Mas Selamat’s escape – Government shifting the blame to Singaporeans’ “complacency”
Saturday, 5 April 2008, 4:10 pm | 456 views
Andrew Loh
If one were to follow the local media, one would be aghast at the gradual and subtle shifting of blame for alleged JI terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape.
It is propaganda at its most sublime.
It is propaganda because one, the government here in Singapore is all-encompassing and two, the local media is totally and completely beholden to the government. The media is used daily to lead public discussion and debate in the direction that the government wants it to go.
It is thus not unexpected that in a matter as serious as this escape the media would be employed to “hush things down” when ascribing blame to the government officials responsible for the “lapse”.
And so, we now witness a shameful shifting of blame – from the minister in charge, DPM Wong Kan Seng, to “Singaporeans’ complacency”.
It is also significant that this shift is spearheaded by the oldest member in the Cabinet, MM Lee Kuan Yew himself. Indeed MM Lee has spoken twice about this “complacency” – the first time on March 7:
“I think it’s a very severe lesson of complacency that we are confident we have this man sized up.” (Straits Times)
It is important to note that MM Lee avoided mentioning any names at all – including that of the Home Affairs Minister Wong. Instead MM Lee ascribed the “complacency” to his “custodians”.
On April 5, MM Lee again spoke about the escape but this time pointing the finger at Singaporeans in general:
“Complacency sets in when a people have not suffered any shock or setback for a long time, as in Singapore without jihadist terror attacks, although we have ceaselessly talked about it and prepared out (sic) defence.”
“Most people believe that bad things will happen to others, not to themselves.” (Link)
And to cement this shifting of blame, the Straits Times quoted PAP MP Lim Wee Kiak:
“People’s Action Party MP Lim Wee Kiak called complacency a ’side-effect’ of an overly successful Government and civil service.
‘This has bred a dependency mentality in our population who will blame the civil service and Government if any of their needs are not met,’ he noted.”
The shift is complete : The escape of Mas Selamat Kastari is due to Singaporeans’ complacency because “most people believe that bad things will happen to others, not to themselves”. And because of Singaporeans’ “dependency mindset”, they “blame the civil service and Government”. But no worries, this complacency is “a ’side-effect’ of an overly successful Government and civil service”!
Game. Set. Match.
Singaporeans are to blame for the escape.
Who else should be responsible since we already have “an overly successful Government and civil service”? (Emphasis mine) Surely, they cannot be held responsible for Singaporeans’ “dependency mindset” and “complacency”!
If one recalls, one would also remember that the initial propaganda strategy was to use the escape to trumpet how “Singaporeans ace test of racial cohesion”, to quote a Straits Times headline. The ST reported NTUC Chief Lim Swee Say thus:
“Minister Lim Swee Say, who described the escape as a test in inter-racial cohesion, said Singaporeans passed it ‘with flying colours’.”
In all of the local media’s reports about the jailbreak, none, as far as I am aware of, has mentioned Minister Wong’s responsibility. Even the Prime Minister himself shrugged off the JI leader’s “toilet break” with “What to do? It’s happened.”
And so, it would seem that two groups of people are to blame: Mas Selamat’s custodians and Singaporeans in general.
As for the ministers in charge – Wong Kan Seng and his 2nd in command Ho Peng Kee, well, they are part of an “overly successful Government”. So how can they be held responsible?
Watch the local media go into overdrive to preserve and protect our extraordinary ministers in government – where lapses are easily and conveniently ascribed to others, even to those who had nothing to do at all with Mas Selamat.
In fact, most Singaporeans, I would bet, did not even know he existed until he gave his guards the slip on a fateful February 27.
But nonetheless, ignorance is not a defence.
Singaporeans are to blame for the escape.
Now, stop being complacent!
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Does this imply that Singaporeans are also complacent in giving PAP its mandate during elections? Should the Opposition be given more chance to avoid complacency?
ya i think we should give the ppl in white some wake-up-call just as what happen to their counterpart in m’sia in the future GE.
Right.
Well, 66% of us have been guilty of complacency haven’t we.
Simple conclusion. If we’ve made a mistake, time to rectify it.
As usual, PAP govt is always looking for scapegoats and excuses to distract calls for them to take responsibility with appropriate action - sack or resign - whoever is responsible.
Complacent or negligence cannot be condoned with a simple excuse. To expect a pardon from Singaporeans after self-justifying ridiculous pay hike is simply absurd and immature.
PAP govt is only good at window dressing. Up to now, it’s still LKY doing all the talking. The PM should ask himself an honest question - “Am I justified to be the PM when I have to depend on my fatherly MM to direct policies and clean up the mess as well?”
The astronomical salary of all the PAP ministers and MPs just doesn’t justify Singaporeans’ tax contribution, not with this standard of transparency and accountability. It’s a SHAM - E!
This is the best they can come up with?
Lets stay focused on asking WKS where is Mat salamat and how did he escape , I think that is the Million dollar question
Malaysians have done it, so do the Taiwanese. Singaporeans next?
Remember 66.6% for the 2006 elections. ‘666′ is a devil’s number.
I think Singaporeans who voted for PAP should by now realise that one-party rule is never good, as always stated by Chiam See Tong, but they just don’t listen. Now with rising food and oil prices, we shall see how much longer can the pro-ruling party people endure.
I love this. This comment from MM will probably tilt the balance for years to come. I am glad!!
Wow~ It’s getting too ‘creative’.
This clearly is a general concept the MM has delivered. He has been delivering similar concepts before Mas Selemat escaped.
Pulling out a few paragraphs and try to put some 罪名 or what may not be that nice… …
This ‘joke’ may have gone a little too far.
Shifting blame for a gahmen to the people as the article is presented in such manner, is equivalent to corruption accusation of a gahmen in which there is an accusation that the gahmen seeks to work against the interests of the people with the relevance of a few paragraphs of such ‘weak’ inference.
Where in this case, whatever MM would have said can be taken as a hint that he is malicious and ill-intent in his conduct just merely taking incomplete portions to justify.
My sincere view of goodwill here: Be careful…
2 words to describe them.
F**king.Disgrace
I thot MM’s responsibility is that of an adviser and mentor.
Why is it that our world class PM still need his nanny father to come out to speak on behalf of him ? And of all matters, to remind us about complacency.
Do we really need a PM ? Or the MM ? Or neither ?
Sounds like they are treating us like kids…ha..ha…So, people, behave like kids then…
If only they have more humility, and not point fingers…yes, worse, point at the very people who feed them monthly with taxpayers’ money… sad, sad…
We the People(Citizens) have indeed been complacent for decades, how else does one explain for the situation we(people) are in now? How have we allowed ourselves to be manipulated, exploited and teased by our leaders? Think about it.
Now that we have reached a point of no return, the awakening is way too late. Because our leaders are also caught in the expressway of no return but to enrich themselves and take flights when the opportune time arrives for them to do so while we will be left high and dry.
Now is the time that we must protect ourselves. How can this be done? Take flight yourself first if you can. Take collective actions to defy unreasonable policies, e.g. avoid buying from state-owned retailers, household items, insurance etc. Avoid consuming anything not essential and cripple the market and son. Let us die first and get reborn (xian si er hou sheng).
elfredinario,
I read the ST papers today. I got the same concept that the blame is the people not the gahmen. Am i wrong to say that? If something so crap is written and reading it makes you sick then the editor should be hanged. World class paper right? Writing rubbish can be cordoned? If million dollars minister generalise the mas selamat issue and not clearly state the core problems and answers then why speak in the first place. Talk is cheap these days especially from million minister. Any insight you have regarding to the ST paper today on this issue? Answer is NONE. Hope we all can see the light at the end of tunnel with this gahmen.
