“(The ancient saying is) ‘an army of sheep led by a lion is stronger than an army of lions led by a sheep’. In other words, leadership is critical in battles; the leadership qualities, the courage and the ability and getting the team to follow you is crucial.”- Goh Chok Tong

The qualities that one associate with the lion are usually courage, tenacity and nobility. So when Goh Chok Tong made that statement, chances are he is probably referring to himself and the PAP leadership.

The general singaporean population being sheep- well, at least that much is true. As for the leadership being lions…

Recently a Romanian diplomat was implicated in a car accident that resulted in at least one death. Without even assisting the local police in their investigations, the diplomat basically went and hightailed out of a singapore. While investigations are still ongoing and he may or may not be guilty, it would certainly be a great help to have him around for questioning. Unfortunately, he is now safely back in Romania, well beyond the reach of our law.

So has anyone from our government spoke up? Anyone made demands on the romanian government to send back the diplomat to assist in investigations?

Anyone?

Anyone to fight for justice on behalf of the widow of the deceased?

Where’s the so-called lion when you need him? Sleeping perhaps?

And then there’s the news that Lee Kuan Yew finally realized that intelligence does not necessarily translate into a flair for languages. For a long time, despite many complaints from parents, the ministry of education has steadfastly stuck to their 2nd language policy. How many able students were turned away from the local universities because of their poor 2nd language result? How many couldn’t make it the polys or schools of their choice because of the burden of having to learn a 2nd language.

All this time, not once had an minister of education ever questioned the wisdom of the policy despite repeated pleas and complaints from parents. Did anyone spoke up and challenge the policy?

No.

So is this what Goh Chok Tong call lions? Every past and present education minister just accepted it without questioning the merits of the policy simply because it was the decree of the old man. And that the old man has admitted it might be a mistake, once again did anyone from the ministry of education questioned the validity of the assumption? Or did they simply accept it because it came from the mouth of the daughter of the MM?

Lions or pussies?

Remember when Mas Salamat escaped. How long did it take before our PM came forward to addressed the issue. Just slightly under 2 weeks. What was he waiting for? Salamat to give himself up? And when he finally did appear, what did he say? A shrug of the shoulders- the man escaped, what to do?

Lion or pussy?

And it only got better from then onwards as the MM himself shifted the blame to everyone but themselves for the escape of Mas Salamat. Suddenly the man escaped not because of incompetence, but because we were all complacent. I guess on the day he escaped, I should not have turned up for work- instead I should be outside the detention centre waiting to give Salamat a kick in the balls the moment he jumped over the fence.

And all the PAP MPs and ministers- did anyone stood up to denounce the absurdity of the MM’s proclamation? Where were the lions? Who was willing to challenge MM?

Lions or pussies?

Just look at the pathetic P65 blog. How many of the so-called P65 MPs are still blogging on a regular basis? Remember how it started with a bang- how the P65ers were supposed to connect with the new generations. Instead months after it started, it basically fell into neglect and irrelevance. So much for showing tenacity.

Hell, some of them wouldn’t even stand for election unless they could ride the coattails of some heavyweight ministers into parliament.

So is this the kind of leadership of lions that Goh is referring to?