The Anti Neo-Democracy Theorist

Oct 29,2005 Singapore Straits Times

Last week, Insight looked at a British university’s decision not to set up a branch campus here. We asked readers if they believe academics are constrained in how much they can say, write and teach. Here are some responses

‘THERE is a certain lack of academic freedom but it is more self-imposed than imposed by the Government.

On my return to Singapore in 1996 after 15 years overseas, I received advice from some senior colleagues that I should be careful about what I write in the media, including expressing opinions in the Forum pages.

Apart from direct criticism of government policies, I was advised that I should be careful in criticising any organisation that has some sort of government affiliation.

I have subsequently written letters criticising the effectiveness of the Consumers Association of Singapore, questioning the role of the Government in business through investment in government-linked companies, and even comments made by a minister. I did not face any negative repercussions.

But there is a fear factor among academics. It is sad that some colleagues with useful things to say are afraid of saying them.’

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MAK YUEN TEEN of NUS Business School

‘NOT too long ago, Dr Cherian George wrote an article on managing civil disobedience, which was published in The Straits Times. It appears not to have been perceived in the light that he had hoped it would be, considering the backlash that followed from the Prime Minister’s Office and the accusation of partisanship.

The remarks of former US ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin, on the need for greater participation of the citizenry, is indeed an apt piece of advice for the future of Singapore.’

MARGARET LOUIS

‘SO LONG as anyone is able to substantiate the claims in whatever he says, he should always feel free to express them. This has long been the policy of the Government.

Is it wrong to require someone to substantiate his claims, especially if they have the potential to be libellous? Is it wrong to seek accountability for statements made? That is called responsibility.

If Singaporeans are held to this high standard of accountability, then why shouldn’t the same be extended to foreigners - and more so academics who have access to the facts - who seek to comment on local issues?

If there are remarks made which are not flattering but well-substantiated, then we would do well to take heed.’

BERNARD EE, doctoral student in Melbourne, Australia

‘IT IS not just academics but everyone who faces limits on freedom of political expression in Singapore.

If the ruling party was secure enough to allow citizens to think for themselves, this would not be necessary. A political free-for-all may seem chaotic, but at the end of the day, it is fair.

Anyone who has a point of view on an issue should be able to express it to the best of his or her ability and ingenuity - on the Internet, in the media, at a protest. And people can make up their own minds as to its merits.’

STEVEN PANG

The British are really imaginative with their election posters. I think the one on the left is really funny and the right a spoof on the effective poster about unemployment back in the Great Depression.

Left: Labor Party Election Poster 2001
Right: Conservative Party Election Poster 2001

More fascinating Election Posters-This time from Thailand. From the left : Thai Rak Thai Party Poster, Democrat Party and Mahachon Party Posters

Aerial Photo of Carleton College

Decided to post some photos of my college. It is a really beautiful campus now..Thinking I should go for a walk in the arb.The weather is absolutely wonderful now (okay, tad cold but still okay lah)

Suddenly thought of the homecoming game. It was a great game despite the obvious mauling.

Classes, Parties, Profs, Friends and Interesting people I meet stimulate me or distract me enough from the bad food here. Although I went to mandrain gardens today which was absolutely superb as compared to the Stir Crazy in the dining hall. The Sweet and sour pork and fried rice was really good..Thinking of cooking tommorow

Feeling exhausted after a end of an exhausting week with friends, SY roomates, 10 page paper on US-China policy over 100 years [how on earth did we all finish that paper..It was rather funny that half the class was in the CMC or some god forsaken corner three in the morning] Trying to scan some readings now although it is so mah fan that I think I will just memorize it (HAHAHAHAH…Feeling cranky now)

Chuan En is so cute..when she reach 6 months old, she will be even more adorable!!

Singapore becokens.

The bed looks inviting, I think I will dive in now.

PEACE. WS.

“The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas. Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason and courage in a personal commitment to the ideals of American society.”

~ Robert F. Kennedy (1925-196



The price of the democratic way of life is a growing appreciation of people’s differences, not merely as tolerable, but as the essence of a rich and rewarding human experience-Jerome Nathanson

National Day Song: We will get there, I just know, Look at where are, we’ve come so far and there is a long long way to go…

Year-end polls on the cards?