“This ‘joke’ may have gone a little too far.
Shifting blame for a gahmen to the people as the article is presented in such manner, is equivalent to corruption accusation of a gahmen”
elfredinario,
so who start the joke first ? The joke is on us not on the gahmen. Remember those claim about increase GST to help the poor, increase HDB cost to reduce queue, giving themselves millions at the expense of citizen,… So what can we deduce from our gahmen ? Honesty ? Integrity ? Credible ?
Haven’t you notice too how our gahmen doesn’t even appear to celebrate new Year with the citizen anymore ? Are they too apathetic or ashame to face the citizen ?
If you call this article a joke then what about those remarks from Ministers and incredulous mouthpiece from ShitTime ?
How about the joke about the excessive surplus that now remains unanswered ? Has anyone notice that this surplus might end in setting up more joke hub like earthquake disaster center, cancer center etc ? (Why is it not even setup before the hike ? So why the superficial act ?) The question is obvious that this announcement only come after surplus announcement. Didn’t the surplus should be used to help the middle-income and the poor like in HOng Kong ?
So who is the real joker ?
Great article Andrew! It’s articles like these that can effectively stave off these rumors about TOC being an online propaganda arm of the PAP.
well, singapore is still governed by the longest serving minister in the world,almost 50 years in power.There is no point having a lame PM who I think is not a talented person.A lame PM like Abdullah should be voted out.Other capable man can take over.If government is not wrong, why wong kan seng apologised on the 27 Feb ? this governemnt is not honest, why should we vote them in? why should we pay million dollar to them ?
another point, who is this lim wee kiat, is he a walk over MP ? Does he got experience to serve the ppl,and lim swee say,another clown trying to talk kok,the escape is a serious flaw, dont come and tell us, it is a test of community bonding all the nonsense.better keep quiet, like GCT
Hoho…Singaporeans blamed? Who are the Singaporeans? The nationals only? What about those in leadership position say the MPs and the like…are these leaders not paid to maintain Singapore’s security? Pardon me…are these not the true blue Singaporeans?
[...] disagree with theonlinecitizen’s point that the blame has been shifted. Indeed, at a point of time where finger-pointing would have been most rampant, the major [...]
Fever Guy,
What insight do you want??? Insight that Mas Selamat runs, the guard fired, Wong resigns, PM quits, MM disappears, and we all celebrate?
I don’t understand Singaporeans…
Why you all think like that…?
What if Wong’s domestic servant catch Mas Selamat? Promote the servant, Wong, promote PM, promote MM???
What insight do you all want???
I feel most of you are just interested to make noises… for the sake of it.
What? You expect MM Lee to scold DPM Wong like a kid, or just terminate him? Come on… THis is not how politics nor gahmen-nance work.
MM’s not only talking about this incident when he is talking about complacency and the likes. He also talked about the population target and so on. Actually, Singaporeans… are an issue in itself. It’s not just Mas Selamat.
Sigh… Actually, what will the future become with Singaporeans like this? Hahahahaha…
http://elfredinario.wordpress.com/
This was EXACTLY what I sensed when I read the ST articles! If I were to infer from my MP Lim Wee Kiak’s statements, Mas Selamat escaped because I was too complacent and haven’t prepared an emergency pack at home in case of blackouts.
Watch how the blame is going to be localised to the immediate guards at the detention centre. WKS will never get blamed. He only gets the credit when things go right.
Perhaps Singaporeans really are to be blamed. We have been complacent in electing the PAP election after election, and not putting enough opposition MPs in Parliament to serve as a check and balance.
What is the point of having an “independent” inquiry? Govt to give “full” account of “how Mas Selamat escaped”? Old man already given his own account!
This shows that the old man is going senile. He has lost his power
of reasoning. He sounds very incoherent. Most probably he is
suffering from “Diminished Responsibility”, behaving and thinking
just like a small kid. This is a mental condition that usually
happens to older people who have enjoyed too much power.
I think time is running out for him.
So, folks, forget about Mas Selamat, forget about terrorist threats, just remind yourselves YOU are under threats for survivals. We cannot take care of things they are paid ridiculously to do. Why do we need a government for? They have a duty, they are paid to do the job, yet we are blame for their failures! Joke by all means, but never allow ourselves to be taken as bloody fools!
Blame, Blame and Blame….
I do understand that we need to change ourselves to suit the environment. However, I felt that our gahman has “over used” this tool and is over exploiting the locals. This is very significant when the gahman put the whammy especially on the local males. If they are classified under “lower level citizen”, they are even worse off. Overall, for these few years I felt that the top has disadvantaged the citizen with all sorts of money squeezing techniques. Hmm… Like as follow:
FTs
Opportunities that are created to all the PEOPLE who work in Singapore are mostly taken up by the FTs. The big increase in the number of FTs in Singapore is good enough to prove this. These people, most probably are very rich. They upset the market by being able to effort much more on the necessities. Are they a factor to inflation? I felt it is highly possible. Demand goes up, prices goes up. So, who do you want to blame on?
GST
Increase GST to help the poor? I don’t think so. If the rich felt that it is too expensive to spend, they will spend less. Will they go hungry in the end? It is a very likely a NO answer. However, a poor who are fighting for survival day and night will feel a hard pinch on his buttock. Should necessities become get very expensive for them, they would likely go hungry. Does the one time rebate effective? Come on, per unit tax versus lump sum subsidy… base on this theory, who will be in the loosing end? So, whose fault? Is it the citizen’s fault because they are born here?
RICE
If I did not make a mistake, one of the ministers (I think so) says the government cannot cap the price of the rice or the seller would had a hard time as they cannot survive. Emm… there is one question on this sentence. Are you telling me that you want the seller to look after the citizens by reducing the price? It sounds like it is the seller who will be giving the subsidy and not the gahman. So whose fault? Is it the government of the other countries?
Mas Selamat
How about this case “Mas Selamat’s escape”? I begin to wonder who the ones who say they are the elites and deserve a high pay cheque? They must be very good in handling the case. They must be effective and productive right? So where is Mas Selamat now? It has been a month and they still can’t find him. Since we have paid them so much, I believe we have the right to demanded for some reasons from them right? So, blame on us this time?
Then how about,
Transport?
Babies?
Citizenship?
etc?
They are the elites and make lots of money so, it is not right to ask the public to pay more because we are paying top monies for top people and we expect top results. Is this too much to ask? So, who should we blame?
MM Lee must be thinking in his wee old brain that this game of passing the parcel is fun.
Indeed we are complacent. So sad, I am going to face the wall and think about my complacency and how it has led to the escape among all other things.
(Oh bother)
Then again yes indeed we might be complacent as Singaporeans and maybe he meant it in the general context, but at the wrong time, for the wrong interview (probably).
Remember folks, the government doesn’t deserve to be blamed for our complacency because Lee says so.
You all can talk till the cows come home!!!!!
We Singaporeans already know is that these Government, Civl Servants, Ministers and the like are a bunch of CLOWNS, IDIOTIC MORONS - PERIOD!!!!!
Pointing a finger at Singaporeans when three fingers pointing back at them. Where is their accountability and integrity - GONE DOWN THE DRAIN!!!!!!!!!!
