Malaysian politicians and activists have started the campaign to save 22-year old Vui Kong from the death sentence in Singapore. The event kicked off with a press conference held in Sandakan, Sabah, the hometown of Vui Kong, on 21 July. Sabah Member of Parliament, Datuk Chua Soon Bui, and Vui Kong’s lawyer, Mr M Ravi, were present to lend support to the campaign. So were Vui Kong’s younger sister, Vui Fung, and one of his borthers, Yun Sang, as well as dozens of relatives and supporters.
Datuk Chua said: ”This campaign is for humanity. It is above politics. We appeal to the state government to intervene and support us.”
Datuk Chua also pointed out that Yong can give back to society by reaching out to young people who might be vulnerable to drug traffickers. Rather than kill him, he should be allowed to repent and share his story.
Campaigners will hit the streets of Sandakan tomorrow (23 July, Friday) to appeal to the public to support their cause. They hope to collect 100,000 signatures by August 23. (To sign the petition, please click here.)
Vui Kong has until 26 August 2010 to file an appeal for clemency with the Singapore president. As there is only about a month before the deadline for the clemency appeal, TOC will carry news and reports of the campaign as and when they happen.
Here are some news reports in Malaysia on the event:
Malaysiakini: Wanted: 100,000 signatures to save Vui Kong
The Borneo Post: Save Vui Kong drive in hometown Sandakan
Bernama: The Save Vui Kong Campaign Request Clemency For Sabahan From Singapore Government
Interceder: News on Vui Kong
Klik4Malaysia: Campaign Launched for Vui Kong Second Chance
MMail: Senators pledge to save Malaysian on death row in Singapore
Malaysian Insider: NGOs appeal for Sabah boy on Singapore death row
New Straits Times: Support for clemency
Here are some pictures from Sabah of the press conference on Thursday.
M Ravi (with MP Chua): ”He is a victim of poverty, misguided youth and social conditions.” During the press conference in Sandakan, Ravi explained how Singapore’s Law Minister K Shanmugum’s comments about Yong had prejudiced his clemency appeal. ”We are here on a united front to save this boy from being unfairly executed.”
Ngeow Chow Ying, Yong’s Malaysian lawyer: ”Everyone’s life is precious and worth fighting for. Yong Vui Kong is still so young. He comes from an impoverished background. He deserves a second chance. He can be a strong anti-drug advocate. Who doesn’t deserve a second chance?”
“The death penalty is a controversial issue, but the fundamental question is, can it solve problems? What purpose does killing this boy serve? What problem does it solve?”
Stephen Wong Tien Fatt, Sandakan community leader: ”Everyone knows Yong Vui Kong committed a crime. He knows that too. He is repentant. He deserves a second chance.” [Vui Kong's younger sister, Vui Fung, is 4th from left.]
COLLECTIVE EFFORT: (from left) Ngeow, Syed Husin and Tunku Abdul Aziz are urging fellow Malaysians to pledge their support — Pic: RAZAK GHAZALI
Community leader Stephen Wong (right) receives the signature campaign forms from Ravi as Chua (third left), Ngeow (left), Poon (second right) and others look on. (Picture from Borneo Post)
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Yong Vui Fung (in black), Vui Kong’s sister, on the streets of Sabah campaigning for signatures to support the petition to save her brother.
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Sabah newspaper reports on 24th and 25th July of the launch of the campaign.
Singapore’s media was totally silent on the campaign’s launch.
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S APPEAL.
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Vui Kong’s letter to his mother on her birthday in 2010
[The family has kept Vui Kong's death sentence from his mother. Thus, she does not know that her son has been sentenced to death till today.]
English translation:
Ma,
Wishing Mom Happy Birthday
10th June, Thursday
May happiness spread in all the four directions.
Ma,
I’m doing well here. Everyday I practice (my Buddhism) and study.
3rd Brother, Second Brother come to see me many times every week. 3rd bro, 2nd bro and I are healthy. 3rd bro’s face used to have a lot of acne, now less. He also cut his hair, looks fresher, and much more handsome. 3rd bro and 2nd bro and I know how to take care of ourselves, to choose what’s best for ourselves. I read a lot here. If I come across a good book, I will recommend to 2nd and 3rd Bro. When they visit me, I will take the chance to share the Dharma, give them the proper outlook. I have confidence that they will both succeed in their own paths. Mom, have faith in the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas! Read more when you’re free. Best is read the Buddhist Scriptures. Occasionally, watch the Buddhist VCDs, or go to the temple and listen to Dharma talk, practice Buddhism – many benefits! Because we are all bound to pass away one day, our bodies are impermanent. Just like wearing clothes need to pull back (I have no idea what the phrase means, even though the word 挽 means ‘pull back’), when you know the Dharma, it will be useful after the body dies. So recite the mantras when you have time. That’s best.
“Namo Buddha, Namo Dhama, Namo Sandha
Namo Amitabha”…. Always recite, Mom!
Recite with sincerity, and faith.
30 May 2010, Sunday
Your youngest son, Yong Vui Kong
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Vui Kong spent weeks drawing this picture of the Buddha on his knees. He would wake up at 4am every morning, while everyone else was still asleep on death row. He would say his prayers, do his chants, and then remain kneeling as he paints this picture.
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Visit also:
The campaign website: http://2ndchance4yong.wordpress.com/
Save Vui Kong: http://savevuikong.blogspot.com/
Sign the online petition to the president of S’pore:
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TOC calls for a moratorium on the mandatory death penalty in Singapore.
Here is our campaign video.
Join our Facebook page for updates.
Good job Ravi!
Keep it up.
It is a good thing you did not immigrate to Australia. It is good for Singaporeans but bad for PAP and yourself bec. you can be a very successul politician in Australia.
Just imagine, being a Minister or some sort in Australia and then excert your influence to challenge Singapore to open up!
Well, all I can say is this:
“No one can make a right decision;
We can only make the decisions and then make them RIGHT.”
In this you are making it RIGHT in Singapore.
Thanks.
I hope my prediction will be wrong…Vui Kong will be hanged.
The PAPee needs to show that they are firm and “fair”. They also know people’s memory is short. So even they hang him, in just 3 months later, all would have been forgotten.
Ravi might ort Malaysia’s Agung (King) to appeal but then they are just slapping their own face ral hard as they themselves have the same mandantory death sentence for the same type of drug offences.
I would not be surprised later Singapore even hanged 12 to 13 years old boys bec. they are old enough to be used to carry drugs! Or what if they hang a party group of 13 years from the Americian International School! Yea, the Ang Moi!
But then wait a minute, they might release the whites but excute the non-white USA boys!
Absurd? No. This can be true to prove that Singapore is JUST!….JUST for the non-whites to be hanged.
Looks like the politicians are trying to gain some political mileage.
If they are serious about this, try abolishing death penalty in Malaysia first.
How come the Malaysian politicians and lawyers just woke up from their deep slumber as if they do not know Malaysia also has death penalty for drug traffickers like Vui Kong. I agree with ‘conf’ that they are trying to score some cheap political points. Anyway, it is a good try.
conf, due to the attention drawn to the inhumane practice of death penalty, msia could be on its way to reach 1st world standards in the modern world & abolish mandatory death penalty.
Death COULD only be a punishment if a criminal, for instance, a serial killer, is deemed dangerous to be left alive, as he might kill more people & harm society. It is the last resort.
When can we see some real 1st world standards here & the mandatory death penalty being abolished?
God Bless and Favour You Ravi! Good Luck!!!
This poor young man has suffered so much emotionally and mentally over the years for a crime that doesn’t deserve a death penalty. Why can’t he be given a 2nd chance to atone his mistake, why?
Those who stubbornly and cruelly insist Vui Kong to be hung are the one who should be rotting in hell!!!
The one who gives the support, approval and order to hang a person- isn’t he no difference from a Murderer?
Everyone has only one life and this life belongs to the person; to take another’s life is murder.
Yes, V Kong has commited a crime,to impose punishment is right. But we cannot take away someone’s life , To take away his life is Murder.
pugdragon,
it amuses me when I see pple trying to justify things using 1st world as the rationale… a term invented by PAP.
To me, things should be right or wrong, but not 1st world or 3rd world. The latter has no basis whatsoever to determine the rightness of anything.
I don’t think Piss And Piss team member will change the pissing way. We have change them with replaced by another flexible teams.
The death sentence passed on a 19 year old boy – convicted for being a drug mule – is clearly not the issue being challenged.
The issue is about the manner in which the judicial and appeal process has been “corrupted” in Singapore.
Can a Single Political Party – (that has been in power since 1957) – be allowed to exert its omnipotence in every aspects of Singapore Society; to determine how the society grow, how society should live, and where society should head to ?
Clearly, Singaporeans have no say in what is to become of ourselves, when the Single Political Party abuse and exceeded its elected mandate – to deliberately change rules that allow the perpetuation of its own success at every elections.
On gaining overall dominance in Parliament, it will proceed to pass legislations that abort provisions of the Constitution that guarantee Citizens’ Rights, pass legislations that dictates mandatory sentences that give no leeways to the judiciary to exercise their own considered wisdom in passing judgement and implementing justice.
