The appointment of cabinet ministers by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong raises some troubling questions about the way the Government continues to operate.
These questions centre around the stepping down of former ministers Wong Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan, and Raymond Lim which came as a bolt from out of the blue. There was no hint before or during the elections that these men would not continue to be in the cabinet line-up.
It is not so much their exclusion from the cabinet rather than the way their sackings/resignations was conducted that should concern Singaporeans.
At a press conference on Monday, PM Lee told the country that Messrs Wong, Mah and Lim (hereafter referred to as the "three ministers") had indicated that they had wanted to step down from their cabinet posts even before the elections but were told (presumably by Mr Lee himself) to stay on until after the general elections. This would strengthen the PAP's hand at the polls.
And so after the elections, their desire to relinquish their ministerial positions was respected by the Prime Minister.
But was this really the case? Mr Lim Boon Heng, also a minister, was allowed to retire before the elections. Mr Lim was no lightweight - he was Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and was the secretary-general of the NTUC. He is also the chairman of the PAP.
If PM Lee really wanted heavyweight ministers to help anchor the PAP team and win the elections, why did he not keep Mr Lim as he did the other three ministers during the hustings?
Then there is also the Goh Chok Tong factor. The former Senior Minister launched a jaw-dropping broadside against Wong, Mah and Lim in what seemed like a desperate attempt to save Mr George Yeo from electoral defeat.
He said: "What mistake has he (George Yeo) made? You can take a minister and criticise him for not delivering on perhaps housing (Mah Bow Tan) and transport (Raymond Lim). Like Wong Kan Seng you can say he let Mas Selamat escape. George Yeo, what has he done to deserve this? And he is a core member."
(Mr Goh's quote in the Today newspaper was cleaned up. Mr Goh's actual words were: "Like Wong Kan Seng you can say 'Put him out' because he let Mas Selamat escape." Watch the video. This is another instance of how the media distorts the record.)
This is the first time such a schism has been so publicly displayed by PAP leaders. Mr Goh could have given the electorate at Aljunied all the reasons they needed to vote for Mr Yeo and stopped there.
But he didn't. He turned on his three fellow ministers, demonstrating his frustration and displeasure at the situation. He named Mr Yeo as a "core member" of the PAP together with the PM and DPM Mr Teo Chee Hean, and left everybody else out.
Significantly, no such endorsement came from Mr Lee Hsien Loong. And when Mr Yeo thanked his party for the support, he mentioned only Mr Goh.
Mr Wong Kan Seng was not taking all this lying down. He fired back at the Senior Minister, saying: "Well, that is just SM Goh's personal opinion."
In the video, the former DPM betrayed no sign that he was going to step down. If anything his defensiveness told viewers that he was determined to stay on as a minister.
He added that, "And if you heard the Prime Minister three years' ago, his views are very clear as to what needs to be done and I don't need to repeat what the Prime Minister had said of me. If he didn't think I could contribute, I wouldn't be here." (Italics added)
Obviously, Mr Wong was referring to PM Lee's confidence in him to continue serving as DPM and Coordinating Minister for National Security after the elections, a post he was appointed to just before the elections.
Why would Mr Lee promote Mr Wong to national security coordinator (a post now given to DPM Teo Chee Hean) if Mr Wong had indicated that he wanted to resign from the cabinet after the elections?
Two camps, five resignations and more questions
Clearly two camps had emerged: One was with the Lees which included the three ministers and the other Mr Goh and (at least one other) Mr Yeo.
Then came the post-election bombshell: Mr Lee announced the resignation of the three ministers. To add to the intrigue, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Goh himself also tendered their resignations from the cabinet.
Given all the unhappiness and back-biting, did PM Lee have to do the necessary to placate all sides: Let the three ministers go, and ask SM to step down?
As readers can see there are many troubling questions about what went on before, during and after the GE: Why wasn't Lim Boon Heng asked to stay on like Wong Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan and Raymond Lim? Were the two camps the reason that led to the stepping down of the five ministers at one go? Did SM Goh also know that the three had indicated that they had wanted to step down before the elections?
