Wife's BFF and her daughter is leaving for Bangkok (they came back here for Songkran) tomorrow so the missus and the 2 kids are staying overnight at her house. Which means I have the whole night to myself to pen this "little" entry on politics in Singapore. I was wondering should I write political stuff on my blog as this is more of a family and photography blog. In the end, I think I still need to write some entries down as I thought it does affect my family and future.
First of all, let me declare that although I am anti-establishment since Day 1. :P I am not those that oppose for the sake of opposing. The reasons of being anti-establishment is because of my parents (who says education does not play a part :P), especially my father hated the PAP party because of the anti Chinese educated policies in the 60s. My late father, who although hated the PAP but still respect them as they did managed to get Singapore to the world stage. I rarely spoke to my father about politics (as per normal with Singaporean families) but during the 1997 elections. I remember I curiously asked my parents who would they be voting for. Mum says oppositions at the first go. My father kept quiet and later after I kept pressing him more, he said voting is secret so I never really know the answer till this day.
But its interesting as I also vaguely remember my father said this casually to me too during the 97 or 2001 election (can't exactly remember when but he did). "If only Ong Teng Cheong took over as the PM instead of this Goh Chok Tong!"
I never realised or think about it what he meant till recently the election fever came again. I started to ponder and look at the old cabinet lineups of the PAP. So interested with our cabinet ministers and their acheivements, I started searching for pass cabinet ministers that served our country. Then I realised something. Mr Ong Teng Cheong held the same position as Deputy Prime Minister together with Mr Goh Chock Tong in the same year! see Wiki link here
I fondly remember H.E Mr Ong Teng Cheong as our first elected President and his contribution to Singapore. Especially the fallout with PAP gahment part on our national reserves. I guess it was because I was in my prime so I took interest in politics. But I never really knew what he had did during his term as a PAP minister. So again, I googled it and I was surprised to find this excerpt from wiki
In January 1986, Ong sanctioned a strike in the shipping industry, the first for about a decade in Singapore, without telling the cabinet. He said that he did not inform the cabinet or the government because they would probably stop him from going ahead with the strike. There was a major corporate and cabinet backlash against his decision; however, the strike lasted only two days, and a deal was struck.
During his tenure as the Minister of National Development, Ong was a proponent and advocate of the Mass Rapid Transit system. He later became the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister in 1985.
What balls he have that he dares to ignore the PAP's party whip by sanctioning a strike! This is true leadership and character! Can you find such PAP candidates in the current lineup?? No way man! Now I really understand why my father said that he would have made a better PM of Singapore then Mr Goh Chok Tong. It's because he cares about us, the common people, the working class and put himself before any (PAP) party interest.
I really regretted that I did not attend his funeral (no state funeral because he humbly did not want it as stated in the media and I believe it) and pay my last respect to this great man. Here's a video made by someone as a rememberance of him. Do turn off the music.. its a bit too cheesy for my taste but the message is there.
And my favourite quote from him as the President of Singapore
"My loyalty is first and foremost, to the people of Singapore. It has always been so, and will always remain so". - President, H.E Mr Ong Teng Cheong
