Editorial
To whom much has been given, much is expected.
TOC has deliberately held back from calling for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng’s resignation as the full Commission of Inquiry (COI) was pending. We agree with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that Ministers should not be automatically accountable for mistakes made down the line.
However, viewing the totality of events surrounding the Mas Selamat debacle, we believe it is unfortunate that not once in this whole saga did Wong offer his resignation, or Lee seriously consider the possibility of it.
Even more unfortunate is the manner in which the possibility of a resignation, if any, was discussed: behind closed doors, away from the glare of the public, with absolutely no attention paid to assuage concerns on the ground.
Given the advanced state of the public relations disaster the government has dug itself into, TOC believes the government’s missteps in this saga will haunt it until the next election, and rightly so.
However, the fallout from this episode has implications far beyond the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) electoral concerns. The fallout will be felt by each and every Singaporean who will have to live with a government it no longer trusts.
Citizen’s sacrifices must be met with accountability
Lee was supposed to have spoken in Parliament on governmental responsibility for Mas Selamat’s escape. This was an ironic misnomer of what his speech was in reality: the government’s disclaimer of responsibility for the Mas Selamat debacle, and the preemptive insulation of the highest levels of authority from disciplinary action.
After more than 50 days of waiting for a full accounting of the Mas Selamat debacle, many expecting an accounting to the nation were sorely disappointed. The message from Lee and Wong’s speeches to Parliament was clear: we sort our problems out behind closed doors, and when everything has been discussed internally, let the public know what our results are. The public’s involvement in the accountability process is to be limited to being a spectator.
The government has called on the country as a whole to participate in the effort to find Mas Selamat. Neighbourhood watches have been formed to find him, National Servicemen of all units and ages have been activated in the search. Our whole country, as our top leadership has pointed out, is invested in this incident. TOC gives this effort our fullest backing.
However, the corresponding level of accountability to us, the public, has been shambolic.
The government’s responsibility to account extends also to the debacle following the breakout: the slipshod way in which information was held back from the public and released in dribs and drabs, and the high handed and patronizing way it has responded to requests for more information.
To now frame the question as whether or not Wong should resign for Mas Selamat’s escape out the toilet window is a deliberately unhelpful narrowing of the issue. To frame the issue this simplistically borders on the insulting. To see the current error as merely that of a terrorist running out of a toilet would be myopic to the point of willful ignorance.
A broader measure of incompetence
The country only found out four days after he escaped that he had a limp, six days later we found out what he was wearing on the day he escaped, seven days later the country was told that he had a mole. A few days after the news of him having a limp was released, the government qualified this by saying that the limp was only visible when he was walking quickly or running.
To top off the patchy flow of information, many TOC spoke to felt condescended down to by the accusations of our complacency by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, and disappointed at the lack of leadership Lee Hsien Loong displayed, breaking his silence on the matter only after his father spoke, 11 days after the escape.
Wong singled out blogs ‘expressing anger and in some cases, abuse’. TOC does not think the anger and disappointment we feel at the government’s high handed and tardy communication is limited to the blogosphere. If he thinks the fallout of this debacle is limited to the internet, he is more firmly cosseted in his ivory tower than we thought possible.
Over the past months, journalists TOC have spoken to in private have expressed their frustration at the government releasing information in a trickle. Even PAP Members of Parliament (MPs) were galvanized to ask the government sharp and uncomfortable questions. MP Inderjit Singh came close to hinting that a resignation from the highest levels of Cabinet could be warranted, highlighting the level of accountability expected from a corporate CEO.
Magnify this sentiment several times, and that comes close to explaining the frustration people on the ground feel.
Lee Hsien Loong cited incompetence as one of the criteria for asking a Minister to resign. If the flow of information in the days after Mas Selamat’s escape was not incompetent, then our government has a very high threshold for incompetence.
Conflicts of interest, preemptive exoneration, and a gross lack of accountability
One of the hallowed maxims of justice is that ‘justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done’. An extension of this maxim is the principle that ‘no one should be a judge in his own cause’.
As a government that prides itself on the rule of law, the amount of conflicts of interests in this episode is staggering.
Clarissa Oon, a writer with the usually uncritical Straits Times was moved to note that there is going to be ‘lingering doubt’ over the ‘independence of the three-member COI’. She even went so far as to say that it ‘must seem odd and potentially dangerous to some observers…that the Home Affairs Minister personally appointed a committee to investigate a breach in his own ministry’.
TOC has previously pointed out glaring conflict of interest of having Wong Kan Seng’s subordinate, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Dr Choong May Ling on the Committee of inquiry. She is a senior Administrative Officer with the Ministry of Home Affairs and oversees security policy. Wong has essentially appointed the judge overseeing his cause, and what more, one that is subordinate to him.
Of greater concern to TOC is the prejudging of government’s much touted disciplinary processes, which they claim will commence shortly. This was their response to the question by opposition member Chiam See Tong, who asked if heads will roll. This disciplinary process has been circumvented by Wong Kan Seng’s exoneration of Director Internal Security Department (ISD), and by PM’s exoneration of Wong Kan Seng.
The reasons given for their discharge from liability are shocking. Wong Kan Seng said of the Director:
“Director ISD met me and told me that he accepted responsibility for what has happened and apologized. Having known him for many years, I told him that I have full confidence in him and he must carry on.”
There was no public accounting for the responsibility Director ISD bore in the Mas Selamat debacle. Instead, he has been exonerated through private conversation.
In light of this, how is the public supposed to retain confidence in the upcoming disciplinary proceedings? The top brass have already been let off before proceedings have begun.
Wong Kan Seng’s exoneration of Director ISD after a private talk with him makes a mockery of accountability. Compound this with PM’s exoneration of Wong Kan Seng after discussing the matter with him in private and that mockery becomes a travesty of justice.
How must it look to members of the public when you ask the accused whether he is indeed guilty, and then you adopt his word as your judgment?
The national disgrace of Mas Selamat’s escape has been compounded by the PAP’s tendency towards the original sin of politics: conducting business behind closed doors, away from the critical glare of the public they are meant to represent.
The country’s loss
“Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job” President George W Bush infamously said to Michael Brown, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after that agency’s incompetent response to hurricane Katrina. George Bush is now suffering one of the lowest approval ratings of any President in US history.
While not nearly as willfully blind as George Bush, Lee Hsien Loong’s government seems to be giving him a run for their money.
Mas Selamat’s escape did not ‘automatically’ qualify Wong for resignation. However, the subsequent incompetent, opaque, and arrogant way the government dealt with the public has made the name Mas Selamat a symbol for much more than the ludicrous initial oversight. The anger the public feels on hearing that name is now directed in part at the government’s attitude to this crisis.
Previous controversies like Temasek’s investments in Shincorp and the Suzhou Industrial Park collapse made spicy talking points in coffee shops. Criticism of the government’s accounting to Singaporeans (or lack thereof) in those cases was limited to a pool of people who were largely already negatively inclined towards the government in the first place.
However, the whole country is currently invested in the search for Mas Selamat. The government’s lack of transparency is thus going to be felt as an affront by every single Singaporean.
We believe that a fundamental overhaul of how the government accounts to its citizens is necessary. It is going to be a tall order to put these processes in place. This is a road the government cannot embark upon unless its sincerity is taken seriously by Singaporeans.
To be fair to the government, it needs to get on with the job of governing, and that is going to be hard to do with public anger at this episode at boiling point. Members of the public now indelibly associate Wong with this sorry episode in the nation’s history.
Lee has no one to blame except himself. Wong misjudged the extent of public anger by not offering his resignation early on in this episode, and Lee compounded his mistake by standing doggedly by his side. The government is now stuck with an electoral millstone around its neck with a name carved into it: Wong Kan Seng. It is going to have a hard time implementing any concrete accountability measures without them being viewed with cynicism.
At the end of the day, Wong and Lee’s recalcitrance is bad for the PAP, but worse for the country.
———————-
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
If you like this article, please consider a small donation to help theonlinecitizen.com stay alive. Please note that we can only accept donations from Singaporeans. Thank you for your assistance.Do you have a flair for writing? Volunteer with us. Email us your full name and contact details to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com
why does everyone talk about complacency when its plainly obvious that the physical fencing and the way the CCTV upgrade was done is really an issue of lack of COMPETENCY ?
no chance to vote during election??? walk over election??? blame yrself for allowing them to setup the rules & regulation here. if i garmen, i love you cos you people are like sheep, easy to manipulate & good punching bag. like rubber band, easy to pull. no resistance. so i study hard then can also be a bully like them.
Just imagined if Singapore is to have a reginoal WAR, and many thousands singaporeans died, our island under heavy bombing and our SAF is losing ground……do you think our ministers will be standing by with us in such times?
I think they will flee first hand with their whole family leaving poor sinkies to die running away with their wealth.
They have shown to us how “good” is their responsibilities and accountabilities by ruining their own reputation over a case such as MSK.
PM should have call for WKS to resign and that would have save the face of the gahment. He didn’t coz he is afraid. How to be a great leader if he is afraid.
With such a poor leadership shown, how do you expect NS men to defend the nation when threats arises, poor pay versus millions for the minister, do you think our SAF regulars will fight with their life when knowing their own ministers are gutless when comes to responsibilities? They are also clueless.
So what we have advanced weaponary, but such an uninspiring leadership is itself derimental to our defence force.
I have no confidence in our gahment in leading the people during tough times because when good times they have F*** up badly.
As for the press, all its sugary words of the gahment are doing more harm than good. All the editors are like drug addicts they fed on Pappy propaganda, the more the merrier. May God save their Soul.
Fever Guy,
in fact, given the money-face and pragmaticism of our gahmen, I have no doubt they will run away in times of war or escape responsibilities and forge ignorance like they did in Selamat’s case. After all, if one is dead, how to spend money and get profit ? (Business-man do not trade their life, they trade their money)
Then you have them justify their action
“We did not escape. Rather we settle ourselves along with the wealth and loot to a safe country so that we can do more planning and coordination. Because as long as we (PAP) survive, Singapore has hope and can be rebuilt”.
Mark my words, given their past history of remarks, they will unhesitantly and blatantly give similar ‘selfish’ and ‘thick-skin’ comment to justify their ‘escape’ in times of war. Of course, we have the famous Golden Silence period of LHL when war start. There is no leadership to speak of because they will say they are politician not military. (Of course, they can say what they want. Business-man, government, politician,angel, devil or god)
So many decades already, shouldn’t we know better ?
And given that these coffers have so much money, they will probably invest their nest in other country by buying properties.
Remember, they just pass down a law to prevent investigation of ministers and official. Didn’t that tell us something ?
Trust in our leadership? Ha ha. I lost faith in them the day they voted to increase their own salaries and justified it with the silliest of reasons. That’s what they’re all about isn’t it? I do give them credit for inventing legalised corruption though. Suharto may have stolen billions from the people of Indonesia but our leaders have done it right in our face. They’ve gotten away with so many things in the past, why should they be accountable to us now? Just because some cripple managed to climb out of toilet window? We’re really living in fantasy if we expect Wong Kan Seng to even offer to take responsiblity let alone offer to resign.
Stand up for Singapore, do the best you can
Reach out for your fellow man
You’ve got to make a stand
Recognise you can play your part
Let it come right from your heart
Be prepared to give a little more
Stand up, stand up for Singapore !!
Daniel, you said “Remember, they just pass down a law to prevent investigation of ministers and official”. When was this passed? I must have missed it. Any online reference or discussion on this law?
Thanks.
Committee of Citizen Statement On The Committee of Sensible Inquiry
On The Ministerial Statement Made In Parliament On The Committee Of Inquiry Findings On The Escape Of Mas Selamat
Dear President, MM, SM, PM, PAP ministers, MPs, NMPs, Fellow Singaporeans,
The Committee of Sensible Inquiry (CSI) was convened to vet the report submitted to DPM, Wong Kan Seng. This is necessary as the citizens feel that the DPM’s choice of the COI members constitutes potential conflict of interest between the DPM, the government and the citizens. As such, transparency, accountability and liability will be subject to less than independent scrutiny.
After having exercised due diligence over the COI’s report, the following points of contentions and unexplained circumstances are herein, put forward for public awareness and discussion.
1. Reference: Statement Points 13 & 14
Mas Selamat was escorted to locker room to change into civilian clothes. He stood behind a column of lockers to change.
CSI’s query:
WRDC is a detention centre with well-established prison protocol. Therefore, detainees there won’t get any privilege of privacy. Given common sense, a detainee’s clothes are subject to checks, for those stripped and for those put on, unless there is no visible clothing on him/her.
2. Reference: Statement Point 16
The guard waited for a few minutes outside the urinal cubicle door with the sound of the tap water running and Mas’ trousers slung over the top of the cubicle door.
CSI’s query:
a. The urinal cubicle is not equipped with toilet bowl nor shower. We find it inconceivable that the guard would wait for a few minutes, knowing very well that the most Mas can do inside was passing urine, which at most would take less than a minute.
b. It is human knowledge that men do not remove their trousers to pass urine under normal circumstances. The guard, being a man, is fully aware of this anomaly if indeed, Mas did remove his trousers. The guard would had sense this foul play and done the necessary, unless he was aware that Mas was engaged in some self-service acts.
c. The cubicle door does not extend to the ceiling and the sound of the running tap water was not possible to mask the purported escape as the guard was in such close proximity. The handle-less window, although without grilles, would not facilitate an easy escape without creating noises. The sound of the running tap water cannot possibly be as loud as a torrential rain unless designed and equipped to be so.
d. The woman ISD officer outside when alerted, had to summon an Assistant Case Officer to check on Mas. This is totally unbelievable when the gurkha guard was right outside the cubicle door to do it immediately.
e. CSI is of the opinion that the guards and the ISD officers are such professionally trained security personnel to be able to commit such incoherent errors.
f. The uninstalled window grille is not crucial to the escape as the meticulous planning and design of the overall security measures make it impossible to escape from the detention centre.
3. Reference: Statement Point 19
The COI finds no conclusive evidence of the escape route Mas took after climbing out of the toilet window. It surmises that Mas could have climbed onto the roof of an enclosed staircase and walkway at the section where the perimeter fencing converges with this enclosed staircase and walkway. Mas could have jumped over the perimeter fence. COI observed that the baju kurong which Mas was wearing, was found in the forested area outside the perimeter fence.
CSI’s query:
a. The fact that no conclusive evidence of the escape route can be established may also point to the fact that the escape did not occur at all.
b. Where the enclosed staircase and walkway converge with the perimeter fencing, this so-called weakness would had been factored with the appropriate security measures in the planning stage.
c. No evidence was presented on the distance between the closest jump-off point and the perimeter fence. Whether it is possible to simply jump over the fence is a critical factor that must be established to support this theory.
d. The baju kurong which Mas was reported wearing and which was found outside could had been placed there prior to the search if the escape did not occur in the first place.
4. Reference: Statement Point 25
In my view, the security weakness of this window is the single most crucial factor which enabled Mas to escape. The omission to fully secure this ventilation window in the Family Visitation Block toilet used by detainees was a glaring weakness which should have been rectified, and not dealt with in an ad hoc manner by sawing off the window handle.
CSI’s query:
CSI emphasized that the uninstalled window grille is not crucial to the escape as the meticulous planning and design of the overall security measures make it impossible to escape from the detention centre. That the supposedly highly qualified superintendent of WRDC did not see it necessary to grille the window supports our notion. Therefore, this cannot be a source to channel the blame.
5. Reference: Statement Point 32
The CCTV coverage of the area was in the midst of being upgraded. At the time of the escape, there were two CCTV cameras mounted at the location where Mas climbed out of the Family Visitation Block. However, these cameras were not commissioned yet. The system is still in its testing and validation stage. As such, there was no recording or active monitoring of these cameras.
CSI’s query:
Given that WRDC is such an important detention centre housing terrorists, it is simply beyond logic to have non-active monitoring nor recording cameras even in this case where upgrading is on-going.
There was no mention of the other cameras in the vicinity. Is the DPM suggesting that all cameras were not functioning nor recording at that time, in the midst of the upgrading? Not commissioned does not necessarily mean that they are not working.
