According to James Minchin, Lee Kuan Yew during his early days as prime minister had to soften his TV image, as his official smile is not unlike that of a crocodile tenderly anticipating its prey. When he is not tensed up to rebuke or attack, he tends to appear bored or chemically over-relaxed, wrote Minchin.
When Lee first saw himself on television, (Alex) Josey tells us, he was momentarily shocked into silence. He was appalled at the fierce and unsmiling figure on the screen, clearly spoiling for a fight. "This was not the figure the political Lee wanted to present to the electorate," wrote Josey.
(page 284, "No Man Is An Island", James Minchin)
We don't know why Lee Hsien Loong - or his hired public relations consultants - thought of going before the cameras, or what political figure Lee plans to present to the electorate. The mainstream media says he wants to forge a new way forward with all Singaporeans by answering questions "live" on a TV forum on Channel NewsAsia on September 24, and the "open discussion" will see him answer questions raised by people from "all walks of life". It's all Orwellian Doublespeak, of course.
Questions have been solicited from the public three weeks prior to the forum; that's as "live" as can be orchestrated. The "open discussion" session will be facilitated by Walter Fernandez, MediaCorp's Editor-in-Chief, and Ms Sharon Tong, a presenter - moderators, never leave home without it. As for "all walks of life", the list is curated and, purportedly, members of the public are invited to vote on the issues. "Curated" is defined in the dictionary as "Select, organize, and look after the items". Nothing is left to chance.
Lee junior has his own version of a smile, abandoned only when he had to apologize for not getting it right, as in during the 2011 general election. What did Aung San Suu Kyi say about leopards during the Q&A at Singapore Management University yesterday? "It's not that I want the leopards to change its spots. I just want the leopard to stay beautiful and dignified in the jungle." The "soldiers shouldn't be in govt" message was delivered before 400 government officials, business leaders, academics and students at the Ho Rih Hwas Leadership in Asia Public Lecture. Among them was Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim. The generals, if sighted, were not mentioned.
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Can anyone tell us which leader of another country studiously avoids a real "live" discussion on issues affecting the populace? His father relished the opportunity and even challenged his Britsh critic to a public debate in the UK many years ago. How far down have we come? As if to prove my point we had Aung San Suu Kyi doing it live (no tricks) yesterday at the SMU and Resorts World. Some men cannot hold a candle to this woman.
ReplyDeletePinky is the most expensive clown in the world and yet incapable of live interview ? Oh... cannot have live interview because must play safe and reject questions that is taboo like ( why still gerrymandering ? Why are you using public monies to fund PAP activities like your stupid wayang "live discussion" which is not live after all ? Why are you paying yourself the highest in the world ? Why election department under you ? Why the same ISD that detains innocent people in operation spectrum and operation coldstore still around ? Why the old fart still drawing public salary even though he can't serve and still medic expense pay out of public expense ? Why are you cabinet paying millions for been YESman/YESwoman ? "
DeleteNo wonder cannot conduct live interview by public because he want to "answer the right things" only like "Why hdb flat is still very affordable today as it is tomorrow ? Why you should only vote for PAP ? Why ShittyTimes still the most credible ? Why online DRUMS is bad for you but PAP DRUMS is good for you ?)
Lee Jnr may be "friendlier " looking and approachable than the Senior, but does he have a dagger in his smiles?
ReplyDeleteHow do you square with someone who said in his freudian slip, that he will have to worry about "fixing" his opponents if there were too many of them?
Can leopard change its spots? Lady Aung is realistic when she says she is not out to change them..just keep them in the jungle.
Lady Aung was probably referring to generals with combat experience, hence leopards in the jungle... where as those churned out in Singapore are essentially domestic cats kept as pets by PMLee and his father.
DeleteVery sharp. You actually noticed the unmentioned generals. LHL, LTY, TCH, CCS to name a few.
ReplyDeleteYou missed out Tan Chuan-Jin, is that significant?
DeleteBG Tan chuan jin undergoing refresher at PAP obedience school ?
DeleteOur leader praised the opposition lady will make a Good leader for her country. Is that not counted as an interference into some other country's domestic politics?
ReplyDeleteJust imagine if some other country praise that our opposition leader will be Good for our country? Is that not some kind of double standards?
But our Grand Forecaster did not say that leh, only a democracy icon but cannot be an able leader.
DeleteGrand Forecaster is also only an authoritarian icon. He cannot be an able leader without bankrupting or locking up his opponents, silencing his people and a free press. The truths are staring at you in the face, and the people are just waking up.
