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Chen Jiaxi Bernard (陈家喜)[/h]
Magnanimity and Singapore's political future
At the outset, one has to recognise that there are many possibilities for Singapore’s future. We could probably begin the discussion by stating that as Singaporeans, we can love an imperfect Singapore perfectly and contribute the little we have to the nation-building process. While we ponder over the many possibilities, I would like to share my perspectives on the political future of Singapore.
The political direction of this nation in the future can be framed on the back of a broker state. This will complement the petitionary state that we see week in and week out at the various Meet-the-People sessions across the island. The state guarantees the rights of the various interest groups and oversees pluralistic competition in the national marketplace. Magnanimity would be the core value that underpins this. Magnanimity provides a clear signal to Singaporeans that the state is investing its confidence in them to make calibrated and constructive decisions in the name of the larger national interest.
Magnanimity in governance is not about playing to the audience with populist policies. It is about fairness and compassion and more importantly, flexibility to meet the needs of groups left out by public policies. It is also the awareness that nation building is large enough an endeavour to accommodate the various distinct interest groups and political parties. Magnanimity in governance is also an understanding that the relationship between the community, grassroots organisations, the constituents and the government has to be radically reconsidered. Politics has to leave the grassroots, and in doing so, both the grassroots and the political discourse in this country would be enhanced. Magnanimity in politics is having the awareness that no one comes into politics to damage the national interest. Rather, to enhance it and build a more resilient nation for generations to come. The government, led by the political party with the most parliamentary seats is merely one of the many stakeholders, an important stakeholder nonetheless, with obligations and responsibilities to the electorate and sacrifices have to be made to serve them. Politics in the future of Singapore can be magnanimous.
It can be said that the opposition parties in Singapore lacks a strategy. In the ecosystem of a typical opposition party in Singapore are several issues that it will encounter, such as the tensions on its resources, questions about its competency, contradictions in its messaging and trade-offs in their goals. An attempted prescription and the repeated intent and articulation of an alliance of parties speak of rhetoric without substance. The definition of a framework has taken form but without the slightest inkling that when executed four mediocre swimmers do not produce an Olympic winning relay team. There is a basic lack of comprehension on the part of the member-parties of the historical context and undercurrents in Singapore politics, the crucial importance of the element of trust in Singapore politics and the electoral behavior of the voters, without which there can be no strategy. Decisions, when made would lead only to conflict, confusion and in the case of the opposition alliance, temporality and defeat.
Politics in Singapore is about trust and political parties need to build this crucial relationship with the electorate. Trust is a work-in-progress, continually evolving, but never to be taken for granted. A critical part of the trust quotient is not merely a name on the electoral ticket but the presence of an able organisation behind the names on the ballot. Every vote is important, not because it is rhetorically pleasing to the ears, but because voting is the process where responsibility and trust is transferred from the voters with all their uncertainties, hopes and aspirations that comes along with it onto the names on the ballot. It is about the electorate entrusting you with the future of their estate and the direction of the nation. It is a sacred process; one that I hope our members of parliament and national leaders would never take for granted as we embrace SG50 and embark on the next fifty years in our nation-building process.
Chen Jiaxi Bernard
