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20-08-2015, 01:10 AM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/19...-under-threat/ (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/19/st-ed-worries-about-sgs-scholar-model-under-threat/)
ST Ed worries SG’s scholar model under threat (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/19/st-ed-worries-about-sgs-scholar-model-under-threat/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/simages/dmca_protected_sml_120n.png?f5435c http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostDateIcon.png?f5435c
August 19th, 2015 | http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostAuthorIcon.png?f5435c
Author: Editorial (http://www.tremeritus.com/author/editorial/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/han-fook-kwang.jpg?f5435c
ST Editor-at-Large, Han Fook Kwang
Han Fook Kwang, Editor-at-large of ST, recently wrote an article (“Lui’s
bombshell: It’s about more than transport”, 16 Aug) pointing out that the
scholar-minister model of political renewal may be under threat.
Mr Han quoted the example of Transport Minister Lui’s decision not to
continue in politics only after 2 terms.
“The ramifications of Mr Lui’s decision (to quit politics) also go well
beyond transport,” Mr Han said. “More critically, it concerns the PAP’s ability
to attract people into its A team.”
Traditionally, the PAP has been using the scholar route to replenish their
ranks – government scholarship holders, then senior civil servants, and finally
recruited by the PAP and headed for higher office.
Mr Lui himself, an SAF scholar went through such a route and first entered
politics in 2006. He was following the footsteps of many of his seniors along
the same route – Goh Chok Tong, Lee Hsien Loong, Mah Bow Tan, Teo Chee Hean, Lim
Hng Kiang, George Yeo and among others.
“All served several terms and, together, they formed the scholar-minister
model of political renewal,” Mr Han noted.
“They didn’t join the PAP on their own. They were asked to leave their civil
service or military careers to join the ruling party.”
But Mr Han also noted that in the past, they were tutored and worked during a period when the politics was completely dominated by the PAP, the media was all mainstream, the Internet had not been invented, and the founding PM Lee Kuan Yew was around to provide the tutelage.
“By 2006, when Mr Lui won his electoral seat, all these factors that had
shaped the politics of his predecessors had already begun to change. He was a
product of an old era but entering a new one where the political battleground
would change dramatically,” Mr Han observed.
“As Singapore transits into a more competitive political landscape, the
question is whether this model can produce the same results,” he asked.
“Will the greater demands and uncertain political career result in fewer
people of ability being interested in the job? Why subject yourself and your
family to such intense public scrutiny and criticism?”
Indeed, these days, with the advent of social media and the Internet,
politicians are being scrutinized by netizens 24/7. Any mistakes made are
quickly amplified and passed on through a few keystrokes.
And the worst is these communications stay on the Internet forever, for
future generations to see. For example, Mr Lui’s grandson will probably be able
to read about his grandfather quitting PAP 50 years down the road.
Mr Han himself seems very worried that the PAP’s scholar-minister model of
political renewal may be at risk.
“Many people worry that this is the most serious consequence of the new
normal, one which will ultimately affect the quality of political leadership in
Singapore. And even if some do enter politics, as Mr Lui did, will they be able
to cope?” Mr Han asked. He did not show any statistics about how many people are
worried about this.
According to Mr Han, Mr Lui apparently wasn’t able to cope with transport
issues, especially when tens of thousands of commuters will go online to condemn
over train or bus delays. Mr Han quoted the interview Zaobao had with Mr Lui to
support his case:
In transport, I guess in most ministries… it is all consuming – in time,
energy and focus. Because every (transport) delay, every (train) withdrawal
comes to me. So I know when (delays are) on the uptrend because I can monitor it
from my phone. So it won’t be buzzing after this.
It certainly sounds like the case, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. In a way, one can also argue that when the chef already has millions of dollars in his pocket, why the need to face the heat everyday? Might as well go relax at some tropical island to drink one’s pina colada and watch some hula girls dancing.
Mr Han concluded his article by saying, “Whoever it selects, no matter how
bright, will have to cope and succeed in this new (demanding) environment. For
the PAP, or any party with aspirations to run the country, this challenge is far
more serious than any transport problem.”
But then again, all other politicians of first world countries with free
press and media have been facing real public scrutiny for years. Did any of the
first world countries collapse because of the open and politically competitive
environments they have?
What do you think?
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?213297-ST-Ed-worries-SG’s-scholar-model-under-threat&goto=newpost).
http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/19...-under-threat/ (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/19/st-ed-worries-about-sgs-scholar-model-under-threat/)
ST Ed worries SG’s scholar model under threat (http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/08/19/st-ed-worries-about-sgs-scholar-model-under-threat/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/simages/dmca_protected_sml_120n.png?f5435c http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostDateIcon.png?f5435c
August 19th, 2015 | http://www.tremeritus.com/wp-content/themes/WP_010/images/PostAuthorIcon.png?f5435c
Author: Editorial (http://www.tremeritus.com/author/editorial/)
http://www.tremeritus.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/han-fook-kwang.jpg?f5435c
ST Editor-at-Large, Han Fook Kwang
Han Fook Kwang, Editor-at-large of ST, recently wrote an article (“Lui’s
bombshell: It’s about more than transport”, 16 Aug) pointing out that the
scholar-minister model of political renewal may be under threat.
Mr Han quoted the example of Transport Minister Lui’s decision not to
continue in politics only after 2 terms.
“The ramifications of Mr Lui’s decision (to quit politics) also go well
beyond transport,” Mr Han said. “More critically, it concerns the PAP’s ability
to attract people into its A team.”
Traditionally, the PAP has been using the scholar route to replenish their
ranks – government scholarship holders, then senior civil servants, and finally
recruited by the PAP and headed for higher office.
Mr Lui himself, an SAF scholar went through such a route and first entered
politics in 2006. He was following the footsteps of many of his seniors along
the same route – Goh Chok Tong, Lee Hsien Loong, Mah Bow Tan, Teo Chee Hean, Lim
Hng Kiang, George Yeo and among others.
“All served several terms and, together, they formed the scholar-minister
model of political renewal,” Mr Han noted.
“They didn’t join the PAP on their own. They were asked to leave their civil
service or military careers to join the ruling party.”
But Mr Han also noted that in the past, they were tutored and worked during a period when the politics was completely dominated by the PAP, the media was all mainstream, the Internet had not been invented, and the founding PM Lee Kuan Yew was around to provide the tutelage.
“By 2006, when Mr Lui won his electoral seat, all these factors that had
shaped the politics of his predecessors had already begun to change. He was a
product of an old era but entering a new one where the political battleground
would change dramatically,” Mr Han observed.
“As Singapore transits into a more competitive political landscape, the
question is whether this model can produce the same results,” he asked.
“Will the greater demands and uncertain political career result in fewer
people of ability being interested in the job? Why subject yourself and your
family to such intense public scrutiny and criticism?”
Indeed, these days, with the advent of social media and the Internet,
politicians are being scrutinized by netizens 24/7. Any mistakes made are
quickly amplified and passed on through a few keystrokes.
And the worst is these communications stay on the Internet forever, for
future generations to see. For example, Mr Lui’s grandson will probably be able
to read about his grandfather quitting PAP 50 years down the road.
Mr Han himself seems very worried that the PAP’s scholar-minister model of
political renewal may be at risk.
“Many people worry that this is the most serious consequence of the new
normal, one which will ultimately affect the quality of political leadership in
Singapore. And even if some do enter politics, as Mr Lui did, will they be able
to cope?” Mr Han asked. He did not show any statistics about how many people are
worried about this.
According to Mr Han, Mr Lui apparently wasn’t able to cope with transport
issues, especially when tens of thousands of commuters will go online to condemn
over train or bus delays. Mr Han quoted the interview Zaobao had with Mr Lui to
support his case:
In transport, I guess in most ministries… it is all consuming – in time,
energy and focus. Because every (transport) delay, every (train) withdrawal
comes to me. So I know when (delays are) on the uptrend because I can monitor it
from my phone. So it won’t be buzzing after this.
It certainly sounds like the case, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. In a way, one can also argue that when the chef already has millions of dollars in his pocket, why the need to face the heat everyday? Might as well go relax at some tropical island to drink one’s pina colada and watch some hula girls dancing.
Mr Han concluded his article by saying, “Whoever it selects, no matter how
bright, will have to cope and succeed in this new (demanding) environment. For
the PAP, or any party with aspirations to run the country, this challenge is far
more serious than any transport problem.”
But then again, all other politicians of first world countries with free
press and media have been facing real public scrutiny for years. Did any of the
first world countries collapse because of the open and politically competitive
environments they have?
What do you think?
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?213297-ST-Ed-worries-SG’s-scholar-model-under-threat&goto=newpost).