Do you agree with MM LEE's view on the opposition in power?

shade343 SG · 2006-05-01T01:09:47+00:00

Precisely, and thus they are getting out of point when they say the opposition will govern singapore. We are only concerned about getting the alternative vo...

shade343 SG

SINGAPORE : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said that if the People's Action Party is not in government, Singaporeans' lives will be gravely affected.

Mr Lee was speaking at a question and answer session at the Foreign Correspondents' Association's 50th anniversary celebration on Friday evening.

Addressing a 300-strong crowd, Mr Lee threw up a scenario -- what would happen if the PAP lost this general election, and the opposition members of the likes of Low Thia Kiang and Chiam See Tong took over?

Mr Lee said, "You have a hodgepodge of the Workers' Party, four parties in the SDA and Mr Chee Soon Juan's SDP, and they're the Finance Minister, they're the Minister for Trade and Industry, they're the Minister for National Development. You just wait (and see) what happens. You'll find your property prices sink, and if you haven't paid your mortgage, you may have negative estate value. And when it comes to elections, on the quiet, we tell them, just think what will happen if your estate is not run properly?"
Mr Lee also said if the opposition rose against the PAP, they had to be a world class opposition and not this "riffraff."

He said Singapore is what it is today because he had tweaked the system, and he would continue to do so, to improve Singapore.

With many foreign journalists wanting to participate in the question-and-answer session, Mr Lee gamely obliged.

"Since they're going to have a field day, have a go," he said to applause.

On opposition parties, Mr Lee said they should compete on the competence of the candidates and the basis of policies; an example is to debate the Workers' Party manifesto.

Mr Lee said, "You put out a manifesto, we put out a manifesto. This is what we say we believe in, you say it's motherhood statement; we say fine, you tell us how you would create jobs. But they're not, they don't want to discuss their manifesto, because even before the campaign started, we explained publicly what would happen if we adopted their policies. So he doesn't want to talk about it anymore."

Mr Lee stressed that the Workers' Party manifesto was flawed. - CNA /ct

Maybe if the oposition takes over, they would do a better job. Property prices are artificially high, maybe the opposition could lessen the impact by reducing taxes.

banzie SG

I guess SIngaporean voting ofr opposition mostly are not looking for a government change… but rather an extra voice in the paliment…

laurence82 SG

strange thing, i was reading this just now, and they said political discussion is not allowed during the period of campaigning

true or not?

http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HD27Ae03.html

Cindyfeh SG

the forumers at youngpap.org.sg are also discussing about politics at this moment, so what do u think?

tiggersgd SG

i agree to a certain extent.

the alternative voice has been in the Parliament for 15 yrs n more. (with 2 incumbents - Low tk n Chiam st) i wonder what would the respective residents in the opposition wards would like to comment on their neighbourhood progresses, if any.

robertteh SG

It is a highly presumptuous statement : "If" such and such is the case then "Something" will happen.

His "If" and "then" assumptions in governing the country are auto-piloted for years but did not work in many of our policies as pointed out by Ngiam Tong Dow, retired senior civil servant many years ago.

Why? "If" "then" assumption allowed him to put up something easier and convenient to proceed with so that people will at least follow some direction rather than being unguided.

This is what he said in the past, "If we have "meritocracy", then we will build a strong and stable society based on the best getting ahead, this is what he had been saying for years.

The trouble is: his definition of "Meritocracy" is too academic. The real world of "Meritocracy" is not just those who are in the EM1 or Top schools with so many "A"s but he judged everybody said to be talent by the book cover. So since 1970s, every election we have all the academic "MPs who are of a certain calibre measured by the degrees or status.

So today, we need practical talents in every field and many practical talents who started businesses and new technologies are not of the academic categories and many of them in fact score poorly in examinations. They are people who are passionate and interested in something of use to starting a business or trade. This kind of talent is what we really need and this kind of people know how to do something with what they have learned. Many of them are our innovators and inventors of new products and new systems.

So after many years of academic meritocracy, MOM produced a lot of students who are high on academic but with little to offer in applying practical knowledge and start new technologies to create new jobs.