Since no escape point could be confirmed in the first place, this is subject to further clarification. It is also possible that no evidence of escape could be presented from the recordings, which explained for the non-commissioned cameras.
The Post Incident Response
CSI strongly chastises the DPM and his subordinates for the rather mediocre and comical info provided to the public over the days after the escape. This is unbecoming of a ministry handling national security. Descriptions on Mas were simply confusing. This can only be excusable if Mas was new to the detention centre.
CSI is of the opinion that to escape from the centre is near impossible if unaided. Not unless all the security measures failed at the same time and the centre is unmanned. The only other explanation for this episode is that no escape took place.
CSI unreservedly thank all those activated and involved in the manhunt including the innumerous sufferings and inconveniences endured in this episode. The government is expected to compensate all as a token of appreciation.
Other highly suspect and contentious misdemeanor identified by CSI
1. The appointment and composition of the COI is highly questionable with conflict of interest and collusion a distinct possibility. Of equal glaring concern is that the DPM chose to stick to his choice when this anomaly was highlighted. However, the greatest concern is that the PM did not object to this when it is so obvious that accountability and integrity are at stake in this matter involving the DPM, which will ultimately reflect on the government.
2. That the COI’s findings was accepted wholesale by the DPM and in turn, by the PM, is shocking and beyond comprehension. With so many points of contentions, the citizens are hard pressed to demand for transparency. A separate COI comprising neutral parties is the only solution for a credible report, more so, in this case involving the integrity and accountability of the highest office in Singapore.
3. It is puzzling and highly controversial that the DPM chose to exonerate the director of ISD prior to the release of the COI report. There is no doubt of questionable integrity at a time when the DPM himself is subject to accountability and liability pending the COI report.
Compounding the question of integrity is the fact that the PM saw it fit and proper to endorse his continued confidence for the DPM despite all these disturbing facts of controversial proceedings. As such, the PM’s integrity is now also under the spotlight and subject to scrutiny.
4. Despite the systemic failures of the current incident along with many previous failings, the DPM was not censured nor penalized or demoted. Incoherently, the PM has embarked on a crusade of exonerating ministers from being accountable for the mistakes of their subordinates despite declaring that ministers are ultimately responsible for their ministries.
5. Both the PM and the DPM have been exemplary in dodging issues raised by channeling accountability and blame to the guards and the superintendent of WRDC only. Of paramount concern is that this seemingly promiscuous delegation of responsibility has been well-received in parliament with no objection nor abstention of support.
6. The citizens are highly concerned and disoriented that their $10,000+ per day PM is uttering less than creditable arguments. With 2 casinos in mind, he exhibits pre-occupation with gambling matters in using the throwing of dice to decide on possibly difficult decisions, where a 1 means a straightforward decision while a 6 denotes 6 variable choices of decisions. Very confounding and challenging to try not to get a 6 indeed.
7. CSI reminds the government that this matter is not properly settled yet. Any call to move on from here will only add fuel to the fire, which in due course, will be difficult to put out. It is in the interest of Singapore that a further thorough investigation be expedited to restore integrity and accountability.
Logicalman,
take a look, it create some commotion in blogosphere but then this is moved on by the gahmen as usual.
It is reported in ShittyTime too,
here are some of the site.
http://www.sgreview.org/index.php?q=node/35
http://www.wp.sg/wordpress/?p=22
There is a youtube version of sylvia lim making an attempt of repelling the ‘ridiculous’ law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeVMcpc1eow
What is basically mean is that one need to seek approval from the government to investigate political figures, minister, president etc…
Everyone know that by the time when investigation is approved, the person under investigation will have been alerted, with evident destroyed, and thing cover-up, and in return retaliation or lawsuit against defamation may have occurred on person pressing the charge and investigation instead.
Remember how Dulai wanna sue SPH reporter in NKF saga ?
The government might have think we Citizen are stupid …
Correction …. Durai not Dulai
May I put in a question here to everyone reading this blog.
