I agree with the new tagline for Singapore - Uniquely Singapore - but we must be honest about what makes Singapore unique.
Singapore is certainly unique for the following reasons:-
1. The people live under an oligarchy which has no concept of the Rule of Law and therefore does not follow the Rule of Law;
2. Consequently its citizens live in fear of being arrested and thrown into prison without any recourse or appeal to the courts;
3. Citizens live in fear of voicing their grevances either alone or with others in public. They cannot join others in a procession to voice their grievances;
4. Workers have no rights and are in the position of slaves with no say whatsoever in what happens to them in their employmwnt;
5. A Cabinet Minister is the czar of the trade unions telling the workers what to do;
6. Medical and health care is too expensive for 30% to 40% of the citizens;
7. The elderly have no pension and are forced to rely on their children to provide for them;
8. Education is designed to teach children loyalty to the values preached by the oligarchy;
9. Its ministers are the highest paid in the world whilst a high proportion of workers do not earn enough to afford a reasonable standard of life and the lowest worker is paid $600-00 or less a month, barely sufficient for him to keep alive;
10. Where innocent people run a high risk of being convicted and sentenced to prison or death than in other countries.
So Singapore is indeed unique.
J B Jeyaretnam
10th March 2004
Sources and Relevant Links:
Think Centre Finance Minister is like Robin Hood in reverse
