This is a response to: Dumb and Dumber Singaporean Reactions to the Haze
Blind faith for pap and labeling Singaporeans Daft and Hazy?
As the haze clears , the appearance of the moon , the thunder(pardon the pun), and the sun become more prominent . Likewise, so has articles lamenting that we Singaporeans care not enough to come together to help in the situation. In order to set the record straight, let us define several things for discussion. Some of the discussion has been mentioned in my previous article, but I have failed to pass the message, it seemed. [link]
Defining past, present and future.
3 generations of pap leaders have been presiding over Singapore. The rough timeline is when the Prime Minsters are in power.
The 1st generation of PAP leaders has set up many institutions and improves the efficiency of public services. Likewise, they had the foresight of keeping many of the British system, from the language to the laws, having a multi cultural country and also maintaining Singapore as a free trading port and entrepot (reaching a 20.4 million NRT in shipping in 1949)[link]. Similarly, they provided directions and leadership such as the 2 child policies and making Singapore into a place where the living conditions are better for the citizens, form housing to education.This is the foundation.
The 2nd generation of PAP has maintained the same institutions and efficiencies, added several new systems such as the MRT by Ong Teng Cheong [link]. The visions of the second generations PAP include a Swiss standard of living [link] and world cup 2010. In short, it was enhancing what the previous general of pap has built up. This is the build up of our foundation
The 3rd generation of pap is the current generation. In order to maintain the economical growth, they have diverse ideas such as the CASINOs , F1s, increase in the population growth (via import) .The biggest buzz word is to increase efficiency to a higher level where as many of the public institutions are made into quasi –companies (privatised). The biggest owner of all is GIC and Temasek Holdings. So transport now has SMRT and SBS, comfort Delgro and even the bus stops are privatized. In telecommunications, there are M1, Starhub and Singtel.
Bulding new ideas and institutions are different from maintaining. It is not fair to claim credit for institutions that is mainly maintenance as if they have build it from scratch.
So the old institution, such as SAF, which is efficient, is mainly the work of the 1st generation of PAP. The 3rd have to maintain the same institution.
Your life , your future, our Children’s future!
With this haze, no one will know exactly what are the long-term health issues with breathing in such air quality. Will they caused or accelerate lung cancer? How about Throat cancer? The immediate effects are spelt here [link]. However, it is up to one to take the risk and breathe in all they want form the Haze. However, it is wise to ensure that our children and the elderly, even ourselves are protected. After all, it is your own health, your own future. You cannot sue the pap for not providing the protective measures timely. It is worse when it comes to your children. They may be predisposed to unknown cancers. The main aim is to look after yourselves and your loved ones. It is legitimate to demand actions from authorities when there is a need to protect yourselves and your love ones.
Lack of Leadership roles in clear guidelines?
To date, no one is sure what are the exact cut-off points for the PSI and their related actions. When do we stop work? when do we have a state of emergency? As mentioned before, to date, everyone is still very hazy about the haze incident (pardon the pun). Pap should spelt out clearly what are the guidelines to kick in an action or actions. Even the distribution of masks has to be spelt out. Well, it is for all to judge how prepared pap is for the haze. Even being ill prepared, the leadership is still hazy at best. This has led to citizens helping themselves and praying for the haze to clear.
Prepared for haze with 9 million stokepile?
Some has said that preparation for haze is a 9 million N95 mask stokepile[link]. This is preparation at its worst. Preparation should be via the 2002 treaty to prevent the haze from worsening or even happening. Failing in the above , clear guidelines are needed on what mask to wear for the different bands of PSI level. Is N95 for unhealthy level? Who has to wear them?everyone? the children[link]? the elderly? The babies?Are there even N95 masks for masks for babies? Worse, is everyone trained to wear them?
How long can a single-use N95 masks from the 9 million stokepile last ? With a population size of 5 million [link].Each person on average will have 2 masks each at most! Can the 2 masks last for 2 weeks? 2 months or 2 days? How about the labour workers or those who will be working in arduous conditions, like in the sun?Will the N95 mask will be soiled from the sweat? Then what is next? The figure 9 million is really a feeble attempt at all. What are the top up /replenishing plans? Yes the current pap leaders used SAF to help in distribution as SAF is effective .Give credits to SAF, but it is not the current leaders who set up SAF.
