by Andrew Loh
photo credits: ST
In a report on Saturday, 26 February, the Straits Times reported on the potential new candidates who may be fielded by the People’s Action Party (PAP).
The report said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Lim Boon Heng, was “accompanied by two young grassroots leaders who have been tipped as potential candidates” during an upgrading polling exercise in Mr Lim’s Jurong Central ward.
The two are “Mr Alex Yam, 29, a principal executive at the NTUC youth development unit, and Mr Desmond Lee, 34, a deputy director at the Law Ministry.”
It is interesting to note that Mr Lee is apparently a civil servant at the Ministry of Law presently.
The question which arises is: should civil servants be involved in a political party and participate in its activities?
As the Straits Times report says, Mr Lee is “tipped” to be a candidate for the PAP in the upcoming General Election.
One may feel that there is nothing wrong, given that the PAP has over the years recruited its candidates from the civil service.
That may be true except that the civil service has declared itself to be politically neutral.
On the Public Service Division’s website, it says:
The Civil Service works under a Code of Conduct based on the principles of incorruptibility, integrity and propriety. Civil servants are expected to conduct themselves with impartiality and honesty at all times, by:
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It is a point reiterated by Deputy Principal Senior State Counsel from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Owi Beng Ki. In 2009, at a forum organised by the People’s Association Youth Movement, she said “civil servants serve the president”.
She went on to explain and emphasise the importance of this:
“Civil servants under the constitution hold their allegiance to the president. The symbolism that is attached to that is we actually serve at the pleasure of a politically neutral institution. It is one of the values of the civil service that we are politically impartial.”
See Channel Newsasia’s report here.
What then should one make of Mr Lee’s involvement with the PAP, a political party, considering that he still is a civil servant with the Ministry of Law?
Perhaps the proper thing for Mr Lee, and all civil servants who have intentions to participate in politics, is to first resign from the civil service before becoming involved in “political matters”.
As the civil service itself has stressed, civil servants are expected to conduct themselves with impartiality and honesty. And I may add, they must also be seen to be doing so.
Any derogation of this will indeed subvert the very values the civil service holds dear.
The Public Service Division should explain to the public its stand on the matter so that there is clarity – and that the civil service is not and has not become a partisan political player.
Read also: High-level Ministry departures a sign of impending election?
The author has written to the Public Service Division for its views on the matter.
Public Service Division’s website:
Channel News Asia’s report:
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Civil servants can hardly be expected to resign before going on grassroots walkabouts. After they never get fielded as election candidate how? Then they are left with no job… and no political career.
Storm. Teacup.
Civil servants who want to join politics cannot have their cake and eat it.
If they want to throw their lot in with the political parties, they MUST resign their posts first. Period.
Otherwise, the integrity of the civil service will be in question.
They should be civil servants, serving the public.
Not double-headed servile serpents who serve political parties.
George Yeo alrady told us that civil service not neutral last yr http://atans1.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/spore-inc-what-is-bg-yeo-trying-to-tell-us/
Also know a civil servant who is on the opposite fence with the opposition. So what’s the big deal?
Golem, are you sure? Which party? You are mistaken. Probably you do not know the difference between Public Servants and Civil Servants.
The writer doesn’t understand the difference between grassroots activities and party activities.
It is a big deal when civil servants are perceived to be working for the interests of political parties. Whether it is indeed the case is inmaterial, such a doubt should not be created in the first place. Would be “fun” though if civil serants who are on “opposite fences” were to work together. More office politics?
Jack, care to enlighten us on the difference between grassroots activities and party activities?
A civil servant accompanies a minister in an upgrading voting poll. Minister says the civil servant is “tipped” to be a PAP candidate.
Straits Times says he is “a Deputy Director in the Law Ministry”.
Civil servant from the Law Ministry “tipped” to be a candidate and accompanies the Chairman of the PAP on his walkabout.
You blind?
Is there confusion here? Technically, I ask, when does a grassroot leader BECOME a political member of a party? The 2 persons identified are NOT YET into politics, they had been identified and are potential candidates. So must they resign from their civil service posts now?
hehe,
The PSD website itself says:
“Civil servants are expected to conduct themselves with impartiality and honesty at all times, by: Remaining completely neutral in all political matters…”
Completely neutral.
Desmond Lee Ti Seng is still listed in the Ministry of Law:
http://app.sgdi.gov.sg/listing.asp?agency_subtype=dept&agency_id=0000000879
Great show Andrew…….as always, I can depend on you.
U r the best whistleblower and guardian of the public interest.
Keep up the good work relentlessly from now till Polling Day.
Watch those PAP monkeys closely daily!
Great Divide:
So is attending political events non-neutral? If Chiam ST attends a PAP event upon invitation, it that against party rules? So can civil servants attend political events and yet remain neutral? Wondering…
Advice needed.
The father of a judge’s bride-to-be is charged in court and the judge is to preside over the case. Should he discharge himself from hearing the case, knowing that he may be perceived to be biased in his judgement, or should he carry on, since he is not yet the son-in-law? Haha
Servile Serpants,
You wrote that “Minister says the civil servant is ‘tipped’ to be a PAP candidate.” This is false. It is the Straits Times that is speculating.
As for the difference between grassroots and political activities, you can go and read up about the PA on your own.
“So can civil servants attend political events and yet remain neutral?” Wwll, that depends in what capacity they are attending, wouldn’t it? Can a policeman in uniform visit a coffeeshop and not arrest the owner? Wondering… Haha
At this point in time, talked too much also no use. PAP is a hated party and god knows they can’t be trusted regardless who they tried to field for the coming election. Most candidates selected are non other than yes-man with greed over passion.
The cards are now in the hands of Singapaoreans. I do not know how eager and keen Singaporeans are wanting to be exploited by PAP again. Only election results will tell, and thereafter learned singaporeans can choose to leave or stay behind (this non-nation) because once PAP is elected again, I see no hope in this Country, be it on the people or the party. Singaporeans is doomed to become a minority because of political reason. Evil.
I also urged newly minited Singaporeans citizen to not blindly vote for PAP. As you all came from a country of one-party state and you suffered the unjustice in your prevous homeland, Singapore will be no different if you think PAP is your savior. What Singaporeans faced now will become your future sufferings too, you will be squeezed out eventually. Look into Eygpt and the sufferings of its people. We are no different. So do not be fooled by PAP. Think.
Vote for a two-party state, vote for opposition, and Singapore will become truly a place we called home.
Someone want to amplify on the differences between ” Grassroot activities” and “parties activities ” ?
It will be difficult to explain to me on-the-ground !
why don’t you asked that perm sec who went to france for a 5 month cookin course with leaves of absence if he can be CEO of the reform party or not?
Jack,
What’s the difference between grassroots
activities and party activities?
Why then are grassroots leaders and runners campaigning for PAP candidates?
Don’t believe, just watch this coming GE
Desmond Lee Ti Seng is the son of former minister of education Lee Yock suan as revealed by zaobao.
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/sp/sp110226_011_1.shtml
在昨天的活动上，被盛传将成为行动党新候选人的职总青年团青年发展署首席行政员任梓铭（29岁）和公务员李智陞（34岁）也在场，后者是前部长李玉全的儿子。
李智陞 is Desmond Lee Ti seng
Chia ti lik, ti means 智,陞 is seng
hehe 27 February 2011
If one is wearing too many hats. Both sides will interpret the way they like to see it.
And in some specific context, we just know which colour of the hat happens to show more prominently, despite how one would want to twist & spin within the boundary of technicality.
This is one more example of the blurring of the line between state (nation) and party. After having been in power for so long, the ruling party has forgotten that it can come and go, but Singapore should ultimately live on. In 1911, the Chinese decided that for China to live on, the decrepit Ching dynasty had to go. Today, some would say for Singapore to grow, the PAP got to go. What do you think?
Let us go back in time to 1959, the year the Labour Front Government lost to the PAP. In the run-up to the 1959 elections, the Lim Yew Hock Government, for all its shortcomings, helped paved the way for an enlarged electorate. Thousands of stateless Chinese (who had come here to work with the intention of returning to China but could not do so after 1949) were made citizens, with the right to vote in 1959. This was done in spite the fact that the Lim Yew Hock Government was fully aware that these new enfranchised voters were going to cast their support for the PAP. Did the Lim Yew Hock government devise devious schemes like GRCs or moot fascist ideas like ‘some men two votes’ to thwart the expression of the democratic voice? No!. The Lim Yew Hock Government proved that it was capable of something larger than itself. It carried through the enfranchisement of the immigrant Chinese masses that led to its own political demise. It did the right thing. It did the moral thing. Because ultimately Singapore must go on even if the Labour Front should come to an end.
Compare this with the PAP. Clinging to prolong its power at all cost. For umpteen years the opposition has been clamouring for a level playing field, only to be met with schemes devised by our legally-sharp but morally-deficient civil servants that clearly favour the ruling party. And lately, our Great Benevolent Leader, without whom the sun will not rise on Singapore, has made it clear again that it is not the responsibility of the PAP to provide Singapore with the double insurance of a mature opposition party, capable of taking over the responsibilities of government seamlessly should the day come when the electorate decides to jettison the PAP. What a selfish outlook, unworthy of the tile ‘Father of Singapore’, and what a blemish to the name of the PAP.
We should take note that in the meantime, the PAP continues to swear in new citizens. How do you think they will vote this coming round? There will be no prize given for guessing the answer.
As a 62-year old Not-Daft Senior Citizen, I have this to say:
This is concrete proof that the PAP Govt is ACTUALLY a wishy-washy double-standards clueless/useless/hopeless over-paid good-for-nothing Govt
— that is MOST UNDESERVING of the people’s RESPECT/TRUST/CONFIDENCE (and much less their VOTES at the coming General Elections!!!)
TOC, Ms Owi Bwng Ki is a lady
You are a champion lah Andrew!
Yes, it clearly states that there should not be any conflict of intrest.
However, perhaps Mr Lee does not understand certain parts and is trying to turn it into a grey area, since he is dealing with the party who is the incumbent govt.
It is highly dissappointing for someone of his nature and great degradation to his colleagues & all in the Ministry who is doing their jobs as required.
Shame on you Mr Lee, send in a resignation letter first thing on Monday morning to safegaurd your integrity.
Reality is indeed far from idealism but I believe as true gentlemen and ladies, we should, if not must, always strive for the latter.
nothing is NEW !!!
why does union head that DONKEY lim boon heng in gov, double standards, contradictions upon contradictions, that is what the miw is all about.
kick them out now, no two way about it.
these people are slave traders, and increasing levy is slave trading, money in gov pocket….
get rid of ROBBERS AND THIEVES AND SLAVE TRADERS !!!
A civil servant must not only be technically neutral but be seen as neutral. By accompanying a politician on a walkabout that is so obviously perceived as a politically-linked event is not right. Remember, it is not just be neutral but perceived as neutral. What do you think those uncle/aunty watching will percieve & think?
this is definitely not right.
Great detective work by TOC.
Do you know PSC scholars returning to take up positions in the Admin service are encouraged to attend the PAP MP “Meet the people” session to get a feel of grassroot politics. So tell me when has civil servants been political neutral?
do you all know that as head of minature corp such as principals/head of government department in the government sectors..they ALL must participate in the RC/grassroots in 1 way or another!
failure to comply/volunteer will end up in early RETIREMENT..
no ifs no butts…
in another words out of a nutshell
all this people must lanlan carry balls
or faced ORD all the way…
oh, Lee Yock suan, i remember him, no wonder this name sounds familiar.
i remember when i was still in school, a teacher mentioned his name, there was a hallowed ring in her voice when she said his name.
it was very interesting, becos the only time i heard something similar was in a place of worship when a priest invoked the name of a deity.
to my simple mind,it really does not matter if the CIVIL SERVICE is totally neutral from the govt as long as BOTH OF THESE TWO GROUPS of citizens are truly SINGAPOREAN-SPIRITED AND LOYAL.
if the present UNIQULEY SINGAPORE scenario of our govt engaging the so-called FT POLICY TO ATTRACT SO-CALLED FTS into singapore is really to fill up vacant positions in a ‘TIGHT LABOUR MARKET’ environment,i am sure all of uswould not quibble.
however,this is not the case.
this current scenario of DISPLACING AND THEN REPLACING OUR OWN GOOD AND honest LOCAL TALENTS with Faked FTs can be akin to betraying our own people and country in this current ‘ECONOMIC WAR’ which is no different to betrayals in a MILITARY WAR scenario,isn’t it???
Hi Jack,
For your post, don’t you ever know that Straits Times is under the government’s control? Whether this Mr Lee eventually will become politically involved in election, it is still a doubt, what seems to be more clear is that our so called “1st class” government has done to the society. On the outside seems to be the government is doing a great job! But have you spent your little precious time to find out what major negative impact they had done??
I would only like to encourage the people who have not done a research on the politics of Singapore, to spend a little bit of your time on it, find out more, and think wisely, you will know what the government done, most benefits goes to who, who is the one, so clever on covering their own sweet ass to get the benefits.
I used to think of my government’s effort to make our country so outstanding compare to other south-east asia countries, but after facing situations that happened in our society, I began to realise what’s seems to be good on the outside, there are so many prices to be paid behind it. My interest got me on to find out more, how this government works and what made me disappointed is the unfairness and covetousness behaviour of this government.
Though in Singapore, the opposition parties are still in need of more experiences and resources to be able to handled the society’s issues(Why is it so? Is it the work of our “beloved” government?), we really need someone to balance up this system that has already went out of the circle.
“Knowledge can be gained, but opportunities have to be given.”
