Shame on you, Mr Fredric Fanthome!
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I wasn't too bothered when Mr Fanthome's reply to Singaporeans' adverse reaction to the PAP's proposed 'cooling off day' first appeared on the P65 blog. That is, until I found out that Mr Fanthome, unlike true Singaporeans who had to bear the brunt of PAP rule and policies for decades, was one of those new 'citizens' recruited by the PAP to suppress the voice of Singaporeans like myself. Many Singaporeans believe that new citizenship are so readily granted to foreigners, who do not have to sacrifice years of their lives to serve National service and who were largely unaffected by many of PAP's draconic policies dating back to the 60s, was because the PAP need new blood to bolster their ranks and their share of the votes for the next election. A quick fix if you will. If you can't get your own people to support you because you have failed so abysmally, simply recruit new followers to edge out the old timers. Whether or not these new recruits will have the same loyalty as citizens born and bred in Singapore doesn't seem to be an issue the PAP are concerned with. In fact, when PR Zhang Yuan Yuan went back to China and publicly declared her loyalty and support for mother China, the PAP seemed unfazed and even went so far as to DEFEND Yuan Yuan's actions! That was a marked contrast from the way the PAP used to treat citizens merely suspected (usually falsely) of being communists. Now they are actually defending one of their pet PRs when she publicly declared support for China. How low will they go just to secure votes from new 'citizens'? Now, back to Fredric Fanthome... In his blog, he wrote that: “There will be more freedom in the coming elections – podcasts will be allowed, the internet will be abuzz – and the government is also putting in place measures to ensure the presence of at least 18 non-PAP members or about a fifth of the house in the next parliament regardless of election results. That is remarkable by any standard. No other country gives losing parties anywhere near as much voice.� Fanthome's ignorance of Singapore's history and politics makes me shudder in horror. Is this the sort of 'talent' that the PAP wants? Is this the sort of 'citizen' that the PAP so shamelessly court, just to edge out true Singaporeans who have sacrificed their time (decades) for the country? Mr Fanthome, allow me to enlighten you. First of all, the internet has always been abuzz. No thanks to the PAP. The real reason is simply because the PAP cannot control the internet completely. Thus, they make a show of tolerating it. And are you truly so ... obtuse as to believe that the government's measure to ensure at least 18 non-PAP members in the next parliament to be a sign of more freedom for Singapore?!? If you are truly that obtuse, I don't know if I can use sound reasoning to get through to you. Let me use a parable instead: Ah Huat is a gambler who frequents the Turf Club. A old-timer with many connections within the racing circuit. A streetwise gambler who can spot bull-shit a mile away. One day, he brings his young friend, Ah Beng to the club. Ah Beng is young and naive. He didn't have Huat's experience nor street wisdom. Now, at the club, there's a big-time horse owner, Mr Beh. And Mr Beh, sensing Beng's naivety, told Beng that he (Mr Beh) is going to let Ah Beng win the next race by arranging a certain horse to win. But why? Ah Beng wanted to know. Mr Beh told Beng that's because the Turf Club believes in fair play and sportsmanship, so that noobs like Beng can win occasionally too. Ah Beng, being the young sucker he is, went to his old friend Ah Huat and told him gushingly that the Turf Club believes in fair play because Mr Beh is letting people win by arranging for the right horse to win! Ah Huat listened quietly for a minute, then he slapped Beng on the head. "Are you an idiot?? Don't you know that if Mr Beh told you with certainty what horse is going to win, it means he FIXED it so the horse can win! It has nothing to do with fair play! It isn't fair play anymore if he 'ARRANGED' for the horse to win!" Mr Fanthome, wake up your idea. Please do not be naive like Beng, ok? And Mr Fanthome, you said 'No other country gives losing parties anywhere near as much voice'. Are you in earnest? If by 'as much voice', you are referring to the numerous times the PAP has attacked, jailed and sued their critics to bankruptcy, then yeah, no other first world country has that sort of track record. Mr Fanthome also referred to the PAP's 66 percent win in the last election and translated it to mean a strong mandate. Please don't talk cock lah, Fanthome! As an old citizen who has lived here for decades, I can tell you that many Singaporeans did not get to vote in the last election! If there isn't universal suffrage, I wouldn't be so quick to point out that a 66 percent out of the limited number of voters they allowed to vote equates to a 'strong mandate'. And this passage from Mr Fanthome's blog betrayed his ignorance. Not just ignorance of how things truly are in Singapore, but ignorance of how the rest of the world operates. He wrote: "The electricity never fails, the transport system works, the drainage system works. You can drink water from the tap without worrying about getting a tummy ache." Please lah... Can't you lie better than that, Mr Fanthome?!? How long have you lived in Singapore? Truly? Here. I have a link with a report about blackouts in Singapore. But you said 'electricity NEVER fails'! Can I call you out now? Liar, liar, pants on fire... http://forums.sgclub.com/singapore/power_supply_restored_3306.html Transport system works? What do you mean by 'work'? You mean the laws of physics work in Singapore, and cars can run just like in any other country? Which first world country do not have a working transport system? Perhaps if you have lived in parts of India where they are still in the difficult process of building proper roads, you are amazed to see cars running smoothly along Singapore roads. But as citizens of a supposedly first world country, who have to pay the leaders obscenely bloated salaries, we kinda expect our buses and cars to be able to run. There's nothing spectacular about that. In fact, I would go so far as to say our leaders haven't done a satisfactory job making sure we have a comfortable public transport system, instead of just a 'working one'. Especially since they are paid so much more than their counterparts in other First World countries. Hell, if I pay my staff exceptional salary, then I expect exceptional results, and not just a passing grade! And the remark about drinking water... Please lah... In other first world countries, you can also drink their tap water! What's so phenomenal about that? And because we have something that other countries have, and where their leaders are paid so much less for providing that, you are telling us (citizens who have lived here for decades) to worship the PAP as if they are the best thing since... well since we had electricity and tap water. With new citizens like Mr Fanthome in the youth cadre of the ruling party, I find our future bleak indeed.
