• 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

The PAP’s consistent refrain is to strike fear in the hearts of its citizens

by Ghui
11/11/2020
in Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
21

The Peoples’ Action Party (PAP) has been in charge of Singapore for over 50 years. It is in fact the only party that has ever formed Government in Singapore. Singaporeans therefore may not have a meaningful comparison by which to make an informed choice. Without suggesting that the PAP has done a bad job (it hasn’t), it remains true that we will never know if another party could have done better. So instead of focusing on the past, shouldn’t we look to the future?

While it is understandable that any party would use its past track record as a justification for why it should remain in power. It is arguable that the PAP goes beyond that. It is not just using the past as an example. It may well still be living in the past- using old methods to rule a new generation of Singaporeans!

Let’s take the ongoing lawsuit against blogger Leong Sze Hian (Leong) as an example. Leong is being brought to court just for sharing an article that was not even written by him! Given that Leong is a known critic of the PAP, it is unsurprising that many have come to the conclusion that this lawsuit was politically motivated. Even though Leong is apparently being used by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his personal capacity, it is difficult to separate Lee Hsien Loong the man from Lee Hsien Loong the prime minister and son of the famous Lee Kuan Yew. It is therefore artificial to argue that this case has no political implications. There is no doubt (no matter what the authorities may say) that most will consider that Leong is being sued for daring to continuously criticise the PAP.

The defamation suit has long since been seen as a weapon authorities utilise to penalise opponents. It strikes fear to would-be critics to take heed.  Times may have moved on but tactics perhaps remain the same.

One would have thought that the founding party of the Singapore Government would want to empower its citizens. But instead, it may well thrive on striking fear to remain in power.

An interview given by ex-minister, S Jayakumar emphasises this methodology. Instead of trusting Singaporeans to make the right choices for themselves, he chooses to make them fear. Jayakumar warned in his book that a “revolving door” system, in which one party competes constantly against an opposition party, or a coalition of such parties, would be a weak and populist government, and urged Singaporeans to reflect on what they want for the future.

However, Jayakumar’s warning is without merit. Where is the revolving door? We have the Workers’ Party (WP) with 10 elected seats within a sea of 83 PAP ones. In this context, Jayakumar’s warning is disingenuous and perhaps, even self-serving. Is it Singaporeans that should be worried? Or is it the PAP worried about losing even one seat?

If it is the latter, shouldn’t they focus more on upping their game as opposed to striking fear in the hearts of citizens?

Jayakumar also revealed that a few days after GE 2020, he emailed a cabinet minister to say the following:

‘We should not be beguiled by WP’s stance that they only want to check the Government. This time their line was to prevent a clean sweep of all seats.”

This statement is framed in a way to suggest that the WP have some nefarious intentions – a completely illogical argument.

What is wrong with wanting to win more seats incrementally? Isn’t that the goal of all political parties including the PAP? The PAP itself clearly wants a clean sweep of the seats. So, why is it begrudging another party for eventually wanting the same? If people decide that another party should have more seats, it is the peoples’ decision. It would mean that the PAP were not good enough anymore. This isn’t some great conspiracy. It is the nature of democracy.

Perhaps Jayakumar has confused party ambitions with the greater good. As an older statesman, I would have thought he would want what’s best for Singapore – which is to empower its people. But perhaps, this is all about party above state.

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

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023
Labour

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

28/01/2023
Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections
AFP

Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections

28/01/2023
UMNO purging members as it sacks former health minister Khairy and suspended ex-defence minister Hishammuddin
Malaysia

UMNO purging members as it sacks former health minister Khairy and suspended ex-defence minister Hishammuddin

28/01/2023
WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status
AFP

WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

27/01/2023
AFP

Two years after Myanmar coup, UN says situation ‘catastrophic’

27/01/2023
Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health
Community

Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health

27/01/2023
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
21 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

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

28/01/2023
Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections

Peru Congress rejects president’s plan for early elections

28/01/2023
UMNO purging members as it sacks former health minister Khairy and suspended ex-defence minister Hishammuddin

UMNO purging members as it sacks former health minister Khairy and suspended ex-defence minister Hishammuddin

28/01/2023
WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

27/01/2023

Two years after Myanmar coup, UN says situation ‘catastrophic’

27/01/2023
Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health

Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health

27/01/2023
Philippines to appeal ICC resumption of drug war probe

ICC grants new inquiry into Manila’s deadly ‘war on drugs’

27/01/2023
Minister refutes claims of Malaysia consulting Singapore on housing policy due to its inefficient civil service

Minister refutes claims of Malaysia consulting Singapore on housing policy due to its inefficient civil service

27/01/2023

Trending posts

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
36

...

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
23

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
55

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
46

...

The PAP’s consistent refrain is to strike fear in the hearts of its citizens

by Ghui
11/11/2020
21

...

November 2020
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« Oct   Dec »
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
  • Contact Us

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

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

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

wpDiscuz