About people abroad who sing the tune of the SG Govt...
-
It always irks me when people who are either working abroad, living abroad or are simply 'quitters' who send emails to ST, talk like they know it all, then go on a preaching session, asking why Singaporeans are 'complaining' about the govt or the living conditions here.
Worse, his style was so confrontational and questioning that it struck me as odd: Such letters are seldom published either in the papers or online becuase they bear only slanted views and are mostly hot air. Yet in rare cases, they do get openings; in this case it was given significant space too:
Aug 17, 2006
With the PAP in charge, who needs opposition parties?
I find it amazing that many people can be so pissed off with the Singapore Government. What for?
I am no politician but a working man. I do not have many facts but I know what I want and what I need.
We have many jobs in Singapore and unemployment is not a major problem. We have good housing. Our economy may not be super but it's good enough in that our Sing dollar is stronger than some other currencies.
We have a low crime rate. At least I know that I don't fear walking down the street with the thought of being killed or stabbed. So there's no problem with jobs, housing, getting food on the table.
It's a pretty safe place to live in; no problem in getting big foreign investors to invest and create jobs in our country. So what is the problem?
Many people say that Singapore is not democratic enough. But which country in the world is truly democratic? I don't think there is one because it's impossible.
The USA? UK? Many Americans and British opposed the idea of going to war in Iraq. Not all opposed it, but almost half the population did. Opinions were split, at least in the UK.
Yet what did Tony Blair and George Bush do? They did not wait for another round of UN inspections and talks, etc. They invaded Iraq the moment they could.
Correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't democracy supposed to be when the majority or everyone is for the idea, and action is taken? That's the whole reason for consulting the public in the first place. Otherwise what's the use of it?
So if it's not the case of making Singapore a super, truly democratic country, what's the problem? Getting more opposition into parliament? But why? Is the PAP doing something wrong?
I cannot honestly see what's wrong. All I can see is that the need for jobs, food, housing and security are all met.
So what is the PAP doing wrong? Do we want to get more opposition into the parliament for the sake of it? So that the PAP will not be the dominant party? But why?
Will the opposition really do anything different that I want? I cannot imagine having any more needs other than jobs, food, housing and security. And I find the PAP is doing a good job at them. So why would I want anything different?
Why spoil something that's already working? If one day the PAP starts to get things wrong and there are no more jobs, housing becomes amazingly expensive or there is none at all, or if I cannot walk down the street without peace of mind, I would then say that the PAP is finished.
We should change things. That is when I would want a good opposition that can change things to be in the parliament and make a difference to Singapore.
But for now, do we need that?
Han Fook Kwang
Liverpool, United Kingdom
ST Forum -
I believe someone in Sammyboy has "discovered" that this fella is/was an editor for the Straits Times.
-
Political Editor once upon a time, no less.
-
Next step up the corporate ladder will need some special efforts, what else can be expected to prove one's worth ?
From the SPH Annual Report 2005.
Han Fook Kwang, editor, the straits times
Mr Han Fook Kwang was appointed Editor of The Straits Times on September 2, 2002.
He joined The Straits Times in February 1989, and was made Political Editor in January 1995, in charge of political coverage in The Straits Times.
He is a member of the Bioethics Advisory Committee and the Lifelong Learning
Endowment Fund Advisory Council.
He graduated from the University of Leeds in Mechanical Engineering (1975) on a Colombo Plan Scholarship. He also holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University (1983).
Mr Han was awarded the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (The Public Service Medal)
in August
From the site of AsiaMedia :
StraitsTalk from the Straits Times Editor
How can newspapers, even the best of them, hope to cope with the increasing complexity of our times?
Han Fook Kwang, the innovative Editor of The Straits Times of Singapore (arguably one of the worldÂ’s ten best English language newspapers), struck a relatively hopeful note in an informal presentation at UCLA recently.
Newspapers have to change with the times, said the journalist, who has a Harvard as well as Singapore degree, and they have to reach down into the minds of younger people to maintain their vitality.
Visiting the U.S. as part of a two-week tour of U.S. newspapers, arranged by the UCLA Media Center, a little new nonprofit, Fook Kwang outlined some of the elements of the Straits TimesÂ’ strategy.
Included on his list was the paperÂ’s blanket new coverage of China, via six ST correspondents stationed there; (b) unceasing efforts to attract the eye with alluring packaging and re-design, and (c) stories that are short without being simplistic, and which are self-contained and never jump to another page (and thus a faster read).
