The P65 Blog

32 Responses to “Karunya – Great Compassion”

1. Singapore Short Stories
   January 23rd, 2010 at 12:33 am

   Ya it is shocking 200,000 or more people were killed in Haiti quake.

   I always believe in being contented but at same time aspiring to be better everyday.

   Julian’s reply: Hello, well said about what you believe in, my friend!

2. PAP Member
   January 23rd, 2010 at 12:43 am

   Well said again, Julian. Have you got yourself into the inner circle yet? My Master would need more compassionate people now.

   Julian’s reply: Hello, Inner circle? The only circles i know are the upcoming circle line and the 5 circles from the youth olympic games ( ;

3. PAP Member
   January 23rd, 2010 at 5:25 pm

   oops, oops, must be the wrong jh i knew. sorry arh …. nowadays seem to have alot of impersonation or duplicate identities

   anyway, good article, as usual. one day, when you become a leader, remember to serve the peasants, people I mean, well.

4. JB
   January 27th, 2010 at 11:48 pm

   MP compassionate??? MY FOOT. What an idiotic propaganda blog

   Julian’s reply: Hi JB, well like i mentioned lor, having compassion and acting on it is another thing. I guess it all boils down to one’s expectations.

   Let me give you 2 scenarios: one person gets an appeal for a waiver for a carpark fine because of his financial problems. The other is a long time recipient of financial assistance but now has his assistance terminated because the family members are supporting him monthly.

   The first person does not expect help but receives it, the other expects continued support but does not receive it. In this circumstance, the person who has his expectations met would definitely think that the person who helped him is compassionate.

   I guess it all boils down to the judgement of the person offering help. The famous saying goes, give a man a fish and he will be full for a day, teach the man to fish and he will never be hungry again

   Just my 2 cents

5. L
   January 28th, 2010 at 2:16 pm

   Stephen Levine – “When your fear touches someone’s pain, it become pity, when your love touches someone’s pain, it become compassion.”
   There will never be true compassion if one is fearful.
   Compassion could only be found from true and pure love for others.

6. Zizie
   January 28th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

   what puzzles me is why Singaporeans have a reputation for being ungracious, yet we can see how they are compassionate, such as initiatives to raise funds for China earthquake, or the Aceh tsunami or even going on overseas volunteering programmes.

7. Mr Bell
   January 29th, 2010 at 7:19 pm

   Hi Julian Hong,

   There are many homeless people living in tents at Sembawang park, changi beach, east coast park and west coast park.

   This is the reality in singapore as housing has become unaffordable. We should show them by housing them first.

   Julian’s reply: Hi Mr Bell, thanks for sharing this with me. Yes i agree that a roof over our heads is very important. I guess i will face this affordability issue when i try to purchase my own HDB flat one day For now im just glad that my home is getting the lift upgrading programme for lifts on every floor!

8. RED
   January 30th, 2010 at 11:23 am

   Ask yourself these questions, if we have a compassion government beyond borders…

   why do our President just donate 50k to Haiti, and keep quiet, because Haiti has no economic value, and life is cheap?

   If you have S$3 million a year, would you give some money out of your pocket every month to help others who really need it?

   If all our MPs income is 10k and above per month, will they give $100-200 out of their pockets to help those poor, sick Singaporeans struggling to survive.

   learn to see what is pure greed & real compassion.

   Compassion (Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Buddha, Jesus and all the rescue workers, doctors, fighters, who gave their all in support for the weak and needed and ask for nothing in return)

   real compassion does not belong to those who wanted more for themselves… in terms of money and power, they will detach themselves from all these, they can see beyond that.

   please wake up.

   Julian’s reply: Hi Red, actually i have heard of many MPs who give out of their own pockets for those who do not qualify for financial assistance and are in dire straits. You mentioned Jesus and mother Theresa, and i like a quote from the Christian bible that goes as such:

   “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. ”

   I believe there are many unsung heroes out there who have done good deeds for our fellow Singaporeans in need, hence i really believe that we should honour and recognize what they have done and if possible follow in their footsteps. Im still learning as well

9. PAP and Compassion Wayang
   January 31st, 2010 at 4:46 pm

   Well said Red.

