Singapore: True-Blue Democracy?

Though we Singaporeans may proudly declare ourselves as democratic citizens, do we truly mean what we say? Are we really a democracy, being allowed freedom of speech, rights and so forth?Are we allowed to contest against the government's ruling freely?

The People Action Party (PAP) has been in power ever since 1959 general election, when Lee Kuan Yew was elected as Singapore's first prime minister. They have been the Singapore government for over 50 years with no other political parties to contest, to challenge, to oppose them. They and they alone have made all important decisions ranging from health reforms for the elderly to how the Singapore budget should be spent. In recent years, the baton has been passed on to current prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, coincidentally, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's grandson. The control of Singapore has changed hands and has come a full circle. Knowing this, do we really believe in our hearts that Singapore is a fair, authoritative state or do we secretly think it to be authoritative and oppressive?

Of course, many have tried over the years to dispute PAP's right to power. However, they have all fallen, mainly due to the Internal Security Act (ISA), Part XII of the Singapore Constitution, the government still employs. This policy gives them the right to "enact legislation designed to stop or prevent subversion." For example, Chia Thye Poh, the longest-serving political prison in the whole of Singapore history, was detained under the ISA and was imprisoned for 23 years without trial for allegedly conducting pro-communist activities against the Government, subsequently being confined to house arrest for another nine years.

The government controls all forms of media. Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), which publishes Singapore's most widely read newspaper the Straits Times, Mediacorp, Singapore's local TV station and local radio stations. Hence, we read what the government wants us to read, watch what the government wants us to watch and hear what the government wants us to hear. All media is carefully screened by the Singapore government and passes through strict censorship.

But of course, there are two sides to every matter; Singapore's government has sacrificed democracy and freedom for its people for economic progression. It's hard to imagine that we were simply a third-world, puny island with no natural resources to draw on but ourselves. Now, we have clean water, good living conditions and are in the top 30 countries in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product per capita (person). We have come a long, long way and for this, we have the PAP to thank for. Its efficient government has slogged and suffered, doing its utmost to make Singapore what it is today.

I conclude now that I have presented both sides of the matter. My conclusion is that Singapore may not be the true-blue democracy it perpetuates itself as but it is certainly governed by one hell of of an efficient party.