In an article for Petir, Mr Sin Boon Ann, MP for Tampines GRC, expressed his difficulties of doing what is “right” and doing what is “popular”; to illustrate his point, Mr Sin recounted his encounters with his constituents after HDB decided to build a block of rental flats in his ward.
The Housing and Development Board announced, through a sign on a hoarding, plans for the construction of a 14-storey block of rental flats in my ward.
The announcement surprised many.
Quite naturally, residents living next to the proposed block were upset. It would seem the value of their property would be adversely affected.
The HDB tried but failed to persuade them this would not be the case.
However, what also upset the residents was the fact that I, as their MP, did not consult them ahead of the decision to build the rental block.
In the dialogue on the matter, there were howls of protest and disappointment when I revealed that I’d been aware of the plans but could not tell them in advance because of the price sensitive nature of the information. I left the meeting reflecting on my reply and my role as their MP.
Why Today chose to carry an article originally published in Petir, a PAP publication, is beyond me, but it certainly points to their willingness to be used as leverage by the PAP government to manufacture consent. If they want to be fair, why not carry articles published by opposition parties as well? This complaint, however, is not the point of this article, nor is this unexpected from our local press corps.
I believe the decision to build rental flats, in whichever estate, is the right one. What I oppose is the basis of his decision, the manner he handled and described the issue, as well as his intentional concealment of prior knowledge from his constituents.
Mr Sin, who incidentally is the Deputy Managing Director of Drew & Napier’s Corporate and Finance Department (source), has already decided before meeting any of his constituents, and worse, he decided despite saying “it is not unreasonable to have a certain expectation of consultation”, because:
such consultation is unlikely to result in a solution acceptable to all stakeholders; and if put to a vote, I am almost certain that the proposition would have been shot down faster than one could say, “Will you support the proposal?”
I think no one is under any illusion that any decision will receive unanimously favourable support; expecting that is a fool’s game. But to write off any consultation because it will not get such support is foolish, and does not make it a tough decision. It makes it an easier one, because you don’t have to face angry voters with angry questions and justify that decision to them.
Mr Sin’s decision to withhold information from his constituents is why they protested vehemently, and Mr Sin chose to see the consequence of his actions as the cause and justification for his decision. This is circular logic, stemming from the arrogance that permeates throughout the PAP government, whose policies Mr Sin would defend because they believe it is right. But this leads me to two questions:
- Why would his constituents complain about the rental flats affecting “the value of their property”, if these policies did not encourage them to think of HDB flats as assets to be monetised?
- If the free-market policy HDB persists with is causing rising demand for rental flats, would that not indicate the failure of said policy?
No one can claim to be correct on current housing policy while taking steps to remedy the same policy. Mr Sin, in his claim to have made the correct decision about the building of rental flats, just contradicted his own argument.
It is obvious that Mr Sin believes everything he and his PAP colleagues have decided are the correct decisions, and does not want to entertain an alternative where this reality may be challenged, even when the doubts raised are reasonable and reality-based. They get to decide what is good and right for Singaporeans, even if they have to redefine and make a different reality.
This quote comes readily to mind.
I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn’t be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn’t be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters – who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think.
The words of MM Lee, uttered in 1987, shows how little the PAP have changed, and how little they are willing to change unless they are forced to. The price to pay for PAP to be right is borne by Singaporeans, and the cost is choking our growth as a society and as a people.
Callan Tham
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Many are sheep, a few are lions. Hence no one dares to say anything. I too am puzzled with this question below:
Mr Sin Boon Ann, are you a PAP MP representing the people, or an MP representing PAP only?
Kaffein
For every tale that this MP can tell about how exaggerated citizens can be in their request, we can give them 2 tales of how irresponsible and unsympathetic MPs can be.
Add that to the fact that most MPs don’t show up during meet the people session.
GY was grilled because of that during the last election.
Remember?
So these are our ‘caring’ MPs.
http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:KtbtmUnRnvYJ:forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php%3Fp%3D45298163+site:forums.hardwarezone.com.sg+——————————————————————————–+%27HWZ%27+DELETE+THREAD+ABOUT+%27REACH%27+SHUTTING+DOWN+A+THREAD+MEANT+TO+HELP+THE+HANDICAP%3F&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=sg
‘Foolhardy’ of Mr Sin?
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100427-0000301/Online-Only—Foolhardy-of-Mr-Sin,,,
how long before they once again tell us..lets move on its a honest mistake.
It was our honest mistake that allow PAP to rule over us like a dictatorship for the last 40 yrs..
It’s our honest mistake, lets rectify it.
‘Foolhardy’ of Mr Sin?
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100427-0000301/Online-Only—Foolhardy-of-Mr-Sin,,,
“If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place ………, where you will have food on the table. Even if you can’t afford it, we will have meals delivered to you.”
http://zh.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/394784?page=1
The below is a real live case of
”NEVER MIND WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK”.
“If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place ………, where you will have food on the table. Even if you can’t afford it, we will have meals delivered to you.”
http://zh.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/394784?page=1
Nicely? Respectfully? Respectably? Vehemently? Damningly? Condemning? Or best “daftly”? As if these things don’t matter? Is he human or a humanoid or even a programmed cyborg?
