Do You Trust PAP to Manage Singapore After This Haze Incident?
Proactive Vs Reactive
A good leader is ready for emergencies. An average leader reacts to an emergency. From this haze incident, it has shown that PAP has no plans at all to a possible haze. The inter haze committee has only been set up [link] . There are no clear protocols in place. Every citizen is wondering if the children are going to school. Contradicting guidelines tells Children to stay indoors when PSI reaches 300 [link], but they have to go to school. This is confusing. Perhaps there are some tele-portals for the rich to reach school without travelling outdoors?
An 11 year old agreement NOT ratified till now?
PM Lee mentioned that it is his priority now to look after the health of Singaporeans [link]. I am unsure about how it was for the past 11 years, or what his priorities are. However, there seemed to be a lack of urgency on PAP’s part on an Asean agreement from 2002[link]. The agreement was left hanging there for 11 years. No one seemed to take it serious. At least PAP didn’t take it serious or place enough emphasis for Indonesia to take it seriously. A lapse of 11 years shows complacency on all parties. Hence, no one, including PAP can claim that they are ever serious about an agreement.
Leadership by Singapore on the 2002 treaty?
Since 2002, Singapore was given opportunities for leadership roles in Asean . From 1 Jan 2003 – 31 Dec 2007, a Singaporean was the Secretary-General [link]. In 18‒22 November 2007, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, was the host leader [link]. I am unsure if there was another form of leadership shown during this period to ensure that Indonesian takes the 2002 agreement seriously. If there was, Indonesia sure did not seem to agree that the leaders then were serious about the treaty.
Leadership on the pollution indicators?
The choice of an air pollution index is crucial in management of air pollution. PSI is one such index. However, this has been abandoned by the founding fathers for a more updated index since 1999 [link]. However, the Singapore political leaders (aka PAP), have kept and stuck to this index. It is acceptable that to choose this index. However, please do not give excuses on the index when faults are presented. Or worse, telling us not to be fixated on this Index[link]. Then in the first place, why have the objective index? There is a write up on the PSI [link]. The article shows that the PSI is not reflective and has a lag time. It is puzzling and flummoxed me why did our leaders choose such an Index. It is akin to telling us that a flood has occurred after the flood has done its damage at Orchard road. Or was that what has happened to the flood warning system as well [link]?
Top dollars for such Leadership?
The PAP ministers are the highest paid ministers in the world [link], even after the so called pay cut. Was the pay cut a wayang just like Prince William visit [link] or their own crowd at the election rallies [link]? Eventually, it is undeniable that they are the highest paid. As such, it is inevitable that with such a pay, an acceptable quality of service and solutions are required. Otherwise, why pay top money for poor leadership and a lack of therefore?
Coming up with solutions?
One minister lamented that all netizens do is to complain and even use expletives [link] . We have done nothing. Think again. We did. Having to write an article is to awaken fellow Singaporeans. As it draws closer to the election 2016, we have to expose that the current PAP is no longer the only choice for Singaporeans. There are alternatives. Please do not label us as complaining. Our solution is to push for a regime change in 2016. It is time for a new government who is serious about Singaporeans, a new political party or parties who cares for us and will look after us. PAP is too concern with increasing our population with foreigners. It is difficult to manage and encourage Singaporeans to have children. So the easier way out is to increase the population it via foreign intake.
Conclusion
Did PAP show leadership in the whole issue? Especially when they had ample opportunities for years? Yet, the same leaders demand top dollars for such leadership. Will they take the easy way out ? Will it be another case of the 6.9 million populations? 2016 is not the time to find out. It is time Singapore rally together, learn from this haze incident and prepare to give the current poor leaders the boot. Do not bare with this incident, reach out to your fellow Singaporeans to think carefully in 2016.
Thank you.
Anson Be
*This article first appeared in
http://therealsingapore.com/
http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/06/23/do-you-trust-pap-to-manage-singapore-after-this-haze-incident/
