Andrew Loh –
The family of Yong Vui Kong has been working hard these past two months – hitting the streets in both Singapore and Malaysia to collect signatures for a petition begging President SR Nathan to spare Vui Kong’s life.
Activists in Malaysia have rallied to their cause. By 10 am this morning, the campaign had collected a total of 109 346 signatures. Among those who signed were 44 Members of Parliament and 15 senators in Malaysia.
Vui Kong’s father and six siblings delivered the petition and signatures to the Istana earlier today. They were accompanied by Sabah MP Datuk Chua Soon Bui, some close relatives, as well as lawyers M Ravi and Ngeow Chow Ying.
The family was not able to hand the petition to guards at the front gates of the Istana and had to use an alternative entrance 15 minutes away. The group walked uphill, in the blazing heat to this other gate where they were met by Security Officer, Corporal Marcus Chong [picture, right]. He took the files of signatures and told the family, “You may leave now.”
Vui Kong’s father, Mr Yong Kwong Keong, had prepared a personal message for President Nathan. Corporal Chong was asked to help pass this on but declined to do so, instead asking repeatedly for the family to vacate the area.
Mr Yong broke down in tears and the family knelt down in front of the gates. They remained there for several minutes before guards ordered them to leave.
At a press conference held later, Mr Ravi expressed disappointment over how the Yong family was treated at the Istana . “We are also faced with the unfortunate circumstance that we have to go to the Istana,” he said, “even though the courts have said that the President has no power.”
Datuk Chua urged President Nathan and the Cabinet to give Vui Kong’s case due consideration before making a final decision. She also questioned a decision by prison authorities to deny her request to visit Vui Kong on Monday. The Online Citizen understands two of his aunts were also denied access, although a cousin was granted entry.
“I feel the authorities should be more human,” Datuk Chua said. “This case is a special case. We don’t know how long before [Vui Kong’s] life is terminated. The family members and I came here just to see Vui Kong. We feel this is not too much to ask.”
The deadline for Vui Kong to submit his clemency appeal to the President is Thursday, 26 August.
However, when handing down his decision on Mr Ravi’s application for a judicial review of the clemency process, Justice Steven Chong had “invited” the Singapore Prison Service to extend the stay of execution as he said he expected Mr Ravi to appeal his judgement.
Mr Ravi has requested confirmation of the extension from the Prison Service, however, as of Tuesday, 24 August, he has yet to receive a response.
Vui Kong was arrested in June, 2007. He was 18 and a half years old then. The Singapore courts subsequently sentenced him to death for trafficking 47g of heroin into Singapore. He was originally scheduled to hang on 4 December last year, but since then, his lawyer, M Ravi, has managed to obtain two stays of executions.
In the past few weeks, the Yong family, as well as campaigners in both Malaysia and Singapore have worked round the clock, organising public forums and collecting signatures online and on the streets, to appeal to President Nathan to spare Vui Kong’s life.
Several non-governmental organisations are backing the campaign. These include the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia, Amnesty International Malaysia, Lawyers For Liberty, Amnesty Hong Kong and the Singapore Anti-death Penalty Campaign.
The Malaysian government added its voice to the call for clemency when it sent a letter of appeal to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 29. The Singapore government however has yet to respond to the letter. A spokesman for the ministry told the media that “[the] letter of appeal has been referred to the legal authorities.”
The campaign to save Vui Kong does not end today. “We will continue to collect signatures until the President makes a decision,” said Ms Ngeow.
“As long as there’s time, even if there’s just one second left,” said Yun Leong, “we will all still work hard for Vui Kong.”
Members of the public who wish to sign the petition may do so online here.
Special thanks to Lynn Lee.
———-
Read also:
Paris – Kuala Lumpur, 25 August 2010 :
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), representing 164 organisations across the world, calls on the Singaporean authorities to uphold the right to life, as enshrined in international law, and urges HE S. R. Nathan, President of Singapore, to exercise his constitutional power to grant a pardon to Mr. Yong Vui Kong, a 22-year-old Malaysian national, who has been sentenced to death by hanging. (Full report here.)
