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Podcasts didn't decide GE2025Podcasts didn't decide GE2025 I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: Podcasts didn't decide GE2025, but they changed how Singaporeans engage with politics (May 9). The 2025 General Election has several features/characteristics that deserve our attention, discussion and reflection: In today era, technological revolution, innovation and advancement...

GE2025: Stunning victory for PAPGE2025: Stunning victory for PAP I refer to the CNA’s report, “GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP, winning 87 of 97 seats with higher national vote share in PM Wong's first electoral test” (May 4). GE2025 has clearly delivered the following key messages/notes from the vast majority of voters: The Workers’ Party (WP) has done a fantastic good...

This is not a game of cardsThis is not a game of cards I can appreciate parties wanting to hold their cards close to their chest, but the smoke and mirrors games on nominations day, the shuffling of the DPM from a seat he had openly been declared to be defending, and other ministers shuffling constituencies leaves one feeling the PAP thinks it is playing a game of cards. Constituency...

Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans? I refer to The Online Citizen GE2025 news report, “Lee Hsien Yang: Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?” - (April 14), and “The Straits Times’ report, “GE2025: Singaporeans will go to the polls on May 3, Nomination Day on April 23” (April 15), and The Online Citizen GE2025 report,...

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝... Is the PAP of today exceptional, with unmatched competence and delivery? Afterall, that is their justification for the highest salaries in the world. Let’s look at its more recent track record. Large numbers of NRIC numbers were recently unmasked, leaving Singaporeans exposed to identity theft, fraud, abuse and scams....

GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit TimahGE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit Timah I refer to the CNA news, “GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC but may make way for Singapore Democratic Party” (April 10), “More opposition 'star catches' are emerging. Is Singapore's political scene maturing?” (April 10) and “PSP says government response to Trump tariffs 'overblown',...

GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited into politicsGE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited... I refer to CNA’s news, “GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited into politics” (Mar 28). It is not surprised to notice that in recent weeks, two NMPs and top ministry officials have resigned, fuelling speculation they could be fielded as potential candidates for the ruling People's Action...

More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote in GE2025More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote in GE2025 I refer to The CNA’s News, “GE2025: More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote” (Mar 25). As Singapore’s General Election is due to be held within this year, the following factors will more or less influence the election situation this year: A)The general mentality of voters Voters are generally...

How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning US supportHow the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning... I refer to the CNA’s commentaries, “How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning US support” (Mar 4), “Lessons from the Trump-Zelenskyy meltdown- for friends and foes” (Mar 1) and “Will Trump tariffs push China to change economic tack?” (Mar 3). Foremost, we need to recognise the reality...

Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum WageSingapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage: National Service Should Not Come at the Expense of Opportunity Costs Singapore’s National Service (NS) has long been a cornerstone of the nation’s defense, requiring young men to dedicate two years of their lives to military, civil defense, or police service. While...

Trump-Putin deal on Ukraine will be Europe’s moment of reckoningTrump-Putin deal on Ukraine will be Europe’s moment of... I refer to the CNA’s Commentaries, “Trump-Putin deal on Ukraine will be Europe’s moment of reckoning” (Feb 20) and “Ukraine can survive with the ‘least worst’ peace” (Feb 22). Now, In the eyes of European Union, they have lost trust and confidence in the United States, it is solely due to the flip flop...

From Deepseek to Huawei, US tech restrictions on China are backfiringFrom Deepseek to Huawei, US tech restrictions on China are... I refer to the CNA’s Commentary, “From Deepseek to Huawei, US tech restrictions on China are backfiring” (Jan 31). Would it be practical, useful and effective for the United States to continually pursue an aggressive containment strategy to hobble China’s tech push? Undoubtedly, the answer is obviously not. There...

Don't get distracted by Trump's outlandish Cabinet picksDon't get distracted by Trump's outlandish Cabinet picks I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: “Don't get distracted by Trump's outlandish Cabinet picks” (Nov 25), and “'No one will win a trade war’, China says after Trump tariff threat” (Nov 26). As everyone knows, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will return to power on January 20, 2025. Trump has dismissed...

Putin escalates Ukraine warPutin escalates Ukraine war I refer to The CNA’s Commentary: “Putin escalates Ukraine war by a step, not a leap, with missile experiment” (Nov 23). Foremost, Zelenskyi’s intention to join Nato has greatly threatened the security and survival of Russia. Hence, Zelenskyy has offended Putin and Putin has no choice but to launch a war with...

