Dr Chee:
"What I'm interested in is justice, the rule of law, because ultimately it is not about you, Mr. Lee. It is not about me. It's about the people of Singapore, it is about this country and everything we stand for. You and I will pass on, but I can tell you, the practice of the rule of law, the entire concept of justice, democracy – that is going to last for all eternity."
Friday, June 27, 2008
Lee Con Yew cons the world
In the first World Cities Summit and International Water Week forum, LKY told the audience as reported by the ST today:
He (LKY) said a country needed 3 elements to succeed.
First, a govt that people have confidence in and will trust when tough decisions need to be taken.
Second, leaders who are above board, who make decisions based on necessity, not how they will personally benefit. He said Singaporeans know they have such leaders because, over the years, "We have not got richer, Singapore has".
Third and most importantly, a country needs able men in charge...
When I read the 2nd point, I was laughing like hell. Aren't our "leaders" the highest paid Govt among the first world countries?
He (LKY) said a country needed 3 elements to succeed.
First, a govt that people have confidence in and will trust when tough decisions need to be taken.
Second, leaders who are above board, who make decisions based on necessity, not how they will personally benefit. He said Singaporeans know they have such leaders because, over the years, "We have not got richer, Singapore has".
Third and most importantly, a country needs able men in charge...
When I read the 2nd point, I was laughing like hell. Aren't our "leaders" the highest paid Govt among the first world countries?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Temasek lost more than half its investment
Barclays is expected to add two new sovereign wealth funds to its existing duo of China Development Bank and Singapore's Temasek, which came on board last July to help the British bank raise its - unsuccessful - bid for ABN Amro.
Yet both have already lost more than half their investment, paying 720p a share for their combined 5 per cent stake compared with last week's price of around 320p.
It is not Temasek's only loss: last December, it paid $4.4bn (£2.2bn) for a stake in US banking giant Merrill Lynch; last week, that holding was worth just $3.4bn. [...]Shares in Swiss banking giant UBS have halved since the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation paid 11bn Swiss francs (£5.5bn) for a 9.5 per cent stake.
[source]
Yet both have already lost more than half their investment, paying 720p a share for their combined 5 per cent stake compared with last week's price of around 320p.
It is not Temasek's only loss: last December, it paid $4.4bn (£2.2bn) for a stake in US banking giant Merrill Lynch; last week, that holding was worth just $3.4bn. [...]Shares in Swiss banking giant UBS have halved since the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation paid 11bn Swiss francs (£5.5bn) for a 9.5 per cent stake.
[source]
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Reform Party Inauguration Dinner
Date : 11.July.2008 Friday, 1900Hr. at
The Reform Party Inauguration Dinner
The Fortunate Restaurant
Blk 181, Toa Payoh Centeral
2nd Level (Near National Library)
@S$30 per person or @S$300 per table of 10
For bookings please contact party treasurer:
M/S Amy Lui h/p 83517336
The Reform Party Inauguration Dinner
The Fortunate Restaurant
Blk 181, Toa Payoh Centeral
2nd Level (Near National Library)
@S$30 per person or @S$300 per table of 10
For bookings please contact party treasurer:
M/S Amy Lui h/p 83517336
Friday, June 20, 2008
Two 'Wayang' parties fight for the Singapore's Wayang-est award
Workers' Party Yaw Shin Leong voted for the PAP in the last election. Now PAP has whacked WP in it's latest issue of PAP newletter, Petir. Keep up the good work Yaw!
PAP raps WP for ill-timed silence and double-talk
Fri, Jun 20, 2008
By: Li Xueying
THE People's Action Party (PAP) has criticised the Workers' Party (WP), saying it failed to make its stand clear on important issues at critical points.
WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang, it added, is often 'quick to criticise, yet offers no serious proposals'.
Taking aim at the WP and the MP for Hougang - in the latest issue of the PAP newsletter Petir - was Dr Ng Eng Hen, who said: 'Singaporeans deserve more from Mr Low and the WP than silence at defining moments, or double-talk when pressed to state their stand.'
In an editorial entitled Credible Opposition: Taking A Clear Stand, the PAP's organising secretary (special duties) said constructive views - even opposing ones - 'help produce better government policies and enlighten public debate' on issues.
'But to simply criticise or make opportunistic snipes without offering solutions or, worse, to fudge on national issues instead of taking a clear stand, does little to raise the standard of political debate or the reputation of the Workers' Party as a responsible opposition'.
Noting that Mr Low vowed at the last election to adopt a 'watchdog' role, DrNg asked what Mr Low has achieved, and pointed to two instances.
One was the Parliament debate on the escape of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari from detention.
Mr Low had said he could not reconcile the fact that, while ministers' pay was pegged to that of chief executives, the ministers did not adhere to the issue of accountability practised in the private sector.
Yet Mr Low was 'totally silent' when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asked if he thought Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng should quit.
Said Dr Ng: 'His statement is baffling. What then was the point of his question to the Prime Minister? Was it just another political ploy?'
Another instance was the WP May Day message asking if Singaporeans 'truly benefited' from job creation last year.
PAP MP Seng Han Thong, an NTUC assistant secretary-general, asked at the time if all Hougang Town Council employees were Singaporeans. The WP said they were and added that it did not object to contractors hiring foreigners.
Said Dr Ng: 'This is another cop-out. If the WP truly believes that all jobs should be reserved for Singaporeans, why does it not insist that its town-council contractors hire local workers only?'
The Government, in contrast, has 'a clear stand'. While foreign workers keep the economy competitive, the Government also does its utmost to raise the skills of Singaporeans, said Dr Ng, who is now Education Minister, but previously held the Manpower portfolio.
Dr Ng said Mr Low, whether in or out of Parliament, shied away from direct debate with the Government on important points.
Political leaders, whether in government or not, 'need to have their own ideas, to set a direction for the country and tell Singaporeans how they intend to get there'.
'Perhaps the WP sees no need to play this role as a credible opposition.'
Mr Low is out of town. But WP chairman Sylvia Lim responded yesterday.
She said the party's policy positions were clearly laid out in its manifesto at the 2006 General Election.
Since then, the WP took on issues such as the goods and services tax hike, ministerial pay, means testing, constitutional amendments and criminal justice.
On Mr Low's silence in response to PM Lee, she said: 'Benchmarking ministerial pay to corporate pay, but without corresponding corporate consequences, brings to the fore the contentious issue of whether ministers should be paid at top corporate rates. Is the comparison of minister to CEO valid?'
She added that the WP is not against foreign workers.
Rather, given that Singaporeans were told they had to be grateful that foreign workers saved their jobs, the WP questioned 'how far Singaporeans' social standing and prospects have been eroded... Does the PAP not know this is a real ground concern?'
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Brain dead Lee Kuan Yew doesn't believe in carbon-free world, calls Singaporeans 'losers'
Q: But as you were watching that BBC documentary what was going through your mind about where all this is leading?
LKY: I do not buy the optimistic jargon about a new age of enlightenment. But as I watched Dr. Ventner's prediction about carbon-free fuel, I say then what? You can desalinate all the oceans of the world, then what? And we will still have the overpopulation problem. My conclusion is there are certain moral and physical limits to what mankind can do on this small planet. If you begin with human history from the earliest tribes, we still haven't moved beyond instinctive responses.
Q: But what you were watching also told you that anyone born today will live to be 120 and productive almost until the end, and the 22nd century will see 250 years as a normal lifespan.
LKY: And then what! It makes no sense. Three score and 10 is not a bad span. Lead a good productive life and leave the future to your progeny. I fear the future for my grandchildren may not be as good as ours was. In Singapore, we now have in our physically limited space 4.5 million people, 3.2 million of them our citizens, the rest foreigners who came to work here. Our planners are projecting 6.5 million. Our planners and demographers can already see 6.5 million. I said to them, "Look, go slow. It can't be done in our small city state."
Q: Nanotechnology will enable us to build skyscrapers two to three times higher.
LKY: Not while I'm still around.
Q: You also have a brain drain?
LKY: Yes, we're losing them to America.
