By Andrew Loh
Once upon a time, Vivian Balakrishnan was among a group of PAP candidates which was termed “super-seven” by the local mainstream media. In the 2001 General Elections, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had introduce the seven – Khaw Boon Wan, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Raymond Lim and Cedric Foo.
Immediately after that elections, Vivian Balakrishnan, who was said to be a critic of the government before he joined the ruling party, was made Minister of State for National Development in 2002.
Following this, he was given numerous positions in the next few years:
2002 – Chairman of the Remaking Singapore Committee
2003 – Minister of State (Trade and Industry)
2003 – Chairman of the National Youth Council
2004 – Acting Minister for Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS)
2004 – Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry)
2005 – Minister for MCYS and Second Minister for Trade and Industry
2005 – Minister responsible for entrepreneurship
2007 to 2008 – Minister for MCYS and Second Minister for Communications and the Arts (Mica)
In addition to all these, he was also Chairman of the Young PAP, was responsible for the casinos issue (he led a govt team to the Bahamas to study the Atlantis Resort there), a Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC and oversaw Singapore’s 2010 Youth Olympics bid.
Vivian Balakrishnan was the youngest Cabinet minister at 45 years old when he joined the PAP.
Indeed, super-human feats were expected of him.
So, how has Vivian Balakrishnan fared – 10 years after having won in the 2001 elections under the PAP banner? What portfolios does he now hold? Let’s recap:
Chairman of the Remaking Singapore Committee – Defunct
Minister of State (Trade and Industry) – Now Lim Hng Kiang
Chairman of the National Youth Council – Now Teo Ser Luck
Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry) – Now S Iswaran
Second Minister for Trade and Industry – Li Yee Shyan
Minister responsible for entrepreneurship – Now Li Yee Shyan
Minister for MCYS
Second Minister for Communications and the Arts (Mica) – Now, Lui Tuck Yew (Acting Minister)
Chairman of Young PAP – Now Teo Ser Luck
MP Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC
Youth Olympics – Now Teo Ser Luck
Vivian Balakrishnan now has, basically, two portfolios – Minister for MCYS, which is considered a light-weight ministry and MP for the Holland-Bukit Panjang Group Representation Constituency, along with five of his fellow PAP MPs.
It looks like Vivian Balakrishnan has either fallen out of favour or may have been unable to handle the numerous portfolios given to him. Or it could simply mean that the PAP has found more people to shoulder the weight previously carried by him. Whatever the reasons, one thing’s for certain: Vivian Balakrishan’s once-shining star has diminished. Once said to be on a “speedboat for greater things”, he instead seems to have fallen off the boat.
What could be the reason?
One clue could perhaps be his public gaffes since becoming MP and minister. In his early years in office, according to this website,
“… when you listen to his closed-door forums, you can sense a slight streak of controlled impatienceness and authoritarianism in him… In 2002, he labelled the Malaysian Media as “wild animals”, which is quite an unprecedented comment made by any Singaporean Ministers.”
Indeed, in February 2009, Vivian Balakrishnan, who was then Second Minister for Mica, made an explicit threat to those in cyberspace:
“Anonymity in cyberspace is an illusion…..if need be, we can identify you, and if we have to, we will be prepared to prosecute you.” (21st Feb 2009, Channel NewsAsia.)
Ironically, the very next month (March 2009), his MICA portfolio was removed when PM Lee reshuffled his cabinet (see more below).
At times, Vivian Balakrishnan’s emotional streak – such as during the debate on bar top dancing – leaves even his supporters with red faces:
“If you want to dance, some of us will fall off that bar-top. Some people will die as a result of liberalising bar-top dancing, not just because they have fallen off the bar-top. Because usually a young girl, with a short skirt, dancing on a bar-top, may attract some insults from some other men, and the boyfriend starts fighting. Some people will die. Blood will be shed for liberalising this policy.”
Of course, no one died when bar-top dancing was eventually allowed and the minister probably heaved a huge sigh of relief – not that no one died (because no one would have) but because that episode was finally over and he could get over the public embarrassment of his statement.
In 2007, when he had become Minister for MCYS, another gaffe, this time in Parliament – and over a very sensitive subject. When MP for Jalan Besar GRC asked the government to raise Public Assistance for those in need, Vivian Balakrishnan retorted with what is now a classic:
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”
It caused a public outcry.