Will PM Wong address the astronomical ministerial salaries?Will PM Wong address the astronomical ministerial salaries? I refer to The TR-Emeritus opinion article, “Will PM Wong address the astronomical ministerial salaries” (June 14) by Mr Yoong Siew Wah. It has always been a controversial topic which concerns about our top political leaders who receive their salaries that are many times higher than those foreign political leaders. Our...

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Editorials
Strong hailstorm strikes China's Xi'an causing airport...

Strong hailstorm strikes China's Xi'an causing airport...

On the evening of May 8, Xi’an, the capital city of China’s Shaanxi Province, was struck by a powerful...
Four parties lost their election deposits in GE2025

Four parties lost their election deposits in GE2025

A total of four opposition parties, the Singapore United Party (SUP), People's Power Party (PPP), People’s...
Level 16 super typhoon devastates multiple cities in...

Level 16 super typhoon devastates multiple cities in...

Northern China was hit by an extreme weather event on Thursday as a massive cold front swept south, colliding...
Level 15 winds destroy buildings rooftops and cause...

Level 15 winds destroy buildings rooftops and cause...

On April 30, northern China was struck by an extreme weather event as a massive cold vortex surged southward,...
TR Emeritus to 'shut-up' on 2nd May 2025

TR Emeritus to 'shut-up' on 2nd May 2025

Please be informed that TR Emeritus (TRE) will shut down its comment function site-wide at 0000 hours...
Chaos in China as extreme storm destroys homes and...

Chaos in China as extreme storm destroys homes and...

Beijing’s 22 million residents were asked to stay indoors on Saturday, as powerful winds swept across...
China, Thailand, and Myanmar in ruins after devastating...

China, Thailand, and Myanmar in ruins after devastating...

On March 28, 2025, a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay, causing...
Myanmar 7.7 earthquake collapses buildings in Thailand,...

Myanmar 7.7 earthquake collapses buildings in Thailand,...

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, causing widespread panic...
Beijing shocked by earthquake and mega sandstorm

Beijing shocked by earthquake and mega sandstorm

Since March 24, 2025, northern China has been battling extreme weather as a massive sandstorm swept through...
Mega hail causes mass destruction in Fujian and Guangdong

Mega hail causes mass destruction in Fujian and Guangdong

An unexpected and severe hailstorm struck multiple cities in Guangdong and Fujian between March 3 and...
Extreme weather struck multiple regions in China

Extreme weather struck multiple regions in China

On March 2, 2025, extreme weather struck multiple regions in China, with parts of Henan province experiencing...
Happy Chinese New Year 2025

Happy Chinese New Year 2025

Wishing all our Chinese readers:     Team@TR Emeritus  
Huge snow caused numerous disruptions on China's major...

Huge snow caused numerous disruptions on China's major...

As the Chinese New Year approaches, millions of people across the country are making their annual journey...
The rapidly spreading HMPV virus you haven’t heard...

The rapidly spreading HMPV virus you haven’t heard...

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is making headlines as cases surge, especially among children and vulnerable...
4.1 magnitude earthquake shakes Shanxi's Linfeng city

4.1 magnitude earthquake shakes Shanxi's Linfeng city

On the evening of January 10, 2025, Linfen City in Shanxi Province was struck by an earthquake. The tremor,...
7.8 magnitude earthquake devastates Tibet

7.8 magnitude earthquake devastates Tibet

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake has hit Tibet, in the region of Shigatse, which is near the border with Nepal. According...
Outbreak of mystery virus in China

Outbreak of mystery virus in China

China is r eportedly facing a new health crisis as the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak rapidly...
Unknown Virus Rampages in China; Hospitals Utterly...

Unknown Virus Rampages in China; Hospitals Utterly...

A blogger in China has shared a video, claiming that this isn’t China’s Spring Festival travel rush;...
Opinions
The three of threes about DPM Heng Swee Kiat

The three of threes about DPM Heng Swee Kiat

The first part of the threes is about the when, the how and the why? And it is about his retirement...
我们是否该重新思考国防开支的优先顺序?

我们是否该重新思考国防开支的优先顺序?

