....continued from previous post.
Concentration of power in the hand of one or a group of executive
will also lead to over-controls, over-regulations, autocracy,
tyranny to suit their own narrow agenda of staying in power using
the excuse of meritocracy or pragmatism at the expense of larger
aspect of nation building and stifling of creativity and
enterprises of society.
In the larger long-term interest of the state or the people, it is
therefore critical and urgent to revise the current constitution so
as to bring about conducive conditions towards governing the
country for the greatest good for the greatest number?
With such specific definition of rights and roles of government
versus that of citizens it will bring about conditions for
development of long-term stability of nation and maintenance of
true law and order with correspondence protection against
corruption, abuse of power and other malpractices.
To run a country competitively and successfully, it is essential
that there government should be elected by the people through free
election without affecting or usurping the unalienable and
unencumbered right of citizens to elect the best individual
candidates of their free choice like GRC block representation which
has jeopardized the free and democratic election process.
The government is elected to carry out the following essential
functions:-
(1) administration,
(2) legislation - passing of laws and regulations for fair and just
administration,
(2) justice,
(3) maintaining a free election process to enable citizens to elect
their representatives or offer themselves as candidates to stand
for election,
(4) implementing policies and decisions in objectively defined work
processes to ensure good corporate governance i.e. governance with
accountability and responsibility essential to development of
citizens' social, cultural and economic vibrancy and
competitiveness.
Specifically the constitution should clearly define (a) An
effective executive, (b) Independent legislature, (c ) An
independent judiciary.
Each of the above-stated three component branches of government has
its own critical roles and responsibilities to play. By spelling
out such roles and responsibilities as well as power or authority
it will then lead of development of good corporate governance to
serve the greatest benefits of the greatest number.
When such a constitution is established, it is then possible to
bring about condition for citizens and government to work with
cooperations, coordination and efficiency. All government policies
and decisions will then gain the fullest support and participation
of its citizens in nation building ?
The current vagueness due to lack of clear definition of rights and
privileges of citizens and component branches of government has
created a situation where the executive has accumulated too much
discretionary power to pass laws and regulations to suit its own
narrow agendas avoiding accountability and curtailing people's
right to speak up, and participate in governing policies,
appointments of government etc.
Read more about the current problems and shortcomings of the
government in "20 major policy errors of government" and "review of
performance of government under PM Lee Hsien Loong" as posted to
the forums and the feedback unit.
With such revision of the constitution, it will then be possible to
work toward bringing about a cosmopolitan and inclusive society.
Will it govern the nation for the greatest good of the greatest
number?
It will also help the government of the day to better appreciate
that the goal of nation building is larger than that of creating
surpluses by taxing and recovering all costs possible from the
citizens resulting in rising costs of living to the citizens and
their loss of economic competitiveness or worse spending of
surpluses on extravagant projects or foreign investments like
suzhou or shin corp.
There is obviously against the spirit of the constitution to tweak
the electoral process under the pretext of maintaining law and
order or protecting the interest of racial minority.
The curtailing of individual's right to stand for election unless
he forms himself into grouping with other candidates for whatever
reason has caused serious set-back to the progress and wellbeing of
citizens in nation building.
The revisions along the line as stated in the foregoing with help
to motivate all citizens in nation building and bringing about
conditions essential for on-going efforts to build a vibrant, open
and competitive nationhood.