————
Some pictures from this morning:
More pictures, by Damien Chng:
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koolman
Pls do read Gwen’s 2nd paragraph, esp the last line.
Luckily there was not a law to stone adulterers in SG because people like you, ya you, koolman, will say “every society has its law & order…..”
If until now, after all the commentaries here, your doubt of ‘why VK is more important than others death’ still remain unanswered to you, its your own lack of intelligence. It makes no ground for VK to be hung.
Didn’t you argue that VK deserve the ultimate punishment? Why are you now saying what punishment is less cruel for VK?
I agree that drug mule Yong’s case would serve as a good anti drug lesson.
Doesn’t matter what you do after you’ve been caught. You can be Mother Theresa, and you’d still end up as a corpse twisting in the morning breeze.
Thanks for all the coverage, now none of them can claim ignorance next time one of them gets caught with drugs.
Now let’s end the story, don’t want the plot to jump the shark.
JayF
>>”Thanks for all the coverage, now none of them can claim ignorance next time one of them gets caught with drugs.”<<
Won't it be good if Straits Times covers this, front page news? TOC is not a mainstream medium, if anything it is poo- pooed by the authorities. So to say that with TOC coverage, "now none of them can claim ignorance" is but making a fool of yourself.
The death sentence alone is not effective as a deterrent for traffickers especially in cases of ignorance or foolhardiness which is common I believe.
Why not add a section “A life for a life”?
The trafficker can exchange his death penalty for life imprisonment if he can help the law apprehend the mastermind who recruited him to traffick drugs. I’m pretty sure this will help a great deal.
In particular in Vui Kong’s case which has stoked so much passion in the public, I’m pretty sure a massive crack down with many witnesses can bring the drug lord to justice.
JayF
Won’t it be good if Straits Times carry it on front page news? TOC is not a mainstream medium or “official” medium and you go “now none of them can claim ignorance…” is far fetched.
Hi,
When I said them, I was referring Yong’s hometown homies, who according to his supporters were before blissfully unaware that carrying drugs into Singapore and their own country meant you’d be doing a tapdance at the end of a rope.
Considering Yong did hang out with gangsters before he got caught though, one would think self preservation would lead him to find out what the cops can and cannot do to you. Finding out what the police can use to have you executed seems like a top priority for anyone wanting to make it in any illict trade. Guess he didn’t do his homework
I’d think only those in a coma would not know of the relevant punishment for drugs if you are born in Singapore.
The issue is not the death penalty per se here. Many would support it for the appropriate crime -murder for example.
The issue here is the MANDATORY death sentence – it undercuts the whole principle and purpose of trial in a court of law. It removes the ‘judging’ from the role of the presiding judge.
@Gwen
Your response seems like a personal attack rather than factual argument, I’d have to “defend” myself:
“The contempt you show for Vui Kong and the efforts of his family, smacks of snobbery and ignorance, not real intelligence which your comments reveal quite plainly you lack.”
I do not show contempt for Vui Kong, nor the efforts of his family. Your attempts to portray my comments on Vui Kong as “personal” and “biased” does not hold water. I would have said basically the same for anyone else convicted of the offence under the same circumstance (i.e. you know the law, you break the law, you answer to the law.)
“Go out and see the world instead of coming up with half-baked opnions gleaned from textbooks.”
I am confident I have seen sufficient of the world to make the comments that I have. Both the “bright”, “dark” and “dead” side. (I have picked dead body parts off the street in SG as part of my work history). Not that it’s directly related to this case in question, just that I didn’t get my experience sitting in front of a computer screen.
“That kind of herd mentality is the reason why the real guilty parties get away with murder.”
Examples of “real guilty parties” who get away with murder?
Alright, now to the more factual arguments:
Well, someone rightly pointed out that SG is “infamous” for its drug laws. Whether “famous” or “infamous”, it means the laws are well-known.
I haven’t got children of my own yet. But when I do, I will count myself lucky if the main concern I have of my kid(s) in school is their grades, and not someone trying to sell dope to them.
Bottomline – I’m ready to compromise on amending the mandatory death sentence to a long jail sentence (hopefully our jails won’t become overcrowded like the Mexicans or Peruvians). But before that, we really have to explore countries which share similar demographics/social structure like ours, without death penalty for drug trafficking, and have the same level of drug trafficking/use as us. But until then, current laws still dictate mandatory death penalty.
