Shanmugam to press ahead to spread PAP propaganda to Singapore schools
Posted: January 9, 2010
Filed under: Politics
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Written by Our Correspondent
It appears that Singapore Law Minister K Shanmugam is going ahead to introduce “political education” in Singapore schools to promote the PAP’s “unique” brand of governance using taxpayers’ monies.
Worried at rising anti-PAP sentiments among young Singaporeans which may affect the party’s grip on power, Mr Shanmugam has earlier mooted the idea of “educating” Singaporeans on the different types of political system to help them make an “informed” decision.
Mr Shanmugam’s commentary in the PAP’s magazine Petir was given extensive publicity in today’s Straits Times, which was described by Singapore’s late Chief Minister David Marshall as “running dogs and prostitutes” of the PAP.
The gist of the entire article is to advocate an one-party political system dominated by the PAP as the only model of government suitable for Singapore:
“There is a deep belief that Singapore’s very existence is always at risk. That Singapore needs to react very quickly to changing external environments, and has to keep its economy highly competitive.
Thus Singapore, more than most states, needs an excellent, strong leadership, and its political structures and systems must allow for effective and speedy decision-making.
Based on this, the party’s message has been: Singapore needs good governance and only the PAP can deliver it.”
Unfortunately, this deep belief is only shared by the PAP and its acolytes and not by the majority of Singaporeans.
Strong leadership does not equate a totalitarian state when a political party controls all important institutions of the state from the media, police, grassroots organizations, NGOs and trade unions.
The PAP is able to make and implement decisions quickly due to the lack of an opposition in parliament to check on them with disastrous results for Singaporeans in failed policies such as the bilingual language and immigration policies.
It is obvious from the tone of Mr Shanmugam’s article that he intended the PAP’s message to be taught to Singapore children at a young age in schools so that they will not be “corrupted” by “western” democratic ideals when they grow up.
There is a thin line between “education” and “propaganda” and judging from the PAP’s track record in the past, it cannot be trusted to provide a fair, balanced and non-partisan view on this.
Mr Shanmugam boasted unashamedly that the “PAP has become one of the most successful political parties in history.” which is nothing surprising when it has been using the advantages of its incumbency to obliterate any opposition to its rule.
Recent declassified materials from the British National Archives suggested that the wave of arrests launched by the PAP in 1962 under “Operation Coldstore” was more to cripple the opposition than for national security reasons.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of China is also a “successful” party by Mr Shanmugam’s “standards”. The only difference is that China is a self-proclaimed one-party state while Singapore still manages to maintain the facade of being a “democracy” in name to the rest of the world.
Mr Shanmugam claimed that the PAP has a “regular change of leadership and induction of talent”, but the changes are only cosmetic while the real seat of power remains in the hands of a few senior leaders.
Singapore is the only country in the world with two former prime ministers in the present cabinet. It has one Minister Mentor and two Deputy Prime Ministers in addition to the Prime Minister.
As Law Minister, Shanmugam should be more concerned about relevant matters within his purview such as the recent “escape” of Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu from the reach of Singapore’s much vaunted “rule of law” instead of interfering with education which is under the charge of his colleague Dr Ng Eng Hen.
Is Mr Shanmugam insinuating by his persistent interference that Dr Ng is not doing a good job on education?
PAP ministers seem to be adept at “multi-tasking” lately to justify their multi-million dollar salary package.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan waxed lyrical about killer little, estate maintenance and cleanliness while continuing to act blur about the sky-rocketing prices of HDB flats.
MM Lee Kuan Yew is poking his fingers everywhere when his only task is to “do forecasting” and to mentor his son the Prime Minister.
What political system best suits Singapore is for Singaporeans to decide and not the PAP which started out as an opposition party as well.
The internet has leveled the playing field and allows a platform for free competition of ideas from all parties.
Mr Shanmugam should stop wasting public resources to promote the PAP’s partisan interests in the community and spend more time on important issues of national concern.
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