Benjamin Cheah /
Image from The Straits Times
If Mr Chan Chun Sing’s remarks last week are any indication, the government is dead set on moving in two contradictory directions. On the one hand, it encourages greater citizen participation in politics. On the other, it wishes to retain its dominance of the political sphere.
The government wants to have it both ways. But the government cannot.
Hypocrisy and dishonesty
According to The Straits Times, Mr Chan said “he would rather see young people telling the government: I believe in this, give me some help and I will do it.”
Image from Maruah
Many people have been doing just that for a long time. They range from LBGT activists to human rights campaigners to citizen journalists. But instead of supporting these citizens, the government and the press actively hinder them.
Mr Alex Au recounted on his blog how permits were refused, speakers were gagged, and films banned or censored. Ms Rachel Zeng wrote about police harassment and how the state ignored the suggestions and petitions she and her fellow activists sent. I have personally been snubbed by Mr Teo Chee Hean while covering the General Elections for The Online Citizen.
The government has long held that people should offer “constructive criticism” instead of “non-constructive” ones. Mr Chan, in particular, said “cyberspace is dominated by the lunatic fringe”.
Political discourse on the Internet is overwhelmingly critical of the government. Many people also use the Internet for political activism. By calling this the mutterings of ‘the lunatic fringe’, Mr Chan – and, by extension, the government – wishes to close his ears to the multitude of young people telling the government what they believe in and what they need to achieve it.
This hypocrisy has not been lost on bloggers like Mr Au and Ms Zeng, taking pains to point out how the government moved to block their political activities.
Mr Chan also “urged young people to ask themselves whether their ideas can move the country forward, rather than just ‘throw stones, cast doubt and tear down institutions’.”
Coupled with the above observation, Mr Chan is really saying that the only good suggestions are those that further the goals of the party and the state and unquestioningly accept the government’s paradigms.
Phrases like ‘throwing stones’, ‘casting doubt’ and ‘tearing down’ are thoughtstoppers. They are designed to make the listener feel like he is being unreasonable in order to stop his train of thought, and prevent him from voicing his objections. They also encourage the audience to immediately dismiss the recipient as destructive and irrational, instead of listening to him. Thoughtstoppers are the pinnacle of intellectual dishonesty, inciting emotions to overload the mind instead of listening to what someone has to say.
The art of nation building
Mr Chan’s remarks can be seen in a different light: as a call towards active citizenship, towards participating in politics and taking charge of Singapore’s destiny. However, if the government wishes to develop an active citizenry, it must let go of its obsession with control.
The state punishes citizens who go against the party line. Every time the government asserts control, be it through lawsuits or refusals to approve permits, the government is stating that it will not tolerate any attempts to step out of line. By doing so, the government hopes to retain its primacy of place in Singapore politics.
Active citizens always step out of line. Regardless of political ideology or affiliation, they believe that the current situation is undesirable and wish to change things. But everywhere they look, they see the government clamping down on disobedient citizens. This discourages them from taking action – which, in turn, leads the government to bemoan the average Singaporean’s
lack of initiative.
As long as the government retains political dominance, this will not change. Under the current paradigm of control, only two kinds of Singaporeans receive government support when they attempt to ‘move the country forward’. The first kind supports the government’s goals, such as consumer rights and interfaith harmony, so the government works with these people to further these causes. The second kind works in areas deemed non-sensitive, like the environment. By working with this group, the government can improve Singapore, and provide the useful illusion that it wants to work with the people without actually surrendering control.
This has to change. The government needs to stop seeing the citizens as a faceless mass to rule over, and instead as partners towards a better tomorrow. The government knows how to do that. It is, in fact, already doing that. But it isn’t doing enough of that, not in politics.
The government via Mr Chan wants to encourage active citizenry amongst youths. To do this, the government must deign to listen to lunatics, to drop the label of ‘lunatic fringe’ and deal fairly and honestly with the people who truly want to make Singapore a better place to live in.
More than that, the government needs to cease the mechanisms of control, to give up its dominance of politics and allow the people to take their place in the sun. The organs of state may be grown by parties and governments, but nations are built by the people.
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“3. MG Chan is indded intelligent. Or else how can be chief of army at such a young age? He is an overseas & president scholar, with credentials from Cambridge & MIT. He is also charismatic because he speaks with authority, and when he speaks, people will stop what they are doing and listen to him”
If you intend to say that bootlicking, ass-licking and creating rhetorics to make his pay-master feel and look good then I afraid this is not the intelligence we lesser mortals talk about !
