Dr Chee Soon Juan has posted to his Facebook an invitation for an online debate regarding issues close to the heart of Singaporeans.
Singapore Democrats
Foreign Minister George Yeo is active on the Internet and has recently been interacting with Facebook users on the Burmese issue (see here). Noting his presence online, Dr Chee Soon Juan has posted to his Facebook an invitation for an online debate regarding issues close to the heart of Singaporeans:
Dear Mr George Yeo,
I congratulate you on your willingness to interact with Singaporeans online.
You may be aware that the Singapore Democrats are also active online and, for this reason, I have on separate occasions invited your party colleagues to debates on the Internet. Unfortunately I have received only silence.
I would like to extend to you the same invitation, that is, to a debate on the key issues affecting Singaporeans.
You will note that the active censorship of the mass media prevents the news and views of the SDP reaching the mainstream public. The little information that reaches Singaporeans about my party is often biased and inaccurate. Your party, on the other hand, is always positively portrayed.
The Internet offers no such refuge. It is a greater leveller of information flow. In this medium, the SDP's views are transmitted accurately, as are yours. We are judged by readers on the merits of our arguments - not by how the Singapore Press Holdings spins and adulterates the information.
Since you have presented yourself in cyberspace, it would be a wonderful opportunity for us to engage each other in an honest exchange of views so that Singaporeans can see for themselves where we stand on the various issues regarding our nation and where it is headed.
I do not want to divert attention from this important discussion on Burma which is why I would like to suggest a separate exchange. I am open to suggestions on the topics and format for the debate.
I look forward to a positive response from you, and hope that you and your party will not continue to avoid open debates. It is important that Singaporeans get to read our views and judge for themselves who they want to support, as they should in a democratic society.
(thumb up) Your open letter is excellent. Hope George Yeo responds positively to CSJ's invitation.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 2:18 AM
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quantum
He will not accept the invitation. The chance of losing the debate is just too great.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 2:39 AM
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maxchew
I'll bet my last dollar, as with all the rest of the "whiter than white" PAP National leaders, George Yeo, the highest paid Foreign Minister of the whole world, will also turn tail and chabot with his tail betw his legs. He won't even acknow Dr CSJ's letter pretending he never saw it.
Bloody cowards who are afraid of the truth and live in their own castles in the sky........
Sun 09 Aug 2009 3:41 AM
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Low Fuk Loong - I bet Ah Yeo dare not reply.
Since when you hear Ah Yeo speaks for the people at the parliament?
I dont think he is updated with the ground.
Unlike honorable Dr Chee, he is everywhere for the people. Of course, stupid and moronic local sporns will never know until one day soon.
I doubt Ah yeo ever dare to read DR Chee's letter.
Only gentleman fights gentlemanly, and not use words to say meeting people at the cul-de-sac, but never turn up.
If Ah Yeo dont reply, I pronouce DR Chee's victory.
Hurray !!!!
I told you guys before, stupid voters dont deserve Alternative parties. They will drown with Papee hounds.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 4:06 AM
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Sylvester Lim
As the PAP is attempting to engage Singaporeans via the Internet, this is a great opportunity for them to show their sincerity in caring for the country and its citizens. No shields or protection from the MSM. Just a frank and open discussion about issues affecting Singaporeans. Come on, take the challenge!
Sun 09 Aug 2009 7:32 AM
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quantum
"Please, get out of my elite uncaring face."
Sun 09 Aug 2009 9:24 AM
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zah - Sheer arrogance
I agree with quantum. Sheer arrogance.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 10:03 AM
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PAP Voter
I am a PAP Voter George Yeo,I will be a shamful PAP Voter if you keep your silence or ignorance.Please don't let your PAP Voters down. We are counting on you George Yeo.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 10:19 AM
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greyheyn
There is no need to second guess George Yeo's reaction. As suggested by Lee and Goh, there is no suitable candidate within the current batch of MPs to be the next PM, George Yeo is effectively a lame duck politician and one that can be easily replaced by another MP who makes up the number for Lee's dynasty.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 5:09 PM
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quantum
Who do you think is the most loyal to the Lees?
Mon 10 Aug 2009 6:35 AM
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BryanT - greyheyn
I disagree that any minister who can't make it to PM is a lame duck.
It's like saying that any CEC member who can't be chairman or Sec Gen of the SDP is also quacking around.
Analogies abound... both ways, I'd assume.
Mon 10 Aug 2009 11:13 PM
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BryanT - Sylvester Lim and Zah - Grandstand for debate
We know that the "PAP is attempting to engage Singaporeans via the Internet", but it would naturally rather do this on it's own terms. Who wouldn't?
If CSJ is sincere about engaging George Yeo, then a private invitation would be more appropriate. Making an open invitation is an act of grand-standing. And what Zah said above can be applied here too - arrogance.
BTW, Sylvester, are you on the SDP CEC? If so, I had read the article "If we don't stand up for ourselves, who will?" and hope you'd use this website to write some articles on your thoughts about the system here. I'm sure many readers here would be interested.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 7:03 PM
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Muhammad Shamin
Hehehe...1st world nation having a debate online...
Eh Yeo! Challenge back ah! Debate openly!!!
Sun 09 Aug 2009 7:13 PM|
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seebeng - What's wrong with open invitation?
To BryanT,
Politics is grand-standing, unless George Yeo is an errand boy of Lee Kuan Yew doing his master's bidding.
Internet is a two-way process, unlike the castrated MSM that is at the beck and call of the PAP.
If PAP wants to "engage Singaporeans via the Internet", then it must be prepared to respond to open invitation for debate.
Numerous articles have appeared in this website on the "system". The PAP system is one of secrecy and concealment, based on nepotism and cronyism.
