However their writings and views must be contextual in content and relevant to the subject of the title of the article, and relate to the thrust and issues of the article.
This specific on-line forum in TOC is “Has Singapore a Future?” by Dr Wong Wee Nam, a concerned and responsible fellow Singaporean whom I have a deep respect.
Now the Comment by Observer is on a subject which I understand to be is “gamers and their mode of operations (maybe business??) in the Internet”. It is unrelated to Dr Wong Wee Nam’s article.
Observer’s mini-thesis and indictment is based on the premise that the presence of the operations of the “gamers” would be of benefit to Singapore. However Observer has failed to correlate his observations in the context of Dr Wong Wee Nam’s thoughts, views and opinions. In short, in debating protocol – Observer is “out of point”. This “out of point’ debating position of Observer is the premise of my Comment above.
Beckenbaure – you have castigated me without understanding the thrust of my premise. Worse still, in the same breath, you have pilloried the Government of Singapore and the Singaporeans based on these 2 citations of your statements - “All observer said is your government seems to do nothing except criticize everyone and everything that comes out from your internet” and “It is impossible to work with people who are so narrow minded they only want to see the world like a frog in a well.”
Your generalisations are erroneous because there is no evidence in your entire Comment that validate these indictments. Indeed your statements can be characterised as pontifications which implicitly and subtly communicate that you a “higher order human being” vis a vis the Singaporeans.
Indeed, your pontification “With people like you Balasingam God will have to bless you and your Singapore.” is the cap-stone of your mis-conceived judgement.
So who ”sound like Adolf Hitler? You or I?
@randomnessinmind
I enjoyed reading your Comment. Thank you for restraining me. Observer’s Comment was robust and mocking of the pysche of the Singaporean. Worse still, he laced his mockings with obscene candour. Thus my rebuttal was equally robust and candid to demonstrate that we Singaporeans “do not just smile helplessly and take things lying down when someone chooses to walk all over us in our Singapore.” We enjoy a good fight and can be just as pugilistic when the situation warrants an act of self defence.
God Bless Singapore and we Singaporeans.
The term underground gamers is very misleading. First, there is nothing underground.In the early days maybe. Secondly it is not a game. They own the game. These are not people who do nothing all day and tap on their keyboards killing imaginary aliens. FYI the brotherhood came into the EU and US underground gaming scene some 10 years ago. No one took them seriously at first. But in a short time, they were able to establish new markets and even edge many dominant movers and shakers out. It is very hard to kill them. As the brotherhood is not an organization. From what we see, it is an idea. So they proliferated in every known corner of the international gaming scene. It is often said, if you go to the furthest corner of the gaming world. You will see the brotherhood. Their diplomats have gone everywhere. And since the underground gaming scene is worth double and triple of what is currently offered on LAN platforms. And the networks crisscross even into major stock exchanges. Small things affect them. Their connections are so good months before Google decided to pull out of China. They are already making preparations to tap into new emerging markets
“Now the Comment by Observer is on a subject which I understand to be is “gamers and their mode of operations (maybe business??) in the Internet”. It is unrelated to Dr Wong Wee Nam’s article.”
What century are you living in Mr Balasingam? You claim it is ‘unrelated.’ How can that be when the entire tradable asset in monetary terms in the virtual gaming world alone is close to the combine GDP of Russia and Portugal put together! That is only the tip of the iceberg. What about the net worth of the intellectual property in the virtual. There are millions of things that goes into gaming. There is computer generated graphics, voice recognition, isotropic imaging. All these things are worth billions and recently when the movie Avatar was nominated for the academy awards. This goes to show how fine the line is between reality and the virtual.
It is very clear to us you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
“Your generalisations are erroneous because there is no evidence in your entire Comment that validate these indictments. Indeed your statements can be characterised as pontifications which implicitly and subtly communicate that you a “higher order human being” vis a vis the Singaporeans.”
No. I disagree. Is it not a fact that the political system has very little in the way of good to say about the internet? Is it also not a fact, the political system continues to support the state run newspaper and even insist it is the best in the world despite all evidence to the contrary? As for Dr Wong with due respect, we have never ever heard of him before. But I dont think you can talk abt success these days without including the internet, unless you live in a cave?
I will leave all these for the netizens to judge for themselves. I came here for a very specific mission. To observe and report my findings to the Interspacing Metal Exchange. I have seen and heard enough. I will be making my recommendations.
“Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers. ”They” are no example for we Singaporeans to take heed of or emulate.”
