The China Post, 4 Jun 2011SINGAPORE -- They seem a breed apart, dwelling in a pristine bubble far from the madding crowd.
That, at least, is the stereotypical view of a politician from Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP). He or she is likely to cruise around in a luxury car, never having to take public transport.
When he goes to the ground, the PAP MP tends to arrive after everyone else, speaks mainly to grassroots leaders and then makes a quick exit.
Undergraduate Elly Mohamad, 24, says these politicians are “atas,” a Malay word to describe people who think they are above everyone else. That image is at odds with the PAP ethos of being “servants of the people” — as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reminded party members at a Young PAP event last month. Full story
