Ladies and Gentlemen,
If we can accept the simplistic definition of a fascist state, it is one where all organs of control, the rule of law, the courts, the civil service, the newspapers, the trade unions, everything is under the control of the state. If anyone who knows Singapore, he would call Singapore without hesitation Fascist. In Singapore the legal profession, which democracies would proudly proclaim to be free and independent is under the direct control of the Peoples Action Party government; so are the judges, handpicked for their unquestioned loyalty to the ruling party; the civil service, the unions, everyone is directly under state control.
And the state like the Orwellian Big Brother is personified by Lee Hsien Loong the son of Lee Kuan himself Singapore's first dictator. All power emanates from Lee Kuan Yew, now deceased, but immortal through his son the present Cesar.
As in all Fascist states the truth really does not matter. What matters is what the dictator says which becomes the truth, when people no longer care for the real truth. For example the state puts out the trumpet that the island was a swamp 50 years ago and it is they who brought it in one generation to today's glistening glass palace. And they repeat it ad nauseum. And the rider to that is they alone can carry you through to another 50 years to even more glass towers and skyscrapers because their opponent cannot. Rationally this argument is unsound. Any other civic minded educated group of people should be equally capable if not more but that is not what the state wants to hear and that is what Singaporeans accept as true.
Hundreds if not thousands of Lee's political opponents have been cruelly and viciously destroyed for no rime or reason. JB Jeyaretnam committed no wrong. His only crime, challenging the Lee's. His punishment through the Kangaroo courts, repeated million dollar libel awards, bankruptcy and imprisonment. It is not that the people don't know that this was an abuse of legal process, but in a fascist state they have begun to believe that JB Jeyaretnam was a criminal after all, since that is what their leader (dictator) says. The same can be said for every single destroyed opposition politician, Chee Soon Juan, Teo Soh Lung, Tan Wah Piow, Lim Chin Siong, Chia Tai Poh etc etc. Every single Singaporean knows that great injustice is done to every single one of them but over time the injustice appears to fade and people finally accept that Big Brother was right after all.
Singapore's law make so many things criminal, things would be nowhere else be considered so. Even a one man peaceful protest even though you harm no one is illegal, chewing gum is illegal, openly criticizing the government is illegal, to yell at a police officer is illegal, to own a printing press is illegal, to distribute anti government literature in public is illegal and the list goes on. You don't need to be overtly brilliant to know that this doesn't make any sense and that is the truth. But the real truth is wiped out by the Fascist truth which is all this is perfectly fine; and the people simply accept it.
In Fascist Germany Hitler came out with venom against the Jews blaming them for everything, for the economy, for unemployment for everything. Germans knew this was false but they went along. Had Hitler told them that Jews were responsible for the weather, they would have believed it too.
And the bad news is this is what industrialists like. Industrialist would prefer fascism because they destroy trade unions, and thereby suppress wages. Hitler told his industrialists that he would leave them alone as long as they left him alone. And so it was boom time for Messerschmitt, Krupp's, and Daimler Benz, thanks to Adolf Hitler. And suddenly industrial production picked up and Nazi Germany became the economic powerhouse of Europe in the 30s and 40s. The same thing is happening is Singapore. For western investors the island is paradise, no strong trade unions, no minimum wage laws, a weak powerless labor force.
This may be good for the dictatorship temporarily but the size of the island and qualities of the population pose a long term threat to this dictatorship. It can be simply put in one sentence. Education, especially an English education works against dictatorships. The more people are educated, the more they travel overseas to the West, the more they begin to find life in dictatorships intolerable. If you have an education and a capacity to think for yourself, you are able to earn a living anywhere in the world, and need not submit to this "you listen to me or else" tiny one party police state. And what makes it easier for people to leave is the worldwide acceptability of the island's passport. You can travel to almost any country visa free.
More educated Singaporeans have left for Western democracies and continue to leave the island. Once those have settled in their new homes, they encourage their relatives and friends to do the same. Even more leave. I left Singapore finally in December 1991. It was the best decision I ever made. And ever more because I chose the United States, which I consider the best country in the world. Best because it is one country which recognizes that you are a human being and you have a head on your shoulders.
The other silver lining is Singapore's lowest birth rate in the world which stubbornly refuses to rise. This leaves them no choice but to bring in plane loads of Communist Chinese nationals to make up the numbers. But they too are poised to leave once again, once they have learned some English to Australia and the West.
