Ladies and Gentlemen,
Singapore strongman Lee Kuan Yew and his son, who brooke no critics, are beginning to look like the Singapore version of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Lee Kuan Yew, who is now 88, who all along thinks he is Superman and his son who tags along after his father two steps behind, are both beginning to tilt at windmills, to the amusement of the world.
Take his latest imbroglio with Alan Shadrake the British author. All he did was to write a book, and he wasn't asking for any trouble, but no, Lee Kuan Yew simply refuses to mind his own business, and this time, he has picked on the wrong guy at the wrong time.
If Lee Kuan Yew had only used his head, he would have left Shadrake alone, because Shadrake, a well known British author is liable to bite, and bite he did, and it is going to be deadly.
Singapore Don Quixote and his sidekick son, must have thought, very wrongly this time, that Shadrake was just another of his Singapore locals who he can bully anytime anywhere and in any manner he pleases; after all he owns the law courts, the judges, the newspapers, every single lawyer and anything that moves in his island. Wrong this time. Shadrake is English, he is not his slave as his helpless Singaporeans are and he is not going to take it sitting down.
We were told from reliable information earlier that Lee Kuan Yew's case against him in the Singapore High Court was expecting a verdict a few days ago but for some reason which we are not told, the verdict is to be postponed to the first week of November 2010.
I can tell you why they have moved the date. They have run out of ideas on how to deal with "the meddlesome priest", to borrow a phrase from Bekett. Lee Kuan Yew's handpicked Judge in this case Loh Sze Onn, Quentin, a stooge, just like all the others, has been ordered to hold the horses, while the Lee family think what to do next.
Shadrake so far has been behaving in a completely Unsingaporean manner.
He has been clearly told that his book is contemptuous of Lee's Singapore courts and their judges and therefore like an obedient Singaporean he should have gone on his knees, begged for mercy and undertaken never to criticize Lee Kuan Yew or his judges again; but instead of that he not only refuses to roll over and lie dead, he has in fact upped the ante, increased his criticism of Lee's courts by giving even more examples of corruption of his judges.
And mind you, this is despite the fact that Lee Kuan Yew has in addition to Shadrake's present problems, dangled 2 criminal defamation charges over his head like the Sword of Damocles in the belief that Shadrake would wise up and stop calling them hooligans anymore.
If history is anything to go by, with Shadrake's brazen taunting and mocking the very foundations of the state of Singapore upon which their reputation depends, sticking a finger publicly up the noses of the Lee Kuan Yew family and his recently appointed stooge of a judge, they should if they are worth their salt send Shadrake to prison for a long time and after his release charge him yet again for criminal defamation and send him back to jail for an even longer time.
But I think not this time. This time is going to be different. Singapore and it's tin pot tyrant Lee Kuan Yew are going to suffer the humiliation of a lifetime.
It's going to be Carpe Diem the other way around. Instead of Lee Kuan Yew seizing Shadrake by the neck, Shadrake is the one going to do it to Lee.
I expect Lee Kuan Yew will have to eat humble pie and let Shadrake go despite all the insults Lee and his courts have received at his hands.
And you know why, because every single criticism that Shadrake had said in his book is true, and we know it and the world knows it.
Lee Kuan Yew, his son and his obedient judge Loh Sze Onn would have to crawl very low with their tails between their legs and realise this time they got it wrong, very wrong.
Shadrake recently sent an open letter to the Australian press about his unjust confinement in Singapore. I am reproducing it with the permission of Amnesty International.
JUSTICE SINGAPORE STYLE
I AM BEING PROSECUTED AND FACING JAIL FOR EXPOSING JUDICIAL SCANDALS IN SINGAPORE – SCANDALS THIS PAP DICTATORSHIP DOESN’T WANT DECENT SINGAPOREAN CITIZENS TO KNOW ABOUT.