I think our “leaders” have really lost the respect of the citizens. would you respect your boss who obviously made a mistake but dare not own up? would you respect your boss who gives himself a payrise because if not he can always “go somewhere else”. would you respect your boss who only show face when things are going well?
you’ve heard of fair weather friends. let me introduce you to fair weather leaders. now who’s the quitter i ask you?
Complacency starts from the top. To blame us or throw the responsibility to us citizens is totally uncalled for.
Another thing to note is why must MM Lee do the talking here? What is the point of having his useless and spineless son as PM for what? As a puppet for his father? At least MM Lee is not perceive as weak and dare to speak up or take prompt action, even if he is in a wrong and the actions are unpopular. His son is absolutely useless and only know how to siam all the negatives and take credit for all the positives. Is this the kind of PM we want for Singapore?
The more I look at Lee Hsien Loong the more I think he is not good enough to be PM at all. He seems like always in need of assurance, in need of well rehearsed stage with everything going his way then he can perform. He is someone who is born with a silver spoon so that is not a surprise at all. This is a person who does not show and give confidence at all.
The Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape is not just about complacency, it exposed the weakness of PM Lee that he is not a leader at all at times of crisis.
I only have two words for the likes of Lee Kuan Yew, his ilk and the local media for conveniently turning the tables and shifting the blame on us: Pathetic F***ers!
elfredinario,
Maybe i should thank MM Lee for his enlightenment that singaporeans and myself have been complacent all these years (regret wont happen again in GE2011). I should also thank you for your great insight that MM Lee did not mean the nonsense he said( we are the nonsense).
So what then is the crux of the issue? Or is it a non issue? If thats the case why bother to publish for us peasant to read and feel the disrespect shown to a citizen? Anyway either i am too good understanding the propagada from it or you are a brain wash pap sinkies. If my non-political friend can understand the shit being sprouded from the news that we citizens are to be blamed and why cant you? I read your blogs they are full of PAP shits…thats why your political understanding are just like them. People like u should not be here go join the P65 blogs and their smelly vomit messages.
Noise? It wont be noise come next election….it will be voice….a true citizen ’s VOICE! Anyway TOC is a good place for all of us to share and everyone is sharing and that is not noise …. if you hate it go somewhere else…like FM ’s blog.
better remember all the above grievances SINGAPOREAN. better still tattoo it on yr forehead & crave it into yr bones. be a propangada machine yourself and tell more singaporeans about all the unjust done by this garmen. vote them out next election. time for a change for my dear SINGAPORE.
The Old Geese is losing his marbles in protecting the bumbling idiot of the the shorty Wong Kan Seng. These overpaid fools
who would not trust Singaporean in the first place by placing his stooge ISD to guard Mas Selamat together with elite foreign Gukhas to ensure loyalty. Look at the good picture Sporean all their residence are guard by Gurkas. So all 66pct of you complacent Singaporeans do wake up for the next election and vote these overpaid jokers out so that they would blame complacent Singaporeans should they lose their seats
could it be that the Mas commision of inquiry is already finished and this is all the COI is willing to publish to the public? That it is the citizens fault? We all know the MM Lee has an uncanny connection to such reports.
Next question, in the bigger scheme of things, do you think MM Lee has done for damage to PAP, or mahathir has done more damage to BN? Close match isn’t it??
if COI concludes that Mas actually is innocent of such terrorist charges, due to lack of concrete evidence (like the Marxist Catholics) could the COI be allowed to issue such a statement? It has been stated that one of the members is a distinguished judge and I believe he will be impartial. Or would such a person finally go missing with the truth, like what has happended to Mas….I wish…
It is good. More than 30 days already, and the COI report should be out very soon! Is there a political wrangling over what should be published? Yesterday, there was a good article over a judge who excused himself from the case over Raffles Town club as he was an ex-member - so as to be seen to be impartial. Maybe Wong Kan Seng can see the side swipe by SPH on his commission, finally. It was deafening clear
Maybe after this Mas selamat thing, we can all look at how our govt is not helping citizens with inflation…. (it happened, what to do? - classic!)
if LKY makes an error, who can correct him? His son? or SM Goh, or is he untouchable? If he makes a statement like this blaming the citizens and protecting Wong Kan Sing, can we the citizens impeach him? or make him apologise? or resign? Or like Mao Tze Tung, we can only look at him with awe and/or disgust. Seriously, he has already said something to the effect that Suharto brought wealth to millions of citizens, what is wrong if he was slightly tainted…. so I guess he will always be right, including his GIC investment in Citibank shares.
Yes, I, a citizen of Singapore, am responsible for MSK’s escape from Whitley Road Detention Centre. I am responsible because I allowed PAP to win the previous election. Hence, to take responsibility for my mistake, I shall resign from Singapore at the earliest opportunity when another country accepts my application for citizenship. ( A bit difficult to be a stateless person….. hence the delay, my sincerest apologies)
With their current track record.
I am sure if they had some kinda of snap elections, the ruling party would suffer big time.
With things not going so well for them, things can only get worse before they get better.
CHANGE!
we can impeach old Lee thru ballot box.Let Tanjung Pagar falls to the opposition, like John howard.Don’t give him a good life.We like to see him retire with dignity, but he chose not to, we can throw him out like Penang ppl throw Koh Tso Khun out
rice. someone mentioned rice, and i think it’s a very good argument. considering our huge budget surplus, it would not be inconceivable for the gahmen to subsidise the cost of rice (it’s not like we can’t afford it); that will Really show us to be a “caring” first world society, where not only the leaders benefit (if we don’t have million(s) dollar paychecks, at least we get–rice at the same price).
i understand that sometimes it isn’t a good idea to fiddle too much with the free market, but–what are they thinking? do they think citizens will HOARDE rice, just because we aren’t paying inflated rates for it? huh.
gahmen PR is sadly lacking. a perfectly good chance to contain citizen unhappiness and they passed it up with their complacency.
J,
Fiddling with the free market to retain political dominance..
Hmm, where have I heard this before?
Oh yes. Look around us.
Complacency comes about when there’s no effective competition. This is a basic notion taught in Economics and Business 101.
When you have no one on your ass, and you have everyone covering your six, of course it’s natural to slow down and take things hunkydory and easy lah.
Translate that to a strategic outlook and you fear for the leadership of this nation..
Dear fellow Singaporeans,
Something is very wrong here.
We need TOC’s clarification why “You Speak” was taken down after appearing for a short time on this site. It was intended to be a regular Sunday feature. I visited this site yesterday morning (5/4/08) and was greeted with “You Speak” which highlighted some of the opinions posted this week. It was taken down when I revisited the site an hour or so later.
The following post happened to be the one at the very top. What happened to “You Speak” column, TOC?????
Next issue: COE
COE was started with a legitimate reason - to control the growth of vehicle population. However, it had an unintended (maybe intended) windfall for the govt.
Ridiculously, COE prices were chased up to the sky for some years and govt was flushed with big surpluses. Very profitable indeed, selling just paper.
The Asian financial crisis served as an awakening for Singaporeans. COE prices tapered down to under $30K on average. Many car owners downgraded, selling their cars which were exported. Govt had to refund big amount of money for the remaining unused life of COEs. Painful for govt as profits had to be refunded.
Out of the blue, the COE rebate system was changed. Rebate was amended a couple of times to make it unfeasible for export, naturally, to stop the outflow of profit.
ERP was hatched to make up for the big drop in profit. As expected, ERP was gradually extended to many other places besides CBD areas.
COE prices have been hovering below $20K for some time now. This is probably the price resistance level that people are prepared to pay. The number of COE will be reduced as well.
