🗳️ Leadership is Personal: Why Accountability Starts with the Individual, Not Just the Party 【领导力是个人的事：问责应从个人开始，而不仅仅是政党】

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“We don’t vote for a logo. We vote for the person who has the power — and the courage — to speak up and be accountable.” “我们投票不是为了一个标志，而是为了那个有能力、有勇气发声并承担责任的人。”

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👔 The Party May Stand Behind You — But Leadership Stands Before the People

👔 政党可以站在你背后，但领导人必须面对人民

In a recent remark, Singapore’s former Prime Minister shared that “it’s not just about the individual, but the party behind him.” 新加坡前总理最近表示：“选举不仅是关于个人，更是关于背后的政党。”

While I understand the intent behind this statement, I respectfully disagree. 我理解这句话的初衷，但我还是要尊重地表达不同意见。

Political parties may provide platforms. But leadership is — and must always be — personal. 政党可以提供平台，但领导力始终是个人的体现。

Trust is not inherited. Integrity is not transferrable. Accountability cannot be outsourced. 信任不是继承来的，正直无法转让，问责也不能外包。

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💰 The Aborted Sale of Income Insurance to Allianz (2024): A Leadership Test Case

💰 2024年将收入保险出售给安联失败事件：一次领导力的考验

Mr Ng Chee Meng, now contesting Jalan Kayu SMC, played a key role in this deal. 正在竞选惹兰加由单选区的黄志明先生，在此次交易中扮演了关键角色。

He publicly endorsed the sale on 5 August 2024 — but remained silent as public concern intensified. 他于2024年8月5日公开支持该交易，但在公众疑虑不断升级之时保持沉默。

Between 6 August and 14 October 2024, no clarification was given, even as the deal faced scrutiny and public outcry. 从8月6日至10月14日，在质疑和抗议声中，他并未作出澄清。

Eventually, the government stepped in, and the sale was called off. 最终，政府介入，交易被叫停。

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❌ Silence Is a Choice. Leadership Silence Is Leadership Failure.

❌ 沉默是一种选择，而领导者的沉默是一种失责

Leadership demands visibility and voice in critical moments. 真正的领导力在关键时刻需要挺身而出、发声表态。

Silence isn’t neutral — it’s a decision. 沉默不是中立，它是一种态度的表达。

If public trust is to mean anything, it must begin with individual responsibility. 如果公众的信任要有意义，就必须从个人的担当开始。

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📍 Accountability Cannot Be Outsourced

📍 责无法外包

Singapore’s future requires leaders who step forward, not step aside. 新加坡的未来需要愿意承担责任的领导人，而不是退缩的人。

If one cannot be bothered to answer the people, why should the people bother to vote for them? 如果一个人连回应人民都懒得做，人民为何还要为他投票？

Respect begins with listening, engaging, and answering. 尊重始于倾听、回应与承担。

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📄 Further Reading 延伸阅读

The original letter, forwarded to me by members of the public, raises timely questions for Jalan Kayu voters. I share it here in the spirit of transparency and civic engagement. 这封原始信件由公众转发给我，向惹兰加由选民提出了恰当的问题。出于对透明与公民参与的尊重，我在此分享：

👉 [Read the full letter | 阅读原文信件: ]

Letter to Voters of Jalan Kayu
Proposed Sale of Income Insurance to Allianz in 2024 and Mr Ng Chee Meng’s Accountability
I have written this Letter to the Voters of Jalan Kayu SMC (see attached document), where Mr Ng Chee Meng is seeking election as a Member of Parliament. It concerns Mr Ng’s leadership role in the aborted sale of Income Insurance to Allianz in 2024.

Mr Ng made a very public endorsement of the proposed sale on 5 August 2024, the day before the first parliamentary debate. Between 6 August and 14 October — when the deal was stopped in Parliament — he did not offer any clarification, even as public concerns mounted. Ultimately, the deal collapsed following widespread public outcry and urgent intervention by the Government.

As many of you know, I was a protagonist in the public debate over this issue, which was close to my heart. In late July 2024, I wrote privately to Mr Ng and to Ms K. Thanaletchimi, President of NTUC, to express my concerns. I also posted extensively on social media to highlight the risks and implications.

Despite these efforts, Mr Ng did not respond to my representations, nor did he publicly engage as scrutiny grew following the parliamentary debates of 6 August 2024.
Between August and October 2024, as national concern deepened, he remained silent on the key issues surrounding governance, mission, and accountability.

As Secretary-General of NTUC and a member of the NTUC Enterprise Board that approved the deal, Mr Ng bears leadership responsibility for what transpired.
Now that he seeks the trust and mandate of Jalan Kayu residents, it is fair — and necessary — for citizens to ask him to account for his role and decisions.

We live in a troubled world. Citizens must speak up on matters that affect our collective future, especially when decisions are taken in our name. These are not acts of division; they are acts of care for our country and for the institutions we rely upon.

For a young democracy like Singapore, such open engagement is vital to our nation’s future and resilience. To be able to speak up freely is a privilege. To speak up when one feels it matters is a citizen’s responsibility.

It is in this spirit that I write this open letter to the voters of Jalan Kayu.

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⚖️ Disclaimer 免责声明

This article reflects my personal views. The original letter was forwarded to me by members of the public. I am not the author nor affiliated with the writers. It is shared here in good faith to support informed public discourse. 本文反映我个人观点。原信件由公众转发给我，我并非其作者，也未与写信人有任何关联。分享此信件是出于善意，旨在促进公开与理性的公共讨论。

Readers are encouraged to verify and form their own conclusions. 读者应自行核实内容并做出独立判断。

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#LeadershipIsPersonal #AccountabilityMatters #SingaporeGE2025 #TrustAndIntegrity #JalanKayu #IncomeInsurance #Governance #LeadByExample #领导力 #问责制度 #新加坡选举 #惹兰加由

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