If you wanted an area to kick the Singapore government,
it would be its common refrain of “The Public is not ready for a Non-Chinese
Prime Minister,” during every election. The point is simple. Successive
Singapore governments have made the point that Singapore is a “meritocracy.” Our
national pledge talks about “regardless of race, language or religion.” We’ve been
the proud poster boy of “multiracialism” and “multiculturalism.” Yet, whenever
the topic of leadership succession comes about, the same government which talks
about “multiracialism” and “meritocracy” will tell you that Singapore is simply
not ready for a “non-Chinese” (the majority community) to take charge of things.
One only needs to look at the previous change of
power. The star was the then Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
He remains a great policy wonk with a precious commodity – international recognition
(Mr. Tharman used to serve with the IMF). He’s also got a good common touch
that resonates with the ground. Yet, despite what everyone said, Mr. Tharman ruled
himself out of the succession race and got himself kicked upstairs to the
presidency (In theory the one all of us need to call Sir – but in reality, does
what a nice silver tea spoon does.) Instead, the job went to Mr. Lawrence Wong,
whom while competent enough in his own right, remains many years Mr. Tharman’s
junior in the political sphere (probably the only first time in history where the
President was the Prime Minister’s senior in their previous career.)
So, when you look at the claim made by the government
that the public is “not ready” for a “non-Chinese” Prime Minister, it does seem
to make the government’s claims of Singapore being a “non-racial” “meritocracy”
ring a little hollow.
However, does the government have a point when it
makes this rather obvious claim on the limits of “diversity.” Given obsession
of “looking for best practices around the world,” you could argue that the
government has seen something that the rest of us don’t. In this case, it’s the
fact that the record of someone not fitting into the mainstream coming into
power has been a little sad.
One might argue that this isn’t totally accurate.
America elected its “Black” president in Barak Obama and the UK had its first “Asian”
Prime Minister in the shape of Rishi Sunak. However, I’ve argued that both Mr.
Obama and Mr. Sunak are the exception that proves the rule. Whilst both men have
a different complexion from the majority in the countries they led, they are
from “elite” backgrounds (Mr. Obama is from Harvard Law School, Mr. Sunak went
to Winchester and Oxford) and thus “acceptable.” Then, you have to add in the
fact that Mr. Sunak was never elected to the job and whilst Mr. Obama did win
two elections, he was replaced by Mr. Donald Trump who basically won on being
everything Mr. Obama is not.
Here's the nasty truth – being different scares the
living crap out of the majority. People are easily scared and when they’re
scared, they find comfort in believing all sorts of silly things that may be
said about you.
Prime example – the recent elevation of Mr. Zohran Mamdani
to be the candidate of the Democratic Party for Mayor of New York City. Let’s
make the point that he’s only become a “candidate” of a political party and not
the holder of a political office.
Yet, despite this, Mr. Mamdani has become an instant
target of “hatred” from the Republican party and incidentally, his own “Democratic”
party. He has been accused on being an “antisemitic” enemy of the state of
Israel and the common refrain is that if elected, Mr. Mamdani will enact Sharia
law in New York city:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X6jQJmsDCU
There is no evidence to suggests that Mr. Mamdani has said he would implement Sharia law and the main charges against him for being “antisemitic” come from the fact that he’s mentioned that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu,” should he step foot in New York City, which would be in accordance with International Law (Mr. Netanyahu has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for War Crimes) and interestingly enough, from stating that he would stay in New York city instead of running off to Israel if elected mayor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnlQW8Rh80A
There is no evidence to suggests that Mr. Mamdani is going to implement anything terribly radical in the area of social demography if elected as Mayor. Yet, and yet, there’s a rush to paint Mr. Mamdani as Osama bin Ladin’s successor for the mere fact of being who is (South Asian Immigrant Muslim):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVtfxnaLVig
It’s not that Mr. Mamdani is a saint. There are things
that potential opponents can attack him for. One of the most obvious areas is
in policy details. How, for example, exactly does he plan to pay for what he’s promising.
These would be more “solid” ways of attacking him than say making him the
cultural enemy of the main stream.
Then, there’s the point that when you focus on
attacking him personally, you miss addressing the point as to why he’s “winning.”
Ironically, Mr. Mamdani’s strategy has been to take a
leaf from Mr. Trump – focus on key issues affecting people and harping on them.
Mr. Trump talked about the price of eggs. Mr. Mamdani is talking about rents in
New York.
Again, look at his answer about “foreign trips.” His
point is straight – he’s running for “Mayor of New York” and not “secretary of
state.” His job is to look after “New York,” and he’ll stay next to the people
who voted for him rather than travel to the Middle East. Watch his answers in public
forums and he’s very focused on his message.
Mr. Mamdani has scared both sides of the political
isle. Yet, he’s understood that there is a segment of the electorate that
believes the entire establishment is no longer interested in real issues and he’s
tapped into that. Whilst he may not be perfect, he’s shown that whilst many
people may not be comfortable with someone who doesn’t look, eat or pray like
them, they’re willing to overcome such differences if that person is willing to
listen to their needs.
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