By Yahoo!
Singapore | SingaporeScene – Sun, Aug 14, 2011
Will Singaporeans choose "constructive" or "confrontational"
politics? (File photo)
Confrontational or constructive?
Pragmatic or
populist?
Those were the
"hard choices" facing Singaporeans in deciding the kind of politics
they want, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong during a
National Day dinner at Marine Parade on Saturday.
Expressing concern
about the "whipping up of resentment" by those opposed to the
Government during the May General Election, he asked if
Singaporeans would choose "constructive politics" or
"confrontational and divisive politics".
It is much easier to agitate and criticise than to come up with
alternative, sound policies that will solve problems for the
majorityGoh
Chok Tong
In his first major
speech since the May elections, Mr Goh also said that with the
country being in transition, the new and younger team of leaders
together with the people will have to decide what their goals are
for Singapore, and how to achieve them.
They will have to
make "hard choices" to solve problems within the economic, social
and political spheres, reported Channel NewsAsia.
Referring to the
growing number of Singaporeans voicing out their views on various
issues, especially online, he added that those born after
independence will increasingly decide Singapore's political
future.
"Singaporeans
generally, not just the young, now want to have more say in their
future and have their diverse interests reflected in a pluralistic
parliament," he said.
"It is much easier
to agitate and criticise than to come up with alternative, sound
policies that will solve problems for the majority. Will
Singaporeans choose constructive politics and debate policies
rationally in the future, or choose confrontational and divisive
politics based on stoking envy and resentment?"
They must also
choose between pragmatic and populist politics, said Mr Goh.
In pragmatic
politics, Singaporeans will accept measures with short-term pain
but long-term gain.
"In populist
politics, they want immediate gratification and ignore the
long-term costs. Which way will Singapore politics go?" he
asked.
Turning his
attention to Presidential Elections later this month, the former
Prime Minister urged voters to scrutinize all four presidential
hopefuls, "especially their character, integrity, experience,
bearing and gravitas".
"In particular, we
should ask whether they can deliver their promises under the
Constitution," he was quoted as saying by The Straits
Times.
As deputy prime
minister, Mr Goh was involved in conceptualizing the elected
presidency in the 1980s.
Saying that he
knows the candidates well after having worked with all four of them
before, he added that he wants the presidential office to be
occupied by the best person who can rise above partisan politics
and strengthen Singapore's governance framework.