Mr Balasingam, you do not begin a conversation in this manner and hope to expect good results. I may not agree with the brotherhood, but even we would never consider using such strong language. Mr Balasingam we hope you will take this opportunity and reflect carefully on what you have written here.
By the way do you still stand by what you say?
“Worse still, in the same breath, you have pilloried the Government of Singapore and the Singaporeans based on these 2 citations of your statements.”
I have not pilloried the Government of Singapore. I have merely noted in objective terms what I have managed to observed in The Online Citizen and will eventually report my findings to the confederation of gamers.
I also have the utmost respect for Singaporeans. May I remind you Mr Balasingam, I was not the one who used words like,
‘Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers. ”They” are no example for we Singaporeans to take heed of or emulate.’
It is you Mr Balasingam who have shown a total lack of regard for your own Singaporean people.
This is what I have noted.
(1) Most government agencies do not have much regard for the internet. They speak of it dismissively. And they always insist the state run newspaper is the best thing since sliced bread. How many people online do you think will agree with you on this Mr Balasingam?
(2) It is very clear to us based on your outburst. Not only does government hobble the development of new enterprises online. But it has no idea how to even create new opportunities. This is very clear Mr Balasingam otherwise why do you seem to have such great difficulty in drawing the obvious connection between the question posed, “can singapore survive,’ and how this might all relate to the new frontier we all call the internet? You are out of touch.
Mr. Beckenbauer@
you intrigued me and I believe you are alien.What intrigue me more is this mysterious organisation with assets close to Russia & Portugal GDP combined.Tell me(us) more leh.
TOC, can an article of this subject be posted??? I am sure there are many who would like to understand what and who are they???Maybe, the govt. or future govt. in the making can tap on this lucrative market.
@ Beckenbaure
You fail to understand my premise on defining what it takes to be participating in an online discussion on an article by an author who gives his name which is published in an online electronic medium like the TOC. I quote my premise again frommy Comment published earlier:
“ Online writers and correspondents have the freedom of expression of their views. However their writings and views must be contextual in content and relevant to the subject of the title of the article, and relate to the thrust and issues of the article. ”
In Dr Wong Wee Nam’s article “Has Singapore a Future?”, he did not introduce or discuss any subject called “gamers”.
This subject “gamers” was introduced in this specific forum by Observer. I ask you,in fact, I beg you to read the entire trail of discussion from the first Comment to the last Comment todayon Dr Wong’s article to satisfy yourself that, in accordance, to pratices in online forums, a forum correspondent must bear in mind that “their writings and views must be contextual in content and relevant to the subject of the title of the article, and relate to the thrust and issues of the article.”
Your remark onDr Wong Wee Nam; I quote - “As for Dr Wong with due respect, we have never ever heard of him before.” Dr Wong Wee Nam is an active veteran Singaporean politician who is a critic of the Singapore Government for more than a decade. I assume that you are Internet-savvy. So just google “Dr Wong Wee Nam” and you can read scores of postings. My last count just now showed that there were 65 postings.
In fact, I am baffled by your claim that you are a competent contemporary of the internet world whilst sniping me to be an Internet moron (based on your remarks - ”What century are you living in Mr Balasingam?” and “It is very clear to us you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.” and “I came here for a very specific mission. To observe and report my findings to the Interspacing Metal Exchange.”)
I wonder who is the Internet moron? You or I? You do not know even know how to conduct a Google search before you pontificate canonical indictments!
So you are going to submit your report and recommendations on Singapore based on your remark – “To observe and report my findings to the Interspacing Metal Exchange. I have seen and heard enough. I will be making my recommendations.
I hope that your principals (I assume that they are the leading generals of the gamer industry/economy) to whom you will submit your report and recommendations will take your report seriously.
Your demonstrated prowess in failing to conduct a deliberate search in Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc (based on your pointed remark – “As for Dr Wong with due respect, we have never ever heard of him before.”) to establish the authenticity, objectivity and completes speaks volumes of your researcher skills in Internet search competency and professionalism.
Beckenbaure – Thank you for an invigorating, robust and thought provoking debate.
I am better educated on the subject of “gamers”. However I wonder whether any leader of the “gamer industry and economy”will give any credence to your report if they discovered that you do not even possess the basic skill of a google search which every young Singaporean boy or girl (aged about 8 years old) is taught when he or she is studying in Primary Three in our Singaore schools.
You write something like this ‘Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers’ then you go on to add “my rebuttal was equally robust and candid to demonstrate that we Singaporeans “do not just smile helplessly and take things lying down when someone chooses to walk all over us in our Singapore.” We enjoy a good fight and can be just as pugilistic when the situation warrants an act of self defence. God Bless Singapore and we Singaporeans.’
