The Failure Story of People's Action Party

Dear Readers,

Today, I will be analysing the failure story of the People's Action Party (PAP) in the recent General Elections (GE) just held yesterday. The message is clear to all Singaporeans: PAP is losing its stranglehold on Singapore.

Over the past ten days of intense campaigning, both the opposition and the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) have put up tough fights, in all parts of the country except at Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC), which has seen a walkover for the PAP. Yesterday saw the end to the 2011 General Election.

The PAP had attained approximately 75.3% of the votes by Singaporeans in the year 2001, but this had drastically dropped by 15.2% to only a mere 60.1% in this election. This is an extremely big dip with regards to the support the PAP has garnered in the General Elections this year.

The PAP may have recovered Potong Pasir Single-Member Constituency (SMC), which has remained in the hands of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) for about 27 years already. However this is only possible after Mr Chiam See Tong of the Singapore People’s Party left to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

This election had also created a first in Singapore political scene. Aljunied GRC held by Foreign Minister George Yeo and first woman minister Lim Hwee Hwa, had fallen to the Workers’ Party (WP) “A” team comprising its secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and its chairman Sylvia Lim. With this loss, the PAP had lost two ministers too.

PAP new candidate, Desmond Choo, was also unable to wrestle WP stronghold, Hougang SMC, from new opposition candidate Yaw Shin Leong.

All these fully justify my claim that the PAP is losing the support of the people over these years.

The opposition parties are indeed of high calibre and rising in power, gaining much support from the people, especially the popular WP. They showed empathy and understood the issues closed to the hearts of their fellow residents, taking housing and healthcare as examples.

This is justified by the results of the elections and the votes cast for the opposition, where they lost by small margins. WP first time candidate for Joo Chiat SMC, Yee Jenn Jong, only lost by 342 votes, and SPP candidate for Potong Pasir SMC, Lina Chiam, lost by less than 1% of the votes. Even Reform Party, a newly-formed political party led by Kenneth Jeyaretnam scored a respectable percentage of 31.8%. Each opposition party scored an average of more than 30%, which is an outstanding result for the score sheet of the opposition in many decades.

There are a few reasons why I think the PAP is losing popularity amongst Singaporeans.

Firstly, the PAP has been extremely negligent towards the people’s needs and wants. They have aroused much dissatisfaction amongst the people of Singapore. For example, they have raised the Goods and Services Tax from 5% in 2006 to 7% in 2011. The cost of living is ever increasing, including the ever-rising electricity bills. The housing prices have also skyrocketed to prices never seen before, but the ruling party did not step in to counter this problem, causing much unhappiness amongst the people of Singapore.

Next, the PAP candidates can be said to be extremely old and have very few younger voices in Parliament, except for Tin Pei Ling, who has received much criticism ever since she stepped on to the political scene. The average age of a PAP is 47.66 ranging from 27 to 87 years old, whilst that of the opposition parties is 44.30 years, ranging from 24 to 76 years old. I believe this played an important role in PAP losing votes among the younger generation. The latter felt that their needs are not addressed by the government. By voting in more opposition in parliament,they may have a greater say in the administering of policies.

Besides PAP emphasis of Singapore’s move from a third-world country to a first-world country was unlikely to impact the younger generation and to influence them. These “after-75s” was born in a country of affluence and had not seen the efforts put in by the PAP over the early years of independence to propel the nation forward. PAP need to address this critical issue as these younger generations will definitely impact future elections to come.

The opposition candidates are no longer any Tom, Dick and Harry. Today, these people with impressive credentials move into politics with the mind and soul to serve the people. New opposition candidates like Chen Show Mao and Pritam Singh of the WP have also proven to be fantabulous speakers and have won the hearts (and votes) of many.

PAP cannot continue to be in a dazed state of mind, as it has been for the past few years. They have thought that their comfortable environment would last forever, but they have been proven wrong. This is definitely a wake-up call for the ruling party, to “slap the driver, when he’s sleeping”, as Low Thia Khiang of WP has said earlier.

The rallies of opposition parties, especially by the WP, have seen tens of thousands of supporters all over the shop, and have inspired many like me. The PAP must pull up their socks; else their governance over the people of Singapore would soon be wiped out a few elections after.

From the GE, I learnt that I should not take the people and things around me for granted. In the future, I will be more sensitive towards the needs of my family members and treasure them. I will also be more vigilant and hardworking in my studies and to be a better person.

