tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61769051145328163722024-03-18T02:48:10.300-07:00Singapore RecalcitrantSingapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-16990390819884117192019-10-29T19:05:00.000-07:002019-10-29T19:05:30.191-07:00Could this be portrayed as a many-splendored thing?A many-splendored thing can normally happen only in a dream or a fiction.For it to happen to two love-lorn dreamers who are so far apart in Singapore and the United States of America could only be with the divine benevolence.It had been latent for so long that it suddenly kindled with such an emergence of passion so exquisite that other people can only marvel but not emulate.<br />
<br />
The novelty of this passionate communion began quite blithely in 2014 when the heroine took up the cudgels to fight injustice on behalf of a defiant victim of the injustice. From there they developed a mutual intellectual admiration which gradually evolved into intellectual soulmates because of the strong mutual emotional attractions. Then came the crucial moment for the rescuee to sum up enough raw courage with the heart in his mouth to pop the question to the heroine to be his goddaughter. So promptly came the acceptance from the heroine to the disbelief of the the godfather who thought it could have happened only with divine benevolence.<br />
<br />
As if with the sudden release of pent-up passion thus began an unending exchange of communication of beautiful and mesmerising expression of sentimental emotions which were thought not possible except in a dream or fiction. Because of the possible strain on sustainability it has now been relaxed to occasional pauses to reinvigorate.<br />
<br />
The whole family including the father have given their blessings to their relationship. Especially the father who is intellectually endowed wrote a lengthy sentimental email to his daughter's godfather to endorse the relationship in the most magnanimous manner.<br />
<br />
The heroine has a boyfriend who is a Caucasian who is very understanding and open-minded about his girl friend's relationship with her godfather. She and her boyfriend will be visiting Singapore relatively soon to cement her relationship with her godfather and also for the boyfriend, apart from sightseeing, to see for himself what kind of a freakish creature is her godfather to be able to captivate his girl friend intellectually to be his goddaughter. The goddaughter has expressed a keen desire to meet as many of her godfather's friends as possible during her short sojourn in Singapore.The godfather will make the arrangements to fulfill her wish.<br />
<br />
It's God's wish that the relationship can only be transient and this may be their last chance to seeing each other. It is unlikely that the godfather could still be around in her future visits.<br />
<br />
The goddaughter is actually a Singapore-born author with the pen name Jess C. Scott based in the United States who works flexibly for a personal growth podcast. Her real name is Jess Chua.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-20429412826823836552019-08-04T00:28:00.000-07:002019-08-04T00:28:06.014-07:00Is there a minority uprising against Chinese majoritarianism ?You may not see this in the main stream media, especially the Straits Times which is understandable. But the social media is deluged with angry minority dissenting voices against apparent Chinese majoritarianism. It is interesting to examine why this sensitive political issue is being ventilated openly in the public now? For a long time since PAP came into power under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew in 1959 this issue had been latent because PAP was so powerful that it would have been utterly insane for anyone to voice open dissent. But the minority now believes that the world is changing in their favour and it would be a matter of great regret if they did not take this opportunity to draw local and international attention to this grievance.So you now witness this uproarious dissent from the minority.<br />
<br />
The PAP leaders could not have been so oblivious to this latent political issue with their blatant sinocised policy that they could not see the danger. One activist asked a pertinent question on Malay loyalty which Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was particularly concerned with which restricted the recruitment of Malays into the Army and other sensitive jobs.He asked what would the loyalty of Singapore Chinese be in the event of a war with China.This may be hypothetical but many people would like to know the answer.The PAP cannot deny that there are considerable number of Pro-China Chinese in Singapore. If a war breaks out with China would they be put in a concentration camp like what the Americans did to the Japanese Americans in the last war with Japan? This is unimaginable but fortunately it is a hypothesis but you cannot prevent people from having such awful thoughts.<br />
<br />
<i>It is ironical that this delicate task falls on the shoulder of Minister K> Shanmugam to tackle. Being a member of the minority he finds himself in an invidious and precarious position where he has to exercise extreme care and skill to ensure that he is not seen to be bias against the minority. Any wrong move on his part may result disastrously in his being branded a renegade to the minority cause. The issue is an intractable problem which the PAP can only ignore in their own peril. But it would be suicidal to allow the matter to fester.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Former PM Lee Kuan Yew may have been a genius but he was not infallible.</i>Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-559393513758054502019-07-13T19:51:00.000-07:002019-07-13T19:51:00.009-07:00The Dramatic Rise of Lee Kuan YewI have posted on 4 May 2018 that it would be my swan song but I have to reluctantly resume as I could not for some esoteric reason get the PAP mouth-piece The Straits Times to publish although I do not think that they are so acutely blind that they are not able to see its public interest. It is amazing that that they can be so uncivilised that they do not have the decency to give a decent reply.<br />
<br />
It would be appropriate o give a little background to the October Resolution issued by the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) in 1951 which had a dynamic effect in the political development in Singapore. The CPM armed struggle was not going well for the CPM and the CEC met in October 1951 to find a solution to the setback in their armed struggle.After probably a long deliberation they decided that a united front be formed to complement the armed struggle and so a watershed October Resolution was issued to the CPM components to carry out.<br />
<br />
Because of the intricacies of the CPM courier system, by the time the October Resolution was implemented in Singapore was end 1953/1954. Overnight numerous left-wing unions, Chinese School Old Boys' Associations, the Brass Gong Society, the Women's Federation and others sprang up like in the Chinese saying "the sprouting of young bamboo shoots after the rain".The significant point was that out of nowhere emerged a nonentity in the person of Lim Chin Siong who assumed the leadership of the Communist United Front CUF). It would be wrong not to admit that the magnitude of this phenomenon did not alarm the authorities, especially the Special Branch SB) but SB was resilient enough to recover from the shock and quickly proceed to re-organise to combat the colossal security threat.<br />
<br />
That Lim Chin Siong was a CUF leader with eminence and popularity was never in doubt. To show an example of his eminent status, in the early days when he entered the former Happy Wold Stadium where political rallies were regularly held by the CUF he was always greeted with a standing ovation.This was spontaneous and the stadium was fully packed with supporters. Lee Kuan Yew would follow behind with a briefcase in his hand and he would not have missed observing this massive honour given to Lim Chin Siong. In fact this would have been a crucial point in his calculation to advance his political career.<br />
<br />
