MM Lee has told the 10 journalists in the recent TV Dialogue
"Does My Vote Matter?" some of his own value systems and governing
philosophy.
Now citizens can see finally his many inner thoughts and views
about people. He clearly told the people through the questions and
answers that there was no such thing as level playing field for the
opposition.
It may be true that if someone falsely accuses a person of some
wrongs, the victim has the right to defend himself. This is a sort
of level playing field as well.
But in the instances referred to by the journalists this is not a
case of false accusations by the oppositions. It is about the kind
of society younger people will like to have and the right of
oppositions to participate in political processes.
Even when opposition should be raising issues about some NKF wrong
doings or some other issues like the high costs of living there is
no issue with level or unlevel playing field but accountability and
transparency in government and right of opposition or people in
raising issues in order to help solve the problems and issues e.g.
falling wages, and losses of economic competitiveness.
So MM Lee obviously has missed the issues raised by the panelists.
They raised real and legitimate issues and problems which should be
open up for discussions. In such political processes no citizens
should be under threats of any kind including threats of defamation
lawsuit hanging over them. Is this the kind of level playing field
the govenment will not and cannot grant?
Coming to think over the many issues affecting the citizens at this
time, it may well be asked: What do we elect a government for? Is
not the government elected to provide level playing field between
the powerful and the weak, the manufacturers and producers as
exploiters as against the innocent public or consumers.
If there is indeed no such thing as level playing field should the
incumbent government being the protector and custodian of people's
rights and interests given the right to create unlevel playing
field and then say in the next breadth they cannot grant level
playing field to anyone on the receiving end.
If government cannot make the playing field level, will it allow
any powerful forces in society to exploit the innocent citizens or
consumers with immoral or false advertisements or unequal
contracts.
If there exists any unequal relationship between employers and
employees, businesses and consumers, rich and poor, elites and the
ordinary workers, criminals and humbler law-abiding citizens, which
side will the law or government elected by the people
stand?