   PAP please wake up.

   Julian’s reply: Hi there (use a nicer nick la, so i can address you also), i absolutely agree, though the PAP has been great, it definitely it has to be better for the future of Singaporeans!

10. Darkness 2010
    February 2nd, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    Are you crazy? Have you been smoking weed? In a society where a minister gets a seven figure salary, you talk about Karunya – I am sorry that is really a very idealistic and sentimental view of our very complicated world.

    My view is simple, we should go where no mind dares to go – then and only then do you have the lattitude to talk about Karunya along with humassan, as then everything will make perfect sense. as it is, its just hot air.

    Read this: it will cure you of your illusions – http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/what-eight-ball-tharman-can-learn-from-north-korea/

11. Darkness 2010
    February 2nd, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    Remember, it is all it yr head, just bc you write nice things doesnt mean the world agrees with you; all they reall do is pretend to agree – that the difference between the real and fake.

    Darkness 2010

    I prefer Fredric, despite his misgivings at least he calls a spade a spade, that I can respect, this is just rubbish that you are writing to appease your masters! Its rubbish! I am sorry, I want to be nice, but as Karunya goes surely even you can understand that it comes bfr humassan?

    Darkness 2010

    Julian’s reply: Hi friend, thanks for sharing your views Well i guess the purpose of new media is to share our views, and yes i appreciate yours.

    I believe that you are trying to point out that salaries have taken over the motivation of compassion in serving people? I agree that it is definitely a motivation, but i sincerely hope it does not form the main reason why people choose to serve others.

    I share my views not needing to appease anyone but rather compassion is something i personally believe in as the motivation for why i do what i do.

12. PAP and Compassion Wayang
    February 3rd, 2010 at 4:11 am

    PAP please buck up.Please visit http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=29643.

    Almost 1000 posts in ST Forum Online in less than a week.Soon it will turn into a CNA Forum where everything will be moderated.

    Julian, PAP is a Wayang Party.Please read the old report of the ERC.They are stating the obvious.Why are you PAP guys so ent on controlling even our nicks.I am stating a fact.

    Lets see the staged ‘debates’ in Parliament in the coming weeks.The PAP Gerrymanders, introduces all kinds of obstacles to stay in Power.It obviously has a lot to hide.

    How much reserves do weactually have?Why did Ho CHing refer to temasek as “Family Jewels”?Who does Singapore belong to actually?

    I have to agree with you that the PAP is a HAS BEEN that is still stuck in the 60’s.I bet you guys are going to bring up Racial Riots again like you did in the last National Day Rally.The issue was the economy and as usual the leadership skirts the issue.

    We have the most expensive unaccountable government in the world which lacks in transparency.

    Why did you join the PAP?Is it the Salary?Or some potential contacts and business leads in the future?Where is your conscience?

    Don’t equate PAP with Karunya.First with had Frederick and Invictus and now this.Looks like damage control for the PAP,YPAP and its subsidiaries.

    Singaporeans are even shunning grassroots work because it is so obvious that the PAP is using PA as a political tool.PA should be non partisan with the chairman being the president.

    Tharman needed like 20 over people to be around him so that he does not look like the bad guy.There is going to be a major swing of votes against your party in the coming elections.MAJOR SWING.

    I know of many families and friends who have WOKEN UP.You can try buying Singaporeans over with your packages and upgrade threats and now the Hong Baos to the elderly but too much damage has been done in the past decade.

    Productivity.Lowest in the world and has been poor for a good 10 years.Where was the foresight of the most expensive goverment in the world?

    PAP and Compassion.A big Wayang.The compassion you see now where the PAP leaders are giving Hong Baos is a media circus to fool the citizenry.

    Cooling off period my foot.PAP please wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Julian’s reply: Wah friend, i can feel your emotions in your post. I guess there are many things which upset you about what is going on in Singapore.

