[Youth Quake Reaction] Youth Parliament in Singapore?

I attended the Youth Quake discussion on yesterday at the WP HQ, titled: "Youthquake: Is there Space for a Youth Parliament?"

I came in pretty late, but still managed to catch at least 30 mins of the "debate".

There were talks and issues raised about how the youth MP should be elected, what segmentation should be used to select the youths to be represented, many emphasis on representation, talks abt how it could be a grooming ground for future MPs, whether it should be held at the actual parliament house, etc...

I did not speak, as I thought I might raise the same questions as someone else or issues that is already discussed while I was still on my way there. But one stark problem about the discussion persisted and disturbs me the entire time I was there listening: the lack of fundamentals.

Running a country in a macro-scale (read: actual government) involves the most important pillars of life: food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, leisure/rest, education and transportation. As long as all these pillars are fulfilled: meaning everyone can earn enough to pay for food, shelter, healthcare, transportation and lastly clothing and leisure as well as good access to good education- you can be assured you will be in power for a long time to come (thats how PAP under LKY, and subsequently inherited by GCT and now LHL had managed to dominate the Singapore Politics for so long).

Thus for every policy and initiatives set out by the government, its MUST fulfilled one of the above mentioned pillars (meaning it will benefit the citizens) or it must help to boost the economy of Singapore (which in turns boost the earning of Singaporeans - theoretically). So where does having Youth Parliament stands in this context?

If its like what I heard in the discussion - its really nothing more than just a political brainwash of the youth to become more "political" (than politically aware) and for that handful to become egoistic because of their perceived "power" in holding that Youth MP seat (which, in accordance to what was discussed, likely to end up having the same group of youth dominating those seats).

Someone quoted an example of how a Youth Assembly was tested in Malaysia, which was dominated by the youth from the various political parties; to avoid it becoming to partisan, the rule changed it to be non-political - the same group of youth turned up, this time round, representing their schools. <--- this is exactly what will happen if we go down the route of having a Youth Parliament without a anchoring fundamental - What is the purpose of a Youth Parliament?

Some had argued that the Youth Parliament is to give power to the youth, to give the youth the voice to speak out and be heard; for the adults to take the youth more seriously and allow the youth to contribute to the proceedings and policy shaping in the Real Parliament, etc... - I totally DO NOT concur with this "fundamental" of having a Youth Parliament. It does not do economical good, does not keep food price or housing price low, does not make transportation better and cheaper, does not earn Singaporeans more money, does not pay for our ever increasing healthcare cost.... so whats left is education. But what kindda education is there in the above mentioned "purposes" - it more likely to create more Chee Soon Quans than Low Thia Kiangs or Lee Kuan Yews.

But also because the establishment of a Youth Parliament cannot apply to any of the pillars except Education; THEN EDUCATION MUST be the focus of having a Youth Parliament.

So what do you want to educate the youths of Singapore, through having a Youth Parliament?

To me, there are several things youths can learn through a sitting in a Youth Parliament: 
- Critical Thinking (to above to see thru the haze and be constructive)
- Understanding how policies are made and shaped
- Understanding the hidden currents and hidden costs behind every policies that is crafted
- To allow the youth to think for the greater good
- To tap on the youth's creativity, thus to propose creative solutions that can be implemented by the government
- To allow the youth to become more politically aware (not becoming more political. its different)

Youth Parliament should be like what Internship for students are. It should be to experience what it is like to be in that position, understand the difficulties, the hidden problems - all in all, as an education.

Any talk abt electing the kids to the youth parliament, giving them power, telling them to discuss national issues which they would not understand the magnitude at their age, without guidance from actual MPs that were elected into the real parliament - would be prematured.

And if this is to be implemented, the Youth Parliament should be a mass participation initiatives, that every week or every session, the youths that fills up the seats are always changing and different. We do not want clouts or the same individual turning up all the time - it should never be a place to be grooming politicians. Perhaps it can be run by the People's Association or the Ministry of Education. It can also be run according to educational level, where you will not have a 14 year old (sec 2) debating against a 22 year old (undergrad).


IN CONCLUSION: Any establishment of the Youth Parliament must be of the right reasons and fundamentals. As long as it does not fulfill any pillars of life or of economic good - its can only be of the wrong reasons: of individual/partisan interest <--- which we must avoid at all cost.

National Day flagcounts...

Its the National Day, but looking out from my window, at all the HDB flats - look at the number of household whom got hang the national flag, you know something is wrong....

Someone (a friend) commented, "if singaporean only hang during the national day, so does it mean they love the country only for a day?"

But is the question so simplistic?

There is 2 "simple" explanation: Either ppl dun bother to put (in an innocent way, like what happened to my household), or in a more political sense, ppl arent "thriving" nowadays.

"is the question so simplistic?"

To suggest that what was mentioned by my friend: is to move the entire talk down to a specific that is not debatable and is presumptuous on that the only reason ppl hang is because they love the country. I sincerely believe most Singaporeans loves Singapore a lot.

I'm making the statement (my status update) because it is something I have been observing closely over the years (as I'm a super patriot); from the days we first started having this flag hanging thing in the 90s, where everybody hangs up the flag (literally everyone voluntarily) - coincidentally a time where people are generally very happy with the government, and people are happy in general.

"This year is the one of the worst I observed, where on National Day, only 5% of the ppl are hanging the flag"

But over the years, are things start to get gloomier, prices rises, life get more difficult, incomes/salaries are stiff... you noticed less and less ppl starting to put up the flags. (although we cannot deny the every possibility that in the 90s, hanging flag is popular because of it novelty or maybe because there are too many foreigners nowadays whom dun really care, living in the hdb estates).

This year is the one of the worst I observed, where on National Day, only 5% of the ppl are hanging the flag (based on my vantage point outside my house). Those which have near 100% hanged are always because the RC members come and hang themselves (and they stole my flag when they collected all their flags, along with my one I hanged myself - a few national days ago...)

"and they (RC members) stole my flag when they collected all their flags, along with my one I hanged myself - a few national days ago..."

Something is obviously wrong. The question that beckons is, what's wrong?

A Review of LKY's Hard Truth Interview

Watch the entire interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihiE4oGyYlQ

THE REVIEW
I totally concur with whatever was said by Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

As for the highly disputed topic on Muslim integration, my take is that, its being taken out of context and that because of the way how the question is ask and the incomplete snap answer that Mr LKY gave that created the misunderstanding.

Muslims "separate-ness" to me is best described as like a "Vegetarian-Christian with brotherhood (gotong royong)". Just like our vegetarian friends, they have unique needs in the stuff they eat (halal); they are religious like our Christians whom goes to churches; and uniquely, for the Malay Muslims, they have this unbreakable bond between them which is widely known as Gotong Royong, or the Kampung Spirit.

Muslims "separate-ness" to me is best described as like a "Vegetarian-Christian with brotherhood (gotong royong)"

But the separateness and distinctness would just be as starking if the Chinese is the minority, whom eats pork, drinks alcohol and dun go to the places of worship every week.

But ultimately, that's the beauty of Singapore - the beauty of diversity. And I sincerely believe if we were to go to war, we will fight alongside each other as brothers and be proud to die for one another. =} (hope that day wont never happen though)

Regardless the Result.

Hi Dear Singaporeans,

Today, is Polling Day. As I'm writing this post, we are only 2.5 hours away from the end of Polling and the beginning of the transportation of the Ballot Boxes to the Counting Station/Centres.

Majulah! had been campaigning in support of the Opposition as its my personal belief that Singapore need a stronger slate of Opposition seats in Parliament to provide for check and balances against the overwhelming power of the PAP, in view of the poor performance by the PAP in the past 5 years. However, this by no means, saying that PAP had not done any good; PAP still have their good, despite their decreasing capability and increasing self-serving inclination.

Regardless of what is the final verdict today; regardless who is voted in.... Majulah! hopes that every Singaporean will give their best wishes to the winners, PAP or Opposition. Because, no matter what, it is a mandate given by the majority of our fellow Singaporeans. And in the faith of Democracy, it is a collective decision by Singaporeans and we should respect the final results.

