TR EMERITUS

OPINION The "reforms" introduced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to allow up to 18 non-PAP MPs in parliament as NMPs and NCMPs in the next general election is nothing more than a gimmick to satisfy rising demands from Singaporeans to have more alternative voices in the august chamber. It is akin to giving a child throwing tantrums a candy to shut him up. Singaporeans should not be deceived again by such juvenile antics from the ruling party to entrench itself in power for token opposition without a grassroots base in parliament is no threat at all to its political hegemony. In the first place, the PAP still retains its traditional two-thirds majority in parliament which enables it to ram down unpopular policies down our throats without consulting the people. (remember GST hike, salary hike for ministers, casinos and the large number of foreigers flooding our shores?) In other words, while the non-PAP MPs are allowed to voice "alternative" views to the establishment in parliament, they are hugely ineffectual and will have minimal impact on the policy-making process. Furthermore, it may hamper the opposition's chances in the next election as it gives Singaporeans less incentives to vote for the opposition now that they are able to enter parliament as a "best loser" NCMP even if they lose the election. What Singapore really need is genuine political competition on a level playing field which enables its citizens to toss out non-performing and unpopular ministers from office. Though the PAP has done much good for Singapore, it is not entitled to govern forever. Under a democratic system, all political parties should have equal chances of winning power so long they have the support of the people. The PAP will not feel threaten by having more non-PAP MPs in parliament since they still call the shots. The status quo will remain and nothing will ever change. Some PAP apologists have been going around applauding Prime Minister Lee's move to "open" the political space for debate by allowing more non-PAP MPs in parliament via the NMP and NCMP routes. One YPAP member and new citizen from India Mr Fredric Fanthome claimed that this was "unheard of" anywhere in the world. Yes, nowhere in the world do we have a country which is synonymous with the party which manipulates the system to suit its own partisan interests in flagrant disregard for the Constitution, a sham democracy when the opposition is so weak and divided that the ruling party has to "appoint" them into parliament because they are unable to win a seat on their own. Without a constituency of their own, opposition MPs are deprived of a grassroots base to build up their party as well as to better understand the concerns of Singaporeans on the ground. Unlike the PAP losing candidate for Potong Pasir Sitoh Yi Pin who is still able to conduct his own "Meet-the-People" sessions in the constituency, NCMPs are unable to do so. During the dinner bash held last Saturday at Potong Pasir to commemorate Mr Chiam See Tong's 25 MPs as a MP, he was swarmed by residents the moment he appeared with many clamoring to shake his hands. Mr Chiam's popularity and rapport with his residents is built up slowly over time. It would not be possible if he did not win his first five-year term as a MP. There are currently no other avenues for NCMPs and NMPs to reach out to the people. Political parties in Singapore have to depend heavily on grassroots support for funds, manpower and other resources especially during election time. Without first securing a base to begin with, it will be difficult if not impossible for the opposition to build up its strength and support thereby putting themselves forever at a disadvantage as compared to the ruling party which is able to mobilize the grassroots organizations to serve its interests. The opposition will also be unable to prove their worth and capabilities which will further perpetuate the erroneous public impression that only the ruling party has the means and experience to run a Town Council well. Only when there is a real threat of a government losing power will it be bothered to sit up and listen attentively to the concerns of the people and implement pro-citizen policies instead of unpopular ones. Eighteen non-PAP MPs in parliament will never be able to exert the same amount of political pressure as half the number of opposition MPs. Why is this so? Because the NMPs are appointed on a two-yearly basis and the NCMPs do not have a base of their own to increase their ground support and national profile. On the other hand, voting in nine opposition MPs will change the political landscape radically. They will be able to show the people both inside and outside the parliament what they are capable of and provide a alternative to the ruling party. The government will have to think twice before talking down to Singaporeans or taking them for granted again because the nine opposition MPs can hold them accountable in parliament and if it is not careful, the number may increase in the next election which can even threaten their positions. For example, the Malaysian government has become more attuned to the needs of the ethnic minorities only after losing its two-third majority during the 2008 elections. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in his inauguration speech that the era of "government knows best" is gone and he would listen more to the people.  Recently, a minister called ex-premier Dr Mahathir the "father of racism" for continuing to defend the controversial BTN course which many had decried as being racist. These developments would be unimaginable before the 2008 political tsunami which changed the face of Malaysia politics forever. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is aware that if it is not careful enough, it will be booted out of office by the opposition in the next election. In many first-world democracies, the opposition is merely a "government-in-waiting" and it provides the people a real choice as to whom they want to lead them. Singaporeans need to lend more support to the opposition so that talented people will step forward to join them. With a credible opposition in place, we will not need laughable rules to "guarantee" 18 non-PAP MPs in parliament. Copyright © The Temasek Review, 2009  Read More →

