TR EMERITUS

PM Lee vs blogger Roy Ngerng This writer must be the same stupid PAP IB that said that Roy won't get more than SGD 15k after 2 days, he said those that wanted to donate had already donated. I think he bet his balls on that. I guess he is a eunuch now. This is the guy that will say 60% is still majority. Of course he wont said it was the lowest turn out in the most contested GE in our history, almost 95% seats that went to the ballot. In fact, it was by even PAP themselves a watershed election. And the reasons are clear. It is an electorate that had been alienated by PAP, only monopoly and control of the media saved them. But that is increasingly overwhelmed not just social media, but by the quality of discussions in the online platforms. So, two things, one is that traditional media have been losing its efficacy both in terms of technology and the lost of respect for a MSM in the 150 ranking. And two, which is the most important is that the people have lost their trust in both the government for both its accountability and its lackadaisical performance in managing the country. Simple reasoning for a brain washed mind. This writer still thinks LKY is a living deity. Wake up la, deities don't wither and die. LKY had said he wanted a quick death, so much for jumping up after being 6 feet in the ground. Metcalfe’s law states that the value of a telecommunications network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users of the system (n2). So, 1000 people but the valuation is 1,000,000. There are some qualifications, but your bird brain won't get it anyway. BK * Comment appeared in: Nothing fantastic about 1,000 SGs donating to Roy Editor's note: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metcalfe's_law Metcalfe's law states that the value of a telecommunications network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users of the system (n2). First formulated in this form by George Gilder in 1993, and attributed to Robert Metcalfe in regard to Ethernet, Metcalfe's law was originally presented, circa 1980, not in terms of users, but rather of "compatible communicating devices" (for example, fax machines, telephones, etc.). Only more recently with the launch of the Internet did this law carry over to users and networks as its original intent was to describe Ethernet purchases and connections. The law is also very much related to economics and business management, especially with competitive companies looking to merge with one another.  Read More →

