On Sunday, more than 150 people turned up at Speakers’ Corner to support the petition for clemency for death row inmate, 19-year old Malaysian Yong Vui Kong.
Despite the drizzle, both young and old were there to add their signatures to the call for clemency. The event was organized by the Singapore Anti-Death Penalty campaigners (SADPC) and The Online Citizen (TOC).
A total of about 150 signatures were collected and these will be added to the Malaysian campaigners’ petition which will be forwarded to the president of Singapore later this month.
Sunday’s event at Hong Lim Park was a marked improvement over the last event in 2009 – also in support of clemency for Yong – which saw some 40 people turn up.
Organisers were heartened by the turn-out on Sunday.
TOC’s chief editor, Andrew Loh, spoke on what the event was about. “Today is not about Vui Kong’s guilt. Today is not about whether the death penalty is right or needed,” he told the crowd in his speech. “Today is about mercy.” He urged for Vui Kong to be shown clemency despite what he had done – trafficking in 47.27g of heroin into Singapore in 2007.
“Vui Kong was just 19 when he committed the offence. His first offence,” Andrew said. He feels that at that age, such a person – who is also illiterate and comes from a poor family – would make mistakes, just like any other person of that age.
He argued that a justice system must also allow for mercy. “We are not here to talk about the legal process or Yong’s guilt. That has already been decided by the courts,” he said. “Do we have room for repentence, for conversion? Should our justice system not allow for these?”
“Hanging drug mules is not going to solve the problem. The drug barons and the drug lords – who live in their castles with their millions – will just find the next gullible, naïve and ignorant young person to do their dirty deeds. And we will hang the next young boy, and the next one, and the next one – while those who’re truly responsible get away.”
Andrew also asked the mainstream media in Singapore to report the story of Vui Kong so as to enable greater public debate on the issue. “Our media reports are so mechanical. Drug trafficker. Found guilty. Sentenced to death. Full stop.”
“Japan just two days ago is putting the death penalty to a public debate,” Andrew said. “We should be doing the same. There is nothing wrong about talking about the death penalty,” he said. “If we are going to hang young boys, and the state will hang them in our names, we should know what the issues are. The media has a responsibility to let people know what these issues are and to allow debate on it.”
The lawyer for Vui Kong, M Ravi also addressed the crowd. He gave an update on Vui Kong’s case and took the opportunity to question the mainstream media’s character assassination of him during previous cases which he was involved in. “What is the purpose of this character assassination?” he asked. The media, he said, had mentioned his mother’s personal problems and his personal circumstances. He questions the motive for the media doing this.
Ravi, who a week ago was in Sabah to lend support to the campaign there, showed the audience some of the personal belongings of Vui Kong – such as his school books when Vui Kong was in primary school. “His mother has kept all these,” he explains.
He also spoke of the earlier event in 2009, also at Speakers’ Corner, where about 40 people took a group picture showing support for Vui Kong. “He stared at the picture for 20 minutes,” Ravi said, referring to Vui Kong’s reaction when Ravi visited him and showed him the picture. “He looked at each one in the picture and tried to remember their names.” Prison rules did not allow Vui Kong to keep the picture, which he desperately wanted to. “Vui Kong then wrote letters to express his gratitude to each one of the people in the picture,” Ravi told the crowd. However, prison rules again did not allow these letters to be sent to them. (See here: A day for compassion.)
The event on Sunday culminated in a group photo of the participants.
Vui Kong’s brothers – Yun Leong and Yun Chong – were also at Speakers’ Corner. Also there to lend their support were Dr Chee Soon Juan, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, and Mr Alan Shadrake, author of the book on death penalty cases, Once A Jolly Hangman.
The campaigners are planning a second photo project called The Anti-Mandatory Death Penalty Photo Project. You can take a picture of yourself expressing support for clemency for Vui Kong and upload it on this Facebook page.
You can also sign the online petition here. It has garnered almost 13,000 signatures so far.
All of these will be sent to the president before 26 August, the deadline for submission of the clemency petition.
Read also: Give Vui Kong a second chance by Rachel Zeng.
Here are some more pictures from Sunday’s event.
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I am for capital punishment but for this young man,i wish i were there.