ONE PARTICULARLY HEINOUS SCANDAL CONCERNS GUIGA LYES LAROUSSI, A TUNISIAN, WHO WAS THE MAIN DRUG SUPPLIER TO SINGAPORE’S SO-CALLED HIGH SOCIETY DRUG CIRCLE IN 2004.
THIS DESTROYER OF LIVES WAS ALLOWED TO ESCAPE SINGAPORE AFTER FACING A MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY CHARGE. THE CHARGE WAS THEN ‘NEGOTIATED’ DOWN SO HE WOULD RECEIVE A JAIL SENTENCE OF BETWEEN 20 TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON INSTEAD.
THEN ANOTHER MIRACLE HAPPENED: HE WAS ALLOWED BAIL IN THE SUM OF $280,000, GIVEN HIS PASSPORT BACK AND ALLOWED TO LEAVE SINGAPORE. THIS WAS DONE WITH THE HELP OF TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BECAUSE THEY FEARED HE WOULD EXPOSE BIGGER NAMES IF HE WERE TO BE SENT TO THE GALLOWS.
I EXPOSED THIS AND OTHER JUDICIAL SCANDALS IN MY BOOK BECAUSE I HATE INJUSTICE. WHILE THIS EVIL DRUG BARON – FRIEND OF THE RICH AND PRIVILEGED IN SINGAPORE – IS ENJOYING HIS LIFE OF LUXURY IN HIS MANSION ON HIS FAMILY ESTATE IN LE BARDO, TUNISIA, SINGAPORE IS PLANNING TO HANG MORE PITIFUL DRUG MULES - PERHAPS SOME WHO HELPED GUIGA GET RICH.
HOW IS IT THAT THIS EVIL DRUG TRADER MANAGED TO ESCAPE JUSTICE? I CANNOT GET MY PASSPORT BACK AND BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE SINGAPORE. THEY ARE DETERMINED TO PUNISH ME FIRST!
I AM FACING A SIX MONTHS PRISON SENTENCE FOR EXPOSING THIS AND MANY OTHER JUDICIAL SCANDALS IN SINGAPORE. THERE ARE TWO OTHER CHARGES HANGING OVER ME ARISING FROM MY BOOK ONE OF WHICH CARRIES A TWO YEAR PRISON SENTENCE. MY MEDICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HORRENDOUS TO MY WELL-BEING AND FINANCES. I ALMOST BLED TO DEATH IN THE STREET SIX WEEKS AGO FROM INTERNAL BLEEDING. HAD I NOT BEEN RUSHED TO HOSPITAL I WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED AND DIED WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING THE CAUSE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.
WHERE IS THE JUSTICE IN WHAT THEY ARE NOW DOING TO ME? DID ANYONE NOTICE THAT GUIGA LYES BEN LAROUSSI HAD ESCAPED JUSTICE? DID THE STRAITS TIMES PUBLISH THIS SCANDAL? THEY DID NOT! WHY NOT? BECAUSE THE POWERS THAT BE IN SINGAPORE, WHO CONTROL THE MEDIA, DIDN’T WANT TO ANYONE TO KNOW.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN A ROMANIAN DIPLOMAT RAN AWAY IN MARCH FOLLOWING A FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT? SCREAMING HEADLINES IN THE NEW PAPER AND STRAITS TIMES FOR HIM TO BE BROUGHT BACK AND TRIED!
GUIGA LAROUSSI, DESTROYER OF LIVES – INCLUDING HIS OWN SINGAPOREAN GIRLFRIEND MARIANA ABDULLAH - - HAS BEEN ON INTERPOL’S WANTED LIST FOR FIVE YEARS. THE HEAD OF INTERPOL IS YOUR VERY OWN FORMER POLICE CHIEF KHOO BOON HUI! NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO BRING HIM BACK. HIS LAWYER, SUBHAS ANANDAN, HAS SAID THAT HIS POWERFUL FAMILY WILL TELL THE TUNISIAN POLICE TO ‘GO FLY A KITE’ IF THEY ATTEMPT TO ARREST AND HAVE HIM EXTRADITED. THIS IS YET ANOTHER SCANDAL IN THIS SAGA. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TREATED HAD I BEEN A DRUG SYNDICATE BOSS.