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Originally posted by Singa Crew:
With new citizens like Mr Fanthome in the youth cadre of the ruling party, I find our future bleak indeed.
It's clear that PAP has turned into a worthess and useless party.
It's either Singaporeans unite to kick out this party or the entire country will die along with the PAP.
In 2010 elections, Singaporeans must retake their country from PAP.
Singapore is for Singaporeans, not for PRs, not for foreign aliens, not for PRCs.
A vote for PAP means a vote for more foreigners.
In 2010 elections, Singaporeans must retake their country from PAP.
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why u cannot use PM?
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Mr Fredric Fanthome should at least be commended for his expressed views offered as an alternative to the debate unlike some useless ‘X-rated Fraud’ (*1) - who cannot even form an opinion that can be original from itself, as it is only good at plagiarizing the works from others, and used these works to obfuscate issues with its determined efforts to hot gas a thread off track.
Similarly, its X-rated partner in the form of a Taiwanese ‘hum’ (*2) is similarly skilled to drive any thread off-track - when the thread was intended to inform the truth of the political situation in Singapore, which seems to frighten the infamous X-rated couple.
Both of their pathetic contributions are nothing more then to put a spanner to the flow of discussions in the other thread - ‘Election “Cooling of Day” – Cool ?’ (*3) and with their efforts made to look as innocuous as they will pretend to be immature.
The truth will finally surface no matter how hard these frauds attempt to cheat on the conscience of Singaporeans.
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Originally posted by FireIce:
why u cannot use PM?
PM to who? PM to LKY? -
By Singa Crew
That is, until I found out that Mr Fanthome, unlike true Singaporeans who had to bear the brunt of PAP rule and policies for decades, was one of those new ‘citizens’ recruited by the PAP to suppress the voice of Singaporeans like myself. Many Singaporeans believe that new citizenship are so readily granted to foreigners, who do not have to sacrifice years of their lives to serve National service and who were largely unaffected by many of PAP’s draconic policies dating back to the 60s, was because the PAP need new blood to bolster their ranks and their share of the votes for the next election. A quick fix if you will. If you can’t get your own people to support you because you have failed so abysmally, simply recruit new followers to edge out the old timers. Whether or not these new recruits will have the same loyalty as citizens born and bred in Singapore doesn’t seem to be an issue the PAP are concerned with.
In fact, when PR Zhang Yuan Yuan went back to China and publicly declared her loyalty and support for mother China, the PAP seemed unfazed and even went so far as to DEFEND Yuan Yuan’s actions! That was a marked contrast from the way the PAP used to treat citizens merely suspected (usually falsely) of being communists. Now they are actually defending one of their pet PRs when she publicly declared support for China. How low will they go just to secure votes from new ‘citizens’?
Thank you.
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Originally posted by angel3070:
It's clear that PAP has turned into a worthess and useless party.
It's either Singaporeans unite to kick out this party or the entire country will die along with the PAP.
In 2010 elections, Singaporeans must retake their country from PAP.
Singapore is for Singaporeans, not for PRs, not for foreign aliens, not for PRCs.
A vote for PAP means a vote for more foreigners.
In 2010 elections, Singaporeans must retake their country from PAP.
they still got 66.6% supporters whata lot events/things time would tell
try not to worry, happy go lucky/heng heng one
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some like to act as ("innocent" attention seeker) just loved/enjoyed taunting people
some behave like an (uncivilised cretin from outer space) alway purposely flamed hostile/hurtful remarks at people
both are just thick skin and hollow
lucky there are still kind souls around
so there are still hope
it lighten up my day - but eat in moderation -
Originally posted by keeptouch:
PM to who? PM to LKY?
Not lah, dun anyhow send your messages, otherwise it will be consider as SPAM, PM is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and LKY is the Minister's Mentor, the MM, not he M & M chocolate ya, the one that melt in your mouth, but not in your hands. -
If a new citizen cannot give his views on Singapore politics, what is there to talk about fair and fix plays??? TS is knocking his own head.
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Originally posted by angel7030:
If a new citizen cannot give his views on Singapore politics, what is there to talk about fair and fix plays??? TS is knocking his own head.
new citizens can give their views, only positive ones.
blare out an opposing view, and they'd be prepared to face court or getting sued.
i dont think its fair in this context
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Originally posted by OHSheet:
new citizens can give their views, only positive ones.
blare out an opposing view, and they'd be prepared to face court or getting sued.
i dont think its fair in this context
so let them face the court themselves, why do we still need to teach them how to be a Singaporean with those ah beng and ah seng stupid stories??? Aren't TS teaching him to get smarter?? -
early morning, must wear a mask - why the air so pollute one
why
why
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because i drive and many Uncles farted
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This story is dedicated to our foreign-born new citizens.
MM Lee was about to send the first Singaporean rocket into space.
