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	<title>The Online Citizen &#187; Commentaries</title>
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	<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com</link>
	<description>a community of Singaporeans</description>
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		<item>
		<title>Why are public sector appointments shrouded in secrecy?</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/why-are-public-sector-appointments-shrouded-in-secrecy/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/why-are-public-sector-appointments-shrouded-in-secrecy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:00:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lee hsien yang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[low thia khiang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nmps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[select committee]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=11779</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Democratic principles should be upheld in the public sector. <b>Rajiv Chaudhry</b>.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/why-are-public-sector-appointments-shrouded-in-secrecy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>162</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lee&#8217;s vision may be different from what Singaporeans want</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/lky-vision-different-singaporean-wam/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/lky-vision-different-singaporean-wam/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:22:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=47094</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by:&#160;Ghui Former Minister Lee Kuan Yew has asserted that Singapore needs more immigrants to boost its population. He has justified this by pointing out that Singaporeans are not reproducing at a rate which can sustain our population. He further alluded to his belief that population shrinkage will &#160;lead to economic stagnation. I have no quarrel [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/lky-vision-different-singaporean-wam/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>79</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Unfounded claims from LTAs train purchases for SMRT</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/unfounded-from-ltas-train-purchase-for-smrt/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/unfounded-from-ltas-train-purchase-for-smrt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:13:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46931</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Ng Yi Shu~ A recent report detailing the purchase of trains for the North-East Line and Circle Line has got netizens abuzz around allegations of LTA using taxpayer costs to benefit SMRT and SBS Transit, the private train operators. Under the Land Transport Authority&#160;[i] of Singapore Act, the Land Transport Authority has the duty [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/unfounded-from-ltas-train-purchase-for-smrt/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>38</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Effective ethical standards in Singapore</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/effective-ethical-standards-in-singapore/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/effective-ethical-standards-in-singapore/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:55:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46806</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Walter Jayandran~ Some readers may recall my last article on this subject in TOC a little more than a year ago (http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/12/ethics-and-morality-in-public-service/) where I stated that there was the possibility of a systemic and potentially deep-rooted problem of ethics and morality in the public service. Since then we have had more instances of civil [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/02/effective-ethical-standards-in-singapore/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How was the $2 ERP rate arrived at?</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/how-2-erp-rate-arrived-at/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/how-2-erp-rate-arrived-at/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:34:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46748</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Ghui~ I note the changes on the ERP rates on the CTE and the PIE with&#160;concern (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/erp-rates-on-cte&#8211;pie-to-change-from-6-feb.html). For two gantries along the PIE (Adam Road and Mount Pleasant Road),&#160;the revised rate from 7:30 am to 8:00 am will increase by S$1 to S$2.&#160;This is a twofold increase. By any yardstick for comparison, a double&#160;increase [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/how-2-erp-rate-arrived-at/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>53</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>This is not the way &#8211; how not to hold a conversation</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/this-is-not-the-way-how-not-to-hold-a-conversation/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/this-is-not-the-way-how-not-to-hold-a-conversation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:26:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Top Story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46723</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Joseph Teo~ Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was interviewed by CNN&#39;s Fareed Zakaria on 26 January. In response to questions on the election results and the need for political openness, he said, &#8220;We are in a new situation, and we must govern in a new way, but we can&#8217;t do it by just going [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/this-is-not-the-way-how-not-to-hold-a-conversation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>55</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>No private sector job would give you five years to prove yourself</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/no-private-sector-job-would-give-you-five-years-to-prove-yourself/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/no-private-sector-job-would-give-you-five-years-to-prove-yourself/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:11:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46738</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Ghui~ There is ongoing debate with regards to the revised salary package for ministers. While salaries have been reduced, contention in relation to the bonus scheme still remains. Proponents of the revised salary package have argued that politicians