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[h=2]PM Lee’s speech failed to address the systemic reasons for growing unease and anger among S’poreans[/h]
August 27th, 2012 |
Author: Editorial
Associate Professor in Political Science at SMU, Bridget Welsh, said that PM Lee’s speech continued a “pattern of failing to address the systemic reasons” for growing unease and, in some places, anger among Singaporeans.
Prof Welsh was commenting on the PM’s speech made last night (26 Aug) at the National Day Rally 2012.
She acknowledged that Mr Lee’s speech was more “big picture” and “future-oriented” and less focused on technocratic solutions.
It also showed “that there is a growing understanding of some of the reasons for angst in Singapore, as ‘anxiety, lack of empathy and displacement’ have been pronounced and growing”, she said.
However, in Prof Welsh’s view, Mr Lee’s failure to address the underlying reasons for the growing unease among Singaporeans revealed the unwillingness on the part of the Govt to engage in a fundamental paradigm shift, harking back to old standby images of family, education, good behavior and the need to sacrifice.
“Not enough attention highlighted the challenges of raising incomes, reducing cost of living and addressing inequalities,” she noted. “More attention could have been spent on how to promote stronger social cohesion and integration.”
Before joining SMU, Prof Welsh was an Associate Professor in the Southeast Asia Studies program at Johns Hopkins University-SAIS in Washington DC where she taught courses on contemporary Southeast Asia, comparative politics, gender and international development.
She received her doctorate from the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, her MA from Columbia University, language training (FALCON) from Cornell University and BA from Colgate University.
She has edited a number of books on politicians and politics in SE Asia, including ‘Reflections: The Mahathir Years (2004)’, ‘Legacy of Engagement in Southeast Asia (2008)’, ‘The Goh Chok Tong Years in Singapore (2009)’, ‘Reflections on the BJ Habibie Period (2010)’ and ‘Transition or Transformation: Abdullah Badawi’s Tenure (2010)’.
Her authored books include ‘How Malaysians Think About Politics (2009)’ and ‘Reformasi Elections in Malaysia (2010)’.
In 2004 she was a Henry R. Luce Southeast Asian Fellow at the Australian National University. As an academic, she continues to show keen interest in democracy development in Southeast Asia.
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Associate Professor in Political Science at SMU, Bridget Welsh, said that PM Lee’s speech continued a “pattern of failing to address the systemic reasons” for growing unease and, in some places, anger among Singaporeans.
Prof Welsh was commenting on the PM’s speech made last night (26 Aug) at the National Day Rally 2012.
She acknowledged that Mr Lee’s speech was more “big picture” and “future-oriented” and less focused on technocratic solutions.
It also showed “that there is a growing understanding of some of the reasons for angst in Singapore, as ‘anxiety, lack of empathy and displacement’ have been pronounced and growing”, she said.
However, in Prof Welsh’s view, Mr Lee’s failure to address the underlying reasons for the growing unease among Singaporeans revealed the unwillingness on the part of the Govt to engage in a fundamental paradigm shift, harking back to old standby images of family, education, good behavior and the need to sacrifice.
“Not enough attention highlighted the challenges of raising incomes, reducing cost of living and addressing inequalities,” she noted. “More attention could have been spent on how to promote stronger social cohesion and integration.”
Before joining SMU, Prof Welsh was an Associate Professor in the Southeast Asia Studies program at Johns Hopkins University-SAIS in Washington DC where she taught courses on contemporary Southeast Asia, comparative politics, gender and international development.
She received her doctorate from the Department of Political Science at Columbia University, her MA from Columbia University, language training (FALCON) from Cornell University and BA from Colgate University.
She has edited a number of books on politicians and politics in SE Asia, including ‘Reflections: The Mahathir Years (2004)’, ‘Legacy of Engagement in Southeast Asia (2008)’, ‘The Goh Chok Tong Years in Singapore (2009)’, ‘Reflections on the BJ Habibie Period (2010)’ and ‘Transition or Transformation: Abdullah Badawi’s Tenure (2010)’.
Her authored books include ‘How Malaysians Think About Politics (2009)’ and ‘Reformasi Elections in Malaysia (2010)’.
In 2004 she was a Henry R. Luce Southeast Asian Fellow at the Australian National University. As an academic, she continues to show keen interest in democracy development in Southeast Asia.
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
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