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Singapore, like Hong Kong, prides itself on clean government. Yet, like Hong Kong, the Lion City has been hit by a wave of scandals involving officials and other supposedly respectable members of the establishment.
In Hong Kong, the uproar has been about unauthorised building works on people's homes. Over the last year or two, two chief executives and a surprising number of senior officials have been accused of having such works on their properties. Hong Kong people like real estate, and the gossip magazines have been full of details about unauthorised additions in buildings and gardens.
In Singapore, the big scandals have been about sex, and as with the exposés about unauthorised building works here, it is hard to keep up with them all.
Two senior officials in government departments have been accused of accepting sex for contracts. A law professor allegedly accepted sex for grades from a student (not to mention several other shocking incidents in the education sector). Some 50 men, many public servants or businessmen, allegedly used an underage prostitute. The speaker of parliament, a senior member of the ruling party, recently resigned after admitting he had an affair with a community worker.
One difference between the two cities is that in Hong Kong, we have a vibrant and outspoken free press. Some media outlets thrive on gossip and rumour, to the extent that scandals here can become a form of entertainment. Most of us, including thick-skinned officials, have enough of a sense of humour to know when the press is exaggerating. That should help keep issues in perspective.
In Singapore, things are more controlled, and officials are not used to allegations and insults. They certainly do not see the funny side of them.
Having said that, the cities' respective scandals are worlds apart. Some of the allegations in Singapore amount to corruption...
- http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight...pores-political-scandals-put-ours-perspective
In Hong Kong, the uproar has been about unauthorised building works on people's homes. Over the last year or two, two chief executives and a surprising number of senior officials have been accused of having such works on their properties. Hong Kong people like real estate, and the gossip magazines have been full of details about unauthorised additions in buildings and gardens.
In Singapore, the big scandals have been about sex, and as with the exposés about unauthorised building works here, it is hard to keep up with them all.
Two senior officials in government departments have been accused of accepting sex for contracts. A law professor allegedly accepted sex for grades from a student (not to mention several other shocking incidents in the education sector). Some 50 men, many public servants or businessmen, allegedly used an underage prostitute. The speaker of parliament, a senior member of the ruling party, recently resigned after admitting he had an affair with a community worker.
One difference between the two cities is that in Hong Kong, we have a vibrant and outspoken free press. Some media outlets thrive on gossip and rumour, to the extent that scandals here can become a form of entertainment. Most of us, including thick-skinned officials, have enough of a sense of humour to know when the press is exaggerating. That should help keep issues in perspective.
In Singapore, things are more controlled, and officials are not used to allegations and insults. They certainly do not see the funny side of them.
Having said that, the cities' respective scandals are worlds apart. Some of the allegations in Singapore amount to corruption...
- http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight...pores-political-scandals-put-ours-perspective
