Singaporeans say YES to liberal democracy in 2004.If there is anything to be read in between the lines with regards to our Prime Minister’s interview and speech at the Foreign Correspondents Association lunch, we can only come to one conclusion – that the government’s calls for more changes and liberalization are hollow promises.
In a telephone survey done by the Political Development Feedback Group last November, results inferred that Singaporeans say YES to liberal democracy and not what Mr Lee claimed.
The research which was published by TODAY on 18 January 2005 revealed significant findings that contrasted with his opinions. In the survey, “forty per cent of the respondents felt citizens have little or no influence on national issues and policies”.
The same news article also reported that more than three in four respondents described the "opening up" of Singapore's political space as "below expectations" based on another separate straw poll among 59 working youth on Singapore's political system. The poll also revealed that 70 per cent of the respondents expressed their preference for a two- or multi-party system and felt that the opposition parties have not been given "a fair chance to establish themselves".
While detractors may argue that the small sample size is not indicative of popular sentiments, it nevertheless shows that a proportionate segment of concerned Singaporeans desire to see significant changes in the near future.
Henceforth, the government should devote more resources with regards to this issue. I propose funding an international and well-respected research organization to carry out a similar but more comprehensive and larger scale sample study for more conclusive findings.
It should study citizen’s opinions, as well as include feasible recommendations from internationally respected political observers and academics on steps to improving democracy in Singapore. This is in line with Singapore’s commitment to build a more progressive and open society.
In the luncheon, our Prime Minister also mentioned that Singapore does not believe in becoming a “Western democracy”. Our government has constantly used the term but never clearly defined what it means. If the PAP government believes that Singapore should adopt a unique form of democracy, they should make that ideology clear so that Singaporeans and academics can discuss and debate on it.
On the topic of gays in Singapore, the government needs to back up its claims that the majority of Singaporeans are unable to accept their gay counterparts.
The refusal to deny People Like Us (PLU) a sexual minority advocacy rights NGO in Singapore, its official registration as a society, is an infringement on citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of association.
While Mr Lee said that allowing gays to publicly display their “gayness” and fighting for their rights will create “polarisation and animosity”, the same can be said of sweeping the issue under the carpet.
Allowing PLU to become a legal society is a way of opening up society that the government has promised in recent years. The NGO can advance societal interests by acting as a catalyst of change and being an active civil society actor; in terms of bridging the gap between the sexual minority and conservative Singaporeans through inter-communication and educational campaign efforts. Such efforts will reduce societal tension as LGBTs (lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transgender) becomes more vocal and demand for more rights while more conservative Singaporeans who disapprove of homosexuality are educated to become more tolerant and accepting of sexual diversity.
The government should put action into words when it says that Singapore should practice tolerance towards LGBT. They should take the important first step by decriminalizing homosexual acts between consenting adults. This will send a signal to the world and Singaporeans that we are tolerant; and we do not treat gay Singaporeans as criminals.
With the elections predicted to be approaching, our Prime Minister also broached on the topic of Singapore’s free elections which he claimed, has worked well for us. However, we need to seriously re-examine if they are not only truly free; but also FAIR.
Free and Fair elections must be conducted and subject to international scrutiny. They would include but not be limited to having an independent election commission, having a free media, proper campaign rules and regulations, accountability in political donations, drawing up electoral boundaries, as well as removing unreasonable barriers against Opposition. The PAP government’s monopoly since independence has created an uneven political playing field.
Politics in a democracy should be based on the competition of ideas from political parties’; not its size. In fact, the suggested survey which I proposed earlier could include recommendations on leveling the playing field and improving the transparency and accountability of our elections system.
Of what I have mentioned, it would be naivety on my part if I believe the government will seriously take those recommendations into consideration.
After all, our Prime Minister’s message at the luncheon did not break new grounds as has been promised when he took over leadership last year. Our PAP authoritarian style government is intent on ruling for another 20 years.
Singaporeans and observers who thought the new leadership is different from its predecessors need to think twice. Democracy needs support and it calls for greater interest and active citizenship participation.
Unless we want the PAP government to rule for another 20 years.
PM confident of strong poll showing, though it won't be 2001 again
Friday • October 7, 2005
Derrick A Paulo
derrick@newstoday.com.sg
He may be coy about the timing of the elections, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong suspects that the backdrop in which they are held — and the results — could be different from what the last polls threw up.
The next General Election (GE) is unlikely to be held under the "truly exceptional circumstances" that gave the People's Action Party a landslide win in 2001, he said yesterday at a Foreign Correspondents' Association luncheon.
"It was after the 911 bombings. There was a general alarm bordering on panic, perhaps, around the world. We went (to the polls) at that moment, and people gave us a resounding, overwhelming vote: Seventy-five per cent," he said. "I'm not hoping to have such a situation when I call elections."
On how job worries as well as the National Kidney Foundation and casino issues could factor into the polls, he said that the psyche of the electorate depends on many factors.
Whichever those factors are, though, he is confident that "we will have strong support and win a strong mandate". The GE was among a broad range of topics, including many domestic issues, which he tackled in a 50-minute Q&A session.