By Alvin Phoon It seems that Singapore has been more influenced by American culture than we thought. We have rednecks now!  This article provides an interesting read. Pay special attention to what’s written at the bottom. 58 year old housewife living in a 2 storey bungalow is afraid of foreign workers and their secret magic skills. You know, wave of the hand, crime rates go up.  Now, two things don’t add up here. Number one, rednecks in America don’t usually own 2 storey bungalows (or do they?). Number two, 58 year old housewife seems to be under the impression that foreign workers are good climbers. They’d have to go over the gate, and assuming the front door is locked, they’d have to go up the walls and through a window. That’s one too many assumptions no? I seem to be forgetting something. Oh right, the blinding prejudice.    Why am I not surprised that it’s a 58 year old housewife who’s so worried by the situation by the way, that she plans to move? It serves to demonstrate clearly the attitude of the elderly towards foreigners, and the perception that they are the ones messing up the place. How many times have you boarded a crowded bus and noticed an elderly woman sitting next to a foreign worker, covering her nose and mouth with her hands? How many times have you seen people on the train smirk when all the Indian workers alight at Outram Park? It seems the problem doesn’t just lie with the elderly, it lies with all of us.   Then again, why rid ourselves of our prejudices? After all, we’re victims too, no? Being Singaporeans, we’re supposed to be… let’s see, excellent at math, bad drivers, never tasted gum, dog-eaters, and unimpressive in the crotchal region, just to name a few. It’s no wonder we’re so bitter when it comes to dealing with foreigners in our country.   Today, they’re living in dormitories. Tomorrow, they may be making major decisions on whether to upgrade your elevators. All it takes is a few good decisions. Beware, and embrace them while you still can.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent The YPAP member who posted the detention record of a critic on Facebook in a bid to demolish his credibility and to shut him up has been lambasted by netizens for doing so. It was revealed by the Sunday Times unwittingly in its article on the YPAP banning Mr Alex Tan from its Facebook recruitment page for "for indulging in name-calling and vulgarities." Mr Tan claimed it was the YPAP members who started the flaming first when they could not cope with his questions. He wrote on his blog: "Recently on YPAP facebook forum, one blind PAP supporter is harping on my DB sentence during my NSF days by calling me "alex who was charged with general disobedience". he is assuming that this "convict" record will smear my credibility and independence as a PAP critic." Mr Tan was sentenced to five days in the SAF detention barracks for blogging about the number of Singaporean males who have died while serving NS since 2000. He still does not think he did anything wrong:  "I was charged because i blogged about NS deaths: a taboo for SAF. the reason why is because I feel for my fellow Singaporeans who died for their country. NS conscription is obsolete yet the fatality rate is so high. apparently some high ranking generals read my post and didn't digest that post very well." Mr Tan's frankness and courage displaying in challenging the authorities won him much public support and sympathy from netizens, many of whom denounced the YPAP member for resorting to "smear tactics" to attack him. Some questioned how the YPAP member was able to obtain information about Mr Tan's detention when it was supposed to be confidential and wondered if there are any legal grounds for Mr Tan to seek redress. Others applauded Mr Tan for speaking the truth and described him as a "hero" in the making. Mr Tan had made the headlines earlier for his outspoken views during a YPAP forum which caused some discomfort to the two PAP MPs present. He was challenged by another participant to leave Singapore if he is so "disenchanted" with the place, a typical phrase used by PAP supporters and apologists to silence their critics. A YPAP member and a new citizen from India Mr Fredric Fanthome had described anonymous netizens as "hordes" in a posting on the P65 blog. Ironically, while Mr Tan has revealed his real identity, the YPAP member who posted his personal details online had done so anonymously. Since the matter has come to be known by the public via the press and caused an outcry in cyberspace, shouldn't the YPAP member step forward and explain his actions? How did he manage to get information about Mr Tan's detention in the army when it is supposed to be confidential? And why did he post it deliberately on the YPAP Facebook when he knew that it may put Mr Tan in a bad light? It is unbecoming for a member of the Youth Wing of Singapore's dominant political party to resort to such underhand tactics to cast aspersions on the character of its critic. As a Hardwarezone forumer jimmyboy007 puts it succinctly: "Typical!!! cannot handle situation gament will resort to banning or "remove" the irritant. Same style same pattern after so many years never learn to progress."  Read More →