Q: So how do you see the future of capitalism?
LKY: As chairman of the equivalent of our Sovereign Wealth Fund, we examine and decide where to invest our money, in equities or bonds or what have you. Our fund managers are paid five times what I get. Why? Because they have had good track records in growing our fund and we know what they could command in the private sector. They are dealing with billions of dollars every day and must be compensated accordingly.
Unbridled capitalism, winner takes all like in America, does not work unless you can cope with an underclass. So here we also stay with the losers, make sure they have enough to live on, with healthcare, equal education opportunities for their children whose parents can no longer afford it. It's very important they not feel abandoned. So we have workfare and ingenuous ways to keep them working as we don't want layabouts doing nothing. We also subsidize homes which they would not be able to buy. A society can only survive if there is a sense of equity and fair play.
[Source]
LKY: I do not buy the optimistic jargon about a new age of enlightenment. But as I watched Dr. Ventner's prediction about carbon-free fuel, I say then what? You can desalinate all the oceans of the world, then what? And we will still have the overpopulation problem. My conclusion is there are certain moral and physical limits to what mankind can do on this small planet. If you begin with human history from the earliest tribes, we still haven't moved beyond instinctive responses.
Q: But what you were watching also told you that anyone born today will live to be 120 and productive almost until the end, and the 22nd century will see 250 years as a normal lifespan.
LKY: And then what! It makes no sense. Three score and 10 is not a bad span. Lead a good productive life and leave the future to your progeny. I fear the future for my grandchildren may not be as good as ours was. In Singapore, we now have in our physically limited space 4.5 million people, 3.2 million of them our citizens, the rest foreigners who came to work here. Our planners are projecting 6.5 million. Our planners and demographers can already see 6.5 million. I said to them, "Look, go slow. It can't be done in our small city state."
Q: Nanotechnology will enable us to build skyscrapers two to three times higher.
LKY: Not while I'm still around.
Q: You also have a brain drain?
LKY: Yes, we're losing them to America.
Q: So how do you see the future of capitalism?
LKY: As chairman of the equivalent of our Sovereign Wealth Fund, we examine and decide where to invest our money, in equities or bonds or what have you. Our fund managers are paid five times what I get. Why? Because they have had good track records in growing our fund and we know what they could command in the private sector. They are dealing with billions of dollars every day and must be compensated accordingly.
Unbridled capitalism, winner takes all like in America, does not work unless you can cope with an underclass. So here we also stay with the losers, make sure they have enough to live on, with healthcare, equal education opportunities for their children whose parents can no longer afford it. It's very important they not feel abandoned. So we have workfare and ingenuous ways to keep them working as we don't want layabouts doing nothing. We also subsidize homes which they would not be able to buy. A society can only survive if there is a sense of equity and fair play.
[Source]
Friday, June 13, 2008
Why would you send your sons to NS?
So many deaths. Taken from http://utopia8787.blogspot.com/2008/06/ns-is-killing-sg.html
2001(from theonlinecitizen)
April 06: MR Loke Ming (1WO navy) (2.4km)
Oct 29: MR Kwok Wei Ming (CPL Commandos) (Training?)
2002(from theonlinecitizen)
Feb 25: MR Tan Kim Keng (Officer cadet OCS) (Navigation training)
May 15: MR Mohd Shalan bin Abdul Rahim (LCP Reservist) (IPPT)
OCT 10: MR Ivan Oh Yong Hua (REC BMTC) (Training?)
2003(from theonlinecitizen, wikipedia)
Jan 3: Miss Goh Hui Ling (CPL Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, death: "lodged in betweeb bunks")
Jan 3: Miss Heng Sock Ling (1SG Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, death: "mutilated bodies washed up in Bintan")
Jan 3: Miss Seah Ai Leng (1SG Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, death: "mutilated bodies washed up in Bintan")
Jan 3: Miss Chua Bee Lin (2SG Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, assumed death: "body never found")
July 21: MR Hu En Huai (2SG Commandos) (Combat Survival Training: Forced water treatment by trainers)
Sept 03: MR Rajagopal Thirukumaran (2SG Commandos) (Ranger Selection Test, 5km Run, assumed irregular heartbeat)
Sept 23: MR Andrew Chew Heng Huat (REC BMTC) (IPPT, assumed irregular heartbeat)
2005(from theonlinecitizen)
June 22: MR Tek Kok Lian (2WO, ?) (Routine run, heart attack)
June 29: MR Ivan Ong Peng Ghee (3SG BMTC) (Routine run)
July 14: MR Shiva s/o Mohan (1SG Commandos) (Rappelling Instructor Course, fell 20m from heli)
2006
Feb 1: MR Mohd Sufian Jamil (REC BMTC) (Organs failure after injection of anti-malaria)
June 21: MR Lionel Lin Shi Guan (LTA Commandos) (Training at pool)
Sept 18: MR Ambrose Yeo Chang Wen (PTE HQ supply and transport) (death:???)
Nov 17: MR Tan Boon Toon (2WO Senior Tech at ???) (death:???)
2007(from sgforum)
May 11: MR Fan Yao Jin (PTE storeman) (Taiwan Plane Crash into Store)
May 11: MR Isz Sazli Bin Sapari (3SG storeman) (Taiwan Plane Crash into Store)
May 28: MR Calvin Chow Han Min (LCP storeman) (Taiwan Plane Crash into Store)
Aug 26: MR Ho Si Qiu (OCS, died at AHM)
Sep 16: MR Cheok Beng Teck (MINDEF CIO)
Nov 15: MR Ricky Liu Jun Hong (CPL RSAF) (2.4km, though we're not close but he was my ex-poly classmate)
June 15: MR Quek Meng Chua (Senior DXO, Treadmill) (death:???)
2008(from theonlinecitizen, channelnewsasia)
Feb 02: MR Tan Yit Guan (MAJ, Logistics) (Routine run, death: sudden collapse)
June 10: MR Andrew Cheah Wei Siong (REC, BMTC Mild-Obese) (2km route march, death: sudden collapse)
June 12: MR Lam Jia Hao (Officer Cadet/pilot trainee, Airforce) (death: sudden collapse)
2001(from theonlinecitizen)
April 06: MR Loke Ming (1WO navy) (2.4km)
Oct 29: MR Kwok Wei Ming (CPL Commandos) (Training?)
2002(from theonlinecitizen)
Feb 25: MR Tan Kim Keng (Officer cadet OCS) (Navigation training)
May 15: MR Mohd Shalan bin Abdul Rahim (LCP Reservist) (IPPT)
OCT 10: MR Ivan Oh Yong Hua (REC BMTC) (Training?)
2003(from theonlinecitizen, wikipedia)
Jan 3: Miss Goh Hui Ling (CPL Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, death: "lodged in betweeb bunks")
Jan 3: Miss Heng Sock Ling (1SG Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, death: "mutilated bodies washed up in Bintan")
Jan 3: Miss Seah Ai Leng (1SG Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, death: "mutilated bodies washed up in Bintan")
Jan 3: Miss Chua Bee Lin (2SG Navy) (RSS Courageous collision, assumed death: "body never found")
July 21: MR Hu En Huai (2SG Commandos) (Combat Survival Training: Forced water treatment by trainers)
Sept 03: MR Rajagopal Thirukumaran (2SG Commandos) (Ranger Selection Test, 5km Run, assumed irregular heartbeat)
Sept 23: MR Andrew Chew Heng Huat (REC BMTC) (IPPT, assumed irregular heartbeat)
2005(from theonlinecitizen)
June 22: MR Tek Kok Lian (2WO, ?) (Routine run, heart attack)
June 29: MR Ivan Ong Peng Ghee (3SG BMTC) (Routine run)
July 14: MR Shiva s/o Mohan (1SG Commandos) (Rappelling Instructor Course, fell 20m from heli)
2006
Feb 1: MR Mohd Sufian Jamil (REC BMTC) (Organs failure after injection of anti-malaria)
June 21: MR Lionel Lin Shi Guan (LTA Commandos) (Training at pool)
Sept 18: MR Ambrose Yeo Chang Wen (PTE HQ supply and transport) (death:???)
