The ‘Approved-Opposition’ Fallacy (by Singa Crew)

June 17, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Singa Crew 

Written by Singa Crew

Editor’s Note: This is an article written by our contributor who uses the moniker Singa Crew.

One mistake everyone makes is assuming the PAP to be a political party in the normal sense of the term. They aren’t.

Political parties are a product of democracy, therefore their ideas and position are open to debate and scrutiny. A religion on the other hand is irrefutable.

‘Lee tore into Derek Davies, then editor of the magazine, and delivered his customary diatribe about the ‘discord’ between democracy and Confucianism (which Singapore supposedly adheres to and practices), complete with the Mandate of Heaven…’
pg 173, Your Future, My Faith, Our Freedom – Chee Soon Juan

‘He (author’s insert: Mr Lee Hsien Loong) is facing a general election for the first time since inheriting his job in 2004 from Goh Chok Tong, 64, who inherited it from the elder Mr Lee in 1990.’
New York Times (6 May 2006) – Seth Mydans

Mandate of Heaven and rights of inheritance! I say that confers on the PAP a quasi-religious status.

Under such a system, all discussions about whether a party is ‘left radical’ or ‘moderate’ are meaningless. For such terms to come by, political parties must be given room to mature. Without even a chance to push their policies forward, how does one judge if a party is ‘radical’ or ‘moderate’? When Mr Lee Snr. invoked the Mandate of Heaven, he did not leave room for refutation. We must therefore ask ourselves what is the role of a ‘moderate opposition’ in the context of a state under dynastic rule?

-Does a ‘moderate opposition’ support Mr Lee’s claim to a divine mandate?

-Does a ‘moderate opposition’ support the practice of inheriting Prime Ministership?

-How exactly does a ‘moderate opposition’ oppose if it believe in the Mandate of Heaven and the Tian Zi’s right to rule?

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Comments

4 Comments on The ‘Approved-Opposition’ Fallacy (by Singa Crew)

  1. The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 17 Jun 2008 on Tue, 17th Jun 2008 11:35 am

    2. [...] Fixating the Opposition – Sgpolitics: The ‘Approved-Opposition’ Fallacy [...]

  2. serf on Tue, 17th Jun 2008 12:42 pm

    3. Agree with the post. This is why i personally feel that SDP is going about things the right way. SDP and Chee question the very basis of the current political system and expose many untenable logic and practices.

  3. Wondering on Tue, 17th Jun 2008 2:35 pm

    4. “Under such a system, all discussions about whether a party is ‘left radical’ or ‘moderate’ are meaningless. For such terms to come by, political parties must be given room to mature.”

    Precisely. Radical changes are needed here. But how should we establish true democracy given our diversities? The current electoral system will only ANOINT the next person who will then rule or impose its skewed values or interests on the rests. A single party or head to its best ability cannot satisfy the various interests groups without having the ruler’s integrity and impartiality questioned or suspected. Furthermore, no party, let alone an all powerful leader, is infallible.

    We need a better system. I am not sure we will be the people who will forge a new way of life and governance or not but…looking at some recent developments, who knows, we may be looking at a new political model?

    Fat hope you say…:)

  4. The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 25 on Sat, 21st Jun 2008 3:33 pm

    5. [...] on S’pore Soil: Embracing the ‘differences’ of the opposition – Sgpolitics: The ‘Approved-Opposition’ Fallacy – Nomed Letters: Fixing the Opposition [...]

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