This importation of Communist Chinese to replace English educated Singaporeans is obviously bad. They don't speak English and unable to behave the way acceptable in modern civilized society. You have heard of Chinese women openly defecating in public, spitting and other disgusting behavior. It will take years for them to become what a modern city like Singapore requires let alone any skill. It is a great loss to Singapore which requires the best skilled workforce to compete globally.
Today the hype and glory that one reads in the island's state controlled press has no bounds. One day it claims to have the world's longest Singapore Airlines flight, next day they have baked the world's largest pancake, third day they have cooked their largest number of Chinese noodles and so on goes their list of glory. But all this is simply nonsense. Having the longest flight does no good for your country. For things that matter, Singapore is last. It is last for freedom, last for having any people with courage, last for anyone with self respect and first place for sycophancy groveling crawling and licking boots.
There is hope after all my friends. Just wait. I too am watching.
If you like what I write please publicize widely thank you.
Gopalan Nair
Attorney at Law
San Francisco Fremont California USA
Tel: 510 491 8525
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Saturday, October 20, 2018
For expatriates Singapore is paradise. For locals, somehting else.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You read many articles from foreigners why Singapore is such a great place to live. If you are there just to do business, love a well structured society where everything works, where no one complains about anything, where there is no crime because the culprits are brutally punished, if you don't really care about how locals live, then yes, the island is paradise.
But for Singaporeans who call it home, it is something else. It is a place where there is no freedom of speech. If you criticize the rulers, you are arrested, sued for defamation and bankrupted. You don't have the rule of law. Locals are dragged before the courts, denied a lawyer until they have confessed under torture and brought before Kangaroo courts to be punished. Anyone who is a known critic of the government is slated for enhanced punishment. You live a life in fear constantly making sure you are seen as a supporter of this government, making sure you don't utter anything critical, just as a Russian in the former Soviet Union, today's Communist china, Cuba or North Korea.
As for the foreigner expatriate, all these things do not matter. He does not care how people live there, how accused persons are treated, whether the courts are indeed Kangaroo Courts or whether there is freedom of the press. For him, it is just a foreign work station where he will be temporarily reside, after which he either goes home or to another country. But for locals who have any modicum of self respect, this is unacceptable. The expatriate who praises Singapore in such laudatory terms, have lived in a democracy in his own country. He would be outraged for one to suggest that he call Singapore home.
On the other hand there are many locals who do very well in Singapore. These are the ones who behave as if they are expatriates. They pretend not know any injustice meted out by their government, go about their lives in blinkers, pretend not to know of any denial of rule of law, freedom of speech or denial of democracy. In order to succeed they live a life of hypocrisy because this is the only way to succeed in the island. And this is what the rulers want.
As for the locals, if any believe that it is a wonderful island, it is mainly through ignorance. Today the vast majority of so called citizens are recently imported Chinese nationals from the Peoples Republic of China. These imported Chinese have overtaken in numbers local Singaporeans. These people have no objection in living the way they do, because this is exactly how they lived in China. They know in Communist China it is impossible to challenge the Communist Party. If you do, it is the firing squad. As long as they can make some money, it really does not matter if they had no freedom at all.
If you are upstanding self respecting proud human being, it is impossible to live with these fear ridden people. In doing so, you bring shame to yourself.
It is quite obvious that many locals detest the way they have to live in fear. And if given a chance they leave for settlement aboard primarily to Western democracies. With the Singapore passport being welcome in almost every country in the world, this is causing a huge exodus of people, mostly the English educated and skilled who are leaving. Although the island government is aware of this brain drain, they are resigned to the fact that they cannot stop it, and perhaps think that it is better that these people who are thorns on their side, should leave.
With the continuing exodus of the best and brightest among them, the result is the gradual and continual weakening of Singaporean society as a whole. Local Singaporeans today more and more do not really care for their country, their main concern being self interest. As for those who have left, there is no love lost for their former country. As far as they are concerned it is good riddance. In my case, I was given an education by England and treated much better by them, than Singapore. And today I care more for England than my former country Singapore. And this is exactly the sentiment thousands of the overseas Singaporeans feel and the future emigrants I am sure too.
But for some reason the message does not seem to register in this government. They don't seems to appreciate that unjustly punishing government critics and chasing them away have long term negative consequences. On the other hand treating citizens fairly and creating a democracy instead of authoritarianism is a good thing. This is why you notice that democracies like Australia USA and Canada continue to attract the best and brightest in the world. Those attracted to Singapore on the other hand are ignorant Chinese economic migrants, money launderers and tax cheats who don't mind the criminality of the government.
