Comments on: “Singapore upholds free speech” – MM Lee’s press secretary

By: Jermzy

Jermzy — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:27:15 +0000

“Western style of democracy”- you mean actual democracy? It’s a sad self-fulfilling cycle of ignorance: the government enforces ignorance on it’s citizens and when it’s laws are questioned they say they’re a reflection of their citizen’s views. Blergh this country is ridiculous.

By: the random dude lol

the random dude lol — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:04:16 +0000

“Singapore upholds free speech and the right to disagree, subject to the law”

I think she needs to take our history books and social studies,and learn a little.

By: Fever Guy

Fever Guy — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:14:35 +0000

Everyone WEAR BLACK on National DAY. Those going to watch the grand million dollar celebration at marina also please WEAR BLACK…anything. Best is black T-shirt. To show our displeasure with the current state of affairs.

They think throwing a few million on the fireworks and displays and free tickets are anything to calm our anger? FAT HOPE.

By: Harry

Harry — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:06:03 +0000

mkta wrote: A riot itself is like a mini civil war.

Please justify this statement.

By: Harry

Harry — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:02:37 +0000

mkta, do you still hold onto your view “that the element of full democracy, is found in a climate of war and chaos.” ?????
If so please justify you stand.

By: mkta

mkta — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:12:30 +0000

I don’t understand where this is heading, but I’ll try to answer to your remarks. The fact is that there was a proportion of civilians in Singapore who worked for the Japanese during the time of the Occupation, from doing simple clerical jobs to actually working for the Kempeitai. The majority of these civilians go unnamed, and I can provide no exact figure to the number– this you might have to ask the Japanese themselves– but I dare say some are still around in Singapore. They did as they had to under Japanese rule. There were also those who risked personal safety to join or even lead resistance groups, and they are hailed as national martyrs today. I’ve lost you on your other points, but I’d like to say that I’m a peace-loving person and that I would like to see rule of law enforced against persons who are intent on disrupting peace and order. In parting (I won’t make remarks here again) I’d like to add that things like riots can lead to worse, you know, going from various examples in Singapore and other countries. A riot itself is like a mini civil war.

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:08:13 +0000

1.During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, Singaporeans lived in fear with insufficient food. They were subjected to harassments and tortures by the Japanese military occupiers. Movements were restricted with checkpoints all over the places. Tens and thousands of Singaporeans were killed or disappeared without a trace. Mass graves were discovered after the war. The few Singaporeans who lead a reasonable life were those who worked for the Japanese Occupiers. Lee Kuan Yew and Nathan are two of the few. They worked for the Japanese Intelligence and secret police. Lee Kuan Yew was a translator for Japanese. He also misused his position to profit from the black market.
2.By right troops on the group should not abuse their power but in a war situation who are there to check them ?
3.When there is fear and oppression, how can there be democracy ?
4. Confusion, uncertainty and chao are due to the lack of democracy and rule of the law.

By: mkta

mkta — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:33:29 +0000

So tell us more about your experience of war and how you came to know that only military commanders have absolute freedom to do anything. You have totally misunderstood what I said. I don’t think troops anywhere should ‘abuse their powers’ with the barrel end of a gun but I do think that full democracy is achieved in a situation of chaos. War is the prime example of chaos, if the latter needs association.

Comments edited by moderator.

By: mkta

mkta — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:16:14 +0000

So tell us more about your experience of war and how you came to know that only military commanders have absolute freedom to do anything. You have totally misunderstood what I’ve said. I don’t think troops anywhere should ‘abuse their powers’ with the barrel end of a gun but I do think that full democracy is achieved in a situation of chaos. War is the prime example of chaos, if the latter needs association. That’s right, call me evil. And all along I thought I was a keeper of the peace. That’s right, I’m clumsy and ridiculous. I’m wrong in thinking that I thought Plato and Socrates were well-known philosophers. I didn’t know they were ‘great’. I’m sorry I abused their names. That’s right, I’m ridiculous. No, I’m not like ministers in at all, even if I’m full of absolute rubbish, O High One.