Broad-based education has been neglected for years by the MOM. Many people posted views about this neglected aspect of our education because very few people dared to disagree with his systematic push for meritocracy and assumption.

One man being too strong in promoting his ideas can lead to narrow academic auto-piloting without anyone being able to correct the mistakes until it is too late.

Other major policy errors of MM Lee are posted in the "20 Major Policy errors of the government" The feedback unit did not bother to acknowledge these problems nor reply to people who wanted change. Now there is some change to pro-foreign assumptions which hit the locals real hard. But his system is to copy ideas and keep quiet and come out to say his system is working again. Sincerity is not there to manage acccording to true talents but only by many book worms who mess up the economy with no ideas that work, as seen in the 1970s. If we have more choices there will be mass participation and practical knowledge application in all fields and Singapore today could have become a far more competitive and vibrant society.

ShutterBug SG

As both are opposing parties, nothing positive will be said of neither parties.

dragg SG

in the first place who wants the opposition to be in power?

all we want is more opposition to speak up for the people and check the ruling party. more opposition in the parliament does not mean that PAP has to lose the general elections.

shade343 SG

Yes it does mean that because of the way pap is structured. PAP party members cannot disagree withe the party's consensus in parliament or they risk being expelled. So the only way to oppose is through a non-pap member.

Atobe SG

The more scary the story that the Ruling Elite will talk about - to wake up Singaporeans - will be a true reflection of the level of fright that they are currently having to deal with.

The straw polls that MM LKY has always depended on - despite his many denials - will probably show a peak in the discontent levels during this campaign.

What was the level of experience when LKY and his team of 'Founding Fathers' when they entered politics and found themselves in the seat of Self-Government ?

In 1957, LKY and his team of 'Founding Fathers' were just a bunch of young graduates and working professional - all of whom are as enthusiastic, keen to serve Singaporeans to solve all the problems of the day - SAME as the current batch of YOUNG Professionals (graduate or not) in the OPPOSITION PARTIES, and also in the Ruling Party as well.

What credentials and experience did LKY and his team of 'Founding Fathers' had to boast about when they entered POLITICS in the 1950s ?

Why should MM LKY 'pour buckets of cold doubt' on the current crops of enthusiastic YOUNG Opposition Candidates ?

His own son PM LHL was similarly rushed through in promotion from Second Lieutenant to become a Lieutenant Colonel inside ten years, and from a Lieutenant Colonel to Brigadier in less then two years before "retiring" from the SAF within one year after attaining the 'show rank credential' of Brigadier General before entering Politics.

What experience has LHL got to justify such high speed promotion in the SAF, and from a green horn politician being bumped into Second-Minister to Full Minister in less then five years, and from a Minister of Trade and Industry to Finance Minister in less then ten years ?

If LKY and his team of 'Founding Fathers' - and his son LHL - all took time to be cautious and gained their experience on the job, so can the current crop of YOUNG and TALENTED OPPOSITION team.

LKY had admitted that he had made MONUMENTAL MISTAKES during his last FORTY FIVE YEARS in Singapore Politics - all of which has affected Singapore ability to compete; yet Singapore managed to plod along DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF SINGAPOREANS - who are PREPARED to make SACRIFICES and GIVE OUR MAXIMUM CO-OPERATION FOR OUR OWN FUTURE.

Surely, Singaporeans WILL GIVE THE SAME CO-OPERATION FOR THE HOPE of a BETTER FUTURE - IF THE OPPOSITION PARTY SHOULD FORM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT ?

Can we believe in a Government that is so quick to blame all mistakes and economic downturn to EXTERNAL FACTORS, and so quick to gain credit for the economic turn around ?

casino_king SG

Take a look at Philipines and Thailand and Indonesia... so what if idots come into power? as long as we practise democracy we will be OK. There are many civil servants and the military and the police and the press and the judiciary....

what we have now in spore is a bunch of dictators who abuse their power and one day spore might wake up and find that it was all a beautiful dream; all the suffering and abuse by the dictators in exchange for the promise of a better tommorow was a con job.

shade343 SG

casino_king SG

Have you ever considered who will suffer if the property price crashes? Everything else will become cheaper...

reyes SG

Ok, but the issues of this thread is: Will your property price go down if the opposition is in Power?

