Look who's talking. lol.
You think I moron ar Harry Lee Kuan Yew? lol.
Women bore brunt of Lee Kuan Yew's draconian population
policy
08 March 2013
Chee Siok Chin
Former
prime minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew must take responsibility for the
current population issues that Singapore is now
facing. The
current PAP Government has not acknowledged that it was Mr Lee's
miscalculated policy of
Stop-At-Two" that has resulted in
today's population and immigration woes.
What is more tragic is how this policy had affected women in
Singapore. The Stop-At-Two campaign launched in 1972 was aimed at
the "less educated and lower income groups" to control Singapore's
fast-increasing population then.
What is deplorable were the measures that the Government resorted
to in order to discourage Singaporean families from having more
than two children. It
was women who bore the brunt of Mr Lee's notions and
practices.
Women who had given birth to their second child were encouraged to
undergo ligation, that is, to tie up fallopian
tubes. Women with
low-incomes and deemed lowly-educated, were offered seven days'
paid leave and $10,000 in cash incentives to voluntarily undergo
the procedure.
Mothers who gave birth to a third child were confronted with
disincentives such as: civil servants were no longer given
maternity leave; maternity hospitals charged progressively higher
fees for each additional birth; income tax deductions were
eliminated after the second child; third and subsequent children
were given a lower priority in the choice of and admission to
schools.
In 1984, the Graduate Mothers' Scheme was announced. Mothers who
were university graduates were given preferential school admission
to children over non-graduate mother. The Government also
established a Social Development Unit (SDU) to act as matchmaker
for unmarried university graduates. And Social Development Service
(SDS) for non-graduates.
The decision to legalise abortion in 1970 was not born out of
ethical considerations but to facilitate the Stop-At-Two policy.
Singaporeans, especially women, were disempowered and silenced by
these draconian practices.
Singapore has come some way from such warped
practices against women even if they were not explicitly
targets. Despite the patriarchal society that
Singapore still is, women here will not be silent about such
oppressive conventions.
Many of the problems Singaporeans are experiencing today are a
result of the ill-conceived population policies of yesteryear. As a
result, the SDP has creatively addressed working
solutions that
re-empower Singaporeans and make the country less reliant on
foreign labour and able to stand on our own.
The Women Democrats has come a long way since its inception in 2001
and we continue to grow and play an integral part in our Party. We
will continue to speak up and stand up for Singaporeans – women and
men alike.
On this International Women's Day celebrated on 8 March every year,
I would like to wish women in Singapore and all over the world
empowering and meaningful lives. Happy Women's
Day!
Ms Chee Siok Chin is a member of the SDP's Central Executive
Committee and Head of women
Democrats, SDP's women wing.
http://yoursdp.org/publ/perspectives/women_bore_brunt_of_lee_39_s_draconian_population_policy/2-1-0-1265
Instead, Lee’s view of the press was that it was
a tool for dissemination and promotion of government
policies. One illuminating illustration
was a “furious” call from Lee’s office that was received by the
(now defunct) New Nation Editor David Kraal. The editors were
“flummoxed” to discover that the then
PM was provoked by a photograph of a large family to illustrate a
story of a happy Singapore family.
Apparently, this was perceived by the PM as
“subtle but effective criticism” of the “Stop at Two campaign” in
which Lee sought to limit families to two children.
…
http://leewatch.info/2013/01/03/book-review-lee-kuan-yews-taming-of-the-press/
Apparently, this was perceived by the PM as
“subtle but effective criticism” of the “Stop at Two campaign” in
which Lee sought to limit families to two children.
…
No wonder most Singapore people were very cautious in having
more future (babies) for LKY and its government. Disrespecting
female is one, and the pushing for economy is the only gauge for
well beings aint right as well. Imagine the future PR will be
affected by the sole purpose of economic driven policy instead of
humanity peace and joys. More people but less joys due to conflict
for economy driven is not a favorable sign for people. These future
PR was also not being earnestly welcome as truly being treated as
people but economy. And if Singapore policy for population cannot
ensure a happy even in moderate population or lesser, can Singapore
as a whole or government still considered themselves being a happy
country. What the people want is loving and genuine mutual
considerate amongst one another, and what the government desires
for is only economy...
