I remember reading PM Lee Hsien Loong saying recently that many people all around the world are clamouring for change (and the biggest example is obviously the election of Barack Obama as the next American president) and that in Singapore, there has to be change too, with the only difference being that the change has to come from within the PAP.

I am not going to quibble about how possible it is to actually change from within because that is flogging a dead horse. I think change from within is a far-fetched idea, if not an outright fantasy, and I don’t think I have to explain why. However, for the sake of discussion, let’s give the PM the benefit of doubt and assume he’s serious about change.

If he’s serious about change, the number one change he should enact is not to go easy on other parties. I do agree completely that it is not the job of the dominant political party to help other political parties win votes. That said, it is also not the job of the dominant political party make the playing less fair for other parties but this is a topic for another day.

The number one change I want is strong public record laws. If public monies are involved in any activity of the government, the law should ensure that the records of these activities are publicly available. If the PAP-led government is indeed upright, non-corrupt and have nothing to hide, I think strong public record laws should be the cornerstone of the PAP’s governance. After all, as the Chinese saying goes, real gold fears no fire. I am not inclined to believe in verbal assurances of an upright government; I want to be able to examine evidence.

Therefore, it disturbs me greatly to read The Online Citizen’s report on how an MP instructed his town council manager not to release more information regarding the town council’s investments. I can accept that investments carry risks and that profit and loss is part and parcel of investing. I’m not bothered by the millions in investment losses. What truly bothers me is the denial of more information regarding the use of public monies by, of all people, a Member of Parliament who’s supposed to represent the interests of his constituents.

I believe that honesty is the best policy and people will forgive honest mistakes. Being less than forthcoming, however, upsets people and will eventually alienate supporters. By then, change will not come from within, like it or not.