“He is also charismatic because he speaks with authority, and when he speaks, people will stop what they are doing and listen to him”"
Oh , are the people you refer to are those aunts and uncles that the lunatic Chan bring into stadium using transport and food borne by tax-payer during election campaign ? Oh, this Chan even try to snatch food from aunt , and we can see the reaction of that aunt ! That really charismatic of Chan !
Maybe the boot-lickers and lackeys want to praise Lunatic Chan by singing Chan Mali Chan !
After listening to one speech of his I am convinced beyond any doubt that we have a big time dud and a joke of a general here. For goodness sake from what I have heard from him, I will not walk along the same road as him let alone go to war under his leadership. Well if goes to show how well meritocracy works here, as long as you have the talent to carry balls and work hard at it you will be rewarded.
So quickly this Chan Chun Sing sings out like LKY only without LKY’s achievements. I wonder what he will do to us in the fulness of time. Maybe another round of pay increase to himself and his colleagues.
MG Chan only wants to serve 60% of the people. The other 40% he thinks are lunatic. He is well poised to be the next Minister of Defense and Home Affairs to quell any rebellion. He can also take Ministry of Foreign Affairs portfolio for triple promotion. PM Lee is putting him in the wrong ministry. He should put Lim Swee Say the clown in MCYS, he is deaf to criticism.
omg another sad story..
why so many jokers highly paid?
Listening to one is better than looking at one, especially a ‘so called’ self aclaimed 4 star gen, and who awarded him the star,
some non combatant, never seen war or miles away from war zone and claim to have “STAR” in one, maybe a movie epic will most likely change the poor’s mind and the illiterates
Try making a movie 4 star !!!!!!!!!
Maybe then, there will be some believers………LOL
Don’t forget, all the nations resources at your becking and feet…….4 star
kukujumuku
hahaha 4-star general wanted people to see stars, the pip on his shoulder.
You people are missing the point: the army and navy has produced some very fine generals (PM Lee & George Yeo) and admirals (Teo Chee Hean & Lui Tuck Yew). People with leadership qualities and vision who are needed in times of crisis. Maybe Singapore hasn’t really experienced a crisis yet, so you people don’t appreciate the qualities our leaders bring.
@4 Star General
Concepts and assumptions are dangerous. Based on concepts and assumptions like leadership, talent ministers stooped to writing their own lottery-like pay cheques that exceed that of US President.
Based on concepts and assumptions like welfare is bad, today citizens of our first world little red dot ends up in third-world dump unable to retire being piled with heavy mortgage and perpetual rising costs.
Past performance is also no guarantee of future success. Do not get carried away by any self-praise.
Hi netizens , why criticise our creme dela creme? Although he got to be an mp without one man casting a vote, this is the system u people accepted right? 60% of well-travelled well-educated 1st world brave n daring citizens have accepted right?
Ll lor what to do?
We r singapore x 2,
We a nation be forever more,
Hear the lion roar.
The gonmin did not gave themselves mandate.
Its the 60%.
10.9% separates them, not 20.
Look and study the facial expression of Chan Choon Seng…..He is the one who looks like an escapee from the Institute of Mental Health…
It takes a REAL Lunatic to call somebody else a Lunatic.
4 Star General 14 July 2011
You people are missing the point: the army and navy has produced some very fine generals (PM Lee & George Yeo) and admirals (Teo Chee Hean & Lui Tuck Yew). People with leadership qualities and vision who are needed in times of crisis.
………………
indeed in time of crisis..where the country send fathers/sons to a wartorn counties as peacekeepers in the line of fire…
which general ABOVE even attend the firin line to see our boys in realives duties?
even georgebush junoir..the former presidente of usa went to iraq to see for himself the wartorn situation LIVE with a binocular that has the caps on..
Mr. Chan Chun Sing is an intelligent man but he forgets times are changing and have changed. As they say, you can have the cake but you can’t eat it as well.
Having peaked his army career with a 4-star ranking, he is only one star below the world’s famous generals like those in the US.
George C. Marshall (16 Dec 1944)
Douglas MacArthur (18 Dec 1944)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (20 Dec 1944)
Henry H. Arnold (21 Dec 1944)
Omar Bradley (20 Sep 1950)
5 Star General is only specifically handed out at wartime during the most extreme of circumstances
Probably thinks he’s still in uniform.
The ruling party is used to a subservient citizenry for the last five decades and treats it as a digit. It is obsessed with control because if it losses that control, it becomes history.
Results of the last election clearly showed the ground is rapidly changing and has become “very sour” not as sweet as it used to be. It is indicative that it will continue to change at a faster space as Singaporeans become more aware of their right and will no longer tolerate to be pushed around.
You can bury your head in the sand and pretend everything is plain sailing.
Do that at your own peril.
We can expect more of the same!
