The Anti Neo-Democracy Theorist

Credits: Blackfive

And it ain’t pretty. I wonder if PAP might have to come up with new policies to deal with increasing transnational activism that comes with increased globalization. My friends after seeing these news have been coming up to me to ask questions; so far I have not said much. Why? Because I am too disappointed with our first world government leaders in dealing with dissent to share anything. Shrugging my shoulders, I go on with my day.

I am proud to be a Singaporean; we as a people have achieved a lot, we have created a multi-racial society on very difficult grounds and we have a safe and clean environment. However, sometimes when my country leaders’ lack of PR skills get splashed across the world, I ask myself, are our leaders putting Singapore on the world map in a negative way? Can we always blame the international media for interpreting such decisions as “authoritarian”? Where and what exactly are the moral underpinnings behind Asian Value and non-intervention?

It is interesting that our first world MPs and ministers, graduating from Harvard, NUS, LSE, Columbia, Cambridge, Oxford and Beijing University has not taught them to deal better with cross cultural political issues? I hope the next generation of young Singaporean leaders can do better; Number one rule: Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.

Majulah Singaporeans!

前进吧，新加坡人！

BBC News
Europe MPs ‘gagged’ by Singapore
Singapore has been accused of acting like an “authoritarian state” after refusing to allow European Parliament members to speak during a visit.

The seven MEPs, as well as a Cambodian and a Philippines congresswoman, were denied permission to speak at a forum on democracy in Europe and Asia.

One MEP likened the Singaporeans’ to repressive regimes such as North Korea.

The Singapore government said foreigners did not have permission to address the event.

The seven MEPs, from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), came to Singapore after earlier speaking at a forum in Indonesia.

‘Authoritarian state’

“I fear that, in this sense at least, it puts Singapore in a league with North Korea, Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China,” MEP Graham Watson was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

“What has happened today proves that Singapore is an authoritarian state,” said Ignasi Guardans, a Spanish MEP.

The MEPs had been invited to speak by the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) led by Chee Soon Juan, opponents of the People’s Action Party which has ruled the island state since 1959.

“Singapore’s politics are reserved for Singaporeans. As visitors to our country, foreigners should not abuse their privilege by interfering in our domestic politics,” Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6553319.stm

CNN News
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/04/13/singapore.speakers.reut/
Singapore restricts debate on ministers’ pay

SINGAPORE (Reuters) — Singapore has banned seven foreigners, including three members of the European Parliament, from speaking at an opposition party debate on Friday on a big pay hike for ministers and civil servants.

The government said this week that ministers and senior civil servants would enjoy a 60 percent pay increase, giving them an average salary of S$1.9 million ($1.25 million).

The prime minister’s pay is set to jump to S$3.1 million — five times what the president of the United States earns.

The announcement has drawn widespread criticism from ordinary Singaporeans given the country’s widening income gap and the fact the city-state’s ministers were already among the highest-paid in the world.

The police told the Singapore Democratic Party it could not hold a public forum on Friday to discuss the increases, and the immigration authority rejected applications for professional visit passes for the seven foreigners the SDP invited to speak.

“Singapore’s politics are reserved for Singaporeans. As visitors to our country, foreigners should not abuse their privilege by interfering in our domestic politics,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement issued on its Web site late on Thursday.

“Foreigners who abuse the privileges that Singapore accords to guests and visitors, and meddle in Singapore’s domestic politics, are not welcome here,” the Ministry said.

The barred speakers include European parliament members Graham Watson of the United Kingdom, Anders Samuelsen of Denmark, and Lydie Polfer of Luxembourg, a former deputy prime minister of that country.

Under Singapore’s Public Entertainments and Meetings Act, public speaking is generally prohibited unless it has been licensed by the government.

Singaporeans who wish to speak indoors do not need to be licensed, but forums featuring foreign speakers require a permit, the ministry said.

Chee Siok Chin, sister of party leader Chee Soon Juan and a senior party member herself, said the SDP would go ahead with the forum with local speakers.

“You have this autocratic government coming down and showing utter disrespect for our international peers. I’m ashamed,” she said on Friday.

She said the seven foreigners barred from speaking at the forum are currently in Singapore.

According to the SDP Web site, Chee Soon Juan plans to speak at the forum and rebut remarks made by Lee Kuan Yew, modern Singapore’s first prime minister, about the ministers’ pay hike.

Lee said earlier this week that Singapore should pay ministers competitive wages because the city-state needs an “extraordinary government with extraordinary government officers”.

Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.