Originally posted by robertteh:
Singapore's own leaders must themselves change from kiasus to broad-minded objective entity if they want to lead the new Singapore under new conditions.
They must try to allow oppositions and alternative voices to grow so that Singapore will eventually produce its own reputable institutions and politicians to serve the country better.
Singapore's leaders must not be restricted only to those like LKY or LHL but it must have a crop of good opposition leaders and active citizens who have good views about politics and their own ideas of international standing.
So when Sylvia wants to be outstanding internationally, why not let her be. Encourage her to speak at international forums. If our leaders are not so afraid about so many things, why should she want to bad-mouth our leaders. Remember, to our leaders what she speak may be interpreted as bad-mouthing but to Singaporeans, she may be speaking about our policy errors and problems.
Gordon Brown of UK has taken on his own party leaders even outside UK, not to talk about opposition parties in UK presenting themselves internationally.
Singapore leaders must adopt the broad-minded objective political evolvement as shown by people in EU which through being democratic and objective has closed differences of opinions and emerge stronger as an entity.
EU has gradually embraced all dark forces and racial differences and risen up stronger as a regional political entity and model which will change the past to become more competitive in the future.
If only our leaders are not so narrow in their governing system which so far has only benefited the government's own surpluses and certain GLCs and big-timers not the common people.
Do we really believe there will be a change? name me some changes b4 , during and after the elections that they promised would be taking place for the good of the people. As for Asean liking to be like EU in the long run, i see it still really has a long way to go given that Asean nations operate differently the way EU does. the so called 'u bo chap me ok? and i will bo-chup u no matter what you are doing' attitude in the ASEAN only stands to further discredit us.