How to generate more profit? Extend ERP to whichever location that people complained of jams. Now, even housing estates will be covered as well.
As reported, there’ll be close to 80 ERP gantry points in operation come 7/4/08. ERP population will continue to grow to cover almost every part of S’pore. Reason? At any given time of the day, a well populated area will experience jams.
A simple calculation will reveal just how much revenue can be generated through ERP.
Ultra conservative example:
80 gantry x 10,000 vehicles x $1.00
=$800,000 per day x 24 working days
=$19,200,000 per mth x 12 mths
=$230,400,000 a year
Eventually, the minimum ERP charge will be $2.00 as reported. You can do your own calculations and you know this example is just a fraction of the real numbers.
ERP was not meant to reap profit for the govt?
Food for thought:
1. What’s the rationale for reducing COE rebates when COE is meant to control vehicle population?
2. To control vehicle population is either allow lower growth or no
growth. This will do away with the need to implement ERP nationwide.
3. To encourage greater use of public transport, why subject taxis to ERP charges? Didn’t the govt call on citizens to switch to public transport? Taxis serve as public transport in every sense. For every taxi registered, a private car is deprived of its priviledge.
Lately, Raymond Lim hinted that govt is considering cash rebate for unused portion of COE. Another artificially good move because the rebate system has been much reduced.
This is how and why our ministers are rewarded with multi-million salary + bonuses.
well,to make it simple just oust them in the next GE.
yes, i hear that billions of reserves are kept for times of national emergency. If the current inflation rate and price of rice is not an emergency, I really do not know what is? Even if a Tsunami or earthquake hits singapore, do we expect MM Lee to help singaporeans? (Forget about LHL, now we all know he is a puppet to MM Lee after this Mas selamat statements) They will probably ‘target their help’ to only the bottoms 5 percent of the population and heck care about the others. What is the aim of keeping the reserves? I think only to allow MMLee Ho Ching and gang to punt the market with citibank, UBS stocks. No, not for Singaporeans, cos it will ‘distort the economy and the free market” Sigh. And thost idiots keep telling ua not to buy or hoard rice - we know there is enough supplies, but was also know NTUC will raise the price - so we hoard not because there is insufficinet supply, but becasue NTUC will slowly but surely raise the price……our ministers are dumbo….
Hi Expected Analysis,
I’d like to apologise for the “disappearance” of You Speak. Please allow me to explain.
The new You Speak was intended for Sunday. However, Wordpress (which we are on) revamped its dashboard on Saturday. This new dashboard resulted in YouSpeak being published a day earlier. The new dashboard’s timestamp feature was cancelled (as far as we know) and YouSpeak was inadvertently published yesterday.
As YouSpeak was intended as a summary of comments posted on TOC, Sunday would be the best day to publish it - once we have picked the comments, from Friday to Saturday.
We took it down because of this reason.
However, it is still not up because we had to delete the posting as there was no timestamp feature to allow us to time the posting to appear on Sunday. And we could not manually do it as we’re all busy.
We will introduce it again next Sunday - once we have gotten a hang of the new dashboard.
*You also notice that some of the features on our left sidebar (such as “The relentless rising cost of living”) are also missing. We will rectify it as soon as we can.
Please accept my apology.
Regards,
Andrew Loh
Fever Guy,
Just becos you are not happy with PAP you shouldn’t direct your animosity at me.
I m pretty much neutral myself, and I am wondering should I remain as a member the coming renewal after this one… …
But the issue is pretty simple… If this is a demonstration, and you people have gone into a riot by getting into illogical outburst… Which is not wise, because this gives the party precise opportunity to clamp you down.
What MM said is not logically wrong, but if you infer that he is stating Mr Wong has no wrong by what he simply said, it’s like I say: USA is careless with China.
Then people infer that I hate USA, or people infer that I hate China… Or people can shoot that I am saying China wanna attack USA…
This is pretty bad… …
I am just saying, if you guys wanna make a point… Do so in more proper manner. And this article is… not solidly supported in my frank view.
MM just passed a general statement, if that becomes a big issues being so embellished and looking set to gain momentum… Shouldn’t we be more careful?
It’s not as if your spouse is lost or your kids are killed for such emotional-like outbreak. Being radical to this extent is not helping~!
And which part of my blog you have views on, you are welcomed to argue. It’s not as if I don’t allow you to~?
Do as you see fit then.
http://elfredinario.wordpress.com/
I read some comments with shame.
Comments should be made on the issue and not on a person.
The issue in question is: “Complacency sets in when a people have not suffered any shock or setback for a long time, as in Singapore without jihadist terror attacks, although we have ceaselessly talked about it and prepared out (sic) defence.”
I agree with the writer that prior to the shocking news, I didn’t know Kastari existed. I only remember vaguely reading about terrorist suspect being napped around Yishun MRT but…
What form of terrorisms strike in Singapore tomorrow? I cannot imagine but I hope and expect our relevant authorities are prepared. Many times I wonder if we are prepared for this in the event…
elfredinario,
Rest assure that ppl like me are not stupid to go riot just becoz of an old man(anyway GOD/Satan is calling him home soon). Clamp down? on what grounds? It is ppl like you that sprout fear and now spreading it here to the bloggers. My advise to you get your membership renewed so that u can continue the brainwashing process for more years. For a multi-million dollar minister to speak generally is like telling your son ice-cream is bad for u period. Do what a multi million dollar civil servant should do, provide more detailed information or just keep the mouth shut. For the many years in that club of yours what have you gained? To even question yourself the need to renew speaks volume of your association. Or have u being enlightened to this make believe dream? Stop kidding yourself and get to reality. Our country is treading on dangerous waters due to lack of counter checks and accountability. We all can still continue to dream in a make believe singapore or we should all wise up and share the truth (all is not well with the system/gov). Anyway such a talent like you should have been enlightened to the fact that this gahmen is not world class at all…mediocre at best.
Fever Guy,
There is no perfect party in this world. And even Mark Ma who seemingly wanna do something for Taiwan has KMT to handle. Premier Badawi tried to refrain from Mahathir tactics but still has to be weighed down by UMNO that Mahathir left for him.
PAP is no exception; I m too blunt… and too nice a person and may not be suitable to be an ikan bilis member of political party for now, perhaps. There is nothing wrong, and nothing to make a molehill out of.
I know you won’t listen to me. But you should understand that under ISA, there is virtually no need for any basis to detain you. Not that I am spreading fear, but from a political point of view, when a point has gone beyond a certain limits, it becomes disturbances. MM Lee is not Tommy Lee Jones… He’s a ‘national interest’.
On this basis, Dr Balaji can even shut TOC down.
Look…
Politics is not the way you guys see it to be.
What I am trying to say is pretty simple, alright. Refrain from being too radical. SDP pple, I can understand. But TOC has to maintain a balance.
The remark is on papers, I read it. Just general concept in a few statements. If we become a hurricane and being too offensive as a result, what do you expect the old man to react?
He’d fight back! He always does. Why need to fight when you can express your views and he gets the point and replies?
I am not a corrupt. What do you expect I’d get after so many years in PAP? You r asking a silly question. There is nothing I’d like to gain but to stay clear. So I’d appreciate if anyone in the party can help resettle us.
You see, Fever Guy… Your side won’t listen… fine. Their side won’t yield… fine. As such, it’s heading into a fight. If you wanna fight… fine. Fight when we are not around.
Are you not aware that if the gahmen really start clamping down… you’d likely get those innocent voices online implicated as well?
