SINGAPORE POLITICS - Grasping At Past Straws?

Politics – Fearing The Future

By MIKOspace

The fear of the future is the most frightening and paralyzing.  The future is full of uncertainties, ambiguities and the unknown.  The unknown future is however not unfamiliar to Singapore.  We were there in 1965, again in 1973 and 1979 through the recurring global recessions of 1985, 1997, 2001, 2008, 2012 in addition to the 2002-2004 SARS medical crisis, Islamic extremist terrorist activities of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in 2002 and their continuous threats into 2017 when another JI plot was discovered and crushed.  We have prevailed in every encounter beyond survival against seemingly insurmountable odds. In 2019, we will celebrate our 54^th National Birthday come August. 

For Singaporeans, the unknown future is not our friend.  It is also not our enemy.  Most importantly to Singaporeans, the future is not unknown.  We in Singapore know our future very well, and regard the future as full of opportunities for our benefits and prosperity growth. We understand its natural constant threats, challenges and prospects.  We have repeatedly engaged it, subdued it, transformed its threats, overcome and prospered from our numerous repeated victories over the “dark” future.     

It is therefore interesting to note that the newest Singapore political party, Progress Singapore Party (PSP), was formed (pending official registration) with the intention to “build a compassionate and truly democratic Singapore where good values and people matter; (and that) freedom of choice and free speech without fear must be defended”.  Hopefully, the new Party could soon unveil and elaborate on its “alternate” Singapore with non-existent compassion and (fake?) democracy, and yet has the freedom of choice and free speech. No Singaporean can recognise the PSP’s Singapore. Even 78-year old PSP Founder Dr Tan Cheng Bock seems to have forgotten that he himself participated successfully in more than 6 free and fair democratic elections; as well as a highly competitive Presidential election which he also decisively but fairly lost.

The PSP is founded and led by 78-year old Dr Tan Cheng Bock, a past MP (Member of Parliament) of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). The veteran Singaporean politician (1980-2006) had actually retired from politics in 2006, but emerged briefly to be defeated in the 2011 Singapore Presidential Elections by Dr Tony Tan who served as a most popular President from 2011-2017. Since 2006, Dr Tan Cheng Bock has not in fact been politically active and unlikely therefore currently to possess “star appeal” or any significant or material political clout or influence.  

Older Singaporeans would remember Dr Tan Cheng Bock as a medical practitioner with no experience in shipping or logistics when, as an MP in 1991, he also became the non-executive Chairman of Chuan Hup Holdings (CHH) Ltd, a logistic transport company, which was unusual at that time as MPs did not normally hold such positions, let alone one which is totally unrelated to his expertise or professional experience. Then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had also cautioned Cheng Bock to avoid speaking on behalf of his company/industry as an MP or to lobby any public officer in the course of his business.  PM Goh subsequently issued binding Guidelines on MPs’ Involvement in Business which is regularly revised and updated.

The emergence of the PSP in fact celebrates the fact that real and true democracy is alive and well in Singapore, quite contrary to its debut Facebook declaration. Many, many political parties have been formed over the years when political participation deepens as expected in a maturing Singapore democracy. There are a total of 30 registered political parties today, of which only eight have never contested in an election.  In the 2015 General Elections (GE2015), 179 candidates (representing 9 political parties) and two independents contested all 29 constituencies and the 89 parliamentary seats without any uncontested walkovers. Only 2 political parties emerged from GE2015 successfully – the ruling PAP won 83 of 89 seats with an increased 69.9% of the popular vote and the Workers’ Party had 6 seats with much lesser popular votes than before.

The PSP declared its aspiration to be “an alternative voice in Parliament”.  Of course, its MP candidates must first get elected.  And it vows that “as the Party and Candidates mature, we intend to be ready to govern the nation”.  If not soon, when?  

According to Cheng Bock, he has formed PSP with 11 other unnamed "like-minded” Singaporeans, among whom are former members or cadres of the PAP.  It is truly unusual for newbie political leaders to be so shy as to remain anonymous! That’s surely a novel way to introduce your leaders, hahaha!  So humorous and comical indeed!  