Through their overwhelming dominance in Parliament, they will legislate to dictate the life of this society.
The Single Political Party will even tinker with the structure of government that on first impression looked seemingly innocuous – by having an Elected President to ensure protection of the National Reserves,
Unfortunately, this change to an Elected Presidency is merely a guarantee to have their own appointee or approved person to hold the fort; as an insurance in the event that they lose political power in an election, and to have the Elected Presidency to thwart any attempts by an Alternative Political Party to succeed at being an effective government.
Clearly, the Single Political Party has exceeded its authority in many areas.
One that was revealed by the previous Attorney-General, who slipped his tongue about the judicial appeal process, by revealing that – ‘although in theory it is the President who exercises the prerogative of mercy, in fact it is the Cabinet who makes the decision’.
To make matters worst, the arrogance of the domineering Political Party in power is further made clear in its Ministerial appointee as Law Minister, who prejudiced the entire appeal process with his public statements about the matter in public events.
The Law Minister said that “Yong Vui Kong is young. But if we say ‘We let you go’, what is the signal we are sending? We are sending a signal to all the drug barons out there: Just make sure you choose a victim who is young, or a mother of a young child, and use them as the people to carry the drugs into Singapore.”
Clearly, the arrogance of the Pro Alien Party – believing in its own self-assumed meritocractic supremacy and supreme talent – have by now exceeded even itself by passing judgment on issues before decisions are concluded in the appeal process, and for usurping the constitutional prerogatives of the President to exercise independence in granting clemency.
Is there any space for Singaporeans to breathe when even the air is heavy with the foul breath of the Pro Alien Party that insist on interfering in every aspect of our lives ?
Are we living in a First World environment so proudly claimed in the memoirs of the supposed Founding Father ?
Ironically, when most countries are proud of the manner in which a nation gain independence, the REAL HISTORY of Singapore’s independence has to be kept in a secret file codenamed “ALBATROSS” for the last 40 years.
Clearly, many dark secrets are still kept secret, as Singaporeans are assumed by our “elected” political leaders to be “daft” and “ignorant” – and should continue to be kept in the dark for our own good, as they manipulate us for their own continued glory.
Gambling also destroy lives..right? So why don’t hang those Bas***d who approved the 2 gambling house in S’pore.
Couldn’t read the letter to his mum.
Eyes are welling….
#conf & Devagi
Malaysia, does not hang people like yoyo’s unlike Singapore.
Go check, when was the last time someone was hanged in Malaysia and how many.
You will be in for a surprise.
Scapegoat
because moderate gambling is a good social activity (during CNY) and even helps old people have active brain (mahjong can delay onset of dementia or something).
Heroine, outside of prescription is… for what good purpose?
Atobe
if the issue is about the corrupt system, I couldn’t agree more with you. But what has that got to do with saving Yong, whom all agreed is guilty? To let him off based on technicality? Is that really the road we wish to pursue?
if the issue was really only about the corrupt system, then focus on the system. voted out PAP or lobby your MP to get it updated, etc. Nothing to do with Save Yong at all.
As such, corruption is obviously not THE issue. In fact, it seems to be the SIDE issue.
Sad to say the sentence would still be carried out for one simple reason, the old man is one person that will take no for an answer even when he knows it is wrong to do so, because of his pride. Tell me how many times has his decision and forecastings gone wrong? still today he is still right in his own mind, the rest is not important to him all these years. Even if its Malaysia Agong himself were to personally intercep, you think old man will say yes? over his dead body, maybe! its his pride and arrogant that have caused too many unjustification to many hardship and unhappiness to the people around him. He have to go before more harm are being done to the people.
Very touching, though no tears well up.
We are sitting on the fence, not on anyone’s side, as the death penalty applies to both countries. But we are watching our Govt’s reaction and moves,
to see whether our Govt favours foreigners over our locals who commit the same crime. Any double standards would be applied? Very interesting to bystanders like us.
So funny, now the drug trafficker has become a “hero” suddenly and we see many hop on to reap the political fruit of a funny event.
What a world!!!
I’m tempted to support this until I think of the hundreds of thousands truly unfortunate, who similarly live in poverty-stricken conditions and yet did NOT turn to crime. And whatever sympathy and empathy I might have dries up.
Seriously, it’s not like the draconian law was passed and enacted only this year or something.
lobo76, I haven’t seen things in that way before. Thank you. Yes, you are right. 1st world, 3rd world, there’s no excuse for doing the wrong, inhumane thing. It’s just disturbing that PAP invented the “1st world” term & do things wrongly as in violating human rights.
From wikipedia: “Between 1970 and 2001, Malaysia executed 359 people. As of 2006, 159 people remain on the death row.”