The best thing you can do if able to is to leave the island for good. Make your new lives in Australia and the West. You would realize instantly how refreshing it is to be free and your children would grow up totally different from the way they would have if left in that fear ridden island.
I am an Immigration Lawyer in San Francisco California Bay area. If you need assistance to move to USA do let me know. However I do not provide free legal advice.
If you like what I write please help to publicize this blog.
Gopalan Nair
Attorney at Law
San Francisco Fremont California USA
Tel: 510 491 8525
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
You read many articles from foreigners why Singapore is such a great place to live. If you are there just to do business, love a well structured society where everything works, where no one complains about anything, where there is no crime because the culprits are brutally punished, if you don't really care about how locals live, then yes, the island is paradise.
But for Singaporeans who call it home, it is something else. It is a place where there is no freedom of speech. If you criticize the rulers, you are arrested, sued for defamation and bankrupted. You don't have the rule of law. Locals are dragged before the courts, denied a lawyer until they have confessed under torture and brought before Kangaroo courts to be punished. Anyone who is a known critic of the government is slated for enhanced punishment. You live a life in fear constantly making sure you are seen as a supporter of this government, making sure you don't utter anything critical, just as a Russian in the former Soviet Union, today's Communist china, Cuba or North Korea.
As for the foreigner expatriate, all these things do not matter. He does not care how people live there, how accused persons are treated, whether the courts are indeed Kangaroo Courts or whether there is freedom of the press. For him, it is just a foreign work station where he will be temporarily reside, after which he either goes home or to another country. But for locals who have any modicum of self respect, this is unacceptable. The expatriate who praises Singapore in such laudatory terms, have lived in a democracy in his own country. He would be outraged for one to suggest that he call Singapore home.
On the other hand there are many locals who do very well in Singapore. These are the ones who behave as if they are expatriates. They pretend not know any injustice meted out by their government, go about their lives in blinkers, pretend not to know of any denial of rule of law, freedom of speech or denial of democracy. In order to succeed they live a life of hypocrisy because this is the only way to succeed in the island. And this is what the rulers want.
As for the locals, if any believe that it is a wonderful island, it is mainly through ignorance. Today the vast majority of so called citizens are recently imported Chinese nationals from the Peoples Republic of China. These imported Chinese have overtaken in numbers local Singaporeans. These people have no objection in living the way they do, because this is exactly how they lived in China. They know in Communist China it is impossible to challenge the Communist Party. If you do, it is the firing squad. As long as they can make some money, it really does not matter if they had no freedom at all.
If you are upstanding self respecting proud human being, it is impossible to live with these fear ridden people. In doing so, you bring shame to yourself.
It is quite obvious that many locals detest the way they have to live in fear. And if given a chance they leave for settlement aboard primarily to Western democracies. With the Singapore passport being welcome in almost every country in the world, this is causing a huge exodus of people, mostly the English educated and skilled who are leaving. Although the island government is aware of this brain drain, they are resigned to the fact that they cannot stop it, and perhaps think that it is better that these people who are thorns on their side, should leave.
With the continuing exodus of the best and brightest among them, the result is the gradual and continual weakening of Singaporean society as a whole. Local Singaporeans today more and more do not really care for their country, their main concern being self interest. As for those who have left, there is no love lost for their former country. As far as they are concerned it is good riddance. In my case, I was given an education by England and treated much better by them, than Singapore. And today I care more for England than my former country Singapore. And this is exactly the sentiment thousands of the overseas Singaporeans feel and the future emigrants I am sure too.
But for some reason the message does not seem to register in this government. They don't seems to appreciate that unjustly punishing government critics and chasing them away have long term negative consequences. On the other hand treating citizens fairly and creating a democracy instead of authoritarianism is a good thing. This is why you notice that democracies like Australia USA and Canada continue to attract the best and brightest in the world. Those attracted to Singapore on the other hand are ignorant Chinese economic migrants, money launderers and tax cheats who don't mind the criminality of the government.
The best thing you can do if able to is to leave the island for good. Make your new lives in Australia and the West. You would realize instantly how refreshing it is to be free and your children would grow up totally different from the way they would have if left in that fear ridden island.
I am an Immigration Lawyer in San Francisco California Bay area. If you need assistance to move to USA do let me know. However I do not provide free legal advice.
