How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Friday, October 08, 2010

If you had a choice...

between authoritarian Singapore under LKY and authoritarian Malaysia under Dr. M, which would you prefer?

Without going into specific details, I would prefer the former because overall, the citizens enjoy higher standards of living as a result of higher incomes, with the nation having more reserves. We may appear to have more freedom (as a result of poor enforcement?) but certain cases of persecution were much more severe than those of Singapore's general lack of freedom as a result of effective enforcement (think 'fine' city and law suits which tended to bankrupt political opponents). We had the famous 'black eye' despite the assurance from then PM that Anwar was 'safe and sound'.

Malaysia had the benefit of much more natural resources (including human, but effectively 'pushed' out by discrimination) yet could not show in terms of uplifting the living standards of the people, except an exclusive few, because of rampant and blatant corruption and leakages in public spending.

I am of the opinion that we should look after the wellbeing of the people first, instead of prestigious projects which bear no semblance to the real situation, where there are still a great number of people without basic necessities and amenities.

I was prompted by a posting in Malaysia Chronicles, 'Death of matriarch lifts veil on Singapore's first family' which attracted some comments (for and against) which turned personal between two commentators!
Link

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