Blog Response: Educational/Societal Issues

Corruption.

If you have been reading the local papers, you would have known that corruption is prevalent in developing countries like Philippines and Indonesia. It matters because Singapore is intimately linked with other countries, economically, socially and politically. Examples include our 'hinterland' Malaysia. Why does corruption exist? Greed, one of the seven deadly sins, is the main factor. Corruption can happen in any society, in any scale and this can affect me, you and society as a whole.

If you think our government is 'clean', I beseech you to think again. You would think that Singapore is a democracy, right? If you consider another perspective, corruption can indeed happen, albeit in a more subtle manner. For example, the dominant party in Singapore has been gerrymandering all these years, changing electoral boundaries to shape the results. The same governmental panel then decides who is eligible as a presidential candidate. There are probably legitimate reasons for their actions, but whatever the case, it shows the political apathy the people have. The consequence? Corruption left unchecked and out of control.

Corruption can be considered from several perspectives, especially in Indonesia. One, the people. People in corruption-tainted societies think that corruption is somewhat "good". Who would not like free cash just for putting up a party's flag outside your house? What about free Shirts, pens, hand phones, groceries? The people virtually do not need to spend a single cent on necessities during elections.
Two, the officials. These officials see vote-buying as nothing wrong, and these views are also supported by the people, if a survey by Newsweek is anything to go by. They count on vote-buying as "one of the methods to garner support", while the people's political apathy encourages this illicit act.

I somehow feel sorry for the officials. I do think that if they had the choice, they do not want to spend large sums of money each term to buy votes. Their actions are a result of intense political bickering. Newly-formed parties by businessmen with pockets lined with dirty money are a factor. These fly-by-night parties rise to power rapidly because of money. And to curb rallying support for opposition parties, the incumbent often engages in this type of money politics. The blame should not be put solely on parties though, society is also to blame. A lower-developing economy is more susceptible to corruption than a rich and prosperous one.

Although Singapore is relatively corruption-free compared to to the lelong style vote-buying in other countries, we must always be aware of societal issues. Singaporeans are a generally rational lot, and do not succumb easily to vote-buying unlike the political apathetic Indonesians. Nonetheless, it is worthy to note that corruption do exist in Singapore, in a subtle, warped democratic process. We, as Singaporeans, should vote wisely at every election, lest our every election becomes a political 'party'(pun unintended), run by money politics.

My Letter Got Published!!!

News Article 4: Educational/Societal Issues

MANILA, May 15 (Reuters) - Two teachers counting votes in the Philippines' violence-marred congressional elections were killed on Tuesday when armed men stormed a schoolhouse where the ballots were being tallied and set it on fire, police said.

The elections to the 275-member House of Representatives, half the 24-seat Senate and about 18,000 local government posts were held on Monday and counting was carried out overnight, in some places by candlelight.

Early exit polls showed the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was faring worse than expected in the Senate elections.

A poll by the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) showed the opposition leading in eight of the 12 Senate seats with the administration leading in two and independents in two. Opinion polls before the election had showed the opposition likely to take six seats and the administration four.

Other exit polls also showed the government faring poorly.

No exit polls for the House of Representatives were immediately available and official results will not be completed for at least a month. Arroyo's allies are expected to sweep the House and the local government elections.

About 125 people have been killed in campaign violence and during polling on Monday, although the body count is well below the 189 killed at the last election, in 2004.

Police said five gunmen stormed a schoolhouse where votes were being counted early on Tuesday, poured gasoline on ballot papers and set them on fire.

Two teachers who had taken refuge in a toilet were trapped by the flames and died, they said. The schoolhouse was in the town of Batangas, about 90 km (55 miles) south of Manila.

"The Philippines is at a crossroads as we wait for the proclamation of winners," Arroyo said in a statement after casting her ballot in the town of Lubao, north of Manila.

"There was intense rivalry during the campaign, but we should have a good heart, win or lose."