Lee Kuan Yew was a politician without a mass base which would be a great handicap in his political ambition. He had to rely on Lim Chin Siong for political support because of Lim's massive mass base. LKY fully realised that Lim would be a formidable impediment to his political career and any plan in his mind to remove this obstacle in his poltical path could not be too far-fetched.To give an example of his great apprehension of Lim's political prowess over him, he was known to have introduced Lim to his guests as the future prime minister of Singapore. This could have been said in a moment of banter but it could unwittingly reveal a tortured mind.<br />
<br />
Notwithstanding all these adverse circumstances against him, LKY seemed to have the divine blessing in his political pursuit.One was the Special Branch and the other could be a person least expected to be a boon to him. And that saviour was none other than the much-maligned LIm Yew Hock who was the Chief Minister. If given the choice LKY would rather not be beholden to a person he considered an unsavoury politician and an awesome security organ.<br />
<br />
Special Banch had the unedifying task of incarcerating Lim Chin Siong and his fellow activists to prevent them from fomenting pro-communist agitation in the political arena in Singapore and this had unwittingly paved the way for Lee Kuan Yew to capture power in the General Election in 1959 to become the PAP prime minister of Singapore.Special Branch could not have been able to mount the arrests without the signature of Lim Yew Hock. And no one had been able to read his mind to unravel the puzzle as the why he had so blithely put his signature to the detention.<br />
<br />
There is a Chinese saying: If a war is successful ten thousand bones would have rotted or decayed.(一仗功成万骨枯)Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-24281275031696795432018-05-04T20:26:00.001-07:002018-05-04T20:26:10.768-07:00The Conundrum of Operation ColdstoreActually I have stopped blogging since last year. Lately I have been intrigued by the persistent appeals of interested political observers to give my view on the controversial Operation Coldstore. I will make this my swan song.<br />
<br />
I will try to give an objective view on Operation Coldstore without giving offence to any party be it the powers-that-be or the opposition. The bombastic submission on Operation Coldstore by the authentic reputed Oxford Historian Dr. Thum Ping Tjin to the Select Committee on deliberate falsehoods has created an unprecedented uproar to the members of the Select Committee as well as the public .Dr. Thum's submission seems to lack objectivity by presenting only one side of the picture without the opportunity of having the insight of the deliberations and discussions of the Internal Security Council (ISC) comprising Malaysian and British representatives which gave the approval to PM Lee Kuan Yew to proceed with Operation Coldstore. What the ISC discussed was top secret and not privy to the public. So it remained a secret how Lee Kuan Yew had been able to convince the ISC with his eloquence to give him the approval. Members of the ISC were not guillible people who could be easily persuaded.<br />
<br />
That Operation Coldstore was mounted against the leaders of the Communist United Front ostensibly to pre-empt them from seizing power was never in doubt but that it had also helped Lee Kuan Yew in consolidating his position against his political opponents cannot be dismissed as a fact. Some of those detained can be described dyed-in-the-wool subversives but it cannot be denied that some may be less implicated.<br />
<br />
The fact that Dr. Thum Ping Tjin is an authentic reputed Oxford Historian can never be detracted by any amount of denigration by any party though there was no lack of such attempts as seen in his six-hour questioning in the Select Committee. The Operation Coldstore controversy will go on indefintely because there can never be a definitive conclusion to it.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-22542900706112171862017-10-21T02:18:00.003-07:002017-10-21T02:18:33.304-07:00This is a new post.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-34492272309604502762017-10-21T02:17:00.001-07:002017-10-21T02:17:42.650-07:00Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-19259846260939494442017-04-01T07:43:00.000-07:002017-04-01T07:43:25.170-07:00The conundrum of the Elected PresidencySingaporeans are so inured to the sophistry of the PAP demagogues that they now take it in their stride for its face value.When the whole of Singapore had not the slightest doubt that the establishment of the Constitutional Commission on the Elected Presidency was a political scheme of the PAP wallahs to prevent Dr. Tan Cheng Bock from contesting the EP, PAP leaders, especially PM Lee Hsien Loong, could be so tongue-in-cheek to try to convince the public that it was not aimed at Dr. Tan but was for some obscure altruistic reasons. Dr. Tan has for some unknown reason hitherto been reticent on this point but for some very good reasons now openly said in a press conference "that out elected presidency will always be tainted with the suspicion that the reserved election of 2017 was introduced to prevent my candidacy."<br />
<br />
Quite significantly,Dr. Tan has questioned the PAP Government's decision to include the term of the late former president Wee Kim Wee in calculating when a reserved election should be held which in the eyes of the public is considered too far -fetched. President Wee Kim Wee was never by any stretch of imagination an elected president and for the Attorney-General to start counting the five continuous terms from the term of president Wee is utterly incomprehensible and may be against the nature of justice. Dr. Tan said that there was no proper explanation as to why the A-G advised the Government to start the count from Dr. Wee's term and suggested that the Government can refer the Attorney-General's opinion to court for independent judicial verification.<br />
<br />
The Malays do not appear to be comfortable with the presidential election in 2017 reserved for them as many,especially the more discerning ones, regard it as a gesture of tokenism by the PAP Government. Another glaring element to them is the dearth of finding suitable candidates to contest. It will certainly be a blessing to them if there is an independent judicial verification to invalidate the Attorney-General's opinion to start the count from Dr. Wee's term as first elected president. It would mean that the 2017 presidential election will be an open election and not a reserved election for the Malays. This will be a blessing for the Malays because this will save them from having to make a Hobson's choice on the reserved election.<br />
<br />
This will mean that the prospects of Dr. Tan Cheng Bock contesting the 2017 presidential election will be so much brighter, which will be to the horror of the PAP leaders, especially the bright spark PM Lee Hsien Loong. Dr. Tan has said that he is leaving his options open and if he qualifies to contest, what his chances are is a foregone conclusion in view of his groundswell of support.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-74944689829683641132017-01-14T05:53:00.000-08:002017-01-14T05:53:25.909-08:00Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-10341247642203963342017-01-09T20:41:00.002-08:002017-01-09T20:41:56.172-08:00Is China cocking a snook at the joker PM Lee Hsien Loong?The Parliamentary debate on 9 January on the seizure of the nine Terrex Infantry Carriers looked more like a colourful comic opera which the Singapore public has not had the privilege of witnessing for a long time.The star performer Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen was so ebullient in his bombastic discourse about Singapore Government's sovereign immunity that it might have convinced gullible Singaporeans about its legal validity but not an unsympathetic China. The Parliamentary spectacle was more likely intended to show the world the more iniquitous face of China in the so-called arbitrary seizure of the Terrex Infantry Carriers by Hong Kong Customs but has it ever occurred to the PAP wallahs that even the Singapore citizenry has remained reticent over the issue, not to mention support.<br />
<br />
Quite significantly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman has again re-iterated the One China principle which Singapore could meditate on seriously notwithstanding its vigorous profession of strict adherence to the One China principle. It has been repeatedly pointed out that the Terrex issue is going to be a complex problem requiring an infinite time frame to resolve. It is not something which a surly letter from the high-falutin PM Lee Hsien Loong to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong to demand the return of the seized armoured vehicles could resolve. The reply from Hong Kong is not very encouraging.<br />
<br />
Cannot our thick-headed PM Lee sober up for once and think of a more civilised approach to China? For instance it does not lower PM Lee's world standing, if any, for him to appeal directly to President Xi Jinping of China sans any legal threat like the sovereign immunity for the return of the armoured vehicles. By now it should be abundantly clear to PM Lee and his Cabinet that there will be no resolution of the Terrex issue without President Xi's nod. The obvious alternative will be the prolonged detention of the Terrex armoured vehicles until some miraculous relenting of the part of China.<br />
<br />
Whether China's relation with Singapore will return to its former exemplary state after this issue is resolved will depend on sincere efforts by both sides to realise this, but would depend more on the divestment of PM Lee's pro-American image. Another is the One China principle which China is not entirely happy that Singapore is earnestly adhering it. Of course Singaporeans will be elated to see a happy ending to this unfortunate episode which they think is of PAP leaders' own making.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-55093657554214040272017-01-06T22:55:00.001-08:002017-01-06T22:55:33.548-08:00Does it resurrect Benjamin Lim?Is it not an indictment of the PAP Government that it requires the tragic death of a promising 14-year-old Benjamin Lim to jolt it into making a review of the criminal investigation procedures to protect vulnerable teenagers like Benjamin Lim when they are hauled in by the benign police for interrogations? The Benjamin Lim,s case elicited a lot of public interests and sympathies because of the manner in which the police handled his case. Until now it is not clear why the police had to send four burly policemen in plainclothes to haul a frail-looking 14-year-old student to the police station. And to add to his agony, the competent school principal had merrily neglected in his duty to provide an appropriate staff to accompany Benjamin Lim to the police station to ensure his well-being, at least psychologically. What went on in the police station with Benjamin Lim at the mercy of the benign police officers could only be imagined.<br />
<br />
The Coroner's verdict in Benjamin's case can be said to have left much to be desired. It is understandable as the Coroner had an unenviable task of arriving at a balanced verdict in view of the immense publicity on the case. To be fair, he can be said to have done a creditable job, only that he cannot be expected to please all. The public just cannot understand how Benjamin Lim could have simply committed suicide if it had nothing to do with his traumatic experience at the hand of the benign police.<br />
<br />
The Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam can be given credit for his commendable attempt at damage control. Although it had to be done after the tragic death of Benjamin Lim, it at least could have a salutary effect on the mind of anxious parents whose sons may fall foul of the law that they could at least have basic safeguards against ruthless interrogations of the benign police. Why it should be stipulated that the presence of Appropriate Adults is at the discretion of the police could be an unfortunate dampener in an otherwise consummate solution.<br />
<br />
Whilst it is still early to assess any beneficial effect which could emanate from this review of criminal investigation procedures, it would very much dependent on the benign police giving inspirational spirit to the scheme because the delinquents are always at a disadvantage. Benjamin Lim's father would have been a more happier man if his son had been able to be protected by this belated scheme and he may even still be horsing around.<br />
<br />
In conclusion, it may be appropriate to quot e this Chinese saying: It is not too late to repair the pen after the sheep have died (亡羊補牢,为時未晚). It especially applies to Minister K. Shanmugam's attempt at damage control.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-59377059422921602062016-12-29T00:47:00.000-08:002016-12-29T03:23:36.653-08:00Nero fiddled while Rome burnedThere is sadly a general feeling that the narcissistic PM Lee Hsien Loong may be suffering from some kind of myopia in that he could not or would not want to face up to the deteriorating economic situation in Singapore or in the region. When questioned, he had the gall to dismiss it as a seasonal trend urging the people not to worry over it instead of coming up with any possible solution to mitigate the beleaguered big and small businesses from their hardship. The happy-go-lucky Prime Minister would rather spend his time playing with babies and mingling with his constituents. It goes the same with his millionaire ministers except one or two who would harangue the populace on the imminent threat from Islamic terrorists and the measures to mitigate it should Singapore be attacked.<br />
<br />
Depending on how one would look at it, it could not escape the indignity of the public that it is a kind of travesty of justice for the Prime Minister and his ministers to draw such obscene salaries from the taxpayers' money for giving such run-of-the-mill service. And the one who takes the cake is PM Lee himself who could make such stupid and insensible statement about the deteriorating economic situation. They fit the Chinese saying:"Pocket and pocket till contented" (袋袋平安) which is a pun on the real adage:"Generation after generation to live peacefully” (代代平安).<br />
<br />
Now it takes the hard-hitting words of the Chief Executive of the Singapore Business Federation to jolt the inebriated PM Lee from his deep slumber. He painted not only a deteriorating economic situation this year but a worsening situation in 2017 for businesses big and small in Singapore. He also urged the PAP Government "to consider measures to assist businesses to overcome headwinds in the upcoming Budget 2017, even as it considers longer-term strategies."<br />
<br />
Is it not an apt title to describe Singapore :"Nero fiddled while Rome burned"? How on earth can the 70 % electorate vote in such a mediocre PAP government is still an enigma. But they will have to face up to the unpalatable fact of voting in a self-serving government giving mediocre service to the public, a result of their incomprehensible ingenuity to cast their sacred votes for the PAP. There is an appropriate Chinese saying: "A wrong step will lead to an eternal regret" (一失足成千古恨).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-607392771930221002016-12-23T19:20:00.000-08:002016-12-25T21:34:00.495-08:00A heavy slap in the face for the high-falutin PM Lee Hsien LoongIt was pointed out in my post titled "Is China flexing its muscles against Singapore?" on 29-11-16 that the issue of the nine Terrex armoured vehicles detained by Hong Kong Customs on 23-11-16 could evolve into a complex problem requiring an infinite time frame to resolve. Even the dispatch of a high level SAF Team to Hong Kong and the imploration of the Ministry of Defence (reported in the Straits Times today) could not appease an intractable China to relent. This shows the level of misgiving that China's President Xi Jinping has towards a so-called untrustworthy PM Lee Hsien Loong who has evidently exasperated him with his pro-American antics to the point of disillusionment. It may not be too far-fetched if President Xi insists on the personal imploration of a demagogic PM Lee Hsien Loong before any benevolent move could be made to resolve the Terrex armoured vehicles issue. It may be a test of the mental prowess of the two leaders and if PM Lee foolishly stands his ground, it may be the end of the Terrex saga.<br />
