PM Lee lacks Yin-Yang Harmony at KRMF

否极泰来

Yin and Yang are both necessary

The ancient Chinese subscribes to a concept called the Yin-Yang System. It is a belief that there exists two complementary forces in the universe. One is Yang which represents everything positive or masculine and the other is Yin which is characterized as negative or feminine. One is not better than the other. Instead, both forces are necessary and a balance between the two is highly desirable.

The theory of Yin and Yang is used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to explain the histological structure, physiological function, and pathological changes of the human body, and to serve as guide for diagnosis of treatment. Normally, Yin and Yang in the body maintain a dynamic balance through the interactions of inter-opposition, inter-dependence, inter-restriction and inter-transformation.

A TCM physician would advise the patient to seek balance in his life and maintain harmony between the Yin and Yang, and not stress either force. Furthermore, Minister Lim Swee Say reminded us being sick does not imply that a person is unhealthy. During the televised Mandarin dialogue “Political Forum on Singapore’s Future”, Minister Lim said:

A healthy person does not mean that he would never ever fall ill. Similarly, someone who is ill does not mean he is unhealthy person. For whether one is healthy or not does not depend on the fact of whether he is ill or not; the question is whether it is a major or minor illness, whether he falls ill frequently or infrequently. If one’s illness is minor and infrequent, he is considered healthy; if the illness is major and frequent, then it’s unhealthy.”

Transplanting the concept of Yin-Yang into Singapore’s political system, it would be crucial to maintain the harmony of political forces for the betterment of the People. Which state is the Prime Minister in considering the recent speech which he delivered at the Kent Ridge Minsterial Forum: “minor and infrequent” or “major and frequent”?

Singapore’s political system is plagued by “major and frequent” illnesses and it’s unhealthy. It certainly needs immediate attention. The Prime Minister’s speech reveals intention to create more imbalances in the future of Singapore. Voters may have to take it upon themselves to make Singapore a healthy place for political development, to restore balance in the political system.

PM Lee: Jedi Mind Tricks?

Here are some examples in the Prime Minister’s address that will lead to imbalance:

  • A two-party system is not workable in Singapore because there is simply not enough talent to form two “A teams”.

  • Political institutions that discourage divisive politics: Non-Constituency MPs (introduced in 1984), Group Representation Constituencies (introduced in 1988), Nominated MPs (introduced in 1990), and the Elected Presidency (introduced in 1991).

  • Join the PAP, and help it make sound decisions, implement good policies, and avoid mistakes but “by all means join the opposition if the government is wrong or incompetent.”

How do we know when is the time the government is wrong or incompetent? Is the PAP so good that there can only be one A-team? If the PAP is the “Yang” of Singapore, then there must be a “Yin” to counter-balance and bring about harmony in the political environment. No wonder Minister Lim would stress that “someone who is ill does not mean he is unhealthy person’. If high-calibre candidates such as Chen Show Mao and Tony Tan Lay Thiam join the Opposition, does it imply that Singapore is already unhealthy? If the PAP indeed had considered the possibility of splitting into two parties to form a two-party system, does it not speak volume of the imbalance already present in Singapore’s political system?


Photo courtesy of the Straits Times.