Nov 17: MR Tan Boon Toon (2WO Senior Tech at ???) (death:???)
2007(from sgforum)
May 11: MR Fan Yao Jin (PTE storeman) (Taiwan Plane Crash into Store)
May 11: MR Isz Sazli Bin Sapari (3SG storeman) (Taiwan Plane Crash into Store)
May 28: MR Calvin Chow Han Min (LCP storeman) (Taiwan Plane Crash into Store)
Aug 26: MR Ho Si Qiu (OCS, died at AHM)
Sep 16: MR Cheok Beng Teck (MINDEF CIO)
Nov 15: MR Ricky Liu Jun Hong (CPL RSAF) (2.4km, though we're not close but he was my ex-poly classmate)
June 15: MR Quek Meng Chua (Senior DXO, Treadmill) (death:???)
2008(from theonlinecitizen, channelnewsasia)
Feb 02: MR Tan Yit Guan (MAJ, Logistics) (Routine run, death: sudden collapse)
June 10: MR Andrew Cheah Wei Siong (REC, BMTC Mild-Obese) (2km route march, death: sudden collapse)
June 12: MR Lam Jia Hao (Officer Cadet/pilot trainee, Airforce) (death: sudden collapse)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Yawning Bread: We shouldn't discourage SDP, they are good for freedom in Singapore
The Singapore Democratic Party: method or madness?
Yawning Bread
Esther (not her real name) sat opposite me at lunch. Somehow, the topic of conversation got to the multiple trials involving Chee Soon Juan, Yap Keng Ho and Chee Siok Chin of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). These were for speaking in public without a police permit, for libel against Singapore strongman Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Lee Hisen Loong, and finally for contempt of court.
More generally, Chee and the SDP have acquired a reputation for attempting street protests, and hurling belligerent accusations at the People's Action Party (PAP) government.
"I don't believe in what he is doing," Esther said, referring to Chee. "I don't think there'll ever be a substantial number of people supporting him. He'll get nowhere."
I daresay she spoke for a lot of Singaporeans. In fact, if you scan through various blogs, you'll find similar opinions expressed, either disapproving of Chee's high-decibel methods or stressing the futility of such a strategy.
At the last general election in 2006, the main SDP team stood in Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. They received only 23% of the vote, which from previous elections we know is roughly the irreducible fraction of the electorate that will never vote for the PAP. Mostly, that 23% vote-share represented not any love for the SDP, but visceral rejection of the government party. As one unkind soul said, even if you put a troupe of monkeys up for election, 23% would still vote for them.
While looking at vote-share might have been a relevant gauge when the SDP was standing for elections, things have changed, and understanding this change is necessary for a proper measure of what they are now doing. Thus, to point out that the majority of Singaporeans will never be able to bring themselves to support them is in a large way, off the mark.
Extra-parliamentary struggle
The SDP arrived at the conclusion a few years back that the PAP will never allow themselves to be defeated electorally. The rules will be rewritten as necessary, the levers of mass communication will always be used to advantage and as many people as they can entice will be co-opted (with high salaries) to deprive opposition parties of talent.
I don't think anyone can prove the contrary. Certainly, none of the other opposition parties have yet made any significant inroads to even begin to cast doubt on this reading of the PAP's bottom line. In fact, I would say, at least half, if not three-quarters of Singaporeans would generally agree with this analysis.
What the SDP has done is to take the analysis further. If the PAP will never allow themselves to be defeated through the electoral route, what else can be done?
The answer: They have to be defeated morally. This in a nutshell is what the SDP's tactics are designed to do, and their success or failure should be measured by how much moral opprobrium sticks to the PAP.
If you look at it from this angle, you find yourself conceding, grudgingly perhaps, that the SDP is not completely unsuccessful. Time and again, they bring out the worst in the PAP for everyone to see. The police overreact at Hong Lim Green. Four people standing on the sidewalk saying nothing but wearing similar T-shirts (i.e. less than the minimum five that require a police permit) are nevertheless arrested for refusing to disperse. Judges are made to look like hatchet men for the PAP and both the Attorney-General and the Law Minister have recently been provoked to say outrageous things, making themselves look quite unbecoming. Lee Kuan Yew himself is made to look the bully that he is while on the witness stand.
The SDP strips the PAP of their smiling mask, and reminds us that while we may be fearful of the government party, there is no reason to love them. More, the PAP's power is maintained by a perversion and corruption of many institutions of state. In short, the SDP cast doubt on the moral legitimacy and long-term wisdom of the government.
That is what the SDP has set out to do, and fair credit should be given to them for achieving it, at least to a degree (and I say "them" because it is not just Chee Soon Juan alone, but many equally dedicated confederates of his too). No doubt, they have done it at great personal cost, but instead of dismissing their efforts as pointless, I think we ought to reflect on how our views of the PAP are shaped by the SDP's determination and sacrifice, however loath we are to credit them for it.
And I understand why too we are loath to give credit to them: Because of fear. Subliminally perhaps, we fear being associated with them and the risks posed to ourselves. It may even get to the point where we refuse to believe that our views of the PAP are partly shaped by the way the SDP has shown them up
The die was cast long ago
The other thing to watch out for is the tendency to treat the SDP as irrational. I see, for example, Lee Kuan Yew trying to character assassinate Chee by asserting that he fits the description of a psychopath, and as you might have noticed, the mainstream media dutifully played it up.
Chee strikes me as intensely rational. While he is unusually single-minded and almost unimaginably brave -- and these traits make him not like 99.9% of us, which is rather alarming -- they do not mean he is mad.
Furthermore, one can even argue that he didn't really choose this course of action, and that to a large part, Lee Kuan Yew chose it for him. The moment Lee chose, I think in 1994, to persecute him by hauling him over the coals over a taxi fare claim when Chee was still teaching at the National University of Singapore, and then attacking him relentlessly over some health care statistics in 1996, the die was cast.
Lee had made up his mind that Chee must be "demolished", to use a word that Lee rather favours, and from that point on, it was only a matter of waiting for Chee to trip up, which he did -- perhaps foolishly -- in the 2001 general election. He said something defamatory during the hustings and the PAP leaders sued and bankrupted him.
As a bankrupt he cannot stand for election until he is discharged, so what is he to do?
The future
The big unknown is: Where will this lead? What changes will any of this bring about? Won't the stranglehold that the PAP has on power remain as tight as ever?
This feeling lies behind the "It's all so futile" opinion that we see around us.
Indeed the SDP has burnt so many bridges -- it is likely to be deregistered as a result of one of the recent court cases -- that it is extremely improbable that it will ever participate in, let alone win, elections again. That being the case, one might say: Isn't that a dead-end road?
But that is linear thinking, which tends to blind us to other effects and outcomes. History, in fact, has many examples of how political agitation of this kind, even without mass support, can break down a political system.
In essence, to succeed the agitation has to provoke an over-reaction by the regime. It need not be a single event, but can be cumulative. Typically, the regime does not even realise that it is over-reacting; it is just acting according to its instincts or doing what it has successfully done before. But at some point, it is seen as excessive, self-serving and immoral, either by a plurality of the people, or within the elite.
The rarer consequence is for people to speak out and say, "Enough. Things must change".
The more common consequence, but also less headline-making, which is why most people are not even aware of such processes, is for rumblings within the elite to cause soul-searching. A few members of the elite may speak out publicly, but most will either speak privately, or act tacitly, distancing themselves from the core group of power-players. In other words, an unspoken mark-down of loyalty.
Then two alternative scenarios can arise. Either a moderate faction emerges within the ruling clique and tussles for power with the hardliners thereby destabilising what had hitherto been a solid regime, or the top man himself, worried about rumblings among the elite and softening of support, decides to change course. He embarks on what my friend Russell Heng has coined "the politics of retreat".
Like military retreat, political retreat too is fraught with risks. The very fact that it is ordered is a major confession that the previous position has become untenable. It blows away the aura of invincibility that leaders have come to rely on for amassing either support or acquiescence. Arguments break out over where the second line of defence ought to lie. Opponents are emboldened to demand more. Too many times in history, what is planned as an orderly retreat quickly becomes a rout. And a new political system is born.
