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A government ready to abandon its people
Friday, 28 January 2011
Muhd Shamin
Youths have always been a pillar of strength and progress, be it
in terms of a country’s economy, defence or social life. Due to the
high level of enthusiasm for life and adventure, the curiosity for
exploration and the great amount of energy, youths are often relied
upon to bring society forward.
A leadership that recognises this and is capable of influencing
and motivating them would be able to harness this energy and
unleash their potential.
Such a leadership would have to understand the psyche of youths,
provide the vision and necessary training, and encourage them into
action.
The late Indonesia president Sukarno used to say “100 orang
hanya bermimpi, tetapi berikanlah aku 10 pemuda maka akan kuguncang
dunia!” (100 people only dream of, but give me 10 young people, and
I will shake the world!)
Despite the sacrifices made, the uncertain economic conditions
have had an impact on youths seeking employment, stability and to
settle down to build a family. This can be seen in the latest
report on the population whereby the fertility rate has gone down
to an all time low of 1.16. This is a reflection of the low level
of confidence that youths have in the future of the country.
Against this background, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has made a
clumsy suggestion that Singapore would need “young immigrants to
save its economy from long-term decline as a result of a falling
birth rate”.
Let’s not forget the fact that the problem of population growth
started with the “Stop at Two” policy that was ruthlessly
implemented by Mr Lee himself. He has no moral ground to tell the
people what they must do and must not do to ctify the demographic
debacle.
Already the ongoing influx of foreigners is posing a serious
problem to Singaporeans in terms of employment opportunities. Mr
Lee is now displacing further our youth with his quick-fix of
bringing in young immigrants to settle here, a solution that will
inevitably lead to more problems.
This is a Government that has total disregard for its own people
and its youths. Looking at the trend of their policies, it seems
that they are comfortable on a path of abandoning their own people
for political survival.
The PAP has proven itself to be a party of
old men with ossified ways bent on protecting their vested
interests, none of which resonates with the idealism of the young
people in Singapore. The youth in this country feel that they are
not getting the respect that they deserve and that the Government
has readily abandoned them to their own fate.
Throughout history youths have been at the forefront of change.
The fall of the dictatorships in Central Europe to Asia to Latin
America were often precipitated by students who dared to speak up
against the regimes that shackled them.
It is not an overstatement to say that youths have made great
contributions to the progress of Singapore. The peace and stability
that we have here would not have been possible without young
people. Male Singaporean youths spend at least two years of their
lives in military service to the nation.
Shamin is a member of the Young Democrats.
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