That was in 2007. In 2008, when the issue came up again, MCYS finally raised PA assistance by a mere $30, to the dismay of many. Then in 2009, after some prodding by MPs, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in his Budget Speech, announced that PA assistance will be increased by a further S$30 to S$360 – a sort of slap in the face for Vivian Balakrishnan who had been unwilling to consider such an increase.
When MICA minister, Lee Boon Yang, announced that he would like to step down, it was expected that Vivian Balakrishnan would assume his post. After all, he had been in MCYS since 2004 and ministers are regularly rotated. Also, he was then Second Minister at Mica. However, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his Cabinet reshuffle in March of 2009, Vivian Balakrishnan not only had been passed over as successor to Lee Boon Yang but his Second Minister of Mica portfolio was altogether taken away from him. Lui Tuck Yew was made the new Mica minister instead.
In the previous year, 2008, Vivian Balakrishnan’s chairmanship of the Young PAP was given to Teo Ser Luck and it is also Teo Ser Luck who was widely considered to be responsible for Singapore’s successful Youth Olympics bid. And it is Teo Ser Luck who was put in charge of the S$400 million Sports Hub project as well.
In 2010, the issue of homeless Singaporeans camping out in public parks apparently caught his ministry unawares. It was only after The Online Citizen brought the issue to the public’s attention that Vivian Balakrishnan’s ministry started to do something about it – but did it in a most condescending and threatening manner. The ministry brought police officers and Nparks officers to these areas and started to shout at and threaten the campers with fines, ordering them to remove themselves from the parks immediately.
Perhaps Vivian Balakrishan was upset at having been caught sleeping on the job. But nonetheless, despite his tough talk Vivian Balakrishnan seems to have had his wings clipped – and clipped severely.
It would thus be no surprise if he decided not to stand in the next elections. After all, he is not expected to be able to handle any heavyweight portfolio. Would he want to remain in a lightweight capacity, given that he may have ambitions to be Prime Minister as those who know him suspect?
That’s left to be seen.
For now, Vivian Balakrishnan has been a huge disappointment to those who had expected him to be a stand-up guy and speak up for the less fortunate – just as he was said to have done before joining the PAP.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem likely that he will – given his frequent off-hand dismissals of appeals for help for the less fortunate and his wannabe “tough guy” statements.
In short, Vivian Balakrishnan’s political future is one of going with the (PAP) flow. Don’t expect the man to be any different from other PAP MPs or ministers – or to be a maverick.
“If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place where you will have a roof over your head, where you will have food on the table…Even if you can’t afford it, we will have meals delivered to you.” – Vivian Balakrishnan, 2010
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bala evidently think we don’t travel around.
As if it is not better to be in Norway as a poor person?
Dear Andrew,
It’s a well-written piece. I agree that Balakrishnan has not lived up to expectations, and he knows it himself. Within the civil service itself, his comments are not taken seriously, as he helms only a lightweight ministry, and civil servants can read the political tea leaves to know who’s on his way up and vice versa. And Balakrishnan knows it himself. He’s probably planning a graceful exit for himself.
can throw rotten eggs or tomatoes or papayas at these damn people during next erection?
They will throw one guy to the Opp to feed on in the next election. and i think he may be one of the few shortlisted ones.
@ Astarte hamster
the ISD has thrown ppl in detention for political statements for internet postings before.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IA20Ae01.html
so yes. it seems like the PAP has used the ISD as a political weapon before.
Minister of State (Trade and Industry) – Now Lim Hng Kiang
Now if is this were true, everyone would be asleep.
Otherwise gd stuff.
Doc,s record is clean.He may talk hard and tough. But his gahmen dept has been faithful to upholding light touch. The same cannot on record be said abt temasek reveiw who once published the IP address of a commentator who once questioned them repeatedly abt their so called cyber attack. You can check it out yourself the person who did all this had a moniker called ISD Tay.
Don’t flame me. I am just stating the facts and u can all check it out yourself. So mica is not that bad when compared with sites like temasek review. That is why TOC really needs to be careful as this other site is trying very hard to sell us all the idea they fall into the same category as TOC.
All I know is TOC never ever published the IP of any poster who asked them inconvenient questions.