How about the distribution of the masks? Who gets them? How about the rest? A 9 million stokepile or any figure for that matter is useless when the layman on the ground is unable to get hold of one when the PSI exceeds 300.Period. This is poor preparation.
Leadership in Pollution Index?
Allow me to revisit this issue. The choice of an air pollution index is crucial in management of air pollution. PSI is one such index. However, this has been abandoned by the founding fathers for a more updated index since 1999 [link]. However, the Singapore political leaders (aka pap), have kept to this index. It is acceptable to choose this index, but stick to your guns. One minute, NEA publishes hourly updates, then 3 hourly . Then a pap minister tells us that the daily one is the most indicative [link] .This confuses people. No one really knows what is really indicative, but a 24 hours or daily PSI does seemed too far fetch. When a person has dengue fever, do you average their body temperature and platelet count over 24 hours? I do not think our esteemed doctors will even do that at all.
Influencing neighbours starts today? Not yesterday?
Once again, this is a revisit of the same topic I have written. Singapore had its chances with leadership roles in Asean [link] and [link]. We should have strongly influence Indonesia before the start of a haze. No one is asking to start a conflict or war. Foresight is required in this. Does the current generation of pap leaders have good foresight?
Raising Awareness is doing nothing?
Some has critised netizens for doing nothing. Raising awareness is doing something. Telling the pap that it has been slow is doing something. Being tardy in response, what point is it for the haze to be over and start distributing masks or come up with guidelines? Will a inter Haze committee be even set up without the raising awareness of the nation by the alternative media?
Parents who are concerned for their children will tell them to study, watch less television, play less computer or chat less on the mobile phone. Such is raising awareness for the children. Is that doing nothing? What can the parent do, take over the role of studying? Similarly, what can citizens do? Take over the roles of planning? Will pap even allow us to take over their roles of planning?
Citizens politicking and doing nothing?
Some claimed that citizens did nothing.
See this article what citizens have done. They have to collect supplies from China. [link]. Even SPP(Chiam See Tong and his team) has been distributing mask way (on 20th June) before pap, but the mainstream media avoided this news [link]. Who has been slow? Perhaps if not for the awareness raised by the alternative media, perhaps , will pap just wait out for the haze to be over like every other year?
Japanese Fukushima Tsunami , no one raised awareness?
Some mentioned that the Japanese did not even raise any awareness of the tardy response during the recent Tsunami [link].
In fact the citizens are really angry over the ways the radiation figures are givem(like the PSI) [link]. So much awareness was raised that a minister indicated to resign after the incident[link].
Will pap minster resign over this like the Japanese Fukushima incident?
So much comparison has been done to Singaporeans with Japanese. So good, will pap follow Japanese minister’s footstep? If not, then what exemplary leadership will be shown. Citizens have to be subservient like the Japanese, but our leaders lord over us? Or now, will I hear only thunder and no rain[pardon the pun once again!]?
Pap supporters polarizing and confusing the issues?
Who are the ones polarizing Singaporeans and confusing the issues? Raising awareness is not wrong. It is a legitimate move to protect our families and ourselves. In the process, yes, pap has been shown to be a poor leader. It is the very same point that we care for our fellow Singaporeans to highlight this point. This is so as we care for your future and our children’s future. There is little hope in the vision of the 6.9 million, the handling of Dengue, (mis)AIM issues, Brompton Bikes and even the Haze incident. We care to raise awareness to fellow Singaporeans to protect all in this Haze incident and the future of Singapore.
One day, you may be chased away from the coffeshop by the pap grassroot because a pap MP is visiting [link]. And if not for the alternative media, pap would have got away by claiming it is not pap[link], but the coffee shop owner, who is a pap member [link]. Why do we raised awareness and reveal all this to fellow Singaporeans again?
We care for you.
Vote wisely in 2016 against the 6.9 million-population vision. It may be your last chance as a native Singapore, who may be a minority in future.
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