That's Chee's and the SDP's hope. And frankly, it would be churlish to deny that such an end result -- a freer, more normal political system -- is generally ours too. We may be afraid to stand with them, but at least for the sake of our own moral integrity if nothing else, we shouldn't disparage or discourage them.
Yawning Bread
Esther (not her real name) sat opposite me at lunch. Somehow, the topic of conversation got to the multiple trials involving Chee Soon Juan, Yap Keng Ho and Chee Siok Chin of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). These were for speaking in public without a police permit, for libel against Singapore strongman Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Lee Hisen Loong, and finally for contempt of court.
More generally, Chee and the SDP have acquired a reputation for attempting street protests, and hurling belligerent accusations at the People's Action Party (PAP) government.
"I don't believe in what he is doing," Esther said, referring to Chee. "I don't think there'll ever be a substantial number of people supporting him. He'll get nowhere."
I daresay she spoke for a lot of Singaporeans. In fact, if you scan through various blogs, you'll find similar opinions expressed, either disapproving of Chee's high-decibel methods or stressing the futility of such a strategy.
At the last general election in 2006, the main SDP team stood in Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. They received only 23% of the vote, which from previous elections we know is roughly the irreducible fraction of the electorate that will never vote for the PAP. Mostly, that 23% vote-share represented not any love for the SDP, but visceral rejection of the government party. As one unkind soul said, even if you put a troupe of monkeys up for election, 23% would still vote for them.
While looking at vote-share might have been a relevant gauge when the SDP was standing for elections, things have changed, and understanding this change is necessary for a proper measure of what they are now doing. Thus, to point out that the majority of Singaporeans will never be able to bring themselves to support them is in a large way, off the mark.
Extra-parliamentary struggle
The SDP arrived at the conclusion a few years back that the PAP will never allow themselves to be defeated electorally. The rules will be rewritten as necessary, the levers of mass communication will always be used to advantage and as many people as they can entice will be co-opted (with high salaries) to deprive opposition parties of talent.
I don't think anyone can prove the contrary. Certainly, none of the other opposition parties have yet made any significant inroads to even begin to cast doubt on this reading of the PAP's bottom line. In fact, I would say, at least half, if not three-quarters of Singaporeans would generally agree with this analysis.
What the SDP has done is to take the analysis further. If the PAP will never allow themselves to be defeated through the electoral route, what else can be done?
The answer: They have to be defeated morally. This in a nutshell is what the SDP's tactics are designed to do, and their success or failure should be measured by how much moral opprobrium sticks to the PAP.
If you look at it from this angle, you find yourself conceding, grudgingly perhaps, that the SDP is not completely unsuccessful. Time and again, they bring out the worst in the PAP for everyone to see. The police overreact at Hong Lim Green. Four people standing on the sidewalk saying nothing but wearing similar T-shirts (i.e. less than the minimum five that require a police permit) are nevertheless arrested for refusing to disperse. Judges are made to look like hatchet men for the PAP and both the Attorney-General and the Law Minister have recently been provoked to say outrageous things, making themselves look quite unbecoming. Lee Kuan Yew himself is made to look the bully that he is while on the witness stand.
The SDP strips the PAP of their smiling mask, and reminds us that while we may be fearful of the government party, there is no reason to love them. More, the PAP's power is maintained by a perversion and corruption of many institutions of state. In short, the SDP cast doubt on the moral legitimacy and long-term wisdom of the government.
That is what the SDP has set out to do, and fair credit should be given to them for achieving it, at least to a degree (and I say "them" because it is not just Chee Soon Juan alone, but many equally dedicated confederates of his too). No doubt, they have done it at great personal cost, but instead of dismissing their efforts as pointless, I think we ought to reflect on how our views of the PAP are shaped by the SDP's determination and sacrifice, however loath we are to credit them for it.
And I understand why too we are loath to give credit to them: Because of fear. Subliminally perhaps, we fear being associated with them and the risks posed to ourselves. It may even get to the point where we refuse to believe that our views of the PAP are partly shaped by the way the SDP has shown them up
The die was cast long ago
The other thing to watch out for is the tendency to treat the SDP as irrational. I see, for example, Lee Kuan Yew trying to character assassinate Chee by asserting that he fits the description of a psychopath, and as you might have noticed, the mainstream media dutifully played it up.
Chee strikes me as intensely rational. While he is unusually single-minded and almost unimaginably brave -- and these traits make him not like 99.9% of us, which is rather alarming -- they do not mean he is mad.
Furthermore, one can even argue that he didn't really choose this course of action, and that to a large part, Lee Kuan Yew chose it for him. The moment Lee chose, I think in 1994, to persecute him by hauling him over the coals over a taxi fare claim when Chee was still teaching at the National University of Singapore, and then attacking him relentlessly over some health care statistics in 1996, the die was cast.
Lee had made up his mind that Chee must be "demolished", to use a word that Lee rather favours, and from that point on, it was only a matter of waiting for Chee to trip up, which he did -- perhaps foolishly -- in the 2001 general election. He said something defamatory during the hustings and the PAP leaders sued and bankrupted him.
As a bankrupt he cannot stand for election until he is discharged, so what is he to do?
The future
The big unknown is: Where will this lead? What changes will any of this bring about? Won't the stranglehold that the PAP has on power remain as tight as ever?
This feeling lies behind the "It's all so futile" opinion that we see around us.
Indeed the SDP has burnt so many bridges -- it is likely to be deregistered as a result of one of the recent court cases -- that it is extremely improbable that it will ever participate in, let alone win, elections again. That being the case, one might say: Isn't that a dead-end road?
But that is linear thinking, which tends to blind us to other effects and outcomes. History, in fact, has many examples of how political agitation of this kind, even without mass support, can break down a political system.
In essence, to succeed the agitation has to provoke an over-reaction by the regime. It need not be a single event, but can be cumulative. Typically, the regime does not even realise that it is over-reacting; it is just acting according to its instincts or doing what it has successfully done before. But at some point, it is seen as excessive, self-serving and immoral, either by a plurality of the people, or within the elite.
The rarer consequence is for people to speak out and say, "Enough. Things must change".
The more common consequence, but also less headline-making, which is why most people are not even aware of such processes, is for rumblings within the elite to cause soul-searching. A few members of the elite may speak out publicly, but most will either speak privately, or act tacitly, distancing themselves from the core group of power-players. In other words, an unspoken mark-down of loyalty.
Then two alternative scenarios can arise. Either a moderate faction emerges within the ruling clique and tussles for power with the hardliners thereby destabilising what had hitherto been a solid regime, or the top man himself, worried about rumblings among the elite and softening of support, decides to change course. He embarks on what my friend Russell Heng has coined "the politics of retreat".
Like military retreat, political retreat too is fraught with risks. The very fact that it is ordered is a major confession that the previous position has become untenable. It blows away the aura of invincibility that leaders have come to rely on for amassing either support or acquiescence. Arguments break out over where the second line of defence ought to lie. Opponents are emboldened to demand more. Too many times in history, what is planned as an orderly retreat quickly becomes a rout. And a new political system is born.
That's Chee's and the SDP's hope. And frankly, it would be churlish to deny that such an end result -- a freer, more normal political system -- is generally ours too. We may be afraid to stand with them, but at least for the sake of our own moral integrity if nothing else, we shouldn't disparage or discourage them.
Monday, June 09, 2008
We are stronger day by day, Massive vigil at Queenstown
Singapore Democrats
The candle-light vigil for Dr Chee Soon Juan at the Queenstown Remand Prison last night ended with a difference. Departing from the normal, the more than 30 SDP members, supporters and activists sang the song "We shall overcome" with gusto as bewildered guards inside prison gates were startled and stared with a sense of loss at the group outside. But the emotionally charged number reverberated through the still night once and that prompted the "choir" to go for an encore.
Dr Chee is serving 12 days in prison for a contempt-of-court offence and is expected to be released on Saturday, 14 June.
