In an article published on the Straits Times Review on 25 March 2009 titled “Can Singapore fail?”, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Mr Kishore Mabhubani extolled Singapore’s “good governance” as one of its “big strengths.” (read original article here)
Wrote Mr Kishore:
“Singapore is unique; good governance is not the historical norm. Every society in the world, without exception, has experienced bad governance. Inevitably, Singapore will experience it some day. Can Singaporean society cope with bad governance?”
Mr Kishore is only half right. Compared to neighboring countries, Singapore did indeed enjoy relatively good governance for the last 50 years. I used the word “relative” deliberately to highlight the fact that while the PAP government has performed credibly well in governing the nation on the whole, there is still room for improvement.
One aspect of governance which the PAP has managed remarkably well lies in the defusing of racial tensions and fostering harmony in a multi-racial society like ours, a feat which is not seen anywhere else.
Singapore had the traumatic experience of a communal riot in 1964 during its brief stint as a member state of the Malaysian Federation when riots broke out between Malays and Chinese in Geylang leading to 4 people being killed and 178 injured. (read more here)
After Singapore achieved independence in 1965, the government took several measures to curb racial extremism and to promote peace and harmony amongst the different races in Singapore.
The English-educated Old Guards are largely blind to ethnic differences. They promoted the identity of being a Singaporean instead of fighting for the rights of each individual community.
Read rest of article here:
http://wayangparty.com/?p=6993
Wrote Mr Kishore:
“Singapore is unique; good governance is not the historical norm. Every society in the world, without exception, has experienced bad governance. Inevitably, Singapore will experience it some day. Can Singaporean society cope with bad governance?”
Mr Kishore is only half right. Compared to neighboring countries, Singapore did indeed enjoy relatively good governance for the last 50 years. I used the word “relative” deliberately to highlight the fact that while the PAP government has performed credibly well in governing the nation on the whole, there is still room for improvement.
One aspect of governance which the PAP has managed remarkably well lies in the defusing of racial tensions and fostering harmony in a multi-racial society like ours, a feat which is not seen anywhere else.
Singapore had the traumatic experience of a communal riot in 1964 during its brief stint as a member state of the Malaysian Federation when riots broke out between Malays and Chinese in Geylang leading to 4 people being killed and 178 injured. (read more here)
After Singapore achieved independence in 1965, the government took several measures to curb racial extremism and to promote peace and harmony amongst the different races in Singapore.
The English-educated Old Guards are largely blind to ethnic differences. They promoted the identity of being a Singaporean instead of fighting for the rights of each individual community.
Read rest of article here:
http://wayangparty.com/?p=6993