If you all don’t believe go and ask singaporedaddy. He knows. And they are planning to hit back soon. That was one reason why they transfered their new gaming server to germany. Originally it was supposed to be based in sgp
Seems like the norm. VB is not the guy who treads on the balance ground. not the type that MM Lee will prefer. definitely, extremists in beliefs bring about new passion and new energy to the party and they will plod the necessary groundwork.
what I think we need are balanced individuals, reserved and thinking minds with patience, yes you can have vision, great plans but if you are not tempered enough, you will fall. the country you serve will fall. being a politician sometimes means you have to cater for everyone in the country though you may not well like it. issues come and go but most importantly is to keep an open mind. VB is insistent on his beliefs and refuse to consider alternative sides of a coin– which will primarily fail him as an upper leader but nonetheless his drive and passion for stuff is worthy learning as much as his mistakes.
Impatience is a no no.
Too many things has to be done with caution but done well is nice for time to come. Issues concerning such a fragile island nation has to be handled with much discussion and decidedly with good back up plans.
Henceforth, VB maybe a talent but too early. Let time temper him. I believe , hopefully, he can see things in a bigger picture and cater for a larger crowd next time. He may have not yet totally fallen off the speeding boat, but relocated to a back seat as a reserve to reflect upon his errors.
odd. I always though VB was brought into the fold because they wanted to curb the maverick in him.
Andrew,
VB is so often referred to as a “critic” of the government before he entered politics. I don’t seem to remember him being vocal about any government policies then. It appears to me that he seems to be the only one that proposes that he was a “staunch critic” of the government and yet hardly any of my friends or relatives can remember reading or hearing about him being critical of any government polices at any time in the past.
Do you know of any?
Could it be that he was just trying to build an image of himself as the people’s champion only to really show his true colours as an uncaring elite?
There was a change of PMs in 2006. Maybe the present PM never wanted him to be in speed boat when he first came on board.
And given what TOC has written, maybe this PM is right?
Mr Peanuts was wrong?
To chiper (Mar 30, 2010 20:21)
Your post: “…..the part where you posted VB’s list of past and current portfolios was unnecessarily personal, as opposed to say, criticising his comments about the internet or poor people. As an analogy, if you think that a colleague made a stupid comment at work, you’d just point out why it’s stupid. I doubt you’d dig up his employment history and run an analysis on why and how he left each job and how that makes him a lousy employee in general.”
chiper, Vivian is a PUBLIC FIGURE. You & I pay his salary from our taxes. Andrew has done very well to dig his performance record up since the PAP will never ever in a million year allow the States Times to run this sort of article. Where else on earth will we get to know if not for Andrew?
Comparing the exposure of your colleague to a Minister (however junior or not), is no comparison. Nevertheless if you know your colleague’s poor contribution inspite of being paid 100 times all others salary for years, you might be tempted to expose him/her if you know what this colleague had been up to. Or would you really say thats personal, none of your business.
If nobody seems to remember that this vv guy was a critic of the miw then someone must have tried too create such a false image of him. Then the media keep repeating this and repeat it long enough so much so that people just accept it as truth that this vv guy is a critic of the miw.
Can this also be consider as “ASTROTURFING”?
“Immediately after that elections, Vivian Balakrishnan, who was said to be a critic of the government before he joined the ruling party, was made Minister of State for National Development in 2002.”
while i may believe he may be a critic before, there are many levels of criticising. What level was he? Can someone show 1 solid example of his Critic’ism.?
It’s all karmic that his star has fallen…..Vivian, as some might recall, is anti-cats. He was responsible for ordering the killing of thousands of cats, sterilised ones too, in 2003, even when it was proven cats didn’t, and still don’t, spread SARS. That virus came from China. Vivian, this is for all the cats you killed.
@stumped, Apr 2, 2010 1:06
“…It’s all karmic that his star has fallen…..Vivian, as some might recall, is anti-cats….
Nothing karma about this (no offense to believers); it is just politics. Cats were just convenient/unfortunate scrapegoats at that time and also probably one shitted on his doorstep. Now, even have TV programmes highlighting the social “harmony” of having cat-lovers. Next they might screen the social harmony of having old people collecting scrapped tin cans from dustbins to resell (saw another 2 such persons this week). Must be really desperate for a big win in next elections to try to be inclusive of as many groups as possible. When times are good, they sell out Singaporeans; when election comes, they kiss and make up. Ever wonder why successful actors/actresses are paid millions bucks?
Astarte hamster
Apr 1, 2010 11:09
I don’t wish to pry. May I politely ask where did you hear this from?
“That was one reason why they transfered their new gaming server to germany. Originally it was supposed to be based in sgp.”
