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有识之士拒绝发声,新加坡何去何从?



新加坡的精英、有识之士、知识分子、中产阶级拒绝对国家的发展做出积极的评论,分享,分析他们对国家前途的看法。这种情形在李显龙出任总理后,每况愈下,越来越严重,已经成为新加坡目前面对的最大挑战,国家继续前进的绊脚石。

最近,李显龙和他的一群高级顾问,不约而同的呼吁有识之士出来,提供意见,对国家各方面建设,提供不同版本的建议。

李显龙说,他尝试不让身边只有只说“对”的人。如果,整天被唯命是从的人围着,那将是一种灾难。言外之意,就是说领袖必须接受批评,承认错误。#1

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李显龙的高级顾问更进一步。他们说新加坡需要说“不对”的人。他们要更多不同的意见,反对的声音,甚至悲观的声音。他们认为新加坡需要更多(公务员)人出来挑战当局。最重要的,他们认为有识之士对政策的发声,能够让新加坡未来50年更加美好。


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这种呼吁,呼应要求有识之士出来发声,提供反对意见似乎是一种哀求。有识之士的反对意见有助国家未来更加美好?为何立国以来,从来就没有如此哀求过?可见,事情已经失控,有识之士已经意兴阑珊,提不起兴趣。他们翻看历史,提供反对意见的人,尤其是反对党的有识之士,下场如何?

【不出声的历史背景】

有识之士不提供意见,不改进、不改良政府的政策,不是行动党政府一直以来的国策吗?为何现在,李显龙和高级顾问,接二连三如此低声下气哀求有识之士发声呢?难怪,有识之士并不相信行动党的诚意,前车之鉴,他们害怕步上前人的后尘。

人民行动党在李光耀领导下,对于反对他的知识分子、有识之士、学术精英、专业人士,从来就没有给予尊重,不用内安法来对付已经是客气了。到了吴作栋出任总理,原本以为比较开明,也不是闹出林宝音事件。到了李显龙任总理,人民也没有给予厚望。林宝音在林宝音事件20年后,还给李显龙写公开信。她的建议,李显龙听进去了吗?

原本以为2011年大选,新加坡选民开始觉醒,明白手中选票的重要性。新加坡人愿意接受不同的声音,但是2015年的大选,却似乎极为容易被行动党的民粹所误导。有识之士看在眼里,能够不意兴阑珊吗?不仅有识之士意兴阑珊,连一些反对党人士,也意兴阑珊起来。

2015年大选后发生的事情,更加让有识之士提不起劲来。除了压制网络言论外,看看在国会通过的立法和修法,总统选举制度的变更等等,行动党政府是否真的有诚意,接受不同的意见,反对的声音?

这是行动党的困境,新加坡的悲哀。

新加坡的有识之士,怎么有可能出现儒家的所谓的”以天下为己任“,还是,新教伦理强调的社会责任心,认为为国家和社会做出贡献,出一份力,做出牺牲,是本身的责任所在。

这种困境和悲哀,不是李显龙,行动党和他们的高级顾问,三言两语,主流媒体大事报道,就能唤起、唤醒的。

同样的,当有识之士看到李显龙最近接受英国广播公司的访问,其中有关副总理达曼名望高,却不能出任总理,他们会怎么想。事实上,有识之士,希望达曼出来任总理,而BBC记者没有直接点出,他只是说民间有这个希望。李显龙的回答,跟他在其他不同场合一样,非华人目前不适合担任总理。

如果是达曼出任总理,李显龙和高级顾问的哀求,就是多此一举。有识之士也是“识时务者”,他们比一般人更加了解李显龙的想法和手段,明哲保身是他们最佳的选择。但是,却是新加坡最大的损失,能够为国家做出贡献的人,不出手,拒绝出声。


#1
“I try not to surround myself with ‘yes, sir’ men. That is important because if all you have are people who say ‘three bags full, sir’, then soon you start to believe them and that is disastrous.”

#2
Singapore needs more people to speak up and challenge authority, said a panel of academics and former senior civil servants yesterday.
They lamented the reluctance of civil servants to pose contrarian views when facing political office-holders, and the reticence of university students in asking questions at conferences.
But this ability to question views and policies is vital if Singapore is to do well in the next 50 years





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