So you are a Singaporean voter and you can't wait to cast your votes?
Then you should spend three minutes to read what this fellow Singaporean voters want for our future:
I am a Singaporean voter. I want our policies to be thoroughly examined by different political parties in the Parliament.
Candidates have different strengths, weaknesses and abilities but that is exactly the whole idea. A policy paper can be better scrutinized by different people with different perspectives, angles and insights. Ultimately, Singapore and Singaporeans benefit from better policies. Good policies can withstand scrutiny, no matter who came up with them.
I am a Singaporean voter. I want our anti-corruption department to be completely detached from the power of any government, regardless of political party. The department should be a checks-and-balances asset for the people of Singapore, report directly to the people and conduct regular random checks on every single branch of the state and government to ensure nobody plays under the table. Nobody.
I am a Singaporean voter. I want our civil service, army, police and judiciary systems to be independent from any politically-motivated decisions from any incumbent government.
I dislike the practice of parachuting newly-resigned civil servants, army or police officers or judges into the political sphere weeks or days before elections. This presents a serious conflict of interests because these newly-converted politicians still hold networks of influence within their old jobs and that may present dilemmas in crucial decision-making.
I am a Singaporean voter. I understand all policies cost valuable taxpayers' monies.
I am not a rabbit. I don't eat carrots dangling in front of me. I am not a dog. I refuse to be tamed or intimidated by fear-mongering tactics. I am not a crazy person either. I don't intend to bankrupt Singapore or Singaporeans over poorly-planned policies. I am, however, keeping an open mind to alternative suggestions to current policies. I don't mind these alternatives be thoroughly debated in Parliament because there is always a chance to find moderation and suitability in them until these policies can meet the needs and wants of Singaporeans.
I am a Singaporean voter. I want my government to work for me, not against me and certainly not for themselves. I want my politicians to earn their keep, not sleep through in Parliament and just nod their heads in agreement to pass policies into bills which are not clearly understood by the people.
Governments are servants to the people. If they lord over their own voters, they are not governments. They are called tyrants. I understand the need for attractive pay to entice the best talents and minds into a government. However, I want such salaries to be pegged to real performance in their terms of office. This is called meritocracy. Any member of parliament who naps in parliamentary sessions should receive a pay cut for that month. No excuses. Any member of parliament who has contributed no constructive suggestions to any policies in a year should receive a pay cut for that year. Any member of parliament who broke the laws of Singapore should receive a demerit ceremony in public and serve the necessary sentence in whichever way deem fit by the people of Singapore.
I am a Singaporean voter. I want Singapore to survive longer than any political squabble or contest.
If any political party claims that Singapore will collapse or be in ruins if they are voted out of power, that means we have built the country in the wrong way. All political parties face the possibility of total dissolution but as a Singaporean, I want Singapore to possess a robust system where it can survive any change of power from any political party. This means the civil service, army, police and judiciary system must remain apolitical if they understand such a national need beyond political competition.
I am a Singaporean voter.
Vote not for Singapore's past. Vote not for Singapore's present.
Vote for Singapore's future.
In some other democracies, some of these wants or aspirations are guaranteed rights.
It is not the case here.
Hence, the importance of making our voices heard, and our choices count.
Before you vote, ask yourself, what future do you want for Singapore?