The candle-light vigil for Dr Chee Soon Juan at the Queenstown Remand Prison last night ended with a difference. Departing from the normal, the more than 30 SDP members, supporters and activists sang the song "We shall overcome" with gusto as bewildered guards inside prison gates were startled and stared with a sense of loss at the group outside. But the emotionally charged number reverberated through the still night once and that prompted the "choir" to go for an encore.
Dr Chee is serving 12 days in prison for a contempt-of-court offence and is expected to be released on Saturday, 14 June.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Our dictator will have his end
By: thinkall
It is a sign of time where sedition is used as a means to counter opposition. It is the sign of time, where it must and it will to reason the existence of a regime other than the free expression of the will of the people.
It is the sign of time, when tolerance of opposition is taken as a measure of incumbent gracefulness rather a compulsion necessitated by the force of the people, the law and the time.
Take heed of those many things to come where a ruler decides that he is no longer bound by the reasonable expectation of the people. All measures of positives strokes are ruled by exigencies of the quintessential political existence.
Let it all roll out like a planned episode of a long epic, all dictators will end the dictator’s end, no more, no less.
It is a sign of time where sedition is used as a means to counter opposition. It is the sign of time, where it must and it will to reason the existence of a regime other than the free expression of the will of the people.
It is the sign of time, when tolerance of opposition is taken as a measure of incumbent gracefulness rather a compulsion necessitated by the force of the people, the law and the time.
Take heed of those many things to come where a ruler decides that he is no longer bound by the reasonable expectation of the people. All measures of positives strokes are ruled by exigencies of the quintessential political existence.
Let it all roll out like a planned episode of a long epic, all dictators will end the dictator’s end, no more, no less.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Dimwit Lee Hsien Loong hid behind his lawyer Singh
".....During the cross-examination of Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Chee repeatedly asked him to not hide behind his lawyer and answer the questions put to him. Mr Singh objected to almost every question put to his client, questions regarding the GIC, HDB, CPF, NKF, ministers' pay and so on. Judge Ang upheld them. (A list of the questions the Prime Minister avoided to answer)
“You can tell your lawyer right here and now that you want to answer my questions,” Dr Chee pointed out. The Prime Minister stole a glance at Mr Singh and remained silent.
“Let me warn you Mr Lee that you and your father's moral standing to rule Singapore is at stake. I ask that you re-consider your application to impose a guillotine time,” Dr Chee added.
At one point, Mr Singh, probably out of desperation, interjected: “As counsel, I made the decision!”
“Without your client's approval how can you do that?” Dr Chee replied, adding that Mr Singh was putting his client in a bad light.
Mr Lee Hsien Loong remained stoic and silent."
http://yoursdp.org/component/content/article/1-singapore/481-lees-cut-and-run
“You can tell your lawyer right here and now that you want to answer my questions,” Dr Chee pointed out. The Prime Minister stole a glance at Mr Singh and remained silent.
“Let me warn you Mr Lee that you and your father's moral standing to rule Singapore is at stake. I ask that you re-consider your application to impose a guillotine time,” Dr Chee added.
At one point, Mr Singh, probably out of desperation, interjected: “As counsel, I made the decision!”
“Without your client's approval how can you do that?” Dr Chee replied, adding that Mr Singh was putting his client in a bad light.
Mr Lee Hsien Loong remained stoic and silent."
http://yoursdp.org/component/content/article/1-singapore/481-lees-cut-and-run
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Is Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew worthy of a headline?
By: ptader
The chief bastard in this famiLEE of bastards showed no courtesy and had no compunction in mercilessly ruining and destroying the lives of innocent people whose only sins were to challenge his powers. The resultant sufferings and hardships brought upon the ageing mothers, young daughters and families of the lives he bankrupted, incarcerated and ruined were of no consideration nor consequence to him, the old bitch and the rest of the fucking animals in that famiLEE.
Why should the young daughter and wife of Tang Liang Hong be worth less than this old fucking bitch? What about Chee Soon Juan's ageing mother? Is she not a mother to him and a grandmother to his daughters? What about his wife? Is she not somebody's daughter and a mother to his daughters?
What about Chia They Poh's mother, sisters and family who were denied their son and brother for 23 years? What about JBJ's wife? Is she not worthy of consideration of being someone's wife and a mother? What about Francis Seow? What about the "Marxist conspirators" and all those whose lives he ruined simply because they wanted to challenge his powers?
Did all these people not have mothers, grandmothers and sisters and were they not deserving of the courtesy you now seek for this family of bastards and animals?
As this famiLEE of bastards sow, so shall they reap. And I hope the harvest of death they reap will be as torturous, painful and bitter as can be.
The chief bastard in this famiLEE of bastards showed no courtesy and had no compunction in mercilessly ruining and destroying the lives of innocent people whose only sins were to challenge his powers. The resultant sufferings and hardships brought upon the ageing mothers, young daughters and families of the lives he bankrupted, incarcerated and ruined were of no consideration nor consequence to him, the old bitch and the rest of the fucking animals in that famiLEE.
Why should the young daughter and wife of Tang Liang Hong be worth less than this old fucking bitch? What about Chee Soon Juan's ageing mother? Is she not a mother to him and a grandmother to his daughters? What about his wife? Is she not somebody's daughter and a mother to his daughters?
What about Chia They Poh's mother, sisters and family who were denied their son and brother for 23 years? What about JBJ's wife? Is she not worthy of consideration of being someone's wife and a mother? What about Francis Seow? What about the "Marxist conspirators" and all those whose lives he ruined simply because they wanted to challenge his powers?
Did all these people not have mothers, grandmothers and sisters and were they not deserving of the courtesy you now seek for this family of bastards and animals?
As this famiLEE of bastards sow, so shall they reap. And I hope the harvest of death they reap will be as torturous, painful and bitter as can be.
Lee Scum Yew resorts to lawsuits in a bid to 'protect his or his government's reputation' ?
By: Robox
I have no idea why Lee Scum Yew needs to resort to lawsuits in a bid to 'protect his or his government's reputation'.
I'm not being facetious here, but sincerely he is able to take down his own reputation, singlehandedly and unaided, by his use of rigged lawsuits against his political opponents.
I actually have friends who are very, very close to the establishment, and even they say they are disgusted by these moves.
But the problem for reformists is that these same disgusted people 'know' that they would have to keep voting the PAP to be able to continue earning their ill-earned privileges - or so they believe.
But I say: fret not; time is on our side.
As you say, respect is earned; but I would add, votes not necessarily so - especially in Singapore - because there is a very definite coercive element to vote-getting.
The non-respect of those who are disgusted with the PAP but vote them anyway is something to be exploited; I don't currently know how that can be done but I'm just putting this on the table.
I have no idea why Lee Scum Yew needs to resort to lawsuits in a bid to 'protect his or his government's reputation'.
I'm not being facetious here, but sincerely he is able to take down his own reputation, singlehandedly and unaided, by his use of rigged lawsuits against his political opponents.
I actually have friends who are very, very close to the establishment, and even they say they are disgusted by these moves.
But the problem for reformists is that these same disgusted people 'know' that they would have to keep voting the PAP to be able to continue earning their ill-earned privileges - or so they believe.
But I say: fret not; time is on our side.
As you say, respect is earned; but I would add, votes not necessarily so - especially in Singapore - because there is a very definite coercive element to vote-getting.
The non-respect of those who are disgusted with the PAP but vote them anyway is something to be exploited; I don't currently know how that can be done but I'm just putting this on the table.
146th TODAY Changed Title of Gopalan Nair's news
by: Uncle yap
I was brought to my attention by member of public that today's 146th TODAY has 2 versions of prints, the earlier version is on the top and the later version changed the news title seen at the bottom.
So they had first wanted public perception of the Mr Gopalan Nair to be American then otherwise later. Some instructions had been issued from the top to have this changed? :-)
I was brought to my attention by member of public that today's 146th TODAY has 2 versions of prints, the earlier version is on the top and the later version changed the news title seen at the bottom.