AMAZINGLY, Law Minister and Second Home Affairs Minister, K. Shanmugam recently told TODAY that the death penalty for drug offences here is a “trade-off” the government must make to protect “thousands of lives” if drugs became freely available. He further explained that if Yong Vui Kong (now on death row with 36 others) escapes the death penalty, drug lords will see it as a sign that young traffickers will be spared and will then use more of them as drug mules. “You save one life here, but 10 other lives will be gone. What will your choice be?” he added.
MY CHOICE MR. SHANMUGAM? IF ANYONE HAS TO BE HANGED, START WITH DRUG BARONS LIKE GUIGA LYES BEN LAROUSSI!
I KNOW I WILL NOT GET FAIR JUSTICE. I WILL GET SINGAPORE JUSTICE!
Alan Shadrake
A Prisoner of Singapore
October 28 2010
Gopalan Nair
39737 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite A1
Fremont, CA 94538, USA
Tel: 510 657 6107
Fax: 510 657 6914
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/
Your letters are welcome. We reserve the right to publish your letters. Please Email your letters to nair.gopalan@yahoo.com And if you like what I write, please tell your friends. You will be helping democracy by distributing this widely. This blog not only gives information, it dispels government propaganda put out by this dictatorial regime.
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41 comments:
PAP used to be a party which really strived to elevate the humble Singaporean. I used to be a die hard believer of the PAP. It seems that a greed for money and fame has taken over its ministers and members.
From the ridiculous billions of dollars lost through bad investments labelled as "paper loss", gross insults aimed at the voters who once voted them, news by the MSM which betray, ten fold budget at the expense of taxpayers money to ridiculous reasons given for mistakes such as the MSK, overpricing of "PUBLIC HOUSING" (isn't public housing supposed to be affordable? How come foreigners get to purchase them easily?) to importing of foreign talents in very large numbers (are they really talents? Do you call people who cannot even converse in proper English - although their job demands them to have the capability as such - talents?).
Then just this morning , a minister said that Singaporeans are not striving enough for excellence (aren't you aware that there is an average of 2 suicides a day and the very low natural population growth rate suggest a stressed up labour force - apart from the high cost of raising a family? Do they even check the data from Samaritans of Singapore? Oh dear , i think Samaritans of Singapore will be sued for defamation or the director will get sacked and will not be able to find another job as he has grossly embarrassed the ruling party). And another one suggested the retirement age to be raised to 68 (thats attractive if you earn millions a year just by creating policies which does not benefit the person on the street and then you justify the policy by creating reasons which does not make sense). People are getting in and out of hospitals even at the age of 50s. And yet there is another who refers to his voters as worthless mortals and another even mentioned that we shouldnt talk to to people in power the way we talk to commoners although we pay his salary and his position very much depends on our votes.
Then there are people related to the ruling party who commit offences but God knows whether they are treated fairly according to the law.
It seems that selfishness and greed has overcome this "privileged group" who rule Singapore. Deep down i do wonder if they do have any conscience in the first place. How do they sleep at night knowing that their policies do not really benefit those who believed in them in the first place?
I wonder how much more Singaporeans have to wait before they exercise their true belief in their votes or are they waiting to be squeezed out even more?
This is a party which is divorced from the reality of the heartlanders.
Gandhi
Shadrake, may God bless you..
Loh Sze Onn, Quentin studied at St. Joseph's Institution, a fine Catholic school that taught morality and fairness, among other virtues.
With the name like Quentin, we can assume that this judge is a Catholic or a Christian.
So, QLSO, stand up for your SJI & Christian principles - dismiss the case against Shandrake and award penalties against the AG.
--
But, deep down, I wonder if he fears the spirit of Empress Lee and how she might torment him from the grave.
We will know, soon :)
The LEE Dynasty's legacy to Singapore.
A nation run by a handful of geeks who obey the LEEs orders without questioning them. Examples: 2-child policy; speak Mandarin; call Australians "Asia's white trash"; ...
Below is the full list of the management team at Google, one of the most dynamic companies to emerge in the 21st century.
http://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/corporate/execs.html
See where the executives come from.
For all the academic prowess of Singapore's graduates, there is not a single person from S'pore on this list.
In fact, if you look at any of the world's major corporations (not controlled by Lee), you will be struggling to find a Singaporean on the list.
Why is this, so?
How much a country's leader is paid compared to GDP per person
Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of Singapore, tops our list of selected leaders' salaries. He is paid more than 40 times the city-state’s GDP per person.
http://www.economist.com/node/16525240
The imbecile can't stop Orchard Road from flooding.
Taken from www.temasekreview.com
SM Goh: Why should I be working for people who don’t feel they belong over here?
A final-year aerospace engineering student Lim Zi Rui, 23, stood up during the Nanyang Technological University Ministerial Forum and asked SM Goh Chok Tong if he is aware that many young people no longer felt a sense of ownership in Singapore?
Mr. Lim said that when he was younger, he was very proud of being a Singaporean but “that was about five, 10 years ago. Five years later, with all the changes in policies and the influx of foreign talent, I really don’t know what I’m defending any more.”
He added that he was reflecting a sentiment held by many of his men in the SAF, who had to compete with foreigners for jobs. “I feel that there is a dilution of the Singapore spirit in youth… We don’t really feel comfortable in our country any more.”
Mr. Goh’s reply was one of deep concern. “This is one early sign of danger… If this is happening, it is very serious.”
He asked Mr. Lim why he felt disconnected.
Mr. Lim assured SM Goh that he was still keen to fight for Singapore but he compared his attitude to that of the foreign friends he had. “I tell them, this is my country. I can’t just leave here whenever I want to. You can come and play and work here, but I have to stay here.”
SM Goh responded with a defense of the Government’s open-door policy. “You want to have a home. Who is going to build your HDB flat?”
“My brother got engaged, but lost his engagement because he could not afford an HDB flat” Mr. Lim countered.
“Without foreign workers in Singapore, would your hall of residence be built?” SM Goh asked. “If we totally reject foreigners, we’re going to shrink in size… I don’t think Singaporeans want that. What they want is to moderate the inflow of foreigners.”
He also said Singapore had to find ways to integrate foreigners. “There are many of them who would like to be Singaporeans, and those of them who can be integrated, make them Singaporeans, make them part of us, make them help to defend the country.”
“My question was, how are we going to help the younger generation feel a sense of belonging to Singapore? I don’t think it’s about integrating foreigners.” Mr. Lim stated that his concerns were somewhat different.
“This is your country,” SM Goh replied. “What do you want me to do to make you feel you belong?”
“For my part, don’t worry about me,” Mr Lim said. “I will definitely do something, if I can, for Singapore. But I can tell you honestly that the sentiment on the ground is a bit different.”
“If that is prevalent among young people over here, we’ve got a real problem,” SM Goh noted.
“If the majority feels they don’t belong here, then we have a fundamental problem. Then I would ask myself: What am I doing here? Why should I be working for people who don’t feel they belong over here?’” SM Goh added
A society of sheep begets a government of wolves - Bertand De Jouvenet
We have to blame ourselves for the situation that we are in as we behave like sheeps.
Explicit discrimination of Singaporean - What good employment are we talking about?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qFT_zlESTg
As Singaporeans , we must all learn to be patriotic and defend our country and our values, lest we lose our Singaporean identity. Here is a brief summary of what we are defending - it should inculcate a sense of patriotism amongst the younger generation especially.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sLySraZeA4&feature=related
Taken from Temasek Review.
