Elitism in Singapore from a foreigner's perspective..
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Received this in my email..
By Seah Chiang Nee
Oct 29, 2006
Singapore 's People's Action Party is confronted with a widening class divide and a creeping political elitism that could drive it from power, if they are allowed to fester.
Inter-related, these problems are shaping up into the ruling party's biggest challenge in the next election in 2011 – and probably beyond.
They are neither new nor unique in the world, having prevailed in advanced nations like the United States, Britain and even Japan – except in Singapore, the small size and meagre safety net are exacerbating matters.
The General Household Survey revealed that the top 20% of Singapore's households last year earned 31 times that of the bottom 20%. And the gap is widening.
Two events last week showed up how much disconnect there is between a segment of the political elite and the citizens it has to represent.
The problem is serious.
"We have a crop of well-off MPs who have little empathy for the poor or needy, seeing failure is an individual's fault. Political elitism and arrogance are undoing the PAP's strong record of achievements," one party grassroots worker said, calling for political reforms.
"Otherwise, the PAP cannot survive a one-man-one-vote democracy for no more than two or three elections."
"The stability of a society depends on how people feel. If there is a group which is unhappy, such that they rebel against the system, that can lead to all kinds of trouble," warned Labour chief and a PMO minister Lim Boon Heng.
For some time, party workers have been giving feedback to the leadership that public feelings are rising against what they say is a system that favours the elite and the rich.
The first advice: Change the criteria and selection of PAP Members of Parliament ( from whom Cabinet ministers are selected ).
Laid down by Lee Kuan Yew, the system measures political ability by academic, professional or business achievements, particularly those who are related to past achievers.
This could be attributed to Lee's belief that intelligence – or alternatively mental subnormality – is inherited from parents' genes.
Only a few newer MPs are social workers or people with good community links, but compassion, charity and humility generally rank low in priority in a candidate's qualities.
For decades, the party leaders have tended to come from the ranks of scholars and technocrats, described by Lee Senior as "among the best in Singapore."
In a different era, the system had worked well in building an efficient, modern city. That was the good part.
But in the new Singapore, elitism breeds resentment and friction. Many of these MPs, raised in wealthy homes, are simply too removed from the plight of poor Singaporeans they are supposed to represent.
Unlike politicians elsewhere, the MPs in Singapore are co-opted into politics without party experience or having to campaign hard to win votes.
During Lee's popular past, this posed few problems. PAP candidates were virtually always automatically elected. A popular joke in those days was "Even if it fields a monkey, it will win."
Today, with the unfettered reach of a critical Internet and an educated electorate, every comment or behaviour of an MP comes under intense scrutiny.
Last week provided evidence of this.
It began when Wee Shu Min, 18-year-old scholar-daughter of a PAP MP, launched a scathing attack on Singaporean Derek Wee for voicing concerns on job security and age discrimination.
She described Derek as a "stupid crackpot", "the sadder class", over-reliant on the government in Singapore where society is "far too survival of the fittest" and signed off with: "Get out of my elite uncaring face".
Other condescending terms: Derek is a typical "wretched, under-motivated, over-assuming leeches" specimen of Singapore. He has a "middle-class under-educated penchant" for complaining and should get on with life.
It was political dynamite for several reasons.
Firstly, she was a scholar (10 A's in O-level, strong bilingual, French) in elitist Raffles Junior College, the sort that is earmarked for an easy road to high office.
Secondly, her father Wee Siew Kim is an executive of Singapore Engineering and MP in PM Lee Hsieng Loong's Ang Mo Kio group constituency, so whatever he does affects the PM's political fortune.
Hundreds of angry Singaporeans consider her remarks as elitist and insensitive against the common people.
To make matters worse, the MP issued a statement that appeared to support her elitist remarks.
The controversy may have sealed his political career; there is little prospect of Wee standing again in the next election.
Unfortunately for the PAP, it occurred at almost the same time as news broke of a 40-year-old unemployed father of two teenagers jumping in front of a moving train.
After failing to get a job for four months, he committed suicide with S$16 in his pocket and a pile of debts.
Shu Min had written, "If you're not good enough, life will kick you in the balls. That's just how things go."
Critics connect the two with devastating effect for the system.