We live in an age where many of us meat eaters have the convenience to not kill for the meat themselves.. the luxury of not having to experience how an animal go limp as its life leaves its body as you slice its throat (or with a bullet, mullet..etc) for a steak or a drumstick on your plate. All living things that do not kill for their food are scavengers.
In my opinion, to be a responsible meat eater, perhaps you should kill at least once for your meal. Perhaps you should start with a quail.. as it is small and it is less dramatic (or traumatic).
Perhaps we should allow a system for all capital punishment supporters a chance to pull the lever themselves… with maybe a few minutes of interaction with the condemned before the deed, so as to make sure they are doing the right thing and that their conscience will be clear.
And I am no vegan.
@wui
Agree and well said !
..and the first line-up for this should be obvious.
I am really sorry, friends, but you are pissing in the wind.
All 150 of you.
Who do you think is going to take any notice?
And how many of you smiled at the CCTV cameras at Speakers Corner?
You have a cause you cannot win.
The ST has not the b***s to even write an opinion about it.
Maybe with a bit of luck, you will get you pix in the paper with a two-line report the next day.
Okay, that giving you…your five minutes of fame.
But I hope the drizzle cleared and you enjoyed the day out.
At least you “killed” an afternoon.
Some misrepresentation in the article or a matter of semantics?
It was not Yong’s first offence as mentioned in the above article. It was actually his 5th or 6th offence. The only FIRST, is he being caught.
-
wui,
Since we most likely support jail time as a punishment, perhaps all of us should look criminals in the face as we lock (turn the key, etc) them up too?
Expanding on Wul’s post…
Our politicians should take turns to do the job of the hangman. Or, for that matter, of abortionists.
Get PERSONALLY involved in killing. Witness, right before you, a fellow human being eing put to death, or a foetus being torun and shredded to bits. Get your hands dirty and stained with blood!
Then you will know the full gravity of your laws! (I mistyped and almost wrote “lows” – I guess that word is equally appropriate!)
Richard,
So you are a vegan?
It is good for them to point out to the PAP government that they have no mercy and compassion. Even in financial assistance scheme it is given very unwillingly only three month at one time. How to survive? While spending millions in the stupid YOG.
It’s not true that they have no mercy and compassion.
As the facts have revealed to us, they can be as merciful and compassionate as they possibly can or will if the accused has the right connections, status or bargaining power.
Maybe our Law Minister should rephrased his statement factually “What message do we want to convey to the public if we were NOT to pardon Kong when in fact in the past we have already ……..”
*Our politicians should take turns to do the job of the hangman*
politicians do the cleaner work (quite & calm). they will let their doggies (nosier & rough) do the dirtier difficult work.
that is why the incumbent can look so calm & collected.
when you are at the throne, the onus is on others to crawl the ground with barb wire to reach you.
@Orang Singapura
Today, we have equal rights for women in many parts of the world. Today, we have abolish traditional slavery in many parts of the world. Today, equal rights for people of different cultures are practiced in many parts of the world. Today, child brides are much rarer than yesteryears… Today, many well accepted morality are different from what was deemed right yesterday…
Todays’ standards on many issues were not changed overnight. Seeds of doubts, of awareness were planted relentlessly by concerned farmers in solidarity. Some of these seeds grew into today’s forest of reasons, civility and humanity.
A pair starts from two, a group starts from three. To you, we might be pissing in the wind… sure…and we also know much of these piss might splatter into us. But we also know that some of our piss do reach the ground, and we also hope that this wind we are pissing into will carry the stench of our pee into the noses that are high above the ground. And perhaps, through emersion, this stench will someday turn into a natural and common accepted smell.
Whether you like it or not, you and me are part of today. And tomorrow will always come after today. Our stench must have reached your nose. For you, although seemed not to care, have reacted, took notice. Sure, your cynicism have painted us with very condescending strokes… but hopefully one day, if we do get to see that the wind is not blowing against our opened zippers, you might want to stand behind us… don’t want any of our piss to get into your clean trousers now do we?
I
I don’t know if you are an active or sporty person… but do you only take part in activities that you think you will surely win? I don’t know if you are a gambler or perhaps you have joined some lucky draw before, but have you bought lottery tickets or kept those lucky draw coupons so that against all mathematical odds, you might be a winner? Did you, as a young kid, go to school confidently think you will get a PHD in the end and that a cert is the end or proof of your education? Is winning a cause, THE cause??
