MR CHEN Show Mao does not need to explain his decision as his
actions have spoken louder than words ('About Chen: Time will tell'
by Mr Benjamin Chow; yesterday). His resume alone is an answer but
more importantly, it raises some issues our country currently
grapples with.
Mr Chen served national service although he was not obliged to.
Unlike Mr Chow and me who were born, bred and remain rooted in
Singapore, Mr Chen was not born and was not wholly nurtured by
Singapore. And yet, he chose to serve. What more do we need to ask
of him?
We remember that NS was harsher then, the allowances thinner and
yet, the records show Mr Chen served with distinction at the
highest level possible. We have serving members of political and
high office, including a People's Action Party new candidate, who
became Singapore citizens but did not serve NS.
Mr Chen was the top student of his batch but never got to study
the course of his choice nor was he given a scholarship. If he was
given his choice of study (medicine), he would have probably spent
the next 10 years studying and training here.
He was also not given a Singapore scholarship even though he
showed academic and leadership qualities (he was president of an
elected student council).
We have only ourselves to blame for not rooting this talent in
Singapore but rather forcing him to go out into the world to make a
name for himself, which he did.
Again, as we struggle with issues such as bond-breakers and
foreign talent with no affinity for Singapore, we do have more
pressing questions to ask before we start trying to question
someone coming back with no reward in sight.
The Singapore opposition politician's life is a hard one, with
nothing to gain and everything to lose - with a record that shows
only sacrifice for Singapore with very little else in return.
I dare say the facts show Mr Chen in this respect to be whiter
than white. Instead of questioning Mr Chen's motives, we have other
more urgent matters to resolve.
Tan Suan Tiu