Singapore's philosophy on crime and punishment. To reduce crime, up the punishment.

Readers of this blog who are unfamiliar with the goings on in Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore, may think reading the comments that there are many who think Singapore is a democracy based on the rule of law. The reader is warned that they may be Singapore government employees whose job is to discredit those who criticize Lee Kuan Yew's authoritarian rule. Please use your discretion as to how much weight you will give these comments.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

When the Japanese Imperial Army occupied Singapore in 1942, overnight there was no crime at all. A few heads were decapitated from their bodies and hung up on stakes throughout the island with signs stating why the were executed, for instance, this man stole a bar of soap. Naturally the people were terrified into obedience. The next day, Singapore became crime free.

Lee Kuan Yew's philosophy on crime and punishment is similar. Singapore some years ago was facing increasing numbers of visitors overstaying their visas. So the solution, simply cane them, or rather torture them. Through fear of torture, they may be discouraged from doing this.

Drugs are a problem in Singapore just as in any other country. So the solution, hang them or if not serious enough, cane them.

Some time ago, you have read about a disgruntled citizen who had punched one of Lee Kuan Yew's Members of Parliament. That same Member of Parliament was recently doused with kerosene and set alight. Suffering from serious burn injuries all over his body, that man is now in hospital being treated. I understand the man is completely disfigured and marred for life. The state controlled newspaper the Straits Times reports yesterday Feb 06, 2009 in the report "Threat on MP case" that another member of Lee Kuan Yew's parliament, Denise Phua had received a threat from a man Ng Kim Ngweng for which he was arrested and charged. The complaint of all these people were the same, that is, they were not given any monetary help being in dire straits. Going by Lee Kuan Yew's philosophy on how to tackle crime, you can expect long prison sentences for these men after being tortured by caning. I guess if the long prison sentences coupled with the torture does not arrest the escalating number of such instances, the next step perhaps may be first torture them by caning, then imprison them and then hang them. Perhaps that might finally work!

You can appreciate that this is a completely barbarous misguided thinking on administration of justice. The punishment must meet the crime. Just because you want to stop littering, you cannot just hang them! Caning visitors who overstay their visas is fundamentally wrong, as the punishment does not fit the crime. Lee Kuan Yew may be unhappy to see visitors who overstay their visit terms, but if this is a problem, he has to find some other way to deal with it. Torturing them with caning is in principle wrong. Vandalism may be a problem. Properties are defaced. But beating a man to pulp on his buttocks just because he painted a slogan on a wall is not the way to go. It is inhuman, unjust and barbarous.

But as it stands today, with Lee Kuan Yew controlling every aspect of life of the Singaporean, there is nothing you can do if you disagree. His word is law. His minions are above the law, minions being his corrupt judges such as Judge Belinda Ang Saw Ean, his corrupt police officers, all above the law and above accountability. They can do whatever they want, as long as Lee Kuan Yew desires it.

This is not a place to have families and bring up children. What happens to your child if in a moment of indiscretion, he painted a wall with his girlfriend's name. The law, administered by his minions, in a robotic fashion, will arrest your child, imprison and torture him. No parent would want that to happen to his child.

Although I am against any violence, the increasing numbers of attacks against Lee Kuan Yew's members of parliament is heartening, not because I relish the thought of Lee's minions being punched, doused with thinner and set ablaze or they were mortally threatened, but because it shows the Singaporean is finally resisting the oppression under which they live. Despite the great suffering they would endure at the hands of this crass and uncaring government, they still did what they did. It looks like the people have reached or are fast reaching their limit of tolerance. It looks like they are now determined to resist.

I hope the next step would be street protest, peaceful ones, that is. Not just at the designated Hong Lim Park but throughout the island. Yes, it is my hope that the Singaporean will finally to stand up for what he deserves, his rights.

Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
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Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

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