Daily Lessons from Life 10 May 2011 - Mr George Yeo Retired from PAP

The headline read: BG Yeo retired from politics. I begged to differ. Hence my headline reads: Mr George Yeo retired from PAP. Even that is not entirely correct as in the press conference after his statement was read, he mentioned that as a Singapore citizen he has an interest in national politics as that affect how the nation and the people's lives are impacted.

Lessons for me are:

1. Mr George Yeo has his reservation and doubts about the single-mindedness his PAP party went about carrying out the policies that they believed are GOOD for Singaporeans. YET, when the people to whcih PAP claimed will benefits sent the signals that they do not get it, they were ignored. More explantion of why the policies were implemented and how the adversely impacted people SHOULD have understood were given! Hence, the votes to the WP resulting in a supposedly good Minister losing his seat and hence his post in the Cabinet. Is this a blindspot that everyone has missed or someone had chosen to ignore as Mr Yeo clearly said that some 'debates' went on about this?;

2. the statement by one of the ministers right after the GE results that: the government JUST need to be better at communicating with Singaporeans on why the policies are right and necessary created some alarms as it clearly showed that he has missed the point! It is NOT about 'better communication of the policies implemented for the GOOD of Singapore' but the REAL adverse effects suffered by the voters and Singaporeans. If the government DOES NOT acknowledge this and REPENT (quoting MM Lee's famous quote), it will continue to lose credibility and votes...;

3. IF Mr Yeo's PAP does not appreciate his insights and seriously embark on a soul searching fundamental reflection to recongize their blindspots, he should step outside PAP and campaign for Singapore. Singapore is BIGGER than PAP. He will help credibility. Of course, it will be very difficult to speak against old colleauges. Some will even labeled him a traitor or an ingrate or a sour loser. He has shown that he was NOT a sour loser by graciously and calmly acknowleding his 'defeat' at the GE2011 poll. So, this argument will not stick. He will be lauded for being helping PAP to see the light and to continue to do the good work that it CAN do IF it can assess the adverse impact of some of their policies and address them.

Singaporeans are NOT asking that all adverse effects be removed. Just that one needs to acknowledge there are adverse effects and alternative solutions that the adversely affected citizens can feel that something is being done to really offer relief. NOT more EXPLANTION!!

Majulah Singapura!