Punters say conditions good for late Dec or early Jan GE

Tor Ching Li

chingli@newstoday.com.sg

FOR the last time this year: Are we there yet?

With several tell-tale signs in the air, political watchers have finally agreed that a General Election (GE) is just around the corner.

Setting the scene are healthy estimates for third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth and multi-million dollar area upgrading programmes — particularly in Aljunied GRC, where $160 million has been set aside for the potential Opposition hotbed.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has even spoken openly of the benchmark for his first GE — and it is not the Nov 2001 polls when the People’s Action Party (PAP) garnered a landslide 75 per cent of the votes and all but two seats.

All that’s left is for Mr Lee — and the PAP’s Manifesto Committee, which was formed earlier this year — to set the date of the GE, present their candidates and unveil their manifesto.

Though the Government has until June 2007 to hold the GE, most political watchers said the window of opportunity lies at the end of this year — or in the first quarter of next year.

Said an unnamed grassroots leader: “Polling day may be right at the beginning of next year so as not to spoil the holidays. No doubt, we’re seeing all the right signs for an election to be called.”

Indeed, the favoured GE season seems to be right before Christmas with nomination day in early December (see table).

The one time the GE spanned the year-end festivities was in 1996-97, when nomination day was on Dec 23 and polling day on Jan 2.

Based on the official travel plans of Mr Lee and his Cabinet members, the GE could be called anytime from late November to early December, or anytime after the Asean Summit in mid-December.

Noted political scientist Ho Khai Leong: “The dengue mobilisation activities have also served the Government well in terms of reaching out to voters and making its presence felt face-to-face with them.

“This is an unintended consequence and a good opportunity.”

Sociologist Tan Ern Ser agreed that a GE by the end of the year would be timely.

“The bottom-line is still about the economy, job and income security, and the cost of living at the level of individuals and families.

“My sense is that things are looking fairly decent on the economic front, despite rising oil prices, so the end of the year would be a good time to hold the GE,” he said.

Issues with the potential to have an impact on the polls, however, include the planned integrated resorts (IR) and the National Kidney Foundation saga.

Views were split as to whether the repeated delays in announcing the details of the Request For Proposals (RFP) — and hence the tender — for the IRs had any relation to the timing of the GE.

Originally, the IR tendering process was to have been concluded at the end of this year. Now, only the RFP will be made known by the end of November.

Said political observer and Retail Promotion Centre general manager Chng Hoon Hoon: “I think the IR issue is still divisive and in spite of the debate in Parliament, the opposition to gambling is still simmering.”

However, Prof Tan said he felt that with the IRs now a fait accompli, Singaporeans would still vote with their stomachs when it comes down to the crunch.

Are there any factors that could hold back a GE this year?

A lack of PAP candidates, predicted Mr Chng.

“My educated guess would be that there is still a window of at least six months before the GE is called, as there may not be enough suitable candidates to fill the usual renewal of about 30 per cent of Parliamentary seats,” he said.

However, other pundits argue that the machinery to select new candidates has already been in full flow for some time, with the PAP just finalising its slate.

And though there is another 18 months to go, with the current conditions sound and with the economy on the mend, there may be no better time than now

These posters were put up by the Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats in the last UK General Election. Guess i wouldn’t be seeing anything like that in Singapore GE in Dec(maybe?)?

Well well, Clarke fails again..If Cameron doesn’t win the race to be conservative leader, I am pretty sure Gordon Brown will be PM and Labour will lead Britain for another 10 years.

David Davis vs Gordon Brown. If I was a British Voter, I would see no reason to vote for DD. Rather Pompous, poor speaker and Traditional Tory who simply cannot beat Brown’s economic poweress (or appearance of economic competency).

Clarke knocked out of Tory race

Ex-chancellor Ken Clarke has been knocked out of the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
The self-styled “big beast” came fourth in the poll of Tory MPs, gaining 38 of the 198 available votes.
Of his rivals, David Davis came top with 62 votes, followed by David Cameron on 56 and Liam Fox on 42.
The three remaining candidates go through to another vote by Tory MPs on Thursday. That will select the two who go to a ballot of all party members.

Old Chap, See you in the House of Lords!

