Lim Hwee Hua: PAP only needs to be transformed?

Two words seem to be taboo in the PAP, the ruling party in Singapore. 

One is ” democracy”, while the other is “reform”. 

For example, students across the nation recite the National Pledge every day pledging to “build a democratic society” but in more than 40 years I’ve yet to hear a Minister talks about democracy. 

Now to be sure, our Ministers are smart people, all very well-educated, so the irony must have struck them as it has on lesser mortals like us.

Outgoing Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua following her defeat in the Aljunied  Group Representation (GRC) said that PAP needed to be transformed.

Outgoing Foreign Minister George Yeo likewise preached transformation of the People’s Action Party.

To be transformed is merely to change appearances, leaving the party’s repressive genes intact. It will be a cosmetic change that will fool no one.

Political reforms among other things seek to eliminate abuses and unjust legislation.

Lim Hwee Hua was spot on when
she said the party had to get to the root of the problem. And that to my mind is reform not transformation.

But given the groupthink culture of the PAP, I’m not optimistic about that. 

Most people are inclined to the belief that GRCs won by a small margin are not safe in the next General Election. 

“Are you sure?” would be derisive jibe of PAP loyalists.