Coming off his recent trip to Bali, it meant that one of those questions was on how to deal with terrorism and Singapore's readiness for an attack.
Mr Lee said the Republic was doing "all that we can" to prevent a terrorist act. These include scans, precautions at hotels and shopping centres, and parking curbs, such as those at Holland Village.
But physical security can only go so far.
"You need to go beyond that, to within the society to make sure you know your people and your people are integrated into the society, (so) you don't have disaffected groups who feel this is not their country and (think), 'Well, what the hell, let's blow it up because I have no stake in this'," he said.
Which is why, he said, the authorities came down hard on the three bloggers who had posted racist comments online.
Preferring to err on the side of caution was also why Singapore banned satellite television years ago, although the Internet could change that.
"You can get a lot of stuff on the Internet, but the Internet is not quite the same as a satellite channel. Not yet. It may come, in which case we will have to review our position. But it has not reached that point," said Mr Lee.
The current cable TV situation is a "reasonable solution" to meeting the need for choices and a free flow of information while enabling the Government to intervene. So far, it has not had to do that, he noted.
The question of change, especially in the political system, has become standard on the "briefing paper of any Western journalist coming to Singapore", Mr Lee said wryly after the issue was brought up again.
While he reiterated the Government's disapproval of the liberal "Western model" for Singapore's purposes, Mr Lee listed the sort of changes he expects to see.
"I think in 20 years, our society will change. I think the politics of it will change. The issues probably will change, although the fundamentals of living in this small red dot will remain the same," he said.
Will one of those changes include a gay Cabinet minister, or is the Government homophobic? "I don't think we are homophobic," he replied, asserting his agreement with the views of then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong that gays are "people like you and me", in Mr Lee's words.
"But there are some segments of Singaporeans who may even disagree with that, and we have to be aware of that," he said.
These are factors the Government must take into account, he said, when gay groups want to "flaunt (their) gayness" through parades and parties like the Nation.05.
"I'm not sure I want to do that in Singapore because I think it will be offensive to a large number of Singaporeans and will be very divisive," he added.
In a brief 10-minute speech before the Q&A, he highlighted the need to encourage diversity but not division, especially when it comes to nurturing the next generation, one of four main tasks he identified as needed in the next 20 years.
The other factors Singapore's success would hinge on are: The ability to anticipate and manage trends, maintain competitiveness and cohesion, and develop a broad leadership group.
Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
Link: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/051006/3/3vgt6.html
Thursday October 6, 7:57 PM
Reuters
Singapore says no to liberal democracy for next 20 years
SINGAPORE, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Singapore will not adopt a Western liberal democracy with a multi-party system during the next 20 years, its prime minister said on Thursday.
The wealthy island at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula has been dominated by the People's Action Party of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong -- the son of founding father Lee Kuan Yew -- since independence in 1965. Only two of the 84 elected politicians in parliament are from the opposition.
When asked at a Foreign Correspondents Association lunch whether he expected Singapore to turn into a democracy in 20 years where parties compete for votes, Lee said: "I don't think that's likely to happen."
"I think in 20 years our society will change. I think the politics of it will change. But I do not see a Western model...as the target we want to aim for."
"We do not see (a Western democracy) as a model which would work well in Singapore. We have worked a system where there is parliamentary democracy, there are free elections and the electorate has given their confidence overwhelmingly to one party."
Singapore is a parliamentary republic and elections are held at regular, constitutionally mandated intervals, and some expect one in 2005 although it is not due until 2007. In the 2001 poll, Lee's predecessor Goh Chok Tong won 75 percent of the vote.
Opposition politicians have long complained the system is stacked against them and that frequent defamation suits by PAP officials stifles dissent. Opposition politician Joshua Jeyaretnam was bankrupted by libel suits brought by PAP leaders.
Lee, 53, took over from Goh last year after 14 years in office. Goh had taken over from Lee Kuan Yew, who founded the PAP and led Singapore as prime minister for 31 years.
Link: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1188715
Singapore says will not allow gay parades
Reuters
Oct 6, 2005 — SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore will not allow gay parades to be held in the city-state because it clashes with the views of many conservative Singaporeans, the prime minister said on Thursday.
Homosexuality is illegal in Singapore and the government has outlawed some gay events in the past, prompting activists to accuse the authorities of being homophobic.
"I don't think we're homophobic. I agree…that homosexuals are people like you and me. But there's some segment of Singaporeans who vehemently disagree with that and we have to be aware of that," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in response to a question at a Foreign Correspondents Association lunch.
Top Stories
Singapore has moved in recent years to shatter its prudish image, turning a blind eye to the growth of an entertainment industry catering for homosexuals and hosting a gay and lesbian festival that attracted about 6,000 people last year.
But Lee said he did not want to see gays parading on streets because it would offend conservative Singaporeans.
"Gay pride — well, you can do that in Sydney, in London, in San Francisco. But I'm not sure if I want to do that in Singapore.
"I think it would be offensive to a large number of Singaporeans and will be very divisive. And I think from a government's point of view therefore, it is not a wise thing to do."