That’s what happens when you get an inexperienced twat riding on the coat tails of LKY to get into govt. Male version of TPL liao…
Dear Four Star General,
You mean under General Chan Chu Sing, we can take on any enemy? And pray tell us, who this potential enemy could be? If you harbour such belligerent notions, what is the need for “friend of ASEAN” programmes? Why spend millions of dollars to bring in young Asian students provide them secondary, JC and tertiary education? The rationale was to build future diplomatic and bilateral ties based on the understanding that the students selected invited and provided with a sound education have high chances of becoming future leaders in their countries of birth. They then having benefited from this sound and solid education paid for by Singaporean taxpayers will not threaten the security of our nation. So, what is this talk about being prepared for war? When was the last time we went to war and suffered casualties? Your response smacks of a blustery ego of a soldier conditioned to seek thrills through simulated war games that feed your hero complex. War as all of us know is never the best answer to any confrontation imagined or real. It is better to seek diplomatic solutions than click and bang on a AK-47 or a M16? Peace is a cherished gift. Please do not cheapen it with your suspicion of Indonesia, if at all envy is the cause–it could or may be just that most ill-gotten and hard-earned money belonging to Indonesians may be parked in our banks. Just look at the state of Iraq and Afghanistan? How much do the ordinary citizens in these countries suffer? Is it fair? Even dictators can be deposed with artful diplomatic maneuvers.
Always peace is the best option.
@rwkc–you mean the Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is not part of the National Library Board Collection? Geez.
Those who want to read it online or listen to the audio book can visit this link:
http://selfknowledge.com/163au.htm
@ Four Star General,
Hold the candle to these leaders? Ahrmm, I am not sure you would get more than five people to concur with you.
Second, I am still puzzled why an archipelago of 3,000 island is this envious of a tiny tot of an island?
Citizen, 14 July 2011
maybe its those people & their families from one of the many islands living here? enjoying high life with their wealth parked in our banks?
S’pore Inc operates with no discrimination where money is concerned.
our current Foreign Affairs minister a skilled lawyer may well be the best man for the job with his knowledge on interpreting laws.
“no you (Indonesians) cannot have them extradited back. they park the money here, we keep them here with the money. its all above board, hahaa…”
>>Phrases like ‘throwing stones’, ‘casting doubt’ and ‘tearing down’ are thoughtstoppers. They are designed to make the listener feel like he is being unreasonable in order to stop his train of thought, and prevent him from voicing his objections. They also encourage the audience to immediately dismiss the recipient as destructive and irrational, instead of listening to him. Thoughtstoppers are the pinnacle of intellectual dishonesty, inciting emotions to overload the mind instead of listening to what someone has to say.
Well said!!! This bugger is still using the old tricks, thinking that he is so smart and the people are really daft!!
Obviously, Chan Chun Seng is a hypocrate who think he can lecture and psycho the people like he lecture the soldiers under his charge.
He better realizes that many whom he labelled lunatic fringe, are more capable than him in his current job. He better listen well to the voice of Netizens and serve the people humbly.
The real lunatic fringe are those new PAP MPs who are trying their hands at policy making and at the same time making boo boo statements. …….CCS, LWK, Phutucheary, LTY, TPL, VN, ………the list goes on and on.
Tailgaters like these are not tested. They have been exposed as system flaw – GRC.
That is where they belong. People are subjected to the need to humble them of their basic immaturity. GRC needs to be rejected or at least modified on quota based on allocation like the proportional representation to avoid having to contend with such immaturity and their psychological needs to say something to justify their lack of fire-tested visions.
@Citizen
A lot of our neighbours, especially Indonesia & Malaysia, are jealous of our success. They can’t wait to see us go down. You never know when extremist militancy takes over in these countries. We have to be prepared at all times. Don’t make the mistake of believing these countries are our friends.
In light of this, it is unfortunate that national service was reduced to 2 years. I think that 3 years is more appropriate, and reservist should extend till 50 years old for all personnel, not just officers. It is too simplistic to say complete 10 years reservist then no need do anymore. We should be doing reservist every single year till we reach 50.
@4 star general
you again,have you wake up already or you still half asleep,you are indeed intelligent really need your advice on international diplomacy what a shame you did’nt stand for election or you might well replace gy as foreign minister.
i really wonder whether you are paranoid or just having illusions always suspecting others,i am afraid you have no friends cos you are paranoid about them hurting you through your imaginations.
come on boy have a life,look around you my advice to you is never trust any politicians,they live in a world of deception and manupulations for all you know,its always self interest that preoccupies their mind,believe in yourself and do whats right for you or your family,not for politicians who does’nt care a hoot about you!
thats why our senior says singaporeans are daft you included,understand,you can serve in the army as long as you want,but count me out maybe you can ask the 60% to serve with you,god bless you i better nourish my brain with pigs brain if not i will be more stupid than you.grrr……..lunatic fringe.