No wonder the brudderhood want to get away from their own countrymen so badly they are even prepared to fund our new gaming hub in München. We all could not understand why they conceded to all our terms so easily. These people are well known to fight tooth and nail for every square foot. If you so much as give them one inch. They will take a meter. It is like trying to get blood from a stone. But after reading this. I know now.
I will have to request permission for the site owner. As I wish to copy and distribute this to the International Underground gaming fraternity so that we can help them.
@Muchener
Why do you speak in innuendos? What is this “brudderhood” and “International Underground” that you are quoting? Articulate your opinions and demonstrate how your opinions are reasonable and logical within this forum that is discussing Dr Wong Wee Nam’s thesis “Has Singapore a Future?”.
Be courageous and let there be a debate on what is your platform of ideas to assert that you have a message that will make this world a better world? That your love of Humanity is an inspiration to the international community of fellow mankind to want to embrace and practice your universal values.
It’s sad to see how we got totally out of point here. Or at least just my opinion. Let us just get back into point.
I am going to copy this as well and distribute it in the Tmbillinger and ekunaba forums. To warn the others.
If you begin a conversation by saying, they are like human waste and should be flushed down the sewers. I say you are not giving this a chance.
And if you cannot see that the best way for a society to survive is by embracing new technology no matter how alien it may seem to you. And you have no body to blame as the info is all there, but you just didnt bother with the reading. Then I say you are also not giving this a chance.
@observer
I refer you to your statement in your Comment ”If you begin a conversation by saying, they are like human waste and should be flushed down the sewers. I say you are not giving this a chance.”
I had never started any conversation in this blog “by saying, “they are like human waste and should be flushed down the sewers. ” Please read again all my conversations in this blog.
Your indictment “And if you cannot see that the best way for a society to survive is by embracing new technology no matter how alien it may seem to you. And you have no body to blame as the info is all there, but you just didnt bother with the reading” is grosssly erroneous.
Read again all my conversations in this blog and cite any evidence that testifies and supports your indictment of me.
On the contrary, I have repeatedly asked you, ”Observer”, “Beckenbaure ” and “Muchener” to ” Be courageous and let there be a debate on what is your platform of ideas to assert that you have a message that will make this world a better world?”
None of you have responded to my invitation. Your silence so far is deafening. Why?
Instead you pontificate new canonical-like indictments on me and Singapore. Your latest pontification of me which is “I am going to copy this as well and distribute it in the Tmbillinger and ekunaba forums. To warn the others.” is blatantly characteristic of your failure to engage me in a debate of whether I am not “embracing new technology no matter how alien it may seem to you.”
I have been told by gaming addicts that its some game which entices people surfing the net to play for free in the beginning and when hooked request for payments via credit/debit cards or paypal.Good luck to them after all suckers are born everyday.
I agree with 5 cents that we return to issues concerning Singapore and its people.
Dear Mr T A Balasingam
Mar 25, 2010 10:27
You ask for a robust and courageous debate Mr T A Balasingam.
Yet you do not seem prepared to acquiant yourself with the broader question of ”has Singapore a future,” with what the internet holds out in terms of:
(1) Employment opportunities
(2) New Business enterprises
(3) Increasing scope and opportunities to empower people.
But Mr T A. Balasingam none of these innovations that I have mentioned above will ever emerge in the scale to change anything, until people like yourself and those who you represent get the most important innovation in order, that is you cannot write something like this about about our dear friends, the brotherhood.
‘Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers’
And yet expect us to cooperate with you and your kind in any capacity. I regret to inform you. We do not wish to engage you further in this discussion. As we believe very strong, if you do not get governance right, it is very hard to get anything else right that government needs to deal with if they are serious about carving competitive advantage for their citizenry.
Good Day, farewell and Best of luck Mr T A Balasingam
Beckenbauer – Liaison officer of the Interspacing Metal Exchange Guild based in Brussels & Germany
Dear Mr. Bala,
The brotherhood of whatever with their HQ @ Germany and Adolf as their patron saint,Interspacing Metal Exchange Guild,etc.etc does not concern Singapore’s well being and survival,Good luck to them in their private realm and world.
Lets return to our core issue of Singapore’s welfare.
The wind is blowin & time is a changin,our old are dying and our young are crying may I know where are we HEADING????
Any educated people will know a ruling party of 50 years like the PAP is bad for the country.