If we accept that the three ministers did indeed indicate that they had wanted to step down as ministers after the GE, it still leaves the all-important question: Why did PM Lee not inform the voters before the elections?
Elections are based on informed choices, or at least they should. Given certain information, voters may or may not choose to vote for a particular candidate or party. This was not the case for Singaporeans going to the polls on 7 May. Choosing not to tell voters the intention of the three ministers led voters to think that they would be voting for the trio to continue in their posts.
This is not the way a government should operate. The people of Singapore deserve better, they deserve transparency from this Government. Keeping secret till after the elections the intention of ministers wishing to step down is not what the people deserve.
The goings-on within the PAP and the Government throw up many questions that scream for answers and Singaporeans have the right to know what is going on. These happenings do not inspire confidence - and in a government that is only two weeks old.
Well said Singapore DEmocrats ! Keep focus on the people
Fri 20 May 2011 11:11 AM
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freedomT
PAP is not a united party anymore. LHL is just trying to buy time. There is infighting in it. We would be better of with opposition as a stable government but NO!!! 60% still want us to be ruin by these people. Just look at the current cabinet line up. There are even 9 days old people suddenly become a minister overnight.
Fri 20 May 2011 11:33 AM
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maxchew
It's not only the PAP Govt......in political history everywhere, 2 or even 3 factions would usually arise eventually from the seat of power.
Fri 20 May 2011 1:20 PM
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Prime Citizen
the "three ministers") had indicated that they had wanted to step down from their cabinet posts even before the elections but were told (presumably by Mr Lee himself) to stay on until after the general elections : PAP motherhood political statements since Independence. that's polite sacking but it is still sacking due to performance below par standard.
Fri 20 May 2011 2:12 PM
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King Cobra
It seems there could be some trouble already brewing within PAP, and the culprit who started off could be PM himself.
Hence, expect more regrettable news in the days to come, and who knows, think there could be a certain faction within PAP who may fall out and form a new party, just like Barisan Sosialis in the 60s.
Well, if this the case, hope SDP will be in a better position to try secure such fall out ministers and MPs, as well as, members of PAP, together with the key NTUC union members.
Thus, look forward towards SDP being strong and ready to form the alternative government by the next GE 2016! CHEERS!
Fri 20 May 2011 3:17 PM
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stevenado - Soup
The pap has changed the soup but main ingredients still remains.We can expect some cosmetic changes but no big big deal.GTC's generals has been removed or sidelined b4 GE.George was fence sitter.After GE,LHL's generals kena kick out by the people.I think LHL priority is to kick out GCT and his generals.Well, it happened in China history...so it is obviously clear.GCT's comment on WKS shows the horse's leg.
Fri 20 May 2011 3:19 PM
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Prime Citizen
Radical Change is a trait from radical mind and radical minded politic is dangerous for many naive citizens (me inclusive) if not handle with care and caution.
Who knows?...when your (the 60% who voted for PAP ) really famous people will do whatever it takes to ruin your reputation,it happens everywhere and if those allegations were true how would anyone know if its real?
PM Lee has to do one more thing to prove to us that he is really serving this nation not for money motives but reallly for loving this nation with real Singaporean patriotic spirit : to reduce his present SGD$ 4 million (round uo figure) to $ 50,000 per year for the next five years and used the difference to stimulate the small local businesses in the neighbourhood heartlanders. Your action is lounder than your constant words of ensuring on the press media.
Fri 20 May 2011 11:40 PM
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Truedemocrat - PAP conspiracy
PAP is taking the wealth from Singaporeans. Now,this regime is at loggerheads with each other. As many have predicted,the fall of this PAP regime will come true when they have disunity among themselves. I think the end is very near. Work hard SDP, you will be leading our government very soon.
Fri 20 May 2011 4:23 PM
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rover2sg
That's it. Good comment and reasoning. The PAP must realise that there are good thinking Singaporeans around and you cannot fool all the people all the time.
For SDP this is the type of analysis that will win over true right thinking Singaporeans. Do away with your previous dependent on foreign presses and western do-gooders.
Before the election, voters were warned that by voting opposition, the country risks losing Ministers (esp in GRC).
