There were at least 5 players named in this fiasco, but leading the group are Thum Ping Tjin and Tan Wah Piow. In one new report, Dr Thum was reported to describe Malaysia as a “beacon of hope for democracy in Southeast Asia” and said he “expressed to Dr Mahathir the hope that many of us feel”.
Soaring words. Which made for some sore points with our Party in Power (PAP).
They had responses along the usual reactionary lines. Not very... original.]
As usual PAP misses the point and the opportunity.
What PAP (and Minister Shanmugam) should point out is how egalitarian SG society and politics are.
In the US for example, you have to be a candidate for President (and eventually POTUS), before you can invite a foreign leader to intervene in your politics and your election.
In Singapore, you don't even need to be a billionaire or a presidential candidate, let alone be President. Or even an MP.
Now THAT'S what I call Free.
Or as Singaporeans would say, "too free, ah?"
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Then there was a commentary by Bertha Henson. At one point she wrote:
Mr Seah said: "I'm amazed that Dr Thum and his supporters should proclaim that Singapore is part of Malaysia (or Malaya). Perhaps that is why he thinks it is permissible to ask its current prime minister to interfere in our affairs.''A valid, stand-alone commentary that either ignores context, or is oblivious to it. The skepticism in this commentary is valid, if there had been no musings of a similar "Tsunami Harapan" in Singapore to break the PAP run in government over the almost 60 years, or there were no hope kindled in the SG opposition for a similar upset in SG elections, or if Tan Cheng Bock had not been asked to advice a new hopeful coalition of SG opposition parties.
I am more amazed that Mr Seah reached this conclusion. I would also like to know how he knew that Dr Thum had asked Dr M "to interfere in our affairs''. Is this his interpretation of what Dr Thum said about urging Dr M to "take leadership in Southeast Asia for the promotion of democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of information''? Maybe Dr Thum should have used Myanmar's Aung San Su Kyi instead?
If Mr Seah knows something more, he should give evidence – lest he be accused of peddling rumours.
Singapore opposition parties are so devoid of originality, strategy, or critical thinking, all they can do is try to copy Malaysia, and hope for an political upset.
Hope is not a strategy.
Tan Cheng Bock is not the messiah.
Mahathir is a joke.
But in this case, I agree with Bertha Henson on the immediate result: Mahathir is having the last (or first) laugh at us.
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Democracy as a means to an end, or Democracy as an end in itself?
What is democracy for?
And which democracy?
Also, why is Mahathir the "poster '2nd childhood' child" for democracy in this region?
“As far as I’m concerned, the most important things that Tun Mahathir brought about through his victory is this positiveness and aspiration for a freer society,” Tan Wah Piow was quoted.
Really? He has aspiration for a freer society? He was not just gunning for Najib? He was not just pissed off because his so-called legacies (like the crooked bridge, and the national car) had been "lost" by successive PM and govt?
What was his legacy when he was PM the first time? Did he entrenched democratic principles? Protect democratic institutions?
Or did he systematically undermine and corrupt democratic principles and institutions?
But now he has "aspirations for a freer society"?
The overthrow of BN & UMNO was a rejection of the Malaysian people of cronyism and corruption in govt. It was change within a democratic system. Mahathir is a player like any other. The real power, as in any democracy, is with the people and for this the Malaysian voter should be rightly credited.
Giving Mahathir credit is like crediting the Rooster for the sunrise every morning.
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1. Mahathir is the epitome of Democracy?
2. Approx 5 (?) SINGAPOREANS went to ask Mahathir to promote democracy in South East Asia. Where are the Filipinos? Where are the Indonesians? Where are the Myanmarese? Where are the Cambodians? The Vietnamese? The Laotians? The Rohingyas? The Bruneians?
3. A recent study found that Singaporeans do not know much about South East Asia and tend to follow rules too much. So those SINGAPOREANS who met with Mahathir are EXCEPTIONAL SINGAPOREANS! They know about S.E.A. (at least enough to know how to use it as a fig leaf), and they obviously veer off the rules part.
4 Some people focus on the fig leaf.
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Yes! Which is why Trump is to be lauded for his brilliance in seeking foreign help to win the election! And Yes! Mahathir is the poster child (2nd childhood) for Democracy, Freedom of Expression, and Human Rights! (Just ask Anwar). Mahathir is just a figurehead. The real HEROES of Malaysian Democracy are... the Malaysian people. They were the ones who said, enough is enough. They were the ones who kicked out Najib and his egregious corruption. They were the ones who ended BN's 62 year rule. People who cannot see that, who are easily confused by overt outcomes without understanding innate truths are not people I need to tell me what I should learn from. [Just some thoughts out loud when I read the news. Not coherent, but it was a moment in time and then it passed, and if there is a lesson or point to it, it escaped me. Apologies.] |
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