I don’t want to wait 20, 30 more years for change. sorry.. i’m a quitter. people take too long and have too much fear. i don’t see it changing anytime soon.
Okay, enough chatting on understanding the brotherhood. We have no need to change the subject, and if someone did not understand what another has posted there isn’t really need to continue. Honestly speaking…all of you are right, in your own way concerning your views about Singapore future, but speaking ill about each other is no way to continue the current topic at hand. Sure we’re polite at best, and practices basic courtesy…but running around in circles and being out of topic isn’t the way to go.
Please remember…different conclusions are made when one fact is looked at from two separate points of view. When that happens, there’s essentially no way to judge which point of view is correct. There’s no way to prove that one’s own conclusion is correct.
But for that exact reason, it’s also wrong to decide that you’re wrong.
The people of net space have their own common ideas formed at a certain point, and these group of people have their own way of looking towards the future. They’re not wrong, and neither are you two wrong with your views Mr. Balasingam and PeterC. It’s always good to be polite and use the right words, but everyone has a different way of expressing themselves, I know many people here understands that.
Now back to the topic at hand. I suppose I will join in and talk about the future after all.
I’m not all too concerned about the young having historical sense or what not. Truth said, from what I see and hear I’m pretty sure many of them are slowly becoming less apathetic. I attribute this to the recent years of stupidity by the government which affected the lives of the current generation.
My take on the future is very simple. If the PAP stays fully in power and nothing changes, smart people will leave, not so smart people will live poor, and the lesser off will disappear, shipped out or made hidden even more. Why? Because the current government is proving themselves silly, delusional and full of excuses.
I do however have a few good ways to start swaying votes amongst friends and family. Of course to do that there has to be a suitable candidate in the area who proves he uses his brain more than his pockets to think.
Firstly just go ahead and tell your elder family members this:
You can afford a HDB, MBT says, we/I/the young, definitely can afford HDB. So let me ask you, according the the prices now, which are still going up, ten, fifty years down the road, how is your grandson going to afford any form of public housing? Will his pay increase with housing if he was just a mere employee with a diploma? Look at the policies made, the price hikes, the stupidity in the past three years, with the cost of living rising spectacularly. What has the government to say? They say they are frogs, that we are lesser mortals, that we are fussy. And best of all, we have all these problems despite having the highest paid ministers in the whole wide world, with a simple minister earning more than the president of U.S! How to vote for PAP anymore, what have they done in the past 5 years to deserve their salaries? Do you think it is time to vote them out?
There’s alot more to that, since our silly millisters has given us so much ammo in recent years to shoot them with, the most recent with the wet market issue. I really want to know how their words is going to change in coming elections. BTW the PAP’s attitude towards the net has proved most amusing recently. I look forward to more shows down the road.
It seems and look futile for change to take a hold.Are we to lament and cry in sackcloth and wait for a SAVIOR???We are our own SAVIOR.
Stand up for your birth rights which cannot be taken away from you unless you renounce it and adopt another country.This fear of losing your fundamental rights and be declared STATELESS is worse than having HIV and haunt our earlier generation to this day and their children.
This senseless fear no longer exists with the young generation of today with their education and tech savvy knowledge of a boderless world.
PAP is aware and are trying their utmost to replace our young with FT/FW in order to hang on to power.The old may still have their fears and and the in between are stuck with nowhere to go
With their recent FOLLIES this past years, the time is definitely right for a change.Should we not be able to change the Govt. than the least is to deny them the two thirds to shake them up and make them realize that Singapore does belong to the old,elderly sick,poor less fortunate and ordinary Singaporeans that BUILT & DEFEND this NATION and not a CORPORATION where workers are discard and replaced when no longer PRODUCTIVE.
The SCALES must be removed from our eyes.This is our country and we have NO OTHER.
Glad we are back to the topic. My vote is precious, no matter what the results may be. It is the very least right I have as a born bred Singaporean. However, I am not about to vote in for just any politician, unless, he/she have a very good reassuring plan for my family’s future. Whatever party they come from. Voting for the oppositions, for the sake of it, will definitely not be my choice. Infact, I have very little faith with any POLITICIAN, they are all talk till proven resourceful. However, I know what I want from the administration of the future:
Transparency of all accounts down to cents when spending the public’s money
Referendum for the way the public’s money is spent for investment or when passing any bill, law, etc…
Accountability to all mistakes made
Responsibility to protect & support the aged, weak and handicap
Human Rights Act to be practiced for good
Medical policies to be properly reviewed and agreed by the public before it can be passed as a policy
Basically, the public should have more power in the passing of any bills, laws, policies, etc… At no point, should the public have no say in any life changing decisions. We are a small country, so the administration of the future should embrace the fact that we can all decide our fate base on majority with no administrative difficulties. There will be less arguments, if I know that the choice made is the option chosen by the general public. Sounds impossible? We have not even tried, so why can’t it be possible. Power to the people always!