    At present i am only a student, and Singapore is my home. If i dont give back to my country, or at least see the betterment of lives of those around me, then truly i would have fallen short of my beliefs especially on compassion. I think what i shared about compassion is my view, and that truly, it is something in decline in Singapore.

    There is always 2 sides of the coin, some people believe in joining the opposition to bring change from outside, some people believe in joining the PAP to bring change from inside. I am thankful for a government that is uncorrupt, efficient and sometimes too pragmatic.

    Through your lengthy reply, i can sense your concern for our country. In fact, i am glad that we both (or whoever else reads this and wants to respond) share the same views of wanting Singapore to be a better place not only for ourselves but also for our children.

    Irregardless of who you support, i hope you will join me and in compassion, continue to make a positive difference to underprivileged Singaporeans we may meet in in our everyday life

13. Yaleman
    February 3rd, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    Julian. I agree with you, compassion is important. I also find myself agreeing with that Darkness character as well, as when he seems to be saying is if you want to be a drum, then sound like one, if you want to be a trumpet, then sound like one. That is why this whole salary issue is brought to the forefront, as when you superimpose this idea of compassion with super high salaries, the tune is out.

    I personally dont like the brotherhood. But they are a super power in the gaming world. So what to do? Infact most of us dont like them, but we respect them as they have clear laws and they play fair & square, for example, if you kill one of them, the first question is, “was it a fair fight?” If the answer is yes, they may not be happy, but they will still invite you to the feast of the death, this is when all the credits of the one you vanquished in the virtual is given to you. But if the answer is this is it was not a fair and square fight. God help you and your community. They will burn down the entire virtual village and everyone will suffer.

    It’s exactly like this incident that occured where one site that claims to be open, inclusive and a paragon of truth and freedom goes ahead and tries to name and shame someone just because he wanted to know whether that site suffered a real DDos attack and look at the reply at 15th Nov 2009 1:38 am

    http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/13/geoffrey-pereira-continues-to-launch-another-tirade-against-temasek-review-on-his-blog/comment-page-2/

    So how can anyone not believe this is a wolf in the sheeps clothing site, same like what you said Julian, if compassion is the deal, then why is there a need for the highest pay in the world. Does it make sense?

    Julian’s reply: Hi yaleman, thanks for sharing your views.

    i agree with you except that i think perhaps in this area our government are too pragmatic where financial benefits have been used in conjunction with one’s personal desire to make a positive difference. What is the ratio between compassion and other motivations? I do not know, but i guess the only and best way to find out is to meet and talk to the people in question personally.

    I believe the goal in any game is to win, get the highest “exp” or even score the highest points. If one of the brotherhood members became the game developer one day and could change the rules of the game, what would he or she do so that every player wins? And if the players dont win, then the developers dont win because no one would buy the game.

    Speaking of sheep, i had the chance to observe them recently, and i noticed that without the shepherd, they were quite helpless and hapless. I do not agree with you on your last paragraph because ultimately, i am a sheep as well and i wish to see every player eventually win in this game of life

14. PAP and Compassion Wayang
    February 3rd, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    PAP please buck up or get ready to be voted out.

    I am not from the Opposition.I am a Singaporean.We have rights to vote and unfortunately it may be teemed as ‘protest votes’.The PAP is not delivering.

    What do you think of PAP Compassion and Gerrymandering?Why does the PAP Gerrymander?What are your views?

    You are skirting issues Julian like the PAP.I ask you again:

    1. How much reserves do we actually have?
    2. Why did Ho CHing refer to temasek as “Family Jewels”?
    3. Who does Singapore belong to actually?

    I have loads of questions for your leaders and PAP members.So you have admitted of the change from within.Many have tried but the PAP will never change.From within.

    Do you PAP members have any suggestions to Singapore’s problems or are you guys all theorists.What we need is action from the membership.Where is the internal debate?

    Is the PAP insecure?

    Julian’s reply: Hey there, well firstly, i am just a student and i am sharing my views from that capacity and as a Singaporean.

    Personally i do not and and would not know what PAP members or even someone from the opposition would be thinking. Everyone’s thoughts and perspectives would differ across the board and everyone is entitled to their own views.