Her comments have divided Singaporeans. Some of the more successful elements back her argument that Singapore's capitalist system supports the "survival of the fittest" theory. One asked, "What's wrong with being elitist?"
At least one saw the debate positively.
"In fact, we are already unintentionally preparing ourselves to enter the post-Lee Kuan Yew era by creating a bit of chaos here and there," he wrote.
"When Lee finally goes, we would already have got used to the chaos; we can (then) re-make our beloved Singapore."
( This article was specially written for The Sunday Star, Oct 29, 2006 ) -
The high handed, ironfist rule of the KMT of Taiwan caused her downfall, eventhough she had installed harsher rules and measures than PAP. She was eventually removed from power 50 yrs after Chiang Kai shek reached the island.
Hmmm........... 50 yrs for Taiwan...........now SG is 41yrs already...........9 more yrs to come.
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where is sunday star from?
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I think England aka, Great Britain....Originally posted by dragg:where is sunday star from?
According to the article, SM Lee's method of choosing the top brass differs from the Singapore pledge.
"We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion.............."
So, the top brass is chosen from bloodline rather than their own caliber. That explains why this chap (I think the General-Secretary of NTUC, Lim Hng Kiang) said this sentence in his speech, "The workers are pleased that the CPF contribution has not restored because there is no demostration outside the Parliament"
Best joke of the month.
Wait a moment, forumeers. There is still the best joke of the year.
The best joke of the year.
"It is a good time to raise the GST because the economy is improving.""I raise the GST so that we can extend the safety net to help the more needy" (something like that)
Who made this statement? No prize for those who get the correct answer. -
Yeah Funny quotes Hogzilla
We should have sticky here with all the notable funny quotes by our MIW.
It will make bright the day of anyone who is down. -
i think malaysia....Originally posted by dragg:where is sunday star from?
grt brits got no time for sg -
Even an outsider can predict the future of the ruling party if they continue to neglect the community's needs, much less to say the ruling party themself. So, can we say that they are ignoring and placing this swelling problem aside as they collect more and more money?
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Nay...nothing will happen to the ruling party. All they have to do is to give out goodies when it comes to elections time and everyone will forget all these stuff. And if that doesn't work, they can always use the HDB upgrading to pressurize everyone into voting for them.Originally posted by TYING:Even an outsider can predict the future of the ruling party if they continue to neglect the community's needs, much less to say the ruling party themself. So, can we say that they are ignoring and placing this swelling problem aside as they collect more and more money? -
True...What have happened to the ruling party before besides the initial part of setting up Singapore?Originally posted by winterF:Nay...nothing will happen to the ruling party. All they have to do is to give out goodies when it comes to elections time and everyone will forget all these stuff. And if that doesn't work, they can always use the HDB upgrading to pressurize everyone into voting for them.
Although we have to thank them and be grateful to them for bringing Singapore to what she is today, we cannot dismiss the 'newer generation' leaders as well as their 'contributions'. -
Seah Chiang Nee, a veteran journalist, is not a foreigner but a Singaporean living in Singapore.
He keeps a blog, littlespeck.com, but also contributes to The Star, a Malaysian newspaper. -
Now that's a REAL newspaper!
Indeed, the PAP had better wake up, because UNHAPPY citizens are growing!
Wake up, or please step down!!! -
if middleclass continue to dominate the majority of the society. PAP will be safe.
however the increase of GST will affect middleclass the most.
i am curious how the PAP policy of taxing mainly the middleclass to subsidies the lower class will go down with middleclass. -
U call it a REAL newspaper because it speaks against the ruling party in the article? Or because it says something that reflects the thoughts of the 33% who didn't vote for the ruling party in the electionsOriginally posted by ShutterBug:Now that's a REAL newspaper! -
someone once told me that we should be thankful for the PAP who brought Singapore to where it was...
i replied that a country is much more important than mere gratitude... much more than our loyalty to a party or person... that the country should come way before anything like these things...
i think he was troubled when what i said sank into him...
even when they had done the good they did in the past, we cannot be beholden to them forever..Originally posted by TYING:True...What have happened to the ruling party before besides the initial part of setting up Singapore?
Although we have to thank them and be grateful to them for bringing Singapore to what she is today, we cannot dismiss the 'newer generation' leaders as well as their 'contributions'. -
*supports the Survival of the Fittests Theory*