Moreover, Editor Han made the point that Singapore’s very geopolitical locus  next to Indonesia, home to the world’s largest population of Muslims, and not far from so many of the globe’s flash points, whether North Korea or Taiwan  forces this small city-state of four million to develop an extremely keen sense of regional awareness. Solid journalism by the country’s leading newspaper is thus not a luxury but a survival tool. -
can fook be a surname?
theres an english surname called fokker rite? rmb "meet the parents" movie?
so if gaylord fokker were to have a parent's surname as fook and they divorce, his surname would be Fokker Fook rite?
yeah...its 4am in the morning. -
look at that face. need not say more.
luckily not all of us overseas are so blind. I'll spit on him if i see him in UK. -
I new something was wrong about that letter - NO ONE in his/her right mind would write something like that!
-
The argument I keep listening to ad nauseum to pro-PAP people is that 'no political system can be truly fair anyway'.
I agree that no political system is truly fair, but that does not mean that we should not strive to make it better. Progress is all about turning something bad into something good and something good into something better. Otherwise, if nobody's perfect, then why bother striving to perfection? Let's all call for booze, weed and hookers and celebrate our imperfection! Hoo-ah!
And yes I agree that the US is basically legalised hypocrisy, and the Third World countries have lower living standards, but I don't see that in the Scandinavian countries. So shouldn't we be striving to be more like them?
Yes, our physiological and safety needs of food, water, employment are far better addressed than in the past. So isn't it high time we go further up the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and ease up on the personal liberties leash?
But of course, our politicians keep harping about the successes of the past to answer for the shortcomings of the present. I suppose they're still not intelligent enough to see that if you keep looking back, you can never see what's ahead of you. -
Agreed.Originally posted by fudgester:The argument I keep listening to ad nauseum to pro-PAP people is that 'no political system can be truly fair anyway'.
I agree that no political system is truly fair, but that does not mean that we should not strive to make it better. Progress is all about turning something bad into something good and something good into something better. Otherwise, if nobody's perfect, then why bother striving to perfection? Let's all call for booze, weed and hookers and celebrate our imperfection! Hoo-ah! -
And the airsofts! Heck! forget the airsofts! And the GUNS!Originally posted by fudgester:The argument I keep listening to ad nauseum to pro-PAP people is that 'no political system can be truly fair anyway'.
I agree that no political system is truly fair, but that does not mean that we should not strive to make it better. Progress is all about turning something bad into something good and something good into something better. Otherwise, if nobody's perfect, then why bother striving to perfection? Let's all call for booze, weed and hookers and celebrate our imperfection! Hoo-ah!
And all the bloody stupid banned things, unban 'em, since we can't be perfect! -
Moreover, Editor Han made the point that Singapore’s very geopolitical locus  next to Indonesia, home to the world’s largest population of Muslims, and not far from so many of the globe’s flash points, whether North Korea or Taiwan  forces this small city-state of four million to develop an extremely keen sense of regional awareness.
keen sense of regional awareness my ARSE. this dumbo doesn't even have an awareness for the crap thats flourishing in his own country. -
The writer say got lots of jobs in singapore, but what's he doing in UK? Working?
-
Prime example of a person living in The Matrix.
-
Originally posted by BillyBong:
I mean why bother??? this people are sleeping on a cosy sofa bed enjoying their champagne ,and cant be bothered with the suffering of the masses
It always irks me when people who are either working abroad, living abroad or are simply 'quitters' who send emails to ST, talk like they know it all, then go on a preaching session, asking why Singaporeans are 'complaining' about the govt or the living conditions here.
Worse, his style was so confrontational and questioning that it struck me as odd: Such letters are seldom published either in the papers or online becuase they bear only slanted views and are mostly hot air. Yet in rare cases, they do get openings; in this case it was given significant space too:
Aug 17, 2006
[b]With the PAP in charge, who needs opposition parties?
I find it amazing that many people can be so pissed off with the Singapore Government. What for?
I am no politician but a working man. I do not have many facts but I know what I want and what I need.
We have many jobs in Singapore and unemployment is not a major problem. We have good housing. Our economy may not be super but it's good enough in that our Sing dollar is stronger than some other currencies.
We have a low crime rate. At least I know that I don't fear walking down the street with the thought of being killed or stabbed. So there's no problem with jobs, housing, getting food on the table.
