Temasek Review
Speaking to the media during his stop at the World EXPO in
Shanghai, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong used the example of the
Singapore pavilion to sell his regime as one which take note of
criticisms “seriously”.
The Singapore pavilion has come under intense fire last month
for its design and few display items, prompting the organizers to
“improve” it which won generous praises from PM Lee.
“I read the criticisms in the papers, in particular
earlier on, some of the shortcomings. And we took them seriously. I
talked to the staff and I think they have put in a big effort to
improve it. And they have progressively upgraded the display over
the last few months, so I think we’ve got not a bad product
now,” he was quoted as saying in Straits Times.
PM Lee is currently in China where he visited Chongqing and
Changsha. Another 46 PAP MPs and activists are in Jiangsu province
on a “bonding trip” with their fellow communist comrades.
Contrary to what he said, the PAP regime only take kindly to
“constructive criticisms” which do not question thege legitimacy of
its rule.
During an election rally in 2006, PM Lee raised eyebrows among
many when he said rather nonchalantly that he would have to “spend
all his time thinking of ways to fix the opposition” should more of
them get elected into Parliament.
A few months ago, PAP minister without portfolio Lim Swee Say
caused a ruckus when he said in Parliament that “we (PAP) are deaf
to all criticisms” in response to queries from PAP-endorsed
“opposition” MP Low Thia Kiang.
In the meantime, the cult-figure building of PAP strongman Lee
Kuan Yew continues as the organizers added a video on Singapore’s
development narrated by him.