Now, after the election, these ministers resigned. So what difference does it make if these leaving ministers were not voted in as MP in the first place? They still are relinquishing their ministries, either by resigning or sacked?
Furthermore, if they really resigns or indicated to resign, the LHL is not telling the voters the truth but instead, gave out empty threats just to get some additional votes for PAP.
Is it morally upright?
Fri 20 May 2011 6:49 PM
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Worker
Who's who in which camps? I shall attempt my own listing. Some, like George Yeo, straddles more than one camp.
LKY's loyalists : Jayakumar, Wong KS, Mah BT, Shanmugam, George Y, Teo CH, Ng EH,
GCT's loyalists : GY, Lim BH, Khaw BW, Yaacob.
LHL's loyalists : Tharman, Ng EH, Lim HK, Khaw BW, Lui TY, Gan KY, Yaacob, Chan CS, Lim SS, Tan CJ.
Out of favour : Vivian B, Raymond L,
Fri 20 May 2011 11:27 PM
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Errol Goodenough
Take it from the Bard:-
JULIUS CAESAR - Act IV Scene I
A house in Rome. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a table
Antony : These many, then, shall die; their names are prick'd.
Octavius: Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
Lepidus: I do consent - -
Octavius: Prick him down, Antony.
Lepidus: - - upon condition Publius shall not live, who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.
Antony: He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.
Fri 20 May 2011 11:35 PM
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freedomT
SDP and all the opposition parties should start to plan and take over as elected government in 2016. With the current PAP no change cabinet in place, more votes are coming your way. Please have a ready plan once PAP loses the 2/3 majority which is coming true. They will get less than 60% in 2016 since they still want to play this game by their own rules. By 2016 election time, show the plan to us and we would be more confident to vote in opposition candidates. Reveal it only during that election period and not now cause the PAP will make used of it. Let there be a united opposition front as a coalition government for Singapore. After that we can change the system in our favour and the elected useless President as well.
Sat 21 May 2011 12:27 AM
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April Fool
SDP, listen to GCT's video again.
GCT didn't say "put him out"; he said "vote him out".
Sat 21 May 2011 8:07 AM
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Prime Citizen - secure our public water integrity
Recent incident of water tank contamination by a human corpse(2011) and boys put detergent power in Paya Lebar area water tank in year 2002 reflected how complacent are our governmenr bodies concerning water safety in our nation. I held the ruling party accountable and not play play in this matter. Terrorists came in many forms and we are just kidding ourselnes with just all this socalled cahnge of ministers and portfolio in cabinet while neglect those things that directly going to 'kill' the citizens .
Sat 21 May 2011 12:08 PM
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Prime Citizen
A ROOFTOP water storage tank in which the body of an Indonesian maid was found on Monday could end up being taken out of use, MP for Sembawang GRC Vikram Nair said yesterday.
The PAP ruling party has to do more than that, merely closing water tank or replace the water tank. The PUB must fix microfilter (free of charge, of course)to every household nationwide. Reason for the increasing cancer cases in our nation is primarily due to the contamination along the pipes overtime and some poor neighbours cannot afford the cost of effective water filtering system. I never buy to the ruling PAP assurance that Singapore water is safe to consumpt direct from the faucets.
Sat 21 May 2011 11:19 PM
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greyheyn - Shakespeare points to a possible future
Just a ripping yarn or does Shakespeare still talk directly to us over the centuries, I wonder.
The ruling coalition (triumvirate) is threatened by an outsider (Pompey). They come to a political agreement after which Pompey is killed in battle by Octavius Caesar. Octavius Caesar then proceeds to kill the other two men in the coalition (Anthony and Lepidus) and assume absolute power. The photo at the beginning of this article is rather haunting.
Sat 21 May 2011 11:22 PM
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freedomT
SDP and all opposition parties, please demand PM Lee to have an independent commitee to review the Ministers' salaries. How can he appoint somebody from his own people to be the one checking. They are for sure will cover each other backside. May I suggest we get Mr Low and the rest of the opposition MPs be the ones doing this review for us the people.
The appointment of cabinet ministers by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong raises some troubling questions about the way the Government continues to operate.
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