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Why Hong Kong can never copy Singapore’s ‘dictatorship’
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I would be gobsmacked if the Hong Kong government succeeds in copying Singapore’s style of “dictatorship”, as some commentators are accusing it of doing (“If Singapore is now Hong Kong’s political role model, will it also inspire housing policy?”, July 13)
After all, the Lion City’s “police state” is most unconventional and unique – one that is tailored specifically to its evolving needs and circumstances, and not for wholesale dissemination.
Where in the world can Mr Albert Cheng find a totalitarian political system which guarantees fresh general elections every five years or so, for all eligible Singaporeans to choose their members of parliament (MPs) from various political parties to form the next government? And, unlike in many of the world’s leading democracies, voting is compulsory in Singapore.
Every single seat in the legislature was contested in the last general elections, some by as many as four parties. Yet, time and again, the majority of voters pick the incumbent People’s Action Party to lead the country. Such affinity for a party – which has delivered most of its electoral promises over the years – in open elections has, however, rubbed hard core human rights activists the wrong way.
Hong Kong is not Singapore, don’t believe ‘dictatorship’ hype
These critics continue to begrudge Singaporeans their right to decide for themselves, by repeatedly harping on their boring, predictable and overbearing “one-party dictatorship”.
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