It’s time to give your wise votes, people.
communist system in disguise
Looks like the Instruction Manuals(IMs)governing the work of the civil service and behaviour of civil servants have to be revised to suit the ruling party.
May I now add that all civil servants are members of the ruling party. No wonder, we don’t see any housing upgrades or improvements to both Potong Pasir and Hougang.
It is time Singaporeans take stock of whats happening in our beloved country and use our sacred vote to speak loudly that we do not need to see such behaviour in the present 82 MPs.
We should send them a strong signal that we do not tolerate such thugish and bully tactics anymore!
From the TR article “MM Lee admits that all grassroots organizations are part of PAP” December 30th, 2009:
In an uncharacteristic Freudian slip, Singapore’s octogenarian leader Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew finally confirmed the suspicions of many Singaporeans – that all grassroots organizations are part of the PAP and not “non-partisan” as they are supposed to be.
“They discover that the People’s Action Party (PAP) has only a small office in Bedok. But everywhere they go, they see the PAP – in the RCs (residents’ committees), CCCs (citizens’ consultative committees), and the CCs (community clubs).”
Lee once boasted unashamedly about the PAP’s complete dominance in Singapore during an interview with its mouthpiece Petir in 1982:
“I make no apologies that the PAP is the (Singapore) Government and the Government is the PAP.”
================
Is it any wonder then that the civil service is being treated as part of the PAP? As for the IMs, with one stroke of the pen they can be amended. And backdated, if necessary.
For good governance, there must be cool-off period of at least 5 years before running for political office.
Since these top civil servants are so “talented”, they should resign, find another job or business enterprise that is not connected to Govt or Govt Linked Companies in any way, do their grassroot training and then stand for GE only when 5 years have passed from the date of their last employment/connection with the Govt.
Honour, ladies and gentlemen, honour!
Ah sooooo ….. No wonder the Civil Service has failed so massively in its institutionalized check-and-balance role!
NTUC and MinLaw – who’s next?
Running dogs and dogs who run – What’s the difference?
The Civil Service works under a Code of Conduct.. Remaining completely neutral in all political matters.
Under the Law, Doess Desmond Lee, deputy director at the Law Ministry.. breach of the Code of Conduct??
@hehe 27 February 2011
Is there confusion here? Technically, I ask, when does a grassroot leader BECOME a political member of a party? The 2 persons identified are NOT YET into politics, they had been identified and are potential candidates. So must they resign from their civil service posts now?
——————————–
You referred to many an “hehehe”. And no other sane guy here found you worthy to respond too. But I wil for good reason. For, do you know what’s the shallow flaw in your opinion I wuote above?
Not in politics yet but still in the Civil Service and walking around greeting people with a PAP poilitician at walkabouts isn’t about being involved in politics yet? NOW, please give us your sane reason why that is so? Thank you! You had your fun for several rounds. Now it is your turn for just one round can!
@rockabyebaby
You referred to many an “hehehe”. And no other sane guy here found you worthy to respond too. But I wil for good reason. For, do you know what’s the shallow flaw in your opinion I wuote above?
Not in politics yet but still in the Civil Service and walking around greeting people with a PAP poilitician at walkabouts isn’t about being involved in politics yet? NOW, please give us your sane reason why that is so? Thank you! You had your fun for several rounds. Now it is your turn for just one round can!
————-
Your stupid reply deserves no attention.
Lots of Malay in the Public sector.
It will be hard 4 them to survive in the private sector.
I c so many jobless singaporeans, worst, no income oso consider as holding a job.
U believe their trash?
Good luck to those still sleeping.
I was once invited to be part of the neighbourhood committee. We organised activities such as events for celebrations of moon cake festival, we met monthly to discuss and talk about issues regarding the areas – these are grassroot activities (for the goods of the neighbourhood)and are politically neutral. Before I formally became a member, I was invited to attend the meetings and activities as an observer. So in this case, for all you know – the two maybe attending such activities as observers (though in my personal opinion, very unlikely). Anyway, I don’t see the reason why a civil servant can’t choose to enter politics if he has the interests and heart to serve the people.
Refer to:
///Your stupid reply deserves no attention./// by hehe on Mar 1, 2011 at 3.09 pm
Hehe,
So, why bother even go thru’ the trouble of cut and paste with a reply? Aren’t you already given him your attention? If his reply is stupid, your action is probably idiotic.
I personally knew Desmond Lee from years ago (I was his classmate at RI).
He was a very decent guy who is very upright — also very intelligent and capable. He went to Dartmouth, I think.
Also, his father was the former educational minister.
He’s a good guy — but it would be a pity if he joins PAP.