So they had first wanted public perception of the Mr Gopalan Nair to be American then otherwise later. Some instructions had been issued from the top to have this changed? :-)
Monday, June 02, 2008
Exclusive Interview with Gopalan Nair in California
It was a cold morning. The whole San Francisco bay area was covered by dense fog, like a pall of gloom, as I was driving along the highway from San Jose to Fremont. Surprisingly the traffic was not as bad as what Shitty Times would like me to believe back home, even during such severe weather condition. Visibility was only less than 100 metres at times, but most American drivers were pretty patient and cutting lanes by signalling seemed to "work" in this part of the world. My mission was to pay homage to an old freedom fighter, Gopalan Nair, who had been persecuted and fined by the PAP system in the early 90s for saying the "wrong" thing. We connected before embarking on this USA trip and were given detailed directions on how to reach his office in Fremont.
The sky started to clear when I reached the destination. There was a nice public park right across this 2 storey office building in surburb settings. Greeneries, mountains and open space, all luxuries in our homeland, but seemed abundant in this part of California.
I was 10 minutes early and Mr Nair was meeting a client in his office at that time. I looked around and had this strange feeling that I was transformed back home. The settings and office layout were so similar to those lawyers' offices in Singapore.
"You must be X," an old fatherly voice exclaimed from the background.
"Welcome to my humble office!" This 170cm, well built gentlemen in dark suit came forward to shake my hand and this was followed by an exchange of greetings. I was even more surprised to hear from someone who had been living in USA for the past 10 yrs to use typical Spore style ice-breakers like "I grew up in Somerset Rd Indian corners where the PUB building stands now" and "Tell me where you live in S'pore, X", etc. This place was certainly more like home than any yankee office.
So this set the tone for our two-hour conversation that morning. Among which were issues he raised during his campaign period in the 88 and
91 elections and the events following the court cases afterwards.
"It was a tough battle, not during elections, but the days after that," said this old fighter who spoke with a commanding voice. He related with disappointment on how his friends deserted him, his law business in S'pore suffered and his dignity's being diminished.
"You know what? I'm lucky," he said. "I have a very supportive wife!"
He recalled on how his family had to depend on his wife to bring food on the table during his days of selling Worker's Party's "Hammers" on the street to spread the words of democracy more than 10 yrs ago.
Without his wife's support, Nair said he would not have the stamina to continue his fight after the loss in 88 election.
But during the height of the 91 election, Nair mentioned his dissatisfaction of the lack of independence of the judicary system in S'pore during an election rally. The PAP government took offence on this remark and fined him $8000 for contempt and struck off his roll.
"I have only two choices at that time," sighed the old fighter who had
3 young toddlers at that time, "Either kow tow to PAP or find another place to make a living."
"The PAP wanted to cripple me, just like what they had done to my hero JBJ," Nair said angrily. "But I'm determined not to let they enjoy seeing me & my family suffered." Armed with a law degree, Nair knew that he was in a much better position than many of his comardes at that time to find greener pesture outside S'pore.
"I sold off everything and with $25,000, we came here, California," he tapped on his 2 metres long teak wood office desk. I then asked about why he chose America, instead of more popular Singaporean favourites like Australia, UK or New Zealand.
"Each place has its merits, but I believe California is a place where for most people, a dream would come true if you are willing to work hard, regardless of your background," said this lawyer. "But let me warn you... this is also a very cruel place where only the fittest survives."
This was followed by sharing of his experiences when he first stepped foot on this "Land of Opportunities", initial hiccups and how he slowly built up his business and eventually established himself in the local immigrant communities.
"You see those Vietnamese, Mexicans, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Russians etc... Everywhere!" he pointed out from his office windows, which had a nice paranomic view of the neighbourhood. "And you know, most of them can't even speak good English and for many, none at all!"
"If that Vietnamese can own a petrol station right across the street,"
he said. "what is the problem of S'poreans who had such a good headstart and strong foundation in terms of English education?"
He leant forward, pointing to his head slowly,"It's here! Creative and independent thinking!"
Sensing that the California sunshine had cleared the morning dense fog and the sun was once again embracing the land, we decided to take a walk outside.
"I practically live in this office," Nair laughed. I was then being told that he had devoted most of his time in his work and once he had holidays, he would fly back to S'pore to see his family and old friends.
"I don't understand those S'poreans here, why subject yourselves to being monitored by PAP by joining those S'porean clubs in USA," he remarked. "You can always spend US$600 to go home as & when you have time to eat your laksa and char kway teow," and he recalled an interesting encounter days ago on a heated exchange with the S'pore Consul General in San Francisco in one of those S'porean functions.
"Jai is a big disappointment," he shoke his head. "A shame for the PAP government to have such a representative in this land." Nair recalled how Jai-sohan, the Consul-General, took on him in a public debate because he raised an issue about overcoming that bad image of S'pore during the meeting.
According to Nair, Jai-sohan challenged him to talk about human rights issues of S'pore infront of many S'porean expatriates and Americans, probably thinking that Nair was just another overseas S'porean who cared nothing much about the political scene back home. That was a wrong move and as soon as Jai sensed his foolishness, he quickly wanted to call an end of the debate & even claimed that Dr Chee Soon Juan "deserved all these" because "he broke the law" by asking that kind of question during election. It was a clear indication of the presence of PAP affiliation with such sensitive topics being discussed in PAP lingo at such event.
Noting that many Spore government missions of "persuading overseas S'poreans to return home" had been closed down recently, Nair pointed out that Sporean folks who wanted to escape that political stiffening place would never want to be subjected to another PAP brainwashing or organisation again. "Having people like Jai-sohan to do MARKETING is certainly a big turn off for many."
As we walked, Nair recounted his happy days of being a Worker's Party's member and the days of having the company of his old comrades.
He never failed to express his outmost respect for JBJ and great respect for LTK at every chance.
"Ben is a gentleman," sighed Nair. "He played by the dirty rules set out by PAP and I'm sure history would be kind to him."
Asked about if he still kept in contact with the present WP's leadership, Nair shook his head. "Many of those old guards are no more there, many many unsung heores like that bike shop owner in Toa Payoh and those ex-Barisan guys. They put their hearts and souls for the country. I respect them."
As for other oppositions, Nair seemed not to have much knowledge excpet CSJ.
"I went to CSJ's court hearings, you know?" he clunched his fist while we were walking along the busy street. "It's a total sham. How can the judge do such things to a guy who is not trained in law at all?"
We came to a restaurant in a Mall and Nair was stopped by one of his clients whose kid had run into legal problem. I excused myself and saw from a distance his client's eyes filled with tears while he's holding Nair's hands.
"You see, it's all about long term relationship and trust," said Nair as we sat down in a restaurant. "People know you can do the job and what is more satisfying than helping others while earning a living of being a lawyer at the same time?"
We had a decent lunch and as we ate, Nair never stopped asking about the current political and social situation in S'pore. He had a strong interest of his motherland and he also shared with me his impression on S'pore from afar.
Asked about what he felt about the future of S'pore. "S'poreans are going to be extinct," he sighed. "Somewhat like some middle east countries where only 10% of the populations are locals while 90% are made up with foreigners who are there to make a living."
Unfortunately, not many S'poreans can live like those oil shieks in the middle east.
"If you are not connected," said Nair, "Don't expect to live like what a normal American does." Nair pointed out that despite all odds against new immigrants, USA still attracted all the talents in the world while not many real talents wanted to take root in S'pore. "If these foreign talents see how S'pore government treat their own citizens, would they want to subject themselves and their children to the same?"
Nair further illustrated that point on how his clients, who were immigrants, had no problem amassing US$1-2 million in their working lifetime and will eventually retire happily in Asia, while many of S'pore lawyer friends were still barely surviving under the PAP system.
At the end of the two-hour session, I was able to get an insight into the man's political reasoning behind some of the current issues and understanding his post election endeavours from a veteran's viewpoint, something which Shitty Times can never provide.
Nair had been in USA for over ten years now. He remained a cheerful person full of humour at mid-50s. But somehow the sadness of not being able to fight for the underdogs back at home and lines of weariness from years of hardwork were beginning to show in his face.
Does it also mean that fighting against PAP is a deadend unless one is willing to play some nice guy opposition character in local politics?
But the saddest part is that the whole political process has resulted many ordinary "unconnected" Singaporeans only making a decent living outside his motherland. No one should be deprived of chances to develop his fullest potential at own country. Not if the PM says that every Singaporean matters.
The sky started to clear when I reached the destination. There was a nice public park right across this 2 storey office building in surburb settings. Greeneries, mountains and open space, all luxuries in our homeland, but seemed abundant in this part of California.
I was 10 minutes early and Mr Nair was meeting a client in his office at that time. I looked around and had this strange feeling that I was transformed back home. The settings and office layout were so similar to those lawyers' offices in Singapore.
"You must be X," an old fatherly voice exclaimed from the background.
"Welcome to my humble office!" This 170cm, well built gentlemen in dark suit came forward to shake my hand and this was followed by an exchange of greetings. I was even more surprised to hear from someone who had been living in USA for the past 10 yrs to use typical Spore style ice-breakers like "I grew up in Somerset Rd Indian corners where the PUB building stands now" and "Tell me where you live in S'pore, X", etc. This place was certainly more like home than any yankee office.
So this set the tone for our two-hour conversation that morning. Among which were issues he raised during his campaign period in the 88 and
91 elections and the events following the court cases afterwards.
"It was a tough battle, not during elections, but the days after that," said this old fighter who spoke with a commanding voice. He related with disappointment on how his friends deserted him, his law business in S'pore suffered and his dignity's being diminished.
"You know what? I'm lucky," he said. "I have a very supportive wife!"
He recalled on how his family had to depend on his wife to bring food on the table during his days of selling Worker's Party's "Hammers" on the street to spread the words of democracy more than 10 yrs ago.
Without his wife's support, Nair said he would not have the stamina to continue his fight after the loss in 88 election.
But during the height of the 91 election, Nair mentioned his dissatisfaction of the lack of independence of the judicary system in S'pore during an election rally. The PAP government took offence on this remark and fined him $8000 for contempt and struck off his roll.
"I have only two choices at that time," sighed the old fighter who had
3 young toddlers at that time, "Either kow tow to PAP or find another place to make a living."
"The PAP wanted to cripple me, just like what they had done to my hero JBJ," Nair said angrily. "But I'm determined not to let they enjoy seeing me & my family suffered." Armed with a law degree, Nair knew that he was in a much better position than many of his comardes at that time to find greener pesture outside S'pore.
"I sold off everything and with $25,000, we came here, California," he tapped on his 2 metres long teak wood office desk. I then asked about why he chose America, instead of more popular Singaporean favourites like Australia, UK or New Zealand.
"Each place has its merits, but I believe California is a place where for most people, a dream would come true if you are willing to work hard, regardless of your background," said this lawyer. "But let me warn you... this is also a very cruel place where only the fittest survives."
This was followed by sharing of his experiences when he first stepped foot on this "Land of Opportunities", initial hiccups and how he slowly built up his business and eventually established himself in the local immigrant communities.
"You see those Vietnamese, Mexicans, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Russians etc... Everywhere!" he pointed out from his office windows, which had a nice paranomic view of the neighbourhood. "And you know, most of them can't even speak good English and for many, none at all!"
"If that Vietnamese can own a petrol station right across the street,"
he said. "what is the problem of S'poreans who had such a good headstart and strong foundation in terms of English education?"
He leant forward, pointing to his head slowly,"It's here! Creative and independent thinking!"
Sensing that the California sunshine had cleared the morning dense fog and the sun was once again embracing the land, we decided to take a walk outside.
"I practically live in this office," Nair laughed. I was then being told that he had devoted most of his time in his work and once he had holidays, he would fly back to S'pore to see his family and old friends.
"I don't understand those S'poreans here, why subject yourselves to being monitored by PAP by joining those S'porean clubs in USA," he remarked. "You can always spend US$600 to go home as & when you have time to eat your laksa and char kway teow," and he recalled an interesting encounter days ago on a heated exchange with the S'pore Consul General in San Francisco in one of those S'porean functions.
"Jai is a big disappointment," he shoke his head. "A shame for the PAP government to have such a representative in this land." Nair recalled how Jai-sohan, the Consul-General, took on him in a public debate because he raised an issue about overcoming that bad image of S'pore during the meeting.
According to Nair, Jai-sohan challenged him to talk about human rights issues of S'pore infront of many S'porean expatriates and Americans, probably thinking that Nair was just another overseas S'porean who cared nothing much about the political scene back home. That was a wrong move and as soon as Jai sensed his foolishness, he quickly wanted to call an end of the debate & even claimed that Dr Chee Soon Juan "deserved all these" because "he broke the law" by asking that kind of question during election. It was a clear indication of the presence of PAP affiliation with such sensitive topics being discussed in PAP lingo at such event.
Noting that many Spore government missions of "persuading overseas S'poreans to return home" had been closed down recently, Nair pointed out that Sporean folks who wanted to escape that political stiffening place would never want to be subjected to another PAP brainwashing or organisation again. "Having people like Jai-sohan to do MARKETING is certainly a big turn off for many."
As we walked, Nair recounted his happy days of being a Worker's Party's member and the days of having the company of his old comrades.
He never failed to express his outmost respect for JBJ and great respect for LTK at every chance.
"Ben is a gentleman," sighed Nair. "He played by the dirty rules set out by PAP and I'm sure history would be kind to him."
Asked about if he still kept in contact with the present WP's leadership, Nair shook his head. "Many of those old guards are no more there, many many unsung heores like that bike shop owner in Toa Payoh and those ex-Barisan guys. They put their hearts and souls for the country. I respect them."
As for other oppositions, Nair seemed not to have much knowledge excpet CSJ.
"I went to CSJ's court hearings, you know?" he clunched his fist while we were walking along the busy street. "It's a total sham. How can the judge do such things to a guy who is not trained in law at all?"
We came to a restaurant in a Mall and Nair was stopped by one of his clients whose kid had run into legal problem. I excused myself and saw from a distance his client's eyes filled with tears while he's holding Nair's hands.
"You see, it's all about long term relationship and trust," said Nair as we sat down in a restaurant. "People know you can do the job and what is more satisfying than helping others while earning a living of being a lawyer at the same time?"
We had a decent lunch and as we ate, Nair never stopped asking about the current political and social situation in S'pore. He had a strong interest of his motherland and he also shared with me his impression on S'pore from afar.
Asked about what he felt about the future of S'pore. "S'poreans are going to be extinct," he sighed. "Somewhat like some middle east countries where only 10% of the populations are locals while 90% are made up with foreigners who are there to make a living."
Unfortunately, not many S'poreans can live like those oil shieks in the middle east.
"If you are not connected," said Nair, "Don't expect to live like what a normal American does." Nair pointed out that despite all odds against new immigrants, USA still attracted all the talents in the world while not many real talents wanted to take root in S'pore. "If these foreign talents see how S'pore government treat their own citizens, would they want to subject themselves and their children to the same?"
Nair further illustrated that point on how his clients, who were immigrants, had no problem amassing US$1-2 million in their working lifetime and will eventually retire happily in Asia, while many of S'pore lawyer friends were still barely surviving under the PAP system.
At the end of the two-hour session, I was able to get an insight into the man's political reasoning behind some of the current issues and understanding his post election endeavours from a veteran's viewpoint, something which Shitty Times can never provide.
Nair had been in USA for over ten years now. He remained a cheerful person full of humour at mid-50s. But somehow the sadness of not being able to fight for the underdogs back at home and lines of weariness from years of hardwork were beginning to show in his face.
Does it also mean that fighting against PAP is a deadend unless one is willing to play some nice guy opposition character in local politics?
But the saddest part is that the whole political process has resulted many ordinary "unconnected" Singaporeans only making a decent living outside his motherland. No one should be deprived of chances to develop his fullest potential at own country. Not if the PM says that every Singaporean matters.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Scum Lee Kuan Yew paid Justice Ang millions
If they were any lingering doubts that the media were the propaganda-wing of the PAP, the news "reports" of the assessment of damages hearing removed them.
Through selective reporting, accompanied by "politically correct" photographs and sketches it was clear that there was one and only one objective - to make the Lees appear hero-like.
It must be gratifying - and comforting, or course - for our leaders to know that what the say and do will be washed, bleached and perfumed for public consumption.
Unwitting Singaporeans get this glorified image punched into their mindsets and are lulled into a dangerous state of political torpor. Our leaders develop a weakness of the mind.
This is where the danger lies.
But for all his cleverness, Mr Lee Kuan Yew cannot see this danger (assuming that that is what concerns him in the first place).
But that's another discussion for another day.
For now, it is important to note how the coverage has completely ignored reality. With headlines like "Typical Chee – he changes story when caught out" and "SDP chief's version 'at odds with the facts'" the intent was obvious - portray the Lees as statesmen and Dr Chee as the villain.
Little or no coverage was given to the many exchanges between Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Dr Chee. This would be political blasphemy. How can the MM be confronted with questions that assailed his integrity? And worse, made to answer to the opposition?
Dr Chee: He (Mr Lee Kuan Yew) is talking about his integrity. Is this the same integrity that you are referring to when your government in 1963 arrested all your political opponents under Operation Coldstore?
Mr Davinder Singh, counsel for the plaintiffs, rises to object.
Dr Chee (turning to Mr Singh): Let him answer, he wants to answer.
Judge Belinda Ang: Question is disallowed.
Mr Singh: Thank you, Your Honour.
Dr Chee: He wants to talk about integrity and I want to talk about integrity. Let's talk about integrity, Mr Lee. Is this the same integrity as you are referring to when you jailed Mr Chia Thye Poh for 32 years, when you imprisoned Dr Lim Hock Siew for 19 years, and when depriving them all –
Judge Ang: Question is disallowed.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew: May I point out to you what Singapore was when I became prime minister in 1959 and what Singapore is now. We had less than $100 million in the kitty. Now that the assets that we have and I am not disclosing this but Global Financial Services assessed Singapore's sovereign wealth fund at over $300 billion.
Dr Chee: I am impressed. Now –
Mr Lee Kuan Yew: If you are impressed, Mr Chee – Dr Chee, if you're impressed, you would not have made these allegations.
Dr Chee: Mr Lee, is this the same integrity where you're talking about declassified documents from London?
Judge Ang: Irrelevant.
Dr Chee: – that you have –
Judge Ang: The witness is not required to answer.
Dr Chee: And I would like – well, Your Honour, he's brought up integrity and I just want to be able to pursue that line just a little bit more. Is it the same integrity –
Mr Singh: Your Honour, I object to this line of questioning.
Dr Chee: That you are referring to, Mr Lee, where now we begin to know –
Justice Ang: Question is disallowed.
Dr Chee: – and as a young man, I didn't – I believed you but now I'm reading declassified documents from London saying that somehow –
Mr Singh: Your Honour –
Dr Chee: – somehow, Mr Lim Chin Siong –
Mr Singh: Your Honour, please stop him.
Dr Chee: – was in his –
Judge Ang: Dr Chee
Dr Chee: Was in his political situation, and that somehow –
Judge Ang: Your question is disallowed.
Dr Chee: – you had – I beg your pardon, Your Honour?
Justice Ang: The question is disallowed. How is this relevant to the assessment of damages?
Dr Chee: You haven't even heard my question yet. You haven't even heard my question. Let me ask the question and then you can disallow it, Your Honour.
Mr Lee remained quiet.
What happened to his earlier bravado that he would be ready to answer any question not only on this suit but also on his life? Not a word of this in the newspapers.
This is not the first time that such nonsense has taken place. Past instances involving the SDP also received such dishonest media treatment. The difference now is that we have the Internet.
The problem, however, is that the reach of cyberspace is limited compared to the mainstream press. To this extent, the PAP still has the upper hand. Hopefully, this will change.
This website will continue to reveal the exchanges that went on in the courtroom over the next few days. Be sure to check back.
Through selective reporting, accompanied by "politically correct" photographs and sketches it was clear that there was one and only one objective - to make the Lees appear hero-like.
It must be gratifying - and comforting, or course - for our leaders to know that what the say and do will be washed, bleached and perfumed for public consumption.
Unwitting Singaporeans get this glorified image punched into their mindsets and are lulled into a dangerous state of political torpor. Our leaders develop a weakness of the mind.
This is where the danger lies.
But for all his cleverness, Mr Lee Kuan Yew cannot see this danger (assuming that that is what concerns him in the first place).
But that's another discussion for another day.
For now, it is important to note how the coverage has completely ignored reality. With headlines like "Typical Chee – he changes story when caught out" and "SDP chief's version 'at odds with the facts'" the intent was obvious - portray the Lees as statesmen and Dr Chee as the villain.
Little or no coverage was given to the many exchanges between Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Dr Chee. This would be political blasphemy. How can the MM be confronted with questions that assailed his integrity? And worse, made to answer to the opposition?
Dr Chee: He (Mr Lee Kuan Yew) is talking about his integrity. Is this the same integrity that you are referring to when your government in 1963 arrested all your political opponents under Operation Coldstore?
Mr Davinder Singh, counsel for the plaintiffs, rises to object.
Dr Chee (turning to Mr Singh): Let him answer, he wants to answer.
Judge Belinda Ang: Question is disallowed.
Mr Singh: Thank you, Your Honour.
Dr Chee: He wants to talk about integrity and I want to talk about integrity. Let's talk about integrity, Mr Lee. Is this the same integrity as you are referring to when you jailed Mr Chia Thye Poh for 32 years, when you imprisoned Dr Lim Hock Siew for 19 years, and when depriving them all –
Judge Ang: Question is disallowed.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew: May I point out to you what Singapore was when I became prime minister in 1959 and what Singapore is now. We had less than $100 million in the kitty. Now that the assets that we have and I am not disclosing this but Global Financial Services assessed Singapore's sovereign wealth fund at over $300 billion.
Dr Chee: I am impressed. Now –
Mr Lee Kuan Yew: If you are impressed, Mr Chee – Dr Chee, if you're impressed, you would not have made these allegations.
Dr Chee: Mr Lee, is this the same integrity where you're talking about declassified documents from London?
Judge Ang: Irrelevant.
Dr Chee: – that you have –
Judge Ang: The witness is not required to answer.
Dr Chee: And I would like – well, Your Honour, he's brought up integrity and I just want to be able to pursue that line just a little bit more. Is it the same integrity –
Mr Singh: Your Honour, I object to this line of questioning.
Dr Chee: That you are referring to, Mr Lee, where now we begin to know –
Justice Ang: Question is disallowed.
Dr Chee: – and as a young man, I didn't – I believed you but now I'm reading declassified documents from London saying that somehow –
Mr Singh: Your Honour –
Dr Chee: – somehow, Mr Lim Chin Siong –
Mr Singh: Your Honour, please stop him.
Dr Chee: – was in his –
Judge Ang: Dr Chee
Dr Chee: Was in his political situation, and that somehow –
Judge Ang: Your question is disallowed.
Dr Chee: – you had – I beg your pardon, Your Honour?
Justice Ang: The question is disallowed. How is this relevant to the assessment of damages?
Dr Chee: You haven't even heard my question yet. You haven't even heard my question. Let me ask the question and then you can disallow it, Your Honour.
Mr Lee remained quiet.
What happened to his earlier bravado that he would be ready to answer any question not only on this suit but also on his life? Not a word of this in the newspapers.
This is not the first time that such nonsense has taken place. Past instances involving the SDP also received such dishonest media treatment. The difference now is that we have the Internet.
The problem, however, is that the reach of cyberspace is limited compared to the mainstream press. To this extent, the PAP still has the upper hand. Hopefully, this will change.
This website will continue to reveal the exchanges that went on in the courtroom over the next few days. Be sure to check back.