For fifty years, an octogenarian dictator is still calling the shots, with his incompetent son anointed as PM and his equally clueless daughter-in-law given a free reign to treat our reserves and CPF money as if these were her piggy bank.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 7:57 PM
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Robox
Happy National Day to all SDP constituents, as well as to all other reformist Singaporeans.
On to this topic: it's a foregone conclusion regarding George Yeo's acceptance of this challenge. But I'm not going to let this go without expressing my own views on why he will back away.
The PAP, and Lee Kuan Yew in particular, has been trying very hard to entrench a political culture in which all Singaporeans, in every capacity that we inhabit, will feel coerced into [b]cooperating with the PAP to cover up their wrongdoings[/b].
One example of that cooperation is the evidence that BryanT has provided: "If CSJ is sincerely about engaging George Yeo, then a private invitation would be more appropriate."
Yes, that's right.
Keep all matters of the public interest away from the eyes of the same public whose interests a public discussion is meant to serve. This is apparently only a private matter between Dr Chee and George.
Why a private invitation is 'more appropriate' will never be explained, and never by those who believe that it should be that way.
Oh, wait a minute. There is an explanation: It's about 'face saving', isn't it?
George Yeo will not risk any debate with Dr Chee because any such debate risks himself and the PAP being shown to be standing on the shaky ground that they have always been standing on. When you show that you don't know what you are talking about by way of public debate, then the likelihood of wrongdoing based on that ignorance is indeed high.
Geroge Yeo, accept the challenge.
Tell us why you deserve to be the highest paid Foreign Minister in the world despite displaying such gross ignorance about a country and a government like Burma's that you have such a close relationship with.
Sun 09 Aug 2009 8:04 PM
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Robox
How does the PAP know that the fourth prime minister is going to come from their party?
Have they ensured a system in which even if elections are held, their win is guaranteed? And therefore the top job will come from within their ranks?
Sun 09 Aug 2009 11:00 PM
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quantum
Usually when you close your doors, it means you have something to hide. If you have something to hide, then there is no transparency. If there is no transparency and accountability, then there is no democracy.
And if you cannot even perform a speech and or engage a debate under public scrutiny, then you simply do not have the charisma to be a politician - you are a lame duck I suppose.
And if you only show things that are not real but are meant for show only, then it is hypocrisy, not sincerity. People prefer to pay money to go watch movies than watching this kind of wayang.
Nowadays even singing contests, auditions and judging are all open to public, because people want to watch something real.
Mon 10 Aug 2009 3:36 AM
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tewniaseng
Not even one Pap ministers or MP dare to debate with Dr Chee.For the pap owe us many questions unanswered.They are arrogant,they win elections by dirty means,all of us know that !!!
Mon 10 Aug 2009 3:48 AM
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greyheyn - To BryanT
Analogies abound.. both sides.. definitely.
For a politician like George Yeo or anyone who is in his position in this Lee’s inner circle, the natural progress is to get as high as he could get. You could argue that he wishes to do something more for Singaporean besides this.
Well, the point is, without this continuing quest of his career progression, he would not have gotten to this stage because others with a similar quality will or at least they tried.
For George, it is depressing though. Somewhere beyond this position of his, is the post of deputy prime minister and that could possibly be his highest ever position if we do based it on whatever Lee and Goh said so far.
The society at large in Singapore, can be said is of elitism based. This of course affects George and us too. If he is full of ambition as a politician to change the life of Singaporean, not necessarily as a world highest paid PM or FM or any ‘lesser evils’, he should accept the challenge from Dr Chee. If not, he is just making up to the number for Lee and for his bank account.
At least, most of the old guards (not from Goh's era) of the PAP were different (except one who is still lingering around).
Mon 10 Aug 2009 4:17 AM
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greyheyn - To BryanT (one more thing)
Personally, I am having problem with the title of which you put " greyheyn - Quacks". But it has not made myself to an extent whereby I will "cyber attack" you, after my understanding of your intention from your writing.
But please do review it as it will cause misconception and wrong perception about yourself.
Mon 10 Aug 2009 6:35 AM
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BryanT - greyheyn - apologies
The "quacks" were definitely not in reference to you, but to my posting. My apologies.
I'll made the change in the title.
Mon 10 Aug 2009 7:26 AM
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Robox - To BryanT
Hi BryanT, I've got to hand it to you.
You hold an obviously different worldview - watch out though, because I have designs to turn you into a good SDP-er.
But to me you are obviously not PAP IB or the many others in cyberworld with malicious intent; you are a [i]bona fide[/i] debator, and worthy of respect on that basis. And you inspire so much debate here.
Hope you had a good National Day, and undertook to mean what you said when you recited the pledge.
[color=red]"I have designs to turn you into a [b]good[/b] SDP-er."
[/color]
Robox, I will take on your challenge, to convert me to a SDP-er, although I am still a bit cynical about what you meant by the "good" part.. haha.
My compliments to you too - I find you one of the more articulate and well-reasoned ones around here.
BTW, what's the IB in the "PAP IB"? Apologies for lack of insight into such lingo, but if it's one of those 5th column things that the indefatigable Gopalan Nair accuses me of, then I'd have to deny vehemently, again :)
Have a good ND too!
Tue 11 Aug 2009 8:37 AM
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vincesdp - Be a Man
What do you expect from the PAP? They know they have no leg to stand on with their illogical arguments. That is why they have no courage to step up and debate with us.
Dr Chee Soon Juan has posted to his Facebook an invitation for an online debate regarding issues close to the heart of Singaporeans.
Foreign Minister George Yeo is active on the Internet and has recently been interacting with Facebook users on the Burmese issue (see here). Noting his presence online, Dr Chee Soon Juan has posted to his Facebook an invitation for an online debate regarding issues close to the heart of Singaporeans:
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