9/03/2015

Lawrence Wong riding the tiger 骑虎难下

When Lawrence Wong came onto the political scene as a fresh face minister there was so much promise in this young man. After 4 years in the job he is still looking fine until the live debate on TV with leaders of the opposition party. His boyish charm soon disappeared and he revealed a side of him that many viewers were taken aback. He came prepared to dig into Chee Soon Juan’s past and demanding an apology that he thought Chee should make in 1996.

This attempt shows a dark side in him that many have not known. His posture and indignant expression were shocking to the viewers in that what appeared on the TV screen was a totally different man, a man carrying a knuckle duster taking on another man that he hardly knew and a past that had nothing to do with him. The aggressiveness and hostility were abrasive and many viewers took a dislike to them. Their views of this man have changed. Mine too.

The politics of the last few decades must not be allowed to overflow to affect the new generation of leaders and politics of today. We had a rough start when life was nasty and short. Politics then was a different ball game. It was a game of survival of the fitness. In the wrong camp, or ending as losers could be a life and death situation, could be put behind bars for life. Informers that were exposed could be taken down.  Today when the cover was blown, nothing happens. Politics was vicious, rough and not much difference from gangsterism then.

Do we want that kind of politics to continue today and into the future? Our young politicians have no reason to adopt that kind of politics and style. And they must not forget that this is a democracy, not a monarchy or dictatorship. Today one is in office, in power, with all the trappings of power and calling the shot. Tomorrow one may have to come down to earth and walk the streets like any ordinary people.  Politicians should not think they will be there forever and could act and behave like they are nobles and aristocrats, 公子 or皇亲, above the common people.  To behave as thus is like riding the proverbial tiger and dismounting means to be eaten by the tiger, 骑虎难下.  Not many politicians could survive under the protection of power and depart in one piece. Many politicians, dictators, would have to face their abuses of position and power when they fell from grace. It is good to behave a bit normal, to give one a way out when one is no longer in power.

The days of knuckle duster politics, of putting political enemies in the dungeon are over, or should be over. The politics of today must be given a fresh start, be cleaner and less vicious, less personal and less vindictive. A politician that thinks it is ok to continue with the knuckle duster style must be up to it, believing that he can be in power till death do us part, and better be that way. The knuckle duster way can lead to a very unpleasant and humiliating end if one cannot stay in power all his life.

Young politicians are well advised to take note that this is a democracy, a republic and political power can change hand like the weather, and every 4 or 5 years one can be brought down to earth to face the harsh reality of being an ordinary person.

Fear is dead and should be consigned to history. We need a more congenial political climate, more human and humane, for the good of everyone. This is the way forward.  Live by the sword die by the sword. There are very few exceptions. A little humility is good for the soul. What is past is past. Leave the past to the past. We have to progress and be more civilized.

PS. Do not underestimate the power of social media. No one is infallible or flawless.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

The aggressiveness and hostility were abrasive and many viewers took a dislike to them. Their views of this man have changed. Mine too.
RB

Doesn't really matter for Lawrence Wong lah, given that the opposition is not ready to be govt, and hence SDP, which Lawrence is facing as opponent in this GE, is also most unlikely to win. So if can whack Chee Soon Juan kau kau (solid solid), whack lah. This is politics mah. And this Chee Soon Juan should also know and expect, if he wants to be in politics to fight PAP.

And what power of social media? Did social media not exist in 2011? Did RB not blog even before 2011?

Anonymous said...

I did not watch the forum but I understand LW behaved badly. There are few reasons for such a behaviour. 1. Really angry and become personal. As pointed out by RB, CSJ was way before his time and there should be no hatred. 2. He himself is unsual of a proper response. In this case, by being fierce would confuse viewers and keep his opponent at bay. 3. Instructed by his boss to dig out old stories and to appear as though he was affected by the "lies" and "wrong acusations".

Not sure if any of the above suitably describe his behaviour.

Anonymous said...

Did someone talk about clean fight, talk about issues and no personal attacks?

Who can you trust to be honourable and reliable?

Anonymous said...

The only thing I'm surprised or shocked is that you can still believe got PAPies who are different & kind hearted or big hearted. People like LW, CCS, TCJ are all cut from the same cloth as KBW, TS, KS, NEH, LHL, VB, and all the others. Those who start thinking & behaving differently will be pushed out of cabinet & parliament, as can be seen in past 20 years.

I have colleagues & acquaintances who help out at PAP meet-the-people sessions and/or who are Young PAP members, and ALL of them have same attitude & thinking as PAP ministers. These young adults (23-33 yrs old) are the so-called cream of the crop, successful in career & studies, and ALL getting minimum salary of $7,000 per month (yes, even the 23 yr old who is a female).

Anonymous said...

There must be good reasons why PAP Lawrence "whack" SDP Chee Soon Juan the way he did.

And I think Lawrence even expect that viewers may be taken aback or even be shocked. But he must have also weighed that his good reasons, and best known only to him, is worth more to override such concerns.

Perhaps if I were in Lawrence's shoes, probably I would had done the same too.