At least 75 percent of the country's 45 million voters cast their votes in Monday's election and an army of school teachers counted ballots manually overnight. In some parts of Manila, and on the southern island of Mindanao, power failures meant counting had to be done by candlelight.

The votes will be tallied at municipal, provincial and national levels over the next few weeks. Initial results for local posts could start trickling in on Thursday but for the senate, final results could take from three weeks to about a month.

News Article 4: Educational/Societal Issues

On Monday, May 14, millions of registered Filipino voters troop to various poll precincts across the Philippines to cast their ballots for favored candidates for national and local government posts.

At stake for this Philippine electoral contest are key positions in the upper and lower legislative houses, the governorships of the provinces, and mayoralties, as well as council chairs in the thousands of towns and cities of the archipelago.

As the country holds another so-called democratic process in selecting leaders, the majority of the Filipino masses are hoping that the outcome of the elections will pave the way for a better, corruption- and graft-free government that will truly serve the needs of an impoverished nation.

The Filipino nation hungers for real change and a better future for generations to come. Tired of toiling under one of the most futile and corrupt political systems in Asia, Filipinos are in desperate search for dedicated and selfless people who are not interested in lining their pockets with filthy lucre and are genuinely devoted to uplifting the Philippines from the centuries-old blight of poverty.

But as Philippine elections come, this May poll is no different from all the previous dirty and bloody electoral contests that have been the thorns that hinder the development and total reformation of the country. Held every three years, expensive Philippine elections, aside from being characteristically bloody, drain the coffers of the nation and leave most winning candidates with little choice but to dip into taxpayers' money in order to recoup their enormous expenses during the costly campaigning periods.

To cite just how eccentric and anomalous the current state of politics in the Philippines, it is now an open secret that this election is mainly the continuing battle between the camp of the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration and the opposition supporters who are sympathetic to the ousted and jailed former president, Joseph Estrada.

In 2002, Estrada was thrown out of Malacanang Palace, the seat of the most powerful executive office in the Philippines, due to massive gambling allegations brought against him by his enemies in the Senate and Congress.

Catapulted to power by Estrada's ouster, President Arroyo, the second woman to lead the Philippines after Cory Aquino, lost no time in building her power base to ensure that she would not meet the same fate as Estrada.

Winning the 2004 presidential elections under the most questionable circumstances, Arroyo was threatened with impeachment due to evidence that she cheated then popular rival Fernando Poe.

The wily president saved her position by calling on the support of thousands of town and city mayors, who came to the palace to express their unwavering support of the beleaguered Arroyo.

Nowadays, most of the presidential efforts are geared toward political preservation, and not for the general welfare of the country. Last year, Arroyo and her allies in Congress launched a failed bid to change the political system of the Philippine from the presidential into a parliamentary government.

While proponents argue that a unicameral system is best for the country, most Filipinos view it is just another machination by Arroyo in order to extend her tenure in Malacanang and ensure that her political enemies are eased out of the corridors of power.

This election, then, is a make-or-break effort by the administration camp to eventually change the form of the Philippine government. The president is hoping that majority of her allies in the Unity Party will get most of the seats in the Philippine legislative councils. Once the Senate and Congress are filled with Arroyo supporters after May 14, Filipinos can expect that the controversial charter change will be finally pushed through.

Blog Response: Political Issue

A company cannot make it big if it allows only local investments. It is akin to warfare, an army of infantrymen cannot win a war without air and sea forces for support.
Ethnicity is integral in our globalized world, where the Prophet Muhammad cartoons goes to show our weak racial tolerance and sensitivity. We should not ‘color’ different communities. Stereotypes are a catalyst for conflicts. I, as part of this broader community, can also play a part in stamping out racial discrimination.

Suppose you became an entrepreneur. Do you award a tender to an overseas Indian company or a local firm? Your choice and rationale reflects the role of race in your decision-making.
If you chose the local company because you dislike Indian companies, then your sphere of thinking has been inadvertently corrupted by discrimination and stereotype.

You had a bad experience with certain state-backed companies. This is understandable as their states seek to protect their companies, leaving you with the back end of the deal. However, the last thing you want your company to dabble in is the dizzy world of politics.
Maybank discriminate against ethnic minorities, stating that firms on its panel of solicitors must have a minimum of three partners, at least one of whom must be Malay with a minimum stake of 50 per cent in the firm. Not surprisingly, when it is owned by government fund manager PNB1. One must know that since Malaysia’s independence, Malays have benefited widely through government jobs, contracts, housing and other privileges aimed at “boosting their corporate ownership”.
The line of reasoning is flawed. Welfarism degrades society. Malaysia should know that the whole world outside is not going to pander to the every need of Malaysian Malays. They just need to look at their southern neighbour for concrete proof – Singapore.
Singapore has always embraced meritocracy as a key pillar of social, economic and political stability. In a short span of 40 years, she has trumped her neighbours. Is this by any means a fluke?

Allow me to step into a Malaysian politician’s shoes.
“The Malays are the social fabric of our society, we should help them! We should never let them drop below the poverty line!” says one.
“First, implement policies that increases Malay stake in all companies that want to list on the KLSE2!” says another.
The Malays are like an aboriginal group, being outplayed, outwit and outclassed by all the economic biggies, political bullies and social advocators. In effect, getting overpowered by a small yet seemingly all-powerful minority groups like Chinese.
As a state bank, being pro-bumi will allow you to help your own ethnic race and lift it to greater heights. The crux of the problem is corporate involvement in politics, which is unacceptable.

Okay, I admit it. I am Singaporean. I will never know Malaysia’s agenda for giving bumiputera privileges. But I believe in practicality and there is absolutely no reason why Malaysia or any country for that matter should implement such an ethnically-discriminating policy.

(499 words)

1PNB - Permodalan Nasional Bhd
2KLSE – Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange

News Article 3 - Political Issue

Malaysia's biggest bank should not discriminate
Govt urges Maybank to give work to non-bumiputera firms
KUALA LUMPUR — The government has
urged Malaysia’s biggest bank not to discriminate
against ethnic minorities following
an uproar over the bank’s plans to
give benefits to law firms that are substantially
owned by ethnic Malays.
Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak
said Malayan Banking Bhd, or Maybank,
should not merely help companies that are
owned by bumiputeras — a Malay phrase
meaning “sons of the soil” that refers to the
ethnic Malay Muslim majority, Bernama
news agency reported yesterday.
“The government’s policy is that we
want to encourage (government-linked companies)
to give work to both bumiputera
and non-bumiputera firms,” Mr Najib was
quoted as telling Malaysian reporters on
Tuesday during a visit to the United States.
Newspapers and lawyers have reported
that Maybank recently sent letters requiring
firms on its panel of solicitors to
have a minimum of three partners, at least
one of whom must be a Malay with a minimum
stake of 50 per cent in the firm.
Opposition politicians, lawyers and ethnic
Chinese business leaders have condemned
the plan. Maybank has denied trying
to discriminate against minorities, but
pledged to conduct “the necessary review
(of the plan) with due consideration to the
feedback received”.
Mr Najib stopped short of saying that
Maybank — which is controlled by government
fund manager Permodalan Nasional
Bhd — should completely scrap the plan.
“We don’t want this to be an issue,”
Bernama quoted him as saying. “They know
what the government policy is. They should
understand that. At times you need to give
work to bumiputera companies. In some
cases, you will require non-bumiputera companies
so they can help out.”
The issue highlights sensitivities over
decades-old affirmative-action policies that
benefit Malays — who comprise nearly
60 per cent of Malaysia’s 26 million people
— through government jobs, contracts,
housing and other privileges aimed at boosting
their corporate ownership. — AP