Dear Readers,
I got this hunch that the PAP government unwritten agenda of replacing native born Singaporeans so that we become politically insignificant. They are using the pretext of foreign talents to cover their true motives. Their true motive I suspect is to maintain the dominance of the elites. I shudder to think of the consequences for the ordinary Singaporeans. Soon the price of our houses will be beyond reach. We will not be able to afford medical care. To the rich, I plead with you to have the concerns of ordinary Singaporeans like the taxi drivers and the low income earners.
I am surprised to hear comments by some low income workers that they prefer to see PAP in power again because they are afraid if there are many opposition members in parliament, arguments will be lengthy and policies cannot be implemented fast enough. They fear trouble.
I lament that Singaporeans have become trapped by fear and lack of concern for the less fortunate. As I read the histories of other nations, like NELSON MANDELA OF SOUTH AFRICA, LECH WALESA OF POLAND and MAHATMA OF INDIA, I marveled at their love of their people.
Our education system has failed to produced great talent that is humble enough to listen to the woes of the poor and the downtrodden.
I wonder what has caused Singaporeans to be selfish and not concerned when Ministers are paid dearly, some Singaporeans had to live by the sea. Is it religion? Is it education? Is it our culture. Are we able to take care of each other if and when the government has failed in this regard.
I am sad to hear that Dr Chee Soon Juan and his fellow people are called criminals when they tried to express concerns for their fellow suffering Singaporeans.
I worry that if poor Singaporeans are suffering, no heroic Singaporeans will come to the fore to save their brethrens, like what Mandela, Lech and Mahatma did for their people.
We have failed miserably as a naion, I feel.
.
Rhonda Lim
An overview of the current political situation in Singapore
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/10/27/an-overview-of-the-current-sociao-political-situation-in-singapore/
An overview of the current political situation in Singapore
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/10/27/an-overview-of-the-current-sociao-political-situation-in-singapore/
The SG patriots
http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/30/i-dont-know-what-im-defending-anymore/
I thought that might be of interest and would like to hear your thoughts.
Alan Shandrake in the British Weekly, a weekly newspaper in the USA serving the British expat market
An Open Letter from Alan Shadrake to the Singapore Government
http://www.british-weekly.com/?page_id=2
Another poke in the eye for the LEE regime, and further tarring of the Singapore brand.
There must be a reason why PAP need to wear white on National Day.
Is it a annual ritual to cleanse themselves of the previous' year sins?
Is it a way of surrendering themselves to a higher power, called greed?
Whatever the reasons, Singaporeans live and chose not dig into dark crimes committed by their government.
No wonder Singaporeans are able to stand tall and arrogant and belittle other countries.
But deep down, some are waking up to the reality of PAP rule. Even professionals are leaving up the professions on the island and chose to start "from the bottom" in the developed countries.
Mr Nair , keep up the good work. There are many people who appreciate what you are doing but do not have the guts to tell you. Since Singaporeans are too scared to stand up for their own rights, eventually we have to rely on "foreign talents" to stand up for our rights (we are practically cowards without brains). Thats why we need people like you, CSJ, and Mr Shadrake.
Mr Nair , keep up the good work. There are many people who appreciate what you are doing but do not have the guts to tell you. Since Singaporeans are too scared to stand up for their own rights, eventually we have to rely on "foreign talents" to stand up for our rights (we are practically cowards without brains). Thats why we need people like you, CSJ, and Mr Shadrake.
Foreigners first , Singaporeans can be go into the dustbin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZKFRlvs5yc
Spirit of JBJ
The Singapore Shame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcBFp4hemrI&feature=related
Spirit of JBJ
If you think Singapore is going to get better after the elections. Think again! For your info, ask any Chinese national , even in China, there is some form of social support till death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6z2zL-OXS8&feature=related
Thank you for speaking up for us Singaporeans. Keep up the good work!
We are suffering here in Singapore.
No lack of sophistry from the government concerning the homeless;
How much more can Singaporeans swallow before they decide enough is enough? Are Singaporeans dumb enough to continue to whine and complain and yet continue to vote in the same way?