As expected of the man, only a loyal PAP astronaut will do... and as he wanted to highlight the success of the Government's foreign talent policy, he insisted on selecting a foreign-born new citizen.
3 potential astronauts were called for an interview... one an ex Indian-born new citizen, one an ex Indonesian-born new citizen and one an ex PRC-born new citizen.
MM interviews the Indian guy first.
"Sanjiv, this is a dangerous mission... how much do you think you should be paid".
Sanjiv thinks to himself and says "1 million dollar".
"Why so much ??" asks MM.
"Boss, nowadays everything so expensive... curry, papadam, toddy.. all gone up in price and, don't forget, GST 7 p/c".
"I see". said MM. "Thank you... please ask the Indonesian guy to come here".
So, the Indo guy walks up to MM, and is asked the same question.
"Uh... S$ 2 million" replies the Indo applicant.
"2 million ?? That's a bit too much, don't you think so ?? Even the 'ah neh' before you only asked for one million".
"Bapak" explained Budiono "I have 4 wives and 15 children... so, altogether, 20 of us in the family, I need more money to support them. 2 million boleh lah".
"I see" said MM. "Okay, can you ask the Chinese guy to come see me now ??".
The Chinese guy comes in and MM repeated the question to him.
"Zhen Xin... this is a dangerous mission... how much do you think you should be paid ??"
Zhen Xin thinks for 3 sec and says "3 million".
MM is shocked and annoyed.
"WHAT ?? 3 million ?? Why so much ??"
Zhen Xin beckons MM to come closer, and whispers "One million you keep, one million I keep... and the one million we send the 'ah neh' into space.
Guess who got sent on the rocket into space ??
** Moral of the story, Fredric Fanthome and new citizens of Singapore, is that you need to know your facts first before singing high praises of MM and our MIW Government.
** The joke was sourced from Talking Cock. Names and settings have been changed to fit into the Singapore context. Please note that there is no racial bias or undertone intended... as the astronaut in the story could well have been a PRC, Pinoy, Vietnamese etc new citizen to fit the storyline.
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Originally posted by angel7030:
so let them face the court themselves, why do we still need to teach them how to be a Singaporean with those ah beng and ah seng stupid stories??? Aren't TS teaching him to get smarter??i wasnt even referring to your point on those stories. I merely pointed out your misconception on
"If a new citizen cannot give his views on Singapore politics, what is there to talk about fair and fix plays???"
dont try evading my point by posing an irrelevant and new question pertaining your point above.
so.. back to your 2nd qn.
why do we still need to teach them how to be a Singaporean with those ah beng and ah seng stupid stories???
i really dont know. shouldnt you be directing this question to TS instead? (since TS was the one who brought up these stories and these views) Ask questions relevantly.
and your other qn.
Aren't TS teaching him to get smarter??
well.. i guess so.
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Oh shit, now I know men are really from Mars
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please forgive angel70, she had a rough childhood and had homemade shorts n white t-shirt.......think i saw her along katong area or bedok many moons ago. she only talk big bout pap cuz the ones contributin are probably from them.if it pays her bills.........then ....but are you sure the conytributor would ewant u to accept their pap views,,,for all u know they are about to launch OPERASTION VALKYRIE.
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he who so love his childrens that he gives away his only son.
Forgive them, my lord.
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THE SON RETURNS WITH A VENGENCE: "FATHAAAA!!!WHY HATH U GIVENTH ME AWAYS??!!FARK U AND FARK YER STUPID BOOK!!!" SEES SON BLOWING UP HALF HIS FATHERS HOUSE WITH AN ARTILERY CANON MOUNTED ON FAR SIDE OF A HILL.
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A rebuttal to YPAP Fredric Fanthome by a new citizen and former PAP supporter: A Chorus of change for Singaporeans
EDITORS’ NOTE:
The below article by “citizen voice” was sent to us for publication by the author who described himself as a former PAP supporter. Of pertinent note is that he is not a “true-bred” Singaporean citizen, but a first-generation PR who had served national service and taken up Singapore citizenship. It was also posted on the P65 blog (comment 75)
Dear Fedric,
You have a gift of writing. You should spend time understanding the reasons and bases behind the “irrational rhetoric” as one commentator has put it.
Only the biggest FOOL will think such rhetoric is rubbish
You have not been brainwashed by the media in your lifetime, nor voices and lives controlled in every manner by the PAP to understand the citizen behavior. You are not in the continuum of true-bred citizen lives as you are dealing with the hearts and souls of the Nation. You will never understand the underhanded politics, the money politics and many polices the PAP use to control and stay in power.
For many citizens the release of pent-up frustration and anger, irrational as it may seem in the rhetoric of expression, which can only be released through cyberspace, is not something to be disregarded.
Your support of PAP, officiously and beguilingly, using your superb intellectual rationality of argument could be perhaps perceived as treason to the hearts of many true-bred citizens in this forum who value dearly the sacrosanct meaning of citizenship and nationhood.
Rationality of argument is one thing, the reality is another. If you are a lawyer, you will understand. Rational reasoning with misguide agenda or concealing hidden agenda is as deadly and dangerous in hand of people with immense power.
With your gift of writing you can help many true-bred citizens who are helpless against the powerful intellect of the PAP who, unfortunately, use guise of rational reason to justify their actions.
I hope one day you will be like a new true-bred citizen, perhaps a party leader for the citizens, bringing glory to the citizen once more as the great PAP did once upon a time.
Perhaps, one day you may and I hope you will use your gift properly.
