Dictatorships and Confusion VI

In a full page interview with the Straits Times, NMP Siew Kum Hong urged Singaporeans to speak up if they believe in active citizenry. (read article here)

With due respect to Mr Siew, he is one of the more credible NMPs around. In fact he initiated many debates on controversial issues which the elected opposition MPs had conveniently chosen to turn a blind eye to such as the losses incurred by GIC.

Though he had earned himself a reputation as an outspoken NMP, what did he achieve politically in the end? In spite of the issues he had raised which were debated in Parliament and given extensive publicity by the media, the status quo remains.

Nothing ever changes in Singapore once the ruling party has made a decision. What’s Parliament to them when they can decide whether it is in their interest to hold a by-election? What’s there to “debate” when the key decision-makers had already made a decision?

Active citizenry is a myth in a totalitarian one-party state like Singapore where the rubber-stamp Parliament passes legislation according to the wimps and fancies of a tinpot dictator with scant regards for public opinion.

When the Prime Minister first mooted the idea of setting up casinos in Singapore, there was a huge backlash. Many MPs, including some vocal PAP backbenchers voiced their opposition against the proposal. What happened eventually? They simply bull-doze it through.

Again in 2007, there was widespread opposition to the PAP’s proposal of raising their own salaries by over 80% to peg it to the 8 highest earners in the private sector. There was literally no support on the ground even from the PAP grassroots. So what?

"Let’s admit it. The PAP HATES active citizenry. It doesn’t like any form of opposition to its rule. All it ever wanted is to have a subservient, docile and in a way brainless, unquestioning and unthinking populace to make life easier for itself. Since they work solely on “trust”, we are expected to trust them to run the country with little accountability or transparency."

The interview with NMP Siew is nothing more but another publicity gimmick of the state-controlled media to paint a positive image of the PAP as an understanding, tolerant and liberal government.

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And as usual, you can click the title for a link: todays is the 'Singapore Daily', which has news items from the current 'idols' in Singapore to the latest wanted terrorists.