What can you expect from someone from PAP whose surname is SIN, and he is under control from you-know-who in SIN-CITY ?
Quite naturally, residents living next to the proposed block were upset. It would seem the value of their property would be adversely affected.
The HDB tried but failed to persuade them this would not be the case.
However, what also upset the residents was the fact that I, as their MP, did not consult them ahead of the decision to build the rental block.
In the dialogue on the matter, there were howls of protest and disappointment when I revealed that I’d been aware of the plans but could not tell them in advance because of the price sensitive nature of the information. I left the meeting reflecting on my reply and my role as their MP.
…………………………….
hey STUPID..if you were an MP of britain..you would be SACK by the ward in which you are in charged..
the constitune vote for you(unless you also a walkover GRC holdin hands aquah lark)…
that is THE law concernin properties..you know where people gonna lived throughout their entire lives…
bloomin eatricewasteseed mp you are…
Wow, this is a good article. Good point about why Today decided to post an article from Petir. About what comes in the op-ed pages – dreary speeches by ministers in major events are a shoo in while excellent ones from the opposition such as the one by Ms Sylvia Lim recently in parliament hardly get any coverage in the news pages, let alone op-ed.
Btw TOC i must say I dont like the look of the new website. I would rather have the by-lines on top, to give more prominence to the writers.
all i will say is that if he with-held info on the basis that it is price sensitve, then that shld convince hdb that the prices of surrounding flats will be affected.
pap = zi da zui ba
I agree with Bhavan. It is incredible that the MSM can choose to publish such a hypocritical explanation from a PAP MP and Ms Sylvia’s wonderful statement in Parliament is only mentioned briefly.
Bhavan Jaipragas,
Yes, we agree but this new template is like that lar. We need to change some stuff.. we’ll see what we can do..
Thanks for the feedback.. ;)
Andrew
This is year 2010, not 1987. Singaporeans have grown up, and are demanding respect and more say in our lives. So stop treating us as small,ignorant,easily bullied, naive, small children.
PAP is still living in an era more than twenty yeares ago. Just compare China back in the 80s and now. The world has changed, so has Singapore.
This is nothing new.
PAP cadre ALWAYS think they are “right”.
They are arrogant pricks who think they monopolise all the wisdom in the world.
Mr Sin…We need more people to be Sin like you…pardon moi….
I encourage you to continue this way of doing things…i want to see how much local can tolerate
PAP never minds what you think. They don’t mind, you don’t matter.
you people never read newspaper. today lots of articles about how it should be like this, should be like that, because the government thinks the balance should be like this, or that.
i think “you people” never read the newspaper because “you people” are seldom featured in it. they never said “you people” think it’s like this or that. just a simple line – “the government says” is all you read about.
but i guess that’s the benefit of having an expensive government – you pay them so that “you people” don’t need to do the thinking anymore – you can sit back enjoy life and let them do all the thinking on your behalf.
Sounds like the Kid who knows the answer before taking time and patience to understand the question.
This like someone saying it is alright to lie openly providing it’s good for you.
But how do I really know it is really good for me or cannot be bettered. If I am kept in darkness?
this depends on what sort of representation you subscribe to.
a) the common men and women have narrow interests, different intersts. it is the job of representatives to discern the aggregate interest and decide for the people what is best for the whole country, not just for that portion of population in his/her constituency.
b) representatives should reflect exactly their constituents’ will, even if constituents’ sentiments can sometimes be flawed/misinformed.
judging from the comments here, most seem to prefer b).
Good Morning all,
Well it very clear to me common sense is certainly not his metier.
This is like a diabetic going to restaraunt and ordering clam chowder and when he ask the chef, whether any processed sugar is added to this starter.
The waiter replies, “well we can’t tell you that, bc if we do so that may have an adverse effect on our business.”
It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t like gout…painful.
SD(Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
“The common men and women have narrow interests, different intersts. it is the job of representatives to discern the aggregate interest and decide for the people what is best for the whole country, not just for that portion of population in his/her constituency.”
Yes I agree with this, but for this statement to acquire the requisite quality to persuade and influence a sane audience – it seems we would first have to recognize, “narrow interests,” is certainly NOT a character flaw that afflicts ONLY the “common man.”
Just like nitrogen which is most abundant gas in our planet, stupidity in all its infinite forms seems to be a condition that can even afflict the so called “best” to even lead them to find stupidity somewhere in noble acts.
Now you all understand why we live in constant FEAR of stupid people, as usually they have the noblest of intentions.
And that simply means unlike the common man who knows his limits, the stupid man knows no bounds. He is so open minded, his brains are spilling out.
SD
“In the dialogue on the matter, there were howls of protest and disappointment when I revealed that I’d been aware of the plans but could not tell them in advance because of the price sensitive nature of the information.”
>> What does this got to do with “doing the right thing? By not disclosing, he already done the “wrong” thing as stated by the author.