And if the PSP wished to be taken seriously, stop being a joke and introduce your leadership openly.  We do want to know their experiences, qualifications, accolades, service record and motivations; as well as whether any have personal grudges, self-esteem problems, spousal issues, daddy issues, mommy issues or sibling issues.

It is therefore strangely bizarre that at least 5 opposition political parties have already openly declared that they are open to an alliance with Cheng Bock’s PSP.  But the PSP has not even announced its leadership, vision, mission and policy positions!  And no one truly has any clue as to what the PSP actually stands for? For continual employability and prosperity, or disastrous freebies and free benefits?  What does PSB see as core bread-and-butter and gut issues faced by Singaporeans?  Cheng Bock has alluded to the “fears and pain” of some people whom they spoke to?  Are these psychological? Or medical? Real or imaginary? Irritations or routine discomforts?  What are these, please elaborate? 

Without any documentation of PSP’s proposed solutions to resolve the purported “fears and pain” of the people, as well as the global issues facing Singapore, how did the 5 opposition parties know whether these PSP solutions would align with and are not contradictory to their own albeit unpopular policy solutions?  Is this how they would make decisions when in government?  That’s worrying! 

Even as nearly 40 years have passed since the first non-PAP MP (from the Workers’ Party) was elected into Parliament, followed by a few more in subsequent elections, no opposition political party has ever aspired nor ready to take over the government mantle.  No opposition political party appeared to have mustered, groomed or attracted enough suitable talent to field and contest sufficient seats to form the government should they be elected.  Some opposition parties had combined to form an “alliance” hoping to contest every seat so as to win more than 50% to form the next government; and they had repeatedly failed in this strategy in past general elections.  Perhaps, such an alliance is what 7 opposition political parties hope to create with the “unknown” PSP with Dr Tan as its “Great Leader” after a meeting in July 2018.   

Indeed, if the PAP had been performing sub-par to deserve being replaced, then this “100% contests” strategy (which failed in GE2015) would be best for the eventual opposition alternative government. Unless of course, either the PAP performance was never an electoral issue (why change the government then?) or/and the electorate did not have any confidence in an Opposition alternative government (so why vote for the Opposition?). 

As I watched the excitements unfolding from the unprecedented exhilaration and elation over the birth of Singapore’s latest newbie political party, reality check quickly emerged that the PSP could very well be just a recycled copy of an old PAP clone, albeit vintage, instead of the modern future-ready PAP with the full potential and measure of newbie zest and youthful exuberance!   

Cheng Bock and most of his merry ex-PAP band of “unknown” 11 co-founders of the PSP are likely to belong to a PAP’s past which no longer even exists in the PAP!  The PAP has been continually evolving by replacing 20% of its MPs at every General Election in order to maintain relevance and promote smooth succession by injecting fresh talent regularly.     

The future is not to be feared.  The future must be grasped and engaged in order to overcome and survive it.  For some, survival is optional. And for yet others, survival is not even compulsory.  We need to guard against the promises of easy solutions offered by straw-men or straw-women, especially if they belonged to the vintage past.  While age does not matter when what mattered has not aged, those who want to lead Singaporeans into the victorious future should not encourage the natural fear of the unknown future, but to provide Singaporeans the confidence and assurance of living a sustainable, victorious and prosperous life with loved ones in a better future Singaporean society. 

F35 - Die die must buy

SINGAPORE: Singapore expects to buy a "small number" of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for a full evaluation after it identified the jet as the “most suitable replacement” for its ageing F-16s, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on Friday (Jan 18).

This follows a technical evaluation by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Defence Science and Technology Agency which lasted more than five years.

“The technical evaluation also concluded that the RSAF should first purchase a small number of F-35 JSFs for a full evaluation of their capabilities and suitability before deciding on a full fleet,” MINDEF said....

Details that will be discussed include price, quantity and which variant of the jet to buy, as well as issues like logistical requirements and the training of pilots.

The F-35A – the conventional take-off and landing variant – costs US$89.2 million (S$121 million), according to maker Lockheed Martin.It’s believed Singapore is interested in the B variant, which costs more and can take off from shorter runways and land vertically.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-f-35-fighter-jet-replace-f-16-rsaf-lockheed-11139654

The above report came out on19 Jan 18. What does it say? Is this a case of die die must buy option, don't buy cannot? The reasons given to support the buying of this ultra expensive piece of weapon is at most controversial. One can argue with all the pros and cons against and for this aircraft. No one is saying that this is a bad aircraft, but the justifications and cost to operate this aircraft are questionable. Does Singapore really need this aircraft and can afford to buy and maintain this aircraft?

