Goh Meng Seng and Georgie Porgie

[Lee Hsien Tau]

http://www.facebook.com/georgeyeopage?v=feed&story_fbid=254708693042


Goh Meng Seng Hi George,

It has been almost 4 years since we met in the Toa Payoh nomination centre and counting centre at Hougang. I hope everything is well for you.

As your "political opponent", I am impressed by your effort in getting connected to the people on the ground via Facebook. I was explaining to some young activists this ...evening about the natural development of a dynasty and how it continues to be relevant to us in modern days. For every dynasty prior to its birth in ancient history, the emperor would rise up from the support of the peasants/people. They were close to the people to fight against the oppression or incompetent rule of the dying dynasty. But after capturing power, the new emperor would start to build the castle/palce walls around him, dividing him from the very people that fought and supported him to the throne.

I am glad for Singapore that there is still someone like you in PAP.




Lee Hsien Tau
Say what?
Why do you butt in?
We were frigging discussing the best toilet designs.




Chye Hock Sim
I support George Yeo




Lee Hsien Tau
Hock Sim,
What part are you supporting?
Georgie boy hasn't breathed a single word about them toilet designs.



Chye Hock Sim
I was commenting on Goh comment



Lee Hsien Tau
Then Hock Sim,
Having met Goh briefly when he was with WP, I quite agree.
Good show mate.




Nissanvip Nvip
to GMS,

Please be reminded that by appreciating your opponent does't makes you a better challenger.

Not even PAP would praise any single opposition, instead bankrupted them for better PAP.




George Yeo
Dear Meng Seng
Thank you for writing. I remember meeting you at the nomination centre and our friendly conversation while waiting for papers to be filed.
Dynasties can only be established upon a peasantry where people have no choice. In Singapore, every citizen can choose, politically and economically. Of course we have many imperfections and ... See Morewe should work to make things better, both PAP and Opposition.
If I may return the compliment, the Opposition is fortunate to have someone like you.
Good to hear from you, George




Lee Hsien Tau
Dear Georgie boy,
Funny I don't remember going to an erection centre the last 25 years.
You sure I have a choice?




Lee Hsien Tau
"Repression, Sir is a habit that grows. I am told it is like making love-it is always easier the second time! The first time there may be pangs of conscience, a sense of guilt. But once embarked on this course with constant repetition you get more and more brazen in the attack. All you have to do is to dissolve organizations and societies and ... See Morebanish and detain the key political workers in these societies. Then miraculously everything is tranquil on the surface. Then an intimidated press and the government-controlled radio together can regularly sing your praises, and slowly and steadily the people are made to forget the evil things that have already been done, or if these things are referred to again they're conveniently distorted and distorted with impunity, because there will be no opposition to contradict." -Lee Kuan Yew as an opposition PAP member speaking to David Marshall, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Debates, 4 October, 1956




Corns Tan
Goh Meng Seng, trying to tarnish NSP's image with your online foray? Why are you using SDP tactics to terrorise facebook users?

 

[Lee Hsien Tau]

Goh Meng Seng
Hi George,

Thanks for replying. I guess PAP will be more than a formidable opponent if it has more people like you with great humility.

However, it seems that PAP itself is really imperfect and thus I have to play my role as an opposition. Although the following link may not relate to your portfolio, but I guess it is good to share with you on what is really happening on the ground in Singapore. ... See More

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?u...hp?note_id=254377408963&id=14440041382&ref=nf




Goh Meng Seng
Corn Tan,

It is good to have passion in your belief and following. But passion should not be misplaced in such a crude way of black and white. It is not simply about you against me, they against us. There will always be a great sphere of grey in between.

I may be the political opponent of PAP but it doesn't mean that I will regard all as "enemy... See More". It is just pure differences in ideology and role that we take on each side, nothing emotional against any individuals. You need lot more maturity in dealing with politics.




George Yeo
@Meng Seng
Thanks for the link. Every constituency has destitute cases due to bad luck, sickness, family breakups, psychological/psychiatric problems etc. Each has to be helped specifically according to circumstances. As MPs, whether PAP or Opp, most of us try our best to help. Lots of people come forward to donate money and food.




Goh Meng Seng
The problem doesn't lie on whether we have destitute cases. They are not in a state of destitute just yet as they could still work for a living. However the HDB policy has deprived them a roof over their top because they must wait for 30 months before they could get a rental flat.

The irony is that MCYS instead of really helping them, they have ... See Morepolicemen to issue summons to them, locking them up in the home of destitute which resulted in them losing their jobs. In Chinese saying, this is dropping a stone on a person that has fallen into the well.

Is this the kind of "Compassionate" and "Inclusive" society that PAP has promised us? The state has created the problem of homeless and instead of solving these problems, it has further aggravated the problem by harassing and burden them with summons! Sigh.



George Yeo
I handle such cases. Each has to be treated specificially. Some cases are difficult. On the whole, compared to other cities in the First or Third World, Singapore is not doing badly in terms of homelessness.




Goh Meng Seng
I believe you will have that kind of humility to handle such cases fairly. Rules are made to facilitate order but not to undermine human dignity.