PM Lee vs blogger Roy Ngerng In the recent Parliamentary debate on the President’s Address, Mr Low Thia Khiang, leader of the Worker’s Party, chose to focus his speech on constructive politics. He called for a change in the political culture. If the people continue to support a government party that uses high-handed tactics against its political opponents, we are endorsing a bullying political culture. If the people support a governing party that uses governmental resources, including civil servants, to serve its partisan goals, we are condoning the abuse of political power as an acceptable culture. Similarly, if you support a political party which believes in overthrowing the government by taking mass political action against the government regardless of the laws and proper channels to change things, you are building a culture of lawlessness. If you support a political party conducting its political engagement with a habit of playing racial politics and mud-slinging and launching personal attacks on its political opponents, you are building a thug political culture. If you support a political party with the habit of fixing its opponents, you are breeding a political culture of fear. At this stage of our political and moral development, Low’s call is timely. It is time we have a political climate change and do away with an authoritarian style of government that is free to govern in any way it likes. This will create a more transparent government and reduce mistakes in policy decisions, resulting in less pain for the citizens. It will allow citizens to participate in the process of government, thus giving them a sense of pride and community. Such a culture will force the ruling party to listen more closely to the people so that they can make policies that are more likely to benefit a wider cross-section of the population and reduce hardships for the voiceless. When people feel that they are being listened to, they will be more likely to participate in peaceful exchanges rather than become apathetic or vent their frustration in a destructive way like painting lewd graffiti on top of flats or bus-stops. However, Mr Low’s reasonable proposals somehow touched raw nerves. Instead of getting a discussion on it, he must have been shocked by the hostile reception from his opponents. No less a person than the Prime Minister joined in the debate and give him a piece of his mind. The latter accused the Worker’s Party of acting like heroes and tigers at election rallies but keeping a low profile in Parliament and not taking any stand in the House. He said that they weaselled, played with words, flip-flopped and avoided important issues. It is the mark of a substandard opposition. The lively exchanges between Mr Low and the Prime Minister that ensued, while highly entertaining, did not answer the question of giving Singaporeans a more salubrious political climate. Most of the time, Lee Hsien Loong spent his time attacking the shortcomings of the Worker’s Party and Low Thia Khiang had to ward off the blows like a grand taiji master in defense of his party. As a result, the issue of political liberalisation was totally forgotten in the heat of the exchange. It is quite clear that the PAP does not want to talk about such issues. Many recent events have shown that it is not ready to change. A film-maker has been called up and interrogated for making a documentary, a cartoonist has been threatened with a sedition charge, a politician has been asked to apologise and pay damages to a minister, and bloggers have been similarly pressured, the latest being Roy Ngerng who is facing a defamation suit from the Prime Minister. Though Roy has managed to garner massive support for his case, the suit has nevertheless sent a chill into many people’s spines. Just as we thought Singapore was opening up, two commercial premises quickly cancelled NSP’s booking when they heard it was for a forum to discuss CPF. The Prime Minister said we must have a robust and open debate to ensure that proposals are scrutinised and argued, so that we find out what the strengths are, identify the weaknesses and the problems, and we come up with the best ideas and solutions for Singaporeans. How are we going to do this if Singaporeans are going to live in fear? Mencius, Confucius’ most famous disciple, has taught us that the first essential of a good government is to know the people’s likes and dislikes and to provide for the people what they like and avoid imposing on them what they do not like. How can any government ever know what a population truly likes or dislikes without allowing for real dissenting views? How can any government know the needs of the people by listening to its own kind? The PAP often likes to cite Confucianism to justify it authoritarian ways. Does Confucius really advocate autocracy? If we read the story below, we will know that this is just a distortion of Confucius’ teachings. Confucius was travelling around the Taishan countryside with his disciples when he saw a woman crying copiously over a new grave. He stopped his entourage and asked his disciple Zi Lu to find out what had happened. Zi Lu went up to the lady and asked her the reason for her intense grief. The woman replied, “Some years ago, my father-in-law was killed by a tiger. Later my husband was also killed by a tiger and now my son has met the same fate. How can I not be sad?” When Confucius heard this, he asked, “Since there are tigers here, why don’t you move elsewhere?” The woman replied, “This is a remote place, out of reach from the government. The tyranny of the government cannot reach us.” Confucius sighed and turned to his disciples, “You must all remember this. A tyrannical government is worse than a man-eating tiger.” — Book of Rites Actual Text: 孔子過泰山側，有婦人哭於墓者而哀。夫子式而聽之，使子路問之曰：”子之哭也，壹似重有憂者。” 而曰：”然！昔者吾舅死于虎，吾夫又死焉，今吾子又死焉。” 夫子曰：”何為不去也?” 曰：”無苛政。” 夫了曰：”小子識之，苛政猛於虎也！” — 選自《十三經注疏》本《禮記•檀弓下》 By their show of support for the opposition in the GE2011 and the Hougang and Punggol East by-elections, and by their strong support for blogger Roy Ngerng, the people have sent a clear message to the PAP: It is to stop practising Oscar Wilde’s version of democracy which means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people. Is the PAP listening? Dr Wong Wee Nam * Dr Wong Wee Nam (MBBS 1972, Singapore) is a general practitioner. He has contributed numerous articles on social and political issues for various publications and has given numerous talks on politics.  Read More →

Dr Ang Yong Guan PM Lee could have been in a state of cognitive dissonance when he decided to take action against Roy. (Cognitive dissonance is defined as the mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs or values at the same time). He was torn between Option 1 (build an inclusive society, engage dissenting voices and win back some of the 40% who voted against his party) and Option 2 (act tough, show that he can be like his dad when the latter can still be around to see, and send a clear signal to his disillusioned party supporters that he can rule like his dad if he wants to). By choosing Option 2, he has achieved cognitive consonance for the time being. But he has to constantly justifies his Option 2 by reframing his beliefs and values and by influencing his party members to share his belief in Option 2. From time to time, he will have moments of "wondering whether he should have chosen Option 1 which might logically be a better option". But as it is too late now, he will go all out to stick to Option 2. He may even toughen and intensify his belief in Option 2 to achieve cognitive consonance. Singaporeans, get ready for more tough measures ahead. However, not all is rosy; some within his party may not be convinced of his Option 2. This will lead to a split, now more covert than overt, within the party. Dr Ang Yong Guan Source: www.facebook.com/angyongguan23/posts/701668293233319 Editor's note: Dr Ang is a practising psychiatrist and a founding member of Singapore's newest political party - Singaporeans First Party.  Read More →