In June, the authorities banned one of Asia's largest gay and lesbian festivals held annually in Singapore after deciding it was "contrary to public interest." A junior health minister said last year's festival may have led to a surge in the number of local AIDS cases, a remark that outraged gay activists.
Copyright 2005 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/172056/1/.html
PM Lee expects strong support from voters when polls are called
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday he expected strong support from voters when elections are called.
But the situation is likely to be different from the polls in 2001 which took place immediately after September 11, and saw the ruling party get a strong 75 per cent of the votes.
Mr Lee said this in response to a question at the Foreign Correspondents Association lunch on whether recent issues like the casino and NKF debates might see an erosion of support.
It was the first time Mr Lee was addressing the association as Prime Minister.
And he tackled a wide-ranging number of issues from the Bali bombings to the gay population and integrated casinos to the timing of the general elections.
Mr Lee said: "I have no doubt that when we go, we will have a strong support and win strong mandate but I would say that previous elections in 2001 were what we would hope to be truly exceptional circumstances - just after the Sept 11 bombings."
"There was general alarm bordering on panic around the world and we went at that moment and people gave us resounding votes 75 per cent - those are exceptional circumstances. I am not hoping to have such a situation when I call elections."
But, as usual, Mr Lee remained coy on the timing of the elections which have to be called by mid-2007.
As for what he hopes to be most proud of by the end of his tenure, he said the challenge was to build for his time and beyond.
And that would depend on the people and values they share.
PM Lee said: "We have to master the art of keeping the relevant parts and letting the new generation fly with their experiences."
In the end, Mr Lee said, Singapore is an improbable nation.
But it made it by always evolving, anticipating trends and maintaining its competitiveness. - CNA /ch
6 October 2005
Straits Times Online "Latest news"
Western-style democracy not suitable for S'pore
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that a western-style democratic system with various contending political parties would not work for Singapore.
Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore, he said: 'I do not see a western model which you described in an idealized form as being the target that we want to aim for. We do not see this as being a model which will work well in Singapore.'
Mr Lee said Singapore's brand of parliamentary democracy has worked well for the country.
'There are free elections and the electorate has given their confidence overwhelmingly to one party -- for a good reason because it is the party which has delivered,' he said.
The Prime Minister also said Singapore must evolve into a more 'inclusive' society where there's an environment in which there's maximum space for each person, each view, for each person to live his own life without impinging on other people.
He said that while the government needs to accommodate gay interests, it also has to ensure their activities do not cause a backlash from the larger society 'which will lead to polarisation and animosity'.
On the next General Election, Mr Lee is confident of strong support, including a strong mandate. – AFP
Material issues still matter the most
Survey seeks to track how 'rooted' Singaporeans are
Tuesday • January 18, 2005
Jasmine Yin
jasmine.yin@newstoday.com.sg
MUCH has been made about developing Singapore's heartware, but recent findings by the Feedback Unit groups reveal that material standards of living are issues still close to Singaporeans' hearts.
In its bid to find out how "rooted" Singaporeans are, the Political Development Feedback Group conducted a telephone survey of 538 people last November.
The good news: 72.6 per cent of the respondents felt strongly that Singapore is the only place where they feel completely at home.
However, about half said it does not matter which country they are a citizen of, as long as they can attain a high standard of living. Only one in five disagreed with the statement, while the rest opted to stay neutral.
More than half of them also agreed that "there are many Singaporeans who stay in Singapore out of a lack of options, or for opportunistic reasons".
In evaluating the factors that affect that sense of loyalty and belonging to Singapore, the respondents ranked "sense of security and safety", "good education system", "affordable healthcare" and "cost of living" as tops.
While they were satisfied with the country's provision for the first two factors, they felt let down by the latter two, ranking them last in the list of 14 factors.
Forty per cent of the respondents felt citizens have little or no influence on national issues and policies. A majority of them, however, trust the Government to look out for their interests and do what is necessary for Singapore.
The mindset towards one's rootedness to Singapore has also taken a significant shift, with almost half agreeing that "in this globalised world, it is not necessary for a person to be resident of Singapore to be emotionally rooted to the country".
Agreeing that Singapore should move away from the "stayer" and "quitter" labels, Feedback Group chairman Viswa Sadasivan said: "The challenge for the Government, and for all of us, is not just to build a comfortable environment materially, but to provide enough emotional anchors to enhance that sense of belonging.
"This sense needs to be deep and quite unshakeable, regardless of whether you reside here or not."
Among its recommendations on how to build "emotional anchors" among other things, the group proposed that the eligibility criteria for overseas voting be liberalised, and successful Singaporeans living overseas be integrated into major events here, such as National Day celebrations.
The feedback group also conducted a separate straw poll among 59 working youth on Singapore's political system.
Despite the Government's pledge to be more inclusive and consultative and its call on Singaporeans to participate more, more than three in four respondents described the "opening up" of Singapore's political space as "below expectations".
About 70 per cent of the respondents expressed their preference for a two- or multi-party system and felt that the opposition parties have not been given "a fair chance to establish themselves".
The Political Development Feedback Group, together with the Physical Development Group which released their report yesterday, will present their findings at the Feedback Unit's Annual Conference of Feedback Groups on Jan 29.
Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
