LKY – No crutch mentality

The history of Singapore has always been ‘no crutch mentality’ since the colonial days through to the days of LKY.  The British brought in the migrants and left them to their own doings. They worked themselves out to eke a living. Some made it good, some made it less good. The only leg up given by the British was to the Eurasians and those English educated.

During the earlier years of the PAP rule, there were pressures and great temptations to offer the crutch to the minorities but were stoically and firmly opposed by the no nonsense LKY govt. Crutch mentality is not only dangerous and a burden to the system, it was also rightly resisted by the LKY govt for undermining the pride and drive of the favoured group.

The minorities have survived the last 50 years without a crutch and did well though could have been better. Some may complained but there is pride in their achievements against the odds for being minorities.

Are the minorities asking for the crutch or should the crutch be offered to them and compromise their efforts and achievement all these years that they could only do so with the help of a crutch?

The changes to the Constitution in favour of the minorities because they are the minorities and must be favoured,  would it all end up with giving the minorities a crutch that the past govt had resisted to do so? Is this progress or regress? Minority EP lifted by a crutch! Is this something good, something to be proud of? No compromise on meritocracy, the best of the best? Would the minority EP be saying I am the President on my own right, merit man, or because of a crutch? Without the crutch they would not be good enough, would not make it?

Some have quoted that it was the desire of the Malays to want a Malay President. That is fair, every minority or majority would want that. But would be like the Chinese saying, ‘xin xiang shi cheng’ or 心想事成, just wish and your wish will be granted? What would be the next wish, a Malay PM?

What do you think?