Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand Rejects Emulation by Thailand of Singapore’s One Party Rule
January 31st, 2009 | 
Author: EDITORS’ NOTE:
Abhisit is only half right. Singapore is not just a one-party system, it is fast becoming a ONE-FAMILY system if not already one ! A one-party system is DETRIMENTAL to Singapore in the long run because it is completely devoid of any internal checks and balances. All we need is a nutcase like Hitler to turn Singapore into a fascist state.
Even now, we see ordinary Singaporeans being subjugated to the will and power of the one-party state. We have no voice in Parliament, no bargaining rights as citizens and no power to change our destiny. We have become serfs in our own land of birth, toiling hard not to better our lives but to merely to sustain our physical bodies so that we may continue to contribute to the state funds.
It is IMPOSSIBLE in a real democracy to have one party being returned to power repeatedly for 50 continuous years ! Singapore has one of the best education system in the world. Almost 50% of our population has some sort of tertiary education, be it a degree or diploma. There are more than enough talented Singaporeans to form not only one, two, but multiple political parties to challenge the incumbent. Only when there is a healthy competition for ideas can there be better refinement of policies to suit the real needs of the people on the ground.
Then why aren’t Singaporeans stepping forward ? Because they are afraid of the ruling party. They have seen capable men who dare to oppose them and end up being sued, bankrupted and ruined for life. They have no choice but to shut up and being herded around like sheep to safeguard themselves and their families. For those who refused to allow their basic rights to be trampled upon like shit, they pack up and leave for greener pastures overseas where they can live as free men without fear or apprehension.
A one-party state can bring about social stability and economic prosperity for a short period of time only for as long as there are capable and benevolent leaders at its helm. Once these leaders pass on and if corrupted politicians were to take over, there will be NO EXTERNAL bodies or entities in place to remove them. And no citizens in the world will want to make such a fascist state as their homes. The United States is home to so many migrants from all over the world who stay on and become its citizens for life. Ask any PRC and Indian foreign workers here if they are willing to retire in Singapore and the answer is likely a “no.”
Singapore is too small and fragile a nation to be dominated and ruled by only a small clique of people. We need to have more heads and hands to govern it and more voices to contribute to to the nation-building process. It may slow down the speed and efficacy of policy implementation, but it will surely benefit a larger segment of the population in the long run with a fairer and more equitable distribution of wealth.
”Few years ago when former Prime Minister (Thaksin) said that he wanted the Thai political system to emulate the Singaporean system, I made a very clear statement on my part that I don’t believe that a one-party system will benefit Thailand, even if that party were to be the Democrat Party. So I hope to see competition in politics which is the essence of democracy and so I have throughout my career and I will continue to make sure there will be healthy political competition and that minority rights are protected.”
- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand
Posted in Opinion
6 Responses to “Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand Rejects Emulation by Thailand of Singapore’s One Party Rule”
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The Singapore government must first bring back single constituency.
MPs in Singapore are a laugh. They can’t debate, autocratic, lacking ideas, no leadership qualities, leade by threats and not by example.
Lee Kuan Yew should set a good example by retiring. Obviously we don’t need “President” Nathan, SM Goh CT and MM Lee KY. Having these 3 senior old fart is costing Singapore at least $80 million per year.
Well, they should offer to serve the people for free for the rest of their lives since they have already made enough money from us to last them for a few lifetimes.
Zhi Yuan
Precisely, their 1 year pay (per person) is equivalent to 100 years salary for someone who earns $30,000/year….
Considering that they are getting this amount for these many years…
Ultimately, every one of us is pissed with this ridiculous pay. Look at what Obama is doing in States? Recheck on civil servant pay who is 100k above….
all politicians shld enter office via one-to-one election. They shld be fairly elected and not hanging onto coattails of other MPs on the GRC basis. There are now so many MPs in the parliment that I not know their names or credentials. Are they really capable? I don’t know.
One of the chief roles of MP is to explain policies and represent the people in parliment and not merely as parrots repeating what the policy makers say. Can any of the MPs hold their ground in a debate on policies ? No a lot I fear.
To quote
“Singapore is too small and fragile a nation to be dominated and ruled by only a small clique of people.”
It is also too small and fragile for too many opposing factions. Rather have Singapore run like a corporation than a democracy and make us all shareholders. Give me good service at low prices and I’m in.
Democracy aint all it cut out to be. Politicians all work for themselves. I’m happy not to see so many stupid scandals every where i look. Political bickering like you see in malaysia and thailand at the point of recession is not what anyone wants.
Also Chinese arent naturally political. We’re more business-oriented. We go where the easy good money is.
Thai PM Abhisit can see beyond the one party rule in S’pore.
I am sure it is fresh in his mind, how our wonderful business
and personal relationship with Thaksin has inadvertently led to the latter’s downfall.
The Thai PM can also see :-
the wonderful arrangement of father, son and daughter-in-law with a one party rule and his King will feel uneasy with another form of monarchy,
the wonderful presidential position that needs no election, in other words not endorsed by the citizens,
the wonderful obscene pay that will make all citizens drool,
the wonderful large number of one party MPs who do not speak up for the people, in other words their presence is a farce.
the wonderful use of money to buy foreign sportsmen/women to win olympic medals to boost national pride, but in reality, divide the citizens because many feel a sense of shame,
the wonderful large amount of reserves that only a handful of people are aware of, but not to be spent on the people.
the wonderful military hardware, the envy of everyone in the neighbourhood, BUT the majority of citizens know they are not defending their country and it is not worth their while.