What a waste of time if you didn’t, isn’t it?
What a waste of time.
lobo76,
“It was not Yong’s first offence as mentioned in the above article. It was actually his 5th or 6th offence. The only FIRST, is he being caught.”
It was Vui Kong’s first offence.
He was never charged for any others.
Andrew
For all the buzz going on about this, alot of people were confused by TOC’s intentions regarding their online campaign for this. Alot of voices, alot of information but not very clear statements on objectives and its rational reasons behind it.
I have to admit, I was one of those. Is TOC advocating lighter penalties for drug trafficking? Or a lighter stance on crime? What?
Finally a statement from Andrew during Sunday’s event crystallized it. “Today is about mercy.”
I wish I was there.
@lobo76
“Since we most likely support jail time as a punishment, perhaps all of us should look criminals in the face as we lock (turn the key, etc) them up too?”
Lobo76, perhaps we should.
Perhaps we should have a system where everyone gets a chance to be a nurse for a day, a chance to clean sewage, etc … so that at least we can say, “we know how that feels like”,
And perhaps, from those chances (at least a day in one’s life), we might learn a thing or two, we might point out certain problems, we might suggest a thing or two as improvements.
I am sure we will be able to get round the troublesome logistics to make this happen eh?
Perhaps if we can’t get everyone to look in their faces and lock criminals up, we can find better ways to educate the general public our prison system and discuss whether that is the best solution…
Any suggestions?
Thank you for your sarcasm by the way.
Nicholas,
We are advocating clemency for Vui Kong.
We will try and make this message clearer.
Thank you.
Andrew
Wui asked: Any suggestions.
This is probably too “alternative” for Singapore’s left-brained bureaucrats to even glance at, but in Portugal during the 1980s, they did a programme whereby the changed the diet of criminals in jail, including hard core criminals like armed robbers and possibly murderers.
Basically, they gave the prisoners a macrobiotic diet of whole grains, veggies, etc, all natural foods, no colouring, preservatives, MSG etc. I had the privilege of meeting the man who led this project, a guy called Chico… forgot his real name.
He related stories about how the prisoners would greet the guards with F*** YOU! but after some weeks, they said “Good morning!” etc etc. Bottom line was that many of them were released early for GOOD BEHAVIOUR and some of these former criminals are now running macrobiotic and health food restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal.
A lot of scientific studies have been done on diet, crime and delinquency by Alexander Schauss.
Well, maybe our authorities are not too close minded. I hear they recently started a fish oil supplementation study for prisoners. It will probably help somewhat, but will not be enough if the prisoners continue to eat plenty sugar and food chemicals.
If there is god, let there be blood on the hands of those that pushes any souls to the noose, If there is god, let there be eternal damnation on the drug overlord in their afterlife for the lives they destroyed along with their cronies, but spare those would own survival (by persecution or economy reasons) depends on the trade.
For, who will risk their life needlessly if not for survival? Remember the famous words” when the buying stops, the killing can too”
This campaign coupled with M Ravi’s hard work shows that Singaporeans are miles ahead of the Malaysians not only in terms of economic development, but more ideals as well. (No offence to Malaysians, I’m Malaysian myself). I mean, if a Singaporean drug trafficker were to be caught in Malaysia and sentenced to death by the authorities there, would Malaysians be campaigning hard for clemency? I bet not, given the selfish and rather uncivilised society that Malaysia has.
Well done S’poreans for anti-death penalty! You stand tall among human rights defenders the world over!
theonlinecitizen (andrew)
I tot we were past the establishing of guilt part? Then again, your plea for mercy was based on that it was his first offence…
which begs the question: Since prosecution may not be charging him for others when a single instant already warrants the maximum sentence, IF it wasn’t his first offence and just that it was his first time being caught, what then is your stand?
wui,
the reason for the sarcasm is because of the notion that OTHERS have to do something simply they disagreed with you. Why is the onus to do something on others when they disagree with you?
In any case, if all DP supporters have to execute somebody because they disagree with you, I think there will be more blood on YOUR hands than any other people. They’d have to actively FIND people to execute…. I hope you can sleep soundly if your idea ever becomes public policy.
