TR EMERITUS

作者：Jarrod Luo 评译者：新加坡文献馆03/02/2010 评论： 近日路透社的一则报导中剖析新加坡在投资考虑上的五大政治风险，分别为：安全，透明度与金融保密，政治变革，与邻国的关系，人口和种族关系。 在政治变革中的简述是：新加坡政府限制反对派活动和言论自由受到诸多质疑，要求政治变革 (political reform) 的呼声愈来愈大。这个评论是正确的，因为事实就是如此。 诚然，新加坡政府与人民之间的矛盾走向取决于政府的应对政策，从历史的经验来看，政府越是压抑社会，人民的抗争必然相应增加。所以一个理性的对策是建立一个具包容性的政治多元化社会。 新加坡的大选即将来临，而在当前的经济困境下生活开销却持续上扬，房价亦高居不下，加以新移民问题的困扰，政治上的竞争必然更是火上加油，进一步白日化。 由于原本能够安居乐业的社会环境已经受到严重侵蚀，政府却有心无力，没能有效扭转恶劣局势，引发社会的人心思变，网络平台上的新生代观点尤其显著。 新生代不仅面对就业上的不稳定，更面对生活的重担比如房屋车债的财务压力。恶劣的生活环境启发了新生代的政治醒悟，新加坡人也似乎是逐渐的从社会困境中走出原有的政治冷漠心态。 在这一改变浪潮中，《我己做出选择(I Have Chosen)》反映了一名新生代的政治观。 译文：我己做出选择 假如这是真的，那新加坡的前景确实是暗淡的。这充分展示了人民对自已出生地的效忠与归属感，以及他们对在这儿的生活素质的观感。 在闲聊中我问我的朋友她是否还留在新加坡。她简短的回应，‘是的，很不幸的‘，立即引发我的好奇。我随即再问，她所谓的不幸是指她自已，是国家又或者是政府。 她笑着否定了后者，说她和我不一样，她不会因为是留在新加坡而会为政府感到不幸。 我接着解释为何会提起这个话题，因为这是做为一名公民的个人选择，当生活条件对新加坡人越来越‘不幸’的时候，我们即使不为自已也要为身边四周的人着想。 我曾身处其境而做出个人选择，当时要决定是否要留在澳大利亚（不久前我在这儿念书）或者返乡回家。概括来说，对我们公民而言有3个选择 – 都是‘不幸’的。 1、国家的不幸，如果我们都选择离乡背井留在有更佳机会的地方，国家会因为这些人才缺席无法做出贡献而要蒙受其有形与无形上的损失。 2、我们的不幸，如果我们选择留在新加坡，我们会遭受原本是为我们服务的那群人的不良政策的不公正待遇。如果我们对这情况置之不理看成是会转眼过去的一场恶梦，那情势将会变得更为恶劣。 3、政府的不幸，因为我们选择留在新加坡的同时我们可以努力争取夺回失去的公民权力而不是做为新加坡领导口中的‘数据’。如果我们留在新加坡我们可以： a. 通过各种渠道对不同的议题提出意见。 b. 以社会活动和公民团体以及其他相关组织来塑造社会政治环境。 c. 支持或者参加政党如新加坡民主党以实现我们心目中的新加坡。 这些都是不易决定的‘不幸’选择。我们必须做出决定的那一个日子必定会来临，不论我们是否愿意面对，我们都必须有所决定我们要的是个什么样的新加坡。无所行动并不是选择的一项。 许多人已经在有意识中或无意识中做出了决定。对我而言，我选择了留在新加坡争取一个更好的新加坡。我选择有意识的清醒，寻求自已人生中的旅途方向。我已经做出选择，你呢？ 作者是新加坡民主党青年团秘书 来源：新加坡民主党 http://yoursdp.org/  Read More →

评译者：新加坡文献馆04/02/2010 评论： 在新加坡面临重重困难之际，近日出炉的经济战略委员会报告书，理所当然的引起社会关注。 从对报告书的反应可以清楚看出新加坡朝野之间的两种全然不同观点，这或许就是新加坡版本的一种现象两种表述的政治现实状况。官方的早报是从护主心切的角度看待报告书，相信新加坡明天会更好。反对党 (opposition) 却认为报告书不外是老酒装新瓶了无创新之意，更是无法解决问题。 早报以《改造经济分享成果》为社论概述报告书，内容有述无论，读者无从知道新加坡为何要如此这般的改造经济？改造后的经济成果又是如何？改造后的经济成果又是与谁分享？ 新加坡民主党的《经济战略委员会建议：故伎重演（ESC recommendations: Here we go again）》基本上认为人民行动党政府的这些老套伎俩根本是无济于事，因为当前的困难就是这些老套造成的祸害。 新加坡官方习惯上以全球化理论来解脱政策失误的政治与社会责任，这种论说既牵强亦不正确。 事实上，新加坡是国际贸易经济的产物，也是这一西方资本世界制席下的既得利益者。新加坡的工业经济来自西方跨国企业的投资，外资设厂带动了本地劳工密集生产，这就是国际经济分工上的作业。显而易见，全球化创造财富为新加坡带来好处而不是坏处。 新加坡当前的困境主要是财富分配不均这一块出现了大问题。简单的说，是出现了资源分配集团垄断财富的现象。政府与官企垄断新加坡经济作业，让各相关单位机构以超高薪与天价红利分享财富。这一错失来自政治失策与管理不当。 对症下药才会药到病除，经济战略委员会报告书误诊新加坡的病理，所以其配方的有效性可想而知。 译文：经济战略委员会建议：故伎重演 当经济处于困境，而政府要让人民觉得当局已经在着手去解决问题，那么，最好的办法就是成立一个组织，给予官方权力，然后发表一份报告书。 这份报告书不必提出任何新建议。它只须打官腔，出现在报章的头版与内页之中- 并附带电脑制做的图表。这就是财政部长尚达曼领导的经济战略委员会报告书的作为。 经济战略委员会报告书的建议中包括： a. 调高外国劳工税来管制外劳的流入， b. 增加研究与开发投资， c. 协助中心企业的增长， d. 推动本地企业向海外发展，以及 e. 发展核能源 除了发展核能源之外，其他的建议不早就已经耳熟能详了吗？ 1991年政府提出全国科技计划来推动新加坡‘在1995年成为主要的世界级创意经济‘。 5年后，当年的贸工部长杨荣文启动中小企业21计划，来‘巩固新加坡的中小企业经济‘和‘推进中小企业联系贯通全球网络‘。 2001年李显龙的经济审查委员会承诺‘谨慎管制流入的外来劳工以造福经济和人民。一个适当的税制将会调节外劳的需求量，以确保他们是补助而不是取代新加坡工人‘。 这项通过‘适当税制‘的‘谨慎‘管制外来劳工已经导致我们的人口中有38个百分点的非新加坡人。 现在，经济战略委员会报告再次提议使用外劳税来管制外劳的流量。老酒新瓶 2001经济审查委员报告书也保证‘加强研究与开发的努力‘。 如果这些建议都有其实效，那么，为何会有生产力持续下跌，我们又再提出另一份报告书？ 实际上，这些建议都是旧主意的新说法，重新包装只是让人民以为人民行动党有一套可行的解决办法。人民行动党并没有这份能耐。 政府所应该做的是结束霸权，和停止对一个已经在结构和表现上极为扭曲的经济体进行其微观管理。遗憾的是，这些都是人民行动党不能做的事，因为这样的做法会让人民行动党失去对新加坡的控制。 现实状况是，我们再也不能把新加坡的政治从其经济中分隔开来。只要人民行动党持续其独裁管制，新加坡人民的潜能就无法发挥，新加坡要取得经济发展是不能靠那些打官腔的报告书来带动的。 新加坡民主党会处理当前的经济困难，重要的是，会在近日内提出另类的建议。 来源：新加坡民主党 http://yoursdp.org/  Read More →

