Singapore is the last true city state in the world. Its existence is premised upon a strong, single party control of the top minds. Top minds that are nurtured over the course of decades.
Singaporeans who support the opposition do not know the fire they are playing with. They lap up the puny arguments of the opposition. They do not see the big picture. In particular are the young, who are oblivious to their superficial understanding of the real world. They think of democracy as the goal, and have seen too much peace, stability and progress.
It is time for Singapore perhaps to see decline and destruction.
In the event of a loss of control of PAP of the government, I expect to see the country slide down to mediocrity. Singaporeans are largely Chinese, and they are Chinese in general are self serving. Unless Singapore chooses sensibly, it will self destruct without much external influence.
On Chen Show Mao, Mr Low's motives and the WP's missing plans
06:25 PM May 01, 2011
At every General Election, the Workers' Party has never failed to drum up high expectations or to play big time on the emotion of the electorate with their introduction of one 'celebrity', such as Mr Francis Seow, Mr Tang Liang Hong and Dr James Gomez. But each time, controversies would arise and they would either disappear or jump ship like Dr Gomez. So it's only fair for me to question the sincerity and commitment of the WP' latest star candidate, Dr Chen Show Mao.
I still do not buy this notion that after 30 years abroad he remains committed and connected with Singapore. Where was he when Singapore was striving to move up from Third World to First World? Where was he when the 1998 Asian financial crisis hit us or for that matter, when deadly SARS hit? Coming back to Singapore four or five times a year does not make one any closer to his motherland. What were his contributions to Singapore at the peak of his life? Can he tell us categorically he does not hold a US passport? No doubt Dr Chen is a man of calibre but that does not mean he has the right fit as a politician who is needed to not only act as a check on the Government but also work the ground and be close to constituents.
I am puzzled by what Mr Low said with regard to why he and his team in Aljunied GRC cannot come up with a plan for the GRC. As Mr Low has been an MP for over 20 years, the financial statements of Aljunied GRC are available for his scrutiny; and the voters will not blame him if he puts a caveat to his proposed plans that they can only materialise if the team is able to get the necessary funds. Yet he has dodged the issue, and asked to be elected before coming up with a municipal budget. Is this fair?
Whe he was first elected as MP for Hougang, did it the ambition of forming an alternative government not occur to Mr Low then? Twenty years on and with the entry of a 'star catch', he has now decided to go for broke. He told voters it was the most difficult decision yet. Is it not fair for me to question his motives, when even the WP's chairman acknowledges the WP is not a position to form an alternative government?
As to its notion of a First World Parliament - had the WP put up its current slate of candidates back in the 80s or 90s, it would have given the PAP a run for its money. But times have changed, we need to raise the bar and we no longer just need a voice in the Parliament, we need people who can work and come up with concrete solutions to help solve domestic and international problems. We do not need eloquent orators to evoke emotions and at the end of the day, are just talk but no action. Singapore cannot afford to spend time debating endlessly on every matter in the name of democracy.
Finally, has Mr Low been fair to his rival Mr George Yeo? He told Aljunied in the 2006 election that Mr Yeo was hardly around due to his responsibilities as a Foreign Minister, but five years on, Mr Yeo has fulfilled his promises to his constituents and juggled his tight schedule to make time for them. Yet when he asked Mr Low what his plans for Aljunied were, Mr Low was not able to say.
I still do not buy this notion that after 30 years abroad he remains committed and connected with Singapore. Where was he when Singapore was striving to move up from Third World to First World? Where was he when the 1998 Asian financial crisis hit us or for that matter, when deadly SARS hit? Coming back to Singapore four or five times a year does not make one any closer to his motherland. What were his contributions to Singapore at the peak of his life? Can he tell us categorically he does not hold a US passport? No doubt Dr Chen is a man of calibre but that does not mean he has the right fit as a politician who is needed to not only act as a check on the Government but also work the ground and be close to constituents.
I am puzzled by what Mr Low said with regard to why he and his team in Aljunied GRC cannot come up with a plan for the GRC. As Mr Low has been an MP for over 20 years, the financial statements of Aljunied GRC are available for his scrutiny; and the voters will not blame him if he puts a caveat to his proposed plans that they can only materialise if the team is able to get the necessary funds. Yet he has dodged the issue, and asked to be elected before coming up with a municipal budget. Is this fair?
Whe he was first elected as MP for Hougang, did it the ambition of forming an alternative government not occur to Mr Low then? Twenty years on and with the entry of a 'star catch', he has now decided to go for broke. He told voters it was the most difficult decision yet. Is it not fair for me to question his motives, when even the WP's chairman acknowledges the WP is not a position to form an alternative government?
As to its notion of a First World Parliament - had the WP put up its current slate of candidates back in the 80s or 90s, it would have given the PAP a run for its money. But times have changed, we need to raise the bar and we no longer just need a voice in the Parliament, we need people who can work and come up with concrete solutions to help solve domestic and international problems. We do not need eloquent orators to evoke emotions and at the end of the day, are just talk but no action. Singapore cannot afford to spend time debating endlessly on every matter in the name of democracy.
Finally, has Mr Low been fair to his rival Mr George Yeo? He told Aljunied in the 2006 election that Mr Yeo was hardly around due to his responsibilities as a Foreign Minister, but five years on, Mr Yeo has fulfilled his promises to his constituents and juggled his tight schedule to make time for them. Yet when he asked Mr Low what his plans for Aljunied were, Mr Low was not able to say.