There is no respect for him, he’d have no respect for you… This is going nowhere…
http://elfredinario.wordpress.com/
Apparently I am not the only one who got the inference in what MM Lee said:
Very poor service by the Straits Times (Mr Wang)
Playing the conspiracy game (Insane Poly)
Elfred, mind taking your beef elsewhere?
Let’s stick to the topic at hand.
Danke.
A comment left on Mr Wang’s blog:
Anonymous said…
I think MM Lee and the government basically want to have their cake and eat it (at the expense of the citizens of course).
Reading between the lines, what MM Lee is saying is: Singaporeans have become complacent because through an “overly successful” government, they have built up unrealistic expectations of what the government can do.
So Singaporeans should not always expect the government to have a perfect record in everything - in this case, the escape of an ISD detainee who is an alleged terrorist.
From this, MM Lee then uses the specious argument the government can’t be FULLY acountable for this debacle because you the citizens had unreasonably high expectations of the government. This is your typical PAP thinking- heads I win, tails I also win.
I wouldn’t be the least surprised if the COI report came up with a knock-out line like this: It is only to be expected that in spite of our constant vigilance, there would eventually be a lapse in our security efforts against terrorism. We have learned from this episode and tightened our security protocols. Singaporeans should now CLOSE RANKS AND MOVE ON!
I think Singaporeans HAVE closed ranks. Apart from a few blindly pro-PAP jokers, I don’t know of anyone who isn’t in full agreement that this was a major boo boo by the government, and the government alone.
Hi Andrew,
Noted your explanation done on behalf of TOC. Simply hope that TOC is not manipulated by the PAP in any way.
Fellow Singaporeans,
We are too educated and smart to take to the streets over matters expressed here. In the crying lack of PAP govt’s
transparency and accountability, we as citizens have every right to question and demand for revelation. Failing to do so reflects our own foolishness and immaturity, as good as living in the dark.
It would be good that PAP’s members visit TOC regularly to get the real feedback of the citizens. It will be even better if they reply to our postings.
Coining lame excuses are only good for PAP diehard supporters, not for those who are inquisitive and well-informed.
To put the blame on complacency and negligence without any responsible action is simply holding MR COMPLACENCY AND MR NEGLIGENCE responsible for this fiasco.
This is the so-called standard of our self-proclaimed first world govt - RIDICULOUSLY HIGH PAY WITHOUT LIABILITIES.
F1 racer crashes into bollards. Dozens of spectators dead or injured. Organisers point finger: “Those in the audience were complacent”.
CelluloidReality,
So… You wanna lay siege on the old man…?
I am not pro-PAP~ I am neutral!
But if you people want a war, you might end up getting one.
Until the next topic then…
http://elfredinario.wordpress.com/
Another classic example of passing the buck on the sly - I wasn’t the one who started it. It’s you who is over-reacting to mere words I said, and laying siege. I didn’t want war, you did. So, don’t blame me for declaring war and clamping down on you.
It’s not my fault. It’s yours.
What’s new?
Go ahead ask Balaji to shutdown TOC, I will be very happy to exercise my rights come 2010 or 11.I wait only, pls be patient,wait only, ask the old man don’t talk so much, the more you talk, the more ppl get angry,follow GCT, talk less, every month, collect 3 over million,shake legs,MM or SM redundant post, which country in the world has this post??!!!!
When the Citizenry or the Government needs to have a war with each other, it only goes to show that there is a great failure in the management of the Country. And who should be responsible for the Failure? COMPLACENCY AGAIN? And who is complacent in this case?
The irony of the statment made none other than MM shows how manipulative and deceptive his speech could be,lets not forget people,MM is a lawyer,he has painstakingly crafted an eloquent & subtle speech to cover his own losses.That’s what the ruling coalition party does,don’t they?
Besides,lets look at something else,has any one of you noticed during the “Great Escape” or rather after the bloke was on the loose(there’s no evidence to indicate if he really did escape,only Home Affairs Ministry should know the entire truth & drama),our PM,SM & MM went MIA!What does that tell you?The silence,the tranquility is deafening!Maybe i should host a new programme : JMP - Justice Must Prevail!Cheers!
Elfred,
It’s not about party politics or individual witchunts without due cause.
It’s about a simple case of “if your men stuff up, you as the commander don’t gloss it over”.
Well, our dear MM said yes the guards are negligent, but it doesn’t help if he attempts to ascribe more blame outside of the AOR.
Don’t get yourself in a tizzy lah.
Cheers.
Gleechoo,
For me to accept 100% that ANYONE is a criminal or terrorist, I would need to see him go through fair trial first. Not some cut-short method like ISA.
[...] Then imagine, after more than a month of futile hunting, the government speaks. Not to finally apologise for the apparent huge blunder, but to blame its citizens for the mess-up. They tell the citizens to stop “breeding a dependency mentality” and we are “being complacent when they believe that the Government will take care of all security matters.“ [...]
Shoestring,
Stop making nosensical accusations at me. Alright?
You see, you guys are more worrying than tis… ‘boo boo’ gahmen, it seems.
Zzz…
CelluloidReality,
I think there is no more need for me to say much. After all, I have said enough.
Try not to *disturb* what should be left in peace…
http://elfredinario.wordpress.com/
dear Elfred,
You don seem to me like a neutral if you have, your heart should have pointed to the truth.
You said i am radical…haha…i am a law abiding citizen, pay my taxes and fines regualrly. Did i ever incite revolt, ask ppl to riot, strikes or boycott. Do i go publicly to ask people power? Please refrain yourself from branding ppl as radical…don save face for your ah kong.
FACT: The terrorist escaped. Why? How? Who’s reponsibilites? Why the topic in ST becomes People are complacent? You as claim to be a neutral failed to acknowledge the simple truth that is failure in the system at WDC. Should it be treated as a non-issue or something we all need to ponder upon? Are we not complacent by not asking more? and letting it hidden in some dark scret closet for eternity? You keep infering to other topics of non relevancy mentioned by ST. I am amazed at your lack of understanding. Do you think i am dumb that i do not know politics? That piece of news is to soft sell and tone down the public curiousity and displeasure. Making it sound like some children went missing from a child care centre and every parents are to be blamed?
You keep using ISA and Ah Kong to scare the shit out of my pants. Yup, I am fearful but life still goes on rite? Should i live in fear and be a zombie? Maybe you have a good life, scholar status, more than enough to spend and life generally good for you. Therefore live your own good life and stop making yourself so morally high up coz there are ppl who are not that fortunate as you. Would you care anyway, my dear elite?
to all real TOC fans may your heart tells you the truth and the truth will set you free,
This elfredinario character is obviously a $1.99 a month counter insurgency muppet - you mean, you all cannot see it?
You mean all of you here need road signs?
We have known abt these characters here for the last 4 months - FYI, we count at least 3 here.
Hey Elfred, let me give you a 101 on basic counter insurgency:
Rule 1: never be to quick to defend your masters, if possible even go with the crowd to gain their trust first dummy.
Rule 2: Once Rule 1 has been firmly established, then and only then do you start to advance your POV.
Instead u go around threatening ppl - you want a war? I tell you what, I will give you one for free. I am just in the right mood for it bc I just had a big argument with my gf.
You stop threatening ppl here!
Darkness 2008
Fever Guy, yup I’ve noticed that there are lots of people anyhow throwing around the word “radical” nowadays.
Dear Expected Analysis,
Thanks for being patient with us. And to be sure, no, TOC is not manipulated by the PAP in any way, shape, form, means, etc.
