A story of a couple moving back to their homeland after respectively spending 12 and 18 years in a different country. Culture shock takes on a new meaning!
Dear Singaporean friends, (sorry to my American friends who read this blog, but unfortunately, the next few days do not affect you, possibly.)
It's 2 days to polling day.
Some of you are PAP supporters, others, opposition party supporters. It doesn't matter, it is YOUR right to support either side.
It is your right, that on polling day, you cast your vote.
For those who are either too young to vote or cannot vote because you are out of the country. Your voice matters too.
In a conversation with a too-young-to-vote person a few days ago, he told me his views on some issues. But he left off by saying but it didn't matter because he couldn't vote. That is not true, I told him. I told him that his thoughts on these matters were relevant and valid and his voice could be counted by way of his parents, relatives and friends. So, he should state his point of view. In an educated society like Singapore, we should have matured enough to listen to opposing point of views. It does not matter if you disagree with the speaker, it is still their point of view. To this person, I also told him that his parents had provided him with an education and hopefully, this education had enabled him to form an opinion on certain issues. It would be sad if all the education had provided was the ability to excel in CounterStrike and listen to Justin Bieber.
So, to those who are unable to vote for some reason or other, your voice matters too.
For those who can vote and are either not going to vote or planning to spoil your vote... think again.
Even if you are politically apathetic, this is your one chance to say "Yes, I like things the way they are." OR "No, I would like to see some changes." Either way, I believe this might be the one year that EVERY VOTE COUNTS.
But, if you still decide not to vote, do remember that you have effectively lost your right to bitch and whine about the government, regardless of who gets voted in and regardless of party affiliation.
So, please vote.
Next, to those people who are want to vote for the opposition but are still having issues about secrecy. YOUR VOTE IS SECRET!!
Yes, your vote has a serial number. Yes, there is going to be someone yelling out your name and I/C number. It doesn't matter. Those are actually to protect against YOU voting in place of your elderly parent OR your parent voting in place of YOU.
Unless you need physical help, you will be in the voting booth alone.
You mark the box you wish to mark and then you fold your ballot and drop it into the ballot box.
At the end of balloting, the ballot box is sealed and transported to a counting center.
At the counting center, the ballots are counted and tabulated.
Writing equipment is NOT allowed at the counting center.
So, unless the counter has photographic memory, no recording of serial numbers and who they voted for can possibly take place.
Once the votes are all counted and if there are no disputes and challenges, the ballot box is re-sealed and SEALED (with those burn and seal thingys).
The sealed ballot boxes are then transported to the High Court (I think, but whatever the case, some government building) where it will be stored for 6 months and then finally, your ballot is cremated.
So, tell your friends and relatives, your vote is secret. Vote wisely.
So, LHL has apologized. Whether you believe it is sincere, or just an election tactic, it is up to you.
So, George Yeo has come up with an "appeal" video. From the reaction on Facebook last night, especially with the younger generation, I think that has made somewhat of an impact. Same with LHL's apology, whether you believe it is sincere or just another election tactic, it is up to you.
I, though, have several important questions to ask LHL. But he will never get to hear them, since this blog is not famous. But for you who indulge me by reading this, you might have an avenue to ask him these questions.
1) Why are there the Minister Mentor and Senior Minister positions?
If it is to help guide the Prime Minister, then maybe we should be seriously considering WHO should be PM.
2) Why is a $15,000 per month salaried job not a full time job?
The MEDIAN income in Singapore is less than $4,000 per month. I bet more than half of Singapore would be willing to take this job for 30% less and work 100% more.
3) If he believes that this country is built on meritocracy, why is there a GRC system? People who have ABSOLUTELY NO EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNANCE, get ushered into the status of MPs while riding on the coat-tails of others.
Speaking on the topic of GRCs, let me speak a little more about George Yeo.
By all accounts, George Yeo is a decent person. In politics, he is not as disliked as some of his other colleagues. I agree that it will be a pity if his team loses to the Workers' Party team in Aljunied GRC (because he will be lost, I don't really care about the rest of his team.) But all that said, he is a victim of his own party's practices to unlevel the playing field. Many years ago, the GRC was set up because opposition parties had difficulty finding more than one or two credible candidates. Then they were expanded because the opposition parties could find one or two, or maybe even three credible candidates. Now, that several opposition parties have fielded even up to four or five credible candidates, the playing field is finally level (at least to overcome the implementation of GRCs).
I am sure that if George Yeo stood on his own ticket (NO GRCs), he would either go uncontested or win by a comfortable margin. Unfortunately, he has been put in a GRC, strengthened by a second cabinet member, Lim Hwee Hua (who really ought to shut up about Low Thia Khiang producing Hougang Town Council's books till Vivian Balakrishnan produces YOG's books) and a senior minister of state, only still to potentially lose to a VERY strong Workers' Party team. I have 2 thoughts on that. Either the PAP thought it was too strong a team to lose OR that was the PAP's way of showing him the way out. Whatever the case, George Yeo should look within his party for the reasons.
I, personally, can envision a parliament that included George Yeo, Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao and Pritam Singh. But, I guess in the playing field the PAP has created, it is not going to be possible. Too bad George!
By the way, I have still not bought LHL's apology.
Let me first state a big disclaimer. And it is huge.
