It does not come as a surprise to me when told that Worker’s Party of Singapore and Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong (35) was expelled from the party Wednesday for an alleged extramarital affair with a fellow member of the party. Besides this allegation, there was also another report by a married PRC woman who claimed to have had an affair with Yaw Shin Leong. Both the allegation and claim were neither denied nor admitted by Yaw.
Yaw Shin Leong was made MP for Hougang after having won the Hougang single member constituency during the 7 May 2011 Singapore General Election. The Worker’s Party Central Executive Committee was unanimous in their decision to expel (not a suspension)Yaw at the expense of facing a by-election that may go against the party. The reason given by the party for the expulsion is short and plain i.e. “indiscretion in personal life” and the party “cannot compromise on the basic fundamental principles which we believe in” despite Yaw’s contribution to the party in the past.
I was in Singapore when this issue was hotly debated and I could hasten a guess then as to its outcome i.e. expulsion from the party. I had no other choice.
The reason why I had brought out this issue is for all of us to acknowledge that elected leaders in Singapore, regardless of whether it is the government or the opposition leaders, takes a serious view of its members that indulges in activities deemed immoral. Action taken against an alleged offender (regardless of its status) is swift and devoid of compromises. This is an exemplary lesson that our leaders could learn from if they are serious in wanting to see our country be the ‘best democracy in the world’. I do not know if our country can achieve this in my lifetime; certainly not under the prevailing political environment.
We have so often heard the word ‘winnable candidate’ be toyed around as a criteria for selecting a right candidate for the general election. I am still unclear as to the meaning of a ‘winnable candidate’ and what all it demands of the candidate. Is it money? Is it popularity? Or does the moral input of a person places him high in the category of a winnable candidate?
Let us all wait and watch the final list of so claimed ‘winnable candidates’ for the upcoming elections from both the political divide, for us to make a judgment.
CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION
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13 comments:
Dato,
I am not surprise by the report, as with most other countries, those even rumour to have dont something wrong will resign on their own accord. I don't think such thing will ever happen in Malaysia. Even those who have been 'advised" to resign just won't budge, and even proud to announce it.(as if it is their God given right )
Dato,in Singapore just for an extra marital affair an MP is thrown out the door.But in Malaysia we have ministers accused of rape,murder and corruption still in the cabinet.What a huge difference our neighbours a few miles away from our borders make.
If by Singapore standards non of our existing cabinet members are winnable candidates.In other words the country is going to the dogs if BN is again voted into power.
It is all about history.The Chinese community everywhere today have learned well from the rise and fall of the Chinese Empires: about the danger of corruption to their society.Just look at palace intrigues, politics of the Empress Dowager, mandarins, eunuchs and concubines, how they have destroyed succesive Chinese Empires. So the Chinese today do not want history to be repeated.So we see Taiwan jailing their former leader for corruption, China jailing a football referee to 17 years in jail for corruption etc.The Malay society on the other hand have not been completely transformed from their feudal past. Our sufferings will continue for many...many years to come.
Well said Bruno!
Dato,
I am glad you brought out this subject. Here in Singapore, code of ethics place first in work and code of conduct is equally important in our private lives especially holding public servant jobs.
Do Malaysian leaders see that and want to learn a lesson from this incident how the matter is handled?
Anyway, I am not sure, if Malaysian leaders ever wanting to emulate anything from the little red dot so to speak!
Dato',
in Malaysia, UMNO and BN MPs who indulged in extra-marital affairs are promoted to senior or higher positions in their respective parties. Chua Soi Lek and Bung Mokhtar are two examples but I'm sure there are plenty others who have successfully managed to "kowtim" their affairs when caught. This is why this country is also well known as Bolehland.
Dato,
I reckon you would agree if I hasten to say that in that aspect of our societies, Spore and Msia is something like between Heaven and Hell!
We can quite accurately guess at what a "winnable candidate" qualities would be if the top "WC" himself is any indication.
And does the way things developed, from just some of the recent scandals, indicate what those qualities will be? Your guess is as good as mine?
Datuk,
The Singapore Parliament is light years ahead of the Malaysian Parliament in terms of transparency and impartiality. This explains why foreign companies have more confidence investing in Singapore than in Malaysia.
Dato, is it possible to the Armed Forces at 46 yrs!!??
A video worth sharing on your main page, sir. It resonates with your call.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbAAybe1Xjw
Frankie,how about Jibby in PD,his cousey Hishi in JB,Thambi in Portuguese colony and as a reward Thambi was given the chairmanship of Risda.
http://bacajela.blogspot.com/
Our politicians are guided and influenced by current political,if not cultural environment. and we are not fully 100% democratic.
we have that 'takpe lah, benda kecik, tak payah panjangkan masaalah'attitude...we dont admit in the open...we are 'belakang cerita' people...we are not brave enough in the open....but fortunately its changing among the masses. But not politicians. They wont admit, as admission in public is a taboo which can cause undue embarrassment...'mana nak letak muka'. So , they aggressively deny it.We need to break that culture which is not conducive any more in an open 'Facebook' society. The masses will make us change..in the meantime,we keep 'tikam belakang'...
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