Dr Tan Cheng Bock believes the PAP government decision on PE 2017 will affect the outcome of the next General Election. Dr. Tan also indicates his intention to train potential good members of parliament.
Is he saying the People’s Action Party will lose more seats in time to come? And the current MPs, including NMPs and NCMPs, are not up to standard. Perhaps, both are valid statements.
Is this a game changer for politics in Singapore?
To make the statements valid, there will be a need of a true awakening of English educated elite answering to Dr Tan’s calling. Judging from the more than 150 people turning up to listen to Dr Tan, how do we make assessment whether there is an awakening and self conscience?
[No more Chinese educated elite]
When I attended Chinese schools many years ago, about one-thirds of Singapore students were in Chinese schools. Since then the enrolment declined till zero and now there is no more Chinese schools in Singapore.
So, what we have now are English schools and English educated elite. From education diversification point of view, we become more mono-lingua, more English centric and less understanding of our mother tongues even we claimed the success of bilingualism.
Naturally, this development also produces English educated politicians who are quite different from first or second generation leaders.
By and large, the Chinese-English school issue also divides job opportunities, education chances, and salary between Chinese and English educated students, giving advantages to the later.
“I still remember, he said, “First-class university in UK, you know Cambridge, and Oxford. University of Singapore is second-class. Nanyang University is third-class.” We all felt humiliated. We knew that we were not third-class, but because we were educated in Chinese, we would not be able to articulate fluently in English, and thereby unable to communicate the ideas that we had.”
https://mothership.sg/2017/10/new-interviews-with-wp-leaders-low-thia-khiang-sylvia-lim-reveal-previously-untold-stories/
[English educated elite and future Singapore]
This is an era when there is no more Chinese educated elite, after the closing of Nanyang University in 1980. The self-proclaimed 4th generation leaders do not have the personal experience of how Chinese educated Singaporeans were treated even though their older friends or relatives sometimes sharing their experience with them.
How will they lead Singapore, especially in difficult time?
Look at the mis-steps or up-down relationship with China, will advice from Chinese educated elite make a difference?
Do we expect a Chinese educated scholar in history saying thing like ‘I am getting 5 years older because I serve voluntarily in a difficult department or ministry’? Or my salary is too low to justify my high position. Most likely, we will see Ong Teng Cheong type of people doing the right thing at the right time in history.
Is this contributing to a missing link between Singaporeans and the PAP?
[English educated elite or foreign talents]
Under the PAP, there is clearly a ‘talents no enough’, besides ‘money no enough’. So, we need foreign talents as well as foreign talents turned politicians.
How well will they response to the Singapore environment and continue to promote Singapore or Singaporeans first?
[Awakening or response to calling]
Perhaps, Dr Tan is too optimistic and anticipates changes in the next GE. Yes or no?
One thing is for sure. The stage for Chinese educated elite or talents is over. Even our Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong who studied at Catholic High, as he claimed, is going to hand over his power after the next GE.
Can an awakening arise due to PM Lee’s stepping down or a self conscience of English educated elite? This elite see the need to serve Singapore, protect Singaporean interest, in an alternative way or joining the opposition by taking a difficult path.
After enjoying good life, is it time for English educated elite to come forward and serve Singapore? And of course, by doing so, they answer to Dr Tan’s calling for a change.
{"Singaporeans felt they were deprived of their democratic right to vote for a president of their choice," said the former PAP MP of 26 years, who lost the 2011 presidential election by a razor-thin margin.
"How you capitalise on this is a task for any politician wanting to see a change. And a change can only come if the electorate sends a strong signal by voting for more alternative MPs in Parliament."
Dr Tan repeatedly urged Singaporeans to step forward and help bring about change at the forum, which was part of the Future of Singapore series curated by veteran urban planner Tay Kheng Soon.}
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pe2017-will-affect-voting-at-next-ge-tan-cheng-bock
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