youth is in

In the past, MPs are chosen from a field of experienced, intelligent and wise men to look after the affairs of the people and country. Incorruptibility, honesty, strength of character, integrity etc were the qualities that were seen as important. Then other qualities were also added, like bi lingualism. Candidates are chosen from those who can speak another tongue other than English to reach out to more people. Later on a humble background is a badge of honour to be flashed around to show that the underdogs can also do well. Today, the most important quality is youth. To be able to connect with the young, to dance, to be hip, and to be cool are important qualities to be an MP. The future is theirs. They are the future guardians or owners of the nation. Starting them young is important. The younger the better. I would strongly suggest to the opposition parties to start looking at the kindergartens and nurseries to recruit their potential candidates. Never mind if they are still sucking their pacifiers. They need to reach out to all the people, to the very young as well. And then they can brag about having the youngest MP in parliament. Maybe getting one from the kindergarten will sure make great news.

myth 70

'The blind cannot see' This is what everyone thinks so, that the blind cannot see. It must be or else we won't call them blind. But if one is to observe the designing of the guides for the blind in MRT stations or in shopping centres, and then try to imagine how the blind go about getting from one place to another, one cannot help but to think that the blind are not so blind. For instance the blind will be able to find their way to the MRT stations without any guides. So they must be able to see in a way. But once they are in the stations, they became blind and needed the guide to help them along, to the ticketing gates, to the lifts and to the trains. Without the guides they definitely cannot find their way around. And when they get to the platforms, they can see again. The whole platform of 50 metres length are lined with guides so that they can walk from one end to another to choose which train cabin to get in. Presumably they can see which one is empty or more comfortable. Or they can walk around enjoying the scenery high above ground level on the platform. Now, would I be made to believe that they are blind and cannot see?

are public transport companies private companies?

Cindy Lim, Press Secretary to the Minister of Transport wrote a letter to the Straits Times forum explaining why a forumer's allegation against the transport companies were wrong. And she went on to justify the come of the transport companies as healthy and not excessive. I am wondering why aren't the transport companies be there explaining for themselves and why the Transport Ministry thinks it is its responsibility to do so. Aren't the transport companies private companies, or are they govt companies?

spend to look good and feel good

As I approached a MRT station I was greeted by lines of sparkling metallic studs on the floor, nicely arranged in neat rows. With a little curiosity I followed all the way to the lift and out of the lift. And on both sides of the platform, two equally brilliant rows of studs ran across the whole length of the platform. Very well designed and a visual treat. These are aids for the blind to allow them to get to the station platform. And by stretching it across the whole platform, the blind could walk from one end to the other to enjoy the beautiful sight, guided by the studs. Very thoughtful. I am glad that we are putting in great efforts to help our physically handicaps. But I thought they could do a little more. The studs only start at the station floor. How could the blind get all the way from their homes to the station without the studs? It would be better if the studs were laid all the way to the flats or houses, through overhead bridges, stairways, underpass etc. That would make it more convenient, and would have looked more caring. Then we will be more deserving of a first world nation, looking good and feeling good. And those car parks that provided only one parking lot for the invalid drivers should change their mindsets and provide more. One is too miserly. Maybe twenty or more. As our population ages, we can forsee that in the future there will be more wheelchairs and blind people on the road. We must prepare for a nation of cripples and the sightless. What we are doing is not enough. Maybe 20% of the population, statistically will need assistance to travel around to see the beautiful gardens, parks and cities, and shopping and eating. We must do more to prepare for a nation of people that cannot see and walk but would like to see and travel around. Seriously, I am for all the assistance we can do to help those who need help. But throwing away money unnecessarily to look good is not the way to go.

open apology from lky

LKY has officially replied to Badawi, something which a gentleman like Badawi deserved. I refresh my memory but could not recall Badawi making any insinuations or racial remarks about Singapore in the past, unlike his predecessor. It would be unlikely for LKY to do so if it was Mahathir making the demand. For many years, LKY has been quite reticent about the racial slurs of Mahathir and his ministers. During that period, attacking Singapore on such grounds is the implied norm. Every minister worth to be in the good book of Mahathir must utter something to this effect to cut his teeth, so to speak. What did Singapore do? Explain, explain and explain. None feel it right or up to it to take on such comments headon, probably to avoid further deterioration of relations. Even LKY refused to be dragged in. But a closure must be made to this unpleasant way to conduct interstate relations, pointing an accusing finger across borders to score political points. Hopefully, with this letter of open apology coming from LKY, the Malaysian side could bury this episode and not to reinvent more new attacks in the future. It takes two parties to clap. And if one party insists to continue, it would seem that the Singapore side will now respond more robustly by the ministers instead of keeping quiet and avoiding the issue. One just can't keep folding his arms and receive all the blows.