If it were, I’d be the first to leave.
The same goes if TOC were manipulated by any other political party too.
I think our writers have shown that they’re independent in what they write.
Now, back to the topic at hand. Look out for more ministers coming out to repeat what MM said, in order to shove the message down our throats. It’s the usual propaganda method.
Regards,
Andrew Loh
Dingo,
It’s glam.
All fun and fashionable.
It’s one of those discourses of hegemony and how words in their usual parlance are taken apart and used for contemporary through glitzy vehicles of transmission.
Too bad, like all things consumerist in nature, the effect when multiplied, is simultaneously diluted.
But then, hor. Some people don’t like a fair discussion leh.
How ah?
Well said Andrew!
Dingo,
I have seen the word radical used by pro-pap bloggers many times. It is common nowadays. All singaporeans are now radical once the views are different from main stream. Very scary feeling.
FG,
A blatant abuse of the english language shows the lack of cogent vocabulary amongst the user lah.
Quote
” theonlinecitizen Says:
April 6, 2008 at 5:23 pm
A comment left on Mr Wang’s blog:
Quote
“Anonymous said…
From this, MM Lee then uses the specious argument the government can’t be FULLY acountable
for this debacle because you the citizens had unreasonably high expectations of the
government.
Quote
” theonlinecitizen Says:
April 6, 2008 at 5:23 pm
A comment left on Mr Wang’s blog:
Anonymous said…
From this, MM Lee then uses the specious argument the government can’t be FULLY acountable
for this debacle because you the citizens had unreasonably high expectations of the
government.”
Then, what the F*** take so much salary for what? Is there any conflict between “unreasonably high expectations” and “”reasonably” high salary”? I still don’t understand.
Funny thing is, the state is the ultimate arbiter of security, and is obliged to use as much effort as possible to ensure this, as espoused by Morgenthau, whose ethos is very clear in the national politics of survival of Singapore.
We expect the state to secure us, because it is the state’s ambit.
This is not an unreasonable expectation. It is however, unreasonable when the State tells the citizens, “Hey, lay off our ass because we’re only human”.
Well, yes we are all human. But different individuals or groups carry different responsibilities. While a mistake has been made, and is irrevocable, it is disappointing when the authorities that make the mistake say that it is unreasonable to expect them to maintain security at all times under all circumstances.
As long as due diligence has been made, why fear the public eye?
Heck,
Ultimately, we all want MSK caught, we all want secure borders and for our reptutation to be salvaged.
Everyone wants this nation to be safe..so why the grief?
Even if DPM Wong Kan Seng isn’t too happy to ‘take the blame’ for letting a terrorist escape, he should not shift the blame on Singaporeans. Bad move. Creates disharmony in my opinion.
I fully agree with CelluloidReality,” It’s about a simple case of ‘if your men stuff up, you as the commander don’t gloss it over.’”
Andrew said, “Now, back to the topic at hand. Look out for more ministers coming out to repeat what MM said, in order to shove the message down our throats. It’s the usual propaganda method.” It’d be really damn sad if one of those to speak up is DPM Wong. I’ll have no qualms smashing my radio if I hear the news.
The grief is naturally there. Imagine, a lot of Singaporeans, both uniformed and non-uniformed, had put in precious time to help clean up the mess our DPM Wong and his ISA had created. And this is the kind of gratitude that we’re getting?! It may sound absurd, but why didn’t any of the Ministers or MPs join in the search? when it was pouring for the whole week in March, our army, police, gurkhas etc braved the harsh weather and spending less time with family. This is what they get in return?!
Hi Andrew,
Thanks again for getting citizens online!
‘Complacency sets in when a people have not suffered any shock or setback for a long time.’ said MM Lee Kuan Yew. As far as I know, the ruling party has been sitting pretty for so many arrogant years that complacency has finally creeps in. Looks to me like there are too many deadwoods within the papland.
For the benefit of Mister MM, though I hate to make his life meaningless*, I must let him know that with so much power and money, I’m afraid that he has become complacent in not keeping his subordinates on their toes, doing the jobs that they are paid ‘eat gold, drink liquid diamond’ millions to do. Maybe MM should understand that the art of living is to let go and let others (including his son and subordinates) do their jobs and get on with their lives without hoarding the limelight and playing Mr KnowsAll all the time!
Poor me, I have to hoard rice (long enough not to let the evil weavils creep in) as even NTUC Fairprice has unfairly started hike essential items!
And pleeeeze do not say, [“Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up.” 1988 National Day Rally, when he discussed the leadership transition to Goh Chok Tong in 1990.] again. Enough is enough!!! I sincerely hope that he’d give his son and others a chance to justify their obscene million $,$$$,$$$ salary.
*”Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.” - Lee Kuan Yew, 6.10.1997
feedmetothefish
Shoestring,
If PMO read your reply to me… they will probably laugh their Ss out… Why? You think I am living that wonderfully better than most Singaporeans???
Very unfair to me.
You still don’t understand what I’m driving at… Precisely becos I am neutral, I have to assess this from a macro down view. And one of it is… what kinda choice will such be by pushing MM relentlessly.
He is an elderly, he had already spoken a few times. In China, 给个台阶. He’s not your regular forumers who can be just shoot here shoot there, ban here ban there. If you guys push him too much, what do you expect him to do?
As a neutral, you make your point, you hit and go, you look at things on a broader sense.
Stop saying I am trying to scare you with Ah Gong or ISA. ISA exists, and is precisely used for ’special moments’. Now, MM spoke, PM spoke, DPM spoke. All three are involved…
Your ‘ah gong’ is not known for upholding free speech. Not that it’d happen, but why push it to such limits?
To you, it looks reasonable and fair… In reality, if everything is so left by left right by right, those lawyers could have just protest alongside with SDP…
What is neutral? Think again.
In politics, certain scenario is considered radical…
You know Mao’s 百花齐放?
Being neutral is like fishing, pull a bit, loose a bit, pull a bit then loose a bit, then you can pull again… and the rope won’t break easily.
People should recognise the situation.
http://elfredinario.wordpress.com/
Everyone here,
Take a look at Elfred ’s comments. Wow! Unbelievable spokeman for MM. He sells FEAR to all of us. I take note of your “advise” and you can continue being “NEUTRAL”. Here in TOC, as a blogger we write and discuss what is important issue to us. If you so afraid, please join the kindergarden blogs like the P65 or FM ’s blog. Take your baggage with you, it somehow is too heavy for us to bear. You know MAO’s many flop policies? When the day CCP falls people will curse and swear his name. As for me, its my business not yours. I used to repect MM alot but too many recent issues over the last few years have dimished his name. He has a lot of contribution to singapore nation building that i will remember eternity. Rest assured i will tone myself down so that you will not be back to sprout anymore fear. Keep TOC free of you such ppl is important, Fear mongers.
Elfred,
It am entitled to my opinion, just as you are entitled to yours. Whether you are neutral or not, let the readers be the judge. There’s no need to be agitated and over-react.
Elfred,
it’s mostly because of people like you that talented Singaporeans are leaving the country and not going back(as what PM Lee mentioned recently). I will hardly classify the views on this forum as “radical”. Anyway, you keep
mentioning if they “push it”, they will want “a war”.(whatever that means) I want to tell you that you already have your “war”. Many of us wish you good luck living in your tiny well. The most successful of us have moved on to greater, better things(and places) in life. Have fun withering in stagnation as the country’s soul collapses into a hollow shell. Have fun.
