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Tag: elite

  • The Singapore Government By The Numbers

    The Singapore Government By The Numbers

    Which school in Singapore has produced the most number of office-holders in the 2015 Singapore Cabinet? How many doctors and lawyers are there in the mix? How many made the jump from military service to political office? Who is the youngest and who is the oldest person in Government?

    On Monday (Sept 28), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed his new Cabinet following the Sept 11 election, in which the ruling People’s Action Party won a 69.9 per cent of the votes.

    He introduced a new Coordinating Minister role which will be undertaken by his two deputies – Mr Teo Chee Hean (National Security) and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Economic and Social Policies) – as well as veteran minister Khaw Boon Wan, who will be Transport minister as well as co-ordinate issues related to Infrastructure.

    Mr Lee also put younger faces in key posts, including first-time MPs Ng Chee Meng and Ong Ye Kung who will both be Acting Minister in the Education portfolio.

    Among them are several former principal private secretaries (PPS):

    • Mr  Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Transport and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, was PPS to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (1992 to 1995).
    • Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance, was PPS to then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew (1997 to 2000).
    • Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, was PPS to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (2005 to 2008).
    • Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State for Communications and Information and Health, was PPS to Mr Lee Kuan Yew (2008 to 2011).
    • Mr Ong Ye Kung, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence, was PPS to PM Lee Hsien Loong (2002 to 2005).

    There are also several former military men:

    • PM Lee was a Brigadier-General in the army.
    • Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, was the Chief of Navy.
    • Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office and Government Whip, was the Chief of Army.
    • Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development, was a Brigadier-General in the army.
    • Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister of Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Transport, was Chief of Defence Force.

    Here is a look at the Singapore Government by the numbers.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Elitism Is Good For Everyone

    Elitism Is Good For Everyone

    If ever there was a letter placed in the Straits Times to justify the status quo in Singapore, and just a month after the prime minister proclaimed the societal benefits of a “natural aristocracy” in the conservative citystate, it is this remarkable missive by Mr Russell Tan Wah Jian.

    Having graduated from Raffles Institution (RI) last year, I have witnessed the transformation of the school and would like to share my thoughts on the matter (“RI now a ‘middle-class’ school / ‘Make RI a better school for S’pore’” and “RI population less diverse now, say many alumni“; both published on Aug 4).

    Singapore is a society built on the core tenets of meritocracy, fairness and equity. However, in recent years, we seem to have collectively confused equity with equality.

    Equality is making everyone stoop down to the lowest common denominator of society – everyone does the same thing and all are given equal probabilities. Equity entails everyone doing what their abilities allow them to do, and everyone being given equal opportunities to succeed; only the most outstanding grab those opportunities.

    Often, what constitutes equality does not equate to equity. If we take a modern society and reduce it back to an agrarian one, where everyone puts in equal effort, we achieve equality but not equity – because we are taking people with the capability to be, for instance, lawyers and doctors, and making them do the same menial tasks as everyone else.

    RI’s principal, Mr Chan Poh Meng, highlighted the pursuit of equality – but what for? It is a natural consequence that students from affluent backgrounds get into better schools because their parents are likely more well-heeled and can afford better-quality education for them.

    There is no point aiming for equality for the sake of equality, and giving up equity.

    Elitism, in reality, is just the darker side of meritocracy. What has come about is a natural consequence of meritocracy – when we stream students according to their abilities, it is only natural that students whose families can afford better quality education make it to better institutions.

    It is no fault of the school or the students or the precedence that previous principals have set. If anything, it is the fault of meritocracy.

    But maybe that is not a fault at all. A natural consequence that stratifies society does have its own purpose for the well-educated, critical minds to mingle together to build Singapore up to greater heights. Intelligence is an asset; and we cannot allow ourselves to prioritise equality over intelligence and equity.

    RI is often touted as a factory for future leaders – why would we want to draw resources away from the nurturing of our future leaders, or worse still, level the playing field?

    We should relook the way we go off the well-trodden path, and ensure that we do not shake up the status quo just for the sake of doing so.

    Just in time for elections…

    The comment thread makes for interesting reading too, and not all were as supportive as Mr Kevin Lee, who intoned: “You’re a bloody cunt for writing this piece of hot steaming shit.”

     

    Source: www.mumbrella.asia