Perhaps Mr ganga you can share with us all how it is possible you have allowed such a entry to be considered as relevant to the discussion.
Like human waste matter, “they” qualify to be flushed down the sewers
It meant only to be friendly and to extend an invitation to the controllers of the the online citizen to visit our city in Muchen.
I dont understand how you people formulate your decision – perhaps you can explain to me in very simple language how the statement I highlighted was given an airing while mine was not?
Or maybe you can just hide underneath your bed and delete this and hope that your world is as it is will remain intact?
Pls excuse me but I see a glaring contradiction. Perhaps the administrators of the online citizen should replace with you with someone who has a wider breadth of the issues at hand?
Moderating Editor (Ganga): I only deal with those flagged as ‘pending moderation’ and do not have the time to trawl through ALL comments, being a volunteer (we all are). Thus, if a comment is not flagged, I will only take action if it is brought to my attention – be it by other editors or by readers. The notification to you about my remarks was automatic, and is not meant to tell you that I find your comment off-topic – it is just a reflection of the decision taken, that’s all. In fact, I have left the comment itself intact instead of deleting it altogether (in which case you would not have received any notification in the first place) precisely because I wanted the other editors to see the compliment and take note of the invitation. If you would like to pursue the matter regarding the comment you implicate, please submit a formal complaint to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com and I will gladly look into it, thanks.
@5 cents worth of opinion
Mar 25, 2010 23:56
I agree totally with you.
The wild card and highest risk in a popular one man-one vote system is that the voters would vote in a political party that says “Yes! Yes! Yes I will deliver all that you demand!” Then when they are in power, in generosity,they will provide services, grants, health welfare, etc which cause them to incur major deficits in their annual budgets. So over time the Government goes bankrupt, the economy spirals downward and the people are poorer than before when that Government came into power.
That is exactly the grave problem faced by countries in the European Union today i.e. Greece, Britain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, etc. But the biggest economic time bomb of all today is the near bankrupt America!
By 2012 (next year), the American budget deficit is expected to be US$3 trillion plus. In real terms, all the taxes that the American Government will collect annually will only go to pay 25% of the Interest of the natonal deficit. It will be unable to pay any money to reduce the Principal. To understand this ticking time bomb, ask any one who has borrowed from a loan shark – the borrower just can only afford to pay part of the Interest but the Principal keeps on growing!
That is why, at this point in time, the whole world including the Government of Singapore is “holding their breath”. Especially China who owns US$1.3 trillion of its foreign reserves in US bonds.
So which political party in Singapore can save the people of Singapore, in particular, the aged, the poor, the chronic sick, the homeless, the obsolete unskilled worker, etc.?
If the global economy collapses because of the reckless and incompentent American government (in particular , Pres Obama) and the European countries, do you think Singapore can escape from or prevent this “economic tsunami”?
I do not intend to be alarmist but these are the realities facing Singapore today and for the next 4-5 years.
So my fellow Singaporeans, vote wisely in the coming General Elections.
If you vote foolishly and recklessly,you and your family will suffer enormously. You may be so short of cash that you may have to sell your HDB flat to feed your family. But who will buy? Because nearly all the middle class and definitely, all the poor (like you and I) will be desperately poor, hungry and have no savings. Who will buy Singapore made goods if the global economy is down and out!
These are the grim and grave realities facing Singapore today and over the next 4-5 years.
So, my brother and sister Singaporeans, vote wisely in the coming General Elections.
Mr Bala, please try to keep your comments to under 500 words. It is becoming increasingly difficult to moderate lengthy comments. Thanks.
Canada do not have any deficit. Quoting the USA is a bad example of a welfare state for a number of reasons.
1) USA is trying to maintain an empire and it have a huge miltary budget.
2) The country is huge, very huge, with alot of infrastures yet to be build while Singapore is tiny and small. No real expenses there.
3) Sg have no natural disasters while the USA have.
4) USA have to maintain several governing bodies in the world like the UN, IMF, WTO, NATO.
5) Having a deficit does not make the USA a poor country. It is still the richest country in the world with the highest technology. Try matching that!