I welcome factual opinions on why VK should be spared the gallows instead of “bashing” those who support it such as @Adrian’s suggestion to commute the death penalty into life-sentence in return for assistance. Something like plea-bargaining in the US. Not too clear about its success rate in controlling crime rate where its used though.
He should be hanged. Singapore’s death penalty for drug trafficking have been around SINCE Singapore went independent.
And also whenever a foreigner comes into Singapore, the embarkation card already stated that bringing drugs in is Death Penalty.
You’ve been warned but yet still want to test the system, especially since VK comes from a country which also gives the death penalty for the same offence.
No excuse, totally no excuse at all.
Those of you who opposed the death sentence dun understand how serious drugs is and the harm that do to a person’s life.
When one of your family member is hooked onto heroin then you will wish that the people responsible for bringing this in will be hanged.
If the drugs gets into Singapore or Malaysia and more drug addicts surfaced then there will be a unstoppable stream of drugs coming in and more people will be effected.
@Sorry to Say,
Who created the demand for drugs by drug users and abusers – they are two entirely different groups of people? I hope you are not naive enough to claim that it is drug dealers or drug mules, equally as I hope that you are not naive enough to claim that alcohol abuse was created by suppliers of alcohol including those who legalize its trade like the government.
@twister x
yawn.
@ SORRY TO SAY and All WO ARE FOr THE DEATH PENALTY,
Reading, research fixing the law to suit the dark side of the moon has convinced that DEATH (15gms and above) is acceptable.
Not all countries practise that within the UN. Reason it will not eradicate illegal drugs. Know the roots of these drugs. The supply and demand how it comes about. Why people get into this business. Do you really believe OPIUM and COCAINE will disappear from this earth. The you guys are going, you put Lady GaGaa to shame. Your comments seems like all drugs will be wiped out through the DEATH PENALTY. Heard it all on Radio Ga Gaa and on Radio Goo Goo.
Peace N Love Folks
@Save Vui Kong
Whoever creates these stuffs are all in for the monetary purposes. Drug trading is worth billions of dollars and the worth is only 1% less than the whole world’s GDP. With that much money involved, drug lords will continue and smuggle them all over the world.
@Lord Robert
Drugs won’t be wiped out from the world, some countries have already accept drugs as their form if lifesytle and the govt approves it. In the case of Singapore, deterrence will be the best way and to stop the spreading of drugs coming into the country, people need to know that bringing drugs into Singapore and Malaysia is a big mistake.
Nothing will stop Singapore’s law from hanging VK, if he’s released then all the previous drug traffickers who was hanged won’t be justified. Singapore’s law will always be this strict.
@TwisterX
These are your “factual arguments”:
1. “I haven’t got children of my own yet. But when I do, I will count myself lucky if the main concern I have of my kid(s) in school is their grades, and not someone trying to sell dope to them.”
What you’re saying is this: “I want Vui Kong dead because.. well, I don’t have kids yet, but one day I may well have kids. And unless we kill Vui Kong, these completely hypothetical children will most likely become drug addicts.”
This doesn’t even come near to being an argument based on fact. It isn’t even an argument based on logic. And don’t you think you should have just a little faith in your parenting abilities before you have children?
2. “I’m ready to compromise on amending the mandatory death sentence to a long jail sentence… But until then, current laws still dictate mandatory death penalty.”
What you’re really saying is: “I’m not REALLY sure that killing Vui Kong will prevent drugs from coming into Singapore. But until you prove to me that it won’t, I want him dead anyway. Because er.. because er.. because that’s what the law says.”
Do you really want to make this argument when Vui Kong’s family are begging us for his life?
3. “we really have to explore countries which share similar demographics/social structure like ours”
Now THIS is a sensible argument.
Look at the UN reports on incidence of drug abuse by country. In my opinion, they DON’T provide any statistical support for the effectiveness of the MDP.
Adrian 25 August 2010
In particular in Vui Kong’s case which has stoked so much passion in the public…
Really? I hope you are not basing your opinion solely on the coverage of TOC alone.
James
Look at the UN reports on incidence of drug abuse by country. In my opinion, they DON’T provide any statistical support for the effectiveness of the MDP.
I hope you read the part on “similar demographics/social structure like ours” and understood it. Assuming that you have and do, which specific country in the UN reports are you referring to?
@lobo76
Hong Kong
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_dru_off-crime-drug-offences
James,
Commonly used demographics include gender, race, age, income, disabilities, mobility (in terms of travel time to work or number of vehicles available), educational attainment, home ownership, employment status, and even location.
… and you say Hong Kong is similar to us in all the above?
offhand, I would say race (composition) would be quite different, and location wise as well, considering it’s proximity to China and as it being part of China (which has DP, not sure if it has M though).
@lobo76
I think it’s a good comparison.
But rather than spend all your time nitpicking, why don’t YOU come up with statistical support for your position, which is I assume that the MDP works?
Or are you one of those people who say “Well we can’t prove that it doesn’t work now can we? Let’s keep on killing.”
How can MDP be a deterrent when there are already so many being hanged? VK is not the first! Therefore the point of deterrence clearly did not work.
It is also weak argument to say MDP is effective. Compared to what? There was nothing before MDP. If there was 10yr jail for a period, and then 20-yr jail for a period & then life sentence & then hanging (should be last resort), then it would be harder to argue.
The reduction in drug abuse compared to the older days could also be due to so many other reasons. National Service being one of them, which also reduces gangster crimes. Families have less children therefore could pay more attention to them. More people are educated. More have careers. So many variables, so how can anyone pin the reduction of drug abuse on MDP alone?
MDP just makes the life & money easier to earn for the people in charge.
mr prata presidente…
what are you? the whole familLEE KNELT before you..what else you REQUIRED?
a cup of char teh tarek to go with your pratas as well?
leekingyou may not be a man @ all
but are you a man yourself?
how is your mrs health lateLEE?
would you want GOD to grant you mercy when you PRAYED?
TwisterX
Something like plea-bargaining in the US. Not too clear about its success rate in controlling crime rate where its used though.
………………
ole yeah..prebargainin has been in practise throughtout the DECADE in singapore all this time..
i am gonna give you an example 1 or 2..
if you are somehow related to a ^ROYAL^ famillee of singapoor by birth/neighbourhood or brotherhoots…
your charges can suddenLLEE be drop to a very very fishy law as issued by the public prosecutor..
it will be re-written that a mistakes has been made…it wasn’t 15 grams @ all
it was 14.99grams in true weight..
we the public prosecuter cannot simply send a man to the gallow if his plastic bag is more than .001 gram right? without a doubt..how do 1 brin in 1 drugs? swallowed in his mouth or through his anus hole? in a bag mah…
Death sentence = Tough entry for drug = Increase Price = High Profit
Drug lord will not face death sentence cause they don’t do it themselves, and they don’t care if their boy (trafficker) got death sentence, they only see profit. Vui Kong was use by the drug lord to make profit, now kill gate keeper to so call save the society… WHAT THE HELL!!! Can those who agree to the death sentence go ask your Mother if this happen to you what will she do???????????????????????? Agree to sentence you to death cause you hurt the society????? don’t talk about law as if law give birth to you baby boy….. Is your dear mother my dear friend… Use your heart to think about it, if can’t find your heart go get a jobb as a hangman….
To people who support death sentence: don’t keep blaming others and make yourself as if you are a victim… we are part of the society, we are partly responsible for the product of wrong action, we need to give life a chance and not starting kill people who had done wrong.. unless you have never done wrong in your whole life..
@sorry to say ,
i think you are right… if more drugs were to come into your singapore, then more harm may come upon you. I hope the govt can also stop the inflow of foreign prostitutes from china into the society. we are seeing more divorces, suicides, aids and VD. i hope the govt can catch arrest these rampant offenders and hang them. this will serve as a good deterrant for all future street workers.
sorry to say, use your backside and think .
I am not supporting anyone, just pondering on my own
- Who really put VK in this kind of situation? Probably VK can have deep thought over this.
- What do you really think when some kind soul suddenly give you a large sum of money to handcarry over to other countries?
- Do you really expect good consequences coming from this delivery exercise?
- Do you know not that this will ruined at least 50 families forever?
- If i am really a kind soul, why not i surrender when i was on my way? THough late, but still will not be that bad.
- Why the ordinary people not landed in this MDS situation?
- Am i really that innocent afterall?
- Am i really that remorse or repent?
Lastly,
- Am i really so naive again that NOW every TOM and DICK come all out to “HELP” me?
LAw and forgiveness are two different issue. We can forgive him but we cannot forget about punishment. Laws are set up for a reason. Should e.g.MR Lee Kuan Yew ( I am only giving a hypothetic situation here ) commit murder. I am going to bet that there are probably going to be a lot more signature pleading. MM Lee has also contributed his entire life to Singapore. SHould we forgive him or should we uphold the law?
Those who talk about mother stuff should understand that one should be made to face one owns responsibility. A mother can cry and should cry and appeal but that doesn’t mean law should stop. Drug lords don’t get caught but drug traffickers should not try and help them in the first place.
Those who believe the law is wrong should stand in front of the victims who lost family and friend to drug addicts who commit murder and burglary for money and tell them that. Can anyone do that? Can VK’s family tell the victims that?
When it comes to law, miniuscle difference in weight does not matter. 0.01g isn’t going to make a substantial difference.
Rimur
Quote: “We can forgive him but we cannot forget about punishment.”
Who is asking to forget about punishment? Is long jail sentence not a punishment to you?
By the way I’ll happily swap roles with MM Lee if the lifelong contribution is such a burden for him.
Quote: “A mother can cry and should cry and appeal but that doesn’t mean law should stop”
Who says the law should stop? The law should go after the real culprits, not stop.
Quote: “Those who believe the law is wrong should stand in front of the victims who lost family and friend to drug addicts who commit murder….”
Firstly do you know what people are saying is wrong with the law? If not, read up or listen up.
If victims read & listen to what is so wrong with the law, they might just join in the campaign to change the law.
Quote: “When it comes to law, miniuscle difference in weight does not matter. 0.01g isn’t going to make a substantial difference.”
This is the most nonsensical. 0.01g can mean saving your life in the case of drug trafficking. If you can’t even get this right, what else can you?
Rimur
MM Lee has also contributed his entire life to Singapore. SHould we forgive him or should we uphold the law?
……….
nixon stepped down on the watergate scandals..the last prime minister stepped down on expenses anyhow claimed
leekingyou makes NO mistakes?
so which part of the LAW are you upholdin?
by the way..the former us president/prime minister WERE realives warheros runnin a country when it was @ war…
The law is there for you to be aware and not to break them. If you deliberately break them, then you are really asking for it. Yong here has admitted that he knew what he was doing, yet because of a few sob stories, that he turned Buddhist, one gung-ho lawyer and a Malaysian MP, we are going to let him go? How to account to the family members of those drug addicts he has killed?
So how about saving those Singaporeans who are now facing the same trial in Malaysia?
tencents,
Are u sure Yong killed drug addicts?
tencents,
And are you sure they are ‘going to let him go?”
I hope vui kong will escape death sentence. To all those out there who supports death sentence i dont think you know what you are talking about? Do you have kids 18 years old? Do you have a religion? Do you think an 18 years old knows how to think maturely? Dont you think a life sentence for an 18 years old is sufficient? He has to spent his whole life in jail. Pls give him another chance, I have an 18 year old boy,fortunately he is in unversity and not involved in drugs,i pray he doesnt gets involved. But to kill an 18 year old boy because he made a mistake, Remember he is not a murderer. He didnt shoot people point blank! Pls Mr Singapore president, give this boy a chance, I am sure parents with teenage children understand what I am trying to say! Those without children pls dont add oil to fire. Nobody deserves to die at such a young age. Life imprisonment would be sufficient, it is similar to death for an 18 years old. I hope God will give him a second chance!
James 26 August 2010
I think it’s a good comparison.
I beg to differ. And that’s not nitpicking. That fact you had to resort to saying that I was ‘nitpicking’ shows that you have no counter for my arguments, have you?
