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2007.06.12自由時報
馬捧星貶台 「新加坡都看不下去」
新加坡反對黨民主黨成員徐淑真（美聯社）發表一封公開信，對國民黨總統參選人馬英九認為新加坡捨民主而重經濟發展的所謂「新加坡模式」，可作為台灣借鏡，表示深感沮喪。徐淑真並指馬英九可能被新加坡政府的宣傳誤導。 |
〔記者蘇永耀／台北報導〕國民黨總統參選人馬英九訪問印度與新加坡，星國反對黨成員批評馬所謂「新加坡模式」看法有問題。新聞局長謝志偉昨晚說，馬英九不懂惜福，屢屢貶低台灣民主，就連新加坡自己都看不下去。
馬英九昨日啟程到印度與新加坡訪問，星國反對黨民主黨成員徐淑真發表一封公開信，對馬英九認為新加坡捨民主而重經濟發展可作台灣借鏡，表示深感沮喪。徐淑真並指馬英九可能被新加坡政府的宣傳誤導。
對此，謝志偉認為，新加坡情況他暫不評論，但馬英九屢屢批評國家元首、執政黨、乃至貶抑台灣民主的作法，換在其他國家，馬可能就得入獄，而不是參選總統，這就是台灣民主的可貴。
謝志偉還說，馬英九是「一路走來，始終如一」，到美國唸書是拿特權的中山獎學金，不像多數清苦留學生是拿「山中獎學金」，過去討論總統產生制度時，又反對公民直選，所支持的委任選舉，就好像香港在選特首一樣。
Letters: Singapore is no role model
Monday, Jun 11, 2007, Page 8
Dear Mr. Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九):
Warm greetings to you from Singapore. I understand that you are visiting
Singapore and would like to welcome you. I would also like to take this
opportunity to congratulate you on your candidacy in Taiwan's presidential
election next year.
However, I read with great dismay in Singapore's Straits Times on June
2 that "Ma cites Singapore as an example for Taiwan." In the
report, you were quoted as saying that "Singapore is different from
us [Taiwan] as its emphasis is not on democratization. Nevertheless, it
is professional, corruption-free and efficient, which is worth our learning"
and that "The Singapore Government is very efficient. They can reach
consensus easily and there is no squabbling or fighting."
| `I am sure that the people
of Taiwan cherish their hard-won political freedom and are proud to
live in a democratic society, a society they contribute to and continue
to shape.' |
The paper also said that you had cited the high pay of Singaporean ministers
as one example of the country's pragmatism.
Perhaps what you have read or heard about Singapore is the official line.
The government puts out a lot of misinformation and propaganda. Please
allow me to reveal some truths.
The "corruption-free" image that the People's Action Party
(PAP) government projects to the world stems from the fact that the state's
leaders have used draconian laws to silence its critics. Opposition politicians
have been bankrupted, imprisoned and run out of the country for trying
to hold the government responsible to Singaporeans.
In the numerous civil lawsuits and criminal trials which the country's
leaders and the government have brought against their dissenters, the
courts have always ruled against the defendants.
All forms of media here are controlled by the authorities. Newspapers,
magazines, TV and radio networks are owned by the state. Even Internet
service providers are government-owned.
Singapore has been dominated by the PAP since the 1960s. The party has
always had more than 95 percent of the seats in parliament even if it
might have less than 70 percent of popular support. Elections in Singapore
are far from free and fair. The Elections Department is answerable to
the Prime Minister's Office. The Group Constituency Representation was
established in 1988 to deal with the rising unpopularity of the ruling
party. During elections, the government hands out bribes in the form of
shares that can be cashed in. This, in the view of many in Singapore,
is vote-buying. Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀) and other PAP leaders have sued opposition
candidates over the years and have never lost a case.
These are just some of the tactics that the PAP government uses to ensure
that it wins with a overwhelming majority in each election.
As you have noted, Singaporean ministers are highly paid. The prime minister
of Singapore is paid 12 times what Taiwan's president earns. Even the
salary of a junior minister here is more than seven times that of President
Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). There is a difference between pragmatism and avarice.
I am afraid you have mixed the two up. Perhaps this explains why consensus
is reached easily in the government. When money talks, consciences keep
silent.
Other countries are also looking at Singapore as a role-model for economic
success. Thailand (under ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra), Hong
Kong (under former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華), China, Cambodia,
Russia and Venezuela, among others, look to Singapore as a model for economic
development.
However, economic progress and political development are not mutually
exclusive. In trying to follow the Singapore model, political and social
landscapes will be severely and negatively affected. The type of "affluence"
achieved in Singapore cannot be realized without the suppression of rights
and basic freedoms.
While you say that Singapore's emphasis is not on democracy, you also
say that the government is corruption-free. Yet I am certain that you
are aware that democracy is the most effective way to hold a government
accountable and ensure a corruption-free system.
I am sure that the people of Taiwan cherish their hard-won political
freedom and are proud to live in a democratic society, a society they
contribute to and continue to shape. In fact, in many ways democracy advocates
in Singapore draw inspiration from Taiwan in its transformation from martial
law to a bona fide democracy.
I am perturbed that a leader from one of Asia's most vibrant and proud
democracies should cite the PAP as a model-of-sorts. I sincerely hope
that during your visit to Singapore you will express support for Singapore's
struggle for democracy.
Chee Siok Chin
Singapore Democratic Party
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