Principles of Singapore's Government

The principles of the government in Singapore lies in the notion that everything must be the best and therefore, there will never be anything but the best. This notion is highly demonstrated in all areas of governance found in the various government agencies and statutory boards in Singapore. The question here is, who decides what and what is the best?

Singapore has come a long way since its independence in 1965. With no natural resources and a largely illiterate population then, Singapore has evolved into a country that boasts one of the highest literacy rate per capita and one of the richest country around the region in terms of financial reserves. Well, all this can be attributed to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, whom conscientiously and diligently drove the nation forward with his policies and apt visionary skills. Now, this was a long time time ago when the people of Singapore looked upon the leaders and powers that be, to lead them and in a perverse way, to control them. This has worked then but, it seems to be losing its effectiveness.

The Singapore today is not the Singapore then. The development of the country has also consequently lead to the evolution of the demographical and psychological structure. In the increasingly competitive global climate, the notion of survival are of utmost importance to the citizenry at large. Consumption issues also raises the degree of thought given to this. The mentality of the people in Singapore has evolved and the citizenry now wants to further participate in the promulgation of policies that effectively affects the way they live and even die.

The system that brought Singapore to where it is today has to change. Adapting to changes both domestically and globally will serve to benefit the continued growth of the country. This growth will then inevitably be sustainable. What the present government are doing now is to employ the very same method that was used about 40 years ago: top-down, autocratic policy-making process that are based on "WE know what is good for you" manner.

That stance have proved to be indeed successful in the past. However, with prosperity comes affluence. With that, literacy and education, culminating in the development of new ways of thoughts and perceptions. The people can differentiate what is good and what is bad. Of course, the leaders in Government may have better ways and methods of furthering the good of Singapore but all the people want is to be heard. To be included in the process, so to speak.

Unpopular policies such as tax increases and such will always be criticised, no matter how noble or necessary it may be. The point of contention in the increase of the GST (Goods and Services Tax), from 5% to 7% was that the increase was necessary for the good of the nation. With the increase, the Government has also pledged to do more for the poor and needy. How much more, remains to be seen. For the record, there are no social welfare programs like those found in truly developed First World Countries. Hell, even China gives more to the poor in terms of aid and assistance to the needy, albeit dubiously claimed.

Anyway, Singapore do dish out some dough to the really and desperately poor an amount of approximately SGD$260 per month presently. This will increase to SGD$290 soon. In your opinion, do you sincerely think that this enough? Especially so when you include rental, utilities and food/medicine in the equation? By the way, Singapore ranks highly for being one of the places that has a high cost of living. Essentials aren't really that cheap here.

Debates on the increase of the amount to be given to the poor were held in Parliament. Several members in the Parliament vehemently opposed the proposal, insisting that doing so may increase the dependency of the poor on the Government to "feed" them. I'll agree that in some way, a dependency will indeed be detrimental to the country, however, it is not easy to be placed under this "sacred" welfare scheme of the Singapore Government. In a population of 4.5 million or so, there are only less than 2000 recipients for this assistance program. Wow, you may say. So little? Everybody else are comfortable then? Not so! Many have slipped through the cracks and are now either buried six feet down or stored in a urn somewhere; desperation sent them to their deaths. Jumping off MRT stations onto the tracks to face an oncoming train were pretty popular just a few months back.

The increase in $30 in the scheme were vehemently opposed by some in Parliament. The increase was subsequently approved. This was in fact a prelude to something sinister and totally inhumane. Now, a big surprise to all echelons of the Singapore society: a proposed 50% increase in salary for Ministers. Currently, they are already drawing an obscene amount as compared to the great nations government ministers and even Presidents. Mind you, the amount that we are talking about is in the realms of at least a few hundred thousand dollars per person per annum. To think that they were fighting over an increase of a paltry $30 for the poor just a few days earlier, this is really an insult to the intellectual capabilities of the people who voted them in.

This announcement drew an unprecedented backlash from the general public, whom were largely dormant on matters pertaining to politics. The first warning has come from the people!
In spite of the opposing tone as displayed in this article of the Singapore Government at present, I still think that in some areas, they have done well and the people of Singapore appreciates that in a way. My point is this, do not take the people of Singapore for granted. We are nobody's fool. All we want is to be heard and have a hand in creating our destiny. Hear us, and we'll reciprocate. This is our country and home too.

Political Asylum Anyone?

