Tag Archives: Authoritarian

Jolovan Wham is an activist, and a social work who has been fighting for the rights of marginalised migrant workers in Singapore. This person has so far maintained a low profile until events in the recent years put him in the spotlight.

I don't agree with a foreign power setting terms for my country, flexing its muscles to browbeat us into submission. I don't think Singapore should become subservient to China just because they are bigger than us. I don't think we should accede to conditions imposed by China – if indeed any conditions have been imposed – just to get the nine Terrex ICVs back more quickly.

You know the very fact that people whom I help, are afraid of repercussions from the authorities in processing their case should have been a clear example of how authoritarian this govt is. Despite whether or not, the people had the facts on their side, nor that it was the civil servants that are in the wrong. I feel like Singaporeans are living in the era of the dynasty rule where commoners have to be wary of the wrath of the officials who have two mouths.

"We have learned that any solution to our problems require much more that the piecemeal measures attempted in the past. It demands nothing less than a fundamental change in our approach to the idea of development, a paradigm shift toward the parallel pursuit of democracy and a market economy."

Lee Kuan Yew, who died Monday at 91, was in his final years more than a man: He was a myth, a global idea—an intellectual cult built around the idea that not all autocrats are bad; they can be enlightened philosopher-kings too, leading their countries to prosperity and power without the hassle of liberal democracy.