By: Harry

Harry — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:15:58 +0000

mkta : Have you ever lived throught a war or have you heard from your parents as to how they lived in a war ? The only people who have the absolute freedom to do anything in a war are the military commanders. The troops may be able to abuse some of their powers flowing from the barrel of their guns but as you can see in Iraq, they too are subjected to punishment if caught. To the average person, there is hardly any freedom at all. I am absolutely amazed that you chose to equate a war zone to full democracy and freedom. Not only is it ridiculous but it is downright evil to try to gain mileage to your anti-democratic, anti-freedom attitudes.
Names like Plato and Socrates are great exactly because even school boys and girls are aware of their places in History. Again I find your clumsy efforts to deny your attempts to confuse others and gain mileage in your argument by abusing the names of Plato and Socrates, most ridiculous.
You sound to me more like the way the pap ministers tried to justify their harsh policies like raising GST is to help the poor,higher ERP charges is good for business. Absolute rubbish. How low can they sink ?

By: James

James — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:20:14 +0000

Human nature has a pain avoidance mechanism: they don’t like to admit or be proven they are wrong when they think they are right. The other thing is that all human nature has ego or pride. So it is all very natural and normal. But obviously this is not going to help matters.

By: mkta

mkta — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:49:28 +0000

What I did meant was that the element of full democracy, is found in a climate of war and chaos. Did I go wrong with that? In a climate of war and chaos anyone, unless in hiding from enemy troops, can act and say as they please. That, in my honest opinion, is real freedom of association, assembley and speech. Various philosophers in history are well known, and I dare say even a schoolboy would be acquainted with the likes of Plato and Socrates. So no, I don’t hide behind big names, nor do I quote the names of those politicians you just did.

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:51:06 +0000

mkta wrote : Be honest hence.

Just tell me which part of my posting on Singapore past is wrong.
Go checked out McDonald House along Orchard Rd. Two office workers
were killed when two Indonesian commandos exploded bombs in the building. They were caught, found guilty, sentence to death and hung despite President Suharto’s direct appeal. As late as the late 70′s Lee Kuan Yew while speaking in public when a blackout occured, commented that at least Singapore then did not panic. These were reported in the Straits Times.
There is not need to hide behind a veil of sarcasm and big names, if you are genuine in wanting to engage in a discussion. If I am wrong in logic or fact point me out and if proven to my satisfaction, I will willingly accept your point of view.

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:39:51 +0000

mkta wrote :The last anyone made the claim was some millennia back, namely between Socrates and Plato, whose conversations are well-chronicled in (Plato’s) Republic.

Thousands have written on what democarcy over the years. The latest and most famous is George W Bush.

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:34:54 +0000

mkta wrote :Iraq was fully democratic during the war.

How can Iraq be fully democratic during the war when there was not even a proper Iraqi government at all, let alone an elected one ?

By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 27

The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 27 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:10:47 +0000

[...] Gospel of Harry – TOC: “Singapore upholds free speech” – MM Lee’s press secretary – Mollymeek: Democracy is Come from Singapore – Looking through the eyes of_ _: The freedom of [...]

By: who goes first

who goes first — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:43:53 +0000

will be interesting to find out who will clarify the errors first – WSJ or Today.
Anyway, yeah – if we continue to speak long enough, everyone will realise – Emperor has no clothes….

By: mkta

mkta — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:18:56 +0000

Don’t get me wrong. I am in agreement that persons be able to ‘express without fear’. I would like, however, for persons to act and speak with restraint; to speak knowing it would be regarded as speech in the speaker’s favour. Because with that, there can be no fanaticism developed from an excess of fervor, the kind you sometimes see on socio-political forums on the Net.

By: Seelan Palay

Seelan Palay — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:47:36 +0000

sar·casm
–noun

1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
2. a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:24:47 +0000

Never thought that our government are so pathetic and deceitful to twist or even remove critical word that can alter the meaning of sentence, even with strong evidence like transcript and audio abound. With evidence, they can even act so ya-ya. Look like no one gonna tell the emperor has no cloth !

Everyone should take a read at the following blog

http://kaffein-nated.blogspot.com/
Dr Chee: “And rapists, too, you might as throw it in, you know, right? Child molesters”.

against what was actually said in the audio clip and in the written transcripts:

Dr Chee: “And rapists, too, you might as well throw it in, you know, right? Child molesters”.