The above subject was discussed by a group of like minded Singaporeans. Like many Singapore political and social topics, where race that is always a factor, this particular topic was initially thought to be bereft of race related sensitivity which is unusual in the Singapore context. It was not the case to be.
The discussions became so intense that it had to be done over a period of time to allow sufficient views to be aired, views to be dissected and examined adequately and more importantly to ensure that time will remove the passion that has the habit of skewing outcomes.
The original intention was to examine the rise of groups similar to the Roundtable, Tangent and a few others that were less organised or loose in structure.
To cut a long story short, the outcome of the discussion is the likely possibility of a body whose origins are similar to Tangent but made up of PRC born naturalised Singaporeans who are effectively bilingual (not Singaporean version of bilingualism where tone and ascent is different and where the cultural depth is shallow), less adverse to risk by DNA, introducing the element or art of guanxi and moving in time to form a powerful political force. Language is not only for communication but can act as barrier to those not conversant in it.
Added to this interesting scenario is the fact that China like Australia allows its ex-citizens one chance to reclaim its once renounced citizenship.
Maybe we should have spent the last 50 years nation-building following the Rajaratnam's template rather than adopt race based policies and race politics. Food for thought and good luck to this country.
One interesting outcome from this discussion was the clear gap between the younger generation and the older generation of members in this group. It was younger generation that took the ground and conceived this scenario as they had come into contact with PRC students and recently naturalised singaporeans of PRC descent as the latter took roles in many government related institutions. Some member of the older generation who were effectively bilingual had not even met a PRC naturalised Singaporean in the course of their professional life.
The discussions became so intense that it had to be done over a period of time to allow sufficient views to be aired, views to be dissected and examined adequately and more importantly to ensure that time will remove the passion that has the habit of skewing outcomes.
The original intention was to examine the rise of groups similar to the Roundtable, Tangent and a few others that were less organised or loose in structure.
To cut a long story short, the outcome of the discussion is the likely possibility of a body whose origins are similar to Tangent but made up of PRC born naturalised Singaporeans who are effectively bilingual (not Singaporean version of bilingualism where tone and ascent is different and where the cultural depth is shallow), less adverse to risk by DNA, introducing the element or art of guanxi and moving in time to form a powerful political force. Language is not only for communication but can act as barrier to those not conversant in it.
Added to this interesting scenario is the fact that China like Australia allows its ex-citizens one chance to reclaim its once renounced citizenship.
Maybe we should have spent the last 50 years nation-building following the Rajaratnam's template rather than adopt race based policies and race politics. Food for thought and good luck to this country.
One interesting outcome from this discussion was the clear gap between the younger generation and the older generation of members in this group. It was younger generation that took the ground and conceived this scenario as they had come into contact with PRC students and recently naturalised singaporeans of PRC descent as the latter took roles in many government related institutions. Some member of the older generation who were effectively bilingual had not even met a PRC naturalised Singaporean in the course of their professional life.
