have been missing for awhile!
mmm got to sleep soon, polling day tmr! volunteering as polling agent at bishan tpy's polling centre tmr.
some of my friends ask me, why am i so interested in this elections? why go for rallies? especially since i can't even vote?
well the thing is, i think it's important to know what's happening with your country, with the direction your country is going. it's good to find out what other people: the opposition, the man on the street, the neighbour next door, is thinking and feeling. (i'm sure you get even of PAP's line of thought from years of sg education and countless speeches by ministers etc) at the end of the day, this is the country YOU are staying in, this is the country YOU are going to live in for the next XX years, and the policies that are enacted today, the people who are in parliament today, are the ones who will make decisions who will affect YOUR life, YOUR children's lives, and many other singaporean's lives!
So why shouldn't you be interested?
it's quite saddening to see the politically apathetic young person.
as much as we are educated young singaporeans, growing up under a world class education system and in a highly competitive society, it pains me to have fellow young singaporeans who CAN'T THINK. CRITICALLY. some people are simply going "rah-rah opposition all the way!". they complain about this and that, about the foreigners, cost of living, overcrowded public transport, high ministers' pay, lack of aid to elderly and needy, state of healthcare etc etc etc. it's singaporeans' favourite hobby, no doubt. but as educated young singaporeans who are supposedly the ones who are able to think critically and evaluate, some young people are so caught up in the heat of flaming PAP that they fail to consider both sides of the coin.
have you forgotten, or ignored the many good things the government has implemented with PAP as the ruling party? (note that the government does not equals to PAP!) of course, that is not to say that just because they have the steering singapore well for the past 50 years, they can steer well for the next 50, or even 5 years.
it's is true that we need alternative voices in parliament, but at the end of the day, do you think that all the abovementioned issues will magically disappear over the next 5 years with more opposition in parliament? they are not a magic portion can? yes, there might be more opposition in parliament, but will they be able to accomplish much in parliament? how capable are they? and are you willing to give them a chance to try it out at the expense of your country's future?
I don't agree with everything that PAP does too, and studying social work, you do realise the many problems and limitations of current policies for the needy in singapore. there are many shortcomings of the incumbent party, definitely.
i don't think ministers should get 15k (ard there?) a month, because they are public servants, and when you say you will serve us and understand the ordinary singaporean's needs, you shouldn't be drawing an extravegant pay. it is important for you to be paid well, in recognition of your good and hard work. but then, there's a difference between fair compensation and extreme compensation. as a public servant, do you expect your pay to be pegged to that of a private sector top earner? who doesn't know that the private sector's main motivation is money and the free market? is that how a country should be run as well?
okay getting a bit carried away about this, but you get my drift.
and things like increasing singapore's population to 6 million? and the government says we're under populated? ARE YOU SERIOUS. where are you going to squeeze 1 000 000 more people in singapore? the current population is reaching 5 million and are you sure the island can even take 1 million more? are you going to start building HDBs in lim chu kang or are we going to start reclaiming land all the way to pulau ubin? or maybe build upwards and downwards (our favourite tactic so far) so that we have not just B1, B2, but all the way to B50?.. it'll be almost a journey to the centre of the earth.
and have you ever taken the public transport during peak hour? it's totally. OH. MY. GOSH. WHAATTTT?? i feel like a sardine is a can, and the weirdest thing is, when i'm returning from school at the 6-7pm+ timing, i am hearing much more distinct foreign voices than i used to a couple of years back (granted, i didn't take as much long distance MRT rides in the past). without doubt, i sometimes feel like the minority in my own country.
all these are issues the government has to deal with, and i certainly hope that whoever who is a MP can listen to what the people are concerned about and have action. this applies not just to opposition but PAP as well.
and on the other hand, there are those who go "aiya, sure PAP win one, of course i vote for PAP lah!" eh hello, have some backbone can anot? don't vote for a party just cos you are darn sure they will win, and your want to be able to tell people proudly that you voted for the WINNING party. i mean, if the opposition in your constituency is good, and you think they are capable, it's alright to vote for them. please, do some homework and find out about the candidates in your counstituency! both PAP and opposition. you don't have to follow the crowd, just beacuse everyone is doing so.
then there are those who vote for PAP because well, "my life is good now, i don't need any changes". that's not to say you should just have changes for the sake of changes. but, think about your fellow singaporeans too, not just yourself. we progress as a society, not alone.
in short, i just want to say: THINK CAREFULLY!
i just hope that for the next 5 years, you stick with your vote. if you voted for PAP, accept that PAP is probably gna rule your life. well.. we already know how it feels like.
and if you voted for alternative parties, accept that they probably can't change much, nor have the capabilities, or face limitations, to carry out changes or formulate policies to back up the many promises they have made. it's easy to suggest changes, but policies aren't simple to implement, with numerous factors to consider.
your vote is your responsibility, your right AND privilege as a singaporean.
therefore, vote wisely :)
& all along, its only what I thought.
1:16 AM