An interesting topic came up during a conversation with a friend. We spoke about the political climate here in Singapore and the conversation touches on the freedom of speech and expression here in Singapore. Well, the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore actually guarantee this right of its citizens and that we can indeed invoke this right. But really, do people really invokes it? What I'm doing now - by writing this - I'm invoking that right. Hopefully, I don't get sued or asked to go for an interview........ Anyway, when invoking this right, we just have to be responsible in what we are saying. In other words, speak objectively. Then we are fine..... Yeah, maybe.......... Looking at the Sedition Act (Chapter 290), it is a chargeable offence to excite disaffection against the Government and the administration of justice in Singapore. Looking at it in perspective, the Constitution paradoxically allows for free speech/expression when the Sedition Act prevents it when it is directed towards the Government. Strange........... Same theory applies in the freedom of assembly clause guaranteed in the Constitution and the enforcement of the unlawful assembly law when you really do exercise that right of assembly. So, what is what? Allowed to speak freely against the Govt? Allowed to assemble peacefully? All this legal mambo jumbo is really confusing. I realised something though. As long as it is not political, your rights as stipulated in the Constitution can be exercised without fear of reprisals. For example, a company having a family day at the park or beach with hundreds or even thousands of participants, dressed all with the same t-shirt or cap, assembles to participate in the event. This will not constitute unlawful assembly because if it is, the police stations and the courts will have a field day just dealing with this. But, if 10 person will to assemble in front of say Temasek Holdings to voice their disagreement on the billions lost in botched business deals like Shincorp, Optus, Chartered Semi-conductors, Micropolis, etc, they will be arrested? Maybe..... Maybe not...... well, we'll have to try and see then. The crux of the question is: Are we afraid of persecution for our beliefs in our rights and the exercise of our rights? Probably. If we are not, we will be demanding for Mdm Ho Ching to be removed immediately and remedial actions to be taken to safeguard the people's money against blatant wastage. In business, there's always a risk and I accept that. However, if it is due to negligence or just simply attributed to ineptness, it is unacceptable. I hope Temasek can enlighten the Singapore masses on what actually went on and show us that ineptness and negligence is not the cause. So, do we fear about getting persecuted? In some sense, we do. Look at examples of Dr Chee, JBJ, Francis Seow, Tang Liang Hong, Far Eastern Economic Review, etc. These above examples is enough to instill fear........ So, we do have a well founded fear then? If that's the case, we will be eligible to apply for political asylum in other countries like Australia and the US under the United Nation's definition of asylum seekers that are "unable or unwilling to return or to seek the protection of that country due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. " I wonder did anybody even try that.............. In any case, with condemning reports about human rights in Singapore from the UN, US, Reporters Without Borders, Amnesty International, European Union, etc...... it should not be that hard to get political asylum. It may seem far-fetched, but it could happen....... Do we really want to leave our homeland behind? The place where we grew up, fell in love with, cried with, strived with? What can be changed for the better to make us stay? First, it would be the way our Govt works. Secondly, the diversification of power into the hands of not only one person or family. Let's be fair, the country belongs to all of us Singaporeans. We are the country. Without citizens, there are no country to even speak of, let alone a Government. Be open to suggestions. Apologise for mistakes and the people will forgive. Keeping it under wraps will only incensed the masses when it is uncovered. Everybody makes mistakes, but importantly, it is the willingness to admit and embrace change than to stubbornly refuse responsibility, instead attributing it to the masses of other external factors. Be humble and the people will love you. Trample them and they will reciprorate, with an even greater force than you can ever imagine. Hope that change is on the way..............

Downward Spiral of Life in Singapore

Life in Singapore is good? Sure... Everybody can own a house (HDB), everybody can get educated (Govt schools), everybody can get a job, etc....... Is it really that rosy as painted by our dear government? Admittedly, you have to work hard to achieve your goals and ambitions. However, you may just fall short of it not due to your own shortcomings but the policies in place. Foreigners are arriving by the planeload, especially from the PRC. Are they really the Foreign Talents that we are in need of? Sometimes, I feel as if this is not Singapore anymore. We don't have an identity, we have no roots. Some of our ministers are people who left their own home countries and now they lord over us. To be fair, they have achieved success in their chosen field of work and through merit, they got where they are now. But, there are tons of other foreigners who are not really that capable as the govt think they are. In the crowded MRT or on the crowded bus or even on the streets, you just need to throw an object up into the air and when it comes down, a high chance is that it will hit a non-singaporean. Is this good for Singapore? Maybe to some extent it is.... Probably not though. Violent crime involving Foreign Talents/Workers are on the rise, with the recent stabbing at Raffles City. Singaporeans are docile by nature. We love peace and stability. And thats precisely the reason why we never question the govt and its workings. Things could begin to change though. People are still getting retrenched, cost of living is going up ridiculously, the govt's apathy towards people who really needs assistance, etc. The govt has to start listening to the people. In history, we have always seen the power the people can exert. It is their fundamental right. It is important because it affects us in every minute detail of our life. I still do not understand the rationale behind the increase of the GST. Singaporeans welcome it? Yeah sure! Whoever is reading this, do you welcome paying more for things that are already expensive. Sure, other countries may have higher consumer tax rates but, the items are at a low price. Even with higher tax rate, it is still cheaper than in Singapore. I'm talking about necessities here. Besides, the govt only compares the tax rate. They should look at the income level differences between these countries. Countries with high consumer tax has high income rates as well, even for jobs such as a waiter or dishwasher. Thats the balance. High pay = High Tax. Singapore's equation is really troubling. Low pay and still high tax. Who benefits? The poor? As if all Singaporeans can't count......... The issue of a minimum pay has been around for quite sometime but it just will not be made into law. Why? Simple, major business owners will suffer loss of earnings - even as they are now making hundreds of millions every year and they still want more. Fair enough, business exists to make a profit. But, to do this at the expense of the general population is preposterous. Anyway, the major business owners in Singapore are all govt related thru Temasek Holdings and its subsidaries. This is just like inviting someone into your house and letting him or her plunder and rob you at the same time while you just let them do it. After the act, you still thank them for a job well done. What is this society thinking? It seems like we answer more to them than they are to be accountable to us. Sadly, this is what the purportedly 66% of Singaporeans welcome. Dear Singaporeans, remember this. You allowed it to happened. Now that COE is going up due to lesser quotas, more ERPs to stem the traffic congestion, higher property prices, higher GST, politicians who gets paid obscene salaries as compared to the rest of the world and still going ahead with an increase, expensive but lousy public transport, and a lot more...... don't complain. Only the 33% who wanted a change has a right to. In fact, if the government will really listen to us and see things from the perspectives of the citizens on the street, this government will receive tremendous support from the masses. The government is to be credited for bringing us to where we are but, policies that worked 40, 30, 20, or even 10 years ago may not work now. The world is constantly evolving and so must the policies to address the changes. I hope one day, I can really cast my vote for the PAP and tell myself that this is the right thing to do. That day will be the start of the upward spiral.