The idea of buying a few pieces to test and evaluate? What kind of thinking is that? Somebody must be thinking that this is like buying a piece of toy. The cost involved in this test and play thing is enormous.  The pricing of $121 million a piece is pulling wool over the eyes. The variant B is not only more expensive, but how much more expensive. And this is likely the cost of the aircraft without the accessories and weapons. To operationalise this piece of toy it is likely to be more than double the amount mentioned for just a single piece of feel good toy. What about ground system support and satellite support? Free?

Can Singapore really afford this ultra expensive war machine? Is it the only option available? Who is Singapore's enemy and who is this aircraft intended to fight against? Buying a few pieces, how many is  few? A few pieces can mean less than 5, 10, 20 or 30. And if too little, it is economically very expensive and cost ineffective to have all the maintenance and support crew just to service a few.

Is there arm twisting by the bankrupt Empire to make Singapore pay for protection money, to pay for this aircraft as an excuse? Singapore being coerced to buy a few pieces at least? Normally the Americans would not sell their top end war machine to anyone, just like the F22. When the Americans are so desperate to push this aircraft, it cannot be of much good. Does anyone smell a fish?  What are the intent and purpose of the Americans to want to sell this aircraft by all means?

Political change - Abandoning a sinking ship

The once dull, placid and uneventful political scene of Singapore where the PAP dominates and controls everything is showing signs of life, excitement and suspense. Cheng Bock just announced that he is forming a new party, Progress Singapore Party. There are many aspects of this party that are going to change the status quo. Cheng Bock's party would have many members coming from the PAP, a chip of the old block.

In a way this is what Singaporeans are waiting for, have been waiting for this to happen, yes, a split within the PAP. This may not be technically correct in the sense that Cheng Bock's members are likely to be ex PAP and not serving MPs/ministers or card carrying members. A split would be a case of current members breaking away to form a new party to challenge the PAP. I may be saying this a bit too early as this is just the beginning. When things gather momentum, there is always a likelihood that PAP members and cadres could switch camp before the next GE.

People are speculating as to who are the 12 founding members of Cheng Bock's new party. Big names have been thrown into the ring with some mentioning Hsien Yang and even George Yeo may make a comeback. People are anticipating surprises, hoping for surprises, wishing for surprises. And what could they look for, would there be current MPs and ministers switching camps?

The premature retiring of some ministers in the recent PAP reelection must have made some ministers not very happy or even disgruntled. The two DPMs that are standing down are very young, at the prime of their life and have many good years to contribute to the country and people. Would they be happy to be retired so early and be cast into the wilderness?

Then there is the possibility of some wanting to jump ship, abandoning a sinking ship. Though the PAP is still look formidable, just like UMNO was in the last GE before they were defeated. No one would expect UMNO to become a sinking ship once the result was final. This incident would provide fruit for thought in the Singapore context. Is the PAP a sinking ship like UMNO but not showing sign that it is sinking? Would it be prudent to jump ship before it is too late, like the case of UMNO when it was too late once the rice is cooked?

The new Progress Singapore Party can prove to be an attractive proposition if more big wigs join the bandwagon and start a rush for safety, or if there is a strong and attractive pipe piper taking the lead.

Everyone is making his own assessment of the health of the PAP. There are many factors and developments recently that may be read as bad signs for the PAP. Is the PAP still as strong as it was or is it at the terminal stage of cancer and it is better to jump ship before it is too late? If the decision is to jump, Cheng Bock's new party is a good and easy choice to make the switch.

The new party is giving hopes to many that change is coming, change is now before the curtain falls on the PAP. If there are enough people believing in change, change it will be.

Living under the American white lie

Stephen Roach of Yale University could not hold back any more when faced with daily barrage of American white lies about China. In his article in the Straits Times titled, ‘Is China really cheating?’, he wrote these two paragraphs to start his dismissal of the white lies.
 
