Retiring Hong Kong politician criticises Singapore's democracy
Yesterday, 《联合早报》/Lianhe Zaobao (LHZB) featured a report on the announcement by Mr. Martin Lee, a veteran politician in Hong Kong and the founding chairman of the Democratic Party (a pro-democracy party in Hong Kong), that he will not be running for a seat in the Legislative Council during the next elections.
Interestingly enough, the report actually included remarks, targeted at Singaporean politics, by Mr. Lee.
These remarks were:
"对于香港的民主路，李柱铭在记者会上强调，民主选举不能怕输，'新加坡的选举，人民行动党就不会输；共产党的选举也是。选举要有输有嬴，无所谓，李柱铭是输得起的。'
他又称，'新加坡表面上有民主选举，而每次选举，执政党都不会全胜所有议席，输两席，送出两个席位给反对派，因此就可以告诉美国了。他们竟然可以控制得这么好。'
他说，北京这么喜欢新加坡，就是因为未投票已知结果，'新加坡无自由，无新闻自由，无独立思考，现在香港的爱国教育就是‘洗脑式’，很危险，令年青人失去独立思考，就如新加坡一样，怎能去发明一些东西呢！'
李柱铭狠批新加坡的民主，他说：'新加坡在软件上动了手脚，例如若选民不选执政党，巴士就不开入该区。'（编者注：这个说法与事实不符）
他说，不希望香港走新加坡这条路。"
Translation:
"With regards to the future development of democracy in Hong Kong, Mr. Martin Lee emphasised during the press conference that one cannot be afraid to lose during democratic elections. 'In Singaporean elections, the PAP would not lose; it is the same for elections by the Communist Party. There must be victors and losers in elections. I, Martin Lee, can accept losing".
He added: "On the surface, Singapore has democratic elections. And everytime during elections, the governing party would not win all the seats. They will lose two seats. These two seats are lost to the opposition so that they can tell the US (that Singapore has democracy). They actually can control it so well".
According to Mr. Lee, the reason why Beijing likes Singapore so much is because the outcome is known even before elections. 'There is no freedom in Singapore, no press freedom, no independent and criticial thinking. The national/patriotic education curently implemented in Hong Kong is 'brain-washing'. This is very dangerous as it will cause young people to lose their ability to think independently and critically, just like in Singapore; how will they then be able to invent or create anything!"
Mr. Lee strongly criticised Singaporean democracy, saying: 'Singapore messed around with the software. For example, if the electorate (in a certain constituency) do not vote for the governing party, bus services will consequently not enter the area. (note by LHZB's editor: this is not congruent with the truth)
He does not wish that Hong Kong will follow the path of Singapore."
Interestingly enough, the report actually included remarks, targeted at Singaporean politics, by Mr. Lee.
These remarks were:
"对于香港的民主路，李柱铭在记者会上强调，民主选举不能怕输，'新加坡的选举，人民行动党就不会输；共产党的选举也是。选举要有输有嬴，无所谓，李柱铭是输得起的。'
他又称，'新加坡表面上有民主选举，而每次选举，执政党都不会全胜所有议席，输两席，送出两个席位给反对派，因此就可以告诉美国了。他们竟然可以控制得这么好。'
他说，北京这么喜欢新加坡，就是因为未投票已知结果，'新加坡无自由，无新闻自由，无独立思考，现在香港的爱国教育就是‘洗脑式’，很危险，令年青人失去独立思考，就如新加坡一样，怎能去发明一些东西呢！'
李柱铭狠批新加坡的民主，他说：'新加坡在软件上动了手脚，例如若选民不选执政党，巴士就不开入该区。'（编者注：这个说法与事实不符）
他说，不希望香港走新加坡这条路。"
Translation:
"With regards to the future development of democracy in Hong Kong, Mr. Martin Lee emphasised during the press conference that one cannot be afraid to lose during democratic elections. 'In Singaporean elections, the PAP would not lose; it is the same for elections by the Communist Party. There must be victors and losers in elections. I, Martin Lee, can accept losing".
He added: "On the surface, Singapore has democratic elections. And everytime during elections, the governing party would not win all the seats. They will lose two seats. These two seats are lost to the opposition so that they can tell the US (that Singapore has democracy). They actually can control it so well".
According to Mr. Lee, the reason why Beijing likes Singapore so much is because the outcome is known even before elections. 'There is no freedom in Singapore, no press freedom, no independent and criticial thinking. The national/patriotic education curently implemented in Hong Kong is 'brain-washing'. This is very dangerous as it will cause young people to lose their ability to think independently and critically, just like in Singapore; how will they then be able to invent or create anything!"
Mr. Lee strongly criticised Singaporean democracy, saying: 'Singapore messed around with the software. For example, if the electorate (in a certain constituency) do not vote for the governing party, bus services will consequently not enter the area. (note by LHZB's editor: this is not congruent with the truth)
He does not wish that Hong Kong will follow the path of Singapore."
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2 comments:
I am one of those who seats in the middle of the fence when it comes to denouncing the mechanisms of the PAP. Mind you, I am neither pro nor con PAP.
Yet my view is that such control is possible only because despite the minute grudges that we have - such as the ERPs, moderate bread and butter issues, and yes 'controlled' freedom of speech - do not suffice to establish substantial ire.
To condemn the actions of a political party just because of such above-mentioned nit-pickings will only serve to demonstrate the myopia of an immature republic.
In short, what I have to say is that despite the flaws that are present, there is not enough case to lambaste the incumbent's efficacy. The only purpose that a democracy serves in Singapore is that to keep the incumbent in check.
After all, what is more important than a freedom of speech is the hindsight to appreciate what are the ills of such freedom.
Mr Martin Lee is free to shoot off his remarks at another country, post-retirement. How safe. It is better he reserves and contributes his remarks for Hong Kong.
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