The Executive in Singapore has bought the Legislative, the Judiciary remains chained.... "the ultimate anaesthetic for the brain".
According to the doctrine of 'Separation of powers' [wiki]: for the purpose of upholding leadership integrity, a method of mutual check and balance between key organs governing a state ("executive, a legislature, and the judiciary") is instituted, each holding "separate and independent powers".
By the Public Service Division's own definition: [PSD: Progressive Policies]: "Maintaining High Standard of Conduct: The Civil Service works under a Code of Conduct based on the principles 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 ..." [p.archiv].
This was re-emphasized in 'Integrity of election process a hot topic during youth forum' [CNA, 17May2009]: "'Civil servants under the constitution hold their allegiance to the president. The symbolism that is attached to that is we actually serve at the pleasure of a politically neutral institution. It is one of the values of the civil service that we are politically impartial,' said Ms Owi."
It thus seems rather paradoxical: 'How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain' [G Giam, 10Oct2009]: "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. In PAP constituencies, PA always appoints the elected MP as the adviser. But in opposition wards, PA appoints the PAP candidate who lost in the last election, not the opposition MP" . None of the above raised an eyebrow in the office of the President.
Further aggravating this travesty was the fact that Minister MBT's conduct of the Lift Upgrading Programme in opposition wards was done in an overtly partisan manner- in clear contravention of statutory specifications; rather it was premised upon PA's, aforementioned, morally bankrupt 'Grassroots advisers' scheme. ("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? " 'Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP' [TR, 29Oct2009][alt link]). Mr Mah was wrong to allow his partisan background to influence cloud his judgement in his executive position as Minister of National Development. Again, nobody in the office of the President bat an eyelid over partisan meddling with the affairs of the civil service..
Thus was it concluded that "By appointing PAP candidates as grassroots advisers in Opposition held wards, the government is effectively bringing partisan politics into governmental institutions. Using the PA as a vehicle for PAP candidates as grounds to gain political capital so that they may fight their next battle with more goodwill, the governmental risks costing itself the position of Singapore as a Parliamentary Democracy; and put Singapore in par with communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea."
'Grassroots Organizations should stay non-partisan' [TR, 03Nov2009][alt site]
So what good is Mr President now that the integrity of the Singapore civil service, left undefended, has since degenerated into a state comparable to that of "communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea".
And to that end are good civil servants leaving the civil service to join opposition parties: 'NSP duo 'want to normalise Opposition politics'': "Opposition candidates Tony Tan and Hazel Poa.. The couple said they left the public service after they became disenchanted with it: Ms Poa, for instance, was 'uncomfortable' with the direction of certain policies, especially 'when the HDB upgrading started being linked to votes'" [TODAY, 05Apr2011]
And for all that that rubber stamping done, the parliament of Singapore just approved an S$890,700 increase in Presidential salary from $3,376,800 to $4,267,500 ('Singapore President's annual salary tops S$4.2 million' [Yahoo-news, 11Mar2011]).
Like PA 'grassroots advisers', perhaps the President of Singapore is really appointed by the Prime Minister; perhaps all politics in Singapore is no more than a hegemonic puppet show, perhaps the President isn't doing his duty, whatever it is, the ruling politicians in Singapore have just grown a lot more prosperous then they have ever been before.
The Executive in Singapore has bought the Legislative ('GRCs make it easier to find top talent: SM' [ST/ 'Yawningbread, 26June2006]), the President is busy counting his cash whilst the Judiciary chained.
Democracy in Singapore, like that in "communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea" has become yet another farcical puppet show (''Yes-men' PAP MPs embarrassed themselves by saying instinctively “Yes” (wrongly) to reduce budget of Home Affairs Ministry' [TR, 07Mar2010][alt Link]); "A modern form of authoritarianism, quite distinct from Soviet Communism, Maoism or Fascism, is being born. It is providing a modicum of a good life, and a quiet life, the ultimate anaesthetic for the brain" ('The new authoritarianism'[Guardian/ J.Kampfner, 01July2008]).
~ "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Lord Acton (1834–1902).
Majulah Singapura.
~ "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.'"-- Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
Rgds & Love,
B.C.
End-notes/ references:
- '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. ..."
- 'Integrity of election process a hot topic during youth forum': "Deputy Principal Senior State Counsel from the Attorney-General's Chambers, Owi Beng Ki, stated that civil servants serve the president: 'Civil servants under the constitution hold their allegiance to the president. The symbolism that is attached to that is we actually serve at the pleasure of a politically neutral institution. It is one of the values of the civil service that we are politically impartial,' said Ms Owi." [CNA, 17May2009][p.archiv].
- '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]. The de facto leader of all the CCCs, CCMCs, RCs and NCs in each constituency is known as the “adviser to the grassroots organisations (GROs)”. This adviser is appointed by PA, presumably with the nod of its chairman, the Prime Minister. In PAP constituencies, PA always appoints the elected MP as the adviser. But in opposition wards, PA appoints the PAP candidate who lost in the last election, not the opposition MP" [G Giam, 10Oct2009].
- '‘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]
- '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]
- 'Grassroots Organizations should stay non-partisan': "By appointing PAP candidates as grassroots advisers in Opposition held wards, the government is effectively bringing partisan politics into governmental institutions. Using the PA as a vehicle for PAP candidates as grounds to gain political capital so that they may fight their next battle with more goodwill, the governmental risks costing itself the position of Singapore as a Parliamentary Democracy; and put Singapore in par with communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea." [TR, 03Nov2009][alt site]
- 'NSP duo 'want to normalise Opposition politics'': "Opposition candidates Tony Tan and Hazel Poa..The couple...first class honours from Cambridge University... said they left the public service after they became disenchanted with it: Ms Poa, for instance, was 'uncomfortable' with the direction of certain policies, especially 'when the HDB upgrading started being linked to votes'" [TODAY, 05Apr2011]
- 'GRCs make it easier to find top talent: SM': "Without some assurance of a good chance of winning at least their first election, many able and successful young Singaporeans may not risk their careers to join politics" ; with hosting site footnote: "In Singapore, a Group Representation Constituency is a super-sized constituency where 5 or 6 candidates from the same party have to stand for election as a team. Voters vote for the party, not for individuals, thus weak candidates can still win a seat in Parliament by riding the coattails of stronger candidates."- [ST/ 'Yawningbread, 26June2006]
- ''Yes-men' PAP MPs embarrassed themselves by saying instinctively “Yes” (wrongly) to reduce budget of Home Affairs Ministry': "PAP MPs are so used to saying “yes” in Parliament that they almost screwed up the budget of the Home Affairs Ministry by agreeing to reduce it. PAP MP Alvin Yeo from Hong Kah GRC tabled a motion.. As he was not present during the debate on the next day, Speaker of the House Abdullah Tarmugi asked MPs to decide to approve the motion. As the PAP MPs are used to saying “Yes” in Parliament for many years, when the Speaker asked for a decision to be made on the motion, all of them shouted “AYE” in unison instinctively which prompted him to raise his head to hint to the MPs to listen carefully before voting again. ..." [TR, 07Mar2010][alt Link]
According to the doctrine of 'Separation of powers' [wiki]: for the purpose of upholding leadership integrity, a method of mutual check and balance between key organs governing a state ("executive, a legislature, and the judiciary") is instituted, each holding "separate and independent powers".
By the Public Service Division's own definition: [PSD: Progressive Policies]: "Maintaining High Standard of Conduct: The Civil Service works under a Code of Conduct based on the principles 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 ..." [p.archiv].
This was re-emphasized in 'Integrity of election process a hot topic during youth forum' [CNA, 17May2009]: "'Civil servants under the constitution hold their allegiance to the president. The symbolism that is attached to that is we actually serve at the pleasure of a politically neutral institution. It is one of the values of the civil service that we are politically impartial,' said Ms Owi."
It thus seems rather paradoxical: 'How PAP uses taxpayer-funded grassroots for political gain' [G Giam, 10Oct2009]: "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. In PAP constituencies, PA always appoints the elected MP as the adviser. But in opposition wards, PA appoints the PAP candidate who lost in the last election, not the opposition MP" . None of the above raised an eyebrow in the office of the President.
Further aggravating this travesty was the fact that Minister MBT's conduct of the Lift Upgrading Programme in opposition wards was done in an overtly partisan manner- in clear contravention of statutory specifications; rather it was premised upon PA's, aforementioned, morally bankrupt 'Grassroots advisers' scheme. ("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? " 'Town Council Act (CAP 329A) states clearly that Govt must work with Town Councils (run by MPs) to implement LUP' [TR, 29Oct2009][alt link]). Mr Mah was wrong to allow his partisan background to influence cloud his judgement in his executive position as Minister of National Development. Again, nobody in the office of the President bat an eyelid over partisan meddling with the affairs of the civil service..
Thus was it concluded that "By appointing PAP candidates as grassroots advisers in Opposition held wards, the government is effectively bringing partisan politics into governmental institutions. Using the PA as a vehicle for PAP candidates as grounds to gain political capital so that they may fight their next battle with more goodwill, the governmental risks costing itself the position of Singapore as a Parliamentary Democracy; and put Singapore in par with communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea."