Another lesson I learnt is that complacency comes before a fall. We should always be open to ideas, and listen to others’ suggestions, instead of thinking that we would always emerge victors and not work hard, for pride comes before a fall and complacency does the same damage.

To conclude, I sincerely think that the PAP should listen deeper and not remain apathetic to the needs of the people. They will have to revamp their policies accordingly, and for that I thank the opposition parties. Without them, we would not have received so many privileges, like neighbourhood upgrading programmes amongst them. The admittance of the mistakes made by the ruling party and after which the apology made by the PM may not have been possible without the pressure put up by the opposition.

What are your views and your thoughts about the GE?

Best Regards,
Nathan (:

Straight News Article - The Maycomb Tribune

Dear Readers,

In this post, I will be sharing with you a straight news article which I have written regarding the verdict of Tom Robinson's trial. Do sit back and relax, whilst reading this article.

The website is as follows:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/54204793/The-Maycomb-Tribune-Game-Over-Robinson

Thank you very much. Feedback is welcome. :)

Best Regards,

Nathan :)

Personal Recount: "A Day in World War II"

Dear Readers,

Today, I will be writing a personal recount as a civilian during the World War II. Please enjoy! :D

A Day in World War II

I am 28 years old this year and my name is Alexander Freud, a doctor at a clinic located near my house. I belong to one of the higher social classes in Switzerland, but the Nazis still hated my family and me, for we were Jews and Hitler hates Jews.

Every day during the World War II could be our last. Our lives are constantly in the hands of the cruel and gruesome Nazis. If they were happy, we could live for an additional day. However, if they were displeased, we would simply have to succumb to our destiny.

They acted as though they were kings, and murdered innocent civilians as easily as snapping their fingers. We had to bow at them to show our respect, or else we would be smacked by their rifles for our disrespect towards them.

We all hated the Nazis but what could we do? We were too powerless and vulnerable to fight against the powerful Nazis. If I could, I would have torn those merciless people into two, but alas!

All of us were malnourished and as thin as pencils. We barely had anything to eat in the shelters which we sought refuge in. Many of my fellow men and women have fallen victim to contagious diseases, whilst others died of starvation and dehydration. As a doctor, I felt hopeless, with so many deaths happening right before my eyes.

Today, I was heading out to the clinic for work, when I saw a few Nazis patrolling the streets. They were armed with their rifles which they would happily use at the slightest provocation. My old neighbour Mr Kunze was also heading out to his little pawnshop, when he accidentally knocked into a Nazi soldier due to his failing eyesight. He apologised profusely but the merciless one aim his rifle and shot at Mr Kunze, sniggering wildly with his comrades. Blood splattered all across the pavement, but a whining Mr Kunze was lying on the ground, gasping for breath. The Nazis then took turns to fire at him, as though it was some kind of entertainment game show. I was disgusted.

His daughter Miss Kunze appeared at the entrance of the pawnshop, witnessing the gruesome murder of her father. She let out a shriek, which aroused the attention of the Nazis. They dragged her back into the pawnshop. From where I stood, I could hear her scream, “Please don’t do this to me! Let me go!”

Living in this heartless world where one is being controlled and manipulated by the Nazis, I cannot do anything to help my fellowmen. This is really living hell, and I cannot take it anymore. What can one do? Where can one go? How long does one have to take this? I have no answers to any of these questions.

(476 words)

Best Regards,
Nathan :D

Descriptive Paragraph on Aftermath of War

Dear Readers,

Today, Miss Huang asked us to write a descriptive paragraph on the aftermath of war, and this is my attempt at the task. Please give me some feedback on how to improve. :)

Flanked on the two sides of what was previously a road, fallen buildings and destroyed homes fall victim to vicious bombings, degenerated to merely unrecognisable blocks of rock and cement. They lay strewn haphazardly along the pathways like pieces of rubbish all across the floor. Even the innocent roofs and window frames were not spared.

Exhausted soldiers clad in green uniforms emblazoned with spots of brown dashed into the front yard. They were greeted by an unpleasant odour of rotting corpses, mixed with the morning smell of dew accumulated over the night. Like valiant knights, they scuttled around the yard and searched through the bushes thoroughly for any signs of survivors. The touch of death was cold, as cold as ice.

Besides the occasional shouts of orders from the commander, the atmosphere was encompassed with an eerie silence. There was absolutely no sign of life along the road, deeming this place a desolate, lifeless land.

This was the sight of war, the sound of war, the touch of war, the taste of war and the smell of war.

___________________________________________________________________________

Thank you very much!

Best Regards,
Nathan :D

Expository Essay: Entertainers and Sports Stars Paid Too Much?

Dear Readers,

Today, I will attempt to write an expository essay on entertainers and sports stars, posed by my Language Arts teacher Miss Huang. Please provide some comments and feedback so that I can improve on this piece of writing!

Question 19. Should entertainers and sports stars be paid such large sums of money? What are your views?

In the year 2008, Tiger Woods, a world-renowned golf star, earned a cool $12 million just from playing the game and an additional $110 million endorsing sports brands like Nike and Buick. The revolutionary “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson, earned $509 million in his 39-year career as an entertainer. A full $5 million came easily just from his endorsement for Pepsi. As we see these huge figures going into the pockets of sports stars and famous entertainers, many cannot help but wonder why they are paid so exorbitantly. I strongly believe that it is absolutely reasonable for these big names to earn hefty sums of money in their career because of the sacrifices, insecurities, short career lifespan and upkeep of image.

Firstly, these famous stars sacrifice a lot of time and effort perfecting their skills. For entertainers, they have to spend long periods of time to hone their acting and singing skills for their shows and albums. Similarly, for sports stars, they have to train and workout as well. A good example would be Manchester United football star Wayne Rooney, who trains for 16 hours a day, only taking occasional rests in between each practice session. Whilst doing so, many stars had to sacrifice spending time with their loved ones. This is the reason why many celebrities often end up in divorce. Their hectic schedules give rise to many health conditions. The stress is also sometimes unbearable. Therefore, all these sacrifices which these stars and entertainers had to make for their careers, I feel it is only right that they should be fairly compensated.

Stars have to face many insecurities throughout their careers. An entertainer or sports star cannot guarantee that he or she will stay popular forever. Once they lose their popularity, they simply fade away from the limelight. What will happen to them? How will they sustain themselves? Reality is such in this merciless world of fierce competition. These personalities also do not have any governmental funds to support them in their old age. Only a sizable income can guarantee them a future.

Stars are unlike the average man on the streets. For us, when we step out from the house, no one really cares how we dress, much less how we look. However, stars have to upkeep their own personal image. When they are out in public, the way they look and the way they dress are very important as they are deemed the idols of their fans. Sadly, these cost money too.

Lastly, entertainers and sports stars have extremely short career lifespan. In the sports field, once they past their prime, which is approximately 35 years, their career is very much over. Once sports personalities have injuries, they might be forced into early retirement. A good example would be professional wrestlers, who are prone to sustain injuries. In the entertainment arena, the audience is only interested in the good-looking entertainers. Most often, once one is married or old, they automatically lose popularity, resulting in a reduced income. Therefore, they have to make their fortune in these extremely short career lifespan of theirs.

Some might argue that these personalities might become spoilt and not know how to handle the vast wealth which they suddenly come into contact with. They might lose themselves in the process and might resort to addiction such as alcohol and drugs to cope with the stress. However, I beg to differ. There are only a handful of such cases and the majority of stars are doing very well and handling their money wisely. After retiring from the respective trades, they are able to support themselves and their families. Thus, I feel that such an argument is totally invalid, as it is only true for a small group and the utilitarian perspective suggests that we should not deprive the larger group of their deserved privileges just because of a smaller, problematic group.

Celebrities are unlike the average people. To understand their situation, we must first put ourselves into their shoes. By seeing things in their perspective, we are then able to understand why they need to be paid such large income. Their sacrifices, insecurities, short career lifespan and upkeep of image totally justify such a need.

Thank you very much. Have a good day :D

Best Regards,
Nathan :D

Assessing Teachers in Hwa Chong

Dear Readers,

Today, I will be talking about yet another practical, real-life situation, and I believe that you will help me by giving some comments on this! :D

After every academic year, teachers grade students according to their academic progress, work attitude, personal conduct. Whilst pondering on this issue, I suddenly posed myself a question: why is it that students cannot assess their teachers?

Let me explain why assessing teachers should be implemented within Hwa Chong.

Through such an assessment, the school would be able to know how their teachers have been performing in class throughout the last academic year; whether or not they have been carrying out their duties and teaching to the best of their abilities. This way, it would be much easier and fairer for the principal and the respective departmental heads to decide which teachers should be promoted. This will give students a sense of belonging to the school as they are able to play a part in the school’s decisions, unlike other schools.

