Not necessarily. Look at the make-up of politics in Singapore. We have unicameral parliament and effectively a single party state. If you to make a material difference in terms of addressing policies or highlighting the aspirations of Singaporeans, there is one platform and only one platform - Parliament. The fourth estate is a known captive of the PAP and even a letter that merely points an error in policy will never make past the forum editor's minders let alone the editor. They know the drill.
To have a good grasp of one's character, one has to see a person's conduct over a period of time. TCB was known for his views and actions long before he became a PAP member and MP. His sterling work with the villagers of AMA Keng is a fact. He helped them across a range of activities including farmers who were faced with losing their livelihood. The fact that he went to the most rural part of Singapore to set up a clinic when he has no links to that area must surely raise a question in anyone's mind. There were only 2 professionals in the vicinity. The Lawyer SC Cashin whose home was a house facing the Johore straits and TCB who clinic was close by. What do you think made him open that clinic in the most remote place in Singapore - fame, fortune, a photo in the society pages.
More on his conduct. From the moment he stepped into parliament he was trouble for the old man. What many people are not aware is that the state controlled press not only mutes the performance of opposition MPs, it also tones down that of PAP MPs who are few in numbers that go against the general lot.
He stands tall with the likes of Walter Woon for getting on the wrong side of Hansard. Do you know the significance of going against the party whip and receiving a written warning letter. This is the man who forced this Govt to release CPF funds for the education of young Singapoans who come from low income families. The Govt was quite happy to allow funds for investment speculation and people to lose money but not keen on funding education. There is a generation of young Singaporeans who owe their success to this man.
He has been a rebel from day 1 and over time pulled across Wan Soon Bee and Tan Soo Khoon to his side. They ended up operating a machine gun nest within the parliament and within PAP. Tan Soo Khoon's caustic and cutting remarks on the leadership where policies were concerned was so damaging that ST never carried it.
All this while he continued to work as a doctor in his clinic which by then had moved to HDB Jurong West and not to Paragon. During the SARS crisis, doctors began asking those with symptoms to go the hospital and refused to see them. He however continued to screen until he was placed on official quarantine when one of his patients was diagnosed with SARs. He was at that time still an MP.
This is an unusual chap but his pattern of behaviour is consistent.
They are all from the same mould, give them the $4million they will say, what they do is immeasurable!! & forgets what they are mumbling about now. Money, Power & Sex corrupts!!
