• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Government replies = 'sure fail' exam answers

by onlinecitizen
29/03/2012
in Commentaries, Current Affairs
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

~ By John Chan ~

I often wonder if one were to answer an exam question in the manner that our government replies to queries, would he fail.

As I have observed, government replies typically reframe the question until there is no semblance of its original substance, then addresses it tangentially before avoiding specific and often key points. Of course, I am not suggesting that the government should answer questions as though it is taking an exam, but there is so much room for improvement.

1st Case: FAIL – Answering Out-of-Point

When the human rights group Maruah Singapore asked Mr Tony Tan about whether the detention of the alleged Marxist Conspiracists was justified, Mr Tan decided to reframe the question into one on terrorism. Was he presumably implying that the alleged conspiracists were terrorists? He then went on and on about how terrorism is a fact of modern life when in fact the Marxist incident happened decades ago!

2nd Case: FAIL – Unsupported and Illogical Argument

Finance Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam says the $1.1b is a subsidy to the commuters. By his logic, if we want cheaper electricity, he should give our money to the PUB. If we want better network coverage, he should give our money to the telcos etc.

Further, why can't the $1.1b be used to directly subsidise commuters by lowering fares or through fare rebates etc. Why such a roundabout approach? Also, if the reason is that fare subsidies do not address the issue of poor service, why allow PTOs to deliver such poor services with only laughable penalties (see report Bus companies fined for not meeting service standards).

Further, Mr Shanmugaratnam has still not explained why a PTO subsidy is needed instead of requiring them to raise funds by selling shares, for example? If the reason is that a share sale will dilute shareholders' ownership, then why must we ensure (ensure, mind you) PTOs make profits on each part of their operations when they are hugely profitable overall?

Lastly, Mr Shanmugaratnam says that not one cent will go towards the profit earned by the PTOs (see report $1.1b bus package is subsidy for commuters, not operators), but as a finance minister, he must surely understand the fact that 'a dollar saved is a dollar earned'. The $1.1b subsidy is clearly a windfall for the PTO regardless of whatever benefits that commuters may or may not get, and no amount of sophistry will change that fact.

Conversely the PTOs should be obligated to deliver acceptable bus service standards – even if that might be at a loss – so long as they are making an overall profit. And if some in the government would like to coin terms such as 'PPP' (Public Private Partnership), then the speicifc terms of such a partnership should be spelt out so that these can be scrutinised by the public from the outset.

3rd Case: FAIL – Irrelevant Justifications

Now Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew says there can be no concession for polytechnic students and the disabled because there are no fare reviews this year.

And by the way, is the minister then telling us that only when the fares are revised upwards (have they ever been revised downwards?) will there be concessions offered to the two groups? Then how about the numerous times the fares have been raised in the past?

4th Case: FAIL – Vague and Non-Committal Answers

When Minister of State for National Development and Manpower Tan Chuan Jin said, "Could we have shared better to the public at the earlier stages? Perhaps. But not all plans can be shared beforehand due to market sensitivity" and "Inevitably, it is our responsibility to make the final call on the trade-offs between competing land needs" (see report BG Tan: Why we made 'difficult decision' to build road through Bt Brown), does he mean that the Bukit Brown saga was handled in the correct manner and that there no time to consult with the public before the plans were revealed in the news?

Is it also the practice of the government and, specifically, Brigadier-General (NS) Tan's ministry to push any plan they have through brute force regardless of any objections by other stakeholders of society?

Well, surely we deserve better. But for the students out there, it might be prudent not to emulate the government style in answering your exam questions or you just might fail.


Headline photo courtesy of Jaywalk Online

__________________________

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille
AFP

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled
AFP

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn
AFP

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm
AFP

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?
Opinion

A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

03/02/2023
AFP

Myanmar junta imposes tough new measures on resistance strongholds

03/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

03/02/2023

Myanmar junta imposes tough new measures on resistance strongholds

03/02/2023
Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

Malaysia High Court dismissed DPM Zahid’s application to get passport returned permanently

03/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

Adani turmoil a key test for Modi’s India Inc

03/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
43

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
12

...

March 2012
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Feb   Apr »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz