This is quite interesting.
There are two reasons why I would even know who Chan Soo Sen is. And one of them is because of Joo Chiat’s ‘Little Vietnam’. The other reason is, if I recalled correctly, when Chan was asked about his reduced majority after the vote count in the last GE, he made the comment that ‘people maybe voting for the opposition because the the times have gotten better’.
Perhaps. And when I ‘listened’ in between the lines, it suggested to me that the residents are ungrateful for the good work he and his party has done, though let me make it clear I am just thinking out loud and I am NOT accusing Chan of meaning his comment any other way.
But before you become indignant about what has transpired, remember: if you have voted for the Tali-PAP, if you ‘shhh’ your friends when they complain, if you don’t give a shit and think the opposition can’t make it anyhow, if you are afraid they would find out if you vote for the opposition, if you are afraid that the world will stop spinning without the Tali-PAP, then you are a part of what created this little ‘predicament’.
66.6%, dudes. Pat yourself in the back for a job well done. Or if you are the other 33.4%, then join me with a mug of beer to drown our misery.
But I applaud this lady, because she has her photo on her blog and there’s a possibility she might even get into trouble for what she has written.
Original from eastcoastlife
On the evening of 26th January 2004, armed with my prepared letter of complaint, nicely typed out, I went to meet my MP Chan Soo Sen. He was also Senior Minister of State (Education).
I was probably insane at that time. I secretly put a chopper in my bag. Hubby came home at that very moment and saw me behaving suspiciously in the kitchen. I was brushing past him in a haste, when he grabbed my bag and found the chopper in it. He snatched the chopper from my hands. Concerned for my state of mind, my husband decided to come with me.
I saw a grassroot volunteer to file my report. I was led to see my MP after waiting for some time. Hubby and I sat opposite him. I handed him my letter. He looked at it, couldn’t belief his eyes and stole a glance at us. He thought we were trying to be funny. Hubby and I just sat still, observing his facial expression as he finished reading my letter.
Finally he put down the letter, laid back on his swivel chair, crossed his fingers and asked me, “So what do you want?” I told him I want action to be taken. Justice. I told him I was being harassed and threatened.
He looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and declared with an air of indifference,”What can I do? I’m only an MP!”
I was stunned. He didn’t ask any more details about my cases. He wasn’t a bit concerned about the matter I brought up. Either such things are very common in his Ministry or he thinks his Ministry staff cannot be wronged. Slowly my anger rose. “You mean there is nothing I can do? I can’t make a police report? I can’t call the press? Can’t you see I’m already half dead?”
“Well, it’s your right,” he shrugged his shoulders again and answered matter-of-factly.
Hubby who has been keeping quiet all this while, retorted him,”You mean you as a Minister of State for Education cannot do anything about your Ministry? You are totally not concerned about your Ministry. You are not taking feedback? I’m shocked that you are not asking for more details.”
The MP lan-lan (quietly) sat in front of his computer and typed out a letter addressed to MOE. We said our ‘thank you’ and left. We knew nothing would come out of it.
We have met a few MPs who were also Ministers, they left great impressions on us. Ex-Minister of State (Environment) Mr Sidek Saniff would take immediate action if there was any complaint or feedback about the environment. At his MPS sessions or on his walkabouts, if the residents feedback on their surrounding environment, he would get his men to go and check the next day.
Another Minister Dr Lee Boon Yang, while holding the portfolio of Minister of Labour, gave proper advice when I met him at his MPS session in 1991. I met him again in 2002 at Istana, when I mentioned my case to him again, he was concerned and asked whether it was properly handled. It was and I was grateful to him for his advice.
Ex-Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Mohamad Maidin B P M would always be ready to help people who had feedback on education issues. At times, for urgent cases he would ask the residents to fax details or call him at his office the next day.
Unknown to my MP, that morning, I had sent an email enclosing the same letter of complaint to then Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who happened to be abroad then ………..
