PROPOSED OVERHAUL OF CURRENT CONSTITUTION,
The current constitution (Singapore) is too general and vague.
There is no true democracy with proper framework for protection of
citizens' rights and integrity of one-man-one-vote election
process.
In the present form it can be easily manipulated like introduction
of GRC to enable any ruling party to stay in power or to suit its
own narrow party interest.
All that the ruling party is interested in is to exercise all sorts
of administrative control of the judiciary and military and
legislature and it will be able to do as it like even paying
themselves millions of salaries or life pensions without any basis
or consent of the people.
The government can easily get their own legal officers or judges to
interpret the laws and the constitutions to circumvent loopholes or
grey areas to do all its biddings.
The answer is obvious: people in Asia do not understand perhaps
because of their own culture enough of how democracy really work in
the west which have enjoyed true progress and peace to facilitate
development of its people.
There is no tolerance by democracies in Asia of criticisms of
government with most of the government resorting to fixing of
political oppositions or alternative shadow government.
Even if there is some forms of tolerances they will be exceptions
or hypocrisy in dealing with people's feedbacks of problems.
The constitution is the basic document that spell out the basic
rights of citizens, defining the duties and roles of government and
their responsibilities to safeguard social, cultural and economic
vibrancy particularly in the following areas:-
(1) One Man One Vote election process to ensure that all who are
eligible are able to enter his name for nomination to be a
candidate for election.
(2) To ensure multi-racial representation, a certain number of
seats of parliaments can be reserved for contest among minority
candidates.
(3) The rights and duties of citizens are spelled out as inviolable
with suitable protection irrespective of race, culture, religion or
tenets including freedoms of speech, political beliefs, right to
stand for election or right to make criticisms of policies or
practices of government in power without fear of being sued for
remarks or criticisms of government in the course of
election.
(4) The roles and duties and responsibilities of components of
governments i.e. executives, legislature, judiciary and civil
service are spelled out clearly to avoid conflict or usurpation of
power by anyone to lay down a foundation for establishment of rule
of law.
(5) Establish Rule of law, justice, fairness and equity in conduct
of laws without fear or favor to the government in power.
(6) To Establish a low-cost independent panel open to observers
from UN agencies to oversee election process and political
participation by citizens.
(7) To Establish powers in appropriate agencies under the
supervision of an independent panel for indictment or Investigation
and adjudication of conflicts of interests among members of the
government.
It is recommended that the existing constitution be amended so as
to ensure that we will eventually evolve into a true democracy
where citizens are not being defensive in playing their part in the
governing of the country and they are being encouraged to take an
active part to safeguard the quality of government with proper
scrutiny and feedbacks of whatever policies or actions taken by the
government to ensure that they would exercise their sacred votes
during election without fear or favor or compromise.
Such a constitution will be proactive and open up greater
possibilities to have a country well run by the government which
will truly serve as the government by the people and for the people
in the widest perspective of nation building.
Through such a proactive constitution people can then develop into
a cohesive social and cultural and economic entity able to
contribute to creativity, entrepreneurship or participations in
election, giving feedbacks without fear or favor.
Singapore's democracy is still young and it has not fully developed
and matured.
As a saying goes: you ain't seen all yet.
http://www.managefranchise.blogspot.com
(amended on 4.9.2005)
http://www.imbuddy.net