need to be paid competitively to avoid corruption and opponents of the same have countered that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/no-private-sector-job-would-give-you-five-years-to-prove-yourself/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>43</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Competence, messy PR, and a conspiracy theory</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/competence-messy-pr-and-a-conspiracy-theory/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/competence-messy-pr-and-a-conspiracy-theory/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:38:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46732</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Howard Lee~ For all the blunders and perceived partisanship often attributed to it, I continue to have faith in our public service. I don&#39;t necessarily mean the top dogs in the service, but the rank and file who continue to soldier on each day at their jobs. I trust that they will continue to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/competence-messy-pr-and-a-conspiracy-theory/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>16</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t sensationalise Yaw&#8217;s alleged marital woes</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/dont-sensationalise-yaw-alleged-marital-woes/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/dont-sensationalise-yaw-alleged-marital-woes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:17:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Top Story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46685</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Ghui~ Workers&#39; Party MP, Yaw Shin Leong has come under fire for an alleged extra marital affair. From a moral standpoint and in a black and white world, Yaw&#8217;s actions, if true are reprehensible. However, does this have any bearing on his role as an MP? MPs might be public figures but they are [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/dont-sensationalise-yaw-alleged-marital-woes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>212</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Can only the top 1000 earners in the private sector take up political office?</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/can-only-top-1000-take-up-political-office/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/can-only-top-1000-take-up-political-office/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:15:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=46602</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Adrian Ng~ I read with interest the PM&#8217;s speech in parliament with regard to the recent ministerial pay issue. There were some things he mentioned that jumped out at me and stirred an uneasiness within. &#8220;If you have the wrong system of pay, you will have the wrong team,&#8221; This phrase, in my opinion, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/can-only-top-1000-take-up-political-office/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>52</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why was Dahlberg’s passport not impounded?</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/why-was-dahlberg%e2%80%99s-passport-not-impounded/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/why-was-dahlberg%e2%80%99s-passport-not-impounded/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:58:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45941</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Ghui~ It comes as no surprise that many Singaporeans are outraged by the news that Kiwi, Robert Dahlberg has jumped bail (http://forum.channelnewsasia.com/showthread.php?36942-Kiwi-bail-jumper-won%92t-return-to-S%92pore-to-face-charges). Dahlberg was allegedly involved in a drunken attack on two taxi drivers and two passengers at Suntec City in April last year. Violence is definitely not to be condoned and Dahlberg must [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/01/why-was-dahlberg%e2%80%99s-passport-not-impounded/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>51</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Question of Necessity</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/a-question-of-necessity/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/a-question-of-necessity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:22:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45504</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Amanda Yun/ Mr Lui (Tuck Yew) noted that the increased train frequencies over the years &#8211; to cater to a growing population &#8211; has resulted in less time for the transport operators to carry out inspections and maintenance. &#8220;But nonetheless, I don&#8217;t think that is the contributory factor (to the recent disruptions),&#8221; Mr Lui [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/a-question-of-necessity/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>47</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SMRT should be surrendered to a new Statutory Board</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/smrt-should-be-surrendered-to-a-new-statutory-board/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/smrt-should-be-surrendered-to-a-new-statutory-board/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:16:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45432</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Aloysius Foo/ In light of the worst train breakdown in Singapore history, and the poor crisis management by SMRT, it is time to look at the ownership and management structure of the MRT system. I call for the ownership and operation of the entire MRT system to be transferred to a new Statutory Board. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/smrt-should-be-surrendered-to-a-new-statutory-board/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>111</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>That smashed train door window&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/that-smashed-train-door-window/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/that-smashed-train-door-window/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:17:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45406</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Joshua Chiang/ In an article published in the Wall Street Journal about the MRT breakdown on Thursday, former civil servant Donald Low was quoted as saying, “The disruptions are not just isolated events; they constitute a pattern of behavior or a trend. Question then is what underlying systems and structures caused this, and then [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/that-smashed-train-door-window/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>169</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. What does that have to do with dolphins?</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/reuse-reduce-recycle-what-does-that-have-to-do-with-dolphins/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/reuse-reduce-recycle-what-does-that-have-to-do-with-dolphins/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:45:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Top Story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45292</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are we forgetting about dolphin lagoon?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/reuse-reduce-recycle-what-does-that-have-to-do-with-dolphins/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>7</slash:comments>
