'I Had a Job to Do' Whether the PAP liked it or not
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Ong Teng Cheong will go down in history as Singapore's first elected president. But for twenty years before that, the Chinese-educated, foreign-trained architect was a stalwart of the nation's People's Action Party government led by its first PM Lee Kuan Yew. Ong, now 64, was minister of communications, of culture, and of labor; he was also deputy PM, secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, and chairman of Lee's PAP. By common consent, he was the man who kept the Chinese ground loyal to the party; indeed, his command of the language was such that Lee always asked Ong to accompany him whenever he visited China.
In the 1980s, Ong was one of the party's four senior 'second echelon' leaders who were considered as possible successors to Lee. It was Ong's longtime friend, Goh Chok Tong, who got the nod for the job. Ong, who was diagnosed as suffering from lymphatic cancer in 1992, chose instead to run in the first elections for the presidency the following year.
He won -- and soon became embroiled in a six-year long festering dispute with his former colleagues in government over how much information he should have in order to fulfil his role in safeguarding Singapore's prodigious financial reserves. The altercation came to a head when Ong and his mentor Lee and friend Goh clashed publicly and rancorously in a rare display of disunity among PAP heavyweights. He decided not to run for re-election as president -- but not before he had spooked Goh's men by leaving the announcement until the last moment. - Asiaweek
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0310/nat.singapore.ongiv.html -
1. Lee Kuan Yew has dozens of relatives occupying high public office, inconsistent with his claims of meritocratic government. He is the defacto ruler of Singapore, his son is the Prime Minister, his nephew in law Wong Kan Seng is the Deputy Prime Minister. There are children, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in law, former classmates of Lee Kuan Yew occupying high positions in the public sector, drawing big salaries from taxpayers money. Not even in commuist China is so much power concentrated in 1 clan.
2. Do you know what is happening with the national reserves, made up of hardearned savings and taxpayer money? Only LKY, his son, and his daughter in law knows what is going on there. The only thing we know is that industry insiders are astonished that Ho Ching, LKY's daughter in law, is still allowed to control the national reserves after a track record of loss-making outcomes. This is inconsistent with the practices of countries possessing of a similar national reserve, ie, Norway or Hongkong. The people of Singapore needs to know for themselves whether taxpayers money and CPF savings are still there.
3. The National Kidney Foundation fiasco is a result of a public body (ie, the NKF) being unaccountable to the general public whose money it is spending. Similar lack of transparency and accountability exists with most of the public linked bodies, from Temasek Holdings to the GIC. Can Singaporeans be sure that the NKF is the only, or even biggest can of worms around?
4. The President of Singapore is constitutionally empowered to make sure the finances have not been embezzled or abused has been barred from looking into the accounts. Ong Teng Chong asked to exercise his elected rights in looking into financial information privvy only to LKY, LSH and Ho Ching. He was denied, and was soon replaced as President of Singapore. After his death, OTC was refused a state funeral despite being the only ever elected President of Singapore. His replacement, President Nathan, is unelected and has a history of working with the Japanese during WW2.
5. Singapore's standard of living has declined dramatically from 4th highest in the world to outside the top 25 in the world, but PAP politicians still award themselves the 1st highest salaries in the world. Singaporeans make half the salary of the average Swiss, but PAP politicians make multiple times the salary of the average Swiss politician. Singapore is one of a very small handful of countries in the world to have undergone a decline in the standard of living over the last decade. According to the World Bank, in absolute terms, Singapore now has a standard of living much closer to Colombia than Switzerland.
6. Many in the core group of PAP and civil service pioneers responsible for Singapore's success in the first place (during the 1960s, 70s and 80s) think that the current PAP team has led the country down the wrong way. They include Ngiam Tong Dow, Singapore's youngest ever (and regarded by many as our most capable) permanent secretary, and Toh Chin Chye, the first and founding President of the PAP.
7. The PAP has an unparalleled track record for bankrupting and destroying opposition politicians such as Jeyaratnam and Francis Seow, who would have served as a check on their powers. The PAP's persecution of those from other political parties have caused the world's most respected publications like the Economist, the New York Times, and the South China Morning Post to point out that the PAP is using national institutions for individual and party gains.
8. Nelson Mandela, is the world's second longest serving political prisoner. He served 27 years before being released and is now a Nobel prize winning leader and figurehead. The world record holder for being a political prisoner is Singapore's Chia Thye Poh, a physics teacher and popular elected opposition MP, who was jailed for advocating an end to the Vietnam war. In the US, Bill Clinton, Mohammad Ali, and Martin Luther King were praised for protesting the war and being the conscience of the nation. In Singapore, Chia Thye Poh was detained for 32 years.
9. Singapore has a death penalty against drugs, but the CIA in the US lists Singapore government linked companies as being an important money launderer for the drug regime in Myanmar which has caused thousands of deaths.
10. According to government plans, in 20 years time (and 3 General Elections from now), there will be 7 million Singaporeans. Foreign migrants with Singapore citizenship will outnumber local born Singaporeans. Singapore born Singaporeans will be a minority within Singapore, outvoted by the newcomers.
11. According to evidence gathered by American researchers, new migrants always vote for the ruling party, in this case the PAP. Therefore, this coming election and the next are the only elections where NS serving, Singaporeans born citizens can make their voices heard and enforce their political will without dilution.
12. What is good for Lee Kuan Yew is not always good for the PAP. What is good for the PAP is not always good for Singapore. You and I need to remind ourselves that what is good for Lee Kuan Yew is not always good for Singapore. -
so long wah read until gong, didn't know they were so notorious.
anyway i dun like them one bit too.
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hmm...are these information verified and have concrete proof?
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What makes u think PAPAYA will be the same 20 years time?
LKY and all the old veterans will be gone.
Having FT people in our Armed forces? It is sure asking for trouble. How many of them have dubious backgrounds?
In 20 years time society will have changed and people will no longer put up with such nonsense
Can someone pls elaborate on the CIA-Myanmar thingie? -
It's all over the net. Yes some of it at least looks to be true like the info about Prataman. Think he himself said it in an interviewOriginally posted by R3SsH|n:hmm...are these information verified and have concrete proof? -
dont forget..its the US who's proping up this government of ours..they're in cahoots!
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even if cheebye chuan started to hav LKY's face and rule sg long long time ago...u all will say such things come one fine day (that is ...today)....i am more worried about tomorrow though...
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I say again:
No body can help u unless u help yourselves. -
Thanks for posting such an Old article interview with late Ong Teng Cheong.
I definitely found inspiration with his voice and political life.
Like many other countries , Singapore itself have lots of dirty laundry to hide. Reality is that you can keep them hidden "for how long?" History will tell whether you have been winners or losers by the prosperity of the people.
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Tis Is true...Originally posted by caramon.:4. The President of Singapore is constitutionally empowered to make sure the finances have not been embezzled or abused has been barred from looking into the accounts. Ong Teng Chong asked to exercise his elected rights in looking into financial information privvy only to LKY, LSH and Ho Ching. He was denied, and was soon replaced as President of Singapore. After his death, OTC was refused a state funeral despite being the only ever elected President of Singapore. His replacement, President Nathan, is unelected and has a history of working with the Japanese during WW2. -
thanks for sharing the information...
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Where is the election ?? Its an automatic disqualification of "Other Candidates" by the Board of Civil servants which we didnt vote for them to be there.Originally posted by F Bunta:You're right, empty talks are useless, we shall make ourselves heard at the election.
Who decides who are the Civil-servants that find qualifications and disqualifications? -
My personal view is what they want is an obedient person and not one who like to probe too much
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Hi Caramon,
the Singapore government is doing an excellent job on "the feel-good factor"
As long as majority is happy and confident in the future, and who's the best party or leader that can keep economy growing and create jobs, thats where the votes will go. And the measures of standard of living ;thats debatable but generally look around you, if you can see improvements all round compared to say 10 to 20 years ago , compared to other cities, .... you decide for yourself.
The real issue is costs of living (especially medical) , business opportunities and future income & savings
Unless there is someone stronger than the present leaders who can bring up those issues highlighted your earlier post, then we should keep supporting the present leaders, or Better still offer them alternative suggestions and ideas to improve. Then see what happens before complaining.
Right now our priority (yours and mine) ,is to get our act together to see how to fill our pockets and plan for a secure future income.
My philosophy in life is "My future - I create- it starts from me.No else is to blame or take the credit." Think about it my friends.
Just my 2 cents worth to this interesting topic. Cheers to all... stephen -
Thread hijack...
usually this guy whine about sg women ... this is a change.... but wrong forum though.... -
Now we all know who is that black guy....Originally posted by sohguanh:My personal view is what they want is an obedient person and not one who like to probe too much -
Now we all know who is that black guy...
Errr... dun play play leh. If you got take a look at his portfolio he assume quite a few major and important roles in his career leh -
Singaporean only know how to talk but no action.
Its a representation of fear in Singapore, a fear that paralysed this
nation, that saps its dynamism. Just look at what happened to Andrew Kuan, before that Tang LH, CSJ, before him JBJ. Each one demolished in a way that will bring out the fear in the citizens of Singapore.
If you criticise the PAP, you must do so in a way "acceptable" to them like Catharine Lim - indirect, scholarly, blame-free, and ... basically mild.
Singapore is a Fear Society. The fear is the result of CONTROL. Overpowering, overbearing control, the kind of control that represses the people and destroys PAP's more promising opponents.
You can say Singaporeans have no courage to stand. But there are actually people with courage to stand, even then the people have no courage to support. Singaporeans cannot be blamed for the lack of courage. In a system where the slightest dissent will see a total and public destruction of people's reputation, and dignity can you blame people for being afraid?
Can they not be afraid when a former Judge like JBJ is reduced to selling books outside MRTs- bankrupted. -- Courtesy of TalkNoAction -
4 person took action...
then there was a lot of overreaction from ... -
Only if you ever get a chance. There are ppl out there who are over 40's and have yet to vote.Originally posted by F Bunta:You're right, empty talks are useless, we shall make ourselves heard at the election.
What's next? They will create a super GRC or the opposition must be CEO of MNC or CJ or BGs -
you haben listen finishOriginally posted by F Bunta:I was going for lunch when I saw a bunch of guys rehearsing:
*clap clap clap clap clap* "Congratulations President Nathan!"
That's xxx at it's best
*clap clap clap clap clap* "Congratulations President Nathan!"
*for your extension of your puppet term* -
i strongly agree...coz probe too much it hurts...the truth hurts...coz you dug it out when others have failed.Originally posted by sohguanh:My personal view is what they want is an obedient person and not one who like to probe too much -
yes a lot over 40...but are u goin to giv them the few tens of Ks so that thery can apply for a application form and fill it up?Originally posted by LinYu:Only if you ever get a chance. There are ppl out there who are over 40's and have yet to vote.
What's next? They will create a super GRC or the opposition must be CEO of MNC or CJ or BGs
i am not because i am playing my part as a revolutionary in my company...so for president let the others have a chance