Dingo,
Good point. I used the word ’suspect’ and therefore no judgment made on my part (haha). If the grapevine reckons he is, then it better do its job efficiently and put him wherever he should be asap! But are there capable younger leaders on the job to mobilise?
One cannot change a system unless one is in authority. A department such as ISA exists internationally, so…
Complacency means contentment…are we, citizens, a contented lot? Have we been one? Or have we being pigeon-holed for so long that…
Disgusted,
Yes, you are successful. But no reason to be careless.
That’s why I think something is wrong here with the gahmen. It creates an environment grooming people to kick itself. Hahahahaha…
Look, people leaving or not has obviously no business in people like me.
You guys can go overseas if the gahmen have enough and start clamping down. Many of the netizens who may join you cannot. The issue is also that since you have not regards to the moderates, and if you think banishing anyone who is not with you is cool, what can I say?
Not that I see no issues with the gahmen. The gahmen will also have issues. Ever since Mas Selamat escaped, Mr Wong openly apologised, MM spoke, PM spoke, and the report is so said to be in the making, unfinished yet. The old man is just making a general statement. And it fuels hell.
Now this is a give n take. Assuming the gahmen does clamp down on your neutral views, what do you expect?
There is nothing wrong even when MM said the gahmen has no wrong in this. Think carefully. The report may not find the gahmen guilty. This is one basis. One Mr Wong cannot possibly go down to check on every single detainee and his/her loopholes to escape. That’s another. Mr Wong has already started to do as much as he could. That’s yet another.
This escape is, as explained by MM. Whether he is right or not, complacency that Mas Selamat is an escape artist and the guards relak is valid. On Singaporeans, he is just offering a national education.
You are a Singapore, a good citizen of the society; especially when you show such concern. So Elfred is homeless or jobless, will you care for other Singaporeans more than this Mas Selamat yourselves?
Come on. If you are really that kinda member of public, that’s one thing. But are you?
Now, why do people leave? Becos Mas Selamat escaped? Or becos this society has been most cold n they are seeking prospect out there?
So what DPM is mentioned by MM, that some have wanted?
I don’t think people like me makes people leave Singapore. What do you expect MM to react to this? To apologise? To sack DPM Wong? To award TOC and major forums?
Who is making things worse?
http://elfredinario.wordpress.com/
In spite of what you have said about your neutrality, you seem bent in defending MM & the pappies without much reason.
For whatever your motives, they should invite you for a tea party but please make sure you have 4As before you go along.
Sorry, the above is directed at Elfred.
As I see it, complacency if any, comes from the spinning of the
mass medias, as the mouth piece of the government, that always say
only the good things but failed to highlight the bad side of
things. This has lulled the people into believing that our govt is
super-duper and everything is fine - being 1st World and being led
by extraordinary people who are incorruptible (if paid $millions).
Another way of seeing it is that owing to too much power wielded
by the government, complacency sets in because it is able to make
use of this power to silence or render ineffective any “Maverick”
who attempts to single out mistakes made by any government agency
or civil servant. And being in the government for too long, they
begin to take it for granted that they will continue to rule this
country forever. This can be seen in the recent speech by PM Lee
stating that he would be the PM for the next 13 years or so. (He
is so cock-sure that he would live for another 13 years and that
he would continue to wield the power of a PM and that the PAP will
continue to rule) If this is not taking things for granted, and
therefore complacency, what is?
Thirdly, by paying ministers and top civil servants heftily at the
expense of the citizens could also have contributed the attitude
of arrogance and complacency in the top echelons that they began
to think that whatever they do is right and is for the good of the
people. This can be seen by their frequently demonstrated
tendency to discard feedbacks given to them with regards to major
decisions that affect the people, e.g. the casino issues, the gay
issues, and the CPF issues.
I think these three are the biggest culprits that have caused
the general attitude of complacency that MM Lee is talking about.
a bit of selective reporting by toc. in a balanced view, old man stupid to say that singaporeans as a whole are complacent. but he also said custodians are negligent in the paper version.
so complacency as a whole is a problem for all singapore and any country anywhere. but negligence by the custodians, here he carefully never specifically use the word “government”, is the real blame.
Quote From Elfred the “Neutral”
Not that I see no issues with the gahmen. The gahmen will also have issues. Ever since Mas Selamat escaped, Mr Wong openly apologised, MM spoke, PM spoke, and the report is so said to be in the making, unfinished yet. The old man is just making a general statement. And it fuels hell.
Now this is a give n take. Assuming the gahmen does clamp down on your neutral views, what do you expect?
There is nothing wrong even when MM said the gahmen has no wrong in this. Think carefully. The report may not find the gahmen guilty. This is one basis. One Mr Wong cannot possibly go down to check on every single detainee and his/her loopholes to escape. That’s another. Mr Wong has already started to do as much as he could. That’s yet another.
elfred,
What are you talking? Human language or bird language? WKS apologise? Are you sure his words are exactly that, did he say sorry due to the failing of the WDC? As for MM spoke and PM spoke so i must all kowtow and say is my fault rite? Give and take what? Gahmen give us what, holiday in WDC? We take what? A gift from WDC? Clamp who? This is a BLOG mind you, not a official media medium. Are we racist? or have said anything about it go take a look at SBF they are worst why not clamp them? That deserve all of us to be treated as radicals!!!!!!
Nothing wrong when MM says gahmen has no wrong. HAHAHA….you are an idiot my elfred. You are sure brainwash of the highest level i have encountered from a “neutral”. Whether the gahmen has wrong or the report says no wrong is not the government ’s call. It is the people ’s judgement. Something you will not learn by associating too much with YP/PAP they teach power in our hands never power to the people. Get it? Boy, you really piss alot of bloggers off. Now instead of discussing issues you flame all of us with your aggressive threats of ISA. Either you are in some MHA, GOV Sector or SAF, mind your own business! Please go take a break and bring your bags with you.
It’s kinda of similarity here where I am working now. We employees made mistake we are marked for poor performance and demerit points given. We are warned to be more competent and learn from mistake and say no more. Don’t blame the management and the culture here, just blame yourself. I think same here. Don’t put the blame on government but yourself.
As a Singaporean I feel quite ashamed that till now there is no news about Mas Selamat’s whereabout and I lost count of the days since he escaped from prison. I always think we have a bunch of sophisticated police able to find him quickly and put him back where he belongs. I think we should not be complacent and relook at our own police capability and the training given to them. Hmm.. quite doubtful isn’t it?
[...] Break, My Fault - Mr Wang Says So: Very Poor Service By The Straits Times - The Online Citizen: Mas Selamat’s escape – Government shifting the blame to Singaporeans’ “complacency” - i have succumbed to peer pressure: Re-reading Mr Lee vis-à-vis Pierre Macherey - Die neue Welle: [...]
THE People’s Action Party (PAP) is mounting a quiet counter-insurgency against its online critics. It has members going into Internet forums and blogs to rebut anti-establishment views and putting up postings anonymously… the initiative is driven by two sub-committees of the PAP’s ‘new media’ committee chaired by Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen… Aside from politicians, some 20 IT-savvy party activists are also involved… This can only work if activists are not ‘too obvious’ about it, Mr Baey said yesterday. Otherwise it comes across as ‘propaganda’. ‘The identity is not important. It is the message that is important,’ he added.
“PAP moves to counter criticism of party, Govt in cyberspace” by Li Xueying
The Straits Times, 3 Feb 2007
TOC and supporters, beware of this ‘war’.
I think it is good to be complacent. Complacency is part and
parcel of the Swiss Standard of Living, Gracious Living, More
Good Years, Stay Together and Move Ahead, and all other “Bulls”
that make this make-believe world of ours.