新加坡政府近日宣布将采购两艘额外的“无畏级”潜艇,引发了一个重要问题:我们的国防力量,到底需要多强? 毫无疑问,一个强大且可信的军队对于保障国家主权与威慑潜在威胁是不可或缺的。新加坡地处战略要冲,国土面积有限,因此需要一支现代化的武装部队。然而,当我们对比邻国——马来西亚拥有两艘潜艇、印尼正逐步扩展至十二艘——新加坡在水下战力上已处于领先地位。这不禁让人质疑,我们是否正引领着一场无声的区域军备竞赛? 问题在于:当威慑的需求被满足后,继续扩军是否已经超出必要? 一艘“无畏级”潜艇的估价超过十亿新元,还不包括长期的运营与维护成本。这两艘新潜艇的资金,若能转用于迫切的民生需求,例如医疗保健、老龄化支援、教育及弱势群体扶助,或许对社会的整体韧性更具意义。 政府一再强调国防开支是经过审慎规划的,但当生活成本日益上升,政府却仍需将消费税(Gst)提高至9%甚至更多,这种矛盾不禁令人困惑。如果某些战略性国防项目能够延后或循序推进,节省下来的资源是否可以用于社会发展呢? “全面防卫”不仅仅是硬件实力,更是要赢得人民的心与信任。让人民感到安心、有保障、受到重视,这种安全感无法靠潜艇来衡量,而是通过每一位国人的生活实感体现出来。 这并非是在呼吁削弱我们的国防,而是呼吁我们重新思考国家的优先事项。当我们继续推进军事现代化的同时,也不要忽视同样重要的任务——巩固社会契约、增强国民凝聚力。   Cwc-Ai  
Cutting down reliance on US military equipment

Cutting down reliance on US military equipment

There is a rampant rumor going around that claims Egypt has ordered 48 J10C with a price tag of USD$25B...
2025大选—明确授权,变化中的政治格局

2025大选—明确授权,变化中的政治格局

2025年大选结果无可争议,政府再次赢得了强有力的授权,稳固了其在新加坡政治格局中的主导地位。尽管选举结果并不令人意外,但胜利的过程却并非没有争议和复杂性。 值得注意的是,选区划分的变化在本次选战中发挥了重要作用。陈清木医生与徐顺全医生等资深反对派人物,因选区重划而受到显著影响——传统支持基础被分割或并入他区,无疑左右了某些关键选区的最终结果。虽然选区调整在新加坡选举历史上并不罕见,但其公平性与透明度仍持续引发讨论。 工人党虽稳守东北区的传统堡垒,但未能在本届大选中攻下新的选区。不过,该党仍获得两个非选区议员(Ncmp)席位,虽属安慰性质,却在象征意义上维持了国会内多元声音的存在。 更值得关注的是,本届大选所处的人口背景正经历剧烈变化。新加坡人口从2000年的约300万增长至2025年的超过500万。考虑到多年来出生率持续偏低,这一增长几乎可以肯定主要归因于移民流入,尤其可能在华人群体中增长显著。这一趋势对国家的社会结构和政治生态产生了深远影响。 展望2030年大选,各政党不仅要面对一如既往的选区调整与突发的全球事件,更需正视一个不断演变的社会结构。随着越来越多新移民成为国民,选民构成日益多元,政党在政策制定与信息传递上必须更具包容性与前瞻性。他们必须同时争取老一代公民与新加坡新公民的认同,回应共同关切,并跨越代际与文化差异的鸿沟。 在新加坡持续向前迈进的过程中,其政治也必须与时俱进——反映日益多元的人口现实,同时坚守国家的核心价值观:团结、韧性与务实。 Cwc-Ai
A jaw-dropping election

A jaw-dropping election

This is a jaw-dropping election. For the opposition. SDP’s Dr Chee and PSP’s Leong were deeply disappointed....
The Nation has rejected multi-party Parliamentary representation

The Nation has rejected multi-party Parliamentary representation

Our party suffered great losses and I personally have suffered the greatest hit. But these personal losses...
A False Analogy That Insults the Intelligence of Singaporeans

A False Analogy That Insults the Intelligence of Singaporeans

Minister Ong Ye Kung’s recent assertion that a “co-driver” bears no responsibility if a car crashes...
There is a cost to losing

There is a cost to losing

There is a cost to losing. At least in PAP’s books. And one of the costs is a policy of priority. That...
Hougang Belongs to the People

Hougang Belongs to the People

Thank You for the Reminder, Mr Marshall Lim. It is with no small measure of amusement that one reads...
Its all about trust

Its all about trust

Dr Ng Eng Hen from PAP has pointed out the most important key point about this General Elections, it...
Misunderstanding What Singaporeans Truly Expect from...

