1) The writer describes what h thinks are the ways Asian societies and Western societies related to authority/leaders. Do you think Singapore’s society resembles Asian societies or Western societies when it comes to relating to authority /leaders? Justify your answer.

Based on the writer’s description, Singapore’s society behaves more like an Asian society than a Western one when it comes to relating to leader. To a small degree, its society indeed resembles a Western society. Its governing leaders are open-minded and willing to listen to the public. The society upholds meritocracy rather than connections with powerful leaders. However, Chinese race constitutes the majority of Singapore’s population and they tend to pretend not to see or know what their leaders have done either to secure their own interest or due to the overwhelming faith that they have in their leaders. The recent NKF scandal is a good example. T.T. Durai, the former Chief Executive Officer of the charity organization, NKF, was denounced nationwide for misusing money donated by the public. However, none of his former colleagues and subordinates, who had already knew his misdoings, attempted to expose him, allowing his mistakes to continued into the end of 2005, when he was forced to resign after the what he had done had been brought to light. In his colleagues’ eyes, he is an encouraging leader and to the sick, he is their great benefactor, considering the increasing sum of money collected when his was in power. This had made some workers and the sick “more willing to forgive shortcomings, even serious ones, in him, to satisfy their deep longing for faith in him”. They still trusted him and believe the NKF would thrive further under him. This unwillingness to report his wrongdoings has also partly to do with “the tendency in Asia to never contradict the boss, and to think that everything he says is right”, as some employers at the lower rank said that they dare not challenge his authority and had no idea whether what he had done was wrong. Moreover, the Chief Executive Committee members “left all decisions to” him, they “expected him as the office-holder to show leadership” so that they “shoulder less responsibility, and relax”. The NKF scandal serves just as a miniature of what is going in many organizations and in the society. Hence, I believe that Singapore’s society resembles Asian societies more.

2) Harvard professor Ronald Heifetz suggests that leadership should be separated from official rank and appointment. He proposes that leadership be thought of as an activity that authority figures exercise only some of the time. Do you agree with this proposal? Justify your answer.

I agree with his proposal that leadership be thought of as an activity that authority figures exercise only some of the time. Leaders are after all human beings, who are bound to make mistakes sometimes. They should not be set up as idols for worship and the public should not hold too many expectations of leaders they chose. If not, it would be the public’s that is going to be disappointed when their ideal ones do not behave like ones. Leaders elected are meant to guide, to lead people to solve problems, not to be bombarded with disturbing questions relating to his/her personal characteristics or social behaviors. If the public elected someone as the leader and only to deprive he/she of his/her post later on after finding his/her characteristics not being able to live up to their expectations without considering his/her actual abilities to serve as a leader, the purpose of having leaders and authorities would be defeated,
Also, it would be quite unfair to leaders. In the article, the NMP Cynthia Han was bereft of her parliament post due to her kissing her old boyfriend. It was unjustified as she is just a normal human being like us, who needs be cared for and loved. All in all, she has already been widowed.

I think Leadership is about doing right things and being able to inspire people to solve problems at hand, but not being compliant to the public’s requirements and expectations, which may be unrealistic and unreasonable sometimes. People should also be more proactive in becoming leaders to make changes themselves instead of relying solely on leaders elected. If leadership is regarded as an activity, then, everyone can exercise and be a leader. Like what the author says, NMP Cynthia Han can still contribute as she has the experience of being a leader and she has the qualities. Similarly, in the case of T.T. Durai, I think he could still contribute as he has displayed great ability in leading big cooperations.