If you like what I write please help to publicize this blog.
Gopalan Nair
Attorney at Law
San Francisco Fremont California USA
Tel: 510 491 8525
Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Singaporeans themselves are the biggest obstacle to democracy in Singapore.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Those among the citizens of Singapore island who want democracy should realize that it is Singaporeans themselves who are the main obstacle to democracy.
The majority among Singaporeans for whatever reason simply do not want democracy and would rather live under a one party state fascist government in the island. This is clear and manifest from each and every single parliamentary election since independence where the ruling party has consistently won without exception.
The minority who claim to fight for democracy such as Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan and others complain the reason for the majority voting for this government is fear and therefore the results unfair.
It is true that the system favors the government in elections through the control over citizen's housing, employment and pension funds but the truth is, despite all these pressures, if the people really wanted the government out, they can. They can vote them out. And if that doesn't work they can bring them down in massive street protests, a result easily achievable in an overcrowded tiny island.
But this has never happened. In every single island election, the ruling one party PAP government have consistently won, despite the fact that they manipulate the courts, deny human rights including free speech and expression, deny workers rights and the rule of law. The people of Singapore are fully aware of these transgressions but yet have willingly voted for this government. Therefore who are these minority folk on their moral high horse, shouting injustice to demand a change in the system.
The history of that island is tragic. The certain punishment upon anyone who challenges the system is crystal clear. Very good people from JB Jeyaretnam, Chee Soon Juan, Tan Wah Piow, James Gomez, Roy Ngerng, etc. etc. have all been destroyed or sent into exile. Their only crime was to fight for Singapore's betterment. This one party government in the island does not mind turning away every single intelligent honest citizen who cares for his country. Although a great loss to the island, it seems they do not care. The only thing they appear to care is protecting their own interests and making sure the island is attractive to foreign investors and money launderers; because a country that does not give their citizens any rights is very good for company owners bottom profit line.
My advice to concerned citizens who yearn for freedom and democracy in Singapore island is to not waste their time. This Singapore government will not only make sure you never succeed, you will be punished victimized and your careers ruined. It serves no purpose in your martyrdom because you are simply not appreciated by the majority of citizens who willingly live under this regime. This regime cannot last simply because as the best and brightest continue to either withdraw from participation or leave the island for settlement abroad, the quality of the citizenry weakens. Those remaining are always less intelligent, lacking courage and the inability to understand that it is good to be free. As the best and brightest continue to leave Singapore, this one party state government are left with no choice but to bring in huge numbers of Chinese nationals to replace those who left. These new arrivals are invariably of poorer stock compared to those leaving. By and large they are economic migrants not dedicated to the interests of their new home.
Hundreds and thousands of very good people, highly skilled and motivated with a real desire to do good for their country have been completely destroyed. JB Jeyaretnam was a brilliant criminal lawyer but his challenge to this dictatorship resulted in repeated jailings, bankruptcy and disbarment. So was the fate of Chee Soon Juan, a university professor reduced to poverty and loss of his career. Roy Ngerng was sacked from his job and had to go into exile, his career destroyed. James Gomez was a professor whose career was destroyed and forced to go into exile. JB Jeyaretnam's son, Kenneth tried his hand at politics but has given up and gone back to England. I myself have been disbarred in the island having previously left in 1991 for California. I am happy to be practicing law in California USA. Imagine the contribution we could have made to our country if not for this totally insecure regime, who can only feel safe by destroying anyone who oppose them
For myself I can say this. The best decision I made was to leave Singapore. Had I stayed behind, I am faced with the totally unacceptable option of either supporting this one party dictatorship which denies every single human right using Kangaroo courts or face total poverty in opposition. Looking back, I can emphatically say without hesitation, I made the right choice to leave. Today I live in a free society, California USA, where I can speak my mind and strive for a career and happiness, which would not be possible under the PAP Singapore government. I simply cannot accept life under a totalitarian regime, and not accepting it, I will be destroyed.
I have seen hundreds of very good people, the best, being destroyed by this fascist government. Please don't destroy your lives. Don't let this government destroy you. The best thing you can do for yourselves is to withdraw participation with this government and better still to leave for a better life abroad.
I am an immigration lawyer. If you are planning to come to America, you can call me. I do not provide free advice. I can be contacted by telephone at 510 491 8525 or Email at nair.gopalan@yahoo.com. I am in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If Singaporeans want to live in the disgraceful way they do, let them. You don't have to.
