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<TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><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>CPL (kojakbt22) <NOBR>
</NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>6:17 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 36) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>25651.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Dec 11, 2009
Has PAP rule led to apathy?
Youth Wing debates issue with great fervour
<!-- by line -->By Zakir Hussain & Rachel Chang
<!-- end by line -->
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PROJECT engineer Alex Tan did not mince his words as he blamed the ruling People's Action Party for the apathy of Singapore's youth.
He pointed his finger especially at the PAP's dominance and the lack of press freedom. The 22-year-old also said the PAP may feel it is helping the people but the people feel disadvantaged by its policies, from foreign talent to national service.
His stark statements surprised, not for their content but for where they were made. Mr Tan was speaking last night at a dialogue organised by the Young PAP, and which was attended by 150 youths and two PAP MPs.
They were first-term Mr Sam Tan, who is six months into his job as Parliamentary Secretary in two ministries - Trade and Industry, and Information, Communications and the Arts - and Mr Christopher de Souza, vice-chairman of the Youth Wing.
Mr Alex Tan was the most hard-hitting from among a dozen young people who spoke during the two-hour dialogue titled, 2010: How Can Our Youths Serve Singapore?
The issues raised by the others include ways to get more youths to be volunteers, how the political system discourages alternative voices and puts opposition parties at a disadvantage, and that schools discourage political discussion.
It is part of the Youth Wing's series on social and political issues to better engage a younger, more outspoken generation, with the aim of renewing the party's ranks and support.
And engage the MPs did.
Mr Sam Tan replied, with equanimity, that it all boils down to individuals making their own choices.
'It has nothing to do with the system,' he said. 'If people feel they want to exercise their will and choice and want to serve, there are many ways they can do so. (The issue) is not the system, it is us.'
Earlier, he had said he did not believe Singaporean youths are apathetic or self-centred. His observation is based on his 26-year career at the People's Association and the Chinese Development Assistance Council, which he headed till June.
Mr de Souza, in turn, invited Mr Alex Tan to attend Parliament to see how PAP MPs speak their mind. 'If you'd heard Denise Phua speak on, say special-needs kids, you will think she is an opposition MP,' he said.
'Cynthia Phua also,' quipped Mr Sam Tan.
There is the party whip, Mr Alex Tan shot back.
'Yes, but when the whip was lifted, I voted no on a Bill,' replied Mr de Souza, referring to his opposition to changes to the Human Organ Transplant Act in March, because he felt provisions for reimbursing organ donors could be abused.
'In my view, you find more robust debate from PAP MPs than opposition MPs,' he added.
On policies that people feel disadvantaged by, Mr Sam Tan said no government would want to make its people unhappy or poorer or be unpopular.
'The PAP has been governing Singapore for 50 years. Do you think it will want to do something which will bring destruction to itself?' he asked.
The party studies global trends, anticipates what will happen, and puts in place structures to prepare its people for future challenges, he added.
As for foreign talent, Mr Tan acknowledged the issue was emotional.
He related how a minister from China recently told him his country wanted to attract top talent, too. A bemused Mr Tan asked why it needed foreign talent, when the country had 1.3 billion people.
The minister replied: 'We must compete with the best in the world so that we become the best.'
However, a participant, who declined to be identified, took offence at Mr Alex Tan's comments, saying: 'If you're so disenchanted, why not leave Singapore?'
Mr de Souza swiftly defended Mr Alex Tan, saying: 'He has a right to his own views. The fact he is here shows he wants to get involved.'
Mr Sam Tan also reminded our young people not to run down Singapore when abroad or with outsiders. 'People will have less respect for us and our dignity will be dented,' he said.
He recounted a trip to Kuala Lumpur with some MPs, including opposition MP Chiam See Tong.
Mr Tan had asked him if he would speak in a different language from the PAP MPs.
He recalled Mr Chiam's reply: 'When I'm outside Singapore, I speak as a Singaporean because Singapore is my country.'
