What keeps the PAP in power: the plastic pail mentality

You know, I have often asked myself this same question so many times in my lifetime - how the hell do the PAP stay in power in Singapore? Well, some of the comments I have seen in reply to my recent article on the Fair Consideration Framework have thrown some light on the issue. One of my readers 'thisismyvoice' wrote, "I agree that FCF does not look effective. However, I am of the opinion that having something is better than nothing"

His/her attitude does illustrate point about Singaporeans - it seems that they are really not willing to stand up for themselves even when presented with what is very clearly a very poor compromise. To illustrate my point to thisismyvoice, I told him/her a little story about a plastic pail from my travels.

"Years ago when I was on holiday, I checked into the guest house only to find that there was a leak - there was this drip, drip, drip coming down from the ceiling. So I marched down to the front desk, complained and the lady came with me to the room and had a look at the leak. She returned two minutes later with a big plastic pail and I asked her if she was going to fix it. And she said, "I am fixing it now, aren't I? I give you a pail." And I said that no, I was not satisfied with just a pail, I was not going to put up with water dripping into a pail in the middle of the room all night long - she had to give me a new room or get someone in to deal with the leak. The pail was simply not good enough - like, was I going to have to empty the pail every few hours? Even in the middle of the night if it kept raining? There was a serious problem and she was not taking my complaint seriously enough - I was not going to be satisfied with some gesture that wasn't going to solve the root of the problem. I was not prepared to compromise on the issue."

This FCF's new website is just a pail in the face of a leak coming through the ceiling - it's not going to fix the problem, you need far more decisive actions to STOP the influx of foreign workers by placing local Singaporeans at an advantage over locals (as in the UK) such as by doubling the foreign worker levy, to discourage employers from using foreign labour and forcing them to use Singaporeans instead. The woman at the guest house didn't take my complaint seriously enough (I gave her hell believe you me, don't mess with me bitch) - and the government isn't taking the locals seriously. The question is: will you Singaporeans have the resolve to give the PAP hell over this, or will you gladly accept the plastic pail in the spirit of "aiyah, plastic pail solution better than no solution at all lah..."

Some people are happy with a plastic pail solution - others are not.

If you are not willing or able to stand up for your rights, then don't be surprised when others take you for granted and walk all over you. If you are willing to fight for your rights, then don't be surprised if others label you a troublemaker. I would gladly be labeled a troublemaker then to suffer in silence - I can live with people disliking me, however, I have also learnt to pick my fights. You could go to Hong Lim Park and scream and shout till the cows come home - those events however, are poorly organized. I have attended them and was sorely disappointed. What does one do then?

In the plastic pail episode, I demanded that I was either given a new room or I am leaving. I haven't already paid for the room and she risked losing my business if she was unable to give me a new room without a leak. She told me that there were no other rooms free and she didn't understand why I wasn't happy to put up with the plastic pail situation, given that other guests in other rooms also had plastic pails in their rooms. I said, "okay, fine, if that's your attitude, I'm out of here and you're not getting my business. I'm taking my money and spending it elsewhere. Bye!" 

That's me on a recent trip to Ireland.

You know what she said? "You may not be able to find another guest house as nice and as cheap as mine! You don't know if there's any availability! The other guest houses and hotels in town, they'll charge you more!" To which I replied, "I'll take my chances. I don't mind paying more for a nicer room without a leak, because I'm worth it." 

Another reader Gary commented, Yes, it does seems like the PAP govt is once again up to its favorite game of wayang. The voters should be prepared to give its politicians hell in 2016 when the scenario you painted materialized.

Well Gary, I beg to differ. The voters already had their chances at the last election to throw the PAP out but they didn't - I don't think they are blind to the problems in Singapore. It is however, this plastic pail mentality that is stopping them from asking for a better solution from the government. They accept the plastic pail solution because they don't believe they deserve to ask for anything better - or that they are blindly placing their trust in the government to give them the best possible solution, so they do not question the cheap plastic pail they are given. They do not entertain the thought that there is a better alternative available than the option they have been given. 

Is there a better alternative available?

Of course, I do recognize that there have been plenty of Singaporeans who would look at the PAP's plastic pail solutions and say, "what is the hell is this? Do they think we're that easily fooled?" Here's an example of someone who isn't fooled by the PAP's plastic pail proposals, my reader Tom posted this comment.

Just to elaborate further on the UK employment rules on hiring foreigners (I also got a job in the UK as a foreigner):

(i) Each employer has a rating akin to our credit worthiness rating, and this rating determines the extent they can or cannot employ foreigners (they are held accountable for each foreign hire). It also determines the number of foreigners the institution/company can employ. So if your employer is one of those private degree awarding schools located in 'who-knows-where' offering courses that are not accredited except in some God forsaken part of the world, your employer will have very little chance in employing foreigners. In contrast to Singapore, you see those dubious private schools employing foreigners left, right, and centre. In the UK, polytechnics turned universities also have less chance of employing foreigners compared to more established and reputable universities.

Both Tom and I work in the UK.

(ii) Each job advert stipulates two sets of criteria - 'Essential' and 'Desired'. IF a local candidate fulfills ALL the 'Essential' criteria, s/he MUST be employed even if a foreign candidate fulfills the 'Essential' AND 'Desired' criteria. So the employer must make a case that NO local candidates fulfill the essential criteria when the job was advertised for 28 days. In contrast to Singapore, the BEST candidate gets the job regardless of nationality. See the difference?

Lastly, the onus should be on an *independent* body or the govt to assess the authenticity of the qualifications of the foreign candidate NOT the employer. The reasoning is simple - there is a conflict of interest in having the employer do this.

PAP always 'bastardize' all quasi-effective policies from other countries to make them a mockery of an example in Singapore. Look at our labour unions - compare with the labour unions in democratic developed countries. Look at voting in democracies, look at voting in Singapore.

But then, I note that Tom is already in the UK, like myself. We have realized we're in the minority in Singapore and the easiest thing to do is to leave Singapore for greener pastures. As more and more of people like Tom and I leave, those who remain tend to be those who are more than happy to accept whatever plastic pail they are given, this process reinforces the current pattern, keeps the PAP in power because it drives out the very people who oppose the PAP. 

So let me finish by asking you a question: what would you do if you were given a cheap plastic pail by the owner of the guest house when there is a leak in the room? Would you be the kind of person who would take the pail meekly and say thank you? Or would you kick up a big fuss, knowing that you might end up leaving and have to find somewhere new to stay for that night? Would the thought of finding alternative accommodation be so daunting that you would put up with the plastic pail? Likewise, would you be prepared to leave Singapore and seek greener pastures elsewhere? Or would that thought be so daunting that you'll gladly put up with the PAP and all their flaws? Would you be prepared to stand up to the PAP and tell them exactly what you think of their plastic pail solutions? 

Are you willing to venture off the beaten path for greener pastures?

For me, I don't think I am as exasperated with the PAP as I am with the Singaporeans who accept such plastic pail solutions. You already know what I think but I want to know what you think. What would you do in such a situation? Don't be shy now, please leave a comment below and let me know, thank you very much.