I hope you are not one of those dogs in YPAP who serve as grass-root leader for self-interest (free HDB parking, priority of HDB selection, etc) as I know of many in my life-time.
I was a true PAP supporter for many years but now my loyalty is gone. I am not a true-bred citizen but I had served the army and can empathize with the feelings of many true-bred citizens. I am also thankful to the past Gov for giving my family a life which we may not have gotten in our native country. You may say I am the second generation voice.
This is my first time I wrote in the forum. Why did I write?
So please read on what I have written if you want to know. I may not have the polish of your writing, the prose and style, the rationality of your thoughts as it was written with my heart, feelings and empathy with the citizens.
Dear Citizens,
CHORUS OF CHANGE: VOTE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOME, BETTER LIVELIHOOD, BETTER GOVERNANCE, MODERATE IMMIGRATION POLICY:
We are thankful for the prosperity that our Gov has brought to us in the past.
However, in the last few years or decade, in particular the last three years, our Gov has morphed-they seem less compassionate, seem to lose tune with the chords of the citizens.
We need to send a message, however rhetorical the tunes of the message, to resonate the spirit of the citizens, the lesser privileged. We OWE it all to ourselves to make a better NATION, a better country.
The beautiful vase of the Nation, exuding the prosperity of the Nation, built through the blood and sweet of citizens, extolled by many outsiders, belongs to the credit of many citizens who struggled and sacrificed, who died for the Nation, NOT just the Gov and self-acclaimed achievement of PAP.
The vase, appealing from the outside, admired and enjoyed by the rich, elite, and regaled by our leaders in their Ivory Tower; an Ivory Tower capping the neck of the vase, entrapping the voices inside. The inner side walls of the vase are marked by cracks of fragility, of suppressed voices of the present and lost generation reverberating with disillusionment, discord, frustrations, dashed hopes and miseries of many heart Landers, echoing to be heard.
Our Gov seems to have lost focus in the mad pursuit of GDP growth and money politics and is disconnected with reality at the ground and with the citizens.
Their policies are heavily biased towards in elitism/pro-business politics, foreigners and pro-business and to support their continuous staying of power.
They have lived in their supreme Ivory Tower for far too long to be able to empathize with the citizen hard-ship and anxieties. They see through their own prism of self-deception, obsessive self-righteousness.
They proclaim that they are the ONLY one and OLNLY one deserved to govern and rule, no one is better than them-without them the Nation will collapse.
They speak virtues on a podium of high self-enrichment of wealth and power with absence of nobility of leadership: Is it real that only with super-high pay that good governance can be sustained? ; Is it true that there is no one without their kind of intellect who is capable to govern? ; Is it true there is NO NOBLE citizen that will govern with much lesser pay and their kind is the only kind that can govern the NATION.
In their name of Current and Future Growth they have opened the gate widely, too abruptly, for many foreigners/PRs to come in without sufficient consideration of the impact such relentless influx will have on commoner lives, housing and infrastructural constraints.
The current immigration influx policy will soon displace the citizens in no time, take away citizen jobs, relegating citizens to minority second-class status, depressing salary with higher living costs. The policy itself is not flawed; the desperation of implementing as seen recently is.
In the name of “wealth creation”, more so to support the developers, the rich and powerful, and their cash needs, they have manipulated the land prices, pegging HDB to resale prices, resulting in huge price increase in times of the worst recession in the century.
The PAP shield was once for the people, citizens. Now the shield, gilded in gold and power, is wielded to shield the Rich, the Powerful and the Elite. The increasingly huge divide between depressed salaries of lesser mortals and the ever-increasing costs of living which only the elite and rich can enjoy cannot be allowed to continue.
This in sum is the dichotomy of the Nation: the money politics that drives huge and widening divide between the super-rich, super-paid ruling elite and highly costly, top-heavy governmental and institutional machineries which continuously milk the livelihood of, and marginalizing the lesser privileged true-bred citizens or lesser mortals as branded by the leaders.
Lately, the PAP, the Gov, are using the FT/PR policy and propaganda, welcoming them openly, using indiscriminately 10 Million public funds, apparently with hidden agenda or misguided agenda, to garner their support in the guise of social integration. In times to come we true-bred citizens will be marginalized.
The increasing number of new citizens, many sycophants, new citizens and PRs lately, eager to join PAP grass-root organization, some spoke so officiously and beguilingly for PAP to counter the voices of the true-bred citizens, not knowing the truth beneath the dissonant voices of the citizens, is very disconcerting; a making of divide amongst the new and true-bred citizens that may lead to social disharmony.
The huge influx of FT/PRs and the desperation of getting PRs to convert to new citizens belie the intention of immigration policy. It seems there is political agenda to recruit new citizens as grass-root leaders to SUSTAIN THEIR OWN KIND.
PAP will pamper to populist appeal but once in power they espouse and practice unpopular polices, even to extent of using “ policies of eugenics” to eliminate lesser mortals, the true-bred citizens, through importing of “new citizens”, a hidden agenda, in the guise of population replacement.
We NEED to send an overwhelming strong message to PAP that we need a people’s Government that listen to the citizens. We need the PAP shield, and the wealth of the nation, to uplift the citizens more, NOT mainly for itself, the Elite, the Rich and Powerful. We need PAP to not forget the spirit of the words “People Action Party”; that PAP should act FIRST for the PEOPLE, the true-bred citizens.
