3 more days to polling day, but my mind has already been made.
Over the course of the last few days, many issues has been brought into the political sphere with all the rallies that occurs. I would just like to jot down 3 issues that struck me before going to the polls.
The below are my views, if you're unhappy, don't read it.
1. Why so angry, Singaporeans?
I hope this only applies to a small group of people. But from what I read online and on the papers, it seems like this group is growing. Not only are they ungrateful, some are even downright childish.
I can understand the frustration and growing negative sentiments over the shortcomings and over the last 5 years. The main criticisms lie in the following: YOG going over-budget, increasing cost of HDB, Mas Selamat's escape and public transportation. The Prime Minister has even come out to publicly apologise for the government's handling of these issues.
Yet, Singaporeans (both online and offline) are still unmoved and saying things like, "if one only apologises now, it wouldn't be sincere, would it?"
Hello? What more do Singaporeans want? The PM to come to your door to kah tao to you arh? The government had acknowledged that mistakes were made back then. What more do you expect our ministers to do? Everyday do guard duty? That guy was caught again, wasn't he?
On their watch, Singapore has yet to experience a terrorist attack on our shores. And that is not due to luck. It's vigilance and a world-class security system. Isn't that good enough?
On supporting the opposition, again, I have no qualms on that and wanting to have alternative voices in parliament. But we should always do this in a rational and civilized manner. Not by vandalising and defacing PAP banners and yelling vulgarities at ministers doing their jobs. Why so childish people?
Instead of showing open discontent and complaining about shortcomings of the PAP over the last 5 years, why not do something about it? Simply put, if you think you can do a better job, why not step up and be involved instead of whining?
Don't so angry people! Play some Angry Birds on cooling off day:
And on the issue of MM Lee, a lot has been said, so I won't repeat. I would just like to say that many Singaporeans had forgotten (or conveniently dismissed) what MM has done for us. Yes, he is very straight-forward and confrontational, but that's just who he is. I may not like him very much, but I respect him.
I'm happy that I have friends who are doing so, getting involved in the grassroots level and whatever way they can to make a difference.
I am happy with what the government has provided for me over the years and I don't blame them for my shortcomings. I am not alone in the above sentiments, which leads me to my second point.
2. Education
Look at people like Kelvin:
Did he blame the government? No! And why should everyone else?
Reform's Party (RP) candidate Lim Zi Rui, 24, pointed out in his rally address 3 days ago that the Hall situation in NTU was brought about by the government's policies in accepting too many foreigners. This is utter nonsense. His views are not representative of NTU students like myself.
The situation is caused by the University's policies on the Hall Admission Scheme. The government did not mandate the university to accept a certain quota of foreign students, much less the into the Hall of Residences. Besides, using this as an example to highlight the influx of foreign workers is far too myopic and it shows a severe lack of understanding of the macro-economic implications of this policy.
Singapore is a tiny island with no natural resources, what we have is human capital. Who are the ones that build the houses and estates we live in, the schools we go to, the MRT lines? But I digress.
Back on the issue of education. Many Singaporeans are complaining time and again that the university placements in Singapore are far too competitive and that it is hard for Singaporeans to gain admission. What the fuck, seriously? Being competitive not good arh? That's how schools like the NUS Medical School can be ranked top in Asia and how Nanyang Business School (NBS) of NTU can be ranked among the top colleges in the world.
A lot of these sentiments are, in my opinion, brought about by the symptom known as 'sour grapes'. When I did not do well in my 'A' Levels in 2002 for a university admission, did I blame the government? NO! Because I know I was not good enough. I had to work my way around by going to Ngee Ann Polytechnic and gain admission to NBS thru NP. Hard work, not complaining. There are many others like me who had to work their way up.
So stop blaming the government if your child is not good enough for a place among the local universities. There are many choices around.
3. National Service
The National Solidarity Party (NSP) led the calls for a reduced National Service (NS) to 15 months in their party manifesto. However, their manifesto is vastly shortsighted and neglected the other arms of NS - Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). So SAF reduced to 15 months, then the rest still 24 months? How is that viable?
One of the NSP candidates said that, and I quote, "The National Day Parade (NDP) should not be done by NSFs (Full-time national servicemen) and should be outsourced."
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) went one better in their manifesto, calling for NS to be shortened to 12 months. You think what? Holiday camp arh? Or like Malaysia's National Service friendship camp? From a 2-year programme, to 1-year, to six months to the present 3 months.
I think these parties, with no disrespect, are missing an important point of National Service - nation building. Not to mention that they seemed to have overlooked NS in SPF and SCDF.
Race, Religion and Language are the factors we build our nation upon. NS is an integral part of helping to achieve tolerance and understanding among the difference races, because no matter what background you are from, as long as you are Singaporean (or PR), by the time you are 18, you serve.
I'm not sure on the structure of the SPF and SCDF, but currently, there are training programmes for commanders in the Army. My time (7 years ago - shit quite long arh), it was 3 months of Basic Military Training. Officers-to-be undergo a further 9 months, while Specailists undergo a further 6-8 months of training depending on the appointment you hold (Section Commander, Platoon Sergeant, etc). Those work out to almost a year in training for commanders.
Granted, majority of the force is comprised by the foot soldiers and non-combatants. But we can't have a system that caters to both groups, i.e NS for non-commanders 15 months, and commanders 24 months. If that is the case, no one would want to be commanders. Not the perfect system, but perfectly understandable why things are done this way.
Back to NSP's proposal of outsourcing the National Day Parade (NDP). Outsource to who? A contingent of foreign workers, like so?
The NDP, apart for celebrating the nation's independence, also serves as a show of force. To show citizens on what is done to protect the country, and to tell the terrorists and enemies (I hope we don't have too many of those) not to fuck around with us. Some might call it 'wayang' (fake) but I believe it is necessary.
Like North Korea:
Who dares fuck with N. Korea?!
Okay, I was just kidding, but you get the idea.
~
I think from my thoughts above, one can guess where my vote lies. I'd just like to add that I do not disrespect the opposition in any way (folks like Low Thia Khiang, Slyvia Lim and Chiam See Tong deserves our respect). I believe at the end of the day, most (if not all) of the politicians - ruling or opposition, are Singaporeans at heart and want what's best, in their opinion, for the nation.
Come 7th May 2011, we will have to decide which views and approaches we believe in. Come 7th May, vote wisely.
I'd better get back to revision for exams.