‘Repetition breeds reality. Such is the case with allegations the United States has leveled at China in their budding economic cold war.
 
Across the American political spectrum, it is now taken for granted that China forces US companies to transfer critical technology in order to do business on the mainland, engages in rampant hacking and theft of intellectual property (IP), and massively and unfairly subsidises its high tech industries – all of which contribute to fears that the country poses an existential threat to America’s prosperity.’
 
Roach ended his article with these two paragraphs,
 
‘China is far from perfect and must be held accountable for verifiable economic transgression. But America’s case against China is based on anecdotes and shaky evidence.
As a trade war now morphs into a cold war, the current US administration would be wise to stop relying on such “alternative facts” to wage its battles.’
 
The gist of the article is that the Americans have been making wild allegations based on fake information and hearsays not backed up by data and facts. American companies operating in China, under JVs, are willing partners that agreed to share technologies and trade secrets. No one is pointing a gun against any party in such joint ventures. They don’t have to operate in China, don’t have to do business in China. The allegation of force is hogwash.
 
The important point, as Roach said above, the daily and constant repetition of these allegations after a while would make the innocent readers take these allegations for granted. Many would shoot from their mouths using these allegations unconsciously as given fact or alternative truth, just like some bananas screaming that Kim Jong Un is a womanizer, a spent thrift, someone who drowns himself with luxury while his people suffer from poverty, that he is a murderer, etc etc. They spout such nonsense without thinking because the Americans have been planting these ideas in their heads through repetitive postings in the main media.
 
Living under the white lies is one thing, making a fool of oneself by quoting the white lies as the truth is another. Asians must start thinking and not make a fool of themselves by allowing the Americans and the West to plant their white lies in their heads as if they are the truths. Many Asians have been made a fool of by relying on western media and living under the spell of white lies without noticing them and strutting around like they are well informed, but actually well fed by white lies.
 
Grow up and start thinking. It is so pathetic that after all the education and exposure to the world and could still fall victims to fake news, misinformation and white lies. Even an American professor could not stand this nonsense anymore. The biggest culprit in propagating these white lies and fake news is the main media. Period.

SingHealth hacker known: Iswaran

The govt has confirmed that they knew the hacker of SingHealth confidential data of its patients. It disclosed that ‘the attacker was skilled and sophisticated, and had the characteristics typical of an advanced persistent threat group, usually state-linked’. The govt has taken appropriate action but would not identify the attacker due to security reasons. Ooooh, why so?
 
Iswaran was quoted in thenewpaper as saying, ‘We want to ensure that all Singaporeans understand that we’ve got nothing to hide here, we want to get to the bottom of it as much as Singaporeans do.’ But the govt would hide the identity of the attacker, at least this is what the govt has done, nothing to hide except for this.
 
Who is the attacker, he used this in singular form, an individual or a single country? Why is it so secretive that the attacker cannot be revealed? He is someone very important that revealing his identity would be very embarrassing? Is he someone we know, we trusted but played out Singapore? Could he be a hired foreign talent still in Singapore that would result in many red faces, or a Singaporean or a new citizen?
 
Or is the attacker a country, a friendly country that we trusted as our good friend but again played us out by screwing our ass? Or is the attacker country our enemy, too big to offend, we are afraid to offend other big country because we dare not punch above our weight? We are a small country and must shut up, no more loudspeaker politics? I think taking such a meek stand would only encourage the offender to continue to hack into our system knowing that we can only blow hot air but unable to fight back, we are afraid.
 
Would it not be better to make it public for all to see who the attacker was, friend or foe, to embarrass them so that they would not dare to create mischief against us again? Remember the time when LKY exposed the Americans for trying to bribe him just to embarrass the Americans to prevent them from thinking that it was ok to do such mischievous act?
 
What is so secretive or embarrassing that the culprit cannot be named? Someone’s identity needs to be protected, the attacker’s identity needs to be protected? Whose interest is being protected by this non disclosure? Is the attacker a minor so cannot be named?
 
Weird! BTH.
 
PS. I agree with many of the comments here that this is not funny but fishy. What is the govt afraid of? No more balls in between the legs?

