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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - PAP MP disGrace Fu sucking up to Fw / FT</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>exgoon <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>2:25 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 5) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>30541.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>The controversial “Water Festival” organized by Bukit Batok grassroots organizations for foreigners had prompted one netizen Ms Jessica Tan to post a query to PAP MP and Senior Minister of State for National Development Ms Grace Fu on her Facebook if taxpayers’ monies are being put to good use and if precious water will be wasted in the process.
The event will be held on 18 April 2010 to welcome the New Year for the Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodians living in Singapore:
Though it was not stated explicitly, the funds for organizing the event are likely to come from the mega $10 million dollars Community Integration Fund unveiled by the PAP last year to make foreigners feel welcomed and accepted in Singapore.
While netizens have no objections over foreigners celebrating their cultural festivals in Singapore, many are peeved that taxpayers’ monies have been spent to organize such an event which will be hosted by various religious and civic groups anyway.
Furthermore, Singaporeans have been educated since young on the importance of saving water and there is even a law under the Public Utilities Act (CAP 261) which criminalizes the “wasting of water.”
Ms Fu appeared to be nonchalant on the possible wastage of water so long the gesture, or rather “wayang” can tell foreigners that Singaporeans “respect” them:
In her reply to Jessica on Facebook, Ms Fu wrote that the “Water Festival” is just one way of reaching out to new citizens and PRs in Bukit Batok.
“When we celebrate their festivities, we are telling them that we respect them and recognize that they bring along different cultures and rituals,” she added.
There is no need to go out of the way to show our “respect” to foreigners. It should be shown sincerely straight from the heart and not put up as a show.
Your correspondent, a Singaporean Chinese has been celebrating “Water Festival” yearly at the Burmese Buddhist Temple with the Burmese community in Singapore. He converses in simple Burmese, listens to Burmese songs and enjoys Burmese food as well, all without being “instructed” by the PAP to do so.
Grassroots organizations can help to publicize “Water Festivals” held by other groups and encourage Singaporeans to attend, but they should not be using taxpayers’ monies to host such events for foreigners. When Singaporeans go to work in China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or Taiwan, do we expect their governments to organize our cultural festivals for us to tell us that they “respect” us too?
A clear line must be drawn between showing respect and bending over to please – what message is the PAP sending out to foreigners? That we are so desperately in need of them that we cannot do without them?
One netizen Kojakbt points out:
“In places like Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, I’m sure they can afford to splash as much water as they want since they have sufficient water resources. But can we say the same for our little island home Singapore? And the most ridiculous thing is, why should Singapore taxpayers be funding, essentially, a foreign festival of celebration? Are Singaporeans expect to know the culture of every foreigner residing here in Singapore? Shouldn’t it be them integrating into our culture?”
As PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew admitted himself – “all grassroots organizations such as RCs, CCs and CCCs are part of the PAP“, is the PAP using taxpayers’ monies to serve its own partisan interests by courting the votes of the new citizens?
Ms Fu ended her reply by inviting Jessica to attend the event:
“Come take a look see, perhaps not as much water will be wasted as you feared.”
Ms Fu doesn’t seem too concerned that water will be wasted which contradicts what was said by her colleague Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim who reminded Singaporeans not to “take the availability of clean water for granted.”
“Singaporeans’ response to the dry spell last month was to use even more water. This is certainly not desirable should Singapore experience a prolonged dry spell. It is therefore timely to remind ourselves of the need to use water wisely.”
The PAP has been exhorting Singaporeans to conserve water for ages and yet it has no qualms wasting water to please foreigners. Perhaps it is also time that Ms Fu suggest that her party changes its name to “Foreigner Action Party” or FAP to better reflect its new mission statement - to do whatever it takes to make the foreigners feel happy in Singapore so that the new citizens will cast their sacred votes for it to perpetuate its political hegemony forever.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/24/pap-mp-grace-fu-organizing-water-festival-is-a-way-of-telling-foreigners-that-we-respect-them/
** She is inviting you to fark her on her facebook.
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The event will be held on 18 April 2010 to welcome the New Year for the Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodians living in Singapore:
Though it was not stated explicitly, the funds for organizing the event are likely to come from the mega $10 million dollars Community Integration Fund unveiled by the PAP last year to make foreigners feel welcomed and accepted in Singapore.
While netizens have no objections over foreigners celebrating their cultural festivals in Singapore, many are peeved that taxpayers’ monies have been spent to organize such an event which will be hosted by various religious and civic groups anyway.
Furthermore, Singaporeans have been educated since young on the importance of saving water and there is even a law under the Public Utilities Act (CAP 261) which criminalizes the “wasting of water.”
Ms Fu appeared to be nonchalant on the possible wastage of water so long the gesture, or rather “wayang” can tell foreigners that Singaporeans “respect” them:
In her reply to Jessica on Facebook, Ms Fu wrote that the “Water Festival” is just one way of reaching out to new citizens and PRs in Bukit Batok.
“When we celebrate their festivities, we are telling them that we respect them and recognize that they bring along different cultures and rituals,” she added.
There is no need to go out of the way to show our “respect” to foreigners. It should be shown sincerely straight from the heart and not put up as a show.
Your correspondent, a Singaporean Chinese has been celebrating “Water Festival” yearly at the Burmese Buddhist Temple with the Burmese community in Singapore. He converses in simple Burmese, listens to Burmese songs and enjoys Burmese food as well, all without being “instructed” by the PAP to do so.
Grassroots organizations can help to publicize “Water Festivals” held by other groups and encourage Singaporeans to attend, but they should not be using taxpayers’ monies to host such events for foreigners. When Singaporeans go to work in China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or Taiwan, do we expect their governments to organize our cultural festivals for us to tell us that they “respect” us too?
A clear line must be drawn between showing respect and bending over to please – what message is the PAP sending out to foreigners? That we are so desperately in need of them that we cannot do without them?
One netizen Kojakbt points out:
“In places like Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, I’m sure they can afford to splash as much water as they want since they have sufficient water resources. But can we say the same for our little island home Singapore? And the most ridiculous thing is, why should Singapore taxpayers be funding, essentially, a foreign festival of celebration? Are Singaporeans expect to know the culture of every foreigner residing here in Singapore? Shouldn’t it be them integrating into our culture?”
As PAP strongman Lee Kuan Yew admitted himself – “all grassroots organizations such as RCs, CCs and CCCs are part of the PAP“, is the PAP using taxpayers’ monies to serve its own partisan interests by courting the votes of the new citizens?
Ms Fu ended her reply by inviting Jessica to attend the event:
“Come take a look see, perhaps not as much water will be wasted as you feared.”
Ms Fu doesn’t seem too concerned that water will be wasted which contradicts what was said by her colleague Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim who reminded Singaporeans not to “take the availability of clean water for granted.”
“Singaporeans’ response to the dry spell last month was to use even more water. This is certainly not desirable should Singapore experience a prolonged dry spell. It is therefore timely to remind ourselves of the need to use water wisely.”
The PAP has been exhorting Singaporeans to conserve water for ages and yet it has no qualms wasting water to please foreigners. Perhaps it is also time that Ms Fu suggest that her party changes its name to “Foreigner Action Party” or FAP to better reflect its new mission statement - to do whatever it takes to make the foreigners feel happy in Singapore so that the new citizens will cast their sacred votes for it to perpetuate its political hegemony forever.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/03/24/pap-mp-grace-fu-organizing-water-festival-is-a-way-of-telling-foreigners-that-we-respect-them/
** She is inviting you to fark her on her facebook.
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