DeleteTo know if Singapore truly has a "benevolent ruler", just put your votes close to 51% for PAP in GE2016, and you will find out how benevolent LHL truly are, and his smiles will still be there. Why do you think grand master once said..don't judge him too soon until both his legs are in the coffin?
The people has their Population White Paper. Now the Leaders must also have their Parliament White Paper served on them, in the spirits of competition.
Soldiers should not be in the Government. Well said, very relevant and VITAL.
ReplyDeleteBUT,
Sinkies like it; they need the protection of the soldier boys. Lolx!
patriot
PAP luuvvvvsss soldiers to be in THEIR govt isn't it? LOL Look at all those useless majors, generals from the armed forces leading the various GLCs. And wasn't the chair of SMRT wanting to bring in more soldiers into SMRT itself?
DeleteMindef - the place to look for obedient PAP lackeys.
Our soldiers are technically speaking, ex-soldiers lah..be they BG, MG or LG.
DeleteBesides, every singaporean son is also a soldier because of reservists.
That's why SG is very safe. That's also why rich funders and bankers like this heaven. So many "paid solidiers" to guard their assets. What is there not to like, especially 60% of the population haven't figure out what their main purpose in life is, let alone their meaning of existence?
Sinkies have soldiers in their families in the form of CONSCRIPTS.
ReplyDeleteYes. And in another decade or 2, when the foreigners outsized the local core, many of locals can become condominiums security guards as jaggar for their lifestyles and assets.
DeleteAfterall, only in SG do 80% local population lives in public houses, which means the private houses/properties are occupied by 80% foreigners/PRs and 20% singaporeans. Such a smart population and prosperity planning to serve the elites.
Bravo bravo.
When the leopards are all in the jungle, what can save the Familee in a freak election...the Chua sisters or the President?
ReplyDeleteYou have clearly been missing out on all the news.
DeleteSome leopards have already been moved into the urban jungle.
They range from major ones like your PUB who can't stop flood despite his navy background, to generals who run logistics and transports who can't get your trains/buses well tuned up...to minor ones like controlling empty ballot boxes.
Ans : Not the Chua nor the Tan. Is the Chan.
ReplyDelete"The life of the ballot box ceases when the seal is broken and the ballot papers are emptied out and the box is certified to be totally empty"
Funny how the security of a coffin box (when a life-less madam was inside who was due for ash burning) is more important than a ballot box that can hold the lives of so many voters which can have life-changing effect is ironically missed!
Which is worse, you tell me lah?
ReplyDeletePaper Generals in Parliament?
Or a Paper Prime Minister in Parliament?
A paper prime minister who is also a paper general.
DeleteHe maybe of paper quality but, Sinkies do not mind.
DeleteMaybe Sinkies are more shitty than paper generals and prime minister?
LKY: If I were in authority in Singapore indefinitely, without having to ask those who are governed whether they like what is being done, then I have not the slightest doubt that I could govern much more effectively in their own interests. That is a fact which the educated understand, but we are all caught in this system which the British export all over the place hoping that somewhere it will take root.....Mao would lose his deposit if he had to stand for election today (on 1 man 1 vote)"..
ReplyDeleteThe Crucial Years by Alex Josey.
In short, PAP/LKY's version of "best-in-class" governance is premise on they having absolute dominance and control with an obedient bunch of sheeple which Singaporeans are known famously around the world, with a tinge of mocking smirk from the foreigners. He has even gone so much further where he has spent 10 years to come up with the installation of the President role to checkmate every steps of the way. The old article by catherine lim will give you an interesting insights to how he plans to re-seize control within 1 term in even of freak election. So the migration of soldiers into public service is just the many small moves they are preparing to make now.
Yet the most interesting point in the last 50 years is all about the promotion and glorifying success of 1 man and 1 party. Ever wonder why no other countries ever could be successful modeling our template? From Africa to MiddleEast to Europe or Asian? Not because of the brilliance of the Politicians or Leaders as they like to give credits to, but because there is no farking way in any other countries where the electorate will allow them to walk all over them, except the silly Singaporeans. So the answer to that elusive success is clear as day. Is not because you have GREATEST leaders, but because you have the GREATEST electorate who will let them do so. But since when do they acknowledge and give credits to the people? NEVER...is still all about the MAN and his VIEWS, utterly inflated into a bubble they gladly wrap themselves in.
Well said Anon 9.09pm. They are so afraid to exercise right at the ballot box, instead they prefer to put up crap and spin from the Party Against People. It's as if they are sadists and loved being punished. Or they are plain daft, gullible, on that account the old git is right.
ReplyDelete