Anonymous said...

Sure we had the social media back then in GE2011. But to have social media directing criticism at him in particular is a different kettle of fish.

Remember Cynthia Phua who contested in Aljunied GRC in 2011? She was so badly criticised for one particular bad behavior she exhibited on social media that I think contributed much to the defeat of the PAP team in Aljunied GRC.

Social media may not be the source of news for the old and those not frequenting the internet. But, trust me, those who frequent the internet digging for such news will spread it through word of mouth. As they say, bad news travel fast.

Anonymous said...

These young adults (23-33 yrs old) are the so-called cream of the crop, successful in career & studies, and ALL getting minimum salary of $7,000 per month (yes, even the 23 yr old who is a female).
Anon 1:59 p.m.

That is why PAP can get many people willing to help out at PAP meet-the-people sessions and/or who are Young PAP members mah, and also no problem getting enough candidates to contest 100% seats and ready to be govt. And being ready to be govt, PAP know majority Sinkies will sure vote for them. Hence it is a virtuous cycle for PAP and their members.

Anonymous said...

Lawrence Wong should ask his father, Wong Kan Seng after Mas Selamat escaped did he continued to have his million dollars pay?

Anonymous said...

CSJ paid for his mistakes already. went to jail, made bankrupt. don't sentence a person 2 or 3 times for same mistakes lah.

Anonymous said...

Wong Kan Seng is not Lawrence Wong's father lah.

Anonymous said...

don't sentence a person 2 or 3 times for same mistakes lah.
Anon 2:21 p.m.

Because CSJ still want to fight PAP mah. So of course PAP will have to fight him back lah, and with whatever means PAP deem necessary.

Hence all the above on LW and CSJ is really much ado about nothing lah.

Anonymous said...

2:20pm, I am sorry, I made a mistake. Lawrence Wong is not Wong Kan Seng son as rumored. 2:22 you are right. I admit my mistake. Thank you for correction.

Anonymous said...

That is why I say the PAP will never change. Any change is cosmetic. The vindictiveness, personality assassination, destroying opponents financially, morally and mentally is their trait handed down from father to son, uncle to nephew and even to cronies who sang the same song.

Maybe that is their way of ensuring survival by getting rid of opposing forces. But always remember that Empires can disintegrate, Dictators can fall and Dynasties are not perpetual.

b said...

I will vote for anyone who will fight to abolish the gst.

Anonymous said...

Lawrence Wong, your slip is showing.

Anonymous said...

According to google, Lawrence Wong is a Christian.

Lawrence,

how many times must a man pay for his sin?
how many times must you nail him to the same cross?

Doesn't our bible teach us to forgive others as god has forgiven us?

Lawrence Wong, are you really a Christian?

Anonymous said...

Lawrence Wong now showing his true colour. Some social media site should get an interview with his ex-wife and find out what lie behind the facade of that affable looking man. Is there a dark secret that has yet to be revealed?

Anonymous said...

"And what power of social media? Did social media not exist in 2011? Did RB not blog even before 2011?" - September 03, 2015 1:47 p.m.

* * *

Hey, IB asshole, if social media is so ineffective, how come PAP has been losing votes election after election as more people use social media?

Sure, even with more votes, PAP still controls over 90% of the seats in parliment but not for long, you'll find out on Sept 12.

virgo 49 said...

Aiyoh, see his demeanour face, straight away knows he kwa kan.

That's why call Lawrence, low lan

Anonymous said...

I have already made my conclusions. All PAP MPs stood by silently while a young boy was bullied and molested by the State. Ergo they are demons, they are not human. Is Lawrence Wong not a PAP MP?

The PAP has gone bad because of the lure of the million dollar salary implemented by horrible old man LKY. The million dollar salary bought their silence and destroyed their conscience. When I look at any PAP MP, I see demons without any human conscience. Is Lawrence Wong not a PAP MP? Doesn't that explain completely what you saw?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ not a party animal, RB:

>> We need a more congenial political climate, more human and humane, for the good of everyone. <<

WOW! Here comes Mr High And Mighty, the Great Redbean of the internet deciding what is "good for everyone". Is he a sage? Does he own a wellspring of wisdom? Must be lah. He can claim "authority" to decide, to be the sole arbiter for the rest of not only society, but for the entirety of MANKIND.

Can you believe the bombast of this cheeky self-appointed, bullshit "humanist" CUNT?

Since he can claim what's what, then so can I. ;-)

I think we need a more "competitive" political scene. I want to see candidates draw blood. I want candidates to plot each other's "accidental" deaths, or exposing each other's sexual peccadilloes in 1080HD or 4k. I want to I want to see hidden cameras catch candidates accepting bribes...then later, after being caught and publicly humiliated, committing seppuku (uploaded to YouTube of course)

You can keep the politics. I'll relish the ENTERTAINMENT! 👍

Anonymous said...

Hey, cunt smeller. RB is thinking about the good of everyone except you. You no count. So angry being left out?

How many hidden cameras you used to watch over your daughters?