PM, PA, MND, MHA, SLA: fixing the opposition at every turn?
Knew as much, when PM Lee threatened: "...I'm going to spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them, to buy my supporters votes, how can I solve this week's problem and forget about next year's challenges?.. " ('PM Lee says countries worldwide respect and admire Singapore's proven system': [CNA:03May2006][YouTube/@1m10s]) something was amiss, as it now turns out, what was declared was no simple premonition; indeed what has evidenced since amounts to a clear culpability amounting to admission of "fixing the opposition".
The ST commentary '‘Adviser over MP’ raises many questions': "PAP MPs are appointed as advisers to the grassroots organisations in their wards by the People’s Association (PA). In the two opposition wards, the PA picked the PAP candidates who contested but lost in the wards in the last two polls as the grassroots advisers." [ST, 22Oct2009][alt link] was met with reckless derision by Lim Yuin Chien, Press Secretary to the Ministry of National Development in 'Advisers and MPs have different roles' : "Opposition MPs cannot be appointed advisers, because they do not answer to the ruling party." [STforum,27Oct2009][pict]. Does not the Singapore civil service adhere to its own policies of: ".. incorruptibility, integrity and propriety. Civil servants are expected to conduct themselves with impartiality and honesty at all times, by: Remaining completely neutral in all political matters and matters of public controversy ... " ('Maintaining High Standard of Conduct' [PSD (Role)> Nurturing Talent> Progressive Policies][pict]). Isn't the PA a statutory board run by senior civil servants? That so, how does the PSD reconcile PA's obviously partisan prejudice with reference to PAP MPs being awarded through the PA, titles of 'grassroots adviser' to their respective constituents- wherein elected opposition MPs are summarily discredited in favor of the rejected PAP candidates? Does the PA serve the interest of Singaporeans or is it just the PM's exclusive fan club?
MBT's thus roughshod, crony, not forgetting illegitimate co-opting of Mr Eric Gan through PA's prejudiced 'grassroots adviser' scheme as Hougang's LUP 'announcer' received immediate observer protest (not on ST): 'Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP' , where we see that "It is a joke that for some strange reasons or another, Mr Shanmugan’s ministerial colleague has refused to obey the Town Councils Act by choosing not to work with Hougang Town Council and even has the audacity to TWIST the facts by claiming that 'it is the role of the grassroots advisers to implement the LUP' through his press secretary when it was stated NOWHERE in the Town Councils Act that the LUP has to be carried out by the grassroots advisers!" ([TR, 29Oct2009][alt link])
And the subsequent report: 'How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain', we see that "The People’s Association (PA), ..Like all other stat boards, it receives a yearly grant from the government to run its programmes... It spent a total of $320 million last year. ..PA’s chairman is none other than the Prime Minister [pict]. .. No other public sector board in Singapore has so many “Men in White” on it..." [G Giam, 10Oct2009]
Indeed, by doctrine of 'Separation of powers' [wiki], we know that: "The separation of powers is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic. Under this model, the state is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that no one branch has more power than the other branches. The normal division of branches is into an executive, a legislature, and a judiciary. ..."
Which then begets the question: 'Civil servants – no longer politically neutral?': "The question which arises is: should civil servants be involved in a political party and participate in its activities?" [TOC, 27Feb2011]
So it leaves me with little choice but to conclude that the PA is perhaps simply the Prime Minister's private fan club, one exclusive to those who "answer to the ruling party", whilst being well funded by national reserves to the tune of $320m (Y2008)[G Giam, 10Oct2009]- a statutory board whose sole intent, based upon its obviously partisan 'grassroots adviser' scheme is that of driving a systematic wedge between Singapore citizens and any political opposition; PAP hegemonic rule being the ultimate goal.
And in the latest report (appended below) 'Chiam calls attention to upkeep of state land' [ST10Mar2011], we see how difficult it is for an opposition MP to request that state land in his constituency be demarcated and up kept; that his constituents might directly contact the relevant authorities should need requisite (as is uniformly the case everywhere else in Singapore). Rather then deliver the usual "state land- no dumping" signs [STpict][Gmap-pict], it seems that the Senior Minister of state (Law) Mr Ho is intent upon maintaining ambiguity where state land is located in Potong Pasir, preferring that opposition town councils be repeatedly challenged to call the respective govt agencies to plead their case; wherein civil servants governed under schemes such as the PA's systemic, hegemonic and prejudiced 'grassroots adviser' scheme would be likely expected to exercise their partisan commitments, fixing the opposition at every step of the way- onward PAP!
That, by PM Lee's definition, is perhaps the essence of a civil service under the auspices of a first class political leadership [pict].
The opposition are brave men of dignity who will suffer no bullying nor oppression, nor the jaundiced tactics of the PAP.
~ "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."-- Benjamin Franklin.