We are a society that pride ourselves as a Caring Society and indeed, we do have enough resources to be a Caring Society. But why is the ruling party not doing it?

If we could provide rental flats to foreign workers who are working in a private entity like the Casino Resort, I do not see why we should deprive our own citizens a decent living space. And these people are our very own citizens. ... See More

It really puts doubts in me about whether PAP as a ruling party understand what the role of a government is. It is definitely not about issuing summons and turning Singapore into a Fine city. Well, it further enhances my belief in my role as the "opposition".




Lee Hsien Tau
Luckily TOC was there. Or those people would have been locked up tilll they die.
Does Georgie boy know that Pelangi Village is a jail. Even the toilets windows are grilled. And those locked up hasn't even committed a crime to speak of.
You see Georgie boy, we cannot avoid discussing toilet designs.




George Yeo
@Meng Seng, you raise fair points for debate, finding the right balance between welfare and welfarism. HDB issues, including rental flats, are a hot issue in Parliament.




Goh Meng Seng
George, thank you for taking the time to engage me in this little discussion. As of today, I was told that the Homeless Campers @ Sembawang Park have been interviewed by some officials from MCDYS without being locked up @ the home for destitute. They were finally arranged to live in some rental flats and they are happy with the present arrangement... See More. I am happy that this is settled amicably but I guess there are many more homeless campers out there.

There are lessons to be learned from this issue and IMHO the fundamental root is empathy. Your colleagues, particularly the Prime Minister himself, have claimed that the ruling party will always put Singaporeans as their first priority. We hope to see more substance from PAP rather than mere rhetoric. It is a pity that I may not be able to debating this housing issue in parliament with your colleagues but rest assure that I will continue to focus on this issue outside parliament. Take care.




George Yeo
you too




Lee Hsien Tau
So, Georgie boy, what of the other homeless?

Locking them up in Pelangi Village as long as there's no publicity?
When was it in Singapore's history that poverty became a crime?
... See More
Or are you better for discussing toilet designs?




Andrew Loh
Dear minister, please bear with me as I - together with Joshua - wrote the report on the homeless campers at Sembawang Park.

While I applaud MCYS for eventually providing housing to the homeless, I have questions which I hope you will consider:

1. The homeless were camped out there at the park for months. Some as long as almost 4 months. My question is: Why was nothing done to help them until TOC discovered the siatuation? Surely, the authorities must have known about it. Indeed, some of them had approached MCYS earlier.... See More

2. Some of them were told they had to wait 30 months for a flat. HDB's website says 19 months. Various news reports have put the waiting time at between 5.5 months to 13 months. The fact, as we now know, is that there are flats available (after all, how did MCYS, out of the blue, find these flats at Tiong Bahru where the SembPark homeless have been moved to), yet why were they denied these flats before TOC broke the story?

3. I have to say that some of the officers at the MCYS and NParks were downright rude and unfeeling and insensitive towards these homeless people. One of them, when she approached MCYS, was told to go rent a room in a hotel in Geylang because "it is cheaper". I do feel this is totally unacceptable, especially when several of these homeless are families with children.

4. We understand that even pleas from MPs of the area, particularly from the Law Minister who is also an MP for Sembawang GRC, went unheeded.

So, while yes, each case is different and would be treated differently, I would say the attitudes of civil servants - and MPs, for that matter - must remain the same: that of being a civil servant to the people and not one where one acts as if one is master of those he serves.

But I know the issue here runs deeper than just the homeless being unable to afford homes. It certainly has to do with govt policies - from its stated aversion to S'pore being a "welfare state" to its housing policies.

But whatever it is, there has to be compassion. No matter how one spins it or defends the govt's policies or the actions of the civil or public servants in this case, it is inescapable that they knew a 7-mth pregnant lady with two kids was camping out there at SembPark for months.

It is unforgivable that nothing was done to help her until the story broke online.

Lastly, it is also truly regrettable that the mainstream media has been totally silent on this incident.

Thank you, minister, for hearing me out and apologies for the long post.




Lee Hsien Tau
Andrew sweetheart,
Compassion? I doubt if Georgie boy boy can find that word in his vocabulary.
They didn't build Pelangi Village Prison next to IMH for no reason, you know. It was planned and built together.

I'll let you in on a little secret.... See More
That pitiful young fella they featured in (I can't be sure) President's Star Charity or the Ren Ci Show?
That fella is actually housed in Jenaris Home.

Everyday, he is fed his regular medicine. No toothbrush nor toothpaste. Just a greenish rinse. In the end, the teeth goes. Then he can only be fed porridge. Once in a while, he gets unhappy. Who wouldn't if you eat the same thing 52/7/24, locked away with a bunch of freaks, near freaks, and potential freaks.

If he gets overly insistent, and they can't handle him, he is sent to IMH for a change of fresh air. Understand why Pelangi Village Prison and IMH are built together now?

Of course the young fella isn't leeching on the PAP government. He has his uses. Like starring on Charity shows, pull some heartstrings and draw in some donations, yes?

And, maybe, because he neither has the intelligence nor the opportunity to opt out, he's HOTAable?