It is now time for all Citizens to band together urgently, to stand-up as ONE to vote for our FUTURE, NOT to fear for CHANGE under the THREAT of PAP that the NATION will not survive without them.
We must STAND-UP NOW for ourselves, our NATION-HOOD, our COUNTRY.
It is time for all Citizens to come together to build a BETTER future based on our CONVICTION:
• that there is a cause for all genuine Singaporeans who believe that Singapore is the place for our next generation where civil liberties, justice, equality and all quintessential privileges of citizens are preserved as every right of individual, not provided according to the calibration of the elite.
• that we need to let our Gov sees that the voice of people must count much more in their equation of progress, not just the progress tilted towards largely for benefit of few elitism, the rich, the business, the powerful, the fortunate and according to their self-proclaimed “THE ONLY “ right way.
• that growth has to be balanced, moderated; not in the present form, in name of rigorous and obsessive pursuit of economic numbers, the foreigner flood-gates are fully opened indiscriminately resulting in steep competition, lost of jobs and depressed salary; whilst the inflationary cost as result of the same action causes cost of living to escalate, creating untenable juggling of costs and debts for many, more in the future, if the current situation goes unchecked..
• that there is need to have adequate adjustments, provisions and allowances in life and works in policies of Manpower, Health and etc, in the manner and way such that people themselves do not becomes own LIABILITY in themselves in the future due to artificial asset inflation, as a result of necessity to eke a living in this intensely competitive environment.
• that our esteemed Ministers has to be cautioned, rebuked, restrained as they have lost touch with the ground, the people, and the reality of cost of living for many.
• that as a Minister in a vantage position of powerful influence to say Resale value will go “UP, UP and UP”, forgetting that such remark (perhaps, irresponsible), pandering to the greed of citizens, has an insidious impact on inflating asset.
• that Singapore in a longer horizon, the “stark reality” in 20 years times, we will NOT become the Swiss of Asia BUT a Monte Carlo of Asia for the elites, rich and powerful if we allow the present polices to continue unchecked.
• that the nation’s lost SOUL needs to be re-discovered, identity lost to be re-instituted.
• that progress based only on relentless soulless pursuit of GPP dictated by policies and rules of elite intelligentsia with little regards for citizens and impact affecting mass lives cannot continue without moderation,
• that Singapore shall survive without PAP and that we shall not allow the sole existence of elite to rule and implement policies that Singapore will vanquish without them; that we want a hand in dictating the course of the Nation to ensure that NO PARTY can destroy or degrade the Nation in its absence.
• that we need a Nation with dignity of free speech and assembly without fear and censorship, to express views, even political dissents, for general betterment of governance and its policies.
• that we want a Government that works towards the interest of citizens with duty and accountability.
• that we want a government that is caring for the interest of citizens, providing much greater discrimination between citizens and foreigners/PRs; not with the present policies giving too much welfare and advantages to huge number PRs as if PRs are more exclusive than the citizens at expense of many citizens in terms of competition for housings, jobs and etc.
• that we want a forthright governance that is apologetic for its mistake; not a government that is arrogant and speaks to the citizens in condescending manner; a government that upholds humility and respect for citizens, NOT pride and arrogance.
• that we want to have back our a Nation which has been “Misplaced”, a COUNTRY which has been disregarded, Nation Pledge which is “Lost”, Voice which has been “suppressed”, Citizens interests which have “subordinated” to foreigners/PRs interest.
• that we want passionate leaders, with hearts, to serve the citizens first with equitable policies, not with desire to govern dependent on the salary scale.
• that we want a revamp of policies fairer to the citizens, lesser taxation of reserves due to having to dispense hugely on sustaining wasteful governmental machineries, like excessive use of fund for Army, and huge pay package of incumbent and cronyists.
• that we want to have cheap land that is rightfully belongs to all citizens to build affordable homes payable over shorter loan period and yet have reasonable decent disposable income to live decent life for family commensurate with the higher living standard, yet save enough for retirement and contingencies.
• that we have only OUR last chance to stand together for the betterment of ALL and future generation to cast our votes before we are overwhelmed by NEW CITIZENS beholden to the incumbent, else we will be forever be subjugated by the PAP dictate and policy.
• that fifty years of authoritarian rule is Enough, fifty years of political suppression, fifty years of super-rich pay leaders who earned enough for their own generations for many years to come regardless of Nation survival; fifty years of media censorship and brain-washing is Enough; fifty years of voice suppressed, living in fear of ISD is Enough.
• that Singapore needs a refreshing political facelift of leaders that inspires, that shares the wishes, hopes , woes and aspirations of the citizens, that unite citizens NOT divide by envy of huge and growing wealth creation biased for the Rick, Powerful and ruling Elite.
• that this Nation will NOT fall without PAP as there are many good gentlemen and women, more capable that the Incumbent, who can serve for much less, who are ready to serve the Nation for the Citizens.
• that we want to build a sustainable nationhood that can survive through many generations to come regardless of any political party in power; not espousing the inevitability of rich-poor divide BUT espousing the inevitability of better standard and living costs for middle and lower income groups at the expense of the Elite, Rich and Super-Rich who can afford such expense if they desire to stay in this pearl of Asia..
• that we need now citizen-pro policies that benefit more “lesser mortals”; we need commensurate growth, commensurate policies that help lower living costs, not at expense of the citizens; a more moderate immigration policy, not the relentless, thoughtless and unplanned FT/PR influx policies to satisfy growth numbers which ultimately benefit the super-scale masters.
