(Above image taken from TOC)
While this is indeed the hottest topic in town until 7th May 2011, people have been posting updates on twitter and facebook on their opinions and adding on issues that should be addressed during the GE (General Election). Many debate why suddenly Singaporeans are so into politics, like a baby suddenly transformed into a young child and request for a change (quoted from US president, Mr Barack Obama) in the managing of the gahment.
Frankly speaking, political issues are a taboo to be mentioned in the state. At any point of time if you are in public and talking bad about the gahment or its policies, rest assure you can be caught. For whatever reason it was, you will be detained or go behind the bars like instantaneously. Not to mention, if you had a group of people who are strongly bond with your thoughts against the gahment, the whole group can be detained as well. Thus this IS THE ONLY TIME WE TALK POLITICS. Not that we don’t in usual coffeeshop sessions but we are not allowed/supposed to.
KIASI
Like a said, this isn’t an overnight thingy. The management and policies are way overboard but noone dares to voice out. Remember the 3 KIAs in Singapore: Kiasu, Kiasi, Kiabor. Everyone is Kiasi. Dont lie to yourself. We all know that to go against the gahment/the ruling party is like giving a death sentence to yourself. Media writes nasty stuffs about you, people gives you the weird look like ‘why do you want the attention?’ and things like that. After the election, when you return to work, you will find a totally different environment and might have to keep switching jobs because of your previous unwelcomed media attention. So we all just want to be normal. Whatever the ruling party wants, they can have it because they HAVE the power.
The man who deserves the respect and huge applause
Mr Chiam See Tong, is a man who I respect the most other than Mr Lim Bo Seng in Singapore History. Never in my life, was I told the exciting story about this man. The media coverage always made him look like the ugly duckling among the white swans. When people told me about him, I laughed. I was naive and ignorant. Blame me then but not now. I watch his rally for the past week and teared in every single rally. He didn’t have to say a word. The crowd loves him and he loves the crowd. He addressed them as the TRUE singaporeans and I think they deserved the credit too.
Sudden Fame
While Ms Tin Pei Ling was been announced as 1 of the youngest candidate to contest for the GE2011, I was surprised. I watched her interviews amusingly. Like seriously? The way she answers and put herself in public, I think its not how a politician should behave. Then NSP introduced Ms Nicole Seah, which I think, was to ride on the negative wave caused by TPL and so that she looks even more positive as a candidate. The both of them with only 3 years age gap, yet the younger one could empathise the natives more and communicate better with them. TPL on the other hand resorted to declaring trauma-ism, seeing a shrink and have the senior members to talk for her behalf. This proves that she is unable to handle stress and communicate with the people. I watched Nicole Seah’s rally too. Not as touching as CST’s but is able to capture the attention from a singaporean. I hope she gets in (although the chances are low), because I can see that she has a passion and will serve the nation well. Her name might also appear in Singapore History! It all depends if she can win this election or the next.
Social Media Power
One cannot neglect the power of social media to influence a person’s thought. With TOC and TR available, there are news on the Internet that are not written on our daily newspapers which is biased against some parties. We may have grown up with the newspapers but we didn’t expect it to be disgustingly filled with positive comments. While a propoganda should be started, one should always stop buying biased news and refer to news online. Its up to date and its not that biased. Facebook, Twitter and Youtube also led to a larger audience for the parties to share their news and manifestos. They know that their news will not appear in the newspaper most of the time so they are able to their information on the platforms that are not controlled.
Why now?
This is the only first time I’m able to vote since most of the time it was a walk over. Ask around who really had the chance to vote earlier on? If they had, they would also vote for WP or SPP.
Ingrateful Bastards
This is got nothing to do with been grateful anot. Look at the surroundings around you, yes its beautiful, yes its built by our forefathers and foreigners, etc. Then look carefully again, why are there handicaps selling tissues at MRT or coffeeshops? Why people like to mess up my void deck’s dustbin to find trash to recycle and earn money? These are the old people who watched the rise of the nation and contributed to the society, one way or another. Did gahment reward them? Did gahment say no working to these people and give them a daily allowance from our reserves? Perhaps no working is overstated but give them a break, the challenges they have to face in their life in more than us. Who are we to judge? Thanking the ruling party for their past contribution has already been done. Their salary says it all. Besides, they got dominant control all the time and this is their vision and part of their work! Shall they had not done a good job, I believe more opposition parties could have been grown!
An overly-crowded country without a passport
I bet those who dont see a problem in the nation’s management are those who gets to drive/gets driven around all the time without going onto the trains during peak hours just to go to work/home on time. Or probably the people who dont have to work outside and blog at home everyday, then go out take some good photos and photoshop themselves to satisfy them then criticize the ingrateful bastards. Its a very big phenomenon that many locals cant get into local unis because of FTs. They took most of the placings available in the higher education sector. Besides, they have a lower pay rate which allows many employers to save money on compensations. Some even say that they can perform much better than a local!
Complacence
We all know complacency kills. So do arrogance. The way the ruling party answers to the public and media is very biased and totally unliked what I have been pledges for years. There is no equality. People who voted for ruling party gets everything whereas people who didnt, just sit aside and watch but pay the same fees =) waddafug?
Smearing tactics
Shameless really. Desperate for win.
Apologies
It came too late. Yes, a line must be drawn somewhere among the non-ministerial position but should he have stepped up and apologize when the mistake was made, instead of avoiding the topic? Unlike gossips about celebrities, we don’t forget these things. Gossips and rumours can be forgotten but mistakes, once re-invocated, people will start to question all over again.
Thats your nation
Sorry but every nation should defend and put its own citizens first. My forefathers didn’t come to this fishing village to let work so hard and let people from other land to take our fruitful resources. I love my nation and I want it to be Singaporean-filled, not FTs and I will vote wisely tomorrow.
Conclusion
Your debate is rightful but keep it to yourself. I just want to highlight some issues brought up by other bloggers who wants the attention to themselves.
Heres a short video on a TVB drama on local property prices: