It is absurd that the authorities are unable to investigate an assault in public on a train, and offer little but sympathy over the incident, even if the injuries I suffered were not severe.
Poh Yi Hao, letter to ST forum, who claimed that he was attacked while on a train
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This is how Singapore has a low crime statistics – many reported cases go unrecorded. We need to rethink about the actual safety that Singapore offers and not what we ourselves were made to imagine so by mainstream media.
I read a comment: “Let’s face it. If MPs are hit, it is jail time. If peasants are hit, there is nothing we can do. This is implementation of Singapore law. One for the elites and one for the peasants. By now, peasants should accept this fact.”
Law for elites, self defence for the rest. No wonder Judo is useful, can twist that bugger’s arm off.
Honest to goodness, I really wonder why do we need police in the first place when it seems like they are only good at arresting people like the Chees or protecting MPs; maybe they should re-brand themselves as the PAP Personal Bodyguard or something. This is not the 1st time it has happened & I am sure it will just continue on as if nothing is wrong!!
I know it might be hard to identify the guy on the train but shouldnt they, at least, try to help the victim with an investigation? Perhaps, the victim is just an Average Joe that doesnt have elite parents or hold high government position so the POlice can just wave him away. Sigh…. looks like we couldnt even trust our own men-in-blue. The next time if I get into trouble, I might as well hire some Pia Kia to settle it for me!!
Well, mr poh is no MP or ministar or some public officer who need to perform their duties without having to worry about facing any danger or threat. else, those blue-uniformed guys will point their tails to the sky and start hunting even it is just a verbal threat, no need to be physically touched (harmed). double-standard ???
Don’t trains have CCTV cameras installed on both ends of the carriage in case of a need to provide evidence after an incident? If the footage there cannot be used to verify an assault case, then what good is it?
Lee Chee Wai (#5),
The purpose of CCTV Cameras is to promote a false sense of security in Singapore
Learn martial arts. I’ve seen fools in the MRTs shouting loudly for no freaking reason. I always have my headphones on for reason. And now I’m reminded of this fat old man who constantly shouted every few seconds….he seems to think people were staring at him. God I wish such idiots can be chased out.
“Don’t trains have CCTV cameras installed on both ends of the carriage in case of a need to provide evidence after an incident?”
Provided the CCTV was operational and switched on. Remember it was not operational in some recent high profile & famous incident when it mattered most.
Maybe both men & equipment are only there just for show and to impress that we have the state-of-art-gadgets & human force.
well, these “fools” who cause mayhem on MRT trains could have just been released from IMH…
taxi driver who torched MP—MSM reported formerly from IMH
fella who scrawled ‘Harry Lee, I love you”—MSM also reported from IMH
so i guess anyone with irrational behaviour would be reported as “from IMH”??
if u are a “foreign talent” or “fake talent” they will investigate the matter seriously.
didn’t u see how concerned the govt is abt foreign students after the suicide while there are countless local students on the verge of suicide due to study loan etc??
come on, we are nobody in the govt’s eyes. why need to waste effort on locals when year after year we give them the mandate to screw us.
Is it ?
The purpose of CCTV Cameras is to promote a false sense of security in Singapore
How very true indeed! What we have is a facade of security, and loopholes abound everywhere. Remember the pervert who murdered Hwang Na? He was captured on CCTV at the Immigration Office and still walked across the damn Causeway! If he wasn’t that stupid, he could have started a new life somewhere in Kelantan.
Do not really believe the account of the train passenger.
Singapore in my opinion is one of world’s best city when it comes to personal security. All my expat friends still cite this reason when asked what they like best about Singapore despite the lapse in the Mas Selamat episode.
“Do not really believe the account of the train passenger.”
Maybe the train passenger is some nut-case willing to go through all this time wasting game by reporting to the MRT then to the police then to our ST. If this is the case and since even the police knows it, why not charge him for false alarm / false police report (even though not official as mentioned) as this is really wasting public time / resources.
And if he is a real nut-case, the police may even steal the initiative by sending him to IMH.
Or perhaps you yourself could be a simple minded nut-case and you should be sent to IMH.
“Singapore in my opinion is one of world’s best city when it comes to personal security.”
While true, that does not mean no crime / offences being committed. Hey do you know there are quite a number of prisons in Singapore. They are not exhibition pieces, they are there to house real prisoners.
Being secured sometimes means that after the offences have been committed, the offenders have been arrested and dealt with.
There are lots of people who are paid to perform their duties but ever ready to close one eye and pretend that such complaints are not important enough to be acted on.
They want your feedback but will not act as it is too much work… just collect their salary and let others go to hell ! I think we all should also mind our business and stop wasting time on being Civic Minded. You don’t get reward but may even be charged for spreading false alarm.
I used to be a Civic Minded kaypoh but now save my energy to MOB…Mind Own Business only.
Base on statistical probability, within the two carriages away from both sides of the attack, there may be a police officer who on or off duty is obliged to perform his duty 24/7.
Then why had he not acted? That’s the question!
The answer would most likely be, what good will it do for my promotion prospects and what trouble could I get into, if things go wrong.
… Based on justice & equality… As Edna Krabappel would say, ha!
There was an ST report on this issue you may be interested in:
http://www.asiaone.com/print/News/The%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20080203-47963.html
What about a tooth for a tooth. But then you may be accused of taking the law into your own hand and may also be disproportionate even in self defence..
Tks for the link, Selene [#18]. Highly informative.
Ok, the police dept is not expected to act if it is a non-seizable offence such as, for example, a slap on the face that causes no visible physical injury.
So in terms of the law the police would refrain from any action if some politician [LKY, GCT, LHL for example] was say, slapped on the face by a stranger?
But would they?
Mr Superintendent of Police, please let us hear from you.
Playing with number game? Projecting a good Image of Sinkapore to the world is more importance then real substance. This had been going on for years. One good example is the productivity of workers. A recent study by an Australian professor, show that Sinkapore is no difference compare to neigbouring countries. When the state Police force fail to do its duty regardless whether the victim is local or foreign, its failed in its primary duty. Sometime one wonder whether we are on the slippery road to join the 3rd. world ? We all know, we had the world highest disparity on income with the highest Geni number and are we going to move up the ladder on crime as well? Maybe the world will not know but Sinkaporean will know as they had to live with it. Image and presentation seemed to take the highest priority with little or actual real work. What is our country heading to?