• that we can come together as ONE, to have more opposition to represent the electorate to challenge the incumbent to listen to the wish of the people, to get rid of callous leaders within PAP-a PAP facelift or be voted out eventually.
LET US ALL SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE to PAP that policies have to be more citizen-friendly.
LET US ALL STAND-UP TOGETHER to make sure we are not STRANGERS IN OUR OWN HOME.
LET EACH OF US SPREAD THE CHORUS OF CHANGE VEHEMENTLY, to reach every heart, mind and soul of true-bred citizen.
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ZzzzXZzzzzzzZZZzzzzzz....merry X'mas and a happy New Year!
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Originally posted by I'm back:
A rebuttal to YPAP Fredric Fanthome by a new citizen and former PAP supporter: A Chorus of change for Singaporeans
EDITORS’ NOTE:
The below article by “citizen voice” was sent to us for publication by the author who described himself as a former PAP supporter. Of pertinent note is that he is not a “true-bred” Singaporean citizen, but a first-generation PR who had served national service and taken up Singapore citizenship. It was also posted on the P65 blog (comment 75)
Dear Fedric,
You have a gift of writing. You should spend time understanding the reasons and bases behind the “irrational rhetoric” as one commentator has put it.
Only the biggest FOOL will think such rhetoric is rubbish
You have not been brainwashed by the media in your lifetime, nor voices and lives controlled in every manner by the PAP to understand the citizen behavior. You are not in the continuum of true-bred citizen lives as you are dealing with the hearts and souls of the Nation. You will never understand the underhanded politics, the money politics and many polices the PAP use to control and stay in power.
For many citizens the release of pent-up frustration and anger, irrational as it may seem in the rhetoric of expression, which can only be released through cyberspace, is not something to be disregarded.
Your support of PAP, officiously and beguilingly, using your superb intellectual rationality of argument could be perhaps perceived as treason to the hearts of many true-bred citizens in this forum who value dearly the sacrosanct meaning of citizenship and nationhood.
Rationality of argument is one thing, the reality is another. If you are a lawyer, you will understand. Rational reasoning with misguide agenda or concealing hidden agenda is as deadly and dangerous in hand of people with immense power.
With your gift of writing you can help many true-bred citizens who are helpless against the powerful intellect of the PAP who, unfortunately, use guise of rational reason to justify their actions.
I hope one day you will be like a new true-bred citizen, perhaps a party leader for the citizens, bringing glory to the citizen once more as the great PAP did once upon a time.
Perhaps, one day you may and I hope you will use your gift properly.
I hope you are not one of those dogs in YPAP who serve as grass-root leader for self-interest (free HDB parking, priority of HDB selection, etc) as I know of many in my life-time.
I was a true PAP supporter for many years but now my loyalty is gone. I am not a true-bred citizen but I had served the army and can empathize with the feelings of many true-bred citizens. I am also thankful to the past Gov for giving my family a life which we may not have gotten in our native country. You may say I am the second generation voice.
This is my first time I wrote in the forum. Why did I write?
So please read on what I have written if you want to know. I may not have the polish of your writing, the prose and style, the rationality of your thoughts as it was written with my heart, feelings and empathy with the citizens.
Dear Citizens,
CHORUS OF CHANGE: VOTE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOME, BETTER LIVELIHOOD, BETTER GOVERNANCE, MODERATE IMMIGRATION POLICY:
We are thankful for the prosperity that our Gov has brought to us in the past.
However, in the last few years or decade, in particular the last three years, our Gov has morphed-they seem less compassionate, seem to lose tune with the chords of the citizens.
We need to send a message, however rhetorical the tunes of the message, to resonate the spirit of the citizens, the lesser privileged. We OWE it all to ourselves to make a better NATION, a better country.
The beautiful vase of the Nation, exuding the prosperity of the Nation, built through the blood and sweet of citizens, extolled by many outsiders, belongs to the credit of many citizens who struggled and sacrificed, who died for the Nation, NOT just the Gov and self-acclaimed achievement of PAP.
The vase, appealing from the outside, admired and enjoyed by the rich, elite, and regaled by our leaders in their Ivory Tower; an Ivory Tower capping the neck of the vase, entrapping the voices inside. The inner side walls of the vase are marked by cracks of fragility, of suppressed voices of the present and lost generation reverberating with disillusionment, discord, frustrations, dashed hopes and miseries of many heart Landers, echoing to be heard.
Our Gov seems to have lost focus in the mad pursuit of GDP growth and money politics and is disconnected with reality at the ground and with the citizens.
Their policies are heavily biased towards in elitism/pro-business politics, foreigners and pro-business and to support their continuous staying of power.
They have lived in their supreme Ivory Tower for far too long to be able to empathize with the citizen hard-ship and anxieties. They see through their own prism of self-deception, obsessive self-righteousness.
They proclaim that they are the ONLY one and OLNLY one deserved to govern and rule, no one is better than them-without them the Nation will collapse.
They speak virtues on a podium of high self-enrichment of wealth and power with absence of nobility of leadership: Is it real that only with super-high pay that good governance can be sustained? ; Is it true that there is no one without their kind of intellect who is capable to govern? ; Is it true there is NO NOBLE citizen that will govern with much lesser pay and their kind is the only kind that can govern the NATION.
In their name of Current and Future Growth they have opened the gate widely, too abruptly, for many foreigners/PRs to come in without sufficient consideration of the impact such relentless influx will have on commoner lives, housing and infrastructural constraints.
