The Anti Neo-Democracy Theorist

A most interesting article in the Straits Times. Also see SDP’s letter to Obama. Obama actually talked about Singapore education system much earlier, as seen in my March 06 2007 post on a video of Obama talking about this issue. Also, it appears that Obama has slowly become a metaphor of political change in Singapore.

Feb 16, 2008
Will politics here throw up an Obama?
By Lynn Lee
BY 2030, will Singapore have a Barack Obama, the presidential-hopeful seen by backers in the United States as an agent of change?

It’s possible, but such an individual will come from outside the ruling People’s Action Party, according to Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong.

His reasoning last night: ‘It comes back to the PAP’s style of leadership renewal. It’s a controlled process, they look for certain traits. If you’re charismatic, it’s a bonus, but not a requirement.’

He was speaking at a forum on Singapore politics, where a student asked if a politician with the charisma of Senator Obama would ever surface.

The question was in keeping with the forum’s theme - Singapore in 2030 - and was a follow-up to an Institute of Policy Studies conference this month, where issues like the future political landscape and challenges to continued economic growth were raised.

The six panellists touched on these topics during a three-hour session. But in responding to the nearly 300 students present, they also shared their concerns about the values and sense of identity that would prevail among Singaporeans two decades from now.

For instance, NUS researcher Karyn Wang felt that people’s apathy was a problem that had to be solved. The lack of engagement would hinder them from taking an active part in national issues and helping shape Singapore’s future.

Writer Catherine Lim said the current political environment - where economic development is prized over political openness - was dampening young Singaporeans’ sense of identity.

‘If their loyalty is to the good life, then it can also shift with the good life, and it will not stay with the country,’ she said, echoing a point she also made at a Singapore Management University talk earlier in the day.

Indeed, media academic Cherian George noted that today’s youngsters - who form the core pool of voters in 20 years - will have different political values from the older generation.

For instance, they would have more of a ‘can-do’ spirit, shaped by their exposure to a growing culture of civil society here.

Constitutional law academic Kevin Tan’s main concern was how Singapore was transforming too rapidly, and physically becoming almost unrecognisable. The challenge was in creating a sense of ownership, through a freer exchange of different views: ‘Because the concept of citizenship is not only about making money or living well, it’s about living meaningfully. And for that, we have to have a stake in Singapore.’