What I am puzzled about isn't Halimah but her bosses. Why didn't she become an MP sooner and then why were Lim Hwee Hua and Grace Fu made full ministers and not her. Now she is going to become Speaker tomorrow but I always remember Lim Hwee Hua as aloof and Grace Fu as one with a knack for saying the wrong things. The habits from running PSA aren't the right ones for a politician and public servant. Singapore Inc. has become a narrowly moneyed and dirty word. That's what happen when you take anything to extremes.
Politics is about the acquisition and exercise of POWER. You surround yourself with those you trust and who in turn will be your loyal supporters. Thus you gain ascendency within your own party first, then the country.
ReplyDeleteIn considering who to appoint to what position (within the party or in govt), again, it's the political value (ie how can he make me stronger?) of the appointee that is the paramount consideration.
All talk about serving the people, putting the people's interest first, etc. etc. are mere platitudes.
I never fail to chuckle whenever I hear American presidents or presidential candidates intone "...for the American people.." or "God bless America.." whenever they give a political address.
Same here, ma!
Of course, I must add that not ALL politicians are simply out for power unto themselves. Though an important motivator, it is not necessarily the ONLY one, unless he happens to be another Assad or Kim in clever disguise.
ReplyDeleteWe have been fortunate to have had a first generation of politicians whose exercise of political power yieled exceptional benefits for the people, in terms of material progress, though again it's debatable whether this was incidental or pivotal to their political ambition.
She has a masters in law, I wonder how she and her PAP colleagues sleep at night and accept such an amazing verdict, "Plainly, a person inside a polling station cannot be said to be within a radius of 200 metres of a polling station..."
ReplyDeletePlus... isn't it common sense that a subsidised HDB flat should NOT be taken by someone who could EASILY afford a flat or house that is worth 10 times or more?
So Halimah Yacob is a record high jumper,from some poor lady in Singapore who qualified for HDB house to one earning close to $ 4 million a year,to represent the poor workers of Singapore,is this a joke? Onion.
ReplyDeletei agree wholely with you!!! its home that feels right!! :)
ReplyDelete