For the teachers, the assessment serves as a marker for themselves. By looking at the results, they would be able to identify whether their teaching style is appropriate for the students and which areas they can improve on. Good comments will make teachers feel acknowledged for all the efforts they have put in, and their teaching methods and styles can be adopted by others. This way, the teachers are able to learn from one another. With criticism, they will know where they can improve, and there on, become better teachers and better educators. One thing to note is that the teachers must take criticism in the correct light, in the same way which students take criticism from teachers.

Lastly, for the students, they would be able to practise making judgements and assessing others fairly with an unbiased mind.

I suggest that this assessment can be done as an online survey. This is because teenagers nowadays love to surf the Internet and they never feel bored to touch the keyboard and move the mouse. The survey results can then be tabulated for the teachers to see how they have fared.

Some might wonder, “What if the students are biased?” Bias or prejudice need not be a cause for worry, because there is a whole class of at least 25 students to assess the teachers. The apples and thorns of the teacher’s eyes would be moderated by the neutral student body, which gives rise to a fair result in all.

Assessing teachers will only benefit not only the school but also the teachers. Therefore I sincerely believe that the school should consider implementing this measure for the good of everyone.

Please give your comments! :D

Best Regards,
Nathan :)

Education System Duel: Japan vs Singapore

Dear Readers,

In the recent weeks, Japan has experienced many natural disasters. It started off with a large earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale, followed by a disastrous tsunami. The situation was then aggravated by the series of small quakes on the eastern coasts of Japan. The impact was so great that the main island of Honshu moved 2.4 metres westwards.

On the television and radio channels, we have heard the disastrous consequences of the Japanese quakes and tsunami. However, the Japanese community is seen as an orderly and well-disciplined group. Their resilience is evident in their mental strength to rebuild their cities and villages.

Whenever there is chaos occurring within the country, there would always be reports about looting happening all around. However, when we take a look at Japan, the situation is totally different. Some Japanese were having dinner during the quake and dashed out of the restaurant for shelter. After that, they returned to the restaurant to pay for their food. This is really touching, for I believe if this is to happen in Singapore, the locals would be relieved to have “a free lunch”.

On one of the days, it was reported in the news that the Japanese did not rush, push and squeeze to get their basic necessities. Instead, they queued up in neat rows in front of the cashier counter. Following that was a report from China, where I saw numerous people dashing into the stalls to literally “sweep” the bags of salt off the shelves. The orderliness of the Japanese is thereby in stark contrast with the ruthlessness of the Chinese. Bear in mind that the Japanese were experiencing disasters, whilst the Chinese were still living their normal day-to-day lives.

Why is this so? It is obvious that the education system is totally different. In Japan, the children were inculcated from as young as kindergarteners to respect elders, be loyal, work hard and be kind to others. The culture preaches discipline, diligence, calmness and also, unity.

Compare how the Japanese behaved to the tragedies, which took 8000 lives and caused 12000 to be missing, to how the Singaporeans behaved to the floods, which did not even cause any injuries at all, much less fatalities.

We, Singaporeans, are known to be complainers; whenever something is not to our liking, we complain and expect the government to solve all our problems, worries and fears. As we trace back, we realise that the main problem which is causing such a phenomenon is our education system.

Our education system is really results-oriented, and students’ mentality is that results are all that matters, as that is what their parents and teachers preach both at home and in school. In the newspapers, we see parents sending their children for tuition even at the elementary level of kindergarten.

Yes, we do have weekly Civics and Moral Education (CME) classes, but more often than not, the teachers who enter for CME classes and who are lagging behind in their subjects would use this as two additional periods to catch up in their teaching. Worse, in secondary schools, these CME lessons only happen once or twice a term.

All these result in an ill-mannered younger generation, who have poor moral values, if any to start with, and who care only for themselves.

On the Internet, we see people arguing that the Japanese were able to have such an orderly fashion because they have had experienced quakes many times before. However, I believe that should it happen in Singapore, it does not matter how many times it happens, the people will still be the same – the selfish ones who care solely about their needs, their wants and their own selves.

Singapore may be the No. 1 in many things. We might have the best airport and the busiest port in the world. However, when it comes to character-building, I believe we should really take a leaf out of the Japanese’s books.

(adapted from my journal entry for Art and Acts of Persuasion)

Best Regards,
Nathan :)