If you like what I write, please spread this blog widely both in Singapore and worldwide. Thank you.
Gopalan Nair
Those among the citizens of Singapore island who want democracy should realize that it is Singaporeans themselves who are the main obstacle to democracy.
The majority among Singaporeans for whatever reason simply do not want democracy and would rather live under a one party state fascist government in the island. This is clear and manifest from each and every single parliamentary election since independence where the ruling party has consistently won without exception.
The minority who claim to fight for democracy such as Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan and others complain the reason for the majority voting for this government is fear and therefore the results unfair.
It is true that the system favors the government in elections through the control over citizen's housing, employment and pension funds but the truth is, despite all these pressures, if the people really wanted the government out, they can. They can vote them out. And if that doesn't work they can bring them down in massive street protests, a result easily achievable in an overcrowded tiny island.
But this has never happened. In every single island election, the ruling one party PAP government have consistently won, despite the fact that they manipulate the courts, deny human rights including free speech and expression, deny workers rights and the rule of law. The people of Singapore are fully aware of these transgressions but yet have willingly voted for this government. Therefore who are these minority folk on their moral high horse, shouting injustice to demand a change in the system.
The history of that island is tragic. The certain punishment upon anyone who challenges the system is crystal clear. Very good people from JB Jeyaretnam, Chee Soon Juan, Tan Wah Piow, James Gomez, Roy Ngerng, etc. etc. have all been destroyed or sent into exile. Their only crime was to fight for Singapore's betterment. This one party government in the island does not mind turning away every single intelligent honest citizen who cares for his country. Although a great loss to the island, it seems they do not care. The only thing they appear to care is protecting their own interests and making sure the island is attractive to foreign investors and money launderers; because a country that does not give their citizens any rights is very good for company owners bottom profit line.
My advice to concerned citizens who yearn for freedom and democracy in Singapore island is to not waste their time. This Singapore government will not only make sure you never succeed, you will be punished victimized and your careers ruined. It serves no purpose in your martyrdom because you are simply not appreciated by the majority of citizens who willingly live under this regime. This regime cannot last simply because as the best and brightest continue to either withdraw from participation or leave the island for settlement abroad, the quality of the citizenry weakens. Those remaining are always less intelligent, lacking courage and the inability to understand that it is good to be free. As the best and brightest continue to leave Singapore, this one party state government are left with no choice but to bring in huge numbers of Chinese nationals to replace those who left. These new arrivals are invariably of poorer stock compared to those leaving. By and large they are economic migrants not dedicated to the interests of their new home.
Hundreds and thousands of very good people, highly skilled and motivated with a real desire to do good for their country have been completely destroyed. JB Jeyaretnam was a brilliant criminal lawyer but his challenge to this dictatorship resulted in repeated jailings, bankruptcy and disbarment. So was the fate of Chee Soon Juan, a university professor reduced to poverty and loss of his career. Roy Ngerng was sacked from his job and had to go into exile, his career destroyed. James Gomez was a professor whose career was destroyed and forced to go into exile. JB Jeyaretnam's son, Kenneth tried his hand at politics but has given up and gone back to England. I myself have been disbarred in the island having previously left in 1991 for California. I am happy to be practicing law in California USA. Imagine the contribution we could have made to our country if not for this totally insecure regime, who can only feel safe by destroying anyone who oppose them
For myself I can say this. The best decision I made was to leave Singapore. Had I stayed behind, I am faced with the totally unacceptable option of either supporting this one party dictatorship which denies every single human right using Kangaroo courts or face total poverty in opposition. Looking back, I can emphatically say without hesitation, I made the right choice to leave. Today I live in a free society, California USA, where I can speak my mind and strive for a career and happiness, which would not be possible under the PAP Singapore government. I simply cannot accept life under a totalitarian regime, and not accepting it, I will be destroyed.
I have seen hundreds of very good people, the best, being destroyed by this fascist government. Please don't destroy your lives. Don't let this government destroy you. The best thing you can do for yourselves is to withdraw participation with this government and better still to leave for a better life abroad.
I am an immigration lawyer. If you are planning to come to America, you can call me. I do not provide free advice. I can be contacted by telephone at 510 491 8525 or Email at nair.gopalan@yahoo.com. I am in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If Singaporeans want to live in the disgraceful way they do, let them. You don't have to.
If you like what I write, please spread this blog widely both in Singapore and worldwide. Thank you.
Gopalan Nair
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
