I
make a 'policy shift' when I hear the debate of right politics,
constructive politics and sub-standard opposition. My original aim is
to discuss about “Su Dongbo, Zhang Juzheng and Singapore education
system”. The discussion will end with a sub-standard PAP, in
particular from the assessment of the quality of PAP potential
candidates.
Another
policy shift is to discuss it like a play, a drama and make it more
entertainment rather than a sub-standard political discussion.
Act
1 Gangster’s demand
Imagine
a sense in the Hong Kong's gangster movie (or a godfather movie), the
gangsters' master is shouting at his poor opponent and demand him to
give a price for his wrong act. The poor guy without any resources
can only offer his body or his service to work for the master.
Back
in his own chamber, the master is still not satisfied and continues
to shout 'don't play, play, you think you are hero, you think you are
tiger, or superstar or acting like one.' 'Ask you to compensate,
you can only offer 5K, you think who I am.'
From
far away, you can see his shouting.
Act
2 Su Dongbo and Zhang Juzheng
Now
we turn to Chinese history. In Northern Song, Su Dongbo (苏东坡)is
taking his imperial examination. The chief examiner is Ouyang
Xiu(欧阳修). Ouyang
Xiu likes Su Dongbo's work very much and decides to award the top
award to him. However, after second thought he decides to award it to
another candidate because Su's essay looks very much like one of his
students. In order not let others criticize his favouritism, he
awards some one not deserving to be the first. It, anyway, never
stops Su Dongbo or Quyang Xiu to be the giants in Chinese literature.
Su, after exam, still pays respect to Ouyang as his teacher, his
mentor.
Few
hundred years later, in Ming dynasty, a young talent, Zhang Juzheng
(张居正),
was born. The Ming was in a period of infighting, dirty politics,
and social unrest. It is financially bankrupted and in deficit.
Everyone expects Zhang to come in first in provincial examination
after his county exam. However, the chief examiner interviews Zhang
and tells him the reason why he cannot be the top student. And in
fact, Zhang fails the exam. The reason is that young talent like
Zhang must learn failure before success. Zhang finally cleared the
exam at an older age and becomes the prime minister. His reform in
taxation and other social policies turn the fortune of Ming, from
deficit to surplus in just 2 years and also he strengthens the
defence. Historians comment that without Zhang, the Ming dynasty will
fall earlier and Zhang gives Ming another 50 or 60 years to live.
Act
3 Singapore education system
Back
in chamber again, a potential member from the ruling party is
shouting high and low, cry father cry mother. What is he shouting? I
deserve to be first. I cannot forgive my primary five teacher who
awards some one not on meritocracy principle. The teacher said, 'you
already had too many awards and let other has a chance'. The
honourable member replied: 'this is not fair'. 'I am not Su Dongbo or
Zhang Juzheng'. 'I want to be the first in examination or in my work
based on merit'.
So,
this is the kind of standard that the ruling party wants to present
to the voters. Is this, a typical product of Singapore education
system? The audience has to decide whether the ruling party is
running out of candidates and has to present sub-standard candidates
to fill up their candidate list. And so where are the high quality
candidates? It cannot be a zero sum game. Every education system must
produce some talents. Could they go to the opposite side?
Act
4 Social media and creative administration
From
chamber, we move to society, to the economy. We look at the social
media, the ruling party is doing poorly. We then look at the policy
options, again, not convincing.
How
can the ruling party turn its fortune? The party does not have Su
Dongbo type of talents to begin attacks or defend itself in social
media. Neither do they have Zhang Juzheng type of talents to begin
any workable reform in Singapore.
The
conclusion is the PAP is putting up a sub-standard show in the
chamber. And unfortunately, their potential candidates are also
sub-standard if not in academic then in morality. They fail to learn
success comes from failure. Meritocracy does not make you a great
man, but morality does.
Notes
on Su Dongbo and Zhang Juzheng
1.
The Gay Genius by Lin Yutang
https://archive.org/details/TheGayGenius_985
2.
Su Shi
3.
Zhang Juzheng
4.
风雨张居正