A “scholar-minister” myth and the credibility issue

[Confuseous]

Even political parties will face this “quarterback” problem, both the opposition and the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) alike. Singaporeans may perhaps be familiar with the idea promoted by the PAP that early life academic achievements, government scholarships won and the peak of the professional ladder climbed are all attributes of a successful candidate as they usually tout the latter to be. Recall that a long time ago, the PAP General Election campaign involved comparing the national examination scores of veteran opposition member, Chiam See Tong, against his PAP rival. Well, Chiam won that contest, and what happened of this PAP rival most recently? He was dropped from the ministerial cabinet amidst unhappiness with the housing issue, due to costs and the lack of housing supply.

Chan Chun Sing is currently touted by some to be the next Prime Minister. A career regular in Singapore Armed Forces, he won the President’s Scholarship and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Scholarship (two of the most prestigious scholarships) to complete a Bachelor’s degree in economics at Cambridge University, and subsequently did a Sloan Fellows programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under a Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship. He rose through the SAF ranks to become its army chief and left to stand for elections. Getting into parliament through the only walkover contest, he is now currently the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Defence. It is a similar career trajectory to some of PAP’s current and former cabinet ministers.

- http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=40035

 

[eatshitndie]

don't play play. his ultimate cep is mmm: ministar mentor material.

 

[Loofydralb]

This infatuation about the glory scholars can bring to the nation is a fallacy promoted by none other than that old coot LKY.

It does not need a degree to be a politician but you need the street smarts which no university can teach. That is the only way to look at the biggest picture possible.

Too smart scholars should stay in school and write theoretical papers only on the subjects they specialise.

The downfall of Singapore is spearheaded by harebrained policies thought out by green behind the ears scholars. If we continue along this path, we will destroy the country.

I have always advocated professional politicians in our system, not the babysat kinds that we have currently, that can never fail even when they don't win elections. PAP politicians are fake ones that walk the high ropes with safety harness, safety nets, inflatable vests, safety railings and adult diapers, just in case they fail.

With all those precautions they will never learn to walk the high ropes.

Wake up LHL, you're pampering them. We are paying the price.

 

[hairylee]

This infatuation about the glory scholars can bring to the nation is a fallacy promoted by none other than that old coot LKY.

It does not need a degree to be a politician but you need the street smarts which no university can teach. That is the only way to look at the biggest picture possible.

Too smart scholars should stay in school and write theoretical papers only on the subjects they specialise.

The downfall of Singapore is spearheaded by harebrained policies thought out by green behind the ears scholars. If we continue along this path, we will destroy the country.

I have always advocated professional politicians in our system, not the babysat kinds that we have currently, that can never fail even when they don't win elections. PAP politicians are fake ones that walk the high ropes with safety harness, safety nets, inflatable vests, safety railings and adult diapers, just in case they fail.

With all those precautions they will never learn to walk the high ropes.

Wake up LHL, you're pampering them. We are paying the price.

[/I]

It is a dynastic system copied from centuries old imperial China. The objective is to stay in power at all cost.
With the election department under their control, redrawing of electoral boundaries at their discretions, staying in power at all cost is a reality.

 

[melzp]

Its seems so funny that in sgp system, no one apply for the job that he/she
was parachuted in. Name me, just one Perm sec or Minister who applied. And for eg.
the new mrt ceo did not apply for it; bot was asked to serve. So, it seems that all
scholars are super super brainy man/woman.

 

[Sir_Fcuk]

Chan Chun Sing is currently touted by some to be the next Prime Minister.
- http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=40035

Priest lah, if that boy scout can become Prime Minister, my ugly self can become CEO Temasek holdings. Oh wait, Prime Minister of what? Lanfang republic??

 

[Confuseous]

Will our potential PM be heading a GRC team in Tanjong Pagar, with a team of lesser mortals on his coat tails?

Wooden Goh had the biggest GRC team heading into Marine Parade - will Kee Chiu too have a basketball team-like to provide cover?

Better still, dare he stand in a single constituency ward?

 

[king_of_abalone]

I must concede that out of all the current PAP talent pool, CCS is possibly the only one with both book smarts and street smarts.

He grew up in rough working-class neighborhoods, broken fucked up family, studied hard despite the poor conditions and subsequently won scholarships to the most prestigious universities. He could be the only one who had experienced and lived both sides of the social divide.

The others, all born and bred solidly middle and upper middle class, know nothing about the "other" Singapore.

 

[steffychun]

There's no such thing as a leader of a country based on education. Look at Bush: C grades student, able to invade Iraq and destroy the global financial system. Look at Kim Jun-un: so young, lousy in the Swiss School but has nuclear arms around him

 

[king_of_abalone]

There's no such thing as a leader of a country based on education. Look at Bush: C grades student, able to invade Iraq and destroy the global financial system. Look at Kim Jun-un: so young, lousy in the Swiss School but has nuclear arms around him

Bush's C grades at Ivy League Yale is still worth hell of a lot more than those with A grade at state universities (with the exception of the so-called "public ivies")

 

[steffychun]

Bush's C grades at Ivy League Yale is still worth hell of a lot more than those with A grade at state universities (with the exception of the so-called "public ivies")

Bush C grade showed that he couldn't write a single paper. That didn't stop him from knowing how to torture terrorists

 

[myfoot123]

Scholar is nothing more than people wearing a branded underwear. I rather wear cheap one and still serve the same purpose.

 

[steffychun]

Scholar is nothing more than people wearing a branded underwear. I rather wear cheap one and still serve the same purpose.

wil it be stained more than branded undies?

 

[Sir_Fcuk]

So, it seems that all
scholars are super super brainy man/woman.

To be fair, there are heaps of SAF scholars who became incredibly successful after leaving service - but are not in politics. Most I know are based overseas, and have no interest in asking people to KEE CHIU here and there (and speak better too)

 

[Cruxx]

What talent does "first world" Sinkieland have? This is the kinda talent that first world countries produce:

[video=youtube;a6N34a8qk0o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6N34a8qk0o&feature=related[/video]

 

[Cruxx]

Another genuine talent from a genuine first world country:

[video=youtube;XbAjmeVgnhM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbAjmeVgnhM[/video]

 

[Fook Seng]

don't play play. his ultimate cep is mmm: ministar mentor material.

Just wondering. If you know how this assessment is constructed, would you know how to target your performance so that your cep is GOD?

 

[Fook Seng]

Bush's C grades at Ivy League Yale is still worth hell of a lot more than those with A grade at state universities (with the exception of the so-called "public ivies")

Was Bush's C grades done at Yale or done in high school?

 

[eatshitndie]

Just wondering. If you know how this assessment is constructed, would you know how to target your performance so that your cep is GOD?

if you're referring to the "good old devil", it's easy. just suck god's dick.

 

[greedy and cunning]

I must concede that out of all the current PAP talent pool, CCS is possibly the only one with both book smarts and street smarts.

He grew up in rough working-class neighborhoods, broken fucked up family, studied hard despite the poor conditions and subsequently won scholarships to the most prestigious universities. He could be the only one who had experienced and lived both sides of the social divide.

The others, all born and bred solidly middle and upper middle class, know nothing about the "other" Singapore.

no leh . example is Hair-Do Lim , during a interview , he boasted that when young he stayed in a 3 -room flat and it was
fun having to fight for sleeping space with all his brothers. another example of hypocrisy and soul sold to the devil.
when people complained increased in bus fares after the Toa Payoh new bus interchange was built ,
Hair-Do lim said something like : if you don't want aircon interchange tell us earlier and it would not be built.