Trump declares end of policeman role for the US

"It's not fair when the burden is all on us," he said. "We don't want to be taken advantage of any more by countries that use us and use our incredible military to protect them. They don't pay for it and they're going to have to."
 
"We are spread out all over the world. We are in countries most people haven't even heard about. Frankly, it's ridiculous," he added.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/trump-declares-end-to-us-policeman-role-in-surprise-iraq-visit-11065108

The above comment is even more ridiculous, disinformation and misinformation. The American troops are all over the world because the Americans demanded and dictated to those countries for their troops to be there, to protect the American Empire, not to protect those countries. American troops in those countries made those countries top targets for a military strike in the event of war with the USA.
 
Now Trump is still pretending that the troops were there at the request of the respective countries and so they must pay. The people that need to pay for the privilege of stationing soldiers and military weapons in other people’s countries are the Americans. If the Americans cannot afford to pay, then they must give up the right to station in those countries.
 
Countries offering their land to foreign soldiers are compromising on their own safety and security and dignity as independent countries. Some are in cahoot with the Americans to serve the American interests in containing American enemies like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The South Koreans and Japanese would not want the American bases in their countries and with the Americans commanding their national armed forces. Japan does not need American protection. They were the conquerors of Asia in WW2 and even attempted to conquer the USA.
 
Did Trump really believe in this white lie, that the countries wanted American bases and American soldiers in their soil? The only country that needs American soldiers and bases is Israel. Without the American bases and soldiers, Israel does not stand a chance against the Arab neighbours. They would be burnt to the ground.
 
Trump can prove this point simply by demanding payment for American bases and soldiers and see if there are any takers? The South Koreans already refused to pay. Would the Diego Garcians and islanders want to pay for the American base in their islands, in Guam? Would any proud Asean country want to have American bases in their soil? The Pinoys chased out the Americans, Vietnam chased out the Americans. Would Malaysia and Indonesia ask the Americans to base in their countries against their national pride?
 
What policeman of the world? It is policing and controlling the world for the American Empire.

Trump – The Great Wall of America!

Trump is going to spend US$5.6b to build a Great Wall of America, 2,000 km long to rival the Great Wall of China. The only similarity between these two Walls is that they are both called Walls. When the Chinese built their Great Wall, it was to keep the barbarians out, to stave off the marauding hordes from invading China, killing and looting China.
 
The intent and purpose of the Trump Great Wall are totally different. It is to keep migrants, like the pioneer white Europeans, from finding a better life in the land of the free. The USA is a land of the free, a land taken free, seized from the native Americans, without paying a single cent, for the poor European migrants to start life anew. Now the North Americans are going to keep away southern Americans, the Mexicans and the lots that are American natives and have more rights to live in the land of the free, their land, to start a new life. What an irony and unfair proposition.
 
The migrants are just normal people, not barbarians or marauding hordes wanting to invade the USA, to kill North Americans. They just want to live and work in the USA, nothing more, nothing less. What is so bad, so evil, that the Trump Administration wants to spend US$5.6b to keep these people out, mothers, children and their parents? And it is not just the Trump Administration, all the European Americans are in favour of the Wall to keep the migrants out, but in different forms or different kinds of walls.
 
Come on Americans, you stole the land from the native Americans. It is only reasonable to share this stolen land, the land of the free, free land, with free people that just want to live there like every one of you.
It is selfish, devious, against human rights and liberty and against what the Statue of Liberty stands for, welcome immigrants to the land of the free. At least in Singapore we are opening our little piece of rock to the rest of the world. We are going to pump in migrants, several times our local population, to fill up the island, to share the island with all who wants to come here and to become owners of this piece of rock. Our piece of rock belongs to everyone that comes here. The Americans must learn from Singapore, be unselfish, be enlighten, be generous, you have a continent of land and can welcome hundreds of millions to the stolen free land. Singapore is only a piece of rock but we have no problem bringing in the millions, no need to build any walls to keep out the migrants. We welcome all migrants. We even gave them good jobs, top jobs, never mind our own PMETs going jobless or become taxi drivers and cleaners.
 
Shame on you, Americans. After stealing the land from the natives you are keeping the natives out of their homeland. Most of the migrants are original people of the Americas, they are not Europeans that came and stole their land.