Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by 798 @ Mon, 19 May 2008 16:39:20 +0800

798 — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:39:20 +0800

http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Singapore

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by balance_else_complacent @ Mon, 19 May 2008 12:13:38 +0800

balance_else_complacent — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:13:38 +0800

with all due respect to our bombastic gubbymen peoples,

i like to know, do they compete with each other for the post of pm ?

If not, who decides who to be the next pm?

the PEOPLE ?

really, how is the decision made as to who becomes the pm ?

one thing for sure, our gubbymen peoples are very different than overseas 1st world gubbymen peoples in the way they talk, say and do their work.

i must say, ours good good until cannot good lah. like this say ok or not?

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by Troy437 @ Sun, 18 May 2008 16:12:25 +0800

Troy437 — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:12:25 +0800

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

Imagine you support Tampines Rovers football club.

Imagine the manager tried to get Ronaldo, David Becham, Wayne Rooney, Stephen Gerrard etc to join club. He finally succeeded the even though most of the players didn't want to be in Tampines Rovers football club.

How successful the club will go? Will people continue to support this club?

Answer: You will have to use riot police to control ticket sales at one of their matches. People will suppoprt the club as long as the club is doing well. As long as Singapore is doing well, people will support the ruling party, just like some CEC member of the WP.

I like you illustration . Good one.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by maurizio13 @ Sun, 18 May 2008 15:44:32 +0800

maurizio13 — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:44:32 +0800

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

Haha..maybe you should ask your dear WP CEC member how does voting for the PAP when he is running as an Opposition Party candidate help in enhancing 'team spirit'. hahahahaha........

Hahaha.....

You must be extremely desperate, running out of ammunition that you actually need to use a point from another existing thread to get your point across.

Folks who have problems understanding how an everyday team sport like soccer works, would bear little credence on their intellectual ability. One player soccer team scoring goals against opposition teams. You should change your pseudonym to oxford moron, it is more representative of your intelligence.

You bring a light hearted touch to issues in speaker's corner, the occasional moronic point of view in tense discussions.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by Lin Yu @ Sun, 18 May 2008 15:36:29 +0800

Lin Yu — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:36:29 +0800

Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:

I think one of the reasons why Lee Kuan Yew implemented this system is to prevent dissent and power struggles in the People Action Party.

He chooses people with no political ambition so he doesn't fear a coup from within the ranks.

He learned a lesson from Lim Chin Siong, who emerged as a rival from the ranks of PAP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lim_Chin_Siong

http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?

http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/independence/ref/

http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/

good observation. we only need enunch

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by Poh Ah Pak @ Sun, 18 May 2008 15:17:23 +0800

Poh Ah Pak — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:17:23 +0800

I think one of the reasons why Lee Kuan Yew implemented this system is to prevent dissent and power struggles in the People Action Party.

He chooses people with no political ambition so he doesn't fear a coup from within the ranks.

He learned a lesson from Lim Chin Siong, who emerged as a rival from the ranks of PAP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lim_Chin_Siong

http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?

http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/independence/ref/

http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by robertteh @ Sun, 18 May 2008 14:52:08 +0800

robertteh — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:52:08 +0800

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

Haha..maybe you should ask your dear WP CEC member how does voting for the PAP when he is running as an Opposition Party candidate help in enhancing 'team spirit'. hahahahaha........

OM, It is not surprising the governing party will seize on such news about the opposition to fix them and make them look more foolish. Actually as leaders government should be more broad-minded and regard this latest news about oppositions voting for PAP's candidates as evidence of greater democracy at work and congratulate them for maturing to the greater benefits of democracy as after all some ruling party members without surprise are also voting for the oppositions. It also depends on particular qualities of candidates in determining whom to vote as one's MP. If MM Lee is not living in Tanjong Pagar but living in a constituency where the opposition MP has greater quality, I feel certain that as a leader of quality he may also vote for the opposition.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by oxford mushroom @ Sun, 18 May 2008 10:37:24 +0800

oxford mushroom — Sun, 18 May 2008 10:37:24 +0800

Originally posted by maurizio13:

Spoken like a person who knows nothing about group dynamics or group psychology.

Soccer is a team sport, you need players to have camaraderie and team spirit in order to play the sport well. It does not rely solely on individual players, you need to cooperate, pass the ball around avoiding all the obstacles in order to score.

If all the players don't want to be in the team. Means no camaraderie and team spirit.

You think Ronaldo can single handedly dribble the ball through 10 players and the goalie. You must be buffoon or something.

How will such a team suceed?

It's so early in the morning, maybe you are still in REM state and dreaming.

Haha..maybe you should ask your dear WP CEC member how does voting for the PAP when he is running as an Opposition Party candidate help in enhancing 'team spirit'. hahahahaha........

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by robertteh @ Sun, 18 May 2008 09:55:40 +0800

robertteh — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:55:40 +0800

Another minister’s post is probably reserved somewhere. Candidates will not be revealed until the time is ripe.

That in short is our system. No one is a better judge of ministerial material or talent except the holy one.

No one else has the quality of ministers or even CEOs of Temasek or MPs, Parliamentary Secretaries, Political Secretaries, Senior Ministers or Ministers until the power that be himself is ready to bestow such positions.