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		<title>NMP Applicant Martin Gabriel: Government should step-up vigilance and enforcement</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/nmp-applicant-martin-gabriel-government-should-step-up-vigilance-and-enforcement/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/nmp-applicant-martin-gabriel-government-should-step-up-vigilance-and-enforcement/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:01:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Main Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45278</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Martin Gabriel~ Statistics on foreign workers should be more transparent. While the statistics show the number of work permit and employment pass holders, there are also scores of illegal workers that are unaccounted for. These illegal workers intensify the competition for jobs between foreigners and Singaporeans. With an impending slowdown in 2012 and expected [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/nmp-applicant-martin-gabriel-government-should-step-up-vigilance-and-enforcement/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>23</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>From Global Citizens to Planetary Stewards</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/from-global-citizens-to-planetary-stewards/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/from-global-citizens-to-planetary-stewards/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:55:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Top Story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45202</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Ezra Ho/ We are living in unprecedented times, standing at the crossroads of planetary survival. After decades of industrial overgrowth, Humanity is threatening to destroy the life fabric of the planet. Already, the UN estimates that at least 60% of examined ecosystems are in degraded states, or in the process of being degraded. Of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/from-global-citizens-to-planetary-stewards/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>20</slash:comments>
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		<title>Minimal near term impact on property prices</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/minimal-near-term-impact-on-property-prices/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/minimal-near-term-impact-on-property-prices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:20:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45163</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Roy Chung Yee Ling~ The operating environment appears to be extremely challenging for the coming 12 months with an unprecedented combination of market uncertainty, sustained global economic weakness and regulatory changes. In my conversations with Singaporeans, I had always believed that incremental cooling measures were possible, although unlikely to be bold given broader macro [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/minimal-near-term-impact-on-property-prices/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>23</slash:comments>
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		<title>双语教育的迷思</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/%e5%8f%8c%e8%af%ad%e6%95%99%e8%82%b2%e7%9a%84%e8%bf%b7%e6%80%9d/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/%e5%8f%8c%e8%af%ad%e6%95%99%e8%82%b2%e7%9a%84%e8%bf%b7%e6%80%9d/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:07:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45143</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[TOC is proud to unveil its new Chinese section to be headed by Mr Goh Meng Seng. The following is Mr Goh&#8217;s first contribution for the section. 吴明盛/ 失败的双语政策 最近报业控股为李光耀先生出的书，《我一生的挑战——新加坡双语之路》引起了广泛的讨论。 李光耀似乎尝试在这书里为自己“平反”他扼杀方言，大幅度降低华文教育水准的“罪行”。尤其是许多以往受华文教育的国人，对李光耀关闭南洋大学，消灭华校的做法，都只能静悄悄的恨在心里，只等李光耀百年归西才会把那闷在心头的“真心话”大声的说出来。 以李光耀目前的社会和国际地位，其实是无须害怕这一小撮人在他作古后对他的指骂。毕竟他已经把新一代的新加坡人都转变成能以英语通达世界的“环球公民”，还会有谁在意这些“不合时宜”的指骂呢？也许李光耀身体里毕竟是流着华族的血，还是非常在意人们如何为他“盖棺论定”吧！ 李光耀的双语政策是建立在两个基本考量： 政治整合 经济发展策略 政治整合 李光耀在五十年代是骑着受华文教育的民众反殖民主义的情绪而崛起的。李光耀之所以能成功在1959年夺取政权，全靠这班华校知识分子。 但是一旦夺得政权以后，这批华校知识分子便成为行动党党内分歧的主要原因。最终他们便分裂出来组成社阵。过后在几次的逮捕行动中，几乎所有的社阵领袖都被扣上共产党人的红帽子被关了起来。 自此以后，李光耀所领导的行动党政府就对华校生不再信任。当时的学运大多数都是由华校发起的。南洋大学做为东南亚华文教育的最高等学府就变成被整治的第一号对象。 这政治斗争的历史背景便成为李光耀致力于削弱华文教育的主要原因。行动党便以另一个“名正言顺”的政治理由来把这“以英文为主”的语言政策合理化。理由是新加坡作为一个多元种族的国家，必须有个共同语言平台好让各族都能和谐的沟通。 但是我们要仔细地检视这语言政策的逻辑。我们固然需要建立一个共同的语言平台，但有必要牺牲各族的母语水准吗？有些欧洲国家甚至有四种语言的教育政策。这是为了确保他们能在学习周边各国的语言外，还能继续保持着自己的语文文化程度。他们能做得到，为何我们不能？ 经济发展策略 经济发展是另一个李光耀常用来作为偏重英语，削弱母语教育的理由。新加坡经济的发展模式是依靠大量跨国公司来本地的投资。我们为了配合这些跨国公司，也就理所当然把重点放在英文教育上。 但是纵观亚洲四小龙、日本和中国的发展史，唯有新加坡牺牲了各族的语文教育以换取经济发展。对新加坡华社来说，我们不只是牺牲了华文教育水准，而且还赔上了我们各族的方言。行动党一方面说为了加强华文的水准而推行讲华语运动，从而摧毁方言。但是另一方面李光耀和行动党议员又以他们有“精英遗传”的孩子和子孙无法应付华文学科为由，对华文教育一而再，再而三的降低华文教育水平！ 香港、台湾和中国虽然都经济发展得非常迅速，但是他们不只保留了方言，并且华文水准更是远远超越了新加坡。李光耀和他的同僚是否让我们新加坡华族付上了不必要的惨痛代价？ 吴明盛 不管我们从任何角度来看，李光耀最终的目的就是塑造一个以英文为主其他各族语言为次的国家。所谓的“双语政策”根本就不是一个以对等的重要性去实行真正的双语政策。这样长期削弱和牺牲本族文化的双语政策怎么能算是成功的呢？ &#160;]]></description>
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		<title>An Independent Mind: Examining the Limits of Free Speech</title>
		<link>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/an-independent-mind-examining-the-limits-of-free-speech/</link>
		<comments>http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/12/an-independent-mind-examining-the-limits-of-free-speech/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:39:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>theonlinecitizen</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=45093</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[~by: Sharon Chen~ In honour of Human Rights Day, the British High Commission held a private screening of Rex Bloomstein’s 2008 documentary An Independent Mind last night. The film tackles difficult questions regarding the right to free speech through interviews with writers, performers and artists from 8 countries who have come under fire for their [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>23</slash:comments>
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