“Mr Lee was always conscious that he did not act alone, but as a member of a team. His core team included Goh Keng Swee, S Rajaratnam, Othman Wok, Hon Sui Sen, Lim Kim San, amongst others. It was a multi-racial team who complemented one another’s strengths, trusted one another implicitly, and through their joint efforts created a prosperous, fair and just society in Singapore …,” said the PM in parly on Monday.
No Eurasian meh?
Name check the Indian and Malay to make sure that people think that PAP is more than a Chinese-dominated party, but where’s the Eurasian, Barker? And perhaps LKY’s closest confidant* when it came to legal or non-economic matters.
An honest mistake leaving him out? Whatever, the Eurasians will not be happy, especially those who cut and ran to settle in Perth. Another reason for them to curse the PAP. Remember they emigrated when LKY came into power, missing out on the prosperity of the 70s and 80s, and the asset inflation of the 90s and noughties.
An annoyed Malay
Many non-Malay S’poreans (self included) were annoyed with PM and the new Malay minister for their comments on the importance of his appointment to the cabinet (first time two Malays are cabinet ministers). I tot the PM’s comments, patronising and condescending, while Masagos was sounding like the stereotypical “mat”, playing up to the Cina, Keland or Orang Puteh tuan besar.
But unlike others I kept my silence, in public at least. I’m not Malay.
So I was chuffed when a “Malay”, blogged
“Aiseyman! When Masagos Zulkifli gets promoted, the entire Malay Muslim community gets a pat on the back for the “progress of the Malay community”. If it’s not enough that our Prime Minister patronises us, our very own Malay leaders lap up every drop of it like a primary 1 kid getting a star for successfully solving the equation 1+1=2.
If Masagos had come to where he is now through sheer hard work, his achievements will speak for itself. Is there a need to single out his race and extend his achievements to the entire community? Making a big deal out of it only fuels the condescending mentality that we are not good enough in our own country that every big or small accomplishment deserves to be highlighted and praised.
Like we don’t have any pride or self-esteem.
The government needs to stop treating us like kids and give us the respect that we deserve! Our Malay leaders also have to stop behaving like the pet anjings of the government and have some backbone to stand up for the community against racist and demeaning stereotypes!”
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*There was a story hat made the rounds in the 80s that ran as follows; LKY in a cabinet meeting spoke of renewing the cabinet. Barker said, “Right Harry, when are you resigning?” LKY had to mutter that he wasn’t thinking of himself.
This commentary was written by Atans1 and first published on Thoughts of a Cynical Investor.
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