THE TEMASEK REVIEW

From our Correspondent

Nominated member of Parliament Viswa Sadasivan has made a call for “repoliticizing” of universities during his 50-minute maiden speech in Parliament.

He began by lamenting how beautifully crafted the National Pledge was, and said it was a waste that its meaning and power are not understood enough or reflected on.

To ensure that the Pledge means more than just words for all citizens, Mr Sadasivan argued that Parliament should lead the way by ensuring that the tenets of the Pledge have primacy when considering national policies.

He highlighted what he considered four key tenets: the idea of citizenship, inter-racial and religious unity, democracy and the balance between happiness and prosperity.

Mr Sadasivan gave several suggestions on how national policies could be better aligned with these principles, one of which is to encourage political associations in universities – once a base of political interest and activism – and allow campus rallies to rouse the young from apathy.

Student activism has long been non-existent in Singapore’s universities. Singapore undergraduates are more concerned about passing examinations and getting a job upon graduation than politics.

Political activities are also explicitly banned on campus ground. Last year, NTU barred SDP members led by Dr Chee from fraternizing with its students. A letter written by a student on the matter was removed from the students’ newsletter just before publication.

It is highly unlikely that the government will be receptive to Mr Sadasivan’s proposal to “repoliticize” Singapore’s universities.

Universities have always been a hotbed for political activism and dissent worldwide and the ruling party is well aware of its potential threat to their continued hegemony.

One of the harshest critic of MM Lee and the PAP in the 1970s is student leader Tan Wah Piow, then President of the University of Singapore Student Union.

Tan was charged in 1974, together with two others, with rioting inside the premises of the Pioneer Industries Employees Union, a government-controlled trade union, even though he was nowhere near the office where he was supposed to have ‘broken some chairs’.

Tan was sentenced to one year imprisonment and after his release in 1976, he fled to London via Johor Bahru. From then now, politicial activism simmered and eventually died down on the University of Singapore, which was the sole university then.

Even if the government wants to “revive” the political “spirit” of the campuses, few students will dare to take the “bait” given its track record of harsh treatment dished out to political dissidents.

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