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People with alternative views are not “traitor”, most are “patriots”: Prof Inderjit Singh, on pro-establishment perspective on critical voices
Responding to Mr Sadasivan’s question on how he felt when handling strong dissenting opinions during his time as an MP, Prof Singh said that as a backbencher, he spent a lot of time listening to his residents, who he said gave him “a lot of input” that he brought to Parliament “to try to convince the leaders that change is needed”.
Along the way, said Prof Singh, he received opposition — and sometimes even ridicule — during the Parliamentary debates.
“But I was not deterred … I observed, over a long period of time, you know, that I was not wrong. And finally the leaders understood. It took a long time,”
He cited the shift from a “growth at all costs” economic strategy to that of a more inclusive one after the 2011 General Election as an example.
Prof Singh criticised the current leadership for coming down “hard” on critical voices, which may lead them to stop giving “frank feedback”.
Seeing recent comments such as “some of us are traitors to the country now”, Prof Singh said: “This is completely wrong … I can give I give you my own example. Actually the Prime Minister wanted me to do one more term in 2015. I declined. I wanted to step down and focus on other things.”
“So I stepped down not because I was unhappy — I did 20 years, four terms — and I wanted to change. I have Singapore at heart, and whether I am in Parliament or outside, I continue to do the same thing.
“So we are patriots, and I think leaders need to realise that anyone with an alternative view is not a traitor,” said Prof Singh.
Responding to a question on whether certain members of the PAP presently see him as “a turncoat” and “trying to score points” after stepping down as an MP, Prof Singh said that he is still the same person before, during and after his time in politics.
“I have not changed, and so many people have many different views of me. I mean, I’m very passionate about doing what is right for the country,” he said.
“So whether I was in Parliament or now [out] of Parliament, I continue to do this. I know it does make some of them uncomfortable, but I think anyone who thinks that I am not patriotic is wrong and is making a silly mistake,” Prof Singh continued, adding that he is “as patriotic as before” and that it does not matter if other think of him otherwise.
https://www.onlinecitizenasia.com/2...-of-society-a-crucial-issue-among-4g-leaders/
Responding to Mr Sadasivan’s question on how he felt when handling strong dissenting opinions during his time as an MP, Prof Singh said that as a backbencher, he spent a lot of time listening to his residents, who he said gave him “a lot of input” that he brought to Parliament “to try to convince the leaders that change is needed”.
Along the way, said Prof Singh, he received opposition — and sometimes even ridicule — during the Parliamentary debates.
“But I was not deterred … I observed, over a long period of time, you know, that I was not wrong. And finally the leaders understood. It took a long time,”
He cited the shift from a “growth at all costs” economic strategy to that of a more inclusive one after the 2011 General Election as an example.
Prof Singh criticised the current leadership for coming down “hard” on critical voices, which may lead them to stop giving “frank feedback”.
Seeing recent comments such as “some of us are traitors to the country now”, Prof Singh said: “This is completely wrong … I can give I give you my own example. Actually the Prime Minister wanted me to do one more term in 2015. I declined. I wanted to step down and focus on other things.”
“So I stepped down not because I was unhappy — I did 20 years, four terms — and I wanted to change. I have Singapore at heart, and whether I am in Parliament or outside, I continue to do the same thing.
“So we are patriots, and I think leaders need to realise that anyone with an alternative view is not a traitor,” said Prof Singh.
Responding to a question on whether certain members of the PAP presently see him as “a turncoat” and “trying to score points” after stepping down as an MP, Prof Singh said that he is still the same person before, during and after his time in politics.
“I have not changed, and so many people have many different views of me. I mean, I’m very passionate about doing what is right for the country,” he said.
“So whether I was in Parliament or now [out] of Parliament, I continue to do this. I know it does make some of them uncomfortable, but I think anyone who thinks that I am not patriotic is wrong and is making a silly mistake,” Prof Singh continued, adding that he is “as patriotic as before” and that it does not matter if other think of him otherwise.
https://www.onlinecitizenasia.com/2...-of-society-a-crucial-issue-among-4g-leaders/