Singapore still has more, but Malaysia is hardly an angel.
Also, does this campaign want him imprisoned for the rest of his life instead? Or imprisoned for a shorter amount of time, or set free as long as he repents?
I’m just wondering if this has been given any thought, or is everybody on this cause already convinced of failure.
If he were pardoned, I think he would be given life imprisonment i.e. 20 years.
The current government will only take this opportunity to exert their power and tyranny. Do you think to achieve their aims, they treat us singaporeans (not to mention Malaysians)
more like a product than a human being?
So what is death to a person to them?
when a life is Taken Away,
is that Respecting Life?
I wonder like that Looogan tree.
from a human rights point of view, Ravi is certainly not doing anything unethical.
good work, Ravi!
i can see your halo glowing bright.
Ravi will have good karma. Wish him safety throughout this journey.
Some commentors (or maybe its the same person using different nicknames) only have point to make: Malaysia also has death penalty bla bla bla.
Singapore has the highest number of executions per capita in the world. And it’s just the size of an island, even the entire Johor state is bigger.
Looks more like the commentor is looking for an excuse to push the blame and attention rather than make any real point about the death penalty.
Keep the campaign going!
And it’s so inspiring to see the strength that Vui Fung is showing, I hope she knows that there are many many people behind her!
i’m still not entirely sure that Msia politicians are sincere in helping Yong. I have a feeling that they will just wayang for one month till the deadline and then said they did everything in their power. Claim political milage without doing anything.
Plus sg don’t usually give in to public foreign pressure. They like to preserve some semblance of sovereignty. I’m not too optimistic about the appeal outcome.
I think Vui Kong meant 换 — dying is like changing clothes.
How about sending the video clip to the Istana too?
He’s still very young. Hope everybody gives him a chance to live! If given a second chance, I am sure he will contribute to the world!
Well whatever it is , an appeal and a great challenge has already proceed to our Pappies.
I hope by such events coming up, many PAP MPS will wake up to their senses and realise that all these while they have been serving in the wrong side of the government which is the PAP led by LKY and now by his useless son LSL.
And that there will be some true conscience being pricked MPs will resign from their post and switch to join the opposition parties or setup their own party against dictatorial system in singapore.
Period.
yaya,
u must be kidding. Being a PAP MP is more than just the incredible annual salary. It opens doors for their private business, directorship seats, etc as well. So while they do keep their salary (I mean allowance) if they shift to Oppo and win, the doors for their other venture may slam shut.
For MPs brought in by the lure of money, I don’t they will change sides just by pricking their conscience.
In any case, if they are DP supporters, why would their conscience be pricked? A moot point.
vui kong is a good artist, too bad he haven’t make use of this talent earlier, else he wouldn’t have been in this predicament.
yes, of course, Singapore treats foreigners differently compared to her own citizens.
why, that pimp from china killed a singaporean old man, but our kind PAP government reduced the FT’s crime to grievous assault. mind you, this pimp actually claimed that he was trying to protect his GIRLFRIEND from the old man who was making unreasonable sex demands.
note that the poor Singaporean old man is DEAD and cannot defend himself. Note also that the old man’s family said he was a responsible man/husband/father.
now consider the possibility of the old man being assaulted when he refused to take up the CHINA-girl’s offer, thereby antagonising the CHINA-pimp-BF who most wickedly delivered a fatal punch.
there you have, 1st world police work, followed by coloured prosecution and extra-nice judiciary…
vote out the clowns and kangaroos.
lobo76,
i just comments what is in my heart. Neverthless you are right in pointing out $$$$$$$$$$ really can get into the hearts of men. Even a good person can also become a bad person because of $$$$$$$$$$. A very tempting and irresistable temptations…
Well, if nothing happens, then wait for lightning, thunders, floods, earthquakes, torando, tsunami strikes them and their whole families once and for all lor…
I fully support that he should not be hanged..
At the same time Malaysia as a country should also try to understand the pains of the people they have hanged for the similary crime. Malaysia is also known to be a country where hangings are frequent due to few grams of drug possession.. they convert it into trafficking….
I believe if Malaysian Govt go to Singapore with an announcement that Deth Penalty for such crime is Abolished in Malaysia from now onwards then I am sure the case of freeing this boy would be very strong.
Let’s do some real work for humanity rather then playing the politics.
Don’t believe in 2nd chance for convicts. Thank God for death penalty.
how about the drugs he distributed ? will you fight for his clemency if your father/mother/sister/brother/gf were killed because the effects of his drugs ??
DEATH PENALTY TO HIM !!
face it like a man !! even if you walk, WALK SHAME !