'Grassroots Organizations should stay non-partisan' [TR, 03Nov2009][alt site]
So what good is Mr President now that the integrity of the Singapore civil service, left undefended, has since degenerated into a state comparable to that of "communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea".
And to that end are good civil servants leaving the civil service to join opposition parties: 'NSP duo 'want to normalise Opposition politics'': "Opposition candidates Tony Tan and Hazel Poa.. The couple said they left the public service after they became disenchanted with it: Ms Poa, for instance, was 'uncomfortable' with the direction of certain policies, especially 'when the HDB upgrading started being linked to votes'" [TODAY, 05Apr2011]
And for all that that rubber stamping done, the parliament of Singapore just approved an S$890,700 increase in Presidential salary from $3,376,800 to $4,267,500 ('Singapore President's annual salary tops S$4.2 million' [Yahoo-news, 11Mar2011]).
Like PA 'grassroots advisers', perhaps the President of Singapore is really appointed by the Prime Minister; perhaps all politics in Singapore is no more than a hegemonic puppet show, perhaps the President isn't doing his duty, whatever it is, the ruling politicians in Singapore have just grown a lot more prosperous then they have ever been before.
The Executive in Singapore has bought the Legislative ('GRCs make it easier to find top talent: SM' [ST/ 'Yawningbread, 26June2006]), the President is busy counting his cash whilst the Judiciary chained.
Democracy in Singapore, like that in "communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea" has become yet another farcical puppet show (''Yes-men' PAP MPs embarrassed themselves by saying instinctively “Yes” (wrongly) to reduce budget of Home Affairs Ministry' [TR, 07Mar2010][alt Link]); "A modern form of authoritarianism, quite distinct from Soviet Communism, Maoism or Fascism, is being born. It is providing a modicum of a good life, and a quiet life, the ultimate anaesthetic for the brain" ('The new authoritarianism'[Guardian/ J.Kampfner, 01July2008]).
~ "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Lord Acton (1834–1902).
Majulah Singapura.
~ "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.'"-- Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
Rgds & Love,
B.C.
End-notes/ references:
- '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. ..."
- 'Integrity of election process a hot topic during youth forum': "Deputy Principal Senior State Counsel from the Attorney-General's Chambers, Owi Beng Ki, stated that civil servants serve the president: 'Civil servants under the constitution hold their allegiance to the president. The symbolism that is attached to that is we actually serve at the pleasure of a politically neutral institution. It is one of the values of the civil service that we are politically impartial,' said Ms Owi." [CNA, 17May2009][p.archiv].
- '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]. The de facto leader of all the CCCs, CCMCs, RCs and NCs in each constituency is known as the “adviser to the grassroots organisations (GROs)”. This adviser is appointed by PA, presumably with the nod of its chairman, the Prime Minister. In PAP constituencies, PA always appoints the elected MP as the adviser. But in opposition wards, PA appoints the PAP candidate who lost in the last election, not the opposition MP" [G Giam, 10Oct2009].
- '‘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]
- '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]
- 'Grassroots Organizations should stay non-partisan': "By appointing PAP candidates as grassroots advisers in Opposition held wards, the government is effectively bringing partisan politics into governmental institutions. Using the PA as a vehicle for PAP candidates as grounds to gain political capital so that they may fight their next battle with more goodwill, the governmental risks costing itself the position of Singapore as a Parliamentary Democracy; and put Singapore in par with communist states like Cuba, China and North Korea." [TR, 03Nov2009][alt site]
- 'GRCs make it easier to find top talent: SM': "Without some assurance of a good chance of winning at least their first election, many able and successful young Singaporeans may not risk their careers to join politics" ; with hosting site footnote: "In Singapore, a Group Representation Constituency is a super-sized constituency where 5 or 6 candidates from the same party have to stand for election as a team. Voters vote for the party, not for individuals, thus weak candidates can still win a seat in Parliament by riding the coattails of stronger candidates."- [ST/ 'Yawningbread, 26June2006]
- ''Yes-men' PAP MPs embarrassed themselves by saying instinctively “Yes” (wrongly) to reduce budget of Home Affairs Ministry': "PAP MPs are so used to saying “yes” in Parliament that they almost screwed up the budget of the Home Affairs Ministry by agreeing to reduce it. PAP MP Alvin Yeo from Hong Kah GRC tabled a motion.. As he was not present during the debate on the next day, Speaker of the House Abdullah Tarmugi asked MPs to decide to approve the motion. As the PAP MPs are used to saying “Yes” in Parliament for many years, when the Speaker asked for a decision to be made on the motion, all of them shouted “AYE” in unison instinctively which prompted him to raise his head to hint to the MPs to listen carefully before voting again. ..." [TR, 07Mar2010][alt Link]
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