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani and Debra Chong from The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s accuser told the High Court today that he went for a medical check-up only two days after he was allegedly sodomised by the opposition leader. Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan said he initially went to two private hospitals before eventually going to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). This was due to advice from a doctor in Pusat Rawatan Islam (Pusrawi) that a report from a private hospital could not be used in court. He had initially gone to Hospital Tawakal where he was told the doctors were only working half-day. “I then decided to go to the nearest hospital. Pusrawi Hospital at Jalan Tun Razak,” Saiful said. He related that he had met a Dr Muhammad Osman Abdul Hamid who examined him after he complained of pain in his abdomen and anus. Saiful confessed he only told Dr Muhammad Osman he had been sodomised at the point when the doctor was inserting a device into the anus. “The doctor immediately stopped and then recommended me to go to HKL because the court will not accept any report from the hospital and the hospital does not have the necessary equipments,” he said. Two policemen approached him at the hospital to help him file the report, providing him with certain forms. Saiful added that Superintendent Jude Pereira, who is also the investigating officer for this case, came by later to take down his statements while four HKL doctors were giving him a full physical check, which included swabbing his anus, torso and neck. The trial adjourned for the day soon after that and will resume tomorrow at 9.30am before paying a second visit to the Desa Damansara Condominium to allow the defence to visit the control room where the closed circuit television (CCTV) recordings kept in a computer hard disk are placed. According to Anwar’s lawyer, Sankara Nair, the defence team had got separated from the rest of the court entourage at the site visit earlier. Sankara explained that they were unaware the judge and the rest of the court officials had checked out the control room. He insisted that the defence be given a chance to see the place for themselves, which the judge agreed. Earlier this morning, the court visited the condominium where Saiful explained how and where the alleged act of sodomy occurred two years ago. Saiful, who Anwar said was just his “coffee-boy”, was in the witness dock this morning on the second day of the trial but the hearing was held in camera due to the graphic nature of his testimony. Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden led the questioning on behalf of the prosecution before High Court judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah. Anwar, the 62-year-old PKR de facto leader, is charged with sodomising Saiful at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara here between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008. The former deputy prime minister has denied the charge, describing it as “evil, frivolous lies by those in power” when the charge was read out to him. He is charged under section 377B of the Penal Code and can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping upon conviction. The trial is taking place 18 months after Anwar was charged in court in August 2008. At HKL, Saiful said he was taken to the emergency ward after informing hospital staff that he had been sodomised. “So I went to outpatient and met a female Indian doctor but I was shy so she referred me to an Indian male doctor next door. His name was Daniel. “I told him that I was sodomised by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” said Saiful, referring to a male doctor he named “Dr Daniel” who carried out the physical check. Anwar’s family who were seated in the public gallery, especially his daughters, reacted strongly to Saiful’s testimony, hissing in disgust. They remained highly tensed throughout today’s trial. One bit her nails while another kept her arms tightly crossed across her chest. Continuing his testinomy, Saiful said that Dr Daniel was shocked and sent him to the One Stop Crisis Center (OSCC)  in the emergency ward. He waited for an hour before an Indian doctor came to check his blood pressure and left. Half an hour later, the doctor came and told him that he needs to lodge a police report before the hospital could check him for sodomy. After a 30-minute hearing today which was adjourned at 11am, the entire court left for the condominium in the leafy Damansara Heights enclave popular with many expatriates. The Malaysian Insider understands that Mohamed Zabidin ordered today’s site visit to follow-up on the earlier closed-door testimony of the complainant. According to sources, Saiful led the judge to the unit and the room where the sexual act was purported to have taken place two years ago. Anwar’s lead counsel Karpal Singh yesterday asked for Saiful’s testimony to be heard in-camera after he graphically described Anwar’s use of profanity in asking for sex. He also said entry to the condominium required the use of a password which he said was “Mokhtar”. The 24-year-old had also testified he had worked for Anwar for four months, from early March 2008 to June 28 of the same year, and stopped being the Permatang Pauh MP’s special aide because he did not want to be further abused. Anwar was charged with sodomy and corruption in 1998 after he was sacked from the Cabinet and was later convicted and jailed for both offences. He was freed in September 2004 and later resurrected his political career by winning back his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in a by-election in 2008, which had been held in the interim by his wife. He had earlier led the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, to a historic sweep of five states and 82 parliamentary seats in Election 2008. - The Malaysian Insider  Read More →