Finally, Majulah! wish to appeal to all winners of this Election, to do their best for the People of Singapore; to serve with Integrity and Righteousness; to work towards making a brighter, fairer, more inclusive, more compassionate and most importantly, a happier Singapore for every Singaporean. A Singaporean Singapore.

Majulah Singapura!

What to consider on Cooling Off Day?

This edition of the General Elections, it will be the first time where a "Cooling Off Day" is introduced by the PAP which disallowed any campaigning by the political parties prior to the Polling Day on Saturday.

Majulah!, not being too sure to what extend this new rule is being applied : "- The transmission by any individual of his personal political views to another individual, on a non-commercial basis, using the telephone, Internet or other electronic means"

To be safe, this will be the last Majulah! post prior to the Polling Day.

------

On this moment to the moment you step into the polling station, your thoughts (mainly the undecideds) will be switching back and forth whether to vote for the PAP or the Opposition.

My Take: Just vote for the Opposition.

The PAP had been too overwhelmingly empowered for too long. We were lucky to have Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his team to lead and bring Singapore from the 3rd World to the 1st World. But before you deciding to vote just because of this, please remember, the Election is about the Future you want; not to grade the PAP for their past glories beyond the previous term.

PAP led Singapore had been doing very well on a macro economic scale ever since Mr Goh Chok Tong took over the baton. But unknown to the Singaporeans then, Singapore the Republic is slowly transformed into Singapore Inc. Many of the corporations that were previously Government held are privatised and a profit-driven philosophy is installed. The years under Mr Lee Hsien Loong made matter worse as Singaporeans witnessed the worst ever performance by the PAP since their rise to power year prior to Independence.

HEALTHCARE
Today, healthcare cost is so high that ordinary Singaporeans are avoiding getting medical treatment despite their dire need. Many said, its better to die than to fall sick.

HDB
HDB deliberately reduced the number of HDB built, coupled with the increased population, forced HDB prices to rise like to new heights; even during the recession year, HDB pegged their apartment pricing so firmly that even the private developers wanted to compensate for the poor sales of their private condos units by lowering their prices, were unable to do so because they can't be selling condos below HDB prices. And of course, without the Free Market Correction, prices just continue to rise from where they left of.

TRANSPORTATION
The big squeeze everyday which I think I do not need to say more.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Without enough Oppositions MP in Parliament, the PAP government could change the constitution anytime and in any way they want; the worst case scenario could be them, allowing the Permanent Resident voting rights so that they can tip that 51% they need amidst the increasing unhappiness against them.

ETC, etc... etc....

You get the drift.

PAP had a 25 years plan and while we are in the 10 or 15th year mark, they have no reason to let down and stop their plans. The lack of substance in the manifesto is a sign that they are intending to continue what they had been doing for the last 5-10 years: more foreigners, higher GST, higher ministerial salary, more ERP, higher healthcare cost, etc...

So dear Singaporeans, vote for the Oppositions, towards a more caring, more inclusive, fairer and more responsive First World Government.

PAP's GE2011 PR Catastrophe

PM Lee's Day Rally Speech

"I feel sad for the PAP... literally.

....I was expecting much more from our Ruling party."

Today, our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong apologised for the mistakes made by the PAP over the last 5 years, ranging from Mas Selamat's escape to the floodings and also the shortage of HDB flats built. And overall, it wasnt a bad speech either!

Objectively, its wasn't a bad thing, to apologise and admit one's mistake is admirable and respectful. But what is wrong, is the timing. He cannot choose a worse time to admit to PAP's imperfection and existence of gaffes & mistakes.

"what is wrong, is the timing. He cannot choose a worse time to admit to PAP's imperfection and existence of gaffes & mistakes."

Throughout the past 5 years, for every big incident/disaster, PAP's ministers kept quiet; pushing the blame away, and blatantly unrepentant about the problem that absolutely made under their jurisdiction. None of these PAP ppl admit to any mistakes and none of them, astonishingly, apologised at all.

Fast forward to today, in the red hot middle of the Elections period; of all the time and days in the world, PM Lee decided to apologise today. What a big mistake....

PAP's ministers kept quiet; pushing the blame away, and blatantly unrepentant about the problem that absolutely made under their jurisdiction. None of these PAP ppl admit to any mistakes and none of them, astonishingly, apologised at all.

