GE: PAP ministers refute allegations of arrogance
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GE: PAP ministers refute allegations of arrogance
SINGAPORE: They have heard it before, and the People's Action Party leadership heard it again on the first night of election rallies.
On Friday, six ministers responded in different ways - from sharp retorts to patient explanation - to the Opposition's charge that the PAP has become arrogant.
The strongest comeback was from Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, who described it as "classic politics of negativity", with nothing to back it up.
"The people who say this - do they give any examples to back up what they mean? Or do they just hope to generally create and ride on some discontent? What do they mean by 'the Government is too arrogant'?" he shot back.
"I doubt very much if concrete examples were given. So, don't assume the accusation is correct and we have to defend."
Mr Gerald Giam, a Workers' Party candidate in East Coast Group Representation Constituency, had said on Thursday that 52 years in power has made the PAP "complacent and arrogant" and act as if it is "entitled" to voters' support.
To this, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew said: "It's a word they always throw around - phrases and other descriptors. The people will decide whether we're arrogant or not, or whether we've been listening to them, understanding them, working with them.
"I think that's a better indicator. I won't take the words of the WP for whatever it's worth."
The recurring theme among the ministers as they spoke to Today was that consultation was well and truly alive within the PAP.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said: "We know if we make one policy which is wrong, it's going to injure an entire generation. So we consult widely, we speak to a lot of people.
"And, as mentioned by Mr Lui, if the WP has some idea which is a workable solution, they've never presented it. So I don't know who's arrogant at this point in time."
Indeed, at this point in time, the PAP is far more approachable than it was before, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said.
"Maybe in the past, there were issues to be resolved and, of course, there was no time to consult people and actions had to be taken," he said.
"In recent years, you'll find that every policy is openly discussed ... before we implement policies."
And the message from Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan is that the PAP will not rest on its laurels.
"We're never complacent. That's a statement of fact - that we have very good results, and we'll always work our guts out for the people. And I think that's what ... really counts," he said as he stressed that voters should ask if candidates are reliable and if the party's plans will benefit them.
Robust as some of the responses were, there was also recognition that there can be room to do better.
Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo struck the conciliatory note when he said he was "aware of this criticism of the PAP".
"It's always good to have feedback and sometimes feedback may be hard on the ears but, very often, that would be the most important feedback," he said.
"If there's a need for us to improve, we should work to improve. There must be no righteous attitude that we're by any means perfect. That would be absurd."
He added that it was also important, when "discussing the issue of arrogance and the issue of failings of the Government, to take a step back and look at the overall picture of how Singapore is doing", objectively and by "international standards".
"When we do that we'll see things in perspective," he said. - TODAY -
At least my friend staying in Aljunied GRC told me that Mr George Yeo humbly apologised when he made a remark that he had only see Mr George Yeo only once in 5 years when Mr George Yeo came knocking at his home.
This is what I call humble.
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Originally posted by SevenEleven:
At least my friend staying in Aljunied GRC told me that Mr George Yeo humbly apologised when he made a remark that he had only see Mr George Yeo only once in 5 years when Mr George Yeo came knocking at his home.
This is what I call humble.
power should be returned to the people, and party should serve the people and not the other way round. -
Get out of my elite uncaring face.
Lesser mortals.
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I'll be humble too when my party has 82 out of 84 seats, and I make a seven digit salary. Really humble.
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i believe even PAP is out of power. They still got so many arm coporation to support their living. What the heck.
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Originally posted by βÎτά:
Get out of my elite uncaring face.
Lesser mortals.
Goomeuf was actually from that MP's daughter.
But he did agree with what she wrote in her blog.
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Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said: "We know if we make one policy which is wrong, it's going to injure an entire generation. So we consult widely, we speak to a lot of people.
+++++But then whenever there is a electricity or water bill increase, the news already stated world oil increase. Do the ministers really speak to alot of people? You consulted widely, consult who?
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Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo struck the conciliatory note when he said he was "aware of this criticism of the PAP".
"It's always good to have feedback and sometimes feedback may be hard on the ears but, very often, that would be the most important feedback," he said.
+++++++++Other ministers should be told about the important of feebback, about pple not happy with the cost. And not just looking at the stats and started to trying to convince the pple with all the figures.
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George Yeo is quite humble actually and he's sincere...in short, he doesn't talk down like old man or his son. However, there's once when he commented that public sectors should operate profitably, just like private corporations. I mean, this is the PAP Singapore Inc mentality. So anyway, he will sit comfortably on some statutory board or GLC hierachy even if he loses. Let's wait and see.
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the only way towards our sustainable political future is to allow more licenses to co-drive the nation...
PARTICIPATIVE POLITICS is the key
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no one should arrogantly drive it alone
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It is shared effort to contribute effectively to serve the people. Depending too much on some people who have run out of idea is not a good thing.