Portrait of Singapore -- Taiwanese talkshow on Singapore politics (Youtube)

Monday, July 23, 2007

Taiwanese talkshow on Singapore politics (Youtube)

http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2007/07/taiwanese-talks.html

Taiwanese talkshow talking about Singapore's democracy and transparency,
and comparisons with Taiwan's political scene.

Conducted in Mandarin and Hokkien.

But of course, foreigners with no stake in the future of Singapore, will
not be allowed to interfere in Singapore's domestic politics, and
Singaporeans make their choice every election year at the ballot box and
so on and so forth.

(Youtube text link)

Monday, July 23, 2007 at 11:48 AM in Random Rants | Permalink
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Comments

seriously I do not believe many singaporeans do not know the stuff
presented here, but it has been proven for many elections that we
consistently vote PAP back in power.

whether this is for a lack of a credible opposition or simply a direct
support for the ruling party, the inevitable conclusion is that we
deserve the government we get.

Posted by: kf | Jul 23, 2007 1:13:02 PM

It was an eye opener, getting someone to talk about singapore politics,
esp taiwanese, as we have no extradition treaty with them. Yes, youtube
does allow all to see what others think of our gahmen, etc. I'm waiting
for our gahmen to 'reply'. Sadly, there's alot of forumers at D.F who
condam the gahmen too. Why dont form a good party, good this and that,
convinced sporeans to vote for them instead of kow pay kow bu? Just look
at JBJ, Chiam, etc. Never give up, fight on and ... I really wonder what
will happen after LSL retire? It's never easy, esp in politics.

Posted by: saisenghee | Jul 23, 2007 2:09:39 PM

Kanasai.

How dare they critique us?
Especially saying Only Lee Family running Singapore!

Is that a conspiracy?
Can we sue their pants off?

:)

Posted by: Deceased | Jul 23, 2007 2:20:03 PM

I think there are some interesting and valid points raised about
singapore political system in the show. Such as the a election candidate
(or group) automatically gets elected if there is no opposition on
nomination day.

But of course this show is more of a critique on the views of Mr Ma
Ying-Jeou's, the Presidential candidate for the upcoming Taiwan
Presidential Elections, then a strong interest in Singapore political
well-being. Singapore are being "dragged" into the picture just because
Mr Ma made some favorable comments about our country.

I do agree with part of the previous comment by kf that says we deserve
the government we get. And I will like to add: Is our government that
bad? I may not agree with every policies and regulations that the
government has put in place or how some has been implemented. But I have
to say overall it has brought prosperity, progress and harmony (hmm..
that sounds like part of our pledge) to our country. And for that, I'm
grateful.

There are much things we can do to improve this country. We just each do
our own small part I guess..

Posted by: ks | Jul 23, 2007 3:24:03 PM

We don't have shoes flying over in our parliament.

We don't have vulgarities spouting all over either.

We don't tolerate violence/riots/whatever.

And we live in harmony and peace, with prosperity in our economy,
independently.

Can Taiwan do that herself too? All they think is "We want Democratic,
Independence".

One of them even said Singapore is Pi Sai (nose dirt, I guess he was
referring to the size of our island).

The question is, how far can they go if they were to go independent,
from China?

They don't want to be like Singapore, so, who do they want to be? Just
like as of current? Use of violence whenever there's opposition from
different parties? Encouragement of taking out China-related case
studies from Textbooks and replacing them with Taiwan's instead?

I am actually very amused by Taiwan's Political news.. (which I have
been paying attention to ever since I got my SVC. haha!)

Some people may be unhappy with our gov here.. But compare it to other
countries in the region, we are considered lucky already. =/

Posted by: naru | Jul 23, 2007 4:04:18 PM

and we dont have pap bullies challenging the opposition to called the
pap bullies a liar/hypocrite/whatsoever
do we?

Posted by: moshedyan | Jul 23, 2007 4:08:11 PM

And those hypocrites actually conducted a 'visit taiwan' press
conference to promote tai-fookin-wan as a tour destination.

Two-faced lying kaypoh sacks of schiese.

Posted by: Al | Jul 23, 2007 4:40:28 PM

I believe our oppositions need to improve to challenge our government to
prove the Taiwanese wrong. We do not need the opposition to take over
singapore overnight, but I suggest them target specific areas of their
strength - be it health, housing, education or social welfare and come
out with their own credible views and proposal before the next election.
With this focused challenge, we will have healthy and worthy opposition
emerging. I, for one will vote for them if they are able to be actively
doing this.

