TR EMERITUS

In a dialogue between transport minister Dr Lam Pin Min and PPP chief Goh Meng Seng on the petitions of riders of personal mobility devices, Dr Lam wrote in a FB post that a member of an opposition party “came to politicise the issue and stoke the emotions of those present.” That gave Pritam Singh the context of this comment: “The reality is that different parties and individuals have different philosophies, both ideologically and in terms of how we engage the issue of the day.” He then made a distinction between the opposition style of WP and that of the other opposition parties, saying that “WP’s objective is not the destruction of its political opponents, but “beyond the horizon - a better Singapore for all Singaporeans,” (and) its approach reflects this.” Lesson? Just one. I resonate with Pritam’s methodology and philosophy. Dr Tan’s newly minted political party aside, are there any other opposition parties in Singapore that WP would consider joining forces with as worthy political comrade(s) at the next election? That is a question I believe would leave WP in a diplomatic bind because it seems like PPP chief Goh and People’s Voice party chief Lim Tean are open to the idea of an opposition coalition. Goh leans in that direction, saying: “We exist in different parties precisely because we have differences - in style, in vision, in approach or even in policy matters. It is the diversity we should embrace, not resist.” At this juncture, I feel that Goh may have missed the point here. I believe what is bad for politics is to politicise or popularise it. When you politicise issues, you risk turning it into character assassination. The issue thus becomes the person, and the person becomes the problem, and the problem solved is the person demonised, rather than the issue rectified. Ppersonally, a trustworthy politician worth his weigh in gold is one where in no circumstances will he offer his integrity or dignity for popularity. Sure, we should embrace diversity and not resist it, but by what means. Let me leave that thought there first to cite this comment by Lim Tean: “In today’s society, we must have a big tent to accommodate the diverse views of the many. Alliances make politicians work together so that better solutions can be found for society as a whole.” I like his tent metaphor, and Lim is right about working together so that better solutions can be found for society as a whole. But the issue here has to go beyond the rhetoric and the key phrase in Lim’s quote is “work together”. Can they do so? Can they work together? I believe that is the main cause of Pritam’s reservation. In other words, can they form a team to come close to the vision, dedication and sacrifices of the old Guards when Singapore first started nation-building more than 50 years ago? Different times, different strokes? But even for different times, the core principles remain unchanged, even timeless right? Nevertheless, it is tempting here to attribute the success of Singapore to the “Great Man” theory, led by the indomitable LKY. But, if you take the time to peel the layers of history of our hard fought development, at its united core, is never about a great man, but a great team. The former is nothing without the latter. Here, I recall what Michelle Obama said in a speech. She said that when they go low, we go high. And last year, she explained why she continues to insist on this approach in life and politics: “I absolutely still believe that we’ve got to go high―always and without exception. It’s the only way we can keep our dignity.” Alas, there is so much truth in that, and truth only sets those free when they are constantly prepared to subject their ego, will and ambitions to it. Because when the going gets tough, expedient, seductive and/or convenient, the truth always gets sacrificed first at the altar of self-enrichment. In the larger scheme of things in politics, I guess it is not about diversity of the opposition parties. It is not about working together under one tent of different or differing views. And it is not about the numbers of opposition parties we have to date. When push comes to shove and the rubber meets the road, what matters most is, what kind of opposition party we have. And at the turn of every devious bend, the question to ask is this, whether we have a great team.   Michael Han      Read More →

