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Get
past the shock that this book is available, and
there are some worthwhile points to this tome
that attacks more the people who accept censorship
rather than the powers that may have imposed it.
Written
and published by Think Centre, an independent
political research outlet based in the Asia-Pacific
region, the book dissects our political reality.
In what is perhaps the most critical analysis
of the nation’s citizenry in the political
arena, the book takes up the issue of consequence
of the prevalent low level of political awareness
and its implications. The book also explores the
malfunctions of a population, which, it postulates,
is lulled by healthy economic data and yet list
in the know-how of exercising its right to harness
its political participation adequately.
Attacking
the psyche of Singaporeans for the lack of active
political participation, this book doesn’t
blatantly challenge the government. Rather, it
chooses to delve into how the political climate
here has evolved itself to one that is viewed
to be oppressive by the public eye. Eventually,
Self-Censorship: Singapore’s’ Shame
induces the electorate to be more involved in
the local political arena.
In
arguing that we have become too intellectually
straitjacketed for own good. Gomez also trots
out the familiar argument that a lack of political
development may well hinder the progress of the
nation and the aspirations of becoming the “world
class’ home we are always hearing about.
The book also cites instances that have suggested
more that the public could have done in order
for democracy to mature. For instance, there are
mentions of the lack of a by-election in Jalan
Besar GRC and the lack of interest in understanding
the inconsistencies of the elected president issue
from a “sleeted” to a “custodial”
role. The book also goes on to argue that the
Singapore public has now to grapple with the effects
of self-censorship.
But
what holds as a unique emblem for this book is
that it holds no alternative political agenda
as it tackles the more pertinent issue: how far
we Singaporeans have come in the political discussions
of today and how much are we part of the nation’s
progress. While we may have registered healthy
economic growth we may not have quite developed
in the political arena in terms of having a worthy
two-party debate in Parliament. This lack of society’s
ability to come forth and induce a higher level
of political development is deemed to be one of
the major impediments for creativity to flourish:
a trait that the government has always hoped to
encourage from the electorate.
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