<br />
There is another interesting angle that may have been overlooked. In order to further humiliate Singapore and PM Lee (which again is not too far-fetched) China may lithely decide to impose a storage fee and a charge for providing guards to protect the armoured vehicles of a sum of a million dollars or more before the vehicles can be released. Of course there will be no problem for Singapore to pay up but it will have to live with it for a long time.<br />
<br />
From this episode it may not be too brazen to say that President Xi may regard PM Lee as an American poodle which may affect his hitherto exemplary relationship with PM Lee. Hopefully this unfortunate narrative may transcend any deleterious effect which may befall on the economic front between Singapore and China which is mutually beneficial but more in favour of Singapore. President Xi is too magnanimous for that but on the other hand PM Lee must make a genuine effort to divest himself of his pro-American image to show a more balanced world view which is in Singapore's interest.<br />
<br />
American President Barack Obama has shown exceptional affinity towards PM Lee in their relationship which may have an intoxicating effect on on PM Lee in relation to his pro-American antics. Whether the maverick President-elect Donald Trump will continue this brotherly relationship after his inauguration is questionable because of his unpredictable character. For PM Lee this will be a lesson gained and, if learned, should stand him in good stead.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-21290794585280471452016-11-28T08:44:00.002-08:002016-11-28T16:30:26.400-08:00Is China flexing its muscles against Singapore?It was just a matter of time for the precarious honeymoon between China and Singapore to come to a head. It was done by China with such finesse that it came as a severe jolt to the disoriented PAP leadership, especially the day-dreaming PM Lee Hsien Loong. It was the Hong Kong Customs, no doubt under instructions from China, which detained nine Singapore-bound Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles although the Japanese-owned container ship APL which carried the armoured vehicles had passed through a Chinese province earlier. It was a shrewd Chinese move to avoid direct intricate dealing with Singapore which has willy nilly to deal with a less authoritative and unenthusiastic Hong Kong. The ostensible reason for detaining the armoured vehicles was that they were suspected to carry ammunition and sensitive equipment and the ship's cargo manifest was not in order. This has become a complex problem and may need an infinite time frame to be resolved, provided it gets the condescending consent from China.<br />
<br />
The China spokesman has finally emerged to castigate Singapore, which is helmed by the jocular PM Lee Hsien Loong, for its role in undermining China's one-China policy on Taiwan. If this is not a direct slap on PM Lee Hsien Loong, then PM Lee will still be under the illusion that he is still a trusted equal of President Xi JinPing. The nauseating antics of PM Lee in ingratiating with US President Barrack Obama have not gone unnoticed by the astute China President Xi who viewed them with humour and patience waiting for the day to teach this monkey a lesson.<br />
<br />
It will be an interesting exercise to guage the reaction of Singaporeans, especially the ethnic Chinese, to the show of animosity by China towards Singapore by detaining the nine armoured vehicles in Hong Kong and the timing for this so-called show down. Will it be reasonable to say that the Chinese Singaporeans are first taken aback, like the rest of Singaporeans, but think that China is right in jolting the PAP day-dreamers, especially the US-inclined PM Lee, from their fantasy of bringing Singapore dangerously close to the US axis? They could not have been oblivious to the antics of PM Lee in usurping the role of the Chairman of the APEC meeting in Peru in his desperation of a last-ditch effort in salvaging the pro-US Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) to the amusement of President Xi of China.<br />
<br />
If the day-dreaming PM Lee Hsien Loong has not learned a lesson from the armoured vehicles detention in Hong Kong and persists in his antics of ingratiating himself with the US at the expense of China, the day will come when an exasperated President Xi will candidly say "enough is enough".Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-51070363111169754352016-10-11T08:38:00.001-07:002016-10-11T18:44:52.440-07:00The conundrum of online gamblingIt has now become a comic opera with the introduction of the Remote Gambling Act (RGA) to curb online gambling and the PAP flummoxing act of granting exemption to the Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club from the RGA to operate online gambling legally. As the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) has voiced its concern that the move is sending "confusing and conflicting signals" given that the RGA, which kicked in last year in February, banned all other forms of online betting, it's quite significant that the Minister for Social & Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin went to great length trying to vindicate the PAP Government untenable action which the public could find hard to accept while avoiding answering directly to the NCCS concern. This is because the PAP Government is not comfortable in denying that it is sending "confusing and conflicting signals".<br />
<br />
That the problem of online gambling is actively engaging the mind of the public for the social ill-effects that it will bring in its wake can in a way be reflected by the intense debate in Parliament by mainly PAP lawmakers. One pertinent question asked is whether allowing the two operators to launch online gambling services is not tantamount to encouraging more people to go online to gamble by making it legitimate. Again Minister Tan Chuan-Jin could only give a non-committal answer. Hongkong and the United Kingdom were quoted to show their relentless efforts in curbing online gambling.<br />
<br />
The fact remains that Singapore is neither Hongkong nor the United Kingdom and our illegal online punters are quite a determined and elusive category on whom neither the RGA nor the legalised operators could make a dent..The two legalised operators have not begun their operation and it is still early to assess their effectiveness in curbing illegal online gambling. With the restrictions that they are required to impose on prospective online punters, would it not be reasonable to expect those who are disqualified by the restrictions to resort to illegal online betting?<br />
<br />
There is no way the PAP Government can completely curb illegal online gambling and this will be a perennial headache for the PAP until some PAP smart Alec can come out with a panacea to the problem.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-88206670034939926542016-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:002016-09-20T17:38:20.784-07:00A Perspective of the Elected President SchemeThe spectre of Dr. Tan Cheng Bock being elected President in the next Presidential Election had been haunting a diffident PM Lee Hsien Loong and his drolling Cabinet for a long time after the last EP election in 2011 when Dr. Tony Tan won by a miniscule 35.2 % with the PAP fearing and declining a run-off. Dr. Tan Cheng Bock, if elected, would not be a compliant President like Dr. TonyTan and the late SR Nathan. So the PAP caucus, under the so-called sagacious PM Lee Hsien Loong, had been racking their brains to try to find a solution to this vexing EP problem. Some bright spark in the Cabinet, probably PM Lee himself, came up with a life-saving solution of establishing a Constitutional Commission to review the EP Scheme which would set the eligibility criteria so high that Dr. Tan Cheng Bock would automatically be precluded from standing as a candidate for the EP. Indeed, Dr. Tan had earlier indicated that he would stand as a candidate for the next EP election and he was so popular with an overwhelming public response that it would be a cinch for him to become the next President which was seen to have sent a shiver of fear down the spine of the PAP caucus.<br />
<br />
So when PM Lee Hsien Loong announced the establishment of the Constitutional Commission to review the EP Scheme, it sent an unmistakable message to the public that this was all a massive exercise at public expense just to preclude Dr. Tan Cheng Bock from standing for the next EP election. Notwithstanding all the blatant tongue-in-cheek talks by PAP leaders that this was not an exclusion exercise against any particular individual, no amount of glib talks by the PAP leaders would be able to convince the public that this was not against Dr. Tan Cheng Bock. In fact this had been the talk of the town. In the end the Commission Report has confirmed their greatest fear.<br />
<br />
Dr. Tan Cheng Bock is a hardy politician and had been mentally prepared for such political adversity which he has to his credit gracefully accepted. He knows that he will never qualify to stand with the $500 million company equity requirement and will only be an exercise in futility to pursue it. The Commission Report with some slight modification has been incorporated in a Government <br />
White Paper which will be debated in Parliament. It will just be an eyewash as with the Government's overwhelming majority in Parliament there is no question that it will not receive approval.<br />
<br />
The minority Presidential concession is no doubt a subtle move to appease the minority Malay Community which would otherwise feel marginalised. It may be apparent that they may regard this as a gesture of tokenism.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-25918505881731178472016-08-24T02:58:00.003-07:002016-08-24T15:31:54.315-07:00A poignant tribute to ex-President Ong Teng CheongIn the midst of all these flattering adulations on the ex-President SR Nathan following his demise on 22 August, perhaps it has not occurred to the mesmerised PM Lee Hsien Loong and his equally hypnotised Cabinet colleagues that there is still considerable anger among a significant section of Singaporeans on the disgraceful act of the PAP leaders in not according a State Funeral to ex-president Ong Teng Cheong upon his death. To add to the insult the PAP demagogues did not even have the decency to give a satisfactory explanation for the omission except from time to time they issued nonsensical statements that the Prime Minister and his spineless Cabinet colleagues have the final say on such matters. There is no quarrel about according a State Funeral to SR Nathan but that the wife of former PM Lee Kuan Yew (the mother of PM Lee Hsien Loong) was given a State Funeral upon her death is in the mind of discerning Singaporeans the extreme case of the abuse of political power. What locus standi could Mrs Lee Kuan Yew have to deserve such state honour? And how could she have been more qualified than ex-President Ong Teng Cheong for a State<br />
Funeral?<br />
<br />
Ex-President Ong Teng Cheong was known as the People's President during his tenure, a title which our ex-President SR Nathan would have like to be bestowed with but which had eluded him. This was the measure of the popularity of ex-President Ong Teng Cheong, especially among the Chinese. He incurred the displeasure of the PAP demagogues, especially ex-PM Lee Kuan Yew, for being too honest and straightforward in wanting to know about Singapore Reserves to the discomfort of the PAP wallahs. How the PAP demagogues could have felt so panicky about disclosing Singapore Reserves to the President may be enigmatic to the public but that they could have turned inimical to the President over this could be a million-dollar question to know. To take it further, they even showed their vindictive strain by not giving ex-President Ong Teng Cheong a State Funeral which he greatly deserved, at least more than Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew, to the dismay of Singaporeans who watched the comic opera with abated breath.<br />
<br />
Ex-President Ong Teng Cheong had brought immense progress to Singapore even before he became President as a PAP lawmaker and Minister. He was instrumental in making the mass rapid transit a reality in Singapore which has benefitted immensely the commuters. The question of the withholding of his State Funeral upon his death will not go away from the people's mind and will resurface from time to time to the discomfort of the PAP wallahs, especially PM Lee Hsien Loong.<br />
<br />
It's quite in order to accord ex-President SR Nathan a fitting narrative to his memory but quite a lot of the adulations are repetitious and some of his so-called achievements were really given a bit of cosmetic treatment. In any case, may the soul of eminent SR Nathan rest in peace.<br />
<br />
<br />Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-27891285755702615142016-08-17T09:07:00.001-07:002016-08-17T15:39:26.233-07:00Looking at Joseph Schooling's Gold Medal in perspectiveThe fantastic achievement of Joseph Schooling in winning a Gold Medal in the 100 metre butterfly swimming event at the Rio Olympics has brought a supreme reputation and prestige to Singapore in the history of the Olympics. Singapore, especially PM Lee Hsien Loong and his ministers, have shown superb gratitude in according Joseph Schooling the supreme honour that has never been given to any athlete or artist in the past. The whole of Singapore is in ecstatic celebration in his honour and Joseph Schooling could not have been oblivious to all the adulations that have been poured on him. In all these frenzied exuberances would it not be prudent that a rational thought be given to the sensitivity of Joseph Schooling in having to face the future? He has been lifted so high on the pedestal of fame that we may be overdoing it so that there would be no consolation, but devastation, if he could not win any gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Of course, in the midst of all these celebrations, it could not have occurred in his mind.<br />
<br />
True to their character, the PAP leaders are never slow in their haste to claim credit for the global honour to Singapore that Joseph Schooling has brought. Apart from granting Joseph Schooling a deferment for national service to enable him to train for the Olympics, it was left entirely to the parents of Schooling to finance his training, especially his mother May Schooling.They had spent more than a million dollars for his training and the Singapore Government is not known to have made any financial contribution to it. In fact the people who should claim credit for Schooling's gold medal achievement should be his wonderful parents, his equally wonderful American trainers and the American Government.<br />
<br />
Joseph Schooling is a genuine local born swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal for Singapore, unlike the mercenary women paddlers from China that the somnolent PAP Government brought in at great expense to the taxpayers with the hope that they would win gold medals for Singapore at the Olympics. They were all second-rate players trained by China who were only too happy to foist them on Singapore so that they could have an affluent livelihood with the easy money they get from the Singapore Government. It should not surprise the PAP leaders if they could not win any Olympic gold medal for they were more interested in acquiring wealth. Due to the PAP's lax policy, they became permanent residents (PR) over time and became eligible to purchase HDB flats which they sold in the lucrative re-sale market at great profits when they returned to China. With the exchange rate in China, they became affluent overnight.<br />
<br />
The latest antic is the shameful defeat of the mercenary Singapore paddlers by an unflattering Japanese team at the Rio Olympics for a bronze medal. Do Singaporeans feel that they have been shortchanged by the PAP leaders?<br />
<br />Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-71898974236666702192016-07-03T22:22:00.000-07:002016-07-03T22:22:27.684-07:00Coroner's verdict on Benjamin LimThis was the letter I emailed to the Right Honourable Law Minister K. Shanmugam on 1.7.16 on the subject:<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Shanmugam,<br />
<br />
I seek your indulgence in writing to you as the Minister-in-charge on a matter of public interest.<br />
<br />
Singaporeans have been following the coroner's inquiry on Benjamin Lim with keen interest. Benjamin Lim was the frail 14 year-old student who was hauled by five burly policemen in plainclothes from his school in January for alleged molestation of a girl to the police station for interrogation. He was arrested and released on bail. He went straight home after that and the tragic thing was that he was found dead at the bottom of his flat after he jumped out of the window.<br />
<br />
The coroner's inquiry was not without controversies and threw up a complexing picture of questionable police procedures and the inadequacies of the school authorities in dealing with the case. As a result the coroner had to adjourn the inquiry to 8 June to give his verdict. But the puzzling thing is that there was a no-show of the coroner's verdict nor was there any announcement of postponement.<br />
<br />
Almost a month has now passed since 8 June and would it not be time for the public to be advised as to the progress of the coroner's proceedings and when a verdict is to be expected? The verdict is important as it would show whether there is any culpability on the part of anybody, especially the police, in the tragic death of Benjamin Lim, who in the meantime may be making a poignant cry for justice.<br />
<br />
With due respect and regards. Yoong Siew Wah<br />
<br />
This must have come as a shock to Mr. Shanmugam but I am not too optimistic that the high and mighty Law Minister would have the humility to reply to a plebeian. My letter could have caused not a little ripple as it brings to the public notice a disturbing and unusual situation in the administration of justice. The State Coroner was scheduled to give his verdict on the tragic death of Benjamin Lim on 8 June and quite inexplicably he gave a no-show without any announcement of any postponement. And this was to drag on with no explanation or announcement by the Minister of the reason of the no-show or the resumption of the inquiry. This unusual state of affair would have been allowed to continue indefinitely if this had not been brought up with the Minister.<br />
<br />
It boggles the mind as to why there as no-show by the State Coroner. He was scheduled to give a very important verdict on the tragic death of Benjamin Lim which could have serious repercussions on certain quarters like the police. Could there be a possibility, even if remote, for the State Coroner to have suddenly found himself to be in an unpardonable situation where he had to act against his own conscience and abstained from giving his verdict?<br />
<br />
The inquiry has so far disclosed some disturbing features. The State Coroner might have found it bizarre that the police had to send five burly policemen in plainclothes to haul a frail-looking 14 year -old student from his school to the police station for interrogation. And the manner in which the confession was obtained from him left a very big question mark. Benjamin"s father tried to raise the question of the five policemen in the inquiry but this was blocked by the State Counsel assisting the inquiry who was obviously anxious to shield the police from being shown as extremely stupid by sending such massive force to haul in a frail student. How can the police now say that they are understaffed? Then there is the doubtful evidence of the school supervisor on the reason for stopping Benjamin Lim from attending a school function the next day which the coroner found questionable. This was the reason for adjourning the inquiry to 8 June for a verdict as the coroner wanted to satisfy himself on the truthfulness of the supervisor's evidence.<br />
<br />
A young innocent life has been sacrificed and the public has the right to know what caused his death and whether anyone is responsible for it. The distraught parents are left with no one to look after them in their old age. It cannot be more strongly emphasised that the coroner's inquiry must be resumed without delay to arrive at a verdict and the Law Minister must come out with an early announcement, if only to redeem his serious omission. Let this be a warning to an over-confident PM Lee Hsien Loong and his Cabinet, especially his Law Minister that there should not be any attempt at cover-up which will have dire consequences to the PAP.<br />
<br />
A final word for the Workers' Party. An email was sent to Pritam Singh on 23.6.16 requesting him to enquire from the Law Minister but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. The Workers' Party needs to buck up and it can redeem its omission by taking up this matter in Parliament.<br />
<br />
<br />Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-84794280991100396212016-07-01T03:11:00.005-07:002016-07-03T04:12:07.014-07:00An insight into Singapore's preparedness in counter-terrorism measuresEspecially after the murderous terrorist attack on Istanbul in Turkey recently, it has been daily exercising the nimble mind of our so-called intrepid PAP leaders, especially the unusually alert PM Lee Hsien Loong and the pushy Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen almost to the point of insanity on means and ways of softening the public to an imminent terrorist attack of the scale of Paris and Istanbul. That Singapore may be targeted for terrorist attack may not be a myth anymore. It's a question of when and not if. That Singapore may be attracted as a terrorist target may also be attributable to the blustering accounts by PAP Ministers, especially Dr. Ng Eng Hen of the so-called formidable forces at their command to counter any terrorist attack.<br />
<br />
The latest gimmick is the establishment of the so-called Army Deployment Force (ADF) of battalion size with a rapid response of ten minutes to a terrorist attack. All this is very well for local consumption but what do you think of the terrorist reaction to such a bluster? Would it not be a challenge to them to target Singapore for all its bluster even if there was no such intention initially? Who would suffer in such an attack? Not the ministers or the armed forces.There is a Chinese saying: If you are careful you can drive a ten-thousand year ship (小心駛得萬年船). There is nothing to prevent Dr. Ng Eng Hen from continuing his blustering way, but it would be at his peril.<br />
<br />
It is therefore more prudent to assuage the public mind to our counter-terrorism measures in a less pushy manner so as not to incur the animosity of the terrorists. So far all these talks were about counter-terrorism measures. Has it not occurred to the high and mighty PAP leaders to lay out measures to deal with the aftermath of any terrorist attack? Are there no lessons to be learnt from the terrorist attacks in Paris and Istanbul? Conditions may well be so chaotic that it is difficult to distinguish terrorists from victims and it will be a time when it will require monumental effort to calm the public. Notwithstanding the so-called fool-proof immigration security system, if the terrorists are determined to smuggle themselves into Singapore, events in Paris and Istanbul had proved this can be achieved by the terrorists.They are suicide bombers and their whole aim is to smuggle themselves into Singapore to carry out their mission. They do not expect to leave Singapore alive.<br />
<br />
Finally, has it ever occurred to our high-falutin PAP wallahs that the ordinary humble Singaporeans may be able to contribute some very good ideas to our counter-terrorism measures or the aftermath? Only that they have not been asked probably because they are not considered to have the requisite expertise.<br />
<br />
May God bless Singapore?<br />
<br />Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-57637944741148893962016-07-01T03:11:00.004-07:002016-07-01T18:21:42.282-07:00An insight into Singapore's preparedness in counter-terrorism measuresEspecially after the murderous terrorist attack on Istanbul in Turkey recently, it has been daily exercising the nimble mind of our so-called intrepid PAP leaders, especially the unusually alert PM Lee Hsien Loong and the pushy Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen almost to the point of insanity on means and ways of softening the public to an imminent terrorist attack of the scale of Paris and Istanbul. That Singapore may be targeted for terrorist may not be a myth anymore. It's a question of when and not if. That Singapore may be attracted as a terrorist target may also be attributable to the blustering accounts by PAP Ministers, especially Dr. Ng Eng Hen of the so-called formidable forces at their command to counter any terrorist attack.<br />