~ "If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it".- Mother Teresa.
~ Matthew 25:40: "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"- (NIV)
- 'PM Lee says countries worldwide respect and admire Singapore's proven system': "...I'm going to spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them, to buy my supporters votes, how can I solve this week's problem and forget about next year's challenges?.. " [CNA:03May2006][YouTube/@1m10s]
- '‘Adviser over MP’ raises many questions': "PAP MPs are appointed as advisers to the grassroots organisations in their wards by the People’s Association (PA). In the two opposition wards, the PA picked the PAP candidates who contested but lost in the wards in the last two polls as the grassroots advisers." [ST, 22Oct2009][alt link]
- 'Advisers and MPs have different roles' Lim Yuin Chien, Press Secretary to the Ministry of National Development: "the government-appointed adviser, his main role is to assist in implementing national programmes, such as government campaigns, and HDB's upgrading programmes, including the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP)... Opposition MPs cannot be appointed advisers, because they do not answer to the ruling party." [ST,27Oct2009][pict]
- 'Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP': "It is a joke that for some strange reasons or another, Mr Shanmugan’s ministerial colleague has refused to obey the Town Councils Act by choosing not to work with Hougang Town Council and even has the audacity to TWIST the facts by claiming that 'it is the role of the grassroots advisers to implement the LUP' through his press secretary when it was stated NOWHERE in the Town Councils Act that the LUP has to be carried out by the grassroots advisers! From beginning to end, there was no mention of the words 'Grassroots advisers', 'People Association' or 'PAP losing candidates' and so how did Mr Eric Low come into the picture at all? " [TR, 29Oct2009][alt link]
- 'How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain': "The People’s Association (PA), ..Like all other stat boards, it receives a yearly grant from the government to run its programmes and cover operational costs. .. It spent a total of $320 million last year.However unlike most stat boards, whose chairmen are usually the permanent secretary of the parent ministry or some other senior civil servant, PA’s chairman is none other than the Prime Minister [pict]. .. No other public sector board in Singapore has so many “Men in White” on it..." [G Giam, 10Oct2009].
- 'Separation of powers' [wiki]: "The separation of powers is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic. Under this model, the state is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that no one branch has more power than the other branches. The normal division of branches is into an executive, a legislature, and a judiciary. ..."
- 'Civil servants – no longer politically neutral?': "The question which arises is: should civil servants be involved in a political party and participate in its activities?" [TOC, 27Feb2011]
Knew as much, when PM Lee threatened: "...I'm going to spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them, to buy my supporters votes, how can I solve this week's problem and forget about next year's challenges?.. " ('PM Lee says countries worldwide respect and admire Singapore's proven system': [CNA:03May2006][YouTube/@1m10s]) something was amiss, as it now turns out, what was declared was no simple premonition; indeed what has evidenced since amounts to a clear culpability amounting to admission of "fixing the opposition".
The ST commentary '‘Adviser over MP’ raises many questions': "PAP MPs are appointed as advisers to the grassroots organisations in their wards by the People’s Association (PA). In the two opposition wards, the PA picked the PAP candidates who contested but lost in the wards in the last two polls as the grassroots advisers." [ST, 22Oct2009][alt link] was met with reckless derision by Lim Yuin Chien, Press Secretary to the Ministry of National Development in 'Advisers and MPs have different roles' : "Opposition MPs cannot be appointed advisers, because they do not answer to the ruling party." [STforum,27Oct2009][pict]. Does not the Singapore civil service adhere to its own policies of: ".. incorruptibility, integrity and propriety. Civil servants are expected to conduct themselves with impartiality and honesty at all times, by: Remaining completely neutral in all political matters and matters of public controversy ... " ('Maintaining High Standard of Conduct' [PSD (Role)> Nurturing Talent> Progressive Policies][pict]). Isn't the PA a statutory board run by senior civil servants? That so, how does the PSD reconcile PA's obviously partisan prejudice with reference to PAP MPs being awarded through the PA, titles of 'grassroots adviser' to their respective constituents- wherein elected opposition MPs are summarily discredited in favor of the rejected PAP candidates? Does the PA serve the interest of Singaporeans or is it just the PM's exclusive fan club?
