TR EMERITUS

By Fang Zhi Yuan and Lim Siow Kuan In an interview published by TODAY on 15 August 2008, MM Lee employed his classical scare tactic to dissuade Singaporeans from supporting the opposition: "They say, oh, let’s have multiparty politics. Let’s have different parties change and be in charge of the Government. Is it that simple? You vote in a Division Three government, not a Division One government, and the whole economy will just subside within three, four years. Finished.” While most educated young Singaporeans dismissed his claims as outlandish, many middle-aged conservative voters who are afraid of the possible detrimental impact of political upheaval which may follow a change of government on their livelihoods are convinced by his rhetoric into continuing to support the PAP though they have little affinity for it. The United States and many European countries like United Kingdom, France and Germany change their governments every few years with few hassles. Their economies remain strong and societies largely peaceful and stable. Of course according to MM Lee, we cannot compare ourselves to Europe with its long history of democracy. We are situated in a volatile region wrecked by racial, partisan and adversarial politics. Singapore cannot afford a change of status quo because a strong opposition will distract the PAP from governing the nation while a change of government run by inexperienced hands will frighten investors away and ruin the country economically. Is there any truth in MM Lee's words of "wisdom"? Even though MM Lee is a well-respected international statesman, we cannot simply believe every single word he says without putting them under scrutiny and analysis. Since Singapore has never had a sizeable opposition or a change of government in its 44 years of nationhood, we have to use our closest neighbor up north as a study model. Both Singapore and Malaysia have inherited the same Westminister Parliamentary system from the British. They shared a common heritage, culture and history. In fact, both were united briefly in the Federation of Malaysia between 1963 and 1965. Like Singapore, Malaysia used to be dominated by a single political entity - the Barisan Nasional which had won all the general elections since Merdeka in 1957. The ruling coalition never had less than two-thirds majority in Parliament till the last election in 2008 which saw the emergence of a two-party system in Malaysia. Four states including the industrialized states of Penang and Selangor fell into the hands of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat, a motley grouping of three opposition parties with differing idealogies which have no experience in governance saved for PAS which had ruled the rural state of Kelantan for over two decades. We would expect a coalition comprising of a secular party (DAP) and an Islamist party (PAS) to be inherently unstable and fragmented. Indeed, there is still simmering tension within the nascent coalition which threatens now and then to drive the parties apart. Under such tenuous circumstances, it is easy for pessismists like MM Lee to pronounce a death sentence on the opposition-led states and if we go strictly by his dictum, their economies which is compounded by the lack of financial support from the Barisan-controlled Federal government will subside and "finish". One year after the political tsunami of March 08, not only did the opposition-controlled states in Malaysia not collapsed (one state, Perak was toppled by the Barisan Nasional through defections), they were given a fresh lease of life. In Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had kept largely to his pledge to run the island state based on capability, accountability and transparency. Foreign direct investments increased under his administration which succeeded in attracting investments totalling RM10.2 billion in 2008, compared with RM4 billion in the previous year. Lim also listed his plans for the state in the coming years, including the provision of WiFi services free of charge and WiMax at a reasonable price to enhance public access to the internet, the hardcore poor eradication programme and the granting of a RM100 rebate on the water bill to 170,000 families to assist the poor. Over in Selangor, flamboyant Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, who was the former CEO of Guthrie Holdings and a self-made millionaire ran an efficient administration largely free from corruption which had endeared him to the people. Selangor attracted RM11 billion in foreign direct investment last year, more than double the roughly RM5 billion it received in 2007. According to Malaysiakini, the assets of Selangor's 10 executive councillors, including Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, will be made public this week. Over here in Singapore, where our leaders are effusive in self-praise, they have yet to reveal their salaries and assets to the public. Even the salaries and bonuses of civil servants are "confidential". One year into the job, both men concede that they haven't had it easy. With a hostile federal government and a civil service unaccustomed to serving new political masters, pushing new policies through and injecting greater transparency in the business of government have been tough. The fine examples of Penang and Selangor have shown us that a change of government will not scare off foreign investments. A new administration keen to win the hearts and confidence of the people will work even harder to serve them. Singaporeans need not worry about a profligate opposition government frittering our reserves away because a significant portion of it is gone now precisely because we do not have a strong opposition in Parliament to check on the ruling party. We cannot afford to give them another "mandate" to cover up for their mistakes and to continue to take us for granted. It is time for a new captain to rescue us from a fast sinking ship.  Read More →

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today had lunch and a rare meeting with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim at a function in Hulu Langat, Selangor. The presence of the two leaders at the same table raised eyebrows as well as questions on whether the outgoing premier and the waiting-to-be premier are stitching a political pact. While some in the opposition camp, including PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akim, who was with Anwar today, have denied that there was a "secret meeting" between the duo, this however has not stop the speculation.   According to a source close to Anwar, the two leaders had a four-eye meeting which lasted about 20 minutes. "Anwar asked Abdullah how he could have entrusted the country to (Deputy Prime Minister) Najib (Razak), which the PM said it was too late to do anything now," said the source. According to the source, Abdullah hinted that he had a core of loyal supporters within the party who would keep Najib in check. "The two leaders talked about the need to salvage the country and agreed to keep communication lines open between them."  The lunch between the two leaders took place at the house of a religious school head some three hours before Najib unveiled the RM60 billion stimulus package in Parliament at 4pm. Abdullah and Anwar, both of whom are known for their religious credentials, were invited by the school for the Maulid Rasul (Prophet Muhammad's birthday) celebrations. Read full article on Malaysiakini EDITORS' NOTE: How coincident it is for the Prime Minister to meet the Opposition leader at the same place and time and even share lunch together! It doesn't bode well for incoming Prime Minister Najib when his soon-to-be predecessor was seen having lunch with his arch nemesis. It is an unspoken fact in the corridors of power that Badawi was closer to Anwar than Mahathir or his protege Najib. Badawi was one of the few leaders in the UMNO exco who together with Muhiyiddin tried to protect Anwar when he was sacked by Mahathir in 1998. Thought both are on opposite sides of the political divide, there was no great enmity between the two. Is Badawi working out a pact with Anwar to keep Najib and the Mahathir faction within UMNO in check after he stepped down in order to keep his son-in-law Khairy's position?  Read More →

Hong Kong sex scandal star Edison Chen has been threatened with a gold-coloured bullet, 13 days after making a public appearance in Singapore. The bullet, accompanied by a warning letter written in English, was sent earlier today to Hong Kong television station, Cable TV. It specifically warned Edison not to take part in any promotional activities after April 4, reported Shin Min Daily News. The sender also wanted him to disappear forever. A Cable TV spokeswoman said an A4-sized envelope with eight US stamps was received around 5pm, reported Hong Kong newspaper The Standard. It contained a smaller white envelope, which held a typed letter and the bullet, continued the report. Said the letter: "We hope Edison Chen will take this warning seriously, otherwise his personal safety will be threatened." Source: AsiaOne  Read More →