Media Release: OK for foreigners to
praise the PAP but not criticise?
13 Apr 07
To be really open and inclusive, a society ought to engage in
exchanging views and ideas with foreigners, who are part of the
global community.
Of all the argument that the PAP advanced to reject our application
to hold this forum, the ludicrous claim that they do not want
foreign interference in Singapore sound the most absurd.
It shouldn't come from the PAP, which is heavily dependent on the
so called foreign talent and massive foreign investment to propel
its tortoring economy. The PAP always tells us to invite foreigners
in our mist with open arms. In this age of globalization, Singapore
can't be an island by itself.
What is wrong with foreigners sharing their views on democracy,
freedom of speech, and freedom of association with us. These noble
ideas are not something strange but are found in our constitution
and in the national pledge that our children are made to recite
everyday.
It looks like it is alright if foreigners praise the PAP system.
Only a couple of days ago, a foreigner of all places, Finland,
wrote a flattering letter in the Straits Times justifying the
ministerial salary and agreeing with the PAP that the government in
Finland is mediocre. This Finnish guy happens to be the person who
assulted on of our Singaporean women. We do not want such character
to polute our thinking. In fact, he should be sent back to Finland,
where he is wanted by the authorities there. We should be more
cautious in giving PR's to such people rather than denying these
honorable Members of the European Parliament from exchanging views
and ideas on parliamentary democracy, which the PAP claims it
supports.
It is the PAP, which seems to be over reliant on foreigners. Even
in our National Wages Council, which determines how much our
workers ought to be paid, there are foreigners. Council members
from Germany, Japan and the US decides the worth of our workers.
This is indeed the most disgraceful thing to the sovereignty of our
country.
The PAP frequently organizes seminars and conferences in Singapore,
inviting foreigners to speak. So, what is wrong in inviting
Euporean and Asian Parliamentarians, who had just finished their
annual meeting in Jarkata to stopover in Singapore to address us on
issues pertaining to democracy?
The hot topic now is the ministerial multi-million dollar salary.
Since Denmark and other European countries came up for mention not
so favorably in our Parliament, we thought it would be a good idea
for our MEP from Denmark to put the issue in proper perspective.
What is wrong with that? Should we not encourage more such
interaction? Will it not be good for an "open and inclusive"
society that our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong often admonish us
to be?