If the Leadership chooses not to be answerable, responsible and accountable to flaws as suspected in Mas Selamat Escape, Investments in Foreign Banks, Lousy Policies and Poor Performances in running Singapore. What measure(s) can we, the lay citizens, do?
Or what can we do?
Ranting, cursing, swearing and suicides have not the slightest effects on unconscientious, unfeeling people with doubtful integrities. In the end it is the active citizens themselves that get hurt, demoralize and disappointed. Does the citizenry got no alternatives but to throw in the towel and remain in suffering?
Patriot,
The ballot box is the only way left.
CR,
you are right about balloting even though there is a high chance that the coffers will ‘revamp’ the system to their advantage.
1) Increase GRC to more members to migitate contest.
2) Eliminate one person contest
3) Allow the Singapore resident like PR, foreigner to vote (Remember they no longer talk about citizen anymore, and majority of those SR belong to country that probably worse off than Singapore, which make them likely to vote for establishment)
4) Make use of public fund to buy supporter’s vote
5) Using mainstream media to fix opposition party and do self-promoting the ruling party.
6) Widen GRC’s coverage of area.
7) Use vocal threat and send some scapegoat to jail as warning.
8) Discredit members of opposition party while self-promoting themselves as pure saviour angel (Remember no one able to privately investigate political figure). Double standard of establishment is that the law only apply to Pappy not to others.
Those are meant to deprive citizen the right to vote freely with truth and informed choice.
The only way to counter the coffer is to rethink the way of using ‘free’ technology to reach out the mass. Web 2.0 is there to bring the voice of citizen back, and it is up to us to utilize it. Malaysian had done the impossible, Singaporean been as technically savvy should have done better after learning from the predecessor.
‘Cheap, free technology’ at our disposal. Question is how to adapt these in Singapore to advantage.
Daniel,
I see a few things on your list as being untenable to be used in the next GE. Call it a hunch, but I would strike off #2 and #7 as highly unlikely and too costly.
As for #3, this is a wildcard because immigrants have not always in history, been seen to vote for the incumbent, especially those who hail from nations who actually have a liberal electoral process, e.g India.
#5 will go on as usual.
I’m not sure about #1.
In any case, perceptions change overnight, and if the ruling party decides to wake up and realises that changing their ways/doctrines/platform is the only way to ensure their relevance and survival, they might do it.
This party was founded on the premise of survival, and that they are the heirs to that tradition of battle.
Cheers.
CR,
I have to disagree. The PAP is getting bolder each day (If I remember, 16 ERP gantries to be fully implemented at end of this year. Some even close in residential area. No reason is given other than those lame unacceptable one etc). World-first ERP-like system built into car on trial in 2010, and what is the citizen going to do about it ?
If Selamat case is precedent, there is nothing the coffers won’t do especially one that threaten their very existence. It obvious that they have to protect their regime at all cost least their evidence of past shit and deed are digged out one by one. We know what happen to President Chen once Ma in power, don’t we ?
We should not underestimate the coffers. As far, even if coffers implement policy, they know very well there will not be major protest aside from their few backlisted ‘troublemaker’. Moreover, they know too well Singaporean will swallow the most bitter medicine as history indicated. Singaporeans are obedient lot, and that what coffers have made them to be since the day they are born. The ultimate machinery ‘manufacture’ Human being without dream but with only hope to enjoy everything they have now, and living each day as it come.
My instinct tell me that Selamat’s escape is story concocted by the establishment. They become storyteller and eventually will be good at it. They corrupted the morality of the talented they hired to create the make-believe world, brainwashing the nation that money culture is the way of life in Singapore. I believe that ultimately, citizens are only as good as the leaders that govern the country. If the leader is greedy, the majority of citizen will act likewise because the leader promote that culture, and that culture become the mean to survive in the harsh environment.
Yes, there is great price to pay if they do what I list but remember the home populace may not matter once the nation proliferated with foreigner. Citizen and their voice are irrelevant because we are just digit like the foreigner. Moreover, with increasing liabilities and own survival to take care of, they know very well we be more busy struggling with life than resist their nonsense and rubbish. Remember, what matter to the establishment is economy sustainability and growth and they will pursue them tenaciously at any cost especially once that benefit the coffers greatly. We see that today, and we seeing that even more tomorrow as international competition intensifies.