The current immigration influx policy will soon displace the citizens in no time, take away citizen jobs, relegating citizens to minority second-class status, depressing salary with higher living costs. The policy itself is not flawed; the desperation of implementing as seen recently is.
In the name of “wealth creation”, more so to support the developers, the rich and powerful, and their cash needs, they have manipulated the land prices, pegging HDB to resale prices, resulting in huge price increase in times of the worst recession in the century.
The PAP shield was once for the people, citizens. Now the shield, gilded in gold and power, is wielded to shield the Rich, the Powerful and the Elite. The increasingly huge divide between depressed salaries of lesser mortals and the ever-increasing costs of living which only the elite and rich can enjoy cannot be allowed to continue.
This in sum is the dichotomy of the Nation: the money politics that drives huge and widening divide between the super-rich, super-paid ruling elite and highly costly, top-heavy governmental and institutional machineries which continuously milk the livelihood of, and marginalizing the lesser privileged true-bred citizens or lesser mortals as branded by the leaders.
Lately, the PAP, the Gov, are using the FT/PR policy and propaganda, welcoming them openly, using indiscriminately 10 Million public funds, apparently with hidden agenda or misguided agenda, to garner their support in the guise of social integration. In times to come we true-bred citizens will be marginalized.
The increasing number of new citizens, many sycophants, new citizens and PRs lately, eager to join PAP grass-root organization, some spoke so officiously and beguilingly for PAP to counter the voices of the true-bred citizens, not knowing the truth beneath the dissonant voices of the citizens, is very disconcerting; a making of divide amongst the new and true-bred citizens that may lead to social disharmony.
The huge influx of FT/PRs and the desperation of getting PRs to convert to new citizens belie the intention of immigration policy. It seems there is political agenda to recruit new citizens as grass-root leaders to SUSTAIN THEIR OWN KIND.
PAP will pamper to populist appeal but once in power they espouse and practice unpopular polices, even to extent of using “ policies of eugenics” to eliminate lesser mortals, the true-bred citizens, through importing of “new citizens”, a hidden agenda, in the guise of population replacement.
We NEED to send an overwhelming strong message to PAP that we need a people’s Government that listen to the citizens. We need the PAP shield, and the wealth of the nation, to uplift the citizens more, NOT mainly for itself, the Elite, the Rich and Powerful. We need PAP to not forget the spirit of the words “People Action Party”; that PAP should act FIRST for the PEOPLE, the true-bred citizens.
It is now time for all Citizens to band together urgently, to stand-up as ONE to vote for our FUTURE, NOT to fear for CHANGE under the THREAT of PAP that the NATION will not survive without them.
We must STAND-UP NOW for ourselves, our NATION-HOOD, our COUNTRY.
It is time for all Citizens to come together to build a BETTER future based on our CONVICTION:
• that there is a cause for all genuine Singaporeans who believe that Singapore is the place for our next generation where civil liberties, justice, equality and all quintessential privileges of citizens are preserved as every right of individual, not provided according to the calibration of the elite.
• that we need to let our Gov sees that the voice of people must count much more in their equation of progress, not just the progress tilted towards largely for benefit of few elitism, the rich, the business, the powerful, the fortunate and according to their self-proclaimed “THE ONLY “ right way.
• that growth has to be balanced, moderated; not in the present form, in name of rigorous and obsessive pursuit of economic numbers, the foreigner flood-gates are fully opened indiscriminately resulting in steep competition, lost of jobs and depressed salary; whilst the inflationary cost as result of the same action causes cost of living to escalate, creating untenable juggling of costs and debts for many, more in the future, if the current situation goes unchecked..
• that there is need to have adequate adjustments, provisions and allowances in life and works in policies of Manpower, Health and etc, in the manner and way such that people themselves do not becomes own LIABILITY in themselves in the future due to artificial asset inflation, as a result of necessity to eke a living in this intensely competitive environment.
• that our esteemed Ministers has to be cautioned, rebuked, restrained as they have lost touch with the ground, the people, and the reality of cost of living for many.
• that as a Minister in a vantage position of powerful influence to say Resale value will go “UP, UP and UP”, forgetting that such remark (perhaps, irresponsible), pandering to the greed of citizens, has an insidious impact on inflating asset.
• that Singapore in a longer horizon, the “stark reality” in 20 years times, we will NOT become the Swiss of Asia BUT a Monte Carlo of Asia for the elites, rich and powerful if we allow the present polices to continue unchecked.
• that the nation’s lost SOUL needs to be re-discovered, identity lost to be re-instituted.
• that progress based only on relentless soulless pursuit of GPP dictated by policies and rules of elite intelligentsia with little regards for citizens and impact affecting mass lives cannot continue without moderation,
• that Singapore shall survive without PAP and that we shall not allow the sole existence of elite to rule and implement policies that Singapore will vanquish without them; that we want a hand in dictating the course of the Nation to ensure that NO PARTY can destroy or degrade the Nation in its absence.
• that we need a Nation with dignity of free speech and assembly without fear and censorship, to express views, even political dissents, for general betterment of governance and its policies.
• that we want a Government that works towards the interest of citizens with duty and accountability.
• that we want a government that is caring for the interest of citizens, providing much greater discrimination between citizens and foreigners/PRs; not with the present policies giving too much welfare and advantages to huge number PRs as if PRs are more exclusive than the citizens at expense of many citizens in terms of competition for housings, jobs and etc.
