Short extract from ST story headlined ELITE SHOULD TRUST ELECTORATE
Mr Ngiam characterised Singapore as an efficient "adminstrative state", with its system being "a hybrid of meritocracy and peer leadership selection".
"But the Achilles heel of a meritocratice system is that over time, the elite becomes inward-looking and disdainful of the people they lead".
The same mindset may apply to the socioeconomic elite of business leaders and opinion-makers, said Mr Ngiam. For instance, the idea of doing away with the elected presidency seems popular with such circles.
But, he said: " the Singapore electorate is an intelligent electorate" and that if the 'safety-valve' of the vote is removed, the alternative is popular demonstrations. "In my view, our population is more hard-headed than what the elite gives us credit for".
Mr Ngiam characterised Singapore as an efficient "adminstrative state", with its system being "a hybrid of meritocracy and peer leadership selection".
"But the Achilles heel of a meritocratice system is that over time, the elite becomes inward-looking and disdainful of the people they lead".
The same mindset may apply to the socioeconomic elite of business leaders and opinion-makers, said Mr Ngiam. For instance, the idea of doing away with the elected presidency seems popular with such circles.
But, he said: " the Singapore electorate is an intelligent electorate" and that if the 'safety-valve' of the vote is removed, the alternative is popular demonstrations. "In my view, our population is more hard-headed than what the elite gives us credit for".