"Govt refutes author's claims over public trust - The Straits Times Saturday, Jun 14, 2014
SINGAPORE - The Government has refuted author Catherine Lim's claim in an open letter to the Prime Minister that Singaporeans no longer trust it.
The level of trust remains high, it said, as it has done much to improve people's lives, including addressing problems of income inequality, slowing social mobility and the middle-income squeeze in a "sustainable and responsible" way.
The Government's response came in a letter from Singapore's Consul-General in Hong Kong Jacky Foo to the South China Morning Post after it reported on Ms Lim's open letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong."
Hmmm. Ms Lim again! As I read the WHOLE report, it seems that Ms Lim DID mentioned the good work that the PAP government has done since the watershed GE2011 but Mr Foo, who cited similar 'achievements', for some reasons STILL want to 'challenged' her views.
Lessons for me are:
1. This is NOT the 1st time Ms Lim had 'crossed words' with the PAP government. Each time, she has made some valid points and acknowledged some good work done by the PAP government. Each time, the government repeated the 'good work, acknowledged by Ms Lim, that they had done' and go on to 'rebuke or refute' Ms Lim's other contentious points. Each time, though there was no official survey been done, the public seemed to empathize with Ms Lim than that of the government;
2. I did not do much research on "the Edelman Trust Barometer" quoted by Mr Foo that 75 per cent of respondents in Singapore said they trust the Government. That was compared with 37 per cent in the United States, 42 per cent in the United Kingdom and 45 per cent in Hong Kong. However, an AsiaOne forum contributor pointed out that the SAME REPORT also noted a 'continued decline' of the % of trust by Singaporeans. IF this is true, Mr Foo may be putting his head in the sands and this CANNOT be helpful!;
3. I am not public pollster so I DO NOT know if the public trust the PAP government as much as they did in the past. What I do know is that the YOUNGER generation of Singaporeans, regardless if they are right or wrong, are more aware of the power of their votes. They are not less trusting but definitely more questioning than their loyal parents and grandparents. This is to be expected since Singapore has increased the literacy rate of its population by a lot. This is indisputable since the government said that is the fact. So, IF the people are NOT less trusting of the PAP government, fine and well. BUT if they are, then maybe the educated Singaporeans ARE not as smart and 'rational' as the government want them to be with 'higher education'?
Another interesting topic to ponder over by Singaporeans. Who is right? Who is really listening? Are Singaporeans asking for too much when the government had done so much for them? for their own good?
Well, who knows! The real test is in the next GE. Are we ready?
The level of trust remains high, it said, as it has done much to improve people's lives, including addressing problems of income inequality, slowing social mobility and the middle-income squeeze in a "sustainable and responsible" way.
The Government's response came in a letter from Singapore's Consul-General in Hong Kong Jacky Foo to the South China Morning Post after it reported on Ms Lim's open letter to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong."
Hmmm. Ms Lim again! As I read the WHOLE report, it seems that Ms Lim DID mentioned the good work that the PAP government has done since the watershed GE2011 but Mr Foo, who cited similar 'achievements', for some reasons STILL want to 'challenged' her views.
Lessons for me are:
1. This is NOT the 1st time Ms Lim had 'crossed words' with the PAP government. Each time, she has made some valid points and acknowledged some good work done by the PAP government. Each time, the government repeated the 'good work, acknowledged by Ms Lim, that they had done' and go on to 'rebuke or refute' Ms Lim's other contentious points. Each time, though there was no official survey been done, the public seemed to empathize with Ms Lim than that of the government;
2. I did not do much research on "the Edelman Trust Barometer" quoted by Mr Foo that 75 per cent of respondents in Singapore said they trust the Government. That was compared with 37 per cent in the United States, 42 per cent in the United Kingdom and 45 per cent in Hong Kong. However, an AsiaOne forum contributor pointed out that the SAME REPORT also noted a 'continued decline' of the % of trust by Singaporeans. IF this is true, Mr Foo may be putting his head in the sands and this CANNOT be helpful!;
3. I am not public pollster so I DO NOT know if the public trust the PAP government as much as they did in the past. What I do know is that the YOUNGER generation of Singaporeans, regardless if they are right or wrong, are more aware of the power of their votes. They are not less trusting but definitely more questioning than their loyal parents and grandparents. This is to be expected since Singapore has increased the literacy rate of its population by a lot. This is indisputable since the government said that is the fact. So, IF the people are NOT less trusting of the PAP government, fine and well. BUT if they are, then maybe the educated Singaporeans ARE not as smart and 'rational' as the government want them to be with 'higher education'?
Another interesting topic to ponder over by Singaporeans. Who is right? Who is really listening? Are Singaporeans asking for too much when the government had done so much for them? for their own good?
Well, who knows! The real test is in the next GE. Are we ready?
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