..(as posted at www.youngpap.org.sg on 16.11.2006)
minimentos wrote:
A citizen is a member of the political community to which he or she
belongs. Citizens are the people who comprise the state and have
subjected themselves to the Government for the promotion of their
general welfare and for the protection of their individual and
collective rights
As such, there are certain privileges and benefits to be gained
from being a citizen of a particular state. At the same time, there
are also responsibilities and obligations on the individual. In
Singapore for example, every male citizen is eligible for National
Service
In the modern state, there are three distinct rights associated
with citizenship: Civil - this comprises the rights necessary for
individual freedom; Political - this encompasses the right to
participate in the political process AND in the exercise of
political power; finally the Social aspect - refers to the right to
the prevailing standard of life and social heritage of a
society
Whether or not an MRT should stop at Potong Pasir or Hougang should
have lifts upgraded, have got everything to do with a citizen's
basic right. If upgrading is necessary for the betterment of an
estate, the citizens of that estate is entitled to it. There shall
be no two ways about it
To put it plainly, if a war breaks out between Singapore and
another, the people of Potong Pasir and Hougang are also "enemy
status", and if captured will also be treated as POWs by
international law under the Geneva Convention 1949
Any act by the government to deny a citizen of his basic right can
and may be construed as deprivation. AND, under the law, this is
incorrect. If they wish to deprive the '2 renegade provinces', then
the PAP must take steps to pass other laws to 'terminate' their
citizenship. A Minister and his cabinet cannot act in a
quasi-judicial capacity to deprive citizens of their rights. They
are bounded by law to protect our rights and have to act
fairly
Under current laws, citizens may not be banished from Singapore
(the exception being Mr Chia Thye Poh). If the unthinkable happens,
then the people of Potong Pasir and Hougang would have their rights
to secede from the Republic
It is gratifying that there are still some citizens who would
come forward to talk and remind all of their citizens'
rights.
Please carry on. Sad that schools do not teach such basic civic
duties or their citizens' rights. People become ignorant and the
whole government is taking advantage by riding roughshod over their
rights while refusing to perform government's duties and
responsibilities.
It will not hesitate to do anything like increasing taxes and GST
even if costs of basic necessities like transportation and
utilities have risen to 40-60% of the lower-income family
incomes.
It is about time citizens form citizens clubs at every constituency
and pass themselves in such civic duties and ask for their rights
and be able to serve as watch dogs for the people since the
government no longer care about such civic conscience.
Citizens who become members of citizens' clubs can group together
to come up with plans to attend meet-the-people or write petitions
to check oon any abuses or hypocrisy as seen happening frequently
in parliament.
Just imagine - Temasek could lose S$3 billions of citizens' monies
on Shin Corp with hardly anyone asking questions of PM in
parliament. It was only one mild or subdued question by Inderjit
Singh as reported in Today paper (16.11.2006) "Sir, will you please
issue us a detailed report on actually what happened in the Shin
Corp deal and whether there is compliance with due process ?"
Reply: "When Thai authority has finally completed its
investigation, more details will be given"
That is called check and balance in our system of governance. No
wonder there is no further progress in economic restructuring for
the last 20 years because of such wayangs in parliament.