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/04/no-lack-of-sophistry-from-the-government-concerning-the-homeless/
No lack of sophistry from the government concerning the homeless;
How much more can Singaporeans swallow before they decide enough is enough? Are Singaporeans dumb enough to continue to whine and complain and yet continue to vote in the same way?
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/04/no-lack-of-sophistry-from-the-government-concerning-the-homeless/
nair,
i think the old man - the political coward should be call a great liar.
last time he promised that he will only take professional foreign talent.
but now you see what happened. singapore full of lower grade of foreign talent who cannot even speak simple english.
really spoilt the singapore own son labour market. how to survive with take home pay - $800 - $900. how to buy hdb flat with this kind of pay. hope our opposition will bring this issue in this coming general election.
Call Australians "Asia's white trash" ??? What the hell...
Keep up the good work with this site, there seems to be alot wrong with how S'pore is governed and so many injustices. That drug baron guy must be laughing. And what happened to the other graffiti vandal that was wanted by interpol? Can't be that hard to find someone with their resources, but maybe they didn't really try to find him (banos) just made it look like they were... Hope the mckoy (fricker) guy gets out soon.
Singapore's Don Quixote, intends to travel says Sancho Panza
Maybe he is going to Australia, to teach the "white trash of Asia", that they should let SGX buy the ASK.
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-52613820101102
Dear Mr Nair,
With all due respect, I believe your methods in dealing with Singapore and its leaders are not the most ideal. You must understand the context in which we exist and the reasons why Singapore is run the way it is. We are a small country with no natural resources. We have no room to fail. We require a stable economy which in turn requires stable and long term policies, which in turn requires a stable government. There is simply no room for petty politics and an incompetent government to "have its turn. "Just because you feel that you have been dealt with unfairly with the local authorities does not mean you should translate your personal vendetta into allegations that the Singapore system is corrupt and unfair. We are a society based on meritocracy and have developed a system that works best for us. The welfare of the majority triumphs over the needs of the few. We have developed a system that works. Other then the few groups that have their own agenda to push, the majority of the rest of the world agree that the Singapore system is good and works for us. Please stop your scandalous comments on a family that has done nothing but dedicate their lives to the betterment of Singapore. The Lees are an exceptional family with a remarkable sense of public duty. Just because they are remunerated well does not mean that they do not deserve it. If you cared about Singapore, you would not sit on your high horse safely tucked away in the United States insulting this good country and its leaders. If you truly care come back here and make a difference, bearing in mind what is best for this country and its people.
As expected, Alan Shadrake was found guilty. But calling Alan "a well known British author" is pushing it. No one here in Britian knows who he is, and no one seem to care. I no not see any protest for him on the Parliment Square. If it is J K Rowling, things will be very different.
Please share with the MPs in Australia and all the newspapers.
Still want to let SGX buy ASX? If you do, you will be selling your soul to the the Saddam Hussien of SE Asia.
--
Former Solicitor General Francis Seow on “Beyond The Blue Gate”
May 21, 1987, will forever remain Singapore’s own day of infamy, the day when Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister, using the guise of internal security, abused its executive powers by ordering the arrest and detention of twenty-two innocent young men and women (Operation Spectrum), who were associated with the Roman Catholic Church and allied social activities.
In the course of my professional visit to her at the infamous Whitley Road Centre, I suddenly found myself arrested and detained under the same Internal Security Act. No reasons were given for my arrest and detention. In the result, I could not see my client, Miss Teo Soh Lung, that day.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/11/02/former-solicitor-general-francis-seow-i-am-not-a-paid-cia-agent/
Poll: Should the Singapore stock exchange be allowed to takeover the ASX?
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/a-loathsome-deal-that-should-be-given-bargepole-treatment-20101028-175lw.html
Public opinion polls do not matter in Singapore (come to think of it, the public do not matter in S'pore), but in Australia, Gillard better pay attention.
Sell the ASX to Singapore's Oligarchs, and it will be your Waterloo.
Best piece on Singapore that I have read in a long time.