Lobo76
Andrew and the TOC are being slightly disingenuous in their arguments.
Firstly any consideration for clemency anywhere in the world takes into consideration all factors which were not or could not be examined in a court of law. Thus Andrew, Ravi etc the TOC can and will bring forth issues of poverty, circumstances, a sick mother, etc etc etc. Logical and correct.
However any submission for clemency will have arguments weighed against and similarly consider factors which would not or be considered by a court of law. In the US for example some clemency boards will review submissions by the victims of those criminals seeking clemency.
The TOC would like you to believe there is only one side of an argument or case for Clemency ” theirs. “. In reality there are two sides both for and against with both within their rights to consider factors not considered in the court case.
Are the additional charges mentioned relavent to the plea for clemency ? I suspect it is hence the avoidance on the part of the TOC on this point.
Firstly there is a world of difference between arguing ” This is his first offense, he has been caught charged put to death and thus deserves clemency.” and ” This is his first offence for which he has been caught charged and put to death , he probably committed more offenses but they do not matter because he was never charged but still deserves clemency anyway. ” I leave it to you to decide which sounds better.
Do note that the additional charges were tabled in court, but were never persecuted to its fullest because the prosecution would only legally need to make one charge stick especially with regards to the MDP. Definitely never proven, but in the court records and in the evidence.
Locke
Good afternoon all,
“We are advocating clemency for Vui Kong. We will try and make this message clearer.”
Ever since TOC et al started this campaign. This is the first time I am hearing – this is now about mercy.
Till now, I have been marooned in my own skull. As the only thing I have been able to make out is a mind boggling array of blurry facts ranging from how Mr Ravi and others are going all over the place and meeting up with all kinds of people to recruit their support for this and that. In the course of this confusion. Mr Ravi has even claimed the AG was acting ultra vires. And prejudiced the proceeding etc.
The long and short is simply a great diffusion of energy that is sorely lacking a clear vision and mission.
Wonder no more why very few people in either Singapore or Malaysia actually knows what you people are trying to accomplish here.
I am sorry if this comes across as harsh. But I am just calling a spade a spade.
Singaporedaddy,
If you have any constructive criticism or better ideas, let us hear it. Otherwise, you should forever hold your peace.
You come across as criticizing for the sake of it with your smart alec comment above.
@Richard
I am sure you and many of us know that this issue is a very complex one. From families, social structures, what we deem as ‘education’ today, government policies etc.
While there will never be a single perfect solution to any social ills as society and social norms and morals changes from time to time, generations through generations, what I would like to see is the tackling these complex problems with real care, deep thoughts, thorough and endless researches, through sincere engagements between people and governments. Perhaps then, we can progress towards what we may view as an improving civilization and species.
Your suggestion, if proven to be true, may become only a complimenting factor in improving society on the whole. However, we need more research on that.
As you know, we don’t have ‘unnatural’ diets a long long time ago.. and we were pretty barbaric.
@Francis
What if there is no god?
Do you perceive an ETERNAL damnation for even a lifetime of unspeakable crimes fair? Even if we can fantasize and satisfy our innate blood lust by imagining being able to kill and torture someone a thousand times over what he/she had done, there must be a point where it is enough.
What good does such wishful thinking do? So that we can sleep soundly and have a contented vengeful smile believing that ‘evil’ people who died will ‘get it’ over and over and over again and suffer in uncountable terms because they never adhere to society’s “we told you so” mandate?
For every crime against the wishes of the majority, there should always be a buffer for society in any era to mete out ‘just’ punishments and mercy, for what punishment befits a crime.. and is it just?
What is justice then? We can’t rape a rapist and hope he feels and develop the perfect empathy for the anguish of her family, the same pain and shame of the victim… It is a tricky situation.
So, what if there is no god.
How should we go about making our lives more pleasant? How should we go about making more people enjoy what we have been privileged to enjoy? So that we ourselves will have an even more pleasant time.
If we keep trimming just the yellow leaves or wayward branches of trees just to make it look presentable without realizing the entire health of the plant might be telling in the roots… a fallen tree might happen. The NParks knows quite well about that… I think.
Praise be to GOD in the printed copy of The Straits Times today about the Chinese Calligraphy words “仁心” whom President Nathan had wielded the brush and wrote these words meaning “compassionate, benevolent and kind-hearted”.