<br />
The latest gimmick is the establishment of the so-called Army Deployment Force (ADF) of battalion size with a rapid response of ten minutes to a terrorist attack. All this is very well for local consumption but what do you think of the terrorist reaction to such a bluster? Would it not be a challenge to them to target Singapore for all its bluster even if there was no such intention initially? Who would suffer in such an attack? Not the ministers or the armed forces.There is a Chinese saying: If you are careful you can drive a ten-thousand year ship (小心駛得萬年船). There is nothing to prevent Dr. Ng Eng Hen from continuing his blustering way, but it would be his peril.<br />
<br />
It is therefore more prudent to assuage the public mind to our counter-terrorism measures in a less pushy manner so as not to incur the animosity of the terrorists. So far all these talks were about counter-terrorism measures. Has it not occurred to the high and mighty PAP leaders to lay out measures to deal with the aftermath of any terrorist attack? Are there no lessons to be learnt from the terrorist attacks in Paris and Istanbul? Conditions may well be so chaotic that it is difficult to distinguish terrorists from victims and it will be a time when it will require monumental effort to calm the public. Notwithstanding the so-called fool-proof immigration security system, if the terrorists are determined to smuggle themselves into Singapore, events in Paris and Istanbul had proved this can be achieved by the terrorists.They are suicide bombers and their whole aim is to smuggle themselves into Singapore to carry out their mission. They do not expect to leave Singapore alive.<br />
<br />
Finally, has it ever occurred to our high-falutin PAP wallahs that the ordinary humble Singaporeans may be able to contribute some very good ideas to our counter-terrorism measures or the aftermath? Only that they have not been asked probably because they are not considered to have the requisite expertise.<br />
<br />
May God bless Singapore?<br />
<br />Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-28631433558158332852016-06-15T07:07:00.000-07:002016-06-15T07:07:10.640-07:00Is this another Sermon on the Mount?It is a well-known fact that the Straits Times is a PAP propaganda organ. For it to come out now to portray itself as a purveyor of unvarnished news to the public is stretching the imagination to the limit. The sceptical public may want to know the motivation of the Straits Times in its editorial today casting unmitigated aspersion on the integrity of the TR Emeritus (TRE) when the issue of the erroneous reporting of the medical expenses of Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has been satisfactorily clarified by TRE and other websites. TRE has already apologised for the inadvertent error and does the Straits Times consider that a pound of flesh is the more appropriate punishment?<br />
<br />
No one benefits from aggravating the mishap of Minister Heng and what locus standi is the Straits Times on in insinuating that TRE is making Minister Heng the target of lies? Is the Straits Times not admitting that it lacks the ability to exercise proper judgement and due diligence (to quote the ST) on such a serious accusation?<br />
<br />
As mentioned before, Mr. Heng is a well-liked minister and it is unfortunate that he is afflicted with a severe stroke in the course of his duty which requires prolonged hospitalisation and intensive care. As the cost of the hospital care is quite astronomical it is quite natural for some members of the public to wonder if this is shouldered by the taxpayers. Since the government has now clarified that the taxpayers will not be burdened with Mr. Heng's medical cost, it would have expected that matters will take their normal course of waiting for the complete recovery of Mr. Heng with TRE having apologised for the erroneous reporting and other websites giving their views in mitigating the TRE's error. In fact the whole issue is a storm in the teacup.<br />
<br />
It is indeed mind-boggling that the Straits Times editor has found it fitting the revitalise the issue at this point and it will be interesting to know if this is done with a noble motivation. That the Straits Times has all along viewed TRE and other similar websites as undermining its monopoly of purveying unvarnished news to the public is not too far-fetched. So if it could expose TRE and other websites for disseminating gutter journalism, it would smooth the way for it to continue to disseminate PAP propaganda to the public. In this way the people who are short-changed will be the public.Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-13300448245133927192016-06-08T07:18:00.000-07:002016-06-08T07:18:33.572-07:00Must the SPD be so overbearing in its statement?It's a reminiscene of the British colonial days when you get civil servants writing in an uncultured manner chastising the disconcerted public for any minor infringement. Would you not think it is anachronistic if this happens in Independent Singapore today? Let's examine the so-called civilised statement of the Public Service Division (PSD) chastising the website TR Emeritus (TRE) for allegedly misleading the public that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's medical expenses were being paid by taxpayers. Is it not couched in unmistakable overbearing language and would it be expected of civil servants to show some civility in the exercise of their authority towards the public? Surely it is not beyond their ability to compose the statement with more civility without losing the severity of the admonition which they intend to convey.<br />
<br />
Mr. Heng Swee Keat is quite a well-liked minister who has unfortunately suffered a severe stroke and is still in the Intensive Care Unit after more than a month. That the public is anxious to know the prognosis of his condition is quite natural. The TRE has inadvertenly published Mr. Heng's medical bill in the region of $500,000 to be paid by taxpayers.without first checking the veracity of the statement. It has since apologised to the government for its inadvertent mistake but added it is disappointed to be accused of misleading the public.<br />
<br />
There is a saying that to err is human. To err and to mislead are two entirely different matter and it is obvious that the TRE has erred and not to mislead. A fine example of erring or misleading was in the blustering disclosure by the former Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan that he had paid only $8.00 for an operation and hospital stay some time ago. TRE can therefore be excused for a momentarily indiscretion.<br />
<br />
In the public interest the proper attitude to adopt is to monitor the progress of the health condition of Mr. Heng Swee Keat and not how his medical bill is to be settled. Civil servants are not public masters and a showing of a little civility in dealing with the public will endear them to the populace. TRE is doing a public service by providing alternative news to the public from the PAP propaganda that the mainstream media, especially the Straits Times, is dishing out ad nauseam.<br />
<br />
There is a Chinese saying : People are not grass or wood so who can not have erred but to err and can change is a virtuous act. (人非草木 孰能無過 過而能改 善莫大焉)Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-45146737472872433222016-06-01T06:44:00.000-07:002016-06-01T16:23:28.144-07:00Has the makings of a high-falutin and hubristic diplomatThe name Bilahari Kausikan has come into prominence recently for his high-falutin utterances on opposition politicians about their political views as if he was a PAP political office holder. He was a Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before he relinguished his post to become now an Ambassador-at-large. He has written a number of articles denigrating opposition politicians ostensibly in the nature of a political treatise by a prominent politician. He tried to impress with his so-called intricate erudite verbose writings and blatantly believed that this would draw attention from the public as to how clever he was, but in fact lacking in depth.<br />