A loathsome deal that should be given bargepole treatment
justinian@lawpress.com.au
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/a-loathsome-deal-that-should-be-given-bargepole-treatment-20101028-175lw.html
To Meek ; Wed Nov 03, 02:43:00 AM PDT
When you reach your retirement age and is not able to withdraw your cpf- because it has been lost through bad investments , then you will start to change your mind. You will change your mind even more when you realise that the place destined live your old years will be Johore Baru - not by choice.
With or without Mr Nair, the raw emotions shown here by the visitors of this blog are real, it just happens that this blog offers a platform to air Singaporeans' distate towards the existing state of affairs.
Perhaps you have not bought a house yet or you are from a priviledged lot. One thing's for sure , all the middle income people that i know , regardless of race , language or religion realise that this government that we have , have allowed their greed to take over the very reason why they should be in the government in the first place. Many have realise that the current government are detached from the reality of the common heartlanders.
Yeah i do agree that no government is perfect, but a government which is paid the world's highest salaries yet continue to make ridiculous imperfections and providing ridiculous reasoning to cover up for its flaws rather than being humble by learning from it - well i am not sure how you would explain that.
Go mix around more and you will realise that the anger and discontentment is real. Singaporeans are just not accustomed to show their true feelings upfront.
Meek ; Wed Nov 03, 02:43:00 AM PDT
Well said and well written.
But, I vehemently disagree with you.
The value of Nair's blog is that you and I can debate our views, without interference from the LKY-controlled courts.
Curious to learn how old your are - will give me a sense of which generation you represent.
Best wishes. Keep writing.
Meek ; Wed Nov 03, 02:43:00 AM PDT
Meeks tells Nair to refrain from personal vendettas.
Does he not know that LKY's whole career has been built around personal vendetas.
Ask Francis Seow, and so on.
Meek Wed Nov 03, 02:43:00 AM PDT
If you truly care come back here and make a difference, bearing in mind what is best for this country and its people.
----
Hey Meek,
He can't, thanks your LKY-controlled courts and system.
Neither can Francis Seow, Tan Wah Piow, and so on.
To Meek,
Let me answer your comment.
You say that "I should understand the context in which we (Singapore) exists and the reasons why it is run the way it is". Well if you know something that I do not about Singapore, please tell me what it is.
You say "we are a small country with no natural resources". So what? Are you trying to suggest that because you have no natural resources, you should have a one party state, Lee as the dictator, no rule of law, no free press, and no freedoms whatsoever? If that is what you are saying, go ahead and say it. I don't think many would agree with you.
Then you say "we have no room to fail". What makes you think that Lee Kuan Yew and his government has not already failed or just about to?
You say, "we require a stable economy which in turn requires stable and long term policies which in turn requuires a stable government". This is exactly what Kim Jong Il of North Korea and the military junta in Burma say. But I don't think any Singaporean, except perhaps you would like North Korea.
You say, "There is simply no room for petty politics and an incompetent government to "have its turn. ""
Are you suggesting that only Lee Kuan Yew government is competent and noone else can be. In any case what makes you think Lee Kuan Yew government is "competent". And why do you say any other government cannot have it's turn? Is that not what is specifically provided in the constitution, periodical elections?
And then you say "Just because you feel that you have been dealt with unfairly with the local authorities does not mean you should translate your personal vendetta into allegations that the Singapore system is corrupt and unfair". It is true that I have been dealt unfairly. But what makes you think I have a personal vendetta against anyone? Can I not criticize the Singapore government if I want? The last time I did it in Singapore, they put me in jail. I think you are jumping to conclusions about vendettas. I can write about Singapore just like I can write about the Congo if I want. The sooner you understand this the better.
And then you say "We are a society based on meritocracy and have developed a system that works best for us". If so, why was Dr. Chee Soon Juan fired from his job as a professor at the University? Was it because he was incompetent or was it because of something else. Was this meritocracy? And by the way, JB Jeyaretnam was disbarred from practicing law in Singapore. Was this also another instance of meritocracy? As for a system that is best for you (Singapore government) I totally agree. But try telling that to the ordinary man in the street who is not a card carrying Lee Kuan Yew party member like yourself.