Jess C Scott with former ISD Director Mr Yoong Presenting to you the magnificence of an immortalised affinity, AKA a certain timeless friendship in my life regarding “Singapore Recalcitrant.” As an INFJ, I’ve always spent time thinking of quality vs. quantity when it comes to my relationships and friendships. Like any good relationship, a good friendship is one that’s mutually supportive and acts as a source of joy or inspiration to both friends. Side Note: I’ve prepared and edited many scripts for the Optimal Relationships Daily podcast show, hosted by the lovely Joc Marie! Check it out for tips on improving the many relationships in your life. When I inadvertently got involved with (Singapore-focused) socio-political blogging in 2014, it brought about changes in my social network. I developed a great sense of camaraderie with several folks in the same niche as we were commonly united by speaking truth to power and reminding the public of various injustices that deserve to be exposed. My First Encounter with “Singapore Recalcitrant” The most fascinating blog I came across was Singapore Recalcitrant, helmed by former ISD Director Mr. Yoong Siew Wah. His incisive, colorful, and unrestrained intellectual style of written expression always drew me in as a reader and fellow blogger. He is IN HIS NINETIES but you wouldn’t know it from the effervescence and energy of his written work. It was not just his writing, but the dignified and prominent professional insights that were always very mesmerising for me to peruse. You’ve got to have nerves of steel when you stand up to speak out about grave injustices, and a whole lot of integrity to uphold your beliefs with unwavering conviction. An interesting fact is that Mr. Yoong and I are both fire tiger signs in the Chinese zodiac. We may be separated by several decades in terms of age, but are kindred spirits in terms of the Chinese zodiac. My Blogging as Archivist I don’t have a master’s degree or PhD in history, political science, or archival work. However, I do have an analytical mindset, which I fully applied to the task of highlighting some choice quotations (and scholarly Chinese idioms!) from Mr. Yoong’s blog posts over the years. You can view Quotes Part 1 and Part 2 on this blog. He was very appreciative of the collection of quotes that I diligently compiled. It always seemed like the right thing for me to do without being asked, as it’s an archivist’s job to assemble and preserve valuable historical information. A Godfatherly Request I met Mr. Yoong several times during my fun and relaxing 2015 trip to Singapore. The photo on my about page is from one of those meet-ups. This year, Mr. Yoong reached out to say that he had thought of asking me to be his goddaughter due to our shared blogging endeavor and mutual intellectual admiration. Of course I said “yes” as I had (quietly) thought of him as a kind of intellectual grandfather based on some of our previous correspondence and conversations. Coincidentally, I dreamt of Mr. Yoong and I having dinner the day he made this request. There have been a number of other dreams of a similar theme which lends an ethereal touch to the way we communicate. A Glaring Age Difference? I am in my thirties while Mr. Yoong is in his nineties. At first, I was a bit annoyed at this age gap, and a bit disappointed that this exceedingly meaningful friendship may not be as long-lasting as I would like in terms of time within the earthen world. After some thought, I decided that it would make more sense to appreciate such a connection while it lasts instead of avoid it due to its earthly transiency. A Source of Intellectual Inspiration The intensely intellectual component of this friendship is something I could only dream of. It’s not often that I come across individuals with a highly developed aesthetic and intellectual sense who have little trace of an air of superiority. I’ve been in romantic relationships with highly intellectual folks who thought nothing of insulting or berating me whenever I had a different point of view (which negates however great the intellectual connection might have been in those cases — what’s the point if the other person doesn’t respect who you really are as a person?). Perhaps this is karma or a bit of poetic justice, in the sense that I initially started blogging about Singapore matters due to an argument I had with my scholar-boyfriend at the time. This scholar was a foreigner studying in Singapore who worshipped LKY and the PAP. We would get into heated arguments about Singapore politics, and I decided to blog about Singapore’s Education System (my first SG post) to see if there’d be anyone out there who appreciated some of my views. I don’t keep in touch with my exes, but I like to think of what that scholar would make of my friendship with an individual of Mr. Yoong’s stature. The intellectual connection is also a source of inspiration for my creative writing work and even on my outlook on life. It makes me appreciate the close connections I have, and to never take my time for granted. Life can be unpredictable and I could find myself dead tomorrow for no good reason. If that be the case, I would like to have lived a full life with few regrets. Having a meaningful friendship has also influenced me to be more expressive. In person, I have had a habit of keeping quiet at times for the sake of politeness, or not wanting to be confrontational. However, I’m considering speaking up more often on things I’m passionate about, and in a friendly way on my personal blog in the online space. I can’t please everyone by being myself, but I’d rather be in that situation than try to please everyone and end up miserable because I couldn’t fully be my own person. My Next Singapore Voyage Mr. Yoong shared his thoughts about me in a nice post on his blog. There are so many solid good points of an age gap friendship. In my eyes, you get the best of both worlds — wisdom, companionship, and more, within a judgement-free zone. And in a way, age is just a number. What’s more important is the substance of the conversational exchanges and the affinity or mutual sense of fellowship. My kind and supernice boyfriend will be travelling with me to Singapore quite soon to meet up with my godfather, godparents, and some family and old friends I’ve kept in contact with over the years. Above all, my friendship with Mr. Yoong has made a big impression on me to value critical and independent thought. And not just that, but to value expression (in terms of both style AND substance), as well as authentic and meaningful connections in my life. I have been a lifelong discerning person as a Virgo, and this allows me to be very careful with who I choose and enjoy having as part of my inner circle. It is a meaningful connection that could only have come about by the grace of God / The Divine, and something I will cherish for the rest of time.   Jess C Scott      Read More →

Many countries have high unemployment. This problem is worse for youths. Many countries face the challenge of a high level of youth unemployment. A higher level of education does not solve the problem. Indeed, many graduates are not able to get jobs. What is the solution to provide adequate jobs for all citizens, including the first time job seekers who have completed their education? Be prepared for a surprise. The solution is - central planning. Central planning implies the following actions by the government: a) It plans ahead to identify the number of jobs that are required for the economy. b) It trains adequate numbers of people to fill up these jobs. c) It ensure that all the jobs pay an adequate salary that is sufficient to meet the cost of living. d) If adjust the length of the work week to match supply and demand. Under central planning, there is still the freedom for the citizens to choose the type of occupation that they wish to pursue, but this freedom of choice is constrained by the places that are available. We already exercise this restriction in limiting the number of places for each type of training in the university. This concept can be applied for other occupations that do not need an university education. When the government takes on the responsibility for the central planning, it will also set the adequate wages and the terms of employment. If certain occupations are in low demand, the wages and terms should be improved. Those in high demand should be moderated. Finally, the available places can be assigned to the interested parties  in a fair way, including the system of drawing lots. We need the central planning system to be more flexible to meet the market conditions. There is still the scope for some people to carry out occupations outside of the central planning system. These people are likely to come from wealthy families where they can set up their own businesses. However, for the majority of the citizens, the central planning system will ensure that they have a suitable and useful job that pays an adequate wage. Central planning failed in the past due to inefficiency and corruption. These weaknesses can be addressed with the transparent information flow and social media. There is a better chance for central planning to succeed in the modern era. I hope to get people to realize that there is a role for central planning in ensuring that citizens will have jobs that pay adequate wages. It can achieve the outcome with minimal wasted resources.   Tan Kin Lian      Read More →