    With regards to your 3 questions, i honestly tell you that i have no idea because ultimately i am only a student

    All i can tell you is that i believe compassion is very important and we need more of it around us!

15. Simplicity
    February 3rd, 2010 at 10:19 pm

    Pragmatism is your excuse for the MIW’s 7-figure salary while our disabled still have no public transport subsidy (nevermind other welfare provisions). So, is pragmatism good or not, Julian?

    Should the MIWs practise pragmatism and we the ordinary citizens practise compassion?

    Who should provide care and financial help for the weakest in our society, not through their own fault – the disabled and sick, the elderly and children of very low income families?

    Not being sarcastic but the reality is this group of people should be so lucky if the Govt does not make them pay & pay. They even have to pay GST for rice and water for goodness sake!

    Please, preach Compassion to your great PAP. That would definitely help everyone.

16. PAP - Worth its weight in gold?
    February 4th, 2010 at 2:58 am

    PAP Compassion? HaHa.

    From both the temasek review and online citizen

    According to Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the high salary remunerated to Singaporean ministers helps ensure a clean and honest government as well as to attract and retain local talents. Pegged to a percentage of some of the top earners in our country as well as economic growth, our ministers’ salaries top the world, with our Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong being the highest paid head of government, more than 5 times the remuneration of Mr Barack Obama, President of the United States of America.

    At first glance, our PM is drawing up to 12 times more than the other first world countries’ PM salary. What is even more surprising is that the anti-corruption rankings of these said countries are better than Singapore. We can see plainly that while Singapore has done relatively well in one area, the country is obviously lagging in other terms. In addition, their rankings in both democracy and quality of life are significantly better than Singapore – one can therefore safely conclude at this juncture, that an effective and efficient government does not require astronomical salaries to counter corruption and/or attract and retain talents who can be sound policy makers.

    There is a need however to realize that it takes superior logic and foresight, such as those displayed by our Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew in the pre and post independence era of the 60s to 70s – minus Operation Coldstore (which is an outrage in my humble opinion). There is sufficient evidence to claim that the initial management of local housing and education by the first Lee administration provided an impetus for the growth of our country. This allowed the country to be propelled from third world status to that of the first world. However, there seems to be a downturn of sorts in the character and “spur” of the government at this moment. A very recent incident involving the Minister of National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan who tried to address concern about the housing needs of local Singaporeans by admitting that he was “caught off guard”. It would seem that the million dollar salary he is earning has not compensated him enough to be prudent for the needs of local Singaporeans. If such a said gaffe was isolated and sporadic, it would certainly pass the attention of the citizenry. However, as we all know, our million dollar paid ministers have recently been prone to many a faux pas.

    A small little bright spot might be evident in the table we have shared above. This comes in the form of the high GDP per capita data. However, if we were to dissect the data provided we can attribute the high GDP per capita to a few reasons.

    One of the main reasons for the high GDP per capita in recent years may be attributed to our lax immigration policy as some analysts suggests. The influx of cheaper immigrant workforce artificially inflated the GDP. However, this in turn strained Singapore’s infrastructure, pushed housing prices through the roof, lowered overall productivity, depressed local’s wages, contributing to the widening of the income gap which is one of the highest, if not the highest among developed countries. Ultimately, the people who reap the most from it are the rich. What many Singaporeans do not realize is that this translates to higher ministers’ salary as their remuneration is pegged to a percentage of the average income of the top 4 earners of 6 different sectors in the country.

    Singapore’s ranking on the quality of life study further reinforces the views of many Singaporeans that life in Singapore is far from being a bed of roses, this, as compared to other first world countries. Furthermore, a 2009 study showed that average Singaporeans work much longer hours per year as compared to most other first world country citizens living in their capital.

    Singapore’s ranking on the quality of life study further reinforces the views of many Singaporeans that life in Singapore is far from being a bed of roses, this, as compared to other first world countries. Furthermore, a 2009 study showed that average Singaporeans work much longer hours per year as compared to most other first world country citizens living in their capital. The table below collates some of the average work hours of the above mentioned countries.

