TR EMERITUS

EDITORS' NOTE: Abhisit is only half right. Singapore is not just a one-party system, it is fast becoming a ONE-FAMILY system if not already one ! A one-party system is DETRIMENTAL to Singapore in the long run because it is completely devoid of any internal checks and balances. All we need is a nutcase like Hitler to turn Singapore into a fascist state. Even now, we see ordinary Singaporeans being subjugated to the will and power of the one-party state. We have no voice in Parliament, no bargaining rights as citizens and no power to change our destiny. We have become serfs in our own land of birth, toiling hard not to better our lives but to merely to sustain our physical bodies so that we may continue to contribute to the state funds. It is IMPOSSIBLE in a real democracy to have one party being returned to power repeatedly for 50 continuous years ! Singapore has one of the best education system in the world. Almost 50% of our population has some sort of tertiary education, be it a degree or diploma. There are more than enough talented Singaporeans to form not only one, two, but multiple political parties to challenge the incumbent. Only when there is a healthy competition for ideas can there be better refinement of policies to suit the real needs of the people on the ground. Then why aren't Singaporeans stepping forward ? Because they are afraid of the ruling party. They have seen capable men who dare to oppose them and end up being sued, bankrupted and ruined for life. They have no choice but to shut up and being herded around like sheep to safeguard themselves and their families. For those who refused to allow their basic rights to be trampled upon like shit, they pack up and leave for greener pastures overseas where they can live as free men without fear or apprehension. A one-party state can bring about social stability and economic prosperity for a short period of time only for as long as there are capable and benevolent leaders at its helm. Once these leaders pass on and if corrupted politicians were to take over, there will be NO EXTERNAL bodies or entities in place to remove them. And no citizens in the world will want to make such a fascist state as their homes. The United States is home to so many migrants from all over the world who stay on and become its citizens for life. Ask any PRC and Indian foreign workers here if they are willing to retire in Singapore and the answer is likely a "no." Singapore is too small and fragile a nation to be dominated and ruled by only a small clique of people. We need to have more heads and hands to govern it and more voices to contribute to to the nation-building process. It may slow down the speed and efficacy of policy implementation, but it will surely benefit a larger segment of the population in the long run with a fairer and more equitable distribution of wealth.  "Few years ago when former Prime Minister (Thaksin) said that he wanted the Thai political system to emulate the Singaporean system, I made a very clear statement on my part that I don't believe that a one-party system will benefit Thailand, even if that party were to be the Democrat Party. So I hope to see competition in politics which is the essence of democracy and so I have throughout my career and I will continue to make sure there will be healthy political competition and that minority rights are protected." -  Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand  Read More →

By Fang Zhi Yuan, Senior writer It was supposedly an innocuous travelogue about his family holiday in Paris, France. When Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources Mr Tan Yong Soon accepted the Straits Times' invitation to write about his experiences at the prestigious french cooking school, 'Le Cordon Bleu', he probably did not anticipate the backlash from Singapore's vociferous blogging community in the aftermath of his article's publication. Mr Tan's article titled "Cooking up the holiday spirit" was published in an inconspicuous subsection of the national English daily dedicated to trivial and insignificant news pertaining to lifestyle and recreation - The Straits Times' "Life". (read Mr Tan's essay here) on 6 January 2009. The 3 week lesson costs S$15,500 per head and in total S$46,500 for Mr Tan, his wife and son, not including air tickets and living expenses in France. It would have raised few eyebrows if not for a scathing commentary written by blogger Eugene Yeo of influential socio-political blog, Wayangparty Club barely 2 hours later on the same day (read Eugene's article here) lampooning Mr Tan for his apparent lack of empathy and sensitivity in flaunting his wealth during an economic recession which has seen many ordinary Singaporean struggling to make ends meet. Like a wild bush fire, the article about Mr Tan's expensive holiday soon make its way around internet forums and chatrooms with a dozen blogs writing about the matter thereafter, most of them critical of Mr Tan. The focus was initially on the protagonist, but soon snowballed to engulf other contentious issues such as the high salaries and perks enjoyed by civil servants and ministers. In an online poll posted on the same blog, 76% of 683 netizens polled expressed dismay and outrage at Mr Tan's excesses. The local press did not carry any reports on the furore at first till the international media agency, Reuters got wind of the news and reported it (read the Reuters report here) a week later. The Straits Times reported the fiasco only 2 weeks later when the issue was brought up in Parliament by NMP Siew Kum Hong who  who described the article as being ‘unnecessarily provocative and unimaginably insensitive’  (read Straits Times report here). The minister in charge of civil service, Mr Teo Chee Hean expressed his disappointment at Mr Tan's writing and has asked him to "take note of the feedback and learn from this episode." (The New Paper carried a mild critique of Mr Tan on the same day here) What lessons does Mr Tan's personal misfortunate hold for both the government and blogosphere ? The government has always been reluctant to engage annonymous netizens in a public discourse. This fiasco has shown that it can no longer afford to ignore what it used to denigrate as "internet ramblings" anymore. Public opinion must now envelop online discussions which will continue to grow in importance as more and more Singaporeans utilize the New Media as an alternative source of news. When incongruity occurs between what was reported on the print and the online media, questions will inevitably be asked about the accuracy, credibility and objectivity of the latter. Prominent socio-political blogs such as Wayangparty Club, The Online Citizen, Yawning Bread, Mr Wang and Sgpolitics have a combined readership rivaling the online editions of the print media and their opinions will carry some weight amongst netizens especially those who have always harbored skepticism about the state media's agenda. As for bloggers, the eventual capitulation of the government to acknowledge the folly of a top civil servant due to criticisms emanating from blogs and internet forums can be savored as a small victory for them. They can take heart at the fact that despite the government's persistent refusal to engage them, their existence is not completely forgotten either. The question now is how far bloggers are willing to go to translate their online activism to politics in real life like Malaysian bloggers Tony Pua, Jeff Ooi and Elizabeth Wong who won a seat in the Federal Parliament in their very election and if they are able to make a real difference in the current political landscape. A decade ago, such an open reprimand of a top civil servant in Parliament by a minister would be almost unimaginable. Will we see more of such castigation of under-performing civil servants, MPs and even ministers themselves in Parliament ? Will a Raja Petra emerge in Singapore to "harrass" and "torture" the nation's top leaders like what the Malaysian namesake did to the country's Prime Minister-Elect, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak over his alleged involvement in the murder of a Mongolian model ? The government has always been slow and cautious in its approach to engage citizens in public discourse by opting for traditional channels like feedback sessions, print media and its official online portal REACH. A year in cyberspace is like an eternality. Going by the rapid rate at which the new media has evolved over the last few years, the government may have not much time left to keep pace with it. It needs to find ways to engage this growing segment of voters in cyberspace soon before it gets unnerved by a similar political tsunami which hit our neighbors' shore not too long ago.  Read More →