I also hope the government be able to recognize and be the first in the
world to actively nurture opposition. I do not agree that government
cannot help opposition to grow when singapore needs an opposition for
its future generations. I also do not agree that government must stand
around and sue on the first opportunity when they make a misstatement -
a sincere public apology may be enough.

Lastly, I may not agree with policies of the government but I stand by
singapore anytime anywhere.
I do not have identity problem like Taiwan talk a lot but no guts.

Posted by: ntgoh | Jul 23, 2007 4:47:34 PM

its funny whenever people defend the Singaporean way, they almost always
say "well we are better than country A or country B" Isnt it a question
of striving for ideals instead of comparing? I mean other countries are
not perfect but it doesnt mean we dont have important lessons to learn
from them too.

Posted by: mrtan | Jul 23, 2007 5:09:31 PM

Wonder when this interview was done, cos the information seems a bit
dated. Like the part about there being only one "zi zheng" when Mr Goh
Chok Tong is also a senior minister now for a few years. Think that they
got that fact wrong. But overall, think that they painted a picture of
people from one family holding a lot of important posts in singapore
that begs the questions, is singapore so lacking of talent that we have
to keep going back to the same family for the highest posts in
Singapore. It also begs the question of what Singapore will be like when
all these people pass on with time if we are so dependent on them.

Posted by: Lemizeraq | Jul 23, 2007 6:15:37 PM

Boy... 马英九's careless remarks made us a butt of joke for these
jokers, who are 泛绿guys :( More bloopers from Mr 马

Posted by: Pohui | Jul 23, 2007 9:32:42 PM

Good stuff! watching this really begs the question on what will
eventually happen when the Lee dynasty ends....are there any Lee
offspring waiting in the shadows? Who will be seat warmer this time
round? Lee Hsien Loong's children seem too young so who will fill up the
posts? Or maybe a new dynasty will arise?

Posted by: Limpeh | Jul 23, 2007 9:37:37 PM

I guess by looking at the Singapore Political System from the surface,
the facts that these people stated were true. But what they insinuate,
that the Singapore Political System is controlled only by the Lee
Family, is proof that having laymen comment about political structures
on television may not be the smartest form of democratic freedom.

Firstly, these "experts", by looking at the statistics, failed to look
at the systems that the PAP has put into place in terms of replacing
their leadership. Granted that from the getgo, they were looking to find
fault with the Singaporean system, but it was very obvious that no
research was put into making an argument against Singapore, just
statistics and their own extrapolation from these "facts".

Granted, it is pretty undeniable that some despotism exists, but then
again, no form of political system is perfect, and I would choose
Singapore's political system over spitting, fighting, shouting,
screaming politicians any day. And seeing how PM Lee's son just got
himself reprimanded for trying to be a superstar, the Lee dynasty has
got to end someday.

Posted by: Rob | Jul 23, 2007 9:44:33 PM

"Some people may be unhappy with our gov here.. But compare it to other
countries in the region, we are considered lucky already. " well, well,
why always compare singa land to the 3rd countries in the SE regions, so
that make the merlion looks big and roaring loud? Can someone tell me
here, every ballots in the general election is not seriazlized but
completely traceable, and you still call it a fair election and clean
government? So, English men left and no choice but join the Grand
Malaysia empire, got kicked out by Malays and then now ready to become a
foreign colony of communist China. Great, long lives to the Lee & Lee
Dynasty!

Posted by: dawlam | Jul 24, 2007 8:26:53 AM

I agree that our current government is not transparent enough.

How many of us really dared to speak out our minds openly about the
gahmen? How often do people get sued for defaming the government for
some minor issue? If the government has nothing to hide, they would not
need to sue people every now and then, as people will ultimately still
have faith in them no matter how negative the reports are.

However, I feel that the oppositions are worse. They merely oppose for
the sake of opposing without any substantial stand.

Posted by: nykelaz | Jul 24, 2007 9:21:49 AM

I agree that our current government is not transparent enough.

How many of us really dared to speak out our minds openly about the
gahmen? How often do people get sued for defaming the government for
some minor issue? If the government has nothing to hide, they would not
need to sue people every now and then, as people will ultimately still
have faith in them no matter how negative the reports are.

However, I feel that the oppositions are worse. They merely oppose for
the sake of opposing without any substantial stand.

Posted by: nykelaz | Jul 24, 2007 9:23:43 AM

I suppose they haven't listen to Mr brown's podcast.