    The huge disparity in Work hours and domestic purchasing power speaks volumes about the man on Main Street. As opposed to what the government would have its citizens think, Singaporeans are a hardworking bunch. The average work hour of a Singaporean far exceeds that of the other countries in our analysis. And yet what do Singaporeans have at the end of the day? Well, Singaporeans take home the lowest domestic purchasing power of all 5 countries. To add further insult to injury, the government has even called on Singaporeans to be “cheaper, faster and better”. Contrast this phenomenon with that of ministerial salary, we can see the evidence for the brand of a local drink, Heaven and Earth.

    For some time now, the Americans have been criticizing about the excesses of Wall Street and the resulting use of Main Street to shore up the country’s economy. Putting this in context with the Singaporean society, it is time for the excesses of the government to be checked with the man on Main Street. It is time the government of Singapore realizes that they are only in power on the premise that they govern for the people and not for themselves. As George H. W Bush himself was quoted as saying, “A government that remembers that the people are its master is a good and needed thing.”

17. PAP's Vivian
    February 4th, 2010 at 3:04 am

    “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”, reply to Member of Parliament, Dr Lily Neo’s suggestion of ‘just three meals a day as an entitlement for the People Association recipients’. From ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2007 TO 31ST MARCH, 2007.

    Quote from Wikipedia

    PAP and Compassion?

    Julian please disseminate your essay to your fellow PAP comrades.It’s the Gerrymandering PAP that needs to understand the concept of Karunya, not the Singaporeans.

    You are a student and have skirted the issue.Just like the PAP MP who is a lawyer and not an economist.

    So I ask you a simple question what do you think of PAP Gerrymandering?

    Julian’s reply: Hello there, well what i am addressing is our personal views on compassion What are yours?

    I dont think gerrymandering has anything to do with whether is compassionate or not. I believe our leaders need to have a certain degree of compassion for them to be able to do their job. In fact, many sacrifice time with family and their children to better the lives of the Singaporeans around them.

    There will always be unsung heroes as well as people who misunderstand them just because one goes through a tough spell and needs an axe to grind. But ultimately these things should not and would not stop one from acting out in compassion I hope you try to see what im trying to share

18. Singapore Girl Next Door
    February 4th, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    I would have believed this article if not for the mention of a Singaporean MP who sacrified time and, therefore, he is assumed to be of compass and passion.

    Why would they say then that we owe to them their high salaries as entitlement, for if not for it, there is no enticement to serve and perform well.

    It begs the question – can’t they afford to be compassionate with a low salary?

    But we already know the arguments to this. This policy was borne out of pragmatism. It is strictly professional. Renumeration commensurate to performance.

    To serve in the government because money makes it conveninent. Or is it because in the private sector, renumeration also comes with responsibility?

    But there’s no room for debate as the Singapore government already established the principles to which it has to be founded on.

    It’s all about pragmatism.

    So tell me then, when was it that compassion was practical?

19. Singapore Girl Next Door
    February 4th, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    To put in simple terms – is it not easy to be compassionate and give red packets specially when they come out not from one’s pocket but from public funds?

    Compassion also requires us to look directly into another human being’s soul…like the saying goes – put our shoes into their feet….so we’d know how it feels to walk bare.

    But now now, it’s an entirely different equation if one earns millions of dollars and still has public funds and resources at their disposal plus an entitlement to hordes of subordinates to boot.

    And then they dare say that putting time to serve their constituents is an act of compassion?

    Ain’t that cynical….for did we just redefined compassion to be shallow and hollow?

    Because ordinary people put as much time into their jobs and away from their families.

20. Singapore Girl Next Door
    February 4th, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Because ordinary people put as much time into their jobs and away from their families….for something less.

    MPs serve out of duty….not compassion.

    For politics is the act compromise….and real compassion has no room for it.

    We are realists as much as we are pragmatic.

    And compassion is just a word to prelude the coming election.

    If there are truly compassionate people in Singapore, it is the ordinary people, for they relinquished their right to compromise and freedom so that their children will have a better future.