It's a pretty safe place to live in; no problem in getting big foreign investors to invest and create jobs in our country. So what is the problem?
Many people say that Singapore is not democratic enough. But which country in the world is truly democratic? I don't think there is one because it's impossible.
The USA? UK? Many Americans and British opposed the idea of going to war in Iraq. Not all opposed it, but almost half the population did. Opinions were split, at least in the UK.
Yet what did Tony Blair and George Bush do? They did not wait for another round of UN inspections and talks, etc. They invaded Iraq the moment they could.
Correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't democracy supposed to be when the majority or everyone is for the idea, and action is taken? That's the whole reason for consulting the public in the first place. Otherwise what's the use of it?
So if it's not the case of making Singapore a super, truly democratic country, what's the problem? Getting more opposition into parliament? But why? Is the PAP doing something wrong?
I cannot honestly see what's wrong. All I can see is that the need for jobs, food, housing and security are all met.
So what is the PAP doing wrong? Do we want to get more opposition into the parliament for the sake of it? So that the PAP will not be the dominant party? But why?
Will the opposition really do anything different that I want? I cannot imagine having any more needs other than jobs, food, housing and security. And I find the PAP is doing a good job at them. So why would I want anything different?
Why spoil something that's already working? If one day the PAP starts to get things wrong and there are no more jobs, housing becomes amazingly expensive or there is none at all, or if I cannot walk down the street without peace of mind, I would then say that the PAP is finished.
We should change things. That is when I would want a good opposition that can change things to be in the parliament and make a difference to Singapore.
But for now, do we need that?
Han Fook Kwang
Liverpool, United Kingdom
ST Forum
[/b]
if they are sleeping on a wooden chair and drink mineral water ,will they be liddat ..I guess not
affluence have made some people insensitive ,retreat of torpor masses
my 5 cents worth
-
That, Ladies & Gentlemen, is a Pure Bred ZOMBIE talking!
-
No need to lower ourselves to that level. Just look at the high forehead and receding hairline...reminiscent of anyone we know?Originally posted by HENG@:look at that face. need not say more.
luckily not all of us overseas are so blind. I'll spit on him if i see him in UK. -
A booze party with weed, hookers, and guns.Originally posted by HENG@:And the airsofts! Heck! forget the airsofts! And the GUNS! And all the bloody stupid banned things, unban 'em, since we can't be perfect!
Somehow I keep thinking of it as a metaphor for the situation here. The people are being high and self-delusionary without knowing that we're being screwed and are shooting ourselves in the foot.
Oh my.
-
Someone go tell him there's a few years away from the next "elections".
No need to be so kan cheong want to impress so early. -
Ah..that's a sore point with me. I've never understood how a country that forces conscription and reservist duties on its young men can ban airsoft guns. wtf?Originally posted by HENG@:And the airsofts! Heck! forget the airsofts! And the GUNS! And all the bloody stupid banned things, unban 'em, since we can't be perfect! -
Originally posted by fudgester:A booze party with weed, hookers, and guns.
Somehow I keep thinking of it as a metaphor for the situation here. The people are being high and self-delusionary without knowing that we're being screwed and are shooting ourselves in the foot.
Oh my. -
Han Fook Kwang, Warren Fernandez and Sumiko Tan penned LKY's biography.Originally posted by Cens:I believe someone in Sammyboy has "discovered" that this fella is/was an editor for the Straits Times. -
"Why spoil something that's already working? If one day the PAP starts to get things wrong and there are no more jobs, housing becomes amazingly expensive or there is none at all, or if I cannot walk down the street without peace of mind, I would then say that the PAP is finished. "
Isn't housing here already amazingly expensive? And I'd say that knowing now that the police isn't going to care if I get the crap beaten out of me, by either a gang or road bullies, the PAP is on its way to being finished. -
This form of brain washing. Thinking that it will cool people off.Originally posted by Cens:I believe someone in Sammyboy has "discovered" that this fella is/was an editor for the Straits Times.
Only naive will believe.
I was in East Timor or Timor leste for two years....nothing happen. I even went jogging early in morning at 0400 hrs!
In singapore...sometimes maybe worst. Recently..a woman had been rape and injured near Tampines. So singapore very safe meh...?
A few of my friends had been robbed too.....A student of my neighbour was also been bullied my student gangsters. -
do you remember what our minister said about mainstream media?
-
Why is he overseas? Is he a quitter?