Misunderstanding What Singaporeans Truly Expect from...

The government's repeated assertion that it is "easy for the opposition to ask the government to give...
Punggol GRC

Punggol GRC

Punggol GRC is without question one of the most hotly watched, followed and contested constituency in...
Should Singapore Be Concerned About David Neo’s “Action-Takers,...

Should Singapore Be Concerned About David Neo’s “Action-Takers,...

Singaporeans should pause and reflect on the recent remark by PAP candidate David Neo, who said that...
Why Singaporeans Must Reconsider the Dismissal of SDP’s...

Why Singaporeans Must Reconsider the Dismissal of SDP’s...

The Singapore government’s blunt assertion that the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)’s proposals...
Expect the exchange of barbs in politics

Expect the exchange of barbs in politics

In a political contest, expect the exchange of barbs. And we do not lack any of it in the rallies held...
Don't Be Swayed by the Noise—Think Critically Before...

Don't Be Swayed by the Noise—Think Critically Before...

In recent weeks, the political buzz in Singapore has reached a new high. Massive crowds at opposition...
We vote whoever is deserving of our vote

We vote whoever is deserving of our vote

I am surprised that Lee Hsien Loong chose to remind us of the 1997 shameful episode when he, his father...
The Case for a Diverse and Balanced Parliament

The Case for a Diverse and Balanced Parliament

The Singapore government has recently stated that "Good government needs good people" and cautioned against...
Letters
Podcasts didn't decide GE2025

Podcasts didn't decide GE2025

I refer to the CNA’s Commentary: Podcasts didn't decide GE2025, but they changed how Singaporeans engage...
GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP

GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP

I refer to the CNA’s report, “GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP, winning 87 of 97 seats with higher...
Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?

Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs really better for Singaporeans?

I refer to The Online Citizen GE2025 news report, “Lee Hsien Yang: Is a Parliament full of PAP MPs...
GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit...

GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit...

I refer to the CNA news, “GE2025: Red Dot United to contest in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC but may make...
GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are...

GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are...

I refer to CNA’s news, “GE2025: Why Singapore's high-flying bureaucrats are recruited into politics”...
More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote...

More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote...

I refer to The CNA’s News, “GE2025: More than 2.75 million Singaporeans eligible to vote” (Mar...
How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with...

How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with...

I refer to the CNA’s commentaries, “How the end of Ukraine war could be secured, even with waning...
Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage

Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage

Singapore Army Recruits Deserve a Minimum Wage: National Service Should Not Come at the Expense of Opportunity...
Snippets
Singapore’s Sports Industry: A Rising Powerhouse...

Singapore’s Sports Industry: A Rising Powerhouse...

Singapore’s sports industry is on the cusp of greatness, leveraging cutting-edge infrastructure and...
What are the most popular hobbies in Singapore in 2025?

What are the most popular hobbies in Singapore in 2025?

As work-life balance remains a constant talking point in the fast-paced city-state of Singapore, residents...
10 Most Popular Mobile Games in Singapore

10 Most Popular Mobile Games in Singapore

Singaporeans can't get enough of their phones these days, spending tons of time battling opponents, building...
Langkawi to Koh Lipe Ferry: Complete Travel Guide

Langkawi to Koh Lipe Ferry: Complete Travel Guide

Planning a tropical escape from Malaysia to Thailand? The journey from Langkawi to Koh Lipe offers a...
This is not a game of cards

This is not a game of cards

I can appreciate parties wanting to hold their cards close to their chest, but the smoke and mirrors...
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝...

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝...

Is the PAP of today exceptional, with unmatched competence and delivery? Afterall, that is their justification...
The sleep science revolution in elite sports

The sleep science revolution in elite sports

Professional sports have entered a new era where recovery science directly impacts performance outcomes....
Sports Betting in Online Casinos as a Way to Improve...

Sports Betting in Online Casinos as a Way to Improve...

