25 June 2010
When Bukit Timah Road flooded in 2009, Environment Minister
Yaacob Ibrahim told us it was a once-in-50-years freak
incident. When Orchard Road was flooded, the problem was
debris in a culvert blocking the water flow.
Always an excuse, never acknowledgement of failure of planning.
This morning’s floods — now over several parts of Singapore
including Upper Thomson Road, Bukit Timak Road (again), Boon Lay
Road — have exposed the PAP’s hubris yet again.
When will the Government stand up like a true leader and accept
responsibility, apologise to the public and make sure that genuine
effort is made to aleviate the situation. If the situation warrants
(as in the case of Mr Wong Kan
Seng over the repeated security breaches), the minister
should be replaced.
Instead, we see the PAP making the unseemly move of making the
public servants take the blame. When Mas Selamat escaped, it was
the police officers. When the MRT depot was broken into, it was the
SMRT. When Orchard Road was flooded, it was the PUB.
Public servants take directions from the PAP politicians. The
ministers determine how much resources is made available for
infrastructure maintenance and improvement. Without proper planning
and foresight from the political leadership, things go wrong.
This is why the PAP ministers, not civil servants, must be held
accountable.
The Orchard Road flood was blamed on a blocked culvert, not a
failed canal system. Translation: The former meant that someone at
the PUB was not vigilant enough to make sure that the drain
remained clear and unobstructed, the latter was lack of planning on
the part of the politicians.
Were there more blocked culverts in this morning’s floods? Or
will the Government finally take responsibility?
Through all these incidents the Prime Minister has, and is
continuing, to hide. Mr Lee Hsien Loong has not uttered a word
about the recent floods and the security breach into the MRT depot.
He has shown absolutely zero leadership.
When there are accolades the ministers stand right in front to
absorb the fragrance, using it to increase their salaries. When
troubles come, they hide and push the blame to others. Welcome to
the world of the PAP.
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