GP in Bishan praises PAP for implementing “unpopular” policies with “long-term” gains
February 9th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
A General Practitioner (GP) who runs his own clinic in Bishan under the charge of DPM Wong Kan Seng has written a letter to the Straits Times Forum today praising the PAP for its governance of Singapore so far.
Dr Yik Keng Yeong was writing in response to Mr Ng Kok Lim’s letter “Life after PAP” which was first published on The Temasek Review on 5 February 2010 before the Straits Times Forum republished a day later. (Read Mr Ng’s letter here)
He began his letter by praising the PAP leadership for its “stellar” performance:
“Ethnically, Singaporeans are no different from the countries they migrated from. If, indeed, all work ethic is equal, every country in the region would have scaled the same peaks as Singapore. That we have achieved a standing in the world beyond expectations says as much about our resourcefulness to overcome hardship as it does about the quality of our leadership in our country’s formative years.”
According to Dr Yik, the only “mistake” made by the PAP was to implement policies which are unpopular on the ground:
“……whose venal sin lies in steadfastly implementing unpopular policies with short-term pain while making long-term gains which only patience will see bear fruit.”
Dr Yik seems to agree with Law Minister Mr Shanmugam’s assertion that Singapore needs an “efficient” government to react quickly to changes in the external environment:
“The rules of the market seemingly dictate that competition brings efficiency and advancement. Yet, a look at the filibustering in various foreign Parliaments should tell us that non-constructive opposition to government policies is pernicious to a country, paralysing it with worthless rhetoric when firm and decisive leadership is needed.”
In the 1970s, the “Stop at Two” policy was implemented by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to curb Singapore’s population growth.
The policy was implemented quickly and efficiently with no opposition from Singaporeans who were unable to do much anyway since the PAP controlled all the seats in Parliament.
Today, Singapore is paying the price for the “success” of Lee’s policy. Due to Singapore’s declining birth rates especially among the ethnic Chinese, we now have to “import” foreigners from elsewhere to make up for the shortfall in the number of babies, thereby creating another problem in the process.
In 2003, Lee’s son, the current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced an ambitious plan to increase Singapore’s population to 6.5 million people via immigration by 2030.
Too many foreigners were let into Singapore within too short a period of time such that the government is now having a serious headache of how to integrate them into local society.
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial wrote that the relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore over the last few years had depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing, reduced labor productivity and led to an overall decline in the standard of living.
The PAP leaders are now trying to reverse its policies by promising to “slow down” the inflow of foreigners in the next few years which will not be necessary in the first place had there been a strong opposition in parliament to challenge its ideas and debate on the matter right from the very beginning.
Perhaps Dr Yik has forgotten the age-old adage: “More haste, less speed”. It is better to have more brains to ponder over a decision carefully before making it, especially when it concerns the lives of millions of people.
To quote from an article on the pros and cons of democracy versus autocracy published in the Economist last week:
“With no noisy legislatures or robust courts to hold things up, autocracies may be faster and bolder. They are also more accident-prone.
For all its frustrations, open and accountable government tends in the long run to produce better policies. This is because no group of mandarins, no matter how enlightened or well-meaning, can claim to be sure of what is best for a complex society.
Autocracies tend to be too heavy at the top; although decisions may be more easily taken, the ethos of autocracies – their secrecy and paranoia – makes it harder for alternative views to emerge. Above all, elections make transfer of power legitimate and smooth.”
Under a one-party system in which the boundaries between the party and the state are blurred, Singaporeans can never trust the government fully to act in their interests especially when it conflicts with that of the continued survival of the PAP.
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birds of same feather flock together.
This doc must have been benefit from the system that he sing praises for the establishment now?
I am not saying that i do not agree with Foreigners migrating to Singapore, But The government is letting the Foreigners in at too fast a speed.
Frankly, as an ordinary Singaporean i cannot adapt to so many foreigners surrounding me in MRT every morning.
The GP work hard and now in private practice with a steady income from his clinic. I would praise and sing the same song if I have good steady income from a steady employment. Because of the PAP policy ..by allowinf flood of cheap labour and middle level wage job to so called FT..robbing many Singaporean ( old and young) of their potential and decent wage job as emplyer only want to employ cheap and young FT workers. I am sure this GP will sing a different tune if his livelihood been threaten if the goverment allow in many cheap FT Doctors to compete against his clinic ..so the charges of consultation fees will be lower for the poor jobless Singaporean ?..The GP not in a situation where the families need decent income to live a life! BS comments!
I wonder if this Doctor is an “Instant” citizen…and whether He knows the real history of Singaproe from the time of David Marshall Lim Yew Hock; Lee Kuan Yew; Tunku Abdul Rahman (Singapore being part of Malaysia)…then Lee Kuan Yew again and ALL the mistakes of the PAP with the consequential fallout…Some of which come to mind :
1) Stop at Two Policy
The callous importation of Foreign Economic Refugees who put pressure on all public services including housing.
2) The relentless ligations and sterlisations of the low income groups a very Hitlerian act…
3) The relentless abortions granted and freely and easily…the highest abortion rate per capita in the world.
4) The forcefull implementation of Mandarin Policy…causing Generations of Parents, Grandparents to disconnect with their children and grandchildren which inturn caused the almsot complete loss of cultural roots
5) The selling away of National Assets which are important Public Services…Generating Power Stations
6) The gargantuan losses of more than 100 billion dollars of Public Money
7) The mismaagement in Public Housing…having periods of 7 to 10 years with housing left empty…and then now a dire shortage of housing.
9) The thousands of young singaporeans who studied for degrees that suddenly become irrelevant ….for example IT Degrees the graduates ended up selling insurances, pots and pans…
Thre are more …Maybe this doctor should first examine (pun intended) himself and then speak up again but this time for himself.
more foreigner = more patients
more foreigner = more import diseases = more patients.
If i were a doc, i’ll rather have more patients than less patients.
It is natural for people who have no morality and conscience to praise political regimes whom they benefit from. There are not many people these days in Singapore who look at how the struggling mass and their plight. So long they live comfortably without squeezing in public transport, they have no interest in how the majority live and feel. On second thought, he might be in the grassroots as many medical professionals are in grassroots or CCC. I must say it is another series of propaganda from ST and as the Propaganda Minister of Nazi Germany Dr. Goebbel said that if you tell a lie consistently a thousand time it becomes the truth.
This GP is just another classic example of LPS of MIWs
It is precisely why we Singaporeans is still this shitty situation is because we still have people like him.
it’s obvious that his letter did not provide any robust rebuttal to mr ng’s letter. it’s simply a stellar sycophantic highfalutin piece of rambling.
kind advise to the good doctor: pls do not take up any more space in forum, stick to your medicine.
One can also argue that Germany had “firm and decisive leadership” under the Nazis.. And the current leadership (or leader?) in North Korea could not be more “firm and decisive” LOL!
This GP’s thoughts lived in a sanitized world of perfect autocracy, fishes thrives only in dirty water.
His irrelevant comments DO NOT impress me extremely.
Maybe he should spend some time studying contemporary history of the great “achievements” of Hitler, Idi Amin,Pol Pot, Fidel Castro, the Kim dynasty of North Korea, Joseph Stalin and of course the much-loved Saddam Hussien.
Hope he won’t tell me the world is flat as it is fair of autocracy or as dumb as innovation of fat hope.
Wa lau, when you are some doctor or lawyer, your life should be quite smooth sailing lah! What we are more concerned is the welfare of us non-Elites! The older generation that gave us their youth, blood & sweat to make Singapore what it is now. The older generation that needs to go thru various checks in order for them to receive S$300+ monthly when the Elites blow that on a single meal! I am sure that the PAP did a great job from the 50s to the 80s, it was a time when the little people came 1st in their agenda & they spent many night pondering on how to make life better for every Singaporean. However, nowadays, I could only see the PAP thinking up scheme after scheme to milk us till we die. Dont believe me? Try the following;
1. take the MRT in the morning in AMK or Toa Payoh & then take the train home after work. That would cost you almost S$5.00 including feeder service.
2. try buying a normal 4RM flat for your family & tell us how much you need to pay for that pigeon-hole & how long is the wait.
3. apply for a job & see if your application is been accepted or some cheaper FT beat you to it.
4. try going shopping in your neighbourhood NTUC or Seng Siong & count how many foreigners are there & how many of their languages you could understand..
5. try getting your age old daddy to apply for a kopi-kia & see if the coffee shop towkay will employ you. Your daddy would probably get S$800 a month; do you think that’s enough for someone staying in Singapore? Maybe, he could survive with that if he’s working in Malaysia!!
Here are just 5 things you could do to experience what many Average Joes are going thru everyday, so dont come & tell us that the PAP has been good with their policies. Till date, all I hear is that I have to take the bitter pill & I have been doing that since Lee Jr took over the helm from SM Goh. I have not gotten any good news & I dont think there will be any in the near future. What Swiss standard of living or crap like Golden Years; it’s probably true for Elites like the Lees & you, but I have served my NS & Reservist & yet I am been treated like some 5th class citizen in my own country. What’s wrong with idiots like you? Dont you know there are folks out there struggling to make ends meet? Maybe, you should just take the lift down from your Ivory Tower & see what is really going on here in Singapore.
I suspect the old teabag and his gang of department store dummies are calling on those that owe them favors to come out and write a few supportive letters to “gently remind” us of how lucky we are to have a kangaroo government that only knows how to look after itself using our hard-earned money! Wong Kan Seng must be getting worried now that the Hero Chiam See Tong is coming to get him.
Well they must really be feeling the heat now. I think the bottom line is that those of us who have had enuff are all going to vote opposition, and our numbers are slowly growing thanks to the ability to use sites like facebook etc to quickly share “alternative” opinions and viewpoints as well as to expose the sweet talk behind bad policies for what they really are…Bad Policies!
same PAP/supporter modus operandi
deconstructing his argument
1. harp on past record (like an old general keep telling others his past victories but don’t mention past defeats and that other generals did better than him)
2. praise PAP far-sightedness (which is nowhere to be seen now)
3. criticise democracy messiness and inefficiency (but the end result may be fairer than authoritarian’s rule)
two comments:
To : “senior Voters on Tue, 9th Feb 2010 2:15 pm ”
You are dead wrong to assume that “(those) would praise and sing the same song if (those) have good steady income from a steady employment.”
I have steady income but yet, i dont sing the song of the pap at all. I think those with conscience, sense of fair play, and intellegient thinking people, those who keep touche with current affairs knowledge, will surely have a lot of dissatisfaction with the ruling party. In my opinion, those who still support the party are either employees of the party, or have sentimental reasons to support them on account of the stellar performance of singpoare in the formative years. It is not simply a matter of personal wealth. All it takes to open one’s eyes a little more is to do some reading outside of the official mainstream media propaganda.
Second point: temasek Review had omitted to mention that Dr. Yik also cited the “unhealthy competitin between Starhub andsingtel and the ongoing workd cup telecast imbroglio..”, using this as an example to stress that opposition in parliament is no good just as competition is not good. How narrow minded a view it is! In the scheme of things, how many consumers actually benefit from the introduction of Starhub and M1 into the scene? didnt we get more vareity handphones, cheaper subscription prices, better service? how can we generalise and deduce that competition is bad because of one hiccup like world cup issue? It is ridiculous. The introduction of competition or opposition into parliament will enrich the quality of debates and open up more creative ideas than ever before. How is it that the doctor is so myopic as to assume that nothing good will come out of the competition in the parliament? I don’t understand how some seemingly intelligent people can be so thoroughly brainwashed to think that other than white, everything else in the world is black. The world is so beautiful and full of colours for everyone to explore – if he chose to do so.
zero
Like to listen to his feedback when he finds half a dozen of PR doctors opening shop stealing his patients by offering 40% discount on the rates.
When the knife does not cut into one’s skin you will definitely not feel the pain.
A doctor can be stupid too.
He is probably PA ppl.
This doc has just been appointed as a permanent member on the panel of doctors for ALL government departments and statutory boards. If I were him, I will also praise the PAP left, right, centre, and even under !
See how the dog wags it tail?
“Who let the dogs out? Woof… Woof.woof.woof.woof.”
seems we are reading a lot of these letters in similar tunes lately and feel good nostalgia (Rajaratnam book)too…
If you guys from TR go see this doctor when you are sick the standard charge is $30. You talk more cock with him and it’s $50. You think you want to stay longer to talk about social or political issues? You probably would be in and out immediately, even before he finishes writing down your name in full, because you thought you can get half price for 5 seconds only.
But if have the logo of PAP written on your forehed, the fee is only $20. For that price you can have your sickness attended to, sip half a cuppa at his expense, and talk cock sing song with him about PAP this and PAP that until the clinic assistant tells him the next in the Q is a bigger shot than you and then you’ll be dumped out and that .70 cents for coffee be included in your bill.
That’s our doc, ever the happy man whose Singapore is so rosy because his PAP friends carry out policies which make Singaporeans work overtime until they fall sick and he opens his clinic 24/7 waiting for them to come see him. It’s no wonder he praises the government. They are in cahoots together.
We slog. He touches and talk. We take bus and MRT. He is buying his next car, a BMW to be parked alongside his unused Mercedes and Jaguar at his bungalow. He is having it good. Of course he says PAP is good.
He talks and the government listens. Medishield, Medicare, Medi-whatever the PAP can think of are all derived at after consultation with him. Notice how you can only use money in your Medisave account pay for only hospitalisation and use of medical facilities charges. You are not allowed to use the funds from the CPF to pay for consultation or surgeon’s fees. That means the money from the CPF that is taken out goes back to the government (out from right hand back into left hand). Money paid to the doctors and surgeons in fees go out of their hands but into the hands of the doctors and surgeons. Get the picture?
This is the hypocrisy of our system. No one else can change it. The top (elites) will not want to change it because it is beneficial to them and serving their personal interests. No one can change it ….except US THE PEOPLE. You have one vote, use it wisely the next time.
LKY say that I am from Mars. Am I really from Mars I wonder.
Its the second time in as many months this sycophant has written in carrying PAP balls. Same kind of craps and english that only they can understand. Wait till Ntuc set up a clinic next to his and complete with him unfairly and see if he still sing their praises. Shameless scums!
This is obvious that PAP is trying to get their supporters to “cool down” the unhappiness of the public…
Everytime when there is people writing to ST to comment on PAP, there will always be another person to reply with explanation and good words.
Can’t the PAP take even minor citicism from Singaporeans?
That shows how petty PAP is and despite all these years of governing Singapore, they are getting bad to worse….
Time for some “freak” events to happen in Singapore political scene.
yeah, what else does the old lky remembers except old stories?
if you need him to look into the future, you will be screwed.
This doc is a PAP dog, who regularly comments in Shit Times. Just google his name there are 3 pages of his articles. Like this one regarding his support for “Singapore ministers set for million-dollar pay hike” dated Thu Apr 5, 2007
“According to a Chinese proverb, an able general is worth more than 10,000 foot soldiers. So too is the worth of our leaders if they have the wisdom to help us weather global competition,” reader Yik Keng Yeong said.
Wait till PAP up his clinic rental again. and than import more foreigner clinics to compete his in the neighbourhood area. Only than will he sing a different tune and his curse on PAP will be more cruel than anyone would have expected. This is called TYPICAL behaviour.
Dr Yik – is this true??? If its true, then your article in support of the PAP govt is NOT unbiased. Hope you clarify yourself if it is not true.
YOU’RE FIRED! on Tue, 9th Feb 2010 3:37 pm
This doc has just been appointed as a permanent member on the panel of doctors for ALL government departments and statutory boards.
“This is not the case with the People’s Action Party (PAP), whose venal sin lies in steadfastly implementing unpopular policies with short-term pain while making long-term gains which only patience will see bear fruit. As long as the PAP maintains its moral probity while charting a clear course through the mine-laden future, it should retain a handsome mandate to rule, as changing horses in midstream simply for the sake of change is insensate.”
What long-term gains are the good doctor talking about? All I am seeing are the elites reaping the long-term gains, while lesser mortals suffer ever-ongoing “short-term” pain..
- Policies that result in the citizens not having enough to retire on, and so need to work until drop..
- CPF gets locked up longer and longer…
- Retrenched but not allowed to use own cpf to tide over.. Instead supposed for old-age (but will not be enough once you are old, see)
- two is enough, instead of saying it is a mistake, claim that it is too successful..
- all those loses by TH/GIC..
All i can about this GP thingy is this…
http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/stupidity/
.
To : Dr Yik Keng Yeong
Is the Stop At Two Children Policy long term gain ?
Don’t Talk Cock Sing Song when you nut about anything.
我看你这种无智慧医生早晚医死人 ！！！
I believe there are many GP in Bishan and not going to clinic operate by Dr Yik Keng Yeong likely save one’s life.
Transparent
Hey Transparent, hold your horses. That statement was given tongue in cheek, merely in jest. There is no basis for my statement at all, just poking some fun.
Sorry you missed the fun part.
Dr Yik the author used a wrong analogy,
Singtel and Starhub are competing for monopoly of the telecast.
Wonder how did he get his Dr? he can’t even comprehend simple logic
What is ‘incorruptible’?
Incorruptible – when whatever amount of money (favours/gifts) offered will not sway/change/alter a persons decision to do what is right and just.
In Singapore, we have the PAP threatening the Singaporeans into paying themselves Millions so that they STAY INCORRUPTIBLE.
In other developed countries, those with ‘corruption index’ fairing better than Singapore, the leaders are not paid even half as much, yet the country as a whole is considered corruption free.
While in Singapore, Millionaires are made by association with the ruling class/elites. Indeed, they have little need for corruption for directorships from companies (listed or otherwise) are readily available.
Never mind the fact that the rest of the population have to pay taxes for every thing and their life savings are with-held by the Singapore government through various schemes.
We in Singapore are Hostages to the PAP. Incorruptible? Hostage takers do not take bribes, they just demand to be paid.
to justkaypoh
yes you are right, in that case there is not even one example in real life the competition results in people going through great suffering compared to no-competition.
zero
Well said…
and where is the honesty?
http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/honesty/
It is time…and past time…
To reflect deeply and truely…for singapore and its peoples and future generations of their kids future.
sad.
“in that case there is not even one example in real life the competition results in people going through great suffering compared to no-competition.”
it is like saying,
there is not even one example in real life that competition results in people going through great enjoyment compared to NO-competition.
how to give example when competition is part and parcel of our life for most of us.
In the real world, no one who receives good service really bothers to send in letters to compliment. Except for ST which has a section on Bricks and Bouquets.
So, what I find amusing is that there are actually people who write in (and the ST actually publishes them !!!!) to say what a great gahmen we have and that we should appreciate them etc etc.
This looks like a sublimal campaign to me – a humourous campaign, which also insults my intelligence.
So this GP is from bishan? Well, if I ever see his name on the clinic wall, I will not enter it at all cost…lol
Funny thing is, the more they try to praise our gahmen, the more dirt is reveal and it looks desperate
Is the doc talking cock?
Like I say, those that sing praises for Uncle Pape are the Ones benefiting from it.
F/ts, Work Permits, all these PPl need to go for a basic chk up. For Chest X ray,they just write letter to Poly clinic and FW brings letter to poly clinic, rest of Body chk up are done by GPs…..thus make easy money…more F/t….more Money.
Listen to this Crap talk nonsense…wonder what is the name of his clinic?
This is just one of the thousands of letters recieved per day . Others all asking garman to stepdown so cannot public .
When people fear for death, naturally someone who can cure you can ask for any amount in returns. If people die and sick and recover naturally without visit doctor, you do not need doctor or medicine. Medisave is an insurance for doctor and not for patient. Only people have money have the privilege to live longer and older.
If you get cancer and the bill is 200k but Medisave only 20k then their cure you until the money depleted with conditions that the probability to cure is less than 5% and consent with 95% probability of side effect. What’s the point? You work your whole life to be treated in hospital?
Singapore is better than US to have medisave policy dictated without needs for debate like in US to pass the health care bill, which will pass eventually unless revolution happen like 200 years ago to declare another civil war repeat with another legend like Abraham Lincoln.
Open your mind everyday. Fearless is the key.
*PAP for implementing “unpopular” policies with “long-term” gains!*
Excuse me, is this what this idiotic doctor and the million-dollar miw can aspire for Singapore? Why the political statement proclaimed so loudly and vociferously by them can’t be altered to “implementing ‘POPULAR’ policies with “long-term” gains?
Mind you, this bunch of idiotic nerds are paid millions of dollars annually just to draft-out state policies and nothing else, if this type of mediocrity policies that any “chickens and ducks” can formulate then, this bunch of idiotic nerds do not deserve world class exorbitant remunerations!
Is this idiotic doctor charging bare minimum medical consultation fees likening to the polyclinic’s charges yet still provide first class medical services to his patients?
If that is the case, I opine that he should stand up for the ruling party by joining politic to gun-down a single-m-c-w to show his service to the nation pertaining to the next “G-erection”, instead of singing praises so shamelessly!
Dr. Yik’s argument is fatally, NECESSARILY and inherently FLAWED of logic and evidence.
Why? For autocracy to work effectively, efficiently and successfully, let alone any prospect of SUSTAINABILITY, is there any anecdotal evidence of success? Singapore is in an ABSOLUTE MESS NOW. What happened to Marxism which MM have said failed globally without exception.Even PRC is more capitalistic in business than America – “illegal” prostitution is operating on the same street as police stations and you won’t find legalised brothel on Pennsylvannia avenue where OBAMA conducts his daily business of politics, Government and business.
If autocracy works, mafia would have controlled all the global business, do they?? Even the Japanese yakuza changed their “business” model. Mafis makes the fastest, most predictable and effective decisons – they “fixed” all oppositions and signs of opposition ruthlessly sending them to their graveyards and sending them memorable eulogies.
In proper context of Singapore. Didn’t MM says you can’t train politicians. Can, Dr Yik, train BOTH POLITICIANS AND BUSINESSMEN TOGETHER OR IN SEQUENCE in the same GOONDOO? And when economic institutions are ruled by power-driven politicians – which are also failed politicians – how is economic management or investment decisions going to be achieving of desired outcome?
You can’t walk and wants to fly F16 to engage in dogfights in this globalised business world?
Dr Yik, with all due respect, are you opening your rear end too liberally casual on a topical subject not quite fitting of your expertise?
(quote Dr. Yik’s comment)“……whose venal sin lies in steadfastly implementing unpopular policies with short-term pain while making long-term gains which only patience will see bear fruit.”(unquote)
Wonder why PAP has not allowed Doctors from China, India, Myanmar and other countries to rent a shop at our HDB and give the people cheap medical treatment. How about giving them free HDB shop rental for five years or else they might not want to come here. Is that a short-term pain while making long term gains for society? It will certainly bear fruit because it will bring down our medical fee.
Sorry doc, the idea is now out of the bag and I cannot help you. However you need not worry as we all know that our government always take care of people like you, the elite of our society. They would rather we pay a higher medical fee while you stash the incoming cash away.
Knowing how the system works make you want to talk talk and sing song like nobody business.