@Robert Teh
CCS is pointing to the drivel that you see on popular websites like Yahoo.
Example what purpose does it make to make a comment whose purpose is to insult but not criticise.
You can see the majority of comments are mere insults.
However if you look at your own posts and TOC regarding the charge that the problem lies with PAP refusing to listen.
Now that is a criticism and thus a valid point. CCS will have to look at your comments and it is up to him to make out why people think that way (blinding obvious even if that might be)
Among the ministers, the only one I have met in person before is CCS. Also people who were under his command during his stint in Mindef do speak well of him in general, both NS and NSF. So I think he does has potential but whether he is up to the job in MCYS is another matter.
@4 Star General
I agree with you on your first paragraph (about not fully trusting our neighbours).
I do not totally agree with your second paragraph (about extending ns to 3 years). Firstly, we have a manpower shortage. Our low birth rate is well-known. That’s why the military is moving towards technology rather than manpower. I tend to agree with this move.
Looking at Israel, a “small” country (in Mid-East terms), it has gone through several wars with opponents that were much larger and with bigger militaries. They have emerged winners so far (with some dispute). In fact, they have ever taken on more than 3 enemies at the same time. They also depend largely on reservist forces. But technology is what really gave them the edge.
So…with our small population, we cannot afford to have them kept aside for military purposes. After all, do we really want to send all these men into battle? Or turn 2 keys and press the red button?
@Black Hei
I understand what you said. CCS may be different from the rest of earlier ministers called talent like MBT, WKS or laterly VB, Vkram or Lee Bee Wah who only know how to please the master for their own career advancement and not really interested to look after the people’s interests and wellbeing.
Time will tell. However as a saying goes, once beaten twice shy. People have to be able to detect and expose all hypocrisy if they want to avoid becoming the first-world people in name but only the third-world in reality.
If he is interested to solve problems to show he is different, perhaps he should engage with citizens and go for change. He is welcome to start with the list posted here. Keep people informed closely on progress.
He should hv engaged me to be his PR. I would hv advised him to say;
“The Internet is a great resource to know the raw ground. People can be open about what they want to say without fear, which I take as a good thing. The information & interaction will be very useful for me especially being a newbie. I welcome citizens who are interested, online as well as offline to participate in the making of our country.”
CCS missed the biggest opportunity of his life but I doubt he cares bcos he does not really need this. Next election he’ll get a free ride again esp if LKY is still around.
Chan Chun Sing is a Pai-Kia in uniform.
No diff from the hoards of gangsters tasked to protect their triad bosses. Only this is done under guise of rule of law.
His mentality appears to want to spoil for a fight with our neighbours.
To citizen:
Yes, the Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is not part of the National Library Board’s collection.
It seems unbelievable that someone or some people in the NLB has/have been taking a subjective or partisan attitude, when considering whether a book is or is not suitable for public readership.
I am currently in correspondence with NLB. Maybe, I should ask them to clarify with the PM as to what he meant when he said ‘Singapore is an open society.’
Tks for the link:
http://selfknowledge.com/163au.htm
Rgds
lunatic running the country, we are finished!
TwisterX
Looking at Israel, a “small” country (in Mid-East terms), it has gone through several wars with opponents that were much larger and with bigger militaries
……………..
israel is surrounded by 6 arabs nations
and israeli women do active natonal services fully armed loaded with their uzis tucked in their bras…
this 4 star genral tucked his water pistol where? in the naynay cliff of his filipino maid perhaps?
Typical of PAP selecting cronies who will toe the party’s line to be puppet MPs. Even the old cadres, like MM and GCT, had made such statement like “Don’t rock the boat” during the GE.
Until now we have not heard of the party’s future plan for SG. Nor did we hear of the solutions to solve the current housing crisis. They are dragging their feet and continue to get exorbitant salary.
They only know how to rule … they do not know how to lead. This is the sad truth about the MIW; and these dumb asses they pick one after another. All from the same mold, nothing new, nothing changes. This SAF scholar officer is the sorriest of the lot – anyway, I have seen very few of them with moral character and true leadership; and the Pathetically Apathetic has a crap load of these scholars: makes you wonder why nothing changes. [This is not to say there are no good officers - but a lot of the good ones are not career soldiers ...]
All different viewpoints seen as threats and subversives – ruthlessly crushed (defamation lawsuits, Vincent Cheng-type paranoia)
Fking depressing, no wonder most of us only wants to know about Makansutra’s latest recommendations.