It’s quite obvious I am a public servant. I work for the Singapore government and in a lot of ways, I spread their agenda and their messages.
At dinner yesterday, a friend pointed confidently at me and said that I would definitely vote PAP because I am a civil servant. Today, I read this post. I also overheard a few ladies discussing how public servants will definitely vote for PAP because they will be served notice if they do not (although the strange thing was, the example she used was SIA which really isn’t part of the civil service and makes me wonder how confused she is).
Here’s what I think.
As a public servant, I work for the Singapore government, no matter what party is in power. Whether or not I agree with the politics of PAP or the opposition has little bearing on my ability to carry out my job. I took an oath to serve my country, not PAP. But more importantly, I don’t want to be ruled by fear. And to vote for the PAP simply because they might sack me from my job is exactly that – allowing fear to influence my life and in all honesty, that really isn’t the best way to serve your country. So if you are a public servant and you really want to serve your country, then vote the party who you believe will do the best job in looking after her and not because you are afraid. Vote for the PAP because you think they are the ones who will best serve Singapore.
(And really, I highly doubt that our votes are not secret at least for now. Since my vote is secret, this post isn’t any indication of my voting decision.)
I agree.
However I would have to say that votes are probably not exactly ‘secret’, seeing that our votes are tagged to our IC number.
Amazing in twenty Century still people think vote can be trace. My god. where are u from and how old are u. Amazing, can’t believe it. OF course the vote is secret la!
I don’t see your reply had to be this rude. Where are you from and how old are YOU?
It would have been nice just to explain, instead of this.
Anyway, I am from Singapore and I’m 25. And there are many other Singaporeans who are of my age or older who believes the same. I have since found out how the votes are kept secret (definitely not through you), and I will pass on the message – not this rudely like you have, definitely.
* I don’t see why…
You are being too sensitive lah!
even if the incumbent can track the votes, as long as they are voted out in this election, they can’t do anything to you.
I suppose if they do do something to me (should I vote against their wishes), then I guess we can see just what kind of government we have.
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it is true – I have also heard other teachers mention that if they vote opposition, their career in MOE will be stalled ….. And these are teachers taking care of our kids…
Anyway, the teachers will be stalled anyway as they are replaced by foreigners, so what risk singapore teachers are talking about ? You vote for opp party, at least they speak up the issue in parliament, you vote for PAP, you think the teacher has any hope ?
Actually, I understand from a friend of mind that civil servants especially at the top mgt level are highly politicised. Office politics are at worst second to none due in part to to many unconscionable promotions of certain favoured staff over others because of unquestioned loyalty rather than performance.
There is also a very high probability that many civil servants especially the junior or righteous ones do not really think highly of PAP and therefore will gun for the opposition instead.
Unfortunately, as a teacher, I think I’m right at the bottom of the pile so it’s not so politicized here I suppose.