1/05/2006

chiam see tong too old, can't do much

this issue will be raised in the coming elections and have been in the papers several times. it is in the today paper again. chiam's, at 70, is considered too old. by who's standard? singaporeans better prepare themselves to work to 70 or 80 or till they die. retirement is only for those who have made it financially in life. funny thing is that those who have made it will also refuse to retire. so lets all work till we die. 70 is never too old. life begins at 55. the other argument against chiam is that he cannot do much. what he cannot do much is the redevelopment of the estate and upgrading, which everyone knows, is due to his purse string. he does not have the resources that even a non mp has. cannot blame him. and i think everyone understands this point. harping on this could backfire. people want to see fair play, level playing field. everyone is a tax payer and they want to see their tax money being distributed equitably to benefit everyone, without strings attached. no one will be happy if they are perceived to have their arms twisted. but if you are on the other side of chiam, all these are seen at political tactics, part of the game, nothing about being fair or unfair. the winners called the shot. and there will always be people who share this view as there will be people who share the other view. the election result will tell which group has more supporters. so far it has been proven that the people who wants to see fair play and do not mind chiam being 70 years young are still in the majority. and the only tactics applied to win over more supporters from chiam are mainly two. chiam is old and ineffective. chiam cannot give out goodies. but would the people see chiam contributing in other areas, like defending their interests in parliament, as more important? there will also be people who like to support the underdogs, especially when they are decent, honest and sincere.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is there a law in Singapore that stipulated that MP or Minister must retired at certain age??

If there isn't then we don't have an issue here.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

i don't think there is an age limit for people standing for election.

as for calling chiam old, it depends on who one is supporting. those who are not supporting chiam will claim that he is old.

those who support chiam will claim that chiam is young.

Anonymous said...

If I'm not wrong, MM LKY is older than Chiam. If Chiam is too old to run for coming election, so is MM LKY.

MM LKY should have retired from Parliament long long ago; already gone past the expiry date.

At such an old age, he should have moved a step backward and let PM Lee handles the SIA Management and SIA Pilot Union affair.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

mmmmmmmm....my lips are sealed.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

hi darkbrightside,

i believe what chiam stands for is reasonable. what is important now is for him to get himself heard more often. he can remain a gentleman and still raise issues objectively, for the good of the people.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

hi darkbrightside,

you must advise chiam not to be complacent. he must get himself heard. otherwise he will lose the support from the ground. there is no guarantee who will win in an election. he has to be seen to be working.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

All PAP stooges need to retire....

... whilst the Head Dicktator goes into the "private" sector to do more meddling in his dotage.

Anonymous said...

MM LKY is not doing a great service to our PM by continually getting himself involve in the SIA Management and SIA Pilot Union affair.

It only reinforce the poor or unfavourable perception that people have over our PM. He still need his daddy to watch over his shoulder all the time after so many years in politics.

As a matter of fact, I pity our PM. If MM LKY is serious in helping his son, he has to learn when to let go. MM LKY won't be with him forever. PM Lee has to grow up fast.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

this is like the saying 'being kind and ended up unkind.' i would like to see lky take a step back, maybe 10 steps back, and let hsien loong go and bash his path while he is still close enough to do the necessary. that way hsien loong could earn his spurs earlier.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

darkbrightside,

by being too kind, chiam is not a politician. he is going to the like young sunyatsen. too idealistic and trusting and ended up being ousted.

as a politician he must carry a stick at times and exert his leadership.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

whatever,

chee has an image problem. chiam too has an image problem other than his strength as a decent good man. he must come out and stand out as a politician, an opposition leader. not a school teacher.

if he wants to be a politician, be like one. but with principles and decency.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

ya, it is too early. wait till the opposition win a couple of grcs, then the image of an opposition front will appear. and opposition will be taken more seriously.

time will tell. and things will change with time.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

you must learn from history.

when a system of govt or dynasty is progressing smoothly, everything must move according to the rules and system.

when there is a change of govt, a change of a dynasty, anything can happen. mao was not an mp but a librarian turn politician. putin was not an ex mp but a kgb chief.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

being in an opposition party is not anti govt or anti country. it is the right of every citizen to join a political party. it is the duty and responsibility for citizens to offer themselves as candidates for election.

contesting for political power by constitutional. the people must say a big thank you to all opposition parties for their conviction and courage to stand up to represent the people.

Anonymous said...

Darkbrightside...

Politicians can be trained... but how would Mr Chiam be able to train politicians? You need a political thinker to do the training, and to attract more to your ranks.

Oh mine...

Reddie,

Mr Chiam has made many notes, in and out of parliament. But as I wrote in my blog, he's no more than David Marshal if he is the way he is.

Obviously I and MM Lee has certain similar approach to politics which is quite unique in our own rights.

There can only be one. But is it a Mr Chiam, or SPP?

If that's SPP, how would Mr Chiam approach it? We already see how SPP moves for years... isn't it?

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

elfred,

what are the unique parts you are referring to? maybe you can share with darkbrightside.

Anonymous said...

Unique parts? You mean the weak constituencies?

I have an updated list... but it's not for public eyes. :D

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

the weak constituencies are common knowledge to those who wants to know or are following the political devt of the country. the opposition also will have a list though it may be slightly different.

both will view which is strong and weak through their own lenses.

Anonymous said...

But obviously, their lens are now reaching correctly over the past decades. :D

Anyone here knows who is this 李春发, who is what senior Grassroot Leader? Anyone knows who the abcd constituency he's from?

Like I said... too many durians could running around...

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

elfred,

what is wrong with this lichunfa? you seem very unhappy over him.

Anonymous said...

Of course I am unhappy. He is a leader made by the party and yet with a questionable... something. And now, he comes after my wife accusing her for some missing $600, retained her salary (on Monday, they released the monies) and according to my wife, instead of getting the police, she was asked to pay S$2000!? How absurd.

And when was the miserable S$600 missing? Nov!? (You are invited to read my blog for understanding what I gathered so far). Other people please shun it, thanks.

How in the fuck can I not be pissed off, especially when it concerns my wife?! We ain't that rich, but S$600 isn't worth her effort!

And observe how the restaurant manage workers, it's not even her best job. What is this (retired) Grassroot LEADER thinking? Is it that a China lady can be pushed around? Paying $2000 and with her salary retained means my wife work in such condition would have got nothing in return!?

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

elfred, if this is the owner of the restaurant, and if your wife is a bargainable staff, go and complain to the mom. a company cannot withhold the salary of an employee without good reasons.

and if this guy abuses his authority, go to the mp or cpib. fight the power with power.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

the definition of good is changing. so you just won't know what is good. or good according to who.

4 legs are good. 2 legs are bad. can become 4 legs are good and 2 legs are better.

Anonymous said...

Aiyah... many problem lah. This is grassroot thingy. It has always been a problem obvious in Singapore. Look at the funny custodian fee for CLOB. They chap? No...

As if I never raised the matter before to the minister, even to CASE I visited, and not mentioning the self-proclaiming white knight...

That's why... all waiting for a savior.