"We are 'same-same but different': DPM Teo - CNA 22 August 2015
SINGAPORE: Even as the ruling party draws on the public service, particularly the uniformed services, for candidates, the question has been raised: Is there a danger of the fourth-generation leadership thinking too much alike?
At a press conference Saturday (Aug 22) to unveil the People's Action Party's (PAP) slate of candidates in Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean was asked about the apparent trend of former military and home team personnel joining politics.
Noting that the party draws its candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, he said: "Each of us comes in and we are all quite different. I think many of you don’t realise, for example, that (Manpower Minister Lim) Swee Say and I were together – we grew up in the crucible of the SAF, but he has a very different personality to myself. To quote Swee Say, I would say, ‘we are same-same but different’."
Among the PAP candidates for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC is former Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng, 47. If elected, the three-star general would be the highest-ranking career soldier to become a Member of Parliament (MP). Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Melvin Yong, 43, another new face, has been named as one of the party's candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC.
Asked if a number of the fourth-generation leadership seemed to be similar in profile, and how he would minimise group-think, Mr Ng said: "All of us have unique life experiences... we all bring unique perspectives. Even while we were in the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces), we speak our mind, we share our views – and the only common thing that drives us is the common desire to serve and achieve the best outcomes."
But Mr Teo also noted that the party, for the coming GE, has "a good slate" from the private sector. "We want a person who can understand and bring the knowledge into Parliament, and possibly Cabinet, to bring a new dimension to our discussions. But we also have MPs active in the social sector which brings a new dimension too... It's a broad-based party representing all Singaporeans in as inclusive a way as possible."
The question is DEFINITELY a GOOD question for the ruling party to SERIOUSLY think about!
Lessons for me are:
1. DPM Teo's explanation is probably true though it may not be good enough for critical thinking voters. For those who had been through the defence force, they know how officers' orders MUST be obeyed and cannot be questioned! So, SAF is NOT any organization where 'group think' can be developed. It is STANDARD EXPECTATION that soldiers just take order and the OFFICERS better be RIGHT, which they CANNOT be logically! There lie the RISK. In the SAF, unless it is in war mode, MISTAKES by the officers CAN be non-lethal. In politics, government officers making mistakes CAN ruin a generation!;
2. DPM Teo mentioned that they have candidates from private sector. Well, I am NOT sure those from Temasek, which seems to have produced QUITE a few candidates in the past, and NTUC and related organizations are exactly 'private' sector! I am also not sure if OTHERS will take DPM Teo's words on face value?;
3. The troubling thing is that if we think deeper: why are we NOT able to produce local talent who are schooled in the world class educational system THINK FIT NOT to join the government to create a bigger good for the majority of people? Is there something WRONG with the overall system? Could it be the talented feel that they CANNOT really voice their opinions that are DIFFERENT from the 'group think'? E.g. in the past 2 decades, we RARELY see or hear PAP MPs voicing strongly their different opinions and the PAP's WHIP has NOT been lifted even once I believe. Only MP Inderjit Singh and MP Lily Neo are the supposed exceptions.
I hope the voters accept DPM Teo's explanation. And that DPM Teo is right about PAP does not need to worry about 'group think' and that they are REALLY 'same same but different'!
SINGAPORE: Even as the ruling party draws on the public service, particularly the uniformed services, for candidates, the question has been raised: Is there a danger of the fourth-generation leadership thinking too much alike?
At a press conference Saturday (Aug 22) to unveil the People's Action Party's (PAP) slate of candidates in Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean was asked about the apparent trend of former military and home team personnel joining politics.
Noting that the party draws its candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, he said: "Each of us comes in and we are all quite different. I think many of you don’t realise, for example, that (Manpower Minister Lim) Swee Say and I were together – we grew up in the crucible of the SAF, but he has a very different personality to myself. To quote Swee Say, I would say, ‘we are same-same but different’."
Among the PAP candidates for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC is former Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng, 47. If elected, the three-star general would be the highest-ranking career soldier to become a Member of Parliament (MP). Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Melvin Yong, 43, another new face, has been named as one of the party's candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC.
Asked if a number of the fourth-generation leadership seemed to be similar in profile, and how he would minimise group-think, Mr Ng said: "All of us have unique life experiences... we all bring unique perspectives. Even while we were in the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces), we speak our mind, we share our views – and the only common thing that drives us is the common desire to serve and achieve the best outcomes."
But Mr Teo also noted that the party, for the coming GE, has "a good slate" from the private sector. "We want a person who can understand and bring the knowledge into Parliament, and possibly Cabinet, to bring a new dimension to our discussions. But we also have MPs active in the social sector which brings a new dimension too... It's a broad-based party representing all Singaporeans in as inclusive a way as possible."
The question is DEFINITELY a GOOD question for the ruling party to SERIOUSLY think about!
Lessons for me are:
1. DPM Teo's explanation is probably true though it may not be good enough for critical thinking voters. For those who had been through the defence force, they know how officers' orders MUST be obeyed and cannot be questioned! So, SAF is NOT any organization where 'group think' can be developed. It is STANDARD EXPECTATION that soldiers just take order and the OFFICERS better be RIGHT, which they CANNOT be logically! There lie the RISK. In the SAF, unless it is in war mode, MISTAKES by the officers CAN be non-lethal. In politics, government officers making mistakes CAN ruin a generation!;
2. DPM Teo mentioned that they have candidates from private sector. Well, I am NOT sure those from Temasek, which seems to have produced QUITE a few candidates in the past, and NTUC and related organizations are exactly 'private' sector! I am also not sure if OTHERS will take DPM Teo's words on face value?;
3. The troubling thing is that if we think deeper: why are we NOT able to produce local talent who are schooled in the world class educational system THINK FIT NOT to join the government to create a bigger good for the majority of people? Is there something WRONG with the overall system? Could it be the talented feel that they CANNOT really voice their opinions that are DIFFERENT from the 'group think'? E.g. in the past 2 decades, we RARELY see or hear PAP MPs voicing strongly their different opinions and the PAP's WHIP has NOT been lifted even once I believe. Only MP Inderjit Singh and MP Lily Neo are the supposed exceptions.
I hope the voters accept DPM Teo's explanation. And that DPM Teo is right about PAP does not need to worry about 'group think' and that they are REALLY 'same same but different'!
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