Our official position remains – we are not in a position to confirm or deny this.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the Brotherhood – sponsored by the Interspacing Mercantile Guild & Confederation of Underground Gamers)
Astarte hamster
Apr 1, 2010 11:04
All I know is TOC never ever published the IP of any poster who asked them inconvenient questions.
why? are you bookin a tigerairways.com seat for germany? ip address is only viewed by the contributor concerned when they confirmed internet purchases thru the internet..not meant to be asked by any LEE harry or cancerlee let alon dr balekampond….
I have a keyboard and mouse. Besides it’s everywhere. It’s a public statement of fact you ppl r not happy SD. Besides I know someone who knows how the decision was made. Since you r such a respecter of privacy. I am sure u don’t have any problem if I choose not to reveal my source?
VB could have done more for the internet. In his watch all he ever did was knock it. Its funny, they create the infrastructure and they think that is the alpha and omega. Did you know in some Western countries, churches are turned into malls. That goes to show bricks and mortar alone maketh not the great internet.
As for what you said, Astar Hamster. I am not surprised, not in the least. Even we Malaysians have been hit by the pull out. They told us nothing.
Time to go VB. A person should know when to go and not just hang one.
@KS and @astroturfing:
I suspect the critic of the government tag came when he was President/Chairman of NUS Students Union in the ’80s. You can have a look at some of the ST coverage on him on http://newspapers.nl.sg/ . Just search for his name, then arrange the search results from oldest first.
Back then, he had no qualms about questioning university admin and government officials regarding issues concerning student welfare. He also took a stand on national issues, leading a petition against a government plan to give graduate mothers priority for Primary school registration.
Throughout the ’90s, he often wrote forum letters to ST and was often asked to comment on national issues in the papers. Let’s just say that his views were usually not aligned with the government. (The newspaper articles for more recent times cannot be accessed online, but from the excerpts, you can see that he disagreed with a number of policies.)
Which is why it surprised me when he joined the PAP. It’s definitely not a myth that he was a government critic.
Acromatic
Nothing is surprising when a person has no backbones and like to be a running dog. As a Chinese saying goes: ” money tempts even the devil.”
As a minister, the prestige, the privilege and being above every citizen made him to become an arrogant, uncompassionate and disenchanting soul-less yesman .
He betrays his very own conscience and earns his millions. All his true colours are fully exposed. This is our unique minister Vivian Balakrisnan who will not bate an eyelid if a poor destitute old citizen starved to death.
excellent piece. Mr Chiam told me Vivian used to be his supporter when he was young.
do join the sub-group of Vote PAP out:
vote for Change, vote Vivian Balakrishnan out
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=106271582749862&ref=ts
I believe VB, even as a male President’s Scholar, wasn’t awarded the SAF OMS or its’ equivalent in the Police. Was he exempted from NS? Maybe it’s this lack of top-flight grooming and task assignment for excellence in strategic leadership that’s holding him back?
He always try to cover himself and not humble. I wonder how he can be a president scholar. During ACJC debate, he say:”PAP personal, Jack of all trade master of none.”
I am quite surprised that a person in the exact mould required of the PAP should be now sidetracked. VB bows and scrapes and follows the official line. He makes no original policy statements but orchestrates policy always after some other PAP strongman( higher than he in the hierarchy) has made public of it. He never responds to inquiries from the public perhaps scared stiff of making mistakes or too arrogant to waste such time for answering stressful questions. I thought this guy would shoot up like a rocket to the highest reaches of power because he is supremely the generalized PAP man, the ultimate survival freak. Funny thing, his fading prospects towards the top makes me rethink what is required of a PAP Minister.I hope it is that the PAP assesses that some conscience towards the duties required of him as a Minister is found wanting : Responding to and Empathy with the needs of the citizenry.
Andrew,
Do not forget VB is a good Eye Surgeon, so everything he speak or do rules from his eyes (precision) not rule by his heart for the Homo Sepien. He believes that everyone should be able to excel like him. He specialises on the eyes, not on human feelings, he sholud return to the Eye Clinic and does best what he is good for. In politics, it is an ART not a duty or glory task. I have not seen any Minister does what VB gaffles. Pleas VB “think b4 U speak (always remember “WORDS HURTS, KNIFE INJURED”. You have a good future, 2012 improve and pick-up from where u fall. GOD BLESS U.