A paragraph from an old paper I wrote when my writing was less polished. However, I think the content is interesting.

Paragraph 4:

Poland’s “pacted” transition arguably made transition to full democracy more difficult and incomplete than Portugal’s “unpacted transition” which was easier and more complete. The reasons behind the great compromise were that Solidarity wanted legal recognition and that Solidarity overestimated the regime’s legitimacy and strength and negotiated from their perceived “lower” base of power and support. There were three main concessions that Solidarity made with the communist regime.

Solidarity agreed that 35 percent of the seats would be open to free and competitive elections. This meant that the Communist Party and their allies had a majority in the lower house for a period of 15 months from August 1989 till December 1991, hampering democratic and social reforms and the need to write up a more democratic constitution. Two other concessions include the creation of the Senate and the Presidency after a complex trade off. This resulted in an indirectly elected president with significant powers in the areas of internal security, defense and foreign relations. The largely unelected Sjem, the parliament, would then have the same power as the Senate. This would prove to be extremely problematic in the future as the eventual presidential candidate, Walesa, would use the presidential powers to intervene in the electoral process by postponing much needed parliamentary elections and intervening directly in the affairs of the government.

This created a gridlock situation between the parliament and the presidency. The frequent changes in the premiership as well as Walesa aims to create a “semi-presidentialism” syste, contributed to great constitutional and intergovernmental conflicts that slowed rather than assisted democratic consolidation. In contrast, the transition in Portugal was not started by the state but rather by captains and junior officers unhappy with the regime. All the seats in parliament were contested, unlike the Polish one.

The 1975 Portugese elections was deemed free and fair and saw moderate parties winning more than 70% of the votes. There was a clear vision by democratic parties after the elections to exclude extremist elements like the communists, to subdue the military from a governing role and to rewrite the constitution. The people consistently voted for pro-regime and pro-democratic parties. Eventually, the democratic will of the people as well as the competence of mainstream political parties over a period of 6 years revised the constitution and established a legal framework for the democratic control of the military.

Mr. Lavin, What is so surprising? (laughs)

20th century political model won’t do for S’pore: Lavin

Oct 12 2005

Loh Chee Kong

cheekong@newstoday.com.sg

DESPITE its economic success, Singapore’s political system faces a tough transition as its citizens demand greater participation, outgoing United States Ambassador Frank Lavin (picture) said.

Mr Lavin, who has been nominated to the post of US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, said at a farewell dinner co-organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs: “Singapore has flourished over the past 40 years, but is a 20th century model adequate for the 21st century?”

Remaking the economy is the easy decision; shaping a political system to reflect the needs and aspirations of its citizens is more difficult and sensitive.

Said Mr Lavin: “What are the bounds of expression? What say should citizens have in their Government? In this era of weblogs and webcams, how much sense does it make to limit political expression?”

It was “surprising” to find constraints on discussion here, he said, given the place of Singapore’s strong international links in its economic success.

Speaking to Today, Mr Lavin said he felt it was “very difficult to find a platform if you have a policy point to make that might be critical of the government”.

“I think governments should take a broader view of political expression. It will provide a greater sense of attachment for the Singapore population.”

During the question-and-answer session, he said that one-party political dominance here has “enormous strengths”, such as “very high quality leadership” which maximises its long-term vision. But the system also has weaknesses, and “the lack of open and vigorous debates might reduce a Government’s popularity if it doesn’t let ideas or views be properly aired”, he said.

Referring to a failed demonstration outside the US embassy last year against the Iraq War, Mr Lavin said he was “embarrassed” when the police asked him if he wanted to press charges against the demonstrators. “I said ‘no’. I mean, go ahead, hold the signs and say something if you want to.”

Nonetheless, the US and Singapore have much in common in their approach to issues such as cross-border threats, Mr Lavin noted. As ambassador here for four years, he had nothing but praise for Singapore after witnessing how it handled Sars, the terrorism threat and tsunami relief efforts.

On Sars, he said: “We had confidence in Singapore to face the problem honestly and with total commitment, so I did not order an embassy evacuation. We were the only US post in a Sars-affected country not to do so. Had the embassy closed or scaled back, it would have triggered an American community exodus.”