April 7, 2006
Uproar over Li's 'stupid' remark我所说新加坡人比较笨，笨的意思呢，就表示有一点点，这个反应啊，一个萝卜一个坑，有点不会破格. (This is what I mean when I say Singaporeans are relatively stupid: 'stupid' is that kind of go-through-the-motions reflex, that lack of deviation [from the social norm].)IT WAS a casual comment that sparked a passionate discussion among Chinese Singaporeans.
After a tour of China in September last year, Li Ao, the famously outspoken Taiwanese politician and author, said at a press conference in Hong Kong: 'Taiwanese are still better. They're scoundrels but they're lovable. Hong Kongers are craftier. Singaporeans are stupider. The Chinese are more unfathomable.'
Little did he realise that his offhand remark would lead to dozens of letters and columns in Singapore Chinese dailies such as Lianhe Zaobao and Shin Min Daily News.
On Wednesday, he explained at long last what he meant by the comment.
He devoted an entire 25-minute episode of his popular talk show, Li Ao's Standpoint, on Phoenix TV (StarHub Channel 50) to the topic: Singaporeans' Stupidity.
Singapore, he said, is the perfect actualisation of the ancient Chinese political philosophy, Legalism, which emphasises the rule of law.
Legalism was the central governing concept of China's Qin dynasty and culminated in the unification of the country under the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
Li said that under the leadership of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, the collective comes before the individual, and the success of the Republic is therefore a 'collective creation'.
The flip side of the coin is that there have been few 'outstanding people' in Singapore, he said.
He noted that many of the Republic's forefathers had sailed from China to the island to make a living and were admirably industrious folk.
But they were also poorly educated, like the great-grandfather of Taiwanese politician Peng Ming-min, who had gone from Fujian to Taiwan 'with only his underwear and nothing else, much less culture'.
He argued that since Singapore's forefathers were poorly educated, Singaporeans are 'not of a good stock'.
He said Mr Lee wanted to build a British-style democracy but because the people are not up to scratch, they only know how to toe the line.
'Singaporeans do not po ge (break rules) but they also do not chu ge (stand out),' he said in Mandarin.
'If you ask me, Li Ao, to name Singapore's outstanding people, I can think of only one person besides politicians like Lee Kuan Yew and his son - a very lovable girl called Stefanie Sun,' he said, referring to the Taiwan-based pop star.
'It's not that there is none. It's just that I don't know of many outstanding individuals. The impression I get is: stupid,' he added.
The 70-year-old author is a member of the Taiwanese parliament and is famous for his controversial comments. Born to a professor of Chinese in north-east China, he fled with his family to Taiwan when he was a teenager.
His show airs on weekdays on the Chinese-backed Hong Kong cable channel, and attracts audiences in Asia, including Singapore.
On Wednesday, he said he was elaborating on his remark about Singaporeans after a Singaporean fan wrote to him and asked him to explain himself.
Li said he had not meant anyone any harm, and added that he would have to speak with more care in future.
'I didn't think that when I said Hong Kongers are craftier, it could also mean that Singaporeans aren't crafty, you're just stupid.'
But he also called on Singaporeans to reflect on why his comment had caused a ruckus.
'If even a clever man like Li Ao has this impression - and he has no enemies in Singapore - think: Why does he have this impression?'
But if he thought his explanation would appease angry Singaporeans, he was mistaken.
After his talk-show remarks were broadcast on cable TV on Wednesday and published in Lianhe Zaobao yesterday, angry readers called radio stations here to complain about him.
Celebrities like China-born, Singapore-based compere Guo Liang also spoke up for Singaporeans.
He told Lianhe Wanbao: 'One cannot just conclude that Singaporeans are going to be stupid generation after generation.'
In Lianhe Zaobao, columnists like Wong Lung Hsiang have noted that Li's comment on stupid Singaporeans echoes a saying in China that 'Taiwanese are shameless, Hong Kongers are heartless, Singaporeans are ignorant'.
In Greater China, law-abiding Singaporeans have long been seen as gullible.
In a commentary in November last year, Wong wrote: 'No nation is perfect. As Singapore grows in confidence and strength, there should be constant self-examination - treasure the system when you are at home but when you are away, you should know how to adapt to others.'