I guess he knows that this is a bad “new” which will make him “unpopular” – i.e. not able to defend his constituency interests and cannot justify why the rental flats are to be built in his constituency.
A clear case of “incompetency” no matter how you look at it.
…… being protected by their GRCs etc NON-level hairy playing fields…
BUT WE DO MIND WHAT they think, say and do!!! We DON”T want kids ‘playing’in governance’s arena while being VRRY happy every month upon receiving their “monthly’ CPF statements! And them pappy puppies have gotten so THICK-SKINNED and SHAMELESS… like LSS… they ARE ALREADY “Deaf to or criticisms”. A DEAF minister or mp SHOULD just be getting ‘DEAF’ allowances for being one! We’ll make an exception for them in contrast to “ordinary” natives! Because they are so pitifully daft lacking embarrassment in nature and culture.
MPs have to listen to the wishes of the people they represent.Period!
In Singapore the people have sacrificed so much personal rights for PAP to act on their behalf but only to be told that they care not our rights but PAP privileges It is time we take our rights back and show them what is right and not what PAP think is right to increase their million dollar salaries.
GREED knows no boundaries nor limits! MM doesn’t know what we are saying about him in these things? Be greatest joke if he doesn’t! Just because he has not started to take only a LOWER ‘forecasting” salary, doesn’t mean he is in the dark right! All the more this proves of PAP’s INGRAINED GREED under him! Saw him on TV repeatedly “hammering” justification for “super duper man salaries” to equate with no greed for corruption? Now who been talking and silent in admission?
so MPs have to listen to the wishes of the people they represent, fine. that’s equivalent to people governing themselves, and it’s not bad.
the swiss people decide lots of important issues themselves without going through representatives. incidentally they also decided to ban minarets.
californians overruled their representatives by asking for better education, harsher sentences for criminals to keep the streets safe, while also voting to lower taxes. now they are in deep red.
representatives should listen to the people, yes, but they shouldn’t always blindly follow what their constituents wish for.
moderate 30 April 2010
californians overruled their representatives by asking for better education, harsher sentences for criminals to keep the streets safe, while also voting to lower taxes. now they are in deep red.
…………………..
californians hav the rights to bear arms also…and they do shot their mayors or senators who no HUE the constitune..
asked dr balekampond migrate to california lark..see how many minutes he last..without a shoe bein thrown @ his face…
I can safely say that 90% of the PAP MPs are cowards who are more interested in protecting their iron rice bowls than protect/serve the interest of their constituents.
They will choose to remain silent and be a yes man and butt kisser to the PAP party.
Sad. It is indeed time for a CHANGE to have MPs who are honest and will work diligently for the good of their constituents !
Those spineless MPs we have now like MBT and LSS are a DIME A DOZEN !
8(
BzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZ………….Sting and got STUNG by PAP’s HORNET bees! Go to govt hospitals for treatment and still have to pay for it! THAT IS LKY policies for PAP indemnity! Just know where the PAP beehives are, then use FIRE and SMOKE them out with such brim stones till they choked to death or burn to cinders!!!
More than 1 way to skin a cat. Think about it as in numbers, we should ingenuity-unlimited! Every object and subject has a weak and vulnerable spot! Know what and where, zzzzZOOM in for THE KILL and the parasite is gone forever!
Hmmmm…
Never mind what the people think…
interesting and shows the mettle and true character of this back door “MP”…
Has it ever cross his bird brain his allowance/monies to upkeep his “MP” status and position is FROM THE PEOPLE…
If this MP thinks never mind the people…then please kindly stop taking the money from the people of singapore.
What a hypocrite arschloch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSqGwOmKEwU&feature=related
‘..such consultation is unlikely to result in a solution acceptable to all stakeholders……..’
This line strikes me in thinking WHY our gov likes to privatize GLC/TLC companies. As these company Directors would be accountable to their ‘stake holder’ But in reality, our gov still voice up/rally on behalf of them when they suffers ‘commercial losses’.
So ‘privatizations’ are just a mere excuse for them to run the company without the Public’s scrutiny ???
Talk one thing, says another later.
That’s how Singapore works anyway!
“It is obvious that Mr Sin believes everything he and his PAP colleagues have decided are the correct decisions, and does not want to entertain an alternative where this reality may be challenged, even when the doubts raised are reasonable and reality-based. They get to decide what is good and right for Singaporeans, even if they have to redefine and make a different reality.”
If this is the type of “leadership” we can expect from the PAP, This country is finished. Kaput.
7
[QUOTE]
http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/YourSay/REACHsDiscussionCorner/tabid/116/ptid/404/page/2147483647/threadid/3261/forumtype/posts/Default.aspx
To – MINISTER MCYS, DO WHAT DUTY – IGNORING ……
Posted : 31/03/2010 6:19 PM
Is this the MP who got chastised in parliament last year for speaking on unverified rumours and incidences?
He didn’t appear to be concerned about doing the correct thing then.
Excellent observation, excellently conveyed.
Kudos to you, Cally Tham.
Singapore needs more people like you to speak up for Singaporeans, generally.