Han Fook Kwang should stop being so shallow. He would do well to go suck his own grandfather’s egg.
Attempting to use the recently concluded Malaysian GE to teach Singaporeans the importance of non-racial politics and the merit of what he calls Singapore’s “merit-based approach” against Malaysia’s politics of “affirmative action and special rights for Malays”, Managing Editor (a newly crafted designation in the likes of Minister Mentor and the numerous Mentor titles assigned to past ministers who have outlived their use-by dates), Han Fook Kwang, wrote an interesting passage for which he would do well to reflect deeper on what he had written.
It goes like this:
“But there are lessons for us here (referring to the Malaysian approach). First is the importance of looking after the interest of the minority races. Malaysia’s experience shows that the grievances and injustices felt by the minorities will not go away but will build up, and if not addressed, can lead to much grief”.
Perhaps i should add his next paragraph as well:
“Singapore’s multiracial approach is ingrained, but there is clearly much that can be improved. For example, there have been complaints by Malays and Indians over the years that they face discrimination when looking for jobs or homes to rent”.
I’m not going to talk about the Malaysian GE as we have some very serious problems of our own. Suffice to say they are not much different from what is happening across the causeway. So, for him to subtly conclude that Singapore’s merit-based approach is somewhat better than Malaysia’s special rights for Malays approach, is jumping a bridge too far, especially when trouble is brewing vigorously every day.
Coming back to the quotes; if seen in the larger context outside of races, and in the context of PAP versus Opposition, isn’t it the same that the PAP operates its merit-based approach primarily by connections? The more connected you are to the PAP folks in the higher echelons of its organization, the more you merit better prospects. Numerous examples have been shared online of the connection of an office holder to another, or a child and relative of another office holder being selected for higher office. This has resulted in a closed-based system disguised as merit-based.
With such a closed-based system being used, we are no longer assured that those who voted against the PAP may still have their merits count for them. We have heard often enough during elections, the threat of having to live with the opposing choices that voters make, without help from the PAP. Hougang and Potong Pasir are examples.
I therefore wonder how Fook Kwang could see so clearly the discrimination of minority races and not the discrimination against the minority group of voters who voted against the PAP but are still very much Singaporeans all the same. The Shit Times is the Shit times because of his myopic view. With a bigger title comes bigger responsibilities. It is time for all Singaporeans, whether minority in terms of race, or minority in terms of political partisanship, or minority in terms of foreign/local ratio; to be treated and accorded the respect they deserve as citizens, as people who have helped brought Singapore to where it is today.
I shared this with a group of friends the other day. I caught the clip when i was out having a drink. It showed a Malaysian Chinese being interviewed at Anwar’s protest rally. The young Chinese man said: “I may be a Chinese, he may be an Indian, and that other a Malay, it does not matter, because we are first and foremost, Malaysians. That is all that matters”.
So, mister Han, you would do well to reflect on this as well when you try to teach Singaporeans how to suck eggs. Come off your high horse and print newsworthy articles that speaks for the Singaporean and not against them. The grandfather story you wrote about, of the dialogue between Old Harry and Old Mahathir, just do not cut with us. Ignoring the vocal grievances of the minority will certainly bring about much grief.