Paving the way for our current Finance Minister?
From Channelnewsasia
SINGAPORE: Fresh from the historic win of US
President-elect Barrack Obama, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong said it's possible for the country to have a minority race
Prime Minister. But, in his first public comment on the subject, Mr
Lee said he does not think it will happen anytime soon.
Speaking at a dialogue session with grassroots leaders from the
Malay community on Saturday, Mr Lee also touched on the
implications of protectionist policies for the local workforce,
amidst the current downturn.
It was a historic day when Barrack Obama became the first elected
African-American US President. But Mr Lee pointed out that Obama's
victory does not mean race is no longer an issue in the US.
He noted poll results showed Republican John McCain secured most of
the white votes while Obama scored with the Latin, Asian and
African-American electorate.
Did PM LHL check his facts before shooting his reply ?
According to the CIA Factbook 2008. - the July 2008 US
Population estimate was 303,824,640; while the ethnic
breakdown {as of July 2007 estimate} was White
79.96%, Black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and Alaskan native
0.97%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.18%, two
or more miscellaneious races 1.61%.
By ethnicity: Barack Obama won 96% of African Americans,
68% of Latinos, 64% of Asians, and 44% of whites. In 2004, Kerry
won 89% of African Americans, 55% of Latinos, 56% of Asians, and
41% of whites. So Obama gained the most among ethnic minorities.
In the US Census, it remains a fact that
Latinos can be counted as Whites, or counted separately
from the Whites who are then indicated as non-Latino
Whites.
With the African-Americans forming 12.85% of the US Population,
even with 96% of the Votes from the African-Americans could not
bring Obama into the White House.
It is purely distracting to claim that the Whites voted mainly
with McCain, when the majority of the various ethnic groups had
voted for Obama - across the ethnic divide - with even various
ethnic groups including Whites from the Republicans giving
their votes to Obama.
In this US General Election on 4 November 2008, race
or ethnicity was not an issue -
as it was Economics was the main cause for the US Electorate giving
their votes to elect Obama as the 44th President of the
USA.
And in Singapore, he believes the reality is that race-based voting
patterns will remain.
Mr Lee said: "Can we one day have a non-Chinese, a Malay-Muslim
Prime Minister? It's possible. Will it happen soon? I don't think
so because finally you have to win votes and these sentiments. Who
votes for whom and what makes him identify with that person? These
are sentiments that do not disappear completely for a long time,
even if people did not talk about it or even if people wish they
did not feel it."
Mr Lee added that although the situation today is very different
from 20 to 30 years ago, no country in the world is totally race or
religion-blind.
PM Lee continued: "The population's attitudes have shifted
because English is more of a common ground, because the new
generation is better educated and I think they can see that there
are successful people of all races.
“But to become a position where everybody is totally race-blind and
religion-blind, I think that's very difficult. You will not find it
in any country in the world.”
It is unfortunate that while PM LHL can see that
the "population's attitudes have shifted because English is
more of a common ground, because the new generation is better
educated and I think they can see that there are successful people
of all races" - the boorish attitude towards Race and Ethnicity
remains a central theme of his Government.
This can be seen in the HDB policy of restricting the number of
minority ethnic group in staying in each block. The minority ethnic
group can re-sell their HDB home only to another minority ethic
person.
Such manipulation with various Government
guidelines, rules, and regulations had continue to allow the
SG Ruling Party some certainty in not allowing any concentrations
of minority group from working in concert to apply political
pressures.
34-year-old Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad was more
optimistic.
He said: "I agree with PM that a candidate for prime minister has
to be based on ability and acceptance by the majority of
Singaporeans. I think today with the younger generation who've gone
through post-independence Singapore, I think they are a lot more
accepting and race-blind.
“In my lifetime, I'm not sure I will see one, but I think if
someone comes forth with the right ability and proven track record,
it could be a reality."
MP Zaqy had to be diplomatic with his views even as he
contradict the statement made by his PM LHL - and seems to tow the
Party line concerning "someone comes forth with the right
ability and proven track record".
If the US Citizens had waited for someone with any proven track
record, Obama would not even have seen any Nomination Forms.
The US would have been the poorer today.
Foreign workers was another hot topic.
Participants were concerned that they are taking up precious jobs
from locals amidst the current downturn.
However, Mr Lee said that foreign workers took the brunt of job
lay-offs in the last recession between 2001 and 2003 and if it
wasn't for them, the unemployment rate among Singaporeans would
have been much higher.
He said: "If we just send away the foreign workers now, it will do
us harm. For example - companies which are already in difficulty
and they hire half foreign workers and half Singaporeans and you
tell them that foreign workers must go out. And when you take
Singaporeans, his cost will go up and the company may close. And if
the company closes, even the half who have jobs may lose their
jobs.
“So I don't think it's that simple. You send out the foreign
workers and the Singaporeans will take over the jobs and you get
paid more. I think our interest is to protect the Singaporeans and
look after the Singaporeans but we must do it intelligently, we
cannot just react and do something without thinking."
It is silly logic that circumvent the entire problem.
With the SG economy still dependent on industries that need
cheap labor, it is not surprising that more foreign workers are
multiplying their presence in SG; with the controlled wages that
even the SG workers will find it insufficient to raise more kids
that this SG Government has been encouraging.
In his usual fashion of blowing smoke - he had to make the
last paragraph above, it is clear that LHL
will pretend to be intelligent by seemingly show you the
way forward, but he will take the first exit out and let you
continue towards the edge - as he has no clue even how to waddle
his way forward despite all the well propagated talents.
Mr Lee also advised workers to hold on to regular jobs which
contribute to the Central Provident Fund (CPF) for better long term
financial protection.
He cautions that even though contract or odd jobs may enable
workers to take home more pay, it's much riskier given the current
uncertain job market. - CNA/vm
Are there any regular jobs to be hold on to when it
was PM LHL's administration that promoted and insisted that
employers must be helped by all SG Workers accepting his Government
sponsored idea that there is no "Iron Rice Bowl"; and it will be
most advantageous for all sides that SG Workers are employed on
short-term contracts ?
