National Day
Well it is over… to be be very honest, it has grown to be more than a little mundane for me.
What exactly is wrong? I’m thinking a few very basic reasons.
- The most important is that there is no clear line of definition between government departments/agencies, and the ruling party. Sure, the argument may be that it is more efficient for things to get done, but it sure doesn’t seem so to me. For the disgruntled few who have since “seen through” the massive amounts of smoke being spewn forth all the time, the nation’s birthday becomes associated with the party’s birthday. How many have chosen not to hang up the national flag just because they are not happy with the ruling party? Ask them whether they are happy with Singapore and they’d talk about their grouses with things not associated with the nation itself. I am one of those, to be very honest about it. But I am trying my best to separate the two issues, however hard it may be.
- The fact that the “hands behind the scene” remains alive and croaking is very very distracting. I have a lot of respect for the old man, but this is too much. If the managing director of a company wishes to continue manipulating the company in close control, why hand over the reins? Just because there’s a law that dictates the retirement age? And getting a million per month is not considered remuneration? If one truly has the interests of the nation at heart, of what importance is getting that kind of remuneration? Or are we saying founder/founder’s son/pre65 are also prone to sacrificing the nation’s interests/secrets when faced with the allure of bribes? To tie down office bearers with money forming the bulk of the basis is just so wrong. Capitalism at its ugliest.
- The one who earned a lot of my respect when he fought tooth and nail with “The One” to tide the nation over during a period of rainy days, seems to have lost his focus as well. Why be concerned over winning back a constituency from the opposition when the ruling party has naught but words for those residents? Apparently, in this twisted rule, it is not about winning back hearts - it is about depriving them of their fair rights until they succumb and decide to cast their vote the $ way. It’s like a class with 2 unruly students. Rather than teach them with both carrot and stick, the teacher chooses to treat them as outcasts, driving them out of the class, ignoring their progress, not giving them their birthday/children’s day presents even when it is their right. Assuming the 2 are not the best of friends, one may eventually succumb but the other might grow to be disillusioned with school life and turn wayward. Is that the mentality - “so be it?” They live on the same island, pay the same amount of taxes, but they get overlooked more often than not. Sure, there’s debate, their representative didn’t fight hard enough… but those are just excuses. Just another instance in which the line between departments and the ruling party is unclear. Ask any resident whom they blame and it’s not their representative, nor is it the housing department - I would think at least 70% would say it’s the unfair influence of the ruling party.
- The fact that the largest shadow cast over the entire island is the presence of this huge holding company tasked with managing the reserves. No coincidence that the key personnel is all linked somehow? That fact is already filtering down to even the most basic commoner. It is no longer something that can overlooked. If you want to run it like a family business, then jolly well treat us like family. Any company that makes tons of money every year, and only pays huge amounts to the directors and key office bearers but largely ignores the rest of employee population is doomed to perish. And yet they wonder why we are not “bringing in new employees”? Do they really think the “referral fee” of $3K/$9K/$15K for new “employees” is that enticing?
I yearn for the day when the opposition puts forth credible arguments and fields proper candidates. But of course, hopefully the citizens will bear in mind that no one is perfect - whatever shit is stirred up, take it with a pinch of salt and let the past be past. What is the past may not represent the future. If convicts can turn over a new leaf and find a new footing, who’s to say someone with a minor blemish, however blown out of proportion or exaggerated, is not truly looking to serve the nation?