Whether
it is sustainable population or sustainable economy, political stability is a
key to Singapore’s future. But not to get me wrong, I am not talking about the
stability of one-party rule and the option of PAP-only government for political
stability in Singapore.
In
fact, the continued monopoly of the PAP in parliament will be the contributing
factor for political instability in Singapore.
The longer it stays in power, the longer it has out of proportion
representation in the parliament, the more political unstable it will be.
Judging
from the big turnout at Hong Lim Park against the Population White Paper, the
time has come that the PAP will lose more parliamentary seats to the
oppositions in the coming general elections. But how soon will there be an
alternative government, especially when there is a PAP warned freak election?
What
happen if it comes sooner than expected? Do we have enough true blue
Singaporeans coming forward to serve the alternative government?
Yes,
I believe so.
There
are several examples that shows political stability can be achieved if capable
individuals can come forward to form the government without objections and
interference from the President. In
fact, the President must have the courage and wisdom to make the stability
possible like the Options below.
Option 1 Monti
Cabinet in time of crisis#1
Monti
cabinet was a non-elected government in Italy during the debt and euro crisis in
2012. The ultimate purpose of Monti's appointment was to save Italy from the
eurozone sovereign debt crisis. #1
Do
we have enough responsible non-elected and non-party men and women in Singapore
standing up for Singapore during crisis? Yes.
I think so. The President of
Singapore has to assist and not block the forming of the alternative
government.
Singapore
does have “Monti” quality persons in the private and public sectors. In time of need, they should step forward to
serve the country.
Option 2 Chief Judge
as caretaker leader#2
<Panagiotis
Pikrammenos, chief justice of the council of state, the country’s supreme
administrative court, was sworn in as the country’s 184th prime minister by the
Orthodox archbishop of Athens in the presence of President Karolos Papoulias,
who selected him after party leaders failed to form a coalition government
after nine days of wrangling.
Not
a recognisable face for most Greeks, Mr Pikrammenos (67) succeeds the
technocratic central banker Lucas Papademos to the post and his duties will be
strictly limited to the organising of the elections.>#2
This
is an unfortunate situation but for stability, a caretaker prime minister is
needed for a hung parliament waiting for new election. Again, the President of
Singapore must make the right decision to ensure the stability.
Option 3 Prime
Minister of Opposition party #3
<On
March 29, 2000, President-elect Chen announced that Mr. Tang had been chosen as
premier to head the new cabinet.[1] With his
wide-ranging military and overseas assignments, Mr. Tang has extensive
administrative experience and an international outlook, which has promoted
relations with other countries and will be necessary for the new cabinet.
No
longer a KMT member, Mr. Tang confirms the ideal that the new government will
not be restricted to persons of any particular political party or ethnic group.
Rather, the new government will include the best qualified individuals, who
will be able to formulate effective domestic policies, enhance prospects for
peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and promote the ROC in the
international community. During his tenure as premier from the opposition
party, Mr. Tang had the highest domestic approval rating over all previous
prime ministerial administrations. On October 3, 2000, Mr. Tang resigned from
his post amid nuclear power row over Taiwan's energy policy.>#3
This
is a case the alternative party is forming the government but can’t find a
suitable and respectable prime minister.
In a temporary solution, the ruling party invites an experience
opposition leader to be the prime minister of the new government, for example,
George Yeo is leaving the PAP to lead the new government.
Option 4 Coalition
government#4
<David
Cameron formed the Cameron ministry after being invited
by Queen Elizabeth II to begin a new
government following the resignation of the previous Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom, Gordon Brown, on 11 May 2010. It is a coalition government, composed of members of
both the Conservative Party and the Liberal
Democrats. The government's Cabinet is made up of sixteen
Conservatives and five Liberal Democrats with eight other Conservatives and one
other Liberal Democrat attending cabinet but not members.[1] The
Cameron Ministry is the first coalition government to have governed the United
Kingdom since the Churchill War Ministry of the Second
World War.>#4
This
may be the worst case scenario. The PAP
is joining an opposition party to form the new government and continues to hold
the prime ministership. Voters may not
be happy with this arrangement as they want to see a non-PAP government. Of course, there can also be the PAP is a junior
member in the coalition (due to few MP seats) and the prime ministership goes
to the opposition. Howevr, this is a remote
possibility and the PAP may not accept it.
Option 5 Would you
send in the army? #5
This
is totally unacceptable in a democratic country. However, since the issue had
been mentioned before, let see whether this is possible.
In
order to do this, the scholar generals must be the ones leading this
operation. I doubt our paper generals
have the guy to do this. If you look at
the quality of the generals joining the politics and judge whether they can
command and control a platoon or a company of educated soldiers to take over
the alternative government, I have great doubt.
In
social media, it is very difficult to convince JC, poly and even graduate NS soldiers
to fight for you and die for you without a good reason. Unless, the paper generals do the unthinkable
- inviting foreign troops to Singapore!
However,
it is possible to have uncooperative senior civil servants.
Uncooperative
senior civil servants
I
am not that pessimistic about it. In Taiwan, from a KMT President to a DPP
President, there were some problems but the government administration had not
been badly affected. In Hong Kong, from British governor to Hong
Kong CEO, the administration has not been affected.
Look
at our neighbour, Malaysia, two important states changed government
in the last election. In Penang and Selangor
states, the performance of the opposition state government is as good as the BN state governments if not
better than them.
If
Hong Lim Park protest is an indication that voters are very unhappy with the
PAP, then a freak election is possible in Singapore. However, we should not
underestimate the potentials of Singaporeans, especially true blue citizens coming forward to serve the nation in time of need!
#1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monti_Cabinet
#2
#3
#4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_ministry
#5
http://catherinelim.sg/2009/09/03/sir-would-you-send-in-the-army/
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