    On the next election, we need to look deep inside our mind, heart and soul, and asked ourselves if we ever truly gave back.

    Not as the PAP….but individually, as an MP.

    For riding at the back of the successes of the PAP of the past is over.

    Julian’s reply: Thanks for sharing your views. Even as i write my reply, i reply with an open mind, taking into thought what you and our other friends have replied. Personally, i learn to discern what i read on the private owned news sites, as well as the state owned ones. I believe whether someone is sincere and compassionate, would not need trumpeting of what they have done, and the person who received that kindness can feel it.

    With regards to what you shared about MPs, i remembering seeking my MP for help once and i overheard a conversation that he rushed down after work and haven had time to eat yet even. Yet he still took the time to see every single resident till wee hours in the morning. So in this respect, i truly am appreciative. I agree that not everyone is like that, and there will always be some better than others.

    Just my 2 cents

21. PAP and Gerrymandering
    February 4th, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    Hi Julian.

    So I ask you a simple question what do you think of PAP Gerrymandering?Can you find any Karunya elements in it?

    You are a PAP member.I think this is the most basic of questions.Why does the PAP redraw boundaries every elections?Is this the leadership you can trust your life with?

    Feeling insecure?Many skeletons in the closet? Something about our reserves or the non existance of it.

    “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?” – A PAP Karunya Moment.

    As a student and a YPAP member, gerrymandering is a honest thing to do?When you sit for your exams, do you do it with your coursemates or on your own?Maybe it’s different at your university.

    Same goes with the PAP MPs.All are mostly backdoor MPs.They re-write rules for the exams and they ring in cheat sheets like buying voters,etc.And yes, they contest as a group and piggy back on more able people which is a myth now after so many debacles.

    I think that the P65 blog should be addressing issues and not abstract theory.This is fast becoming like the old P65 blog.

    Sad state of affairs of the new PAP.

    Julian’s reply: Hi friend, i get what you are trying to tell me, but im really curious how does what you brought up affect you or the everyday Singaporean or even compassion?

    Pardon me for my ignorance, you use such a big word that i had to google its meaning. Wikipedia mentions that gerrymandering can be used both in a positive and negative setting. In this case, from my personal experience and point of view, I agree that it is sad that i did not have the chance to vote because of this system.

    But should the opportunity arise, i will definitely vote not based on party, but truly based on character, competence and compassion of the individual/s.

22. Simplicity
    February 6th, 2010 at 12:41 am

    Julian, “I believe the goal in any game is to win, get the highest “exp” or even score the highest points.”

    Yes, and I believe in any game, there is an independent referee to keep it fair, no cheating. This is not gladiator town or is it? Perhaps someone think they are the Romans.

23. Singapore Girl Next Door
    February 7th, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    You speak as if the MPs are our masters who bequests us with their mercy and compassion.

    The inconvenient truth is that they derive their power from the electorate, and must therefore, act to reflect the will of the people…to serve the common good.

    But where is the will of the people afterall if 80% of our MPs were never elected in the first place, and won their positions thru self-nomination?

    It is therefore, no wonder that many MPs no longer care, and no wonder that many Singaporeans, like you perhaps, think that minute acts of empathy from them, no matter how inconsequential constitutes true compassion.

    Compassion is the desire to alleviate another person’s suffering. It is degrading then to insinuate that a visit from an MP is an act of compassion, and as it inconveniences him, it must be alleviating his constituency’s suffering.

    In another dimension, perhaps, this is true.

    In the meantime, compassion, in this universe, comes with sincerity, one that is prompted by the suffering of others.

    And for a Singaporean MP, even a 4-year old realize this logic, that true compassion simply means the will to alleviate the hardships of his fellow Singaporeans.

    Policies….that’s all that matters.

    Not hong baos. Not elevator upgrades. And certainly not by gracing us with their presence…please lah!

24. Zizie
    February 9th, 2010 at 1:45 am

    i think it’s unfair for posters to willingly take representation for the entire population of Singapore. @Singapore Girl Next Door, try visiting a Meet-The-People’s session if u haven’t, u might be surprised that hong baos and elevator upgrades do matter.

    this is such a touchy issue; i dare not even speak on behalf of our MPs. who could say with 100% certainty that many aren’t sincere? could u really account for what u say – that they no longer care?