Let us all cry out for President Nathan’s “仁心” to Yong Vui Kong now !
A CALL FOR SINGAPOREANS TO BE COMPASSIONATE
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Sh-gBJjJG9EJ:www.ncss.org.sg/about_ncss/download_file.asp%3Fpressid%3D3+president+Nathan+chinese+calligraphy&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=sg
Wui,
Of course no denying this is a complex issue. Much research has already been done and yes, much more needs to be done before things like a link between diet and crime will become widely accepted. You may not realise this but just the benefits of fibre in the diet took nearly 300 years to gain acceptance. The scientific / medical community tends to be both slow and obstinate about accepting new ideas.
Humans may well have been “barbaric” in war / conquest situations but senseless everyday crimes, such as teenagers shooting grandmothers for no good reason, have been much linked to diet, especially refined sugar.
Recently there was an exhibition along the underground walkway to Esplanade, showing the last meals of death row inmates. To me it was telling that the majority of them wanted a coke or some other sweet foods.
Anyway, I think this is veering off topic. Apologies for bringing it up.
@lobo76
Perhaps you can’t see where I am coming from, and perhaps you do but is just trying to be a cynic.
What I was trying to point out is that many things we do today is so convenient that we easily fail to contemplate the results of our thoughtless decisions.
Most of us, when we go anywhere to eat, we don’t fret over how that meal was delivered to us… as long as it is enjoyable and affordable. We brush aside the struggles of the world, the environments, other species, we just hate worrying.
And if we HOPE to see certain changes, we HOPE the decision makers feel the same way as us.. if not, HOPEFULLY their ears perk up a little to be able to hear our little complaints. In the meantime, let’s not rock any boat.
Let the people who care about environment worry about the sharks and tuna, let them do something about it. And if they succeed, I might grumble about it. Would I campaign against it? Nah, let the people whose livelihood are directly affected do that. Whoever wins the debate, whoever manages to sway political decisions.. I will sway along with it, even if I am disgruntled a little.
Why others have to do something if they disagree with me? Well, it really depends on the subject we are disagreeing about.
In this case, I was doing a thought experiment, as obviously I do not have the power to send a decree.
However, I would rather live in a proactive society than a reactive one. So, because i would rather live in a proactive one, I am active and hopefully encourage others to do likewise. Now if people like to live in a reactive one, then perhaps they can convince me to take their route. I am all for discussions.
Well, you misread my idea as well. Did I say they must do it? Or did I suggest that they should do it?
Did you not read that I said pro death penalty supporters be allowed a chance to pull the lever? And if given so, I wonder how many will take it up.
What do you mean “they’d have to actively FIND people to execute”? Did you think I meant that if 2 million support the death penalty, then there should be mandatory that all 2 million must experience the kill which they support? I am sorry that I was not clearer.
They just have to do what they are doing now. Perhaps an online registration … so that x number of registered persons will be randomly picked to do x number (of convicted criminals) of lever pulling to exercise their right.
We already have blood on our hands. Many have been hung on our behalf. And no, I would not sleep soundly if your misunderstood idea of mine came through. I am not even sleeping soundly now. But I am thankful that you hope I do, as I do not hope those who supports the death penalty do.. which is why we are making a little noise here.
wui,
the reason for the sarcasm is because of the notion that OTHERS have to do something simply they disagreed with you. Why is the onus to do something on others when they disagree with you?
In any case, if all DP supporters have to execute somebody because they disagree with you, I think there will be more blood on YOUR hands than any other people. They’d have to actively FIND people to execute…. I hope you can sleep soundly if your idea ever becomes public policy.
I wonder whether the President has ever exercised his prerogative of mercy to pardon a condemned criminal. What criteria exactly must a person meet before he is deemed deserving of a pardon?
YVK is young. He is repentant. He committed the crime out of naivete, and because he wanted to support his poor mother. Are these factors insufficient to trigger the President’s mercy? If so, then why even have such a mechanism – if it is virtually impossible for a person to be pardoned?
TOC should do an investigative feature to see when exactly the prerogative of mercy has been exercised (if ever). Perhaps it is only something granted to offspring of the rich and influential.
Hello Richard,
I believe we are on the same page in wanting this world to be better, to be more compassionate.. and to continue improving so that there will be less violence, less hunger, less underprivileged.
I wasn’t trying to ridicule you or anything like that. If I come off as that, I do apologize.
When I meant long ago, I was talking about unorganized and more simplistic times. Anyway, that is besides the point.
Yes, sugar does affect a lot of people.. and reactions to it varies. I have seen children (and even some of my friends) becoming hyperactive.
Does your stats show that the number on death row due to violent crimes wanting simple or sweet things is significantly higher than those on death row on non violent crimes?
And if so, can we introduce a change of diet for children growing up in violent community or families and observe the results?
And if proven very positive, perhaps we can propose such diet in school’s canteen and orphanages.
TOC, you claimed that it was Vui Kong’s first offence, but it seems you’ve conveniently ignored the fact that he had already done his drug runs many times prior to him being caught (see below statements released by Ministry Of Law). Can you prove to us otherwise that the statement below by MOL was wrong or was doctored to malign Vui Kong?
I just don’t understand why you want to tell lies to your readers and make it seem as though Vui Kong was such an innocent person, when he had actually being living a life of crime and evil.
==============
Evidence was led in Court to show that Mr Yong has trafficked in heroin on other previous occasions, before he was arrested on 13 June 2007. In addition, on the day he was arrested, he had already made two drug deliveries to customers. Questioned by police, he exonerated the friend who drove him to the delivery venues. The High Court found that he knew, (beyond reasonable doubt), what he was doing. He was trafficking a large amount of heroin (in excess of 47 grams) and had been doing it regularly for profit.
Seet,
Vui Kong was never charged for these.
The court never heard any defence from him.
The court never found him guilty.
How then, can he be assigned guilt when he was never charged for nor found guilty of any other charges except one?
The MinLaw should tell everyone what these “evidence” were.
Andrew
I know comment slike these either get censored or shouted down because it’s not 100 per cent in favour of TOC.
But I feel it would be very constructive is TOC could come out and spell out specifically what they stand for and what the campaign stands for.
I know it’s about mercy, but that’s still rather vague.
Does TOC want mercy for Vui Kong only, or for any future drug trafficker who fits vui kong’s profile? illiterate, from poor background and young.
Also is TOC campaigning against the death penalty as a whole or just the mandatory death penalty?
Is it just no mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers or no mandatory for anything? i.e. if vui kong committed murder…
I mean these are just a few of many more questions I have about the campaing. I think it might be good to put out some kind of manifesto so your supporters know what theya re supporting.
Seet
The TOC is merely being as I stated being disingenuous because it makes the story for Vui Kong look a lot lot less convincing.
Firstly why convict on multiple charges of drug trafficking when one charge alone will carry the maximum penalty of death ? Can you hang the poor boy twice ? Secondly what if or what were the offenses and what if they carried a lesser penalty ? One can’t hang him and then imprison him logically and legally right ?
The question now is one as TOC knows is that of clemency and in clemency it is no longer about legal convictions but about an act of grace and forgiveness
The question is should he be forgiven of the crime he was convicted and any past crimes that he may have committed but not been convicted of be taken into account into his mercy consideration ?
However clemency proceedings being entirely out of the judicial system and an act of grace and mercy can take into account factors for and against clemency not covered by the courts. Thus TOC can plead poverty youth etc and the government will point to evidence tendered in court but not proven
Locke
@wui:
Sorry you misunderstood my point. I agree with you and the 150 others.Whatever your good intentions.
I just happen to be more realistic.
In any part of the world..it may work.
The media there will say something..both for and against.
Here the ST..is gutless to give ANY opinion.
My point is: WHAT THE HECK CAN YOU OR ANYONE DO ABOUT IT.
You are bashing your head against the brick wall. Nobody is going to listen. ITS THEIR COUNTRY, friend. You only live here.
Since when..do you make any difference?
Last time I looked..it did not make any diffence whatsoever.!!
Keep petitioning..it will go.all the way…down the chute.
Seet,
even if what you assumed is true, even if his character is so simplistic and movie like (which is very teenage like), even if he got to enjoy his ill gotten money in thoughtlessness (how do most teenagers today, in our consumerism world, enjoy their money and life by the way?)… what is his motivation? What is his evilness?