Mr Tan concurred: 'Singapore is also my country. Let us speak in one united voice.'
[email protected]
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Has PAP rule led to apathy?
Youth Wing debates issue with great fervour
<!-- by line -->By Zakir Hussain & Rachel Chang
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
PROJECT engineer Alex Tan did not mince his words as he blamed the ruling People's Action Party for the apathy of Singapore's youth.
He pointed his finger especially at the PAP's dominance and the lack of press freedom. The 22-year-old also said the PAP may feel it is helping the people but the people feel disadvantaged by its policies, from foreign talent to national service.
His stark statements surprised, not for their content but for where they were made. Mr Tan was speaking last night at a dialogue organised by the Young PAP, and which was attended by 150 youths and two PAP MPs.
They were first-term Mr Sam Tan, who is six months into his job as Parliamentary Secretary in two ministries - Trade and Industry, and Information, Communications and the Arts - and Mr Christopher de Souza, vice-chairman of the Youth Wing.
Mr Alex Tan was the most hard-hitting from among a dozen young people who spoke during the two-hour dialogue titled, 2010: How Can Our Youths Serve Singapore?
The issues raised by the others include ways to get more youths to be volunteers, how the political system discourages alternative voices and puts opposition parties at a disadvantage, and that schools discourage political discussion.
It is part of the Youth Wing's series on social and political issues to better engage a younger, more outspoken generation, with the aim of renewing the party's ranks and support.
And engage the MPs did.
Mr Sam Tan replied, with equanimity, that it all boils down to individuals making their own choices.
'It has nothing to do with the system,' he said. 'If people feel they want to exercise their will and choice and want to serve, there are many ways they can do so. (The issue) is not the system, it is us.'
Earlier, he had said he did not believe Singaporean youths are apathetic or self-centred. His observation is based on his 26-year career at the People's Association and the Chinese Development Assistance Council, which he headed till June.
Mr de Souza, in turn, invited Mr Alex Tan to attend Parliament to see how PAP MPs speak their mind. 'If you'd heard Denise Phua speak on, say special-needs kids, you will think she is an opposition MP,' he said.
'Cynthia Phua also,' quipped Mr Sam Tan.
There is the party whip, Mr Alex Tan shot back.
'Yes, but when the whip was lifted, I voted no on a Bill,' replied Mr de Souza, referring to his opposition to changes to the Human Organ Transplant Act in March, because he felt provisions for reimbursing organ donors could be abused.
'In my view, you find more robust debate from PAP MPs than opposition MPs,' he added.
On policies that people feel disadvantaged by, Mr Sam Tan said no government would want to make its people unhappy or poorer or be unpopular.
'The PAP has been governing Singapore for 50 years. Do you think it will want to do something which will bring destruction to itself?' he asked.
The party studies global trends, anticipates what will happen, and puts in place structures to prepare its people for future challenges, he added.
As for foreign talent, Mr Tan acknowledged the issue was emotional.
He related how a minister from China recently told him his country wanted to attract top talent, too. A bemused Mr Tan asked why it needed foreign talent, when the country had 1.3 billion people.
The minister replied: 'We must compete with the best in the world so that we become the best.'
However, a participant, who declined to be identified, took offence at Mr Alex Tan's comments, saying: 'If you're so disenchanted, why not leave Singapore?'
Mr de Souza swiftly defended Mr Alex Tan, saying: 'He has a right to his own views. The fact he is here shows he wants to get involved.'
Mr Sam Tan also reminded our young people not to run down Singapore when abroad or with outsiders. 'People will have less respect for us and our dignity will be dented,' he said.
He recounted a trip to Kuala Lumpur with some MPs, including opposition MP Chiam See Tong.
Mr Tan had asked him if he would speak in a different language from the PAP MPs.
He recalled Mr Chiam's reply: 'When I'm outside Singapore, I speak as a Singaporean because Singapore is my country.'
Mr Tan concurred: 'Singapore is also my country. Let us speak in one united voice.'
[email protected]
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