By Li Xueying
IN GOVERNING Singapore, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew sees no need to follow anyone's prescription on democracy.Instead, his focus is on what works.
Speaking last Sunday on the CNN programme Global Public Square, Mr Lee said his goal is to keep Singapore a first-world oasis in a third-world situation.
'I am not following any prescription given me by any theoretician on democracy. I work from first principles, what will get me there - social peace and stability within the country, no fight between the races, between religions, fair shares for all, everybody is a homeowner,' he said.
Host Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, said Mr Lee had achieved remarkable success for Singapore in his lifetime.
But he also noted the criticisms that Mr Lee had exercised too tight a control over the country, leading to 'too domineering and coercive a state'.
Mr Lee, Singapore's first Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, replied that Singaporeans can choose which government they want to have through the vote.
'Nobody has ever alleged any chicanery - no bribery, no coercion, no nothing. We have never won less than... two-thirds of the vote,' he said.
Singapore also has the best-educated work force anywhere in Asia. Within another 10 years, it might become the best educated 'anywhere in the world', he added.
He hopes Singapore will follow America's lead in areas such as inventiveness and creativity, but not its inability to control either drug or gun problems.
'These are my choices. I go by what is good governance.
'What are the things I aim to do? A healthy society that gives everybody a chance to achieve his maximum,' he said.
Asked about the difficulties that opposition political parties face in Singapore, he maintained that it was not the Government's business to enable the opposition to overturn it.
On the United States' efforts to spread democracy around the world, Mr Lee expressed his doubts that they would succeed.
'I don't think it's do-able,' he said, adding that he was a 'social Darwinist' who believed that only the need to survive pushed societies to change.
If it ain't broken, don't fix it right? People often cite that the PAP has the best and most proven track record. I think for some years now, the other political parties have been doing fine themselves even without much funding from the government. No upgrading for opposition wards? Come on lah. I think that is so damn unfair. Are the residents there not citizens? Don't they pay taxes? Don't they serve national service?
Politics aside, the upgrading program is funded by the national budget of which the money belongs to all Singaporeans. Denying Singaporeans living in opposition wards this publicly funded program is highly discriminatory in nature. Does the government need to be reminded that residents of opposition wards perform National Service duty and pay the same rate of income tax & GST as any other Singaporeans?
When I took up the issue in parliament, the Minister’s answer was that the criteria for HDB upgrading is based on the age of the flat, geographical spread, and support for the program. When I asked about Hougang’s turn for upgrading, the minister’s reply was that “Hougang is not due for upgrading for many, many years”.
12 years have passed since the minister made that statement in 1996. Now I am asking again, is the wait long enough now for the Main Upgrading Program (MUP) to come to Hougang? Or is Hougang Constituency denied MUP?
Is the so called criteria for the HDB upgrading program a convenient excuse for the PAP government to abuse its position in power to discriminate against Singaporeans along the line of political affiliation?
'Nobody has ever alleged any chicanery - no bribery, no coercion, no nothing. We have never won less than... two-thirds of the vote,' he [Lee Kuan Yew] said.
A country without bribery? When election time comes, opposition wards get carrots dangled in front of them. "Vote for PAP and we will upgrade your flats". If this is not bribery, I don't know what is. Well, you can choose to call it a reward if you choose to be ignorant or blind. Good luck to Singapore.
Social Darwinism is dangerous. Survival of the fittest. Singapore has no place for the weak or even maybe, the different.
Meritocracy is a system of a government or another organization wherein appointments are made and responsibilities are given based on demonstrated talent and ability (merit), rather than
1) by wealth (plutocracy),
2) family connections (nepotism) Ermm....
3) class privilege (oligarchy)
4) cronyism Ermm....
5) the will of the people (as in democracy) Oh dear!
6) other historical determinants of social position and political power
In a meritocracy, society rewards (by wealth, position, and social status) those who demonstrated talent and competence, demonstrated through past actions or by competition.
As such, is meritocracy in conflict with democracy?
From what I remembered, the Singapore Pledge goes:
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society
based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.
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