Finally, the suspense is over. The Workers’s Party [WP] has expelled Yaw Shin Leong from the party. A by-election in Hougang will most likely be announced once the budget debate is over.
I clearly cannot imagine how much more damage there would be to the party’s image and prestige had the matter dragged on. A number of friends I talked to were originally rather disappointed with the WP for not coming clean on this matter. Some have even lost faith in the WP as a political alternative. All that about a ‘First World Parliament’ would be empty talk if the WP intend to kept mum about the matter and hope that the electorate would forget about it in 2016. While those were in the opinion that the WP would need time to investigate the matter or allow Mr Yaw to explain himself, the complete silence on the matter prior to the high profile expulsion was rather disappointing and disheartening. Hopefully the WP can learn from this lesson and handle negative matters better in the future.
It was clear from Mr Low’s strong reaction (when he was told what the Prime Minister had said) that he did not want to let down the people of Hougang. I respect him and the WP in making this most painful decision. Hougang has been in the care of the WP for 2 decades and the WP has decided to stand before the people and asked them to be the judge. There is nothing more transparent and democratic than that. I applaud the WP for its courage in doing the right thing – excise the tumor before it becomes a cancer. It is my opinion that courage is apparently something that the People’s Action Party [PAP] lacks. Otherwise we wouldn’t have to wait until last May for some ministers to step down, when they clearly should have been removed from their posts way before.
Now, on the matter of Yaw Shin Leong’s alleged affair. From what I know this originated from nothing more than an article from a garbage site (one which I shall not offer more publicity by naming) which has a history of being anti-WP. I am surprised that the main stream media [MSM] picked up such rumors and actually published it. For a very brief moment, I actually thought they have finally obtain some proof but it was sadly short on details. While it is most unlikely that the MSM would be able to get anything more out of that garbage site, the MSM kept up the pressure on Mr Yaw and WP relentlessly, especially on the evening Chinese tabloids which my parents read daily. Meanwhile, this very same media had reported that PAP MP Foo Mee Har has publicly called certain attacks on her to be false and baseless. But what attacks is she talking about? The same media which pressed Mr Yaw to address those allegations with dogged determination leaves many of us with our heads in the fog regarding Ms Foo. Such double standards… so much for professionalism!
As to whether Mr Yaw’s private life has anything to do with his ability to serve, I find it hypocritical that many would come to the defense of celebrities who misbehaved but hold politicians to a different standard. For e.g. Few would give a damn if Britney Spears drove with her baby on her lap without a seat belt, or that Amy Winehouse died because drug overdose. When people claim that political leaders are role models, let’s be frank with ourselves and ask who has a greater impact in the daily life of teenagers. Clearly, more would be listening to the songs of their idols instead of a speech from our uninspiring political leaders.
So, I personally don’t really care about Mr Yaw’s private life since as far as politics is concerned I would value capabilities above morality. After all, I am in the opinion that the standard of ‘whiter than white’ is one that is incepted into the our collective social psyche by the PAP to the point that we Singaporeans come to believe that this has always been something we wanted. As far as I can remember, that seem to be something more often used by the ruling party to justify itself. While it is a standard we aspire for our politicians and civil servants, Yaw isn’t the only one who has failed in that aspect recently. Yet, I also have to agree with those who believed otherwise that having an affair is simply the betrayal of one’s spouse – the very person one has taken a vow to love, protect and respect forever for the rest of his / her life. It is the worst betrayal one can commit to a loved one. Many would find it it difficult to trust such a person, much less believe that he would be able to serve them faithfully and truthfully.
That brings me to the end of my post. Allegedly, Mr Yaw and his wife and the lady he has an affair with, all seek counseling on the matter from their church leaders. Assuming that this is true, it means the “information leak” is from the church. I am clearly under the impression that church counselors are expected to keep such matters confidential because their members seek help from them in good faith. While there is Biblical basis to expose and discipline an unrepentant member, it does not include revealing it anyone and everyone outside the church. While the garbage site had actually accused the church of helping to cover this matter up, it is common sense that this attempt has failed. Someone who is personally involved in counseling or close to the counselors has bragged it out. I could not think of any other plausible leak if not from within the church itself. If it was a careless slip of tongue by someone close to the counselors (or even the counselors themselves) and done without malice, then it is a simple matter. It would however be more ominous if someone has deliberately exposed Mr Yaw because of their political differences in spite of their faith in God.
Anyway, this matter has finally come to an end. I wish the WP good luck and hope that it retains its seat in Hougang. I forgot to mention… for those who wants to ride on the WP’s misery as a short cut into Parliament, I hope you lose your deposits if this turns into a multi-corner fight.
