What can I say? The woman continues to amaze me. 2 months after the seizure of the Terrex AFVs by HKG/China, we have seen only deafening silence from the PAP. Other then a recent Facebook comment from Minister Ng that he will address the Terrex situation at the next sitting of Parliament, there has been a deliberate media blackout on developments and a complete avoidance of accountability from the PAP. Who has been sacked, who has been demoted, what went wrong in the first place are all questions that everyone wants to know, and yet are not forthcoming.
I am sure that Lee Wei Ling has also been frustrated along with many other Singaporeans on the sorry lack of leadership demonstrated by her brother. But how should she express that? She can directly point her fingers at her brother and the PAP establishment and call them all manner of cowards and incompetence. But what would that achieve? We already know how thick skinned the PAP is and they don’t really care about what the average citizen thinks anyway. She knows she will be disregarded the same way, or she might even have some reprisals set against her by big brother.
This way of criticizing Xi Ping is pure genius. On the one hand she uses her status as first sister and daughter of Lee Kuan Yew, and sister of the current Prime Minister to openly accuse China’s Premier Xi Ping of corruption. What is Xi Ping to think? Can he dismiss her criticism as just another one of thousands coming from around the world? Does her particular criticism bear more weight because she is the sister of the Prime Minister, who just happens to be in a diplomatic and military tiff with China? If the Terrex seizure had never happened, I would be inclined to say that Xi Ping would simply ignore her. But this being a sensitive time in Sino-Singapore relations, any comments originating from the PAP ruling elite, or in this case, family of the elite, must be given more weight and consideration. Right now, you can bet that Stanley Loh, Singapore’s ambassador in Beijing, will be seeking an audience soon with Chinese officials to explain to them that Lee Wei Ling, in no form and shape, speaks for the Singapore govt. And he better be convincing too. In a country like China, where the children, and brothers and sisters of top govt. officials are actually somebody to be respected and obey, telling them that the sister of the PM is irrelevant in Singapore might be a hard sell. Let’s not forget too that she accompanied her father on many of his China trips, so it’s not like she is an ignorant China observer, nor that she does not know anyone there.
If Xiping takes her criticism even semi seriously, Lee Hsien Loong is in trouble. If he ignores her, then her situation is no different then before she made the criticism. The Chinese media might pick up on her comments and make a big hooha about it. And again, it will create problems for her brother. Her brother can tell her to shut up, but this is not the same as the previous disagreements where she directly accused the brother of trying to establish a political dynasty. In this case, she has not accuse him of anything at all. Instead, she has accused another leader, of a country that has strained relations with Singapore, of corruption. All in, it’s a win win for her. And if the cards all go in her favour, a bad situation for her brother. If she was anyone else in Singapore, the punishments visited upon Roy Ngerng and Amos Yee would also be visited on her. She would be rapidly shut up and put in jail, hence placating Xi Ping. Since she will not lose her job nor face any form of punishment, Xi Ping might see this as the PAP tacitly approving her comments.
If Lee Hsien Loong even mildly rebukes her in public, it might satisfy Xi Ping. But it will certainly paint Lee Hsien Loong as an acquiescing coward who caves in to China and who dare not stand up for his own country much less his own sister. Again, this is a no win for the PM.
All in, I would say that she has started off the new year with a bang. This is like scoring a hattrick against her brother. Kudos to her. I am waiting now for the monkey with the middle finger instagram.
Just my 2 cents.
I am sure that Lee Wei Ling has also been frustrated along with many other Singaporeans on the sorry lack of leadership demonstrated by her brother. But how should she express that? She can directly point her fingers at her brother and the PAP establishment and call them all manner of cowards and incompetence. But what would that achieve? We already know how thick skinned the PAP is and they don’t really care about what the average citizen thinks anyway. She knows she will be disregarded the same way, or she might even have some reprisals set against her by big brother.
This way of criticizing Xi Ping is pure genius. On the one hand she uses her status as first sister and daughter of Lee Kuan Yew, and sister of the current Prime Minister to openly accuse China’s Premier Xi Ping of corruption. What is Xi Ping to think? Can he dismiss her criticism as just another one of thousands coming from around the world? Does her particular criticism bear more weight because she is the sister of the Prime Minister, who just happens to be in a diplomatic and military tiff with China? If the Terrex seizure had never happened, I would be inclined to say that Xi Ping would simply ignore her. But this being a sensitive time in Sino-Singapore relations, any comments originating from the PAP ruling elite, or in this case, family of the elite, must be given more weight and consideration. Right now, you can bet that Stanley Loh, Singapore’s ambassador in Beijing, will be seeking an audience soon with Chinese officials to explain to them that Lee Wei Ling, in no form and shape, speaks for the Singapore govt. And he better be convincing too. In a country like China, where the children, and brothers and sisters of top govt. officials are actually somebody to be respected and obey, telling them that the sister of the PM is irrelevant in Singapore might be a hard sell. Let’s not forget too that she accompanied her father on many of his China trips, so it’s not like she is an ignorant China observer, nor that she does not know anyone there.
If Xiping takes her criticism even semi seriously, Lee Hsien Loong is in trouble. If he ignores her, then her situation is no different then before she made the criticism. The Chinese media might pick up on her comments and make a big hooha about it. And again, it will create problems for her brother. Her brother can tell her to shut up, but this is not the same as the previous disagreements where she directly accused the brother of trying to establish a political dynasty. In this case, she has not accuse him of anything at all. Instead, she has accused another leader, of a country that has strained relations with Singapore, of corruption. All in, it’s a win win for her. And if the cards all go in her favour, a bad situation for her brother. If she was anyone else in Singapore, the punishments visited upon Roy Ngerng and Amos Yee would also be visited on her. She would be rapidly shut up and put in jail, hence placating Xi Ping. Since she will not lose her job nor face any form of punishment, Xi Ping might see this as the PAP tacitly approving her comments.
If Lee Hsien Loong even mildly rebukes her in public, it might satisfy Xi Ping. But it will certainly paint Lee Hsien Loong as an acquiescing coward who caves in to China and who dare not stand up for his own country much less his own sister. Again, this is a no win for the PM.
All in, I would say that she has started off the new year with a bang. This is like scoring a hattrick against her brother. Kudos to her. I am waiting now for the monkey with the middle finger instagram.
Just my 2 cents.
