TR EMERITUS

作者: 容秀华（音译）2010年3月6日 译者：冀居·谢 我简直不敢相信，当职总秘书长和总理公署部长林瑞生(Lim Swee Say)声称他是一只来自从未听过的“青蛙王国”的小青蛙，面对刘程强（Low Thia Kiang）议员对他的所谓低薪工友改良大计的批评时，他什么都听不进。林先生苦心孤诣创建出来的计划被聪明的刘先生在国会攻击得体无完肤，难免尴尬。然而林先生竟然可以想出这么无厘头的辩解，来捍卫他受伤的 尊严，实在令人佩服得五体投地。 难道林先生行事不像个小皇帝吗？难道所谓部长、职总秘书长拿着令人恶心的两百万年薪应该是这副德性吗？拿着纳税人的钱去这样面对批评吗？难道他这不是以厚颜无耻来自立家规吗？ 如果林先生足以代表执政党部长们的自大态度，我们就有理由在大选时把更多反对党人带入国会。行动党领导层显然知道这个危机，所以目前一直在讨好选民，使他们 在下届大选不至于失去太多的集选区(GRC)。所以反对党应该捉紧机会合作夺下一两个集选区。他们可以做到的，只要他们不闹分裂并且推出可信度高的候选人。如今随着年轻选民对行动党政府期望的幻灭，时机已经成熟了。行动党领导层特别担忧年轻选民的忠诚，所以无所不用其极地讨他们欢心。或许人心都早有定数，所以任何行 动党领导的最后挣扎将无济于事。 马来西亚国阵(Barisan National)在上届大选所经历的政治海啸，应该是行动党的一记警钟。或许下届大选行动党面对的海啸势头没那么大，然而他们已经急得如热锅上的蚂蚁，随时扑灭任何马来西亚政治海啸所带来的灾难性副作用。所以通过主流媒体大灌经济策略委员会(ESC)报告的迷汤和所谓利多的预算案(Budget)，行动党领导层希望借此来提振应届大选的黯淡前景。 反对党不应投闲置散，这是一个很好的机会把傲慢的行动党刷下座来。他们应该吸引更多可信的候选人，特别是像改革党(Reform Party)那样吸收一些学者，在来临的大选中代表党出征。为数不少的网民也呼吁年轻选民不要投票给行动党，这应该是反对党一个好的开始。 关于作者： 容先生是新加坡内安局1971-1974的局长。 （这里链接他的博客）  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent Though China lags far behind Singapore in Corruption Perception Index rankings conducted yearly by Transparency International, its government is moving towards greater accountability and transparency which puts Singapore to shame. In a landmark speech made during China's National People Congress (NPC) a few days ago, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao calls on greater accountability and transparency to be practised at all levels of the government in order to tackle the scourge of corruption. Chinese leaders and public officials are now required to declare their personal income and assets including their properties, investments and number of wives to the central government and be scrutinized by the the supervisory authority: "温家宝强调，要把反腐倡廉建设摆在重要位置。各级领导干部特别是高级干部要坚决执行中央关于报告个人经济和财产，包括收入、住房、投资，以及配偶子女从业等重大事项的规定，并自觉接受纪检部门的监督。" (read rest of article here) The practice has already been adopted by some provinces and counties. For example in January 2009, Ci Xi city of the prosperous coastal province of China revealed the income and assets of some 700 public officials to the public: "1月中旬，浙江慈溪市在全国率先施行“廉情公示”，向社会晒出700名官员的资产家底" (read rest of article here) This was followed by the revelation of the amount of monies in the government coffers by a county in remote Xinjiang province: "新疆阿勒泰地区纪委设立的廉政账户也由申报前的几万存款，激增至公示前的76万，这无疑从侧面说明了这项制度的威慑力。" Premier Wen also promised to create the conditions for citizens to criticize and check on the government and to allow for more debate on politics in the media: "要深入推进政务公开，完善各类公开办事制度和行政复议制度，创造条件让人民批评政府、监督政府，同时充分发挥新闻舆论的监督作用，让权力在阳光下运行。" Singapore leaders kept boasting about themselves being the most "honest, honorable and incorruptible gentlemen" in the world, but to this very day, they have yet to reveal their personal wealth and assets to the public as is the common practice among many first world countries. Even the state governments of Penang and Selangor in Malaysia require their state executive councillors to do so. Though China is a de facto one-party communist state, it is becoming more and more open and liberal. The media is relatively free in certain cosmopolitan cities  like Shanghai and Guangzhou and are allowed to report on current affairs and criticize government policies. For example in Guangzhou, there is a popular current affairs programme focused on exposing the inefficiencies and inadequacies of the city government. Such a programme will be unimaginable in Singapore where its leaders are still worshipped as infallible "gods" by an ignorant, apathetic and brainwashed citizenry. Action talks louder than words. The PAP leaders should follow the example of China and made public the personal income and assets of all its ministers and senior civil servants. They must also reveal the exact losses incurred by Temasek Holdings and GIC which are making Singapore a laughing stock in the world. Only then will they truly live up to the practice of accountability, transparency and good governance. Self-praise is no praise really. No government can ever be built or run solely based on "trust". There is an urgent need for some sort of checks and balances to be institutionalized within the Singapore political milieu.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent Singapore supposedly has one of the best public healthcare systems in the world, but sick Singaporeans are having a hard time getting a place in public hospitals especially if one belongs to the lower "economic class". The waiting time for a bed at public hospitals usually stretch to hours, especially at the busy Tan Tock Seng Hospital where patients often have to wait overnight at the A&E for admission. It was reported by the media that some patients are even accommodated in beds placed in corridors till space is available in the ward. The Sunday Times reported today of a 79 year old patient Mr Wee who was rushed to a public hospital in the morning for delirium. He was registered at about 11am and at 5pm, the staff were still unable to confirm if they had bed space. He was subsequently transferred to Gleneagles Hospital where he was diagnosed to have advanced-stage liver cancer. Mr Wee's son was quoted as saying: "Not only will we not benefit from subsidies, but he is also now classified as a private patient. I've done some calculations and our bills come up to five figures. As heartlanders, it's difficult for us to afford this. What about poorer families who need the medical care but can't get a bed in a public hospital? This is a problem that is very real." The bed crunch at Singapore public hospitals is a perennial problem which is worsening due to the increase in population sparked by massive immigration. Due to the PAP's liberal immigration and pro-foreigner policies, foreigners now make up 36 percent of Singapore's population, up from 14 percent in 1990. Of the remaining 64 percent who are citizens, an increasing number are born overseas. Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng revealed in Parliament lately that there were about 60,000 PRs and 20,000 new citizens last year, yet the number of public hospitals have remained at six. The chronic shortage of public hospital beds is another example of the lack of foresight of the PAP to plan well ahead and to anticipate problems before they occur. Way back in 2003, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced an ambitious plan to increase Singapore's population to 6.5 million people by 2030 via immigration. More hospitals should have been built in the meantime to accommodate for the expected increase in population. With more foreigners becoming Singapore PRs and citizens, they will exert an increasing demand on Singapore's over-stretched public healthcare resources. With no opposition in Parliament to check on the PAP and no independent media to point out their mistakes, it can afford to govern Singapore with a blank cheque and Singaporeans are now paying the price for their utter incompetence and ineptitude. Should the construction of the Khoo Teck Puat and Jurong Hospitals commence a few years ago, we will not be facing such serious problems now. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan appears clueless on how to tackle the issue other than to liberalize the use of Medisave in Malaysian hospitals. Perhaps Mr Khaw can appeal to the Malaysian government to allow Singaporeans to be treated at their public hospitals as well to ease the shortage of beds here.  Read More →