In today's world, online sports betting has become not only a popular form of entertainment but also...
Sticky & Recent Articles

PAP’s new media blues (Part 3): How to engage and manage the Singapore new media

PAP’s new media blues (Part 3): How to engage and manage the Singapore new media

OPINION In our previous article, we discuss the reasons why Singapore new media will never trigger a "political tsunami" in the next general elections. How should the government or ruling party deal with the new media then? Minister of Information Communication and Arts Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew said lately that though the mainstream media is still far ahead in terms of readership, the new media "is here to stay". Though it is impossible to control the internet, the new media can be managed and tamed to a certain degree if the right methods are employed. The Singapore government should not repeat the same mistake made by its counterpart in Malaysia when it tried ways and means to silence prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarrudin and turn him into a national hero while making itself look stupid at the same time. The official response must always commensurate with the level of threat - one does not need to use a sledgehammer to kill a mosquito. You go straight to their breeding ground and eradicate their larvae. The bottomline is: the action taken must not arouse international attention and condemnation which will tarnish Singapore's image and damage its brand-name as a cosmopolitan city. Right now, the government has chosen to turn a blind eye to the ramblings of cyberspace and send its agents to post comments on popular blogs like ours to defend the government. Adopting such a passive approach will not help much in ameliorating the "wrong" perception of the government which is being promulgated in cyberspace. The government should take the battle right to the doorsteps of Singapore's blogosphere and fix the key players before they are allowed to create more "havoc" later on. Let us play the Devils' Advocate for once and put ourselves in the positions of MICA's strategists. Intelligence-gathering The Sun-Tzu Art of War has a famous strategem - "Know yourself and your enemy and you will win a hundred battles easily". Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew seems to be aware of the two most prominent socio-political blogs in Singapore, but how much does he really know about them? As we have elucidated earlier, the two blogs are run entirely by amateurs who receive little funding from external sources. They will need a large group of writers to contribute to keep their sites going. The government can easily send one of its scholars or civil servants to "infiltrate" into these blogs to gather intelligence about their sugar-daddies (if any), motives and background of their writers. For example, we had a security scare not too ago when a political blogger offered to join our team. It subsequently turned out that he was more interested in fishing for information about us and we terminated his services immediately. Steeplejacking amateur sites The Aware saga has provided us an important lesson on how organizations can be steeple-jacked and taken over easily by external groups easily if they are not careful enough. For amateur blogs run by a team of freelance writers, they cannot afford to be choosy and have to "open their doors" wide to all those who wish to join their team which makes them vulnerable to being steeplejacked. The government can send dozen of its agents undercover to write for these sites and when the time is ripe, mount a coup to take over their sites entirely or "tie the hands" of their key writers, for example, by requesting that they refrain from writing articles critical of PAP leaders. Students' sites can be easily tamed and controlled by undergraduates on government scholarships while other sites can be equally steeplejacked by civil servants themselves. Furthermore, amateur bloggers usually have full-time jobs elsewhere and they will probably stop blogging when their passion fade away or when they encounter a life-changing even such as marriage. With time and patience, it is not too difficult to assume control of these sites and set the agenda for them once the founding members have left or become inactive thereby nullifying their "threat" once and for all. Unfortunately, steeplejacking does not work on closed groups like us because we do not have a proper team - our correspondents are paid to write and they have no influence over our editorial stance or policy. Working through a proxy In the aftermath of the Malaysian general elections, the Barisan Nasional government realized the urgency of having their own mouthpiece in the new media and began recruiting and funding bloggers to promote their cause. One of the most popular semi-professional news sites with a sizable readership was rumored to be funded by close aides of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi himself. Cabinet ministers and Barisan MPs rushed to set up their own blogs to establish a presence in cyberspace. MCA President and Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat has used his blog to launch attacks against his enemies within MCA after he was sidelined by the mainstream Chinese media. The government should seriously consider working with bloggers to reach out to Singapore netizens rather than depending on official sites like REACH which suffer from a low readership. The PAP did attempt to engage netizens with their P65 blog which was set up immediately post-2006 general elections, but it backfired dramatically because the MPs were too restrained, the site was updated infrequently and most importantly there were too few interactions with the readers. With blogosphere largely hostile towards the establishment, it is imperative that the government seek out external partners to serve as a bridge between them and netizens. A suitable partner will be a site with already a high volume of traffic and is not averse to the idea of collaborating with the government. The level of influence exerted by a site is largely determined by the size of its readership and content. Extreme blogs usually have low readership to begin with and do not pose much of a threat. Moderate sites with a high readership will help negate the influence of these blogs to a certain extent. The way forward Though the Singapore new media still lags behind its Malaysian counterpart, it is only be a matter of time before somebody starts a "Singaporekini" - a full-fledged internet newspaper run by professional journalists on a full-time basis. The government has to adapt itself slowly to this new reality and acknowledge that there will be new stakeholders in Singapore media industry other than SPH. When Malaysiakini was first founded in 1996, then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed dismissed it as an "amateurish" site. 10 years later, he was forced to eat his own words by granting Malaysiakini a face-to-face interview. Likewise, out of the myriad of blogs which dot Singapore's blogosphere today, there will one or two which will emerge from it to challenge the dominance of SPH. One day, it will attain a higher readership than even CNA. Can the government afford to ignore its existence then? The next generation will spend most of their time in front of their desktops or laptops. The online new media will eventually replace the print media as the primary source of news for most people. Everywhere else, newspapers are closing down or forced to scale down their operations due to declining profits. SPH is only able to sustain itself so far because it has no competitors in the domestic market. The government has to dispel its suspicions of the new media and start engaging it as an equal partner. Today, we may be amateurs, but one day, we will be professionals. Time is on our side. Using repressive measures to crack down on the new media will only breed distrust, cynicism and enmity. An adversarial new media will not do the government any good. It may be time for MICA to rethink its "hands-off" approach and replace it with a proactive one to seek out potential partners in the new media.  Read More →

