TR EMERITUS

OPINION The recent lapses in  public governance and accountability such as the security breach at a SMRT deport, frequent flooding causing millions of losses in damages and the exceeding of the YOG budget by more than three times have sparked a massive outcry from Singaporeans demanding that the PAP regime be taken to task for its mistakes. Predictably, PAP leaders have turned a blind eye to the concerns of Singaporeans and chose to brush the issues under the carpet and pulling a wool over our eyes as if nothing has happened. Singaporeans should not be surprised for the PAP regime has never bothered to practice what it preaches about responsibility, accountability and transparency in public governance. Its standard modus operandi has always been the following: 1. Deny and minimize problems The PAP has the propensity to deny serious problems which are affecting the livelihoods of Singaporeans. For example, when Singaporeans voice their concerns over the relentless influx of foreigners, PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew called them "champion grumblers." Despite the severity of the rampant flooding, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted rather nonchalantly that it is "impossible" to prevent flooding. 2. Emphasize your own power and importance When former deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee passed away a few weeks ago, the PAP was quick to latch on his accomplishments to emphasize its own importance and contributions to Singaporeans via the state media though Mr Goh had already expressed his wishes to have a private funeral. As expected, the pompuous Lee was quick to steal the limelight, waxing lyrical on how he instructed his right-hand man to do this and that to build the nation. 3. Make the story all about you The Singapore media has been converted into a sort of propaganda mouthpiece for the PAP regime to showcase its work and achievements. Though the elder Lee is no longer the prime minister of Singapore, he still appears frequently in the papers, more so than his son the de facto prime minister. It is as if Singapore revolves around him and it is hardly a surprise that some foreigners recognize the name "Lee Kuan Yew", but not Singapore. This self-inflated importance built up by years of state propaganda reinforced the erroneous public perception that Singapore cannot do without Lee. 4. Never apologize and don't even pretend to learn from your mistakes Despite the major screw-ups which have riled the public repeatedly, no PAP ministers or MPs have ever apologized for their mistakes and they don't even bother to pretend that they have learnt from them. Apologizing would be a tacit admission that they are not that good anymore which will cast further doubts on their claims that they deserve the highest salaries in the world because of their "extraordinary talents". 5. Hang onto your job even when it’s clear you should go In other developed countries, ministers who made a major public gaffe or whose ministries commit unpardonable mistakes such as allowing a limping terrorist to escape are often required to tender their resignations (at least for show), but not in Singapore where PAP ministers are given the leeway to make any mistake for the sake of gaining "learning experience". It's little wonder that Singaporeans are still paying $3 million dollars a year for an octagenarian for doing nothing much except "forecasting". Adapted from: https://www.tremeritus.net/2010/07/28/leadership-tips-from-tony-hayward-or-not/  Read More →

The Temasek Review's "letters" section is fast becoming a forum of choice for Singaporeans to express their views uncensored. In the last few weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of letters contributed by our readers for publication from an average of once per day to three daily. One key reason for its growing popularity lie in the fact that we almost never censor or moderate them. Most of the letters are published in in their original form saved for some minor corrections in grammatical and spelling errors, including those which are critical of us. Such a liberal editorial policy is almost unheard of in Singapore, even in the alternative media. Unlike the Straits Times which demands forum writers to pen down their names, NRIC and contact numbers, we accept letters from anonymous sources as well though we will prefer writers to leave us a name to add credibility. Given the repressive state of affairs in Singapore, we do understand why most Singaporeans are reluctant to use their names when criticizing the government, especially civil servants out of fear of being "black-marked" for life. It is difficult to strike an ideal balance between credibility and confidentiality and since we have opt for the latter, we urge our readers to exercise their own discretion when reading letters written by external authors. Please feel free to share your innermost views, thoughts and feelings with fellow Singaporeans. With our growing readership, you can be assured that your voice will be heard and will have an impact. Your identity will be kept strictly confidential and we will never reveal it to a third party and your email will be permanently deleted 24 hours after the publication of your letter. Lastly, due to the large number of emails we receive from our readers daily, we may not be able to reply to every single one of them. If we have missed out your letter, please resend it to us again. Thanks everybody for your kind support in our endeavor to be the uncensored voice of Singaporeans in Singapore. Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

A massive outcry has erupted in cyberspace over a comment posted by an Indonesian Gusti Agusetiawarman on the Facebook of PAP MP Irene Ng, thanking her for helping him obtain Singapore PR: [Source: Vote PAP out Facebook] It is not revealed how Ms Ng had helped Mr Gusti in his application. From the above comment, it seems that Mr Gusti will be bringing his family over to Singapore. It is not known if he will be buying a HDB resale flat. In her reply, Ms Ng congratulated Mr Gusti and said she is sure that he will "contribute to Singapore as part of our extended family." Ms Ng herself is not a Singaporean by birth. She was born in Penang, Malaysia and was a former journalist with the Straits Times before "handpicked" by the PAP to "represent" Singaporeans as a MP. Over at the Channel News Asia forum, netizens asked why Ms Ng is spending time to help a PR. local123: "Irene Ng is a MP, she is supposed to help citizens only,why she spent her MP time to help foreigners to become PR ? Can a foreigner get help from our MPs to become PR ? It is not fair to citizens because citizens vote for MP and not foreigners." arbeng: "Of course lah. Irene Ng is a malaysian who married recently another ang moh right? FT help FT mah. Currently they still minority here so they stand united against sinkies lor. Once Irene Ng and her FT friends become majority, no eye see the plight of sinkies liao! Tienzein: "Which GRC is she from? Who voted her in? Singaporeans or Indonesian. There are thousands of Singaporeans who need help, instead go help a foreigners. This is what we call sell country thief .... PUI PUI PUI" breadnkopi: "Supposing Indon Prez SBY help a bunch of Singaporeans to reserve homes in Indon. island, will it spark protest (in Indonesia)?" [Source: Channel News Asia Forum] Mr Gusti will surely have a better future in Singapore than in his homeland Indonesia. However, his presence here may deprive a native Singapore citizen of a job and another of a HDB flat.  The prices of HDB flats have sky-rocketed in recent years fueled by mass immigration in the face of limited supply of new flats. PRs form some 20 percent of buyers in the resale market. The Straits Times reported last year of an Indonesian PR who forked out an astronomical $653,000 to buy a 4-room resale HDB flat in Queenstown though he could well affford a condominium.   Ms Irene Ng caused some controversy during the 2006 General Election, when in a campaign speech she said that opposition MPs were troublemakers. This prompted a retort from Low Thia Kiang, MP for Hougang SMC and leader of the Worker's Party, who asked what trouble had he created in parliament. Low called for Ng to apologise for her comment. Low also added: "Mr Chiam See Tong has been in parliament seven years longer than me, what trouble has he also created?" Irene Ng has refused to apologise.   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →