MM Lee: PAP have to “change” to achieve the “Singapore Dream”
From our Correspondent
During an interview with the PAP newsletter Petir, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that the PAP will have to change, to adjust and adapt its political, economic and social policies to achieve the ‘Singapore Dream’ for “this more affluent generation.”
Ominously, MM Lee chose not to use the word “Singaporeans”. Does this “affluent generation” includes PRs and foreigners as well?
Though Singapore has achieved spectacular economic growth for the last two decades or so, its income gap between the poor and rich has widened considerably.
According to the UN Development Programme report.Singapore has the second-highest income gap with a Gini score of 42.5 among developed economies after Hong Kong whose figures are skewed by a disproportionate higher number of billionaires.
(The Gini Coefficient index measures the income gap between the poor and the rich in any country with zero denoting absolute equality.)
Singapore is a heaven for the wealthy and powerful, but a living hell for the poor and downtroddened.
Despite its immense wealth, the Singapore government has provided few social welfare benefits for its citizens on the grounds that it will lead to a “crutch” mentality and retard the island’s competitiveness.
In a landmark paper on Singapore’s policy responses to aging, inequality and poverty, researchers Mukul G Asher from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Amarendu Nandy from NUS argued that Singapore has the fiscal, institutional, and organizational capacities for a modern multi-tier social security system.
“Singapore is, however, determined to continue with current inadequate and inequitable arrangements, requiring individuals and their families to bear disproportionate risks in financing retirement, health care, and short-term income support,” it said.
The same paper also concludes that Singapore’s high and increasing income inequalities are an outcome of the particular set of policies adopted by Singapore, and not due to the general effect of globalization alone.
[Source: Singapore’s Policy Responses to Aging, Inequality and Poverty: An Assessment by Mukul G Asher and Amarendu Nandy by International Social Security Review, Vol. 61, No. 1, pp.41-60, January/March 2008]
Lee, however was more concerned about jobs than whether the wages of Singapore workers are sufficient for them to afford a decent quality of life in Singapore.
When asked about Singapore’s Gini coefficient during the recent Kent Ridge ministerial forum, he said:
“Never mind your Gini coefficient. If you don’t have a job you get zero against those with jobs.” In other words it is better to have a job with lower pay than no job.
To the lower income group of Singaporeans whose livelihoods are increasingly threatened by ruling party’s liberal immigration policies which has seen a relentless influx of cheap foreign labor in Singapore over the years, the Singapore “dream” is fast becoming the Singapore “nightmare”.
Not that Lee cares much. There is little impetus on the PAP to “change” because there is simply no political pressure on them to do so given their near-complete control dominance over all institutions of the state including the media, police, civil service and grassroots organizations.
Besides, all the PAP ministers have already achieved the “Singapore dream” themselves. For those in the “Singapore nightmare”, their journey has only just begun.
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cat on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 8:35 am
So, the Singapore Dream has not been achieved and PAP keep extracting value from us by saying that they helped us this and this.
The biggest liability is the GIC/TH.
To keep them afloat, we need to give :
1. get workers to keep a minimum sum that increase year on year.
2. pay our ministers high salary to keep their mouth shut on this.
3. reduce the opportunity of singaporeans to get higher paying jobs because they might then (with afluence) challenge PAP’s rule.
A pack of rats we have here in the PAP.
American Tail on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 8:49 am
“Never mind your Gini coefficient. If you don’t have a job you get zero against those with jobs.”
Such condescending tones from the King.
In any case, what is the reasoning for us to have to choose between High Gini coefficient vs No Job ???
Why can’t my multi-millionaire PM and his kakias think up a better alternative for us? Oh could it be because THEY are also part of what makes for the high GINI coefficient?
keppel boy on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 9:16 am
i would like to know what solutions commentators like TR, TOC and the opposition parties have to solving the problem of income inequality…
Time for Change on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 9:31 am
It is plain for all to see. Singaporeans are suffering under this relentless influx of cheap foreign labour and this influx of foreigners is not about to end soon.
The mindset of the MIW will never change. After 50 years in power they are set in their ways. Money, money, money. They are not able to think about the welfare of the people anymore.
The upcoming GE is the last chance for Singaporeans to change the direction in which this country is heading. Use your votes wisely. It is time for Change. Vote for Change and for a better life for your children.
bornloser on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 10:27 am
This is a ruling party bankrupt of ideas of how to run a government that is for the people and not for themselves alone. A total concentration of power in their hands that deny the ordinary citizens the right to a decent livelihood.
They do not even know of the problems on the ground inspite of the country spending millions on ‘grassroots’ organisations, which are in fact tentacles of the PAP, at the expense of the nation’s coffers.
Their only means to holding to power is the dubious use of GRCs and various political tactics such as demarcation of boundaries of the wards.
They have been told enough times but they think that feedback in sites like TR are ‘opposition’ ideas which condemn them. Instead they should be thankful honest feedback is coming back to them and should react positively to them.
As it is the way of the Dinosaur is the path the PAP has chosen.
Time for Change on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 10:43 am
The PRCs in China obviously don’t look favourably upon our dear MM Lee.
http://www2.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/42162-lkys-speech-in-us-draws-flak-online-in-china
From the comments of this poster, they are still angry with him for collaborating with the Japanese during WWII.
Neil Bishop on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 12:31 pm
First things first. The PAP has to decide that it is the party in power and not the Lee Family. I would have no objection to a PAP Government: I just want the Lee Family removed so that we can get some form of accountability in place. The Lee Family’s vested interest in ensuring that the full extent of their maladministration in relation to Temasek, GIC et al is not revealed so nothing will change while the Great Leader and Dear Leader and Mrs Dear Leader stay at their current posts.
btan on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 12:43 pm
PAP will never change unless we vote in more opposition MPs, enough to prevent them to rubber stamp laws as and when they like it.
Peter Su on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 1:05 pm
45yrs wasted with a “DREAM.”
Anonymous on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 1:09 pm
@ keppel boy on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 9:16 am
…”i would like to know what solutions commentators like TR, TOC and the opposition parties have to solving the problem of income inequality…”
Oh, that is really EASY. Pay me a salary of $3.7 million a year, you will get a pleasing answer.
NO BULL!
fair and square on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 1:17 pm
GRATITUDE…for the contributions of locals from post-independance up till now.
COMPASSION…for the locals who supported you for so long.
Less GREED…for greed leads to selfisness and selfisness do
not help in making GOOD people’s leaders.
UNDERSTANDING…for your own people(workers) who have to care
for their families here with DECENT salaries
and not merely compare and contrast them with
immigrants whose families are in INDIA or PRC
for they have lower cost of living back home.
Realisation…..for the potential problems that may arise if
so-called FTs so decide to “pack and go” as
enthusiastically as they came for a “better”
living(read as higher wages/monies) and then
leaving behind a populace of greying loyal
singaporeans who are now “out-of-job” and yet
contunue to bear the brunt of higher COL,which
in part was caused by the “re-emigrated”FTs”who
conveniently leave us with the excess burden.
to sum up…….LESS GREED AND MORE COMPASSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
x12831 on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 1:22 pm
‘Singapore Dream’ for the ruling elites and their well connected mates.
cy on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 2:23 pm
when you are at the top, the only way to go is down
Worried for the future on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 2:36 pm
What dream? It’s becoming a nightmare whenever I think about my future. Our leaders do not understand us anymore. Will we ever have leaders who will stay in our HDB estates, take public transport with us, so that they can feel for themselves what policies are needed? When the divide becomes too huge, the society becomes unbalanced andunrest will follows. We must always remember that the power is with the people and they will use this power when they are desperate.
Singaporean on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 3:07 pm
Keep on dreaming folks, dream that the PAP can bring more good years and no one left behind. Wake up in your deep slumber and vote for more voices in parliment for the betterment of the country call Singapore, its citizens and future.
white raven on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 4:08 pm
“Never mind your Gini coefficient. If you don’t have a job you get zero against those with jobs.” In other words it is better to have a job with lower pay than no job.
In other words, he’s saying,
“I bring in the low wage foreigners, you compete with them with the cheapest labour. Never mind abt me – my job requires millions of dollars to pay, and I make sure no Opposition comes close.”
KAM on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 5:07 pm
I get very tired reading these….and very sad.
I should just go back to my Singapore dreams….koon.
onlyPSLEmentality on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 9:14 pm
@keppelboy
we r voting opposition parties as an MP not cabinet ministers.
should u not query yours elite million dollars ministers first on income equality….which are paid by tax-payer monies….
deoxin on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 9:36 pm
@onlyPSLEmentality on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 9:14 pm
i think ..u hv wrong mentality on voting. if everyone thinks like u, n oppositions contest enuf seats like previous election, ..we may well see the opposition as gahmen.
so, i hope u will be prepared to see opposition as ministers when u vote for them.
Freak Election Good for People on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 2:08 am
Over the last 50 years, the MM and his PAP has been instilling fear into all of us, so much so that we have become a society of “kiasu” and “kiasi” people.
Over the last 15 years of so, we have been slowly but steadily nudged out of the competitive advantage which we had because of the deliberate policies of the PAP to undo their own blunder caused by their “Two-Is-Enough” Family Planning Policy in the 1970s by coming out with a quick-instant-fix solution of opening the flood-gate for low-wage foreign workers and “talents” to flood the Singapore labour market, against the happiness and will of our people. Yet the PM could still have the cheek to tell all of us to take the bitter medicine – and not only for once but seems to be forever.
Since the MM and his PAP fear the most is a “Freak” Election, why not we collectively drive this fear into them for once, instead of being continuously receiving the fear that they have been dishing out to all of us. Why not we make this “Freak” election happen? Why not we give them a taste of their own medicine?
Can you all recall the recent introduction of new laws and amendments to make us even more fearful? Now, even a single person can be considered as an “assembly”. Now, even before you go out of your house to start a street protest, the police can arrest and detain you if they just “think”a that you are going to protest in the streets.
Are we not becoming worst than a Police State, worst than a totalitarian Communist State?
Freak election is bad for PAP but good for the PEOPLE!
Time for Change on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 7:55 am
deoxin on Wed, 4th Nov 2009 9:36 pm
The people of Singapore want the opposition to take over the government. The mass influx of cheap foreign labour has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans being unemployed or earning a meagre salary.
This has to stop now. We will vote for the opposition in the next elections as we have been pushed back against the wall and this is the only option left.
Children are going with 1 or 2 meals a day and many households are in darkness because they cannot pay the bills.
Time for change is now.