By Fang Zhi Yuan, Senior writer The recent Tan Yong Soon fiasco has drawn polarizing opinions from two different camps. While the majority of netizens lampooned and condemned Tan for being insensitive and callous in flaunting his wealth in a national paper, some defended his travelogue as an innocuous sharing of one's unique holiday experience. Even before the dust has settled, a MP - Charles Chong of Pasir Ris - Punggol GRC unwittingly added oil to fire by alluding Tan's critics as "lesser mortals" who are simply envious of him. Though he subsequently tried to limit the damage by offering an ambiguous clarification to queries by a blogger, many remained unconvinced at his half-hearted attempts to appease his critics. There were many calls for the two protagonists to issue a public apology for their indiscretion. In spite of the head of civil service, Peter Ho expressing his regrets about Tan's untimely article, the latter has remained defiantly silent so far. Neither did Charles Chong issue any public statements about his remarks. It appears that both Tan Yong Soon and Charles Chong do not think they have made a mistake and therefore there is no need for them to explain themselves further. Short of an outright apology, the very least they can do is to acknowledge the furore their remarks have caused and expressed regrets over them. Let me draft a sample template for them to follow: Tan Yong Soon: "When Straits Times approached me to write a travelogue for their Life section, I thought it would be a good idea to share with the readers my unique experiences at Le Cordon Beu. It was never my intention to flaunt my wealth or to belittle anybody. Nevertheless, I do acknowledge that some feelings may be hurt and I would like to express my sincere regrets to those Singaporeans who do not take kindly to the words I have used." Charles Chong: "When TODAY called me up for a phone interview about the Tan Yong Soon fiasco, I told the journalist that Tan's article left me with the impression that he was a bit boastful and maybe insensitive to (us) lesser mortals. This may naturally lead to unhappiness and even envy especially during difficult times. However, the way my words were phrased in TODAY gave the wrong impression to unsuspecting readers that I am denigrating Tan's critics as "lesser mortals" which was never my intention in the first place. I have since clarified my stance with the journalist and I would like to express my regrets over this unfortunate misunderstanding which has caused unhappiness among some quarters." Tan and Chong could have brought the matter to a proper closure by a simple acknowledgement of the furore their remarks have caused in public unless they feel it is not worth their efforts to account to those whose feelings are hurt by their off the tangent remarks. During the 2006 General Elections, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong offered an unreserved apology the next day after he made his infamous "fix the opposition" gaffe at a lunchtime rally. Tan and Chong should learn some basic humility and graciousness from the Prime Minister. In other 'Confucianist' societies like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and even communist China, it is not uncommon to see political leaders and senior civil servants apologizing publicly for their gaffes or mistakes. It appears that Mr Tan and Mr Chong have forgotten that they are "servants" of the people and not "masters" and apologizing is not tantamount to a "loss of face" of them, but should be a gesture they undertake with "honor". The massive furore arising from Mr Tan's ill-timed article and Mr Chong's insensitive remarks may soon die down soon, but it still remain deeply etched in the collective memory of aggrieved netizens who you trust will revive it at the next earliest opportunity.  Read More →