corporate wayang

There were many letters to forums calling for a review of the cost of public transport after the brilliant idea of season pass was conceived. Never mind that it was nothing new and has been adopted in the more developed countries all over the world. However, from the official quarter, it was a deafening silence. No one is willing to risk his neck to say anything. It must have been seen as unwise to do so. All the champions of the people must know that some things can be championed, some cannot. Singapore is indeed a corporate state. Everything is corporate, even culture and politics. And everyone is playing the role in a corporate wayang. Wait for the signal and see who says what. Then take the cue and speak loudly or hide in a corner, don't say anything. And nothing else will be spoken about a comprehensive season pass that will really benefit the lower income group, not unless someone who calls the shot, or of a renowned standing comes out and say something. This is the realpolitik of Singapore.

asean, a 3rd world grouping

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A primeval way to justice. We take it unkindly when someone said something bad about us. How to return the courtesy? Beat him up or kill him? Or we take the modern and civil way of reasoning it out with him, or take him to court. In the political process, the trademark of a stable and developed nation is the peaceful and orderly way of transferring political power or office. A president or prime minister departed and give way to his successor through a general election or a party election according to an agreed time scale. The president or prime minister could be naughty or crazy, but he could only be removed legally either through an impeachment or being voted out of office. There are other cruder forms of doing this, revolution, assasination, mass demonstration, or a military coup. When these methods are used, the normal legal procedures are cast aside. And such methods are normally adopted by third world countries, rich or poor. The use of extra legal processes or the thought of a military coup is a manifestation of the people's primeval instinct. ASEAN is an outstanding example of countries that are still far from political maturity. Myanmar is still under a military junta. Thailand just coup its popularly elected prime minister. The Philippines' president could be deposed by another coup anytime. Indonesia is country where the military is still very strong, like a dormant volcano. The Indochinese states are too new to form any judgement while Brunei is a kingdom. The most mature country within ASEAN in terms of a military that does not see its role in interferring with the domestic political process is Malaysia. The military has accepted the same role as those of the British, its predecessor. It is to defend the nation from external threat and not meddling with internal politics. You don't hear the military men edging to remove a prime minister or govt. Singapore was perceived as the most developed of all the ASEAN countries and a first world country in all aspects until the latest suggestion that the military will step in when things are not going right. That is the hallmark of a third world country. When military intervention is seen as a logical option, it only shows that we are still very far from being a first world political system.

constitutional monarchy is good for singapore

The Thai military coup could be the harbinger of a political change in Thailand. It is the first time that the king played a key role in engineering the removal of a popularly elected PM on drum up charges of corruption. It is so easy to prove such accusations on anyone in power, including kings and presidents, as people in such positions are often in compromising positions because of what they are. There will be many charges of excesses which can easily be proven. What may trigger off a backlash is the increasing awareness of the farmers of the political process. With higher education, the people will start thinking. Why should the land belong to the king and not to the people? Will this lead Thailand towards a republic? On the contrary, the politicisation of Singaporeans could go the other way. All signs point favourably towards a constitutional monarchy. How so? The majority of Singaporeans are of Chinese origin, steeped in Confucianist thinking that runs deep in their blood without them knowing. For several centuries, the Chinese fear authority. On the positive side, they become very discipline and easily led. On the negative side, they become very submissive and easily controlled. Or as proven in this region, they become very compliant even in the face of adversities and abuses. When there is a strong and virtuous leader, the Chinese will become a very powerful and organised force for progress and development, like what China has become. But when the leader is a crook or incompetent, the whole population will suffered in silence. They could not stand up to remove the leader, and thus be led or misled to their own demise. In a hypothetical case, if tomorrow a very powerful personality emerged and claimed to have the mandate of heaven to rule Singapore, like Yuan Shi Kai did in China, the people will obediently go along. Such a personality could instal himself as the next monarch, a constitutional monarch quite easily. And the Chinese population will accept it in acquiscience. No protest or protest feebly. But such a system may be good for Singapore. Under Confucianist ideology, the people are told to accept their stations in life. The monarch and elite deserve to be where they are and live a life of plenty. The poor farmers and peasants believe that life for them is to remain as good peasants and farmers. And if they have to toil for less, they are still expected to be contented with that. In the current context, the political elite will be very happy with such mindless mass that will quietly lead their lives in poverty. The compliant mass will resign to their fate and will not voice out about lack of opportunities or a widening income gap. Neither will they challenge the authority. Society will be at peace. The top and bottom are all happy to live their separate lives in separate worlds. See, a constitutional monarchy with a compliant people can save the country so many problems. Lim Swee Say need not work so hard to appease the demands of the unions. They know their station in life.

looking for chorus boys

I am still waiting for those people who proclaimed loudly that they are the champions of the poorer people to come forward and say something regarding a season pass that can benefit the people as well as the transport companies. It is better that they stand up and speak about it now than to wait for Wei Ling to say it and then come forward to sing in chorus, yes, yes, good idea! Wei Ling is only a medical doctor, not someone whose main preoccupation is to look after the general welfare of the people. We have heard a lot of big talks during the general elections. Lets see if people will now act on what they said and uplift the less fortunate of the society to a more bearable existence. And no, they don't have to provide giveaways and ask people to come forward to beg for them. All they need now is to take a serious look at the season pass concept and make it best for the people. And no need to crack their heads too. It is nothing new. All the merits and misgivings have been trashed out by other great minds long ago. Just borrow the idea and make it work, really work for the people. Now am I asking for too much?

lets talk about the hypocrisy

Perhaps the time has come for ASEAN leaders to face the ugly truth squarely instead of pretending that everything is alright. Race is something that no one consciously choose to be. One is born a Malay, Indian, Chinese, English, German or whatever. We are stuck with whatever colour that we came by. There is no running away from this racial distinction by calling oneself an international citizen or a Singaporean, Malaysian or Australian. And associated with this racial thing is a primordial instinct to belong, to be identified with. Imagine when the Indonesians were looting the Chinese shops and burning their houses, raping Chinese girls and killing Chinese Indonesians, and the Singapore leaders were feasting the Indonesian leaders at the Istana, pretending that everything is alright. We are Singaporeans and the Indonesian Chinese are Indonesians. Conversely, if the majority Chinese in Singapore were doing the same thing to their Malay counterparts while our leaders were having a feast in KL. How much hypocrisy can one live with and get by without being prick by one's conscience or morals? Inhumane treatment of human beings, discriminations, victimisations, can never be tolerated regardless of race or whatever distinctions. And the injustice becomes that much closer when one's race or religion is being victimised. Just listen to the uproar over what the Pope said and how the Muslims feel aggrieved by the comments. Perhaps LKY has assumed a new role in himself. It is no longer a domestic issue and he is speaking as an international statesman on an international issue. It is something that concerns him or any statesman around the world, the issue of treating every human being with respect, fairness and dignity. Are the other ASEAN leaders up to the mark to discuss the issues or are they going to pretend that there were no such things in their countries but only happened in Singapore?