Where is the HR department entrusted with duties and responsibilities to scout talents if necessary based on practical abilities at getting things done or the buck stops here.

Who else is able to be a leader? He has the catch the eye of the holy and be annointed by him with olive oil first.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by hloc @ Sun, 18 May 2008 09:00:48 +0800

hloc — Sun, 18 May 2008 09:00:48 +0800

Mmm.... seeing so many Armchair Critic here everyday...... can't help but wonder if even half of them decided to 'throw their hat' into a political career..... would we still have a 'shortage' of political leaders.....

Or is it another one of those - "I don't want to get my OWN hands dirty'' - kind of thinking....

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by balance_else_complacent @ Sun, 18 May 2008 08:34:44 +0800

balance_else_complacent — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:34:44 +0800

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

Imagine you support Tampines Rovers football club.

Imagine the manager tried to get Ronaldo, David Becham, Wayne Rooney, Stephen Gerrard etc to join club. He finally succeeded the even though most of the players didn't want to be in Tampines Rovers football club.

How successful the club will go? Will people continue to support this club?

Answer: You will have to use riot police to control ticket sales at one of their matches. People will suppoprt the club as long as the club is doing well. As long as Singapore is doing well, people will support the ruling party, just like some CEC member of the WP.

lksmlj?

tp rovers compared to Beckam?

Your thinking sot sot wan. Illogical leh.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by maurizio13 @ Sun, 18 May 2008 08:01:02 +0800

maurizio13 — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:01:02 +0800

Originally posted by oxford mushroom:

Imagine you support Tampines Rovers football club.

Imagine the manager tried to get Ronaldo, David Becham, Wayne Rooney, Stephen Gerrard etc to join club. He finally succeeded the even though most of the players didn't want to be in Tampines Rovers football club.

How successful the club will go? Will people continue to support this club?

Answer: You will have to use riot police to control ticket sales at one of their matches. People will suppoprt the club as long as the club is doing well. As long as Singapore is doing well, people will support the ruling party, just like some CEC member of the WP.

Spoken like a person who knows nothing about group dynamics or group psychology.

Soccer is a team sport, you need players to have camaraderie and team spirit in order to play the sport well. It does not rely solely on individual players, you need to cooperate, pass the ball around avoiding all the obstacles in order to score.

If all the players don't want to be in the team. Means no camaraderie and team spirit.

You think Ronaldo can single handedly dribble the ball through 10 players and the goalie. You must be buffoon or something.

How will such a team suceed?

It's so early in the morning, maybe you are still in REM state and dreaming.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by oxford mushroom @ Sun, 18 May 2008 07:48:14 +0800

oxford mushroom — Sun, 18 May 2008 07:48:14 +0800

Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:

Imagine you support Everton football club.

But most of the players don't want to be in Everton football club.

How successful the club will go?

Will people continue to support this club?

Imagine you support Tampines Rovers football club.

Imagine the manager tried to get Ronaldo, David Becham, Wayne Rooney, Stephen Gerrard etc to join club. He finally succeeded the even though most of the players didn't want to be in Tampines Rovers football club.

How successful the club will go? Will people continue to support this club?

Answer: You will have to use riot police to control ticket sales at one of their matches. People will suppoprt the club as long as the club is doing well. As long as Singapore is doing well, people will support the ruling party, just like some CEC member of the WP.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by Poh Ah Pak @ Sat, 17 May 2008 16:12:15 +0800

Poh Ah Pak — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:12:15 +0800

Imagine you support Everton football club.

But most of the players don't want to be in Everton football club.

How successful the club will go?

Will people continue to support this club?

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by alwaysdisturbed @ Sat, 17 May 2008 15:46:46 +0800

alwaysdisturbed — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:46:46 +0800

money over passion.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by charlize @ Sat, 17 May 2008 15:27:16 +0800

charlize — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:27:16 +0800

So many reluctant ministers.

No wonder things keep screwing up.

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by purpledragon84 @ Sat, 17 May 2008 13:09:58 +0800

purpledragon84 — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:09:58 +0800

summarise pls..

oh i noe.. lky muz die.. kthanksbye..

Why Singapore have no real political leaders replied by Poh Ah Pak @ Sat, 17 May 2008 13:06:22 +0800

Poh Ah Pak — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:06:22 +0800

Singapore. The Professor and the very bright student.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Reading the article of the state controlled newspaper Channelnewsasia of May 13, 2008 titled "The Professor and the very bright student" you would be forgiven if you mistook it for a love story of how 2 lovers met, rather than believe it or not, how the Singapore government appointed the young Tamil Indian S Shanmugam Minister for Law in the cabinet.

You must read this newspaper article to appreciate my point. Internet edition of Channelnewsasia of may 13, 2008.

From the article, one thing is certain. This young man's entry into politics, his joining a law firm, his being given law cases and ultimately being appointed Minister for Law has all been orchestrated and arranged by Professor Jayakumar the immediate past Minister for Law, both Tamil Indians by the way.

