Tin Pei Ling and the Real Reason Why Singaporeans Are Annoyed

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>Apr-1 9:49 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 4) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>46961.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Tin Pei Ling and the Real Reason Why Singaporeans Are Annoyed

April 2nd, 2011 |

Author: Online Press |

Edit

So I understand that the PAP is fielding one of its youngest candidates ever – a certain Tin Pei Ling, aged 27 – and that many Singaporean citizens are annoyed. There is a flurry of angry posts and comments on the Internet about how Pei Ling is surely too young, too immature or too inexperienced to be a Member of Parliament.
I do not know Pei Ling. Perhaps she is exceptionally talented and capable. Perhaps she is not. All I can say is that in a normal, healthy and genuine democracy, Pei Ling’s youth, in itself, would not have caused such an outcry. Why not? Because:
(1) any adult citizen (barring the bankrupts, the insane and so on) has the right to put herself up for election, and;
(2) all other adult citizens have the right to vote against her, if they consider her to be inadequate for the job.
However, Singapore is not a normal, healthy and genuine democracy. And that is why there is a public outcry. People already know that most likely, Pei Ling will not contest on her own in a single-member constituency.
Instead the PAP will field Pei Ling in a GRC team, under the protection of one or two much more experienced PAP heavyweights. Pei Ling will mostly ride on their strengths, rather than her own ability, to sail safely into Parliament.
And once she gets in, the citizens of Singapore will be forced to live with her youth and lack of inexperience, for at least the next five years.
I pity this country.
Not because of Pei Ling’s youth. But because of the GRC system. For two decades, it has been an avenue for the PAP to successfully shoo their weaker candidates into Parliament and shield them from the people’s political choice.
And this country then has to live with the sad consequences.
.
Gilbert Koh
*The writer blogs at Mr Wang Says So.

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[scroobal]

This was what I was afraid of. Age by itself should not be a handicap. There are very bright and capable people who can do a reasonable job as MPs. The issue with Tin "I Think" is that are no desirable attributes to indicate her capacity to perform in this role has surfaced. Instead what has surfaced are hugely negative attributes that makes her and the party a laughing stock.

It tells you how naive people like Gilbert Koh who run blogs seemingly political in direction but unable to see beyond the surface.

 

[myo539]

The real reason is often camouflaged.

When senior ministers stands for election, some decry them as senile. When PAP field young candidates, some decry them as inexperienced, entered by the back door, too elitists! and many more they can think of. They think that a young scholar-soldier who commands and defends Singapore is never good enough for politics; They think a young eager-to-serve woman is neither good for politics - a retired nurse or owner of a small trading enterprise is much better. They think the opposition party candidates - who neither are experienced in politics - are more attractive, and can solve big issues like economic slowdown or national security. They prefer to see drama in parliament - better still some throwing of chairs and punches like in some countries.

Fortunately, the majority of the citizens - though silent - are more sober, concerned about the country's stability and their children's future - about who can focus and handle big national issues or problems. They have less time to whine about this and that. They are the ones who provide the ballast to see Singapore through the turbulence in the region and the challenges facing a small natural resource-less country surrounded by larger countries eager to bully or swallow Singapore in any which way they can - psychologically scare us with their water, sand, granite or needle us with economic or political brow-beatings.

The small group will raise "full of sound and fury" - and as Shakespare has wisely said "signifying nothing". The British called them "empty vessels". They are vexations to the spirit. I wished they have seen a nightsoil carrier, or lived in leaking wooden and attap houses - in Singapore.

The silent majority will vote for stability, and a secured future.