Will Popagandhi be thrown out of Singapore?

And would it be her dream come true?

In a provocative post, The Almost Daily Grind takes on The Big Man Himself, King-for-Life “Senior Minister” Lee Kuan Yew, and in so doing manages to make a total laughing stock of the once mighty city-state.

I was told when I started blogging about Singapore that I could pretty much say what I wanted — as long as I didn’t criticize LKY. Popagandhi seems to think she is above the law.

She starts by citing today’s newspaper headline, “Lee tells forum he didn’t realise importance of those who think outside the box when he was building Singapore,” and a quote from Lee, “I didn’t know this when I started, I know this now – you need both.”

Hurrah! Now, in order to allow us to “think outside the box”, they will tell us where the perimeters of the box are and where and what exactly to think when we’re outside it. I daresay this will be achieved through “creativity workshops” our schools will send us to (funded by the Teach Our Children To Think Holdings, part of Singapore Inc., also a Government Linked Company, but don’t tell anybody that because they’re really a private firm).

Also, doesn’t “when he was building Singapore” make it all sound like a game of Lego? I can’t say that is too far from the truth, even though I desperately wish I could.

(sidenote: “He challenged his audience to find another South-east Asian country where visitors could fly in, be out of the airport in 10 minutes, arrive in the city in another 15 minutes, attend a conference and fly out the same evening.” – the marvels of being small, I guess, and that’s about it.)

Wow, can she write or what?

In a few slicing syllables she manages to capture the very essence of Singapore, the do-as-your-government-tells-you-to-do mentality, the inability of Lee & Co. to keep its fingers out of absolutely everything, the way it is scraping rather pathetically to instill an “entrepreneurial spirit” after brainwashing its citizens for nearly half a century that stupid is better.

(Popagandhi, I am presuming if you get away with this I can, too. I’m not going to get in any trouble, will I?)

Thanks for giving me my only laugh in a long hard day. (Once she takes over for Conrad, will we ever want him to come back?) (I misunderstood; the winner was Hemlock.)

The Discussion: 9 Comments

no problems at all 😉 (regarding your email..)

i’m not taking over for Conrad, i was edged out by Hemlock, remember?

regarding my post, i got into alot of trouble in secondary school for having such opinions… but i have nothing to do with the system now. well, almost..

December 2, 2003 @ 11:13 pm | Comment

and i wasn’t really criticizing him in particular.. just describing the situation as i know it. one that can’t really be refuted. ;P i do think he’s done much good for us, maybe far too much good.

December 2, 2003 @ 11:23 pm | Comment

In re. staying in Singapore for only a day, is this something that is a shining example of the city’s hospitality?

December 2, 2003 @ 11:41 pm | Comment

Adri, I had no idea you were bounced. I’m sorry, I missed that. Well, I’ll be reading you every day anyway, no matter where you are posting.

December 3, 2003 @ 8:51 am | Comment

Good find Richard – I borrowed the same quote and have added said blog onto my daily reading list.

December 3, 2003 @ 11:32 am | Comment

It’s actually ok to criticise our leaders. But when the PM mentions you in his NDP speech or in parliament in a not so flattering way then it’s time to migrate.

December 3, 2003 @ 12:26 pm | Comment

It Gives Me A Sorta Vibe

Just one last funny story before I head out for the event everyone’s been waiting for (and which has been causing me much trauma). I didn’t think I’d post today but it seems the reaction to yesterday’s entry has been…

December 3, 2003 @ 12:44 pm | Comment

Be careful you two, Andrea See got a stern talking to by the powers that be for addressing Singapore political issues in her blog.

On the other hand, if they detain you and you need a lawyer. . . .

December 3, 2003 @ 5:12 pm | Comment

Yes we know who to look for Conrad ; )

December 4, 2003 @ 9:40 am | Comment

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