Posted by: emuu | Jul 24, 2007 10:36:34 AM

All these remarks mades are actually going against the could be next
Taiwan incumbant - Mr Ma.
Mr Ma, being a visitor here made, and as a visitor have to say some
"good remarks" about the host. So these remarks are being politicised by
the oposition in Taiwan.

To the PAP gahmen, this is a feedback to you - the ruling party. To
react or not to react, it is all up to the gahmen.

To the people of Singapore, all these remarks are nothing new. So it is
all to you to have guts to put your votes into action at the next GE.

I have been to Taiwan upteens time and have stayed there for a while.
Living in this very very "politicised" environment which permeates down
from the leaders themselves and right dowm to the ordinary common folks,
I would rather forgo a little bit "demoracy" for some rationality. I
don't think it is a good place to bring up your family there.

Our very own parliment are full of "YES" and "pandering" MPs. To swing
to the very extreme end of the Taiwan parliment - the "fist fights", the
bad mounting... Both parliments have MPs that have higher degress and
are "educated" people !

Taiwan, with a hugh foreign reserves, tries to "buy" recognition - from
small and insignificant corrupted, bankrupt countries..
To me I feel sad for the Taiwan society as a whole - trying to seek some
form of "recognition".
If this is happening in the "international" politics, this must also be
happening in their own backyard local politics.

The Taiwanese will really have to ask themselves - is this what they
really...

I considered all these remarks made as feedback.
All feedbacks are neutral, unless whether you want to take action on it
or not based on the feedback.

Posted by: plow | Jul 24, 2007 10:58:30 AM

Taiwanese politicians like to sensationalize stuff just so that they get
famous... they are attacking for the sake of attacking...

It's true that sg is too rigid and everything come under the famiLee.
But I'll take our sg system over the Taiwanese system any day. I've been
living here in Taiwan for the past yr and a half... the political scene
here is seriously a joke. Opposing party members fight each other for
the sake of fighting. 90%% of their time and money is spent on how to
attack their competitors rather than doing what is good for the country
and it's people. Corruption here is widespread, in terms of small
favors, favoritism etc...

Whatever one politician says something, the opposing politician will
just say it's wrong without really thinking through. Money is spent on
political campaigns to boost their own popularity and attacking opposing
members rather than on the country and people... In the end, the common
folks all suffer...

Posted by: Bao | Jul 24, 2007 12:12:39 PM

If throwing chairs, tables and vulgarities at one another in parliament
is taiwanese democracy, they can keep it. I am quite happy with our
system, whatever the flaws.

Posted by: bb | Jul 24, 2007 12:16:46 PM

I saw one newsreel on Hong Kong's television several years ago. One of
Singapore's leaders was awarded an honour in the Hong Kong university
and there was a group of protestors at the venue. The protestors were
shouting that the honour should not be given because S'pore was not
democratic, its people were supressed, conditions were tough and other
dire situations, etc.. The Hong Kong reporter went up to the protestors
and interviewed the guy who seemed most indignant and agitated. The
reporter asked if he has lived or worked in S'pore and he said no. The
reporter asked when was the last time he visited S'pore and he said he
has never visited but heard about all the bad things through opposition
voices and through reading in the press. The whole interview was awkward
and embarrassing and the rest of the protestors seemed uneasy as well.
So, there are actually many people out there who judge us based on bad
things propagated by people with bad intentions. We who actually live
here would know better.

Posted by: unknownunknowns | Jul 24, 2007 12:31:02 PM

The sad thing about political blogs, like this one, it attracts lame
comments from poeple who do not know 2 hoots about politics.

Commentators such as Limpeh talks about tiresome things like lee dynasty
and agreeing with those taiwanese fools that Singapore will be in
trouble after the lees die out. What a fool!

Where did dawlam get the impression that Singapore is joining communist
china. He/she must be from malaysia or probably a mahathir lover who
still miss those days where Singapore was part of so call "grand
malaysia empire". What a idiot. Any Singaporean, pro or anti government
would agree that getting kick out of malaysia was the best thing that
happened to us.

mrtan think we need to learn from others. Hey if you got nothing to say,
then shut up lah. These taiwanese clowns are talking about negatives of
Singapore and conveniently ignoring the positives. That is politics 101
at its worse. So we respond by pointing out negatives of others in
rebuttal. hey man, this is not a learning session. Got it!!!