I am not anti-Singapore and pro-US style of government. The US style of government takes 10 years to build ONE additional lane for Highway 101 in California. The Singapore style of government takes one year to built a high rise block of flats/apartments. There are pros and cons and definitely, the Singapore style of government wins hands down over the US style of government in efficiency.
The problem with the Singapore style of government is that it is too autocratic. It is soooo autocratic to the point there is no more accountability to the voters.
I am anti-non accountability.
I am anti-no freedom of expression.
I am anti-oppression.
I am anti-suppression.
I am anti-politics by fear.
I am anti-lip service.
I am anti-anticompetition.
I am anti-unfairness toward opponents.
Unfortunately, the PAP happens to fall under all these categories.
Who knows if the opposition parties, once elected, will be doing the same. I don't. But it's worth a try, isn't it?
I am NOT anti-PAP if I had some indications that they were willing to listen to the voters and make changes as needed.
However, all I have heard is that, we, the voters are sinners. We don't know what we are asking for. We don't know accounting and budgeting. We don't know how lucky we are to have the PAP government. We are too dumb to manage our retire funds. We are not smart enough to understand why public transportation and public housing are "private". All these things DO NOT sit well with me.
So, as much as everyone else would classify me as anti-PAP, anti-government, anti-establishment. I believe I am fairly objective till trust is displaced, which is the case now.
Anyhow, I don't really give a shit whether people think I am anti-government or not. I just believe that Singapore and Singaporeans will benefit from a government that truly serves, is accountable to the citizens and plays fair politics.
So, since my friends have claimed they don't blog, here is a collection of "comments" from posts that I have made on Facebook regarding these elections.
"Oh wow ... it's a new low indeed ... BTW, the supposedly flashy & splashy YOG that S'pore hosted last year ... yawn yawn, no newspaper, TV or press covered nor mentioned it much (at least those I read & I read alot) in Europe or U.S.A. except S'pore papers ... how come nobody outside S'pore bothered when it's so important ... hmm ... unless it's not at all"
On May 1, 2011, in a post on SDP's candidate Tan Jee Say's reply to PAP's candidate Goh Chok Tong's personal attack.
"I may not agree with Tan See Say's proposal for a big shift towards services & total hallowing out of manufacturing ... but we as citizens & more importantly political leaders (especially from PAP) must graciously learn how to agree to disagree ... and refrain from personal attacks unrelated to the policies/proposals disagreement at hand!"
On May 2, 2011, in a post that TNP's editor stood by their fairy tale that Dr Chee Soon Juan tried to start a "protest march". I have additional comments on this as I WAS THERE. Dr CSJ walked into the crowd to be garlanded by a supporter. His party members (the SDP candidates) decided against allowing the supporter to garland him on stage. He walked to the supporter. I was standing less than 10 meters from where it happened. There was NO protest march. Think about it, what would he be protesting about at is own party's rally?
"The TNP Editor is probably hoping to be a future MP... :-)"
"The TNP is read mostly by teenagers & young adults (*excluding those football fans that buy for the post EPL pics etc) ... It is not important about what TNP reported as it's a super duper lightweight newspaper that I would not even use as wrapper for dog poo ... it is because of what TNP reported that ST and other MSM can cite the TNP report ... without being seen as irrelevant themselves !"
"This is not a joke anymore....Dr Chee should sue TNP...."
"Nicely written article. A strong opposition showing would certainly go a long way to helping our Ministers out of their Greater-than-Thou mindset. But the sad thing is that I think this is not so much an individual trait as it is a cultur...e that is propagated and sustained by the PAP philosophy and internal system. Essentially, what I mean is that people who join the PAP may have gone in with good intentions in the beginning, but over time, they get sucked into the PAP machinery that churns out these "God-like" creatures. As Minister (and at more or less the pinnacle of the PAP hierarchy), underlings are hanging on your every word. They constantly nod in agreement. Everyone is saying "brilliant" and "good idea" when you open your mouth. They stand up when you walk into the room. They shut down the lift for you so that you don't even have to wait when you arrive at the lift lobby. You always have a reserved carpark wherever you go. Over time, you really start to believe you're THAT amazing, brilliant and always right (which is why LKY, GCT, etc. probably see nothing wrong with the audacious statements they have been making). The PAP needs to take a hard, long look at themselves and fix their internal values system. But if there is a "confidence vote" in their favor this election, that's never going to happen."
"Actually in the financial markets, a consensus is somewhat forming that the best outcome is Base Case: (1) PAP loses 1-2 GRC & 1-3 SMC (most likely); Bad Case: (2) PAP loses 3-4 GRC & 4-5 SMC (unlikely); Worst Case: (3) PAP wins 87-0 (ugly... black swan!) .... Surprise ... Surprise ... the markets are the best sub-conscious reflection of unspoken fear & greed as always .... and why outcome (3) is the worst despite a PAP clean-sweep .... becos' the fear of the markets is of a new "unknown-unknown" where Singapore society becomes divided & alot of unhappiness will go underground if the outlet does not appear & can explode in the most ugly fashion. All these market opinions are not circulated/distributed widely as no analyst/strategist/financial institution will want to be consigned to the 'sin-bin' for stating them but trades are already done / prepared for the above ... 9 May will be where the markets vote with money & this is perhaps more important than actual polling day of 7 May!"
If you or anyone you know will be voting come May 7, and that you or that someone may want to vote in some checks and balances into the Singapore parliament, but are still facing some obstacles, primarily FEAR. Please watch the video below. Vote wisely.
