Ng E-Jay
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong apologized on Tuesday for
government lapses under his watch.
While his apology may have been unexpected, reactions to it were
fairly predictable. Straits Times Deputy Review Editor Chua Mui
Hoong called the apology a “very good first step”. Opposition
parties, while welcoming the apology, emphasized that it only
showed the need for more opposition in Parliament to hold the
government accountable. More cynical opposition supporters decried
the apology as “too little, too late”, with some dismissing it as a
mere electioneering tactic.
I welcome a show of humility from PM Lee, but whether that
translates into subsequent government action to change their own
attitudes and rectify errors remains to be seen.
Mr Wong Kan Seng stopped short of apologizing when Mas
Selamat escaped in broad daylight. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim never came
close to apologizing for the inadequate flood control system which
allowed monsoon rains to ruin businesses and cause millions of
dollars worth of damage. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew took back his
remarks on the Malay-Muslim Community, but also stopped short of an
unequivocal apology. Then, a few days before polling day, the Prime
Minister apologizes to Singaporeans not once, but twice at a lunch
time rally. You cannot blame people for being cynical at PM Lee’s
apology. Talk, as they say, is cheap.
While PM Lee acknowledged that his administration has made some
blunders, he took pains to stress that those mistakes which have
lead to soaring HDB flat prices and overcrowding were made in an
attempt at seizing economic opportunities as they presented
themselves.
He spoke, for instance, about Integrated Resorts (let’s call
them casinos, shall we?) which have changed the Marina Bay skyline
but which have also lead to problem gambling. He also spoke about
the vigorous economic expansion in the past couple of years which
has brought prosperity but which has also lead to an influx of more
foreigners, soaring home prices, and overcrowding.
PM Lee asked Singaporeans to bear with his administration as
they are trying their best to fix the problems.
But Mr Lee did not mention what changes would be made to
existing government policies to solve the problems of overcrowding
and rising prices, and assuage voters’ concerns over the influx of
foreigners. He only asked Singaporeans to accept
his apology, in other words, to give him a blank
cheque.
That is the heart of the problem. The PAP knows it has gone
wrong, but it has made no attempt at putting things right. In his
lunchtime speech, PM Lee said that he was running the show in a
different style from MM Lee, but he also said that he is taking
Singapore in the same strategic direction as before. Of what
benefit is it to Singaporeans to witness a change in style but not
a change in substance?
The PAP must show that it is willing and able to address
Singaporeans’ concerns and put things right. There must be concrete
action, not mere rhetoric. There must be a genuine attempt to
engage and listen to alternative views, even if they come from the
opposite side of the political aisle. Otherwise, PM Lees’s apology
will only be seen as a rare act of humility that comes only in the
heat of election campaigning, but which evaporates the moment the
votes are tallied.
And despite such admissions of mistakes made, PAP
ministers such as Wong Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan, Raymond Lim and
Yaacob Ibrahim all receive an 8-month bonus this year.
Shortcomings, it seems, come with financial rewards,
nonetheless.
As for the Prime Minister himself, he will be earning
more than $25 million the next five years – while he tries and “do
better” in his job.
Additional reporting by Andrew
Loh.
Taken from:
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/05/apology-but-still-reaping-the-rewards/