    *sigh* the trouble with Singapore is that it is inherently a pseudo-democracy. the govt would have to reflect the will of the people, but one of the pre-requisites to being a Singapore Leader is to have foresight. Many of our government’s decisions (i.e. PAP’s) go against the will of the people, but they were done for the betterment of Singaporeans.

    How many of us really want democracy and how many of us wish for status quo? We have to decide, and the coming elections will show that decision.

    Julian wrote from his heart about compassion, and his encounter with his MP left him a personal mark. You don’t have to agree with him regarding MPs and compassion, but I don’t think you have the right to deem him wrong either.
    (but then again, in a democracy, you would have that right, won’t you?)

    Just a clarification I think: MPs don’t see work in constituencies as compassion; they see it as their duty because they are servants of the people. Julian, as an outsider, saw it as compassion. Others, like you, don’t. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?

25. Singapore Girl Next Door
    February 9th, 2010 at 2:38 am

    It’s never about the PAP, my dear Zizie.

    It’s about MPs who ride at the back of the successes of the PAP of the past, claim it to be their own, and use it to get away with faulty policies and escape accountability.

    Needles to say, it’s about the MPs who tarnish the PAP.

    But first and foremost, let us revisit history. A pro-PAP such as yourself should be the first not to be fooled by the suggestion that the PAP65 do not reflect the will of the people…..It was a landslide.

    So here is a secret – many of today’s MPs have no accomplishments to begin with but they think that having a PAP badge entitles them to a claim in history. They have for the past decade abused that privelege.

    As constituents, we didn’t mind that 80% of them were self-appointed because they continue to reflect our will. At least most of it. But that was the past.

    This leads me to my point.

    Recently, there are those who today believe that the PAP is a mere tool, and when it is covenient, almost always use past PAP success stories, oftentimes too outdated, to justify blunt agendas.

    The PAP today is so different from the past you might as well call it a different party.

    For our children’s sake, this coming election, let us remind them of who they used to be.

    Stop living in the past. Let’s forged on to the future.

    This shenanigans about “compassion”…these take us nowhere.

    If the opposition has a secret weapon this coming election, I’m telling it to you now – it’s all about policies.

    But if you think Singaporeans are hollow, so be it….hong bao, elevators, libel suits, race riots, Richard Gomez….then wrap it around “compassion”, let’s all see where it takes them.

    In the meantime, I will do my part as a Singaporean citizen. As a constituent, I will wisely exercise my right to vote to weed out the pretenders and help, in my own little democratic way, revive the PAP that I used to love.

    Julian’s reply: Hello, i like the last line you mentioned PAP has been good, but now clearly, it has to be better. Much better.

26. Singapore Girl Next Door
    February 9th, 2010 at 2:52 am

    Zizie…..I hope this serves as an inspiration to you as much as it did to me, a few words from a fighter of democracy…..the one the epitomes what it meant to be a Singaporean,

    “Let us get down to fundamentals. Is this an open, or is this a closed society? Is it a society where men can preach ideas – novel, unorthodox, heresies, to established churches and established governments – where there is a constant contest for men’s hearts and minds on the basis of what is right, of what is just, of what is in the national interests, or is it a closed society where the mass media – the newspapers, the journals, publications, TV, radio – either bound by sound or by sight, or both sound and sight, men’s minds are fed with a constant drone of sycophantic support for a particular orthodox political philosophy? I am talking of the principle of the open society, the open debate, ideas, not intimidation, persuasion not coercion…”
    - Lee Kuan Yew

27. Zizie
    February 9th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    I think I’m more inspired by you, Singapore Girl Next Door. Thanks for the reply. (:

28. Simplicity
    February 9th, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    “….one of the pre-requisites to being a Singapore Leader is to have foresight. Many of our government’s decisions (i.e. PAP’s) go against the will of the people, but they were done for the betterment of Singaporeans” – Zizie, Feb 9, 1:45am

    Are Sporeans better off now with foreigners forming the backbone of our economy as our only option?