What I am, is one of those who see that the ‘result’ (drug offense low) is there, and there are probably many factors involved. I do not want to mess around until the critical factor is identified.
Unlike you, I don’t play with other people’s lives (potential victims). At least drug traffickers mainly play with their own lives. They lose (get caught) they only lose their own life. You? if you are wrong many others lives will be ruined or lost. … and you are so nonchalant about it. It would not be stretch to describe you as ‘evil’.
ARE WE WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIHGTS TO TURN BLUE TOMMORROW?
You are such wonderful people. People who know the value of life will not let life be extingushed.No mandatory death sentence
I have read the comments and there are so many beautiful Singaporeans here who knows what love is.
To all of you go on make it your day.
It is cruel and barbaric to hang a man or a woman for drugs.I have asked so many here and gave some examples of
certain people who are wanted big time and still moves around freely. Next I have yet to here a solution to clear the world of Poppy ( Opium, Herion) and Coca( Cocaine and Crack),and Marijuana plants.
Another killing between drug barons. The crowd of people stood and stared. The Drug lLords has just won the war.
Stop asking for the death penalty. Find a solution folks and do it with a loving heart. He ain’t heavy he is our brother.
Peace N Love
@lobo76
Sorry, but what you call “argument” I call “blind insistence.” If you quoted some statistics in support of your “argument” for the MDP, as I have in support of my argument against, then I would engage and take you seriously.
Instead you wave something hypothetical around (“POTENTIAL victims” – note your use of the word potential) and then call me “evil” for having no sympathy for these “potential victims”. I mean, really, that’s all you can come up with after two days? Fear-mongering rhetoric?
You say “if you are wrong many others lives will be ruined or lost”. Another vague hypothetical statement. Well, if YOU’RE wrong many more people are going to be killed. FACT.
And, please, do drug addicts bear no responsibility for their own addiction? Are they forced to buy drugs?
Finally, you say “I do not want to mess around until the critical factor is identified.”
So, after all is said and done, this is your argument: “until I’m 100 percent sure that the MDP doesn’t work, let’s keep on hanging people.”
The petition is a waste of time, with the current characters in the parliament it is a battle against futility. We can only pray that you don’t suffer too much on the noose and may your love one can again find peace.
James
My main point is the MDP is not the issue. The issue is drug related problems. It seems that your ‘blind insistence’ is that there are no such problems? Is it your ‘insistence’ that if drugs do come into Singapore in greater quantities, it is no big deal?
MDP is but one of many factors that may be affecting this Issue. The onus is on you to prove MDP is NOT the critical factor (by finding the critical factor or otherwise). Why else would I want to unbalance something that is giving me a desired result?
-
And, please, do drug addicts bear no responsibility for their own addiction? Are they forced to buy drugs?
Yes…the same old argument. You must be one of those that think that all people who bought lehman shares deserve it (huo gai), regardless they were misrepresented to or not.
Also, they CAN be forced to buy. How? buy forcing on them the First dose.
-
So, after all is said and done, …
your argument is that “I don’t THINK MDP is helping, we should stop it. No definitive proof is needed, coz the drug addicts hou gai.”
@lobo76
No, the issue is whether or not killing drug mules actually lessens the social damage that drugs cause. The issue is, therefore, the RELATIONSHIP between the MDP and the drugs problem. You can’t talk about one without talking about the other.
My argument is that the drug problem is complex, involving responsibility at all levels, from producers to suppliers to middle men to consumers. I think that’s clear. And given this, it should be obvious that killing drug mules will not solve the drugs problem. Not to mention that there is no statistical evidence to suggest that killing drug mules actually lessens the social damage that drugs do.
Killing drug mules is the easy way out. They are generally poor, ignorant and powerless. No one makes a fuss, and lazy-thinkers are happy to make them the scapegoat for the entire drug problem.
I’m sure you will agree that putting someone to death is a serious matter. I think the onus must be on those who believe it is right to kill to give us definitive proof that their arguments are correct BEFORE they kill.
I mean, do you really want to live in a society that kills people simply because some other people claim “it is giving us a desired result”? I, for one, want to be absolutely sure before getting blood on my hands.