If we are not complacent, then we would be giving the government
a hard time. We would not have allowed them to take us for a ride
for so long. We would have challenged all the laws that have
violated our constitutional rights. Our leaders won’t be so
cock-sure that they will continue to be the PM for the next 13
years. Our Parliament won’t be having a 82 vs 2 MPs. Our Cabinet
won’t have such extra posts as SM and MM. Our minsters won’t be
so easily get away with demanding $million salary and bonuses in
order to prevent them from becoming corrupt.
Think about it. Complacency of the citizens is a very good thing
for the government if it wishes to continue to rule forever.
Three cheers for all Complacent Singaporeans!
From:
One Complacent Singaporean.
Elfred said:
“Now, why do people leave? Becos Mas Selamat escaped? Or becos this society has been most cold n they are seeking prospect out there?
So what DPM is mentioned by MM, that some have wanted?
I don’t think people like me makes people leave Singapore. What do you expect MM to react to this? To apologise? To sack DPM Wong? To award TOC and major forums?
Who is making things worse?”
People leave because their opinions are not respected. People leave because there are people like you around Elfred, people who love to toe the party line and fail to see the truth. People leave because Singapore is increasingly getting run by a bunch of incompetent, indecisive and inexperienced politicians + civil servants. The escape of Mas Selamat is just the tip of the iceberg. There are other issues that are equally disastrous, if not more. The UBS subprime debacle comes to mind. Who issued the order to invest in it? Why was it so sudden? Is it really a long term investment? Why throw away billions of dollars so carelessly and still claim that there is no money to help the poor? Where is the transparency in this whole issue? The money is taxpayer’s money and shouldn’t be treated lightly.
Back to the issue of the escaped person, I will like to ask for the CCTV footage to be shown. You mean to tell me that there isn’t CCTV footage of how he escaped? The footage for James Gomez during the elections was released rather quickly during the elections. And it wasn’t even in a prison! Where is the CCTV footage of the escaped prisoner? The public should have the right to see it.
So Elfred, I’ll like to say one more thing. Wong Kan Seng should be fired. You are going to say the usual,”But does this help the current situation? In these troubling times, we should band together and help out yada yada yada…” Let me just say that firing Wong Kan Seng is the right thing to do for the country. It might not help in the short term but as a long term thing, it is beneficial for everyone. We do not want incompetent people in charge of the security of the country. We can always hire someone else more capable of doing the job. Given his current performance, it shouldn’t be too difficult.
The govt had very early on pinned the blame on the Gurkha guards who were escorting Mas Selamat to the visitor centre. See http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=242464 for ST report. To add insult to injury, “Gurkha” was spelt as “gurkha”.
All this bollocking is making me damn thirsty.
It’s deplorable that a discussion has become thus.
Have some teh tarik to cool down yeah…
ALL HAIL THE GREAT OLD MAN!
I, a citizen of Singapore, hereby do apologise to our wonderful, extraordinary, unique, top-talented, overly successful government for being complacent.
I beg the great Men In White to forgive my transgression!
I, a worthless citizen, will forever submit myself to grovelling at the feet of our GREAT masters in humility and slavery.
I BEG our great MM to forgive me, spare me, and have mercy on my worthless soul. I hereby kow tow 3 times to the Great Lee!
When the next election comes around, maybe I will have a chance to be truly free and vote for an alternative. My vote goes to the opposition, no matter what the PAP does in the next 2 to 3 years.
I’ve had enough bullshit shoved down my throat the last 2 years after GE 2006.
Enough!
Disgusted,
I agree with you, bro. WKS should be fired. He has had almost 40 days to capture Mas Selamat. Yet, he doesn’t even know where he is! AFTER ALMOST 40 DAYS! All we keep hearing are:
1. “We believe he is still in Singapore.”
2. “Singaporeans are complacent.”
3. “The government is overly successful.”
F**king hell. Left they win, right they also win. And the bloody PM is a wimp. Where has he been????
Remember these faces. Come next election, I will vote them out if they are in my estate.
http://www.parliament.gov.sg/AboutUs/Org-M…Christopher.htm
http://www.parliament.gov.sg/AboutUs/Org-M…WongKanSeng.htm
http://www.parliament.gov.sg/AboutUs/Org-M…of-NgEngHen.htm
http://www.parliament.gov.sg/AboutUs/Org-M…Prof-Vivian.htm
one is anti human right
one is mas selamat in disguise
one is anti-mature workers
One is anti-poor
Let the rest in gov get their millions for the time being because the stupid opposition is not ready. bw2/twisted.gif
I, on behalf of citizen of singapore unreservedly apologised to pap gahmen for letting mas selamat to escape from the DC.I promise I will not be in complacency and I will uphold justice by voting pap gahmen in for the next 50 years,so that the ministers can enjoy million dollar salary,and we citizens can get rebate,singapore shares,ntuc vouchers,and pre election bonus.Cheers to pap,
Yes, be careful of entrapment. If you like it hot, go eat mee siam mai hum instead. If it’s too hot to handle, drink teh tarik with ice with kaki at kopi tiam
When I look at MM Lee pic,now he reminds me of how Mahathir is whacking PM Abdullah.
Nobody is whacking PM Lee but we are being blamed instead?
How ironic to live here in singapore?
Fever Guy,
When have I threatened you?
Disgusted,
If people leave just becos their opinions are not respected, I supposed you are telling me that 90% of the people’s opinions are respected, so they don’t leave.
Enough of this.
I am not toeing the party line. But politics is just this. You cannot expect that in every war, every battle, that you go and kill lieuts just becos his mission failed. I know you guys. No way can be reasoned with. And I am stucked between you people and the gahmen. Why?
There are many concerned Singaporeans, there are many views, and there are many agendas in this cyber clout of darkness. If Singaporean politics is about and only about popular politics… You guys will be justified, those NTUC netters will also be justified. We don’t even need any thinking. Who can gang up who wins.
And this is making Singapore a better place.
No. I deeply against dismissing Wong Kan Seng for this. And even if I am the lone voice here, that’s it. I am against dismissing him. And don’t even think he, or the MM, or this party will even thank me. Especially in this sort of situation, all the more we cannot remove a DPM. I have explained very clearly why.
Why ain’t I neutral? Must I be like you guys, then I can be a neutral? Must I shout ’shut up, MM’, then I can gain your delight, as I should be the ‘gigolo’ in NTUC forum just to earn the delight of you people, then I can Neutral.
I don’t think so.
If I have to do this just to get popular, it’s pathetic.
I m one of those, suffering in Singapore, aspiring to reach my potential, stucked in this place where lices are infesting the society. I long for good people to lead as well. I long for great governance to address the growing evils as a result of the blind pursue of money.
Look at you guys…
To me, you are like behaving as Dr Chee. We have a cost issue, you think following Dr Chee to the streets will make the gahmen do something? You think fighting with MM Lee, he’d consider doing something? You think dismissing Mr Wong by this… ganging up, mocking, and such will be the good of Singapore? Politically speaking, do you expect MM to give in, and signal of his weakness… …?
I suffer in Singapore, with great injustice encountered as well. And PMO should have all the records. But if we are going to change anything for the better, we have to look broadbased, and we have to be quality. Yes yes yes… I am not successful as many of you. So?
All my hopes of a better future in Singpoare are dashed…
You are using the internet to stage a battle, a fight… and the gahmen will not just roll over and die. People are pissed. So would p