Kampongcham

long and arduous. But Singapore has taken that first crucial step to making parliamentary democracy a reality.

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Comments in chronological order (Total 89 comments)

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R042

10 May 2011 11:47AM

The most depressing thing is that commentators who have only ever visited the country as tourists continue to claim the lack of litter and "good discipline" makes Singapore a model for other nations to emulate.

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MaxRosen

10 May 2011 11:48AM

Interesting to compare Singapore and Egypt.

Somehow I find it easier to believe in a "Singapore spring" than an "Arab spring".

Dunno whether it will happen but at least a "Singapore spring" is credible.

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shalone

10 May 2011 11:48AM

Good thoughts. Singapore has, however, performed an economic miracle in Asia, which has a very high standard of living. So We should not be too harsh on one party system in this country. I agree it is time it introduced a true democracy now.

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stoneshepherd

10 May 2011 11:49AM

The Singapore Democratic party (SDP), of which I am leader, was one of the six opposition parties that contested the ruling Peoples' Action party (PAP).

Good luck to you if you have FPTP.

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MetaBob

10 May 2011 11:51AM

Is this a PAP smear?

Good luck with the revolution. Singaporeans are nice people and deserve freedom with their money.

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PapaDumb

10 May 2011 11:56AM

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

UnevenSurface

10 May 2011 12:09PM

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

Self

10 May 2011 12:10PM

Probably the first step on a slippery slope. Democracy usually leads to the debt-fuelled dyfunction that characterises the UK, Greece, Ireland and all the rest of them as politicians promise the world to useless people in order to get elected.

On the other hand, it can lead to effective states such as Norway.

I guess Singapore is, on the whole, relatively free of useless people, so they might stand a chance.

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PhilipD

10 May 2011 12:10PM

Good luck with it. Singapore is in many ways a huge economic success, and much of its system can and should be emulated. But its no coincidence that the Chinese Communist Party sees Singapore as a model of how an authoritarian political party can run a prosperous society without too much opposition.

It must also be pointed out to those who are blinded by the obvious prosperity of the island that it achieves this to a large extend by dumping all its toxins (often quite literally) across the Causeway into Malaysia, and uses its

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