Monday, 17 August 2009

• National Day Rally 2009

  
  http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20090816-161426.html
  
  Some thoughts about the National Day Rally 2009.
  
  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong focused on four key issues in his sixth National Day Rally speech this year - the economy, healthcare, social harmony and shaping Singapore together.

  Economy

  If it isn't about GDP growth, you would be wondering if PM Lee was going through a 3/4 life crisis that his speech suddenly transformed into an inspiring Obama one. But nah...it is about GDP and more GDP. He mention about the economy resurfacing from it's worst performance since the financial meltdown that took the world hostage in mid 2008. Okie, so we have heard.

  He also brought up the topic about the real-silly package and that there wasn't a need for a second round of stimulus, even though a lot of Singaporeans had doubts that such a 'throw money' at a problem was already a wrong approach to begin with. Anyway, people are still being laid. Unemployment now stands at 12,600. PM Lee could have been more detailed in the figures.
  
  And as sure as the cock may crow, how can PM not draw on his wisdom to educate us on the need for more creativity in the niche business? I know Hyflux is one fine example of such a successful niche business but maybe he could have elaborated further on how a Temasek Holdings as a financial institution can utilize some creativity with regards to their foreign investment philosophy. Okie, I'm just nick picking but hey, loosing 50 Billion is no joke and PM Lee didn't even mention one bit about this.
  
  When it comes to the economy, our Singapore government places an ultra premium on it. Nevermind if it's only precious resource are the people - the nation builders, nevermind if they loose jobs, hey, there's always upgrading with SPURM and the Real-Silly Package as long as the GDP satisfy a group of people, Singapore to them has succeeded. But at what price?
  
  Actually PM Lee can go on about any topic he wants. As long as the Singaporean People ingredient is missing in each "solution" suggested, we are bound to be short-changed, short-lived, material-driven, apathetic and most importantly and a lost of a humane spirit and a Singaporean identity.
  
  Healthcare

  I applaud his move to ready the nation for an ageing population. It is not something that I'm inclined to be cynical just because, but as it is an issue that everyone has to faced in reality. We do have an aging society. And although the government has been such a bigot to admit their failures in the '2 child policy', I can only sense that they are tackling this issue indirectly. Sometimes it's about political ego, cannot loose face loh.
  
  But then there is also healthcare cost to consider, it is still expensive. I'm not an expert in this area so I can't comment further. Does anyone know if any of the 3Ms - MediSheild, MediSafe and MediFund cover cancer or blood related illnesses? And how much?
  
  
  Racial and Religious Harmony

  Now, a topic like the above in which PM Lee covered most of in his speech indeed requires further examination. It is not about religion per se that caught my attention, but how PM Lee said that 'religion and politics must stay separated'. Why the need to say this brings us to how the AWARE saga unfolded. The real underlying worry for PM Lee is non other then a political exhibition of citizens exercising their democratic right. It demonstrated how a people with the power of voting removed a governing body and subsequently brought the old guards back in into power again.
  
  Those who do not understand the reason for such an extensive coverage on religious issues would simply shrugged it off as an odd ball message. Anyway, I hope everyone reads in between the lines.   
  
  Ofcourse, PM Lee has to be subtle in deliverying his message such that it is to be perceived as a religious matter and not actually a political one even though he did declare that religion and politcs are inter-twined.  
  
  This brings the topic of how PM Lee always stresses that politics should be left out in school. Well, if primary and high school students understood the power of democracy they had, it wouldn't take them too long to get use to the idea. Can you imagine the impact on their lives if they had a 'student presidential election' on a regular basis, just like what the school in the US do? Can you imagine what kind of students schools would produce? A politcally-smart-educated-Dr-Chee-student? :)
  
  
  Shaping Singapore Together

  To close the NDR messgage for the evening one doesn't really need to show you photos of the past and present to understand Singapore. It is not just about tall buildings. It's about the the seed of freedom. Everyone knows it is the brain-work of LKY. It's a fact. However, it is also important to understannd that at one point in the 1950s, PAP was an opposition party and the incumbent ruling party was non other than Labout Front lead by David Marshal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Kuan_Yew#In_opposition
  
  This is one key topic of PAP's history that they so cleverly 'forgot' to mention. The were once opposition. And that was how Singapore was shaped and how it come about as it is today. What does that say about having an opposition in parliment then? 

  Anyway, I have mix feelings about the NDR message.
  
   

  • 5:17 PM
  • 352 Views
  • 6 eProps
  • 7 Comments