5/15/2011
A joint statement to quit the cabinet
MM and SM are thinking more alike, it seems. Both decided to quit the cabinet to let a younger team of ministers led by a nearly 60 year old PM to start with a clean slate. Relatively, a young team was when LKY became a PM at 35, I think. Now that was a young team. At 60, many were grandfathers and have long forgotten about pacifiers and could hardly be considered young anymore.
It’s better late than never. My original take was that both LKY and Chok Tong would not even contest the GE. I think LKY wanted to do that long ago, but for obvious reason, unable to let him go solo. Just before the GE, Hsien Loong was quoted to have said that both LKY and Chok Tong would be his advisers, a role that could make his job much easier, but also made him a PM under watch, with two yodas breathing down his neck.
With Chok Tong still wanting to stay in politics, LKY too had to be around. It is either both quit or both stay. Chok Tong has proven to be quite a persistent stayer so far. And for him to quit the cabinet is the best that could be gotten. Now LKY can be more at ease as both are now MPs and should not be in the thick of decision making.
The next move would likely be another joint statement that both would step down as MP. As precedence had been set, there would not be a need for a by election, and the govt will still be an absolute majority in Parliament, without rocking the boat.
Only then would everyone be at ease, that a new era has dawn and the PAP’s internal struggle for power has a clear winner.
I think MM and SM should resign as MPs.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, this is all PAP window dressing! Nothing much will change. The newspapers are making this out to be more than what it ought to be. They think that we are really unthinking citizens, not to realise that as MPs, MM and SM can still contribute their asinine comments whenever they like to.
I agree. The PAP is still pulling wool over Singaporean's eyes.
ReplyDeleteLet me ask this question. The old man is still an MP and in cabinet. Would any MP dare to counter his views in Parliament or behind closed doors? From what they said, it reinforces the perception that elder Lee is still very much the ultimate influence inside the PAP and hence the Government, however much he may deny about not doing anything.
I think both the Old Man and Woody are playing a game of chess. We had a glimpse of what is happening inside the PAP from George Yeo's comments. It is probably not that peaceful as it seems.
Probably the Old Man waited for Woody to step down, and he followed likewise, otherwise he will surely stay. Hence the very nice double show. You see, Woody does not understand all the signals telling him to go, as far back as 2006 when they pushed him, on the pretext of helping their candidates in Hougang and Potong Pasir, which resulted in massive failure and backlash. You can't blame a man who can only feel it in his bones, not his head or heart.
Correction: The old man is still an MP and in Parliament.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2.50
I bet you if Chok Tong resign from his MP post, MM would also resign immediately.
ReplyDeleteMoney money money, I love money. Now I can count all the pension and get free healthcare the remaining days of my life while giving my purfect opinions (as usual) on the sideline since me=party=country=mine. Life is GREAT and I feel invincible!
ReplyDeleteWithout prejudice :p
MM and SM still do not get it. It is not just the younger generation wanting a stronger voice in Parliament.
ReplyDeleteIt is the older generation that did them in. Loss of job, unable to find alternative job due to age, unable to cope with single or no income and exhausted CPF savings for old age are making them terribly sore with the PAP.
The PAP Government works with fxxk up feedback and think they understand the ground. They will get more surprises in 2016 if they continue to depend on grass roots and MSM forums to show them the way.
Looks like what is good for the goose is not good for the gander.
ReplyDelete"SHAMEFACED" should have offered to resign.
"Leadership is no practised so much in words as in attitude and actions ." H>S>GENEEN
There are several simple reasons why many Singaporean
employers are reluctant to give their maids a day off.
You see, if the maid runs away, the government will fine
the employer $5,000. If the maid commits a crime such as
shoplifting, the government will fine the employer $5,000.
If the maid is caught having sex with someone, the
government will fine the employer $5,000. If the maid gets
pregnant, the government will also fine the employer $5,000.
If you didn't know any of the above, then either you do
not employ a maid, or you didn't read the small print of
the Manpower Ministry's work permit conditions.
Many employers are afraid that if their maid has a day off
and gets into trouble, the employer will not only have to
solve the trouble, but also have to fork out $5,000 as a
free gift to the government.
Intuitively, this smacks of gross unfairness. The employer
gets punished not for something he did, but for something
that somebody else (the maid) did. Furthermore, once the
maid leaves the employer's residence, the employer has
no way of monitoring where the maid goes and what she does there.
We may draw a curious parallel with Mas Selamat's
escape, and PM Lee's determined, if muddled, defence of
Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng in Parliament.
Mas Selamat ran away. But PM Lee said that Wong Kan Seng
was not at fault and should not be punished in any way. The
reason being that Wong Kan Seng personally did not do
anything which allowed Mas Selamat to escape.
Strangely, if your maid runs away, it IS your fault and you
SHOULD be punished. Even if you did not personally do
anything to let her run away (apart from giving her a day off).
Similarly, if your maid becomes pregnant, it IS your fault
and you SHOULD be punished. Even if you did not personally
do anything to make her pregnant.
Oh well. What can I say? Maids are not terrorists. But then
you are not Wong Kan Seng. So the rules remain stacked
against you. Wong Kan Seng gets off lightly, but you
won't. Even if his lapse has far greater, and graver,
implications than yours.
Your runaway maid wouldn't blow up Changi Airport, would she?
Redbean misjudged when he predicted some old old men not ontesting in the Last Election.
ReplyDeleteDare I say he will be misreading again if he thinks the Two old old men will resign from their Member Of Parliament Posts.
They are the Pillars of the Incumbent Prime Minister.
Now that the two oldies are out of the cabinet, may I predict that two more will be inducted into the PM's office soon.
ReplyDeleteBoth were heavily betted to lose, almost lost, and still talking big. Anyway, they are needed to make up for the two pairs of hands lost.
Make a guess.
I think the shoes are too big for them.
ReplyDelete