    Are ‘Stop at 2′ & Bilingualism’ due to good foresight?

    How is one to be considered to have good foresight and doing all things for the betterment of Sporeans? How can we tell?

29. PAP and Gerrymandering
    February 20th, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    Facebook Karunya PAP Gerrymanderers?

    Some advice from ST FORUM:

    Akino007
    Today, 10:00 AM
    No need to be on the facebook and all that latest trends lah… pls just walk around the coffee shop and mingle among your resident unnoticed you will hear and see a lot which might shock you…

    kokoobird
    Today, 10:04 AM

    Agree…Instead of sitting at home in your armchair like a armchair general..Please go drink kopi with the citizens without all the grass roots leaders..you are isolating yourself using technology from the common folks…You can then here the uncensored rumblings from the ground..

    LeakyLee
    Today, 10:31 AM

    Akino007 / kokoobird

    Couldn’t agree more with you guys.The PAP snobs should get down from their Ivory Towers and into the real world if they want real ground-level feedback and to know what most people think of them today.They have been taking voters support for granted.. for far too long.Time for them to get a reality check.

    urbankni9t
    Today, 12:36 PM
    Relying on facebook to forge closer connections with the general public is in my opinion quite a callous move, as these social networking websites are way too informal for serious politicians to mark their presence. As it is, majority of the facebook users are teens/early twenties who are generally apathetic towards politics/general affairs and well insulated from the recession, while their parents toiled with whatever jobs the can cling unto and simultaneously facing mounting threat from the increasing pool of foreigners.

    Also, with internet anonymity, no body is going to take comments from facebook seriously. Rather than typing and posting pictures on facebook and trying to blend with the tendy teens, I would suggest that the MPs spend more relevant and useful time talking to the public face to face, to garner first hand feedback from the ground, esp from the working population who are gradually beginning to feel like a neglected group of proleteriats. I mean, how often have I seen my MP walked around my estate ? Maybe once in 4 yrs during GE at most. I think I have seen the rare presence of monkeys roaming around the park near my house more often than him.

    And please, Straits Times, rather than splurging 2 full pages of your costly prints to sensationalise such news, I would appreciate if you can dedicate more space to feature citizens struggling to make ends meet, or MPs who rolled up their sleeves to get their dirty job done and do not have to resort to superficial means to connect to the people, even if such MPs do exist, I wonder.

    betweenus777
    Today, 01:15 PM
    asusual – believe impending election this year as these few days the mouthpiece of the govt ie ST n all s’pore media been reporting all the good news and figures – even 2 days ago that HDB’s finding survey that 90% of the dwellers are happy etc when the ground is so discontented with HDB’s policies of rising flat costs and not enough flats to cater for demand.

30. Rodolfo
    February 26th, 2010 at 1:55 am

    Bankers could learn a thing or two about all this. And if bankers are going to learn a thing or two about Karunya, we may as well suggest politicians (who suggested having their pay pegged to dodgy folks in the finance industry and taking a cut of national GDP in the same way salesmen are remunerated) sit in as well.

    And may I humbly suggest that we throw in a lesson or two about morals and ethics for the bankers.

31. zzz
    February 26th, 2010 at 4:33 am

    Do not peg kpi to gdp ALONE. Stupid way to measure govt performance.

    remove pension for MP. unfair to let sleeping MP to have secure retirement when so many peasants have unsure future.

32. PAP and Gerrymandering
    March 26th, 2010 at 4:49 am

    Just want to give a shout out to PAP and Compassion Wayang,PAP worth it’s weight in gold and PAP’s Vivian.

    Glad that there are people out there who are’nt bought over so easily.Have seen to many opportunists in the PAP camp.My friends who are in the CIvil Service and volunteer at the PA say that these people are the biggest Wayangs ever.

    They truth will be set free.To Freedom,Justice and Liberty.To a more transparent and accountable Singapore.Which is genuine and practices meritocracy and not nepotism.