I like the comments by ntgoh, but pls c'mon, we want opposition in
Singapore to provide alternatives, not to prove anything (we do not need
to) to anybody, especially misguided taiwanese.

These taiwanese clowns are partisan, so anything that Ma Ying Jiu
thought was good, they will oppose. They are commenting on all the
negatives and taking things out of ocntext, while ignoring positives. If
Ma Ying Jiu were to criticise Singapore, I bet they will bring the
positives and attack him. This is politics and taiwan has abundance of
these political clowns.

One clown ask the question, "are Singaporeans really happy" I think
generally, the average Singaporean is not any less happy than taiwanese.
Anyway what are taiwanese so happy about, their beautiful democracy and
politics. Maybe they are happy to be entertain by these clowns, week in
week out.

One even hinted that Thailand is better because election rules does not
legtimise walkovers. Is he serious. So the Thai political landscape is
doing very well now! Only a misguided uninformed clown would say that.
So a ward with no opposition during election will become limbo with no
representatives. Or maybe they should suggest that ruling party persuade
people to form oppposition to contest so as to legitimise the result.

I think anybody who seriously think about our political situation would
agree that one party government, with no credible opposition to provide
checks and balance may be harmful in the long run. That is our Singapore
political issue. The fact is our small size may not be throwing up
enough good people with the passion and will to provide alternatives.
I am not pro or anti government. We should look at the up and downsides.
But I am really pissed off when people especially outsiders put
Singapore or Singaporean down, even more pissed off with those
Singaporeean who agree with outsiders that mean us no good.

Posted by: bodohland hater | Jul 24, 2007 3:15:21 PM

The above are all true and the taiwanese are also saying the truth.
Leave aside the idea that they are attacking us, they are just talking
about Mr Ma. Somebody pointed out a defect, what's the big deal? Cannot
stand? Make it better loh..No need to attack back one. We must be
gentlemen mah.

Posted by: NoFear | Jul 24, 2007 7:15:38 PM

Didn't know LEE HSIEN YANG is the Director The Islamic Bank of Asia till
I saw this video clip. You don't get this kinda interesting talkshows in
Singapore. =(

Posted by: Jetreroy | Jul 24, 2007 8:53:17 PM

"These taiwanese clowns are partisan, so anything that Ma Ying Jiu
thought was good, they will oppose. They are commenting on all the
negatives and taking things out of ocntext, while ignoring positives. If
Ma Ying Jiu were to criticise Singapore, I bet they will bring the
positives and attack him. This is politics and taiwan has abundance of
these political clowns."

this is soo true...

Anyway.. most of my taiwanese friends dun give 2 hoots about their
politics... most of them are embarrassed by their current political
situation..

that said.. politics do not make a country.. the people are what
counts... many taiwanese are fiercely proud of their country.. however i
don't see a lot of this in Singapore... Singaporean tend to link all the
negatives to the country... many just can't wait to leave (or so they say)

well, I for one am proud to be a singaporean.. even though i may not
agree to a lot of things in singapore..

Posted by: bao | Jul 24, 2007 10:23:18 PM

The show was from the station San Li. San Li is pro-DPP if I am not
wrong, hence, all the KMT/Ma Ying Jiu knocking comments. The program is
Da Hua Xin Wen. Those guys were really jiang da hua (talk big).

Posted by: gemcastor | Jul 24, 2007 11:20:06 PM

Anyone who thinks that having a completely unregulated democratic
government should really try living in Taiwan and the United States.
Failing Health care systems, Huge percentage of the population with no
insurance and access to medicare, rampant crime due to stupid weapon
laws( propagated by rich and influential lobbyists), personality
politics, just to name a few. Come on, the United States elected BUSH!
TWICE! TWICE!!!!

Do we really want to give our people that much power to choose our
future leaders? Taiwan has an (almost) unregulated government, and they
elected Hooligans who can sway the people, but fight like gangsters on
the street. People who comment just negatively on Singaporean politics
usually haven't stayed in Singapore long enough if at all, or if they
are Singaporean, haven stayed anywhere else in the world. I mean, if
anyone is unhappy with the Singaporean political system, he should
really try living in the United States!

Posted by: Rob | Jul 24, 2007 11:31:11 PM

Singapore is a democatic country. What is democatic? And what is
autocatic? And what is communist? Singaporeans knows? Elite goes out of
singapore and get angry because they feels out of control? We should
feel proud to be Singaporeans but sad to say, there are still alot of
things we are lack of.

Posted by: NoFear | Jul 25, 2007 12:07:35 AM