Foreign Residents Should Just Shut Up

Foreign Residents Should Just Shut Up

I refer to the letter, "Be prouder of this great little red dot (ST, Nov 7)" by Mr Sam Ahmed, and find it amusing that the author criticises Singaporeans for complaining about their own country or wanting to "save up and leave." Indeed, it is ironic for a person who has left his own country, lived his life in several cities around the world, and finally decided that a country not his own should be where he wants to settle down - should then have the gall to deprive others the right to choose where they want to live, or to decide that their country of birth has room for improvement. Mr Ahmed, of course, has never been a Singaporean taxi driver, nor has he ever been a Singaporean undergraduate. Incredibly, however, he claims to have the insight and wisdom to understand how 'foolish' Singaporean taxi drivers and undergraduates are, when they criticise their own country. Perhaps Mr Ahmed should take a few years off his own busy schedule to attempt to live life as a taxi driver in Singapore and to study as a Singaporean undergraduate before blowing his trumpet in the national newspaper. Mr Ahmed has also clearly never paused to consider the fact that amongst the many other foreigners who have passed through Singapore's shores, he is but amongst a minority who have decided to settle here. This leaves me wondering, does Mr Ahmed have superior judgment to all those other foreign fools? The hypocrisy of foreign residents like Mr Sam Ahmed is astounding. While attempting to belittle the opinions of Singaporeans, they conveniently ignore the fact that they themselves have abandoned their own homelands for another one which they perceive to be a superior place to live. Where, Mr Ahmed, is your own pride in your own home country? Mr Ahmed is patently unqualified to make any of the comments he made in his forum letter. Indeed, It is time for foreigners like him to keep their mouth shut and mind their own business. Singaporeans are fully capable of making their own informed decisions and forming their own opinions about their country. The last thing we need is a foreigner with little understanding of how things work, pontificating about how Singaporeans should think about their homeland.   Kevin Lee  Read More →

李光耀拥美制中谬误何在

李光耀拥美制中谬误何在

作者:国际金融报 新加坡「教父」李光耀日前在美国发表「拥美制中」言论,在中国民间激起轩然大波。新加坡舆论指责中国网民 (netizens) 的正当质疑为民族主义,并为李光耀先生喊冤。事实上,「中国威胁论」和「拥美制中」确非李光耀首创,近20年来,这一「合唱」在美欧、日澳等国家和地区此起彼伏,可国人为何偏偏揪住李先生不放呢? 主要是「华人情结」在中国人的心中作祟。在国人心中,新加坡330万人口中,华人占了76%之多。为何反要帮他人的腔,拆中国的台?这就是国人气愤的心理根由所在。 在这里,国人再次被「华人情结」误导了。新加坡虽是华人占多数,也被西方归于「大中华圈」,但它毕竟是一个独立的国家,而且新加坡的华人精英阶层早已西化。新加坡独立建国后,「国父」李光耀先生便开始了去中国化进程:关闭了传播中华文化的南洋大学;并以英语取代汉语作为国语。当然这段历史鲜为国人所知。由此,我们就不难理解为何新加坡的统治精英多成了「黄皮白心」的「香蕉人」了。 有人说,李光耀也曾为中国说过好话,做过好事,并举苏州工业园区为例。新加坡的确为中国的改革开放作出了贡献,但新加坡从中国的发展中同样获益匪浅。 更主要的是,李光耀所说教于各国的「制衡中国论」本身是个谬误,其实质还是「中国威胁论」。因为有威胁才需要制衡,如果将中国看成是和平力量,何需制衡?美国是世界上头号经济和军事强国,而且是惟一的超级大国,其一年6800亿美元的军费开支是世界其他各国军费开支的总和;美国的各大地区司令部统辖的并非是美国全国各州而是将全球各大洲置于其军旗之下;美国对格林纳达和巴拿马等邻国的公然入侵仍历历在目,进入新世纪它又悍然发动了阿富汗和伊拉克战争;美国还是世界头号军火商;世界各地的冲突与动荡也多与它有涉。可奇怪的是,新加坡从未宣扬过「美国威胁论」,从未鼓吹过需要「制衡美国」。相反,它甘愿为美国提供了永久性海空军基地,以助美国控制马六甲海峡等重要海洋通道。可奇怪的是,李光耀先生却对中国海军可能会驶出台湾海峡表现得忧心忡忡。这样「只许州官放火不许百姓点灯」式的逻辑难道还不令国人感到惊诧么? 当然,李光耀和新加坡媒体一直以所谓保持亚太地区的「军力平衡」为辩解。事实上,冷战结束后的20年来,世界上只剩下美国一超独霸,这让世界一直处于一种失衡状态。因此美国才有恃无恐,我行我素地发动战争,连美国的一些欧洲盟友都觉得一超独大的世界太过危险,对美国应该有所制衡。近年随着中俄等新兴经济体的崛起,世界正在形成一超多强的格局,并向着多极化方向发展,但多极化还远未能成形,而中国只是多强中的一强罢了。因此,现在提倡制衡多强的崛起无异于在削弱世界对美国的制衡,客观上就是在维护失衡的世界格局。也许这正是李光耀「拥美制中」的真正用意所在。可见,他所要求的并不是真正意义上的「平衡」格局,而是继续由美国来一统天下。 历史告诉我们,力量的平衡是动态的,世界不可能存在永久性平衡:失衡-平衡-再失衡-再平衡……这才是事物发展的客观规律。冷战时期的美苏平衡走向了美国一家独大的失衡;现在则又向着一超多强的格局演进,最终世界将走向一个新的多极平衡。从规律上来说,遏制中国崛起终将是徒劳的。事实上,毋需李光耀建言献策,美国一直在试图遏制中国的发展:它不仅自己严控对华高技术出口,如禁止超级计算器的出口;而且操控巴黎统筹委员会阻止欧盟的对华武器贸易;同时美国还压制以色列向中国出口空中预警和空中加油机等。但中国通过自主研发,现在不但有了空中加油机和预警机;也研发出计算速度世界第四的超级计算器。由此看来,李光耀的「拥美制中」论有悖于世界发展的历史潮流。其实,只要中国人自己不瞎折腾,任何人也阻挡不住中国前进的步伐,正所谓「两岸猿声啼不住,轻舟已过万重山」。 不过,在此想提醒国人的是:应尽早抛弃或至少淡化埋在心底的「华人情结」和「汉语情结」。骆家辉是华人,还会说广东话,但他毕竟是美国人,如果我们不为他出任美国商务部长而欣喜,那也就不会为他在「轮胎特保案」中的作用而大失所望了。澳大利亚总理陆克文是位「中国通」,还能说一口流利的普通话,但他是澳大利亚人选出的总理,他要维护的是澳大利亚的国家利益。相反,这些人正因为是华人或懂中文,往往会因避嫌而更加为难中国,以示与中国划清界线,讨好其国内舆论。我们不如早些丢掉幻想,全力以赴地致力于提升自己的综合国力。 来源:http://news.cnyes.com  Read More →

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