In 1997 and 2001, under the pap rule, singapore property market crash causing many to go into negative equity. Many were forced to sell their home at a hugely discounted price to what they paid for.

who encourage singaporean to invest in property and stocks when both are at their peak? that why when the property and stock market crashes, we have to pay the penalty. who is in power during that asian crisis? how PAP save us during that crisis? i believe ppl that buy houses before that crisis still suffer from negative estate value now. so whose fault? opposition? doesnt PAP can also causes negative estate value too?

Mr Lee threw up a scenario -- what would happen if the PAP lost this general election, and the opposition members of the likes of Low Thia Kiang and Chiam See Tong took over?
no one knows. that why when my parents voted for the PAP 40 years ago, they wouldnt know what will happen. they took a gamble. PAP dont change singaporean around overnight too. they took around 20 years to build a reputation for singaporean. so this is unfair comparison asking opposition to build a cabinet to replace the current crops of PAP elite. i think this is just simply desperate measure to warn singaporean who you vote for. havent we have enough of such threats?? up till this day when i go for election rally held by opposition party, my parents still told me to be careful. careful of? i really ponder what they really mean.

Atobe SG

Why only NEGATIVE VIBES ?

What will MM LKY say if the Economy PERKS UP and PROPERTY PRICES edged up REASONABLY, and SINGAPOREAN CONFIDENCE INCREASES with A WIN BY THE ALTERNATIVE PARTIES of WP and SDA ?

Why are we looking at the NEGATIVE SIDE of issues ONLY ?

We should also look at the POSITIVE OUTCOME of a WIN by the ALTERNATIVE PARTY - even if it is a coalition Government formed by WP and SDA :-

the prospect of reigning in the freedom of the GLCs to increase prices that are killing average Singaporeans with an unstable job and reduced wages;

the prospect of HDB costs being reviewed, to establish a more transparent pricing system for the newly weds starting Young Families;

the prospect of an easier and less costly Life that will ensure a NATURAL BABY BOOM;

the prospect of a review of the way that the Singapore Budget is planned and the manner in which the Singapore FINANCES are managed;

the FULL ACCOUNTING of GIC and Temasek Holdings (which is the main umbrella body controlling all Government Linked Companies);

the FULL ACCOUNTING of the manner in which CPF is managed;

the BETTER PROSPECT of MORE GRADUATES and retrenched Professionals being EMPLOYED - to assist the NEW GOVERNMENT to get a BETTER GRIP of the massive size of the Government Controlled OCTOPUS that the POWER OF ONE has created;

with all these short listed activities that can only generate MORE CONFIDENCE, building one upon the other, SINGAPOREANS should not lose CONFIDENCE in ourselves.

It was SINGAPOREANS who brought Singapore to where we are today.

It was SINGAPOREANS who manned the various public offices that provide the supporting administrative service to the POWER OF ONE.

The POWER OF ONE needed an army of Singaporeans to tend to the various tasks and get reports and feedback reactions from the ground; and the SAME ARMY of SINGAPOREANS will be providing the same quality service to the NEW GOVERNMENT that will formed by the Alternative Party or Parties.

Medicated Oil SG

No one can guarantee "more good years" as painted by Lau Goh during the last election.

Did we have more good years after that election when singapore have only two opposition wards ???

After giving the ruling party the mandate, the price hike in transport proposed by the elite who drives only and the building of casino was approved despite OPEN discussion, debate and study from the media and public.

So, he is just making a groundless assumption to the Singapore public.

Just a note of observation.

If present ruling party ward are WELL managed by the HARDWORKING MPs, why are we still having so much request for improvement (same issue about transport) in the amenities to the individual wards ???

Why is both the party making stupid noise about a person forgetting to submit a form ???

Can any one that is representing people tackle the real issues - COST of LIVING ???

Cindyfeh SG

I dun read much into mm lee's messages nowadays.

left eye in, right eye out.

ditzy SG

I always only thought Mahatair was cranky. Laughing

duotiga83 SG

Grateful that he establish the way of SG...but recently...he is being too much already..... Neutral

shade343 SG

You forgot about Bush. Laughing