<br />
Let us examine his apparent motive in his esoteric immature behaviour. It is quite a fad nowadays for promising writers to pen articles on topical political subjects to gain prominence as a rational commentator and it will not be far-fetched to say that our honourable diplomat Bilahari saw this as an opportunity to make a name for himself. Of course it will not be doing justice for himself if in the course of his writing he did not ingratiate himself to the powers that be by writing something that is not very flattering to the opposition. As an Ambassador-at-large he must be thinking that he is in an unassailable position that the opposition cannot retaliate. He may be right that the opposition cannot do anything to rattle his position and so he just continues his antics with impunity.<br />
<br />
We have other ambassadors-at-large who do not behave in his hubristic manner. In fact they really live up to their name in promoting cordial relations with the government. Workers' Party Pritam Singh and Singapore Democratic Party Dr. Paul Thambyiah have shown their civilised upbringing in not being too drastic in their response to Bilahari's attack on their character.<br />
<br />
Bilahari is not too young and one would have thought that at his age there will be some maturity in his action towards others, especially members of the opposition. He is only a diplomat and not a politician and for a diplomat to take up an offense against an opposition politician is not something which an ordinary Singaporean can normally stomach. So for Mr. Bilahari it is not too late for you to redeem yourself by adopting a more conciliatory attitude towards the opposition. It is alright to be bombastic sometimes but you must do it with finesse. There is a Chinese saying: Turn the head and there is the shore - repent and salvation is at hand (回頭是岸)。Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-86911475546016054632016-05-06T19:52:00.002-07:002016-05-06T19:52:41.821-07:00A cliffhanger Bukit Batok by-electionThe last nine days have witnessed a very vigorous campaign by the PAP candidate Murali Pillai and SDP candidate Dr. Chee Soon Juan for votes of the B<b>ukit Batok electorate. There had been daily meetings with the residents and PAP election rallies and SDP rallies. Both candidates worked very hard to capture the minds of the voters with their respective programmes and it looks like the BB voters are spoilt for choice in trying to decide which candidate to vote for.</b><br />
<br />
<b>PAP candidate Murali Pillai had been very meticulous in enumerating the benefits that he and his PAP colleagues from the Town Council and constituency have brought to the residents of Bukit Batok for the elderly, the children and healthcare especially for the elderly. In addition, he had the services of PAP big guns like PM Lee Hsien Loong and DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam to appeal to the voters to vote in his favour. His sixteen years of voluntary service to the constituency could also be a factor in his favour. Therefore, Mr. Murali sees himself as a candidate that deserves the support of the electorate.</b><br />
<br />
<b>SDP candidate Dr. Chee Soon Juan on the other hand is a more dramatic and flamboyant individual who shows great intent that he is a more favourable candidate with his diligence and acumen in fending off accusations of character flaws and management disabilities from his PAP opponents and giving a optimistic account of what he could do, if elected, to bring enhancements to the welfare and livelihood of Bukit Batok residents. He has assembled a transit team to take over the Town Council and to make it more efficient and resident-friendly that it will surpass the performance of PAP Town Councils. Most important he has pledged to work full time in the constituency as its MP to which Mr. Murali has no answer. Another important factor is that he will act as a potent alternative voice in Parliament. At times Dr. Chee had appeared to have gone over the top in his eagerness to expose the so-called </b><br />
<b> political flaws of the PAP Government which could not have been to his credit. SDP rallies had been better attended but, from past experiences, this is not an indication of better vote gathering. </b><br />
<br />
<b>The polling starts today and judging from the vigorousness and competency of the respective campaign, the chances of the respective candidates appear to be equal with neither side appearing to have an overwhelming advantage. For Dr. Chee to romp home in this contest, he will need divine help to tilt the balance in his favour, for example a 50.01 per cent win. There is a Chinese saying: Heaven will not forsake a person with great pains taken in a plan (皇天不负苦心人). Whether this applies to Dr. Chee's case, only the election result will tell. </b>Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6176905114532816372.post-89782768957696466252016-04-30T19:49:00.000-07:002016-04-30T20:00:00.428-07:00Highlights of the by-election campaignThe election campaign of the PAP and the Singapore Democratic Party in the Bukit Batok by-election has thrown up some interesting highlights which will captivate the mind of Bukit Batok voters in particular and the discerning Singaporeans in general. Quite naturally the PAP is taking this by-election seriously and the big guns who have come out to campaign for the PAP candidate Murali Pillai included PM Lee Hsien Loong and DPM Tharman Shamugaratnam. But what should appear abominable to the voters and the public is the disgraceful performance of the heinous Grace Fu who behaves like a real witch in carrying out a character assassination of Dr. Chee Soon Juan. However, she is not alone as other PAP speakers are also of the same ilk. Arrogance and hubris seem to be the order of the day for PAP leaders in dealing with Dr. Chee.<br />
<br />
Dr. Chee Soon Juan on the other hand is a picture of composure in answering deftly all the accusations levelled at him by the PAP speakers. He is an underdog and does not expect any kid-glove treatment from his PAP opponents. He is aware that he is pitted against a party with enormous financial and manpower resources and above all a ruling party. From observations and reports, Dr. Chee is making reasonable headway in his campaign and this is what irks the PAP leaders.<br />
<br />
Even PM Lee Hsien Loong finds it imperative to come forward to campaign for the PAP candidate and it is not surprising that he goes straight into a character assassination of Dr. Chee branding him as an unchanged unruly politician of his early days. This is a serious indictment by a prime minister who does not seem to be on solid ground as it is a well-known fact that Dr. Chee has now matured into a consummate politician with sound principles. Moreover, Dr. Chee now has a sizeable following and there is a appropriate Chinese saying: To view other people lowly with canine eyes. (狗眼看人低)。 <br />
<br />
That Dr. Chee's ethnicity is an advantage is not without reason. This is now being skewed by PM Lee to be a campaign against the PAP candidate by some unknown persons to vote along racial line. It is now known where PM Lee obtained this rumour but it sounds more like a pre-emptive attempt to warn voters against voting for Dr. Chee raising the race spectre. Dr. Chee is not known to be exploiting the racial element in his campaign. PM Lee should know that ethnic propensity is a characteristic of any race, especially among the elderly Chinese and should not be alarming if this is visible in Bukit Batok.<br />
<br />
It is obvious that Dr. Chee Soon Juan is causing considerable anxiety in the PAP camp and it will be interesting to watch how the campaign evolves in the remaining days of the campaign.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Singapore Recalcitranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627235842276983920noreply@blogger.com1