Opinion Piece by Ghui
The dust is beginning to settle somewhat in relation to the announcement of Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong, likely to become our country’s future Prime Minister. While Mr Wong has not made any major boo boos (unlike Heng Swee Keat (think East Coast Plan) or Chan Chun Sing (think “Sia Suay” or “cotton from sheep”)), he has not done anything earth-shatteringly amazing either. He is basically seen as the safe pair of hands that will carry the entrenched system forward. Is this a good thing? I guess it depends on who you ask.
Looking at where our country is at the moment, however, is more of the same going to take us to soar new heights?
The world is currently in a precarious position. With the global economic fallout caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the rising costs of living, the escalating energy prices caused by Putin’s war and a younger generation that calls for more than bread and butter issues, is Mr Wong imaginative enough or courageous enough to propel our country forward?
Although it is early days, Mr Wong has not yet done anything to really set the tone for his future leadership. But could he perhaps signal a more humane People’s Action Party (PAP) leadership?
Even though we like to think of our country as a mostly benign country, dig just a little, and it is clear that Singapore’s policies can be extremely harsh and unforgiving with the older generation conditioned into thinking that such policies are necessary.
Death Penalty
Let’s take the death penalty as an example. Those for the death penalty trot out the deterrence argument, while those who are against it fight for the sanctity of life. Without going into the for or against debate, I think we can all agree that the death penalty is only effective if it truly is a deterrence. But is it?
Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam
As the authorities appear to be playing post-pandemic catch up in the nasty business of state-sanctioned killing, it has come to light that we are willing to send someone who is intellectually disabled to death. How can the deterrence argument ever work for the tragic case of Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam?
After all, how do you deter someone who doesn’t understand the consequences? Many members of the public, thought leaders and civil society have risen up against this.
Deterrence Logic
Looking at, most of the people we sentence to death for drug-related offences, they are mostly poor, ill-educated, underprivileged men from our poorer neighbouring countries. How is this a deterrence when the drug lords are never caught? Until we tackle the problem of immense poverty and a chronic lack of opportunity in our region, there will be no lack of young men to manipulate. There goes the deterrence logic!
For those who believe in the death penalty for drug mules, have you ever stopped to consider why you believe this narrative? Have you actually seen empirical data to show that putting vulnerable young men to death reduces the drug trade? Have you independently come to that conclusion, or have you been conditioned to believe that this is the only way?
Is it perhaps not down to the rigorous policing of our borders and vigorous checks that actually stop drugs, as opposed to the death penalty?
I sometimes wonder if people stick to the narrative of the death of drug traffickers without digging deeper because, on some level, they do know the truth that many of those hanged are just victims themselves. To dig deeper will be too confronting, too difficult, too shocking and too painful.
But is our collective refusal to confront the unpleasant justification for remaining willfully blind to the fact that our country, with our acquiescence, is going to allow a low IQ man to be hanged?
As the future Prime Minister, is Mr Wong happy with this status quo?
People’s Action Party (PAP)
While boomers are happy to accept this and to a certain extent, the generation X and Millennials, the gen zetters are from a different ilk. As this generation of voters mature and go to the ballot box, how will Mr Wong capture their votes if he is sticking to old methods?
The PAP prides itself as a party that can plan for the future. How is Mr Wong demonstrating this ability to plan for the future if the gen zetters and their concerns are being ignored?
Personally, I would feel more heartened if Mr Wong signalled a sea change on a strong topic to boldly show that the PAP can change – that it can be renewed and that it can remain relevant.
Workers’ Party (WP)
Workers’ Party (WP) politicians such as Pritam Singh, Dennis Tan and Jamus Lim are very much seen as grassroots successes campaigning for the heartland which is the majority of Singapore. The WP pushed hard for a minimum wage while just recently, Mr Lim wrote that his dream is that Singapore’s economy “will evolve into one where all workers—not just those at the high end of the educational and talent spectrum—receive sound, living wages that reward them for honest jobs, done well.”
On the other hand, Mr Wong was recently criticised for being out of touch. What then is Mr Wong’s niche to capture the hearts and minds of the people?