Your claim that he has been doing this regularly for profit. So, okay, let’s say he did. And what was his motivation? To destroy lives directly? Or like you said so, for profit?
Even hardened child soldiers in unfortunate worlds have child like emotions and mentality. Many teenagers around the world do thoughtless things regularly which many a times hurt their love ones or others, sometimes they do it consciously without after thought, sometimes with after thought.
We, too, as adults, and citizens of this world do many things without thinking about the implications of our actions. Our shopping, our wastefulness, our lifestyles, our consumerism, our excesses… everyday for most years of our lives, directly and indirectly hurt and kill people around the world, depriving them of equal opportunities and rights.
Do we then, also deserve death for not thinking thoroughly our actions everyday?
Do casinos destroy lives? Or do they only destroy not very well adjusted and disciplined individuals? Or perhaps only illegal casinos have the higher odds of destroying lives?
Do drugs destroy lives? Sure. But whose? Mostly well off, and well connected individuals? I don’t know.. could be just genetics.
Wui, Yes we are on the “same page”. And it is good that you have personally witnessed, eg, the effect of sugar / chemicals on hyperactivity. I have seen this both on TV and in real life. The real life situation involved a mildly autistic child. He was quite well behaved, just sitting down. Then his parents gave him some white bread, as he was hungry. Minutes later, he became a “little monster”.
The TV documentary showed a child injected with a small amount of food colouring, equivalent to what is found in a glass of orange juice. (I guess they injected for the effect to kick in faster, just for demo purpose). Again, she became a little monster. Most touching scene was when they interviewed the mother and she cried becuase all along she felt her child was “naughty”.
No statistics abut death row meals although can be compiled if really interested. Do a google search for “last meal on death row”.
What I saw was an exhibition of photos – of the person and that person’s last meal. From my impressions, it seemed at least 80 percent requested for what might be commonly termed “junk food”. And a lot of them asked for coke or some other soft drinks, or milk shake.
Also, as mentioned earlier, look up the research and writings of Alexander Schauss and others.
Orang Singapura,
No, I don’t think I missed your point, but I think you missed mine.
I am glad you are sympathetic to the cause, even though you are realistic as you have put it. So, although we may or may not get to see a favorable future in our view.. but I know that if or when we do, you are on our side.
Let us do our head bashing, in time, that wall will have a dent. In time, the cement that holds the bricks together will go a little weaker.. if we keep bashing our heads in.
Since when do we make a difference? You might like to compare and see the changes in the rules and policies in the 80s, mid 80s, 90s and mid 90s. You think that happened because one day, our ministers, as they were sitting on their high chairs go ‘Aha!’.
Do you think the ruling party do not react to international pressures. Do you think the ruling party is unafraid of economic backlashes? Do you think the ruling party is not afraid of a surprise electorate result? Do you think the ruling party do not react to murmurs in the streets? Murmurs go a long way sometimes.
Unless there is an election fraud. Then, I am confident, my vote is as good as anyone’s.
We are just as realistic as you are. But we are not apathetic. You know, without the 2nd to the last sprinter, the winner of a race will never be pushed. And without the front runner, the one behind do not get pulled. Without someone running side by side, you won’t know your pace sometimes.
When is the last time you hear someone breaking national records running on their own? Why do sportsman and women frequently break their own personal best in sporting meets? Because everyone in that particular race, is influencing each other.
Even a cheering crowd of supports, fans or even quiet bystanders can affect the performance of performers.
Although nobody likes to race in an empty stadium, although many race knowing there is only defeat in the cards. But those who race are not defeated in their hearts.
“Today is not about Vui Kong’s guilt. Today is not about whether the death penalty is right or needed,” he told the crowd in his speech. “Today is about mercy.”
Errrh. I am really confused. If this not about GUILT. Then why is ravi ask the Malaysian MFA to intervene bc he believes the both the law minister and AG is GUILTY prejudging VK case?
If this is not about whether the death penalty is RIGHT or needed. Why did ravi see fit to highlight to all of us Malaysians how our Mahkamah Tinggi (high court) once pardoned a Chinese national for the death penalty? And the same RIGHT should be extended to VK by your govt?
