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Written on June 9, 2009 by The Kent Ridge Common
Upfront with: Dr Chee Soon Juan
(photo credits:RaymondB)
Foreword: Dr Chee Soon Juan (CSJ) obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and is a neuropsychologist by training. He joined the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992, and subsequently became its secretary-general. He was formerly an Honorary Research Associate at the Monash Asia Institute (1997) and University of Chicago (2001), and was a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy (2004). He received the Defender of Democracy Award (2003) given by the Parliamentarians for Global Action. He is the the Chairman of the Alliance for Reform & Democracy in Asia (ARDA).
CSJ: During the Budget 2009 debate we proposed the following which, by the way, was echoed by some PAP MPs:
Suspend the GST for at least two years. This will help especially the poor and lower-income groups, not to mention businesses that need customers and patrons to survive.
Reduce ERP rates as well as bus and MRT fares. Such a step would help to keep expenses down for the average individual and motorist.
Introduce an unemployment entitlement programme. It will ensure that retrenched workers receive temporary relief from a sudden loss of income.
Give out spending vouchers. Again this will assist the lower-income households in their daily struggle. The measure will keep the economy alive.
These proposals are explained in greater depth in Budget spending not transparent, SDP proposes alternative 5-point plan.
CSJ: In the immediate term it is crucial that we stop the mindless and indiscriminate influx of foreign workers. The foreigners are being exploited for their cheap labour to artificially suppress wages of Singaporeans. The foreign talent policy needs an overhaul: Only foreigners with the requisite skills unavailable from the local population should be allowed to join the Singaporean workforce.
Apart from economic consequences, the mass of foreigners forced upon the locals and competing with them for survival will have grave social repercussions which we have yet to examine. Is this an accident waiting to happen?
In the longer term, we must wean the economy off our dependence on MNCs. We have become addicted to foreign direct investments so much so that we have not allowed home-grown enterprises to flourish. Coupled with GLCs, our domestic private sector and SMEs are squeezed out of the corporate scene. During a major economic crisis like the present one, we find our economy much harder hit than anyone else.
In addition, the crush of MNCs and GLCs ensure a dearth of Singaporean entrepreneurs. Apart from economic consequences, the lack of the entrepreneurial spirit has a spill over effect into the social and political circles, making our society distinctly lackadaisical.
Without the verve and dynamism, the quality of life here suffers. This is why Singaporeans continue to be one of the most stressed and unhappiest people in the region and our youths constantly express a desire to leave the country.
CSJ: We are not looking for just a decline of votes for the PAP. The opposition needs to make significant inroads into Parliament to effect policy change. This is only possible if the election system is fair and the media is free.
No matter how badly Temasek or the GIC perform, or for that matter how disastrous PAP policies are, as long as the Elections Department and the media operate at the behest of the ruling party, no one can change policy and the Government will not be held accountable.
At the moment, our political culture is one driven by fear and ignorance. Without addressing these twin scourges, the PAP will always be “victorious” at the polls. This is why the Singapore Democrats emphasize so much on reforming the political system.
Next Page — More of Upfront with Dr. Chee
12 Comments on "Upfront with: Dr Chee Soon Juan"
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Rex on Tue, 9th Jun 2009 4:08 am
Great interview. Very good questions and of course, very sharp answers from Dr Chee.
GLOW on Tue, 9th Jun 2009 8:18 am
I feel that the opposition needs to organise itself ..
every constituency must be contested .. the least we get then is some kind of referendum on the PAP.. the better prize is to get into office..
gotto pick your fights.. don't field the GIANTS of the opposition against the PAP big guns..
no 3-way fights coz the only loser will be the people..
gotto neutralise the biasness of the courts and the media… by appealing to the people and to let them be the judge of FAIRNESS…. and to show the PAP as less than having the peoples best interest at heart……
gotto educate the people NOW… that their vote is important not just to the individual but to ALL our futures.. which includes thier children…
Kent Ridge Common interviews Chee Soon Juan : Sgpolitics.net on Wed, 10th Jun 2009 4:48 am
[...] Kent Ridge Common, 09 June [...]
Kimchi on Fri, 12th Jun 2009 4:21 am
If you really think about it, no other opposition politician other than the late JBJ and Dr Chee will answer the questions you've posed in the above manner.
Donaldson Tan on Sun, 14th Jun 2009 6:58 am
General Election does not mark the beginning or the end of political campaigning. Political campaigning is an ongoing process whether one's political party is elected into parliament or not. Political capital manifests itself in the form of outreach network and informed presence.
jing on Sun, 14th Jun 2009 11:26 am
an excellent read.
Thinktok on Wed, 17th Jun 2009 10:26 am
Dr Chee is all theory. Everybody can talk more so given his high education. The Singapore Govt is no push over and it is the envy of many countries. Dr Chee has spend most of his time dreaming up problems for Singapore and finding fault with the PAP. It is like finding fault with a Mercedes Benz. Not easy. Yes high pay maybe true but lack of democracy is a figment of his imagination. His biggest achievement todate is to 'stump' LKY during the recent court case.
He is not a viable opposition for Singapore. His call for civil disobedience is outdated and dangerous in a country where racial rife is real. As a potential leader if you cannot see this implication then he is as good as finish.
I am glad we are not hearing his antics in the Press lately.
Kelvin Teo on Wed, 17th Jun 2009 7:03 pm
Dear Thinktok:
In what way are we a Mercedes Benz? We are past the growth years. And what to you is democracy since you said Chee’s views about democracy in Singapore is a figment of his imagination?
Sincerely yours
Kelvin Teo on Wed, 17th Jun 2009 7:05 pm
Dear Thinktok:
I am sorry but you seem to be alleging that Chee’s work as adding fuel to racial rife. But Chee has never advocated racism, and there is this huge chasm between Chee’s work and racial rife. I am afraid your reasoning isn’t convincing.
Sincerely yours
creducator on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 8:02 pm
is this the kent ridge common also a govt site? will we get charged for speaking our mind?
Kelvin_Teo on Thu, 23rd Jul 2009 8:21 pm
No we are not a government site. It is site set up by a bunch of volunteers.
Sincerely yours
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[...] of the SDP would be disappointed if the US Ambassador remains true to his word. Why? SDP leader Chee Soon Juan has strong affiliations to the US’ National Endowment for Democracy and therefore would hope [...]