Now, all the Oppositions jumped on his admission and trampled all over his effort to pull those former PAP supporters back to supporting the PAP.

There can only be 2 good time to apologise. FIRST, and as always the best policy, is to apologise IMMEDIATELY when the disaster strikes, regardless any investigation had been made or whether the fault is on "him" (as to the person in charge) or not. Which the PAP did not...

The only other good time, is when PAP returns to power on Election Day, re-elected once again, gaining the mandate of the people. PM Lee could have triumphantly thank the People of Singapore for keeping faith in the PAP, despite all the mistakes and gaffes that the PAP had made, and to promise the Singaporeans that PAP will do better this term.

PM Lee could have triumphantly thank the People of Singapore for keeping faith in the PAP, despite all the mistakes and gaffes that the PAP had made, and to promise the Singaporeans that PAP will do better this term.

But no........... he chose today.


This entire incident, together with all the other "self foot shooting" speeches/interviews, poor understanding of what will tick the heart strings of the people and gutter politicking shows that the PAP is poorly prepared for this General Elections, despite being the one deciding when it would take place.

PAP is the most powerful, richest and most resourceful Party in Singapore. They are the people who run the show in Singapore and the leaders whom are supposed to lead Singapore to a brighter future. But General Elections, probably the most important event on any PAP calendar, had suffered with such poor PR strategies and skills (public relations).

The various PAP teams do not seemed to be sharing the same ideology or election message; SM Goh shoots Wong Kan Seng just to protect George Yeo's butt (which at the same time, shoot every single other ministers); Every PAP speech sounds so scripted, too much macro talk, little substance and many fails to touch the heart of the people. Not to mention, failing to provide the plans and solutions for the problem they created themselves (which they in turn blame the world for it).

As a Singaporean, I totally concede that no matter what happen at the polls, PAP is definitely going to return back to power as a Majority. But the abysmal PR by the PAP highlights how weak, unprepared and disorganised PAP could become; especially in the face of such brilliant PR and organisational abilities shown by virtually all the Oppositions parties.

And thus, with the prospect of another 5 years under the PAP leadership, I'm really worried how well PAP could do, especially for the People of Singapore, when they can't even give a good clean fight against the Oppositions...

"the abysmal PR by the PAP highlights how weak, unprepared and disorganised PAP could become; especially in the face of such brilliant PR and organisational abilities shown by virtually all the Oppositions parties."

I really hope PAP would buck up... They had disappointed me in the way their fight had gone (despite me backing the Oppositions); I was expecting much more from our Ruling party.

I feel sad for the PAP... literally.

(Doesn't make sense since I'm taking the Oppositions' side, but really... I feel genuinely emotionally sad at the state of affairs of PAP)

Would PAP one day grant PR voting rights?

As by my previous articles, citing the possibility of PAP granting PR voting rights in future elections, I am by no means saying the PAP will do it; but the PAP will have the option to do it if they feel that their positions threatened or compromised enough.

In 10 years time, PAP would have achieve their target population of 6.5 million people in Singapore. Of which by then, there would have been at least 1 million of them gaining PR status. With only the maximum of 3 million Singaporeans Citizen voters, PR voters whom are likely to vote for the ruling party together with staunch supporters of PAP (including Civil Servants whom believe they are obligated to vote for the PAP) would almost definitely ensure power for the PAP.

But this drastic constitutional change might not happen, as it would permanently damage PAP's reputation and trust among the true blue Singaporeans. But according to history, PAP had not restrained themselves from doing anything possible to defend their position of power, so there is always such possibilities as long as the Constitution is not protected with adequate number of seats held by Oppositions.

I'm not selling fear as the previous articles seemed (because I was genuinely frightened by the possibility), but at the same time, we cannot deny the fact that PAP could do it if they want to.

When that day really comes, Singaporeans will have no rights whatsoever to revoke the Constitutional change because.... we gave them the mandate and voted them in.

This revelation is meant as an education to the people as to the importance of Opposition in the house, an additional thing to consider who you should vote and please do not construe this as an direct attack against the PAP. I will still say the same thing if one day WP is in absolute power - no party should have absolute power.