Didn’t we experience that before ? If LKY, the once no-nonsense old folk, can tell you army will come to remove the opposition party if they elected as government, tell me what they cannot do ? He might appear mellow now, but one should never underestimate or judge a cunning deceptive fox by his silence. And his ISD will here to stay whether we like it or not.
I have painted the worse case only because still at this stage, the government is unrepentance and still indulge in their own self-righteousness, selfishness and benefit, and their forever infallible images. Responsibility, accountability and transparency seem a arcane concept to them.
For decades, we have believe in too much IF, only to be disappointed. Optimism will not bring us far (Remember more good years ? But whose good year is that ?) because we will be waiting for others to do the work. Will there be hope ? Yes, as long as the PM , MM relinquished their power and let more humane leader take charge, someone of late President Ong’s calibre.
“As for #3, this is a wildcard because immigrants have not always in history, been seen to vote for the incumbent, especially those who hail from nations who actually have a liberal electoral process, e.g India.”
Yes, not unless the establishment give those foreigner better benefits to buy their vote. How about good working condition and regulation, increase their pay, better life, and ensure that future India will be well-treated in exchange for a pact ? If the foreigner going to make the majority, I do not see why the government will not allow them to vote eventually after all any reason given is as good as final decision. Will there be influential spokesperson for those foreigner worker (India) that bought by Government to vouch for the establishment if time arise ? Ruling party have done it for Singapore union, can they too do it for foreigner? I say why not ? Business as usual for them. Gov love to give us surprise and caught us without pant once a while. This will surely make a good surprise.
Daniel,
Well, to each his own.
I don’t think they are up to it, skill-wise.
:)
CR, yes , to each his own…
cheer.
No performance bonus for Wong Kan Seng this year?
For WKS who doesn’t want to resign and as much as the PM wants to keep him at his side despite incurring the citizen’s wrath; the next best possible solution is for WKS to break up his TPY-Bishan GRC and contest under his SMC and let the people decide his fate.
The last thing that will come to PAP’s mind is to have him drag the entire GRC down.
Unless we have a Tanjong Pagar-TPY 11 man GRC coming up in the next election…
The ERP in Toa Payoh maybe removed sooner than people think. Earn some points with his own constituency and built more facilities. Toa Payoh now is a hot favourite estate. I dun think the sinkies there will do anything to hurt their expensive investment in their HDB flats to have a opposition coming in. Things must be really bad for WKS to retire sooner. TPY i think no chance of losing in GE2011.
China sacked local head of communist party for the train accident – even though he has no direct relation with the operation of the train service.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/344542/1/.html
This is accountability to the fullest.
Be it in China, Japan, US and in many other countries, the leader(s) incharge will automatically resign, hold him/herself responsible or be made responsible by their higher authority, for any bad mistake, honest and otherwise.
The above is almost an international practice and there are very little exceptions. In fact, that is an honourable thing to do to remain honourable and be respected.
patriot.
If WKS accepted ISD director’s move of accepting his responsibility and tendering his resignation, then WKS would also be forced to do the same, so it is better to keep him as a companion. At least, you have someone to share the blame and criticism at these crucial time. Nice move really! I think I would have done the same if I were him and if I could think of it. These people are really strategists. Too bad that they only used it for their own gains.
Imagine what shit you will get if you are not in power.
We are a meritocratic society. No where is “honour” mentioned, not even in our national pledge. That should explain ;)
The many incidents that spotlight the Home Team are quite embarassing to WKS. Quite clearly, our borders are quite porous and they could be due to some attitude on the ground other than purely SOP-type of systemic issue (that needs constant review).
We can always dig out past cases of suspected criminals escaping right under our very eyes (eg. Tok Leng How walking to M’sia) or for non-critical cases, of the recent lapse of a father who used his son’s passport to pass thru’ the ICA.
My suggestion is that the Home Team members need to also change their attitude from top to the ground. With the linking of so many IT systems together, I think it can be safely be concluded that this attitude change will bring about signficant improvements to the security of our nation.
Pretty good post. I just came across your site and wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!