• that we want a forthright governance that is apologetic for its mistake; not a government that is arrogant and speaks to the citizens in condescending manner; a government that upholds humility and respect for citizens, NOT pride and arrogance.
• that we want to have back our a Nation which has been “Misplaced”, a COUNTRY which has been disregarded, Nation Pledge which is “Lost”, Voice which has been “suppressed”, Citizens interests which have “subordinated” to foreigners/PRs interest.
• that we want passionate leaders, with hearts, to serve the citizens first with equitable policies, not with desire to govern dependent on the salary scale.
• that we want a revamp of policies fairer to the citizens, lesser taxation of reserves due to having to dispense hugely on sustaining wasteful governmental machineries, like excessive use of fund for Army, and huge pay package of incumbent and cronyists.
• that we want to have cheap land that is rightfully belongs to all citizens to build affordable homes payable over shorter loan period and yet have reasonable decent disposable income to live decent life for family commensurate with the higher living standard, yet save enough for retirement and contingencies.
• that we have only OUR last chance to stand together for the betterment of ALL and future generation to cast our votes before we are overwhelmed by NEW CITIZENS beholden to the incumbent, else we will be forever be subjugated by the PAP dictate and policy.
• that fifty years of authoritarian rule is Enough, fifty years of political suppression, fifty years of super-rich pay leaders who earned enough for their own generations for many years to come regardless of Nation survival; fifty years of media censorship and brain-washing is Enough; fifty years of voice suppressed, living in fear of ISD is Enough.
• that Singapore needs a refreshing political facelift of leaders that inspires, that shares the wishes, hopes , woes and aspirations of the citizens, that unite citizens NOT divide by envy of huge and growing wealth creation biased for the Rick, Powerful and ruling Elite.
• that this Nation will NOT fall without PAP as there are many good gentlemen and women, more capable that the Incumbent, who can serve for much less, who are ready to serve the Nation for the Citizens.
• that we want to build a sustainable nationhood that can survive through many generations to come regardless of any political party in power; not espousing the inevitability of rich-poor divide BUT espousing the inevitability of better standard and living costs for middle and lower income groups at the expense of the Elite, Rich and Super-Rich who can afford such expense if they desire to stay in this pearl of Asia..
• that we need now citizen-pro policies that benefit more “lesser mortals”; we need commensurate growth, commensurate policies that help lower living costs, not at expense of the citizens; a more moderate immigration policy, not the relentless, thoughtless and unplanned FT/PR influx policies to satisfy growth numbers which ultimately benefit the super-scale masters.
• that we can come together as ONE, to have more opposition to represent the electorate to challenge the incumbent to listen to the wish of the people, to get rid of callous leaders within PAP-a PAP facelift or be voted out eventually.
LET US ALL SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE to PAP that policies have to be more citizen-friendly.
LET US ALL STAND-UP TOGETHER to make sure we are not STRANGERS IN OUR OWN HOME.
LET EACH OF US SPREAD THE CHORUS OF CHANGE VEHEMENTLY, to reach every heart, mind and soul of true-bred citizen.
A very thoughtful piece to call for 'change'.
Thing is, is there anyone capable of rectifying the presumed faults? And not leading to to other problems? None that I could see at the moment. A case of 'from the boiling pot into the frying pan'?
No. We citizens cannot attribute EVERY fault to the govt. This is a democracy and one must understand how democracies function. Singapore is not China where the leaders' words are law, without even people's representation and debate.
This is not even Malaysia, where laws are created slipshodly moving forward one step and reversing 2 steps back the next day.
Credit must be given where credit is due, and similarly too, must blame where it lays. It is only after thorough introspection and debate can better laws be enacted. And for that to happen, we need more credible and capable members of citizens representative to voice our concerns, not roadside actors that plays to the gallery.
Change can only happen at a pace everyone can be comfortable with, at a pace that if we dont get the benefit from it, at least the next generation will, otherwise, if change is done in haste will only lead to the Malaysian comedy or draconian China tragedy.
Rather than confront and everyone gets on the defensive, let us all drop the rhetoric, and work out solutions together as one, afterall, citizens or administrators, we are all fellow Singaporeans, beneficiaries of our forefathers' sacrifices.
I humbly apologise to those who seek for immediate change with this post. It is something I am not prepared to conternance for the chaos and egoistical defence resistance that may result. My vow to our pledge holds true in the quest for our common Singaporean Dream - peace and prosperity for all amongst many other noble values vowed by those before me.
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Originally posted by angel7030:
If a new citizen cannot give his views on Singapore politics, what is there to talk about fair and fix plays??? TS is knocking his own head.
So let them do it!
Do you even KNOW why SINGAPOREANS are angry at his lousy comments? Did you even bother to read before you typed your rubbish out?
How about something easier, do you even know what's going on and the real issue being discussed here? Basically not only this new citizen singing the praises of the ruling party BUT also, the fact that he is a NEW CITIZEN, YET he attacked Singaporeans verbally.
Not only that, his arguments aren't even't half correct.
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Hello "I'm back" The letter by “citizen voice� is truely excellent, and should be read on its own. By combining it with the 2nd letter, titled 'Chorus of change', you may have unintentionally diluted the essence / message of the 'citizen voice' letter. If you can.... please seperate the 2 letters into 2 different posts so that those who would like to read this great post by 'citizen voice' can do it comfortably. Thank you. ps. Sorry... I gotta confess that I also went to ZzzzZzzzZzzz on the 2nd letter.