If this is only about MERCY. Why was there a need to even travel to Malaysia and touch base with so many people who have no power to be merciful? As this is a matter that involves the sovereignty of the republic of Singapore. Furthermore, why not make it clear from the very beginning this is ONLY about Mercy and nothing else? Instead of wasting everyone time. And confusing them.
You are really confusing all of us Malaysians.
we should give him 1 more chance
@ Andrew
“Vui Kong was never charged for these.
The court never heard any defence from him.
The court never found him guilty.
How then, can he be assigned guilt when he was never charged for nor found guilty of any other charges except one?”
What you said is true. He was never charged. Is it your contention that on the one and only time VK tried to traffick drugs, he got caught?
Don’t repeat the argument about being charged.
I just wanted to know if this is the case. You’ve had contact with the family and his lawyer, is this what actually happened? If it is, you should really make it more obvious in your articles.
Richard,
Oh I don’t know.
It is a depressing, a very disturbing thought of having one’s last meal.
What would you choose? I think I would view every meal as the last if I was on death row.
These 80 percent that you mentioned who ordered junk food, is that stats based on those incarcerated from the western world? Would 80 percent of that particular society be eating junk food most of the time in general anyway?
A statistic across various cultures might provide a better picture.
I have seen the documentary that you have mentioned. But it showed how ignorant we are about many things, and how we should always be skeptical about supposed news, advertisements or common knowledge.
But hey, I am all for better and healthier food. :-)
Seems to be mainly Americans… still, the inmates meals were like the extremes of junk food, eg only coke or coke plus donut etc. Cannot remember the details lah.
Anyway if you can find the book Sugar Blues, plenty of info there on the diet of famous criminals, eg serial killers and rapists, And “mad” people too. Seems Hitler was a sugar junkie as well, always had chocolate in his office and put sugar in his wine. Also had rotten teeth!
Hi Richard,
I have been drinking coke and munching junk food all of my life.Because of that,i have developed some health problems but i still could not even gather enough guts to kill a mosquito sucking my blood.In another word,i have no violence tendency.Is there an answer to that.
What a second chance could do for society:
“GLENN LIM is an inspiring role model and gifted public speaker.
As a young rock musician he came close to a life sentence for importing drugs in his youth.
Thankful for his second chance, he has made good and has since served as a youth specialist consultant, curriculum developer, counselor, trainer and ambassador.
A multi-award winner, Glenn has been recognized for his efforts in youth outreach & rehabilitation through his many diverse creative platforms. He works closely with government and community agencies, actively serving in his capacity as youth advisor and sits in many community and youth committees.”
http://www.glennlim.net/
Gambling destroys life as well. It can be addictive and deadly (when you run out of money for food) as drugs can be. My once good friend lost his job due to Gambling addiction and has no money to seek medical treatment for his heart problems he died 2yrs ago. If Vui Kong should be hanged, should we also hang casino operators or those who allow them to operate here? Even worse casino operators promotes and advertises their business.
End of the day you gamble at your own risk and you are responsible for your own health. Drug traffickers never made any false claims or advertising about their drugs or force them upon users.
No matter how I look at it mandatory death sentence for traffickers is simply a decoy to make the law makers look good. If the government is seriously concerned about our livelihood then close down the 4d, toto, soccer betting venues and Geylang as well. But of course they wont.
@Wui: You say..Let us do our head bashing, in time, that wall will have a dent. In time, the cement that holds the bricks together will go a little weaker.. if we keep bashing our heads in.”
FOR NOW..DONT BANG YOUR HEAD TOO HARD.
IT WILL BE SORE.
Simply put..somethings will change when the MAN goes to the happy hunting ground. That I believe.
Some things wont. It will be in our childrens lifetime..that it will all be different.
And you know what..it will be the NEW singaporeans that are flooding in..here now..and their families that will make it different.
You know why.. because they are not going to take the s**t…that the present singaporeans take.
we should give him 1 more chance
Orang Singapura,
I used ‘head banging’ just because you did.
What do you think we are doing here?
Look, if things do not change in our lifetime, at least we start the ball rolling for the next generation… and hopefully, what we are doing now, makes a difference for the future.
You said that the present Singaporeans are taking s**t.. and the ‘new’ Singaporeans won’t.
What do you think we are doing here?
Taking s**t???