Please don’t think even for one moment that this whole thing is even remotely related to politics as one would ordinarily expect in a democratic country. The tarpaulin covering on the outside claims it to be a democracy. In the inside, it is no different from the Soviet era Deutche Democratishe Republic or the DDR or East Germany as it was called in the west.

The love story starts more than 2 decades ago when a young man walked into Professor Jayakumar's constitutional law class at National University of Singapore when the Professor immediately noticed; or rather fell in love with the said young man. Nothing short of love at first sight.

The article claims that as soon as the said young man, the present Minister for Law walked into his constitutional law class, the Professor immediately knew that that this was the man, or the chosen one.

There was an unmistakable chemistry in the air. Had the young man been a woman instead, it looks as if Jayakumar, the Professor would have dropped everything and proposed on the spot!

Since the Professor had no doubt at all that this young man, S Shanmugam was indeed the protégé, like the new found infant Dalai Lama, when the strongman Lee Kuan Yew wanted a name for the future Minister for Law, Mr. S Shanmugam, the new found love of the professor, was immediately recommended.

There are even more touching passionate encounters in this long love story.

Professor Jayakumar tearfully recalls during one private moment between his new found love S Shanmugam and himself, when the professor popped the question of marriage, no not marriage, but whether S Shanmugam would join politics; the professor recalls with great emotion and tears almost rolling down his cheeks that he noticed his love, S Shanmugam nearly fell off the chair.

Although this is not mentioned, I am taken to understand from inner circles, that the Professor immediately ran to cushion his beloved from the fall thereby ensuring the young man was not hurt at all.

Not even a scratch, thank God.

Even today, when Professor Jayakumar recalls that moment, he cannot help tears welling in his eyes. The moment was extremely passionate, which Jayakumar cherishes even till this day and swears never to forget it until he is dead!

Imagine that. It seems when Jayakumar the Professor had asked the question, the young man was surprised why he was chosen. In utter surprise at the question, as was earlier mentioned, he nearly fell off the chair and was rescued by the gallant Professor in the nick of time at great danger to himself!

One thing is clear in the strange island of Singapore.

It appears this man S Shanmugam, had no intention of joining politics at all!

It seems from the article that it was only with great difficulty in persuasion that he was finally made to join politics. A strange parliamentary democracy indeed where reluctant people are coerced and threatened to enter politics and made to rule over Singaporeans!

It seems the odd entry into politics of a reluctant candidate was not only in S Shanmugam's case.

Surprisingly, even the Professor Jayakumar himself, the recent Minister for Law was himself completely averse to politics. In fact, he himself states that he joined politics with great reluctance and did it as a duty to his country.

If I could see Jayakuamr, I would tell him that he should have done whatever he wanted and stop trying to imply that he is some kind of a Godsend for all of us. It would have made no difference had it been a donkey instead of him.

Coming back to the intimate private tryst between the lovers Jayakumar and S Shanmugam, in their meeting of love, it appears that the young man was wearing a hat and there was a ring in the private room and when he was thus provoked with the question of politics, this boy Shanmugam forthwith took off his hat and gallantly threw it into the ring aforementioned. Why he did what he did and did it mean anything, that is throwing his hat into the ring, is a puzzle we will never know!

It seems that this new discovery S Shanmugam had told everyone in the People's Action Party or Lee's party that his ambition had all along been to become the best lawyer in Singapore. There is no doubt when the members of the said party was thus informed, immediately after he graduated as the best law student in Singapore tutored under the passionate arms of none other than Professor Jayakumar, he was immediately invited to join the largest law firm in Singapore where the lawyers are all Lee's party members and immediately given all the biggest cases, thereby making sure that his ambition was achieved to the letter.

Jayakumar states that his love S Shanmugam was never too far out his sight and he was arranging for this young man to become his successor when he left the post of Minister for Law.

It seems, according to the Professor, there was a lot of talk and private discussions behind closed doors as to whether it should be this man who was to be anointed Minster for Law, but his love the professor states unequivocally, he had no doubt whatsoever.

At the end of this story, the professor tearfully leaves his position he held as Minister for 26 years only to hand that position to his chosen love S Shanmugam.

I am not sure if Hollywood had gotten wind of this heartwarming love story between professor and student, somewhat in the lines of the Oscar winner Brobeck Mountain, but we will never know.

And all this has happened in Lee Kuan Yew's definition of a First World Democracy, none other than Singapore. If you are shocked, I don’t blame you.

As I had said in the past, had it not been for his part the professor and Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore strongman, it would have made no difference if this S Shanmugam was wearing the Tamil sarong, smoking a beedi, spitting betelnut all over the place and frying the Indian pancake "thosay" and stall 231, Tekka Market in Serangoon Road, Little India, Singapore, at $2 a piece.

By the way, you must read the Channelnewsasia article please.

Gopalan Nair

http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/2008/05

The above piece gives us the answer as to why there are no real political leaders in Singapore, why there is a leadership crisis in Singapore, why Singapore can never advance any further under PAP rule and why Singapore politics and Singapore society is dead in general. And also why people are emigrating to other countries instead of staying on in Singapore.

Recent Posts in 'Why Singapore have no real political leaders' | sgForums.com