To Meek,
No 2.
And you say "The welfare of the majority triumphs over the needs of the few". I agree that you don't care for the disadvantaged in society and everyone would agree with you. But I am not sure that you care for the welfare of the majority. I think, better to say that you care for the Lee Kuan Yew family, his government cronies which I suppose includes you. Hardly the majority.
Then you say "Other then the few groups that have their own agenda to push, the majority of the rest of the world agree that the Singapore system is good and works for us". Again I see you are carried away by imaginary agendas and so on. I think you should try to come away from that and see the facts. The rest of the world do not think that Singapore has a good system. If any country does, it is those who can benefit from a docile castrated frightened work force that they can take advantage of.
And then you say, "Please stop your scandalous comments on a family that has done nothing but dedicate their lives to the betterment of Singapore". First of all it is not called scandalous, it is called criticism and something which I have right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for being human. Second Lee Kuan Yew has not dedicated his life for the sake of Singapore, more like he dedicated it to the enrichment of himself and his family. I am sure you have heard of Saddam Hussein. Lee Kuan Yew is like him.
Then you say "The Lees are an exceptional family with a remarkable sense of public duty".
All I want to say is nonsense.
And then you say "Just because they are remunerated well does not mean that they do not deserve it." This is not remuneration. Paying himself $3.7 million a year and stealing a lot more is theft. And not a single Singaporean in the one party state has ever consented to this theft.
And you say "If you cared about Singapore, you would not sit on your high horse safely tucked away in the United States insulting this good country and its leaders. If you truly care come back here and make a difference, bearing in mind what is best for this country and its people". Haven't you heard, your Singapore government has banned me from entering the country. In any case even if I did come they would arrest me. Therefore what you say is impossible. In any case it shows how insecure and small minded your beloved Lee Kuan Yew is, jailing anyone who criticizes him.
Personally I think you have a hard time writing what you are writing. It is called trying to argue the unarguable.
To Meek,
From your writing it does appear my blog is beginning to hurt. Thank you.
To Meek:
For the love of god I'm hoping you are just being a devil's advocate in this whole debate. You must come from a very sheltered family. I'm going to take a wild guess and assume that both your parents are civil servants. (As are mine) You've been schooled well my friend.
But you know what, that's okay. I'm very happy at least that you are reading this blog and at the very least, broadening your mind as to the issues that exist out of a typical middle-high class singaporean citizen's agenda.
Also from your I.P address, I can see that you are based in Australia. Another assumption is that you are currently pursuing your tertiary education there because your parents (unlike mine) can afford it. If not, you must simply just not like the Singaporean way of life and have migrated for better work/family opportunities.
In any case, its really cute to see such ignorance on display.
To Gopalan:
I don't think he deserved that point by point come back. Such a chronic waste of time.
To Everyone Else:
Just go overseas lah! Life is way cooler abroad. And don't tell me no money all that bullshit - fugitives come in everyday with nothing on their backs. If you're just plain ole' malas (lazy) to not do anything about your plight then stop complaining on internet portals. It's really lame. I would like to see some of this sentiment materialized in the upcoming elections.
To Meek ; Wed Nov 03, 02:43:00 AM PDT
Your nickname tells a lot about you, maybe its just a Freudian slip.
Talk about personal vendettas? Well you may want to research on what happen to Tan Wah Piao, Francis Seow, JB Jeyaretnam, Tang Liang Hong, Chee Suan Juan, Lim Chin Siong, Lim Hock Siew. Seems like the national education has worked well to just drill one side of the story into your brains.
Check out these three links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nEyfVOKrPo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noSwUTXkRdI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd60fsiY-90&feature=related
A correction needed, Quintin Loh was from the same Raffles Institution as Gopalan. If I remember correctly he was a Cadet Corps Sergeant Major.
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