MBT's thus roughshod, crony, not forgetting illegitimate co-opting of Mr Eric Gan through PA's prejudiced 'grassroots adviser' scheme as Hougang's LUP 'announcer' received immediate observer protest (not on ST): 'Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP' , where we see that "It is a joke that for some strange reasons or another, Mr Shanmugan’s ministerial colleague has refused to obey the Town Councils Act by choosing not to work with Hougang Town Council and even has the audacity to TWIST the facts by claiming that 'it is the role of the grassroots advisers to implement the LUP' through his press secretary when it was stated NOWHERE in the Town Councils Act that the LUP has to be carried out by the grassroots advisers!" ([TR, 29Oct2009][alt link])
And the subsequent report: 'How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain', we see that "The People’s Association (PA), ..Like all other stat boards, it receives a yearly grant from the government to run its programmes... It spent a total of $320 million last year. ..PA’s chairman is none other than the Prime Minister [pict]. .. No other public sector board in Singapore has so many “Men in White” on it..." [G Giam, 10Oct2009]
Indeed, by doctrine of 'Separation of powers' [wiki], we know that: "The separation of powers is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic. Under this model, the state is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that no one branch has more power than the other branches. The normal division of branches is into an executive, a legislature, and a judiciary. ..."
Which then begets the question: 'Civil servants – no longer politically neutral?': "The question which arises is: should civil servants be involved in a political party and participate in its activities?" [TOC, 27Feb2011]
So it leaves me with little choice but to conclude that the PA is perhaps simply the Prime Minister's private fan club, one exclusive to those who "answer to the ruling party", whilst being well funded by national reserves to the tune of $320m (Y2008)[G Giam, 10Oct2009]- a statutory board whose sole intent, based upon its obviously partisan 'grassroots adviser' scheme is that of driving a systematic wedge between Singapore citizens and any political opposition; PAP hegemonic rule being the ultimate goal.
And in the latest report (appended below) 'Chiam calls attention to upkeep of state land' [ST10Mar2011], we see how difficult it is for an opposition MP to request that state land in his constituency be demarcated and up kept; that his constituents might directly contact the relevant authorities should need requisite (as is uniformly the case everywhere else in Singapore). Rather then deliver the usual "state land- no dumping" signs [STpict][Gmap-pict], it seems that the Senior Minister of state (Law) Mr Ho is intent upon maintaining ambiguity where state land is located in Potong Pasir, preferring that opposition town councils be repeatedly challenged to call the respective govt agencies to plead their case; wherein civil servants governed under schemes such as the PA's systemic, hegemonic and prejudiced 'grassroots adviser' scheme would be likely expected to exercise their partisan commitments, fixing the opposition at every step of the way- onward PAP!
That, by PM Lee's definition, is perhaps the essence of a civil service under the auspices of a first class political leadership [pict].
The opposition are brave men of dignity who will suffer no bullying nor oppression, nor the jaundiced tactics of the PAP.
~ "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."-- Benjamin Franklin.
~ "If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it".- Mother Teresa.
~ Matthew 25:40: "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"- (NIV)
References:
- 'PM Lee says countries worldwide respect and admire Singapore's proven system': "...I'm going to spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them, to buy my supporters votes, how can I solve this week's problem and forget about next year's challenges?.. " [CNA:03May2006][YouTube/@1m10s]
- '‘Adviser over MP’ raises many questions': "PAP MPs are appointed as advisers to the grassroots organisations in their wards by the People’s Association (PA). In the two opposition wards, the PA picked the PAP candidates who contested but lost in the wards in the last two polls as the grassroots advisers." [ST, 22Oct2009][alt link]
- 'Advisers and MPs have different roles' Lim Yuin Chien, Press Secretary to the Ministry of National Development: "the government-appointed adviser, his main role is to assist in implementing national programmes, such as government campaigns, and HDB's upgrading programmes, including the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP)... Opposition MPs cannot be appointed advisers, because they do not answer to the ruling party." [ST,27Oct2009][pict]
- 'Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP': "It is a joke that for some strange reasons or another, Mr Shanmugan’s ministerial colleague has refused to obey the Town Councils Act by choosing not to work with Hougang Town Council and even has the audacity to TWIST the facts by claiming that 'it is the role of the grassroots advisers to implement the LUP' through his press secretary when it was stated NOWHERE in the Town Councils Act that the LUP has to be carried out by the grassroots advisers! From beginning to end, there was no mention of the words 'Grassroots advisers', 'People Association' or 'PAP losing candidates' and so how did Mr Eric Low come into the picture at all? " [TR, 29Oct2009][alt link]
- 'How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain': "The People’s Association (PA), ..Like all other stat boards, it receives a yearly grant from the government to run its programmes and cover operational costs. .. It spent a total of $320 million last year.However unlike most stat boards, whose chairmen are usually the permanent secretary of the parent ministry or some other senior civil servant, PA’s chairman is none other than the Prime Minister [pict]. .. No other public sector board in Singapore has so many “Men in White” on it..." [G Giam, 10Oct2009].
- 'Separation of powers' [wiki]: "The separation of powers is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic. Under this model, the state is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that no one branch has more power than the other branches. The normal division of branches is into an executive, a legislature, and a judiciary. ..."
- 'Civil servants – no longer politically neutral?': "The question which arises is: should civil servants be involved in a political party and participate in its activities?" [TOC, 27Feb2011]
