Thoughts on Singapore politics: The road ahead
Written by Ng E-Jay
03 July 2009
In my previous article From stifled dissent to managed dissent, I discussed how the ruling PAP is gradually adapting to an approach of soft authoritarianism, replacing blatantly oppressive tactics like the use of the ISA on political opponents with the subtle managing of dissent through token liberalization of the rules that gives the people a semblance of political space but without actually returning them their full constitutional rights.
The liberalization of Speaker’s Corner for public demonstrations whilst denying Singaporeans the freedom of peaceful assembly via the Public Order Act, the tweaking of the Films Act to give more room for political films whilst denying Singaporeans the freedom of speech through the constant threat of defamation suits, and the new NCMP scheme which gives the opposition a greater voice in Parliament but in no way makes elections free or fair, are prime examples of the way the PAP unconstitutionally maintains its grip on all the key levers of power whilst pretending that there is greater freedom and political rights.
S’pore confirms 82 new H1N1 cases, makes transition to mitigation phase
Source: Channel News Asia, 01 July 2009
SINGAPORE: Singapore has confirmed 82 new cases of H1N1 flu, bringing the total to 783 so far. Most are local cases.
Three hundred patients have fully recovered, while the rest are in stable condition.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said it is making the transition to the mitigation phase, so those with flu-like symptoms may see polyclinic or pandemic preparedness clinic doctors, who will make a preliminary assessment. They need not call 993 for the special ambulance.
A credible and effective opposition
By the Singapore Democrats
01 July 2009
Original link
The PAP, or rather Mr Lee Kuan Yew, has tried — and is still trying — to define what the opposition in Singapore is and how it should function. He wants to see a “constructive” opposition.
By that, Mr Lee means that the opposition should play the game within his rules and accept the PAP’s dominance in Singapore’s politics. Anyone working outside this definition is labeled “destructive”. The late J B Jeyaretnam and Dr Chee Soon Juan are examples.
From reviewing the input of Singaporeans through the years, however, we have crystallised five essential features that Singaporeans feel an opposition must possess in order to function effectively. We then show how the Singapore Democrats have stacked up against these criteria.
Chee in Taiwan for in-law’s funeral, judge rescinds warrant of arrest
By the Singapore Democrats
29 June 2009
Original link
District Judge Toh Yung Cheong had issued a warrant of arrest for Dr Chee Soon Juan who is presently in Taiwan for his father-in-law’s funeral but rescinded it earlier today. Judge Toh issued the warrant last Wednesday, 24 June 2009, the day the hearing for the trial over the WB-IMF protest in 2006 was to resume.
Dr Chee did not appear in court that day as he had left for Taiwan four days earlier because his father-in-law was dying.
He had applied for an adjournment before he left but Judge Toh rejected the request and ordered that the hearing proceed as scheduled. Dr Chee then asked to see Mr Toh in person but was told that the Judge was on vacation.
Singapore seeks to manage political change
Source: Reuters, 27 June 2009
Resourceful, but resource-scarce, Singapore has nimbly changed with the times in its first 50 years of self-governance. But the global economic slowdown has thrown the trade-dependent city-state into its worst recession and issues from unemployment to huge losses at two sovereign wealth funds have set fresh challenges for the People’s Action Party (PAP), which marked a half-century in power this month.
Analysts say future risks include political change after the current generation of ageing leaders, possibly even from a split in the ruling party, and external threats such as conflict with neighbours and competition from cheaper manufacturing centres.
“It won’t be as stable and as unchangeable as people think,” said Roman Scott, who runs a private equity firm in Singapore. He is bullish on the country’s long-term prospects, but said terror attacks or political changes were the biggest risks.
“Even in Singapore, nothing lasts forever.”
Parental abuse: the family remains the front line
EDITOR’S NOTE: Parental Abuse the most SHAMEFUL domestic crime of all!
Source: Straits Times, 30 June 2009
THERE has been a growing number of cases where children have abused their parents physically. Some have involved perpetrators still in their teens. The assault of parents - the very people who gave life, love and sustenance to their children - ranks among the lowest of the low. All religions condemn it. One only has to recall the biblical proverb - He who mocketh his father, the ravens shall pick out his eye - to get a sense of the heinousness of the crime.
Alas, there remains much ingrained inertia against the reporting of such crimes. A poll done in 2007 notes that many Singaporeans still regard family violence as a private matter. Society in general remains fairly apathetic to family violence. Understandably, parents who report cases of abuse not only shame their own offspring, but also place their own parenting skills - and reputation - at stake.
There are other mitigating factors. It could also be argued, for example, that the shrinking size of families has placed a heavy burden on working adults - the ’sandwiched generation’ who have to support both their elderly parents as well as their own children.
Operation Spectrum open forum: a good start
By the Singapore Democrats
28 June 2009
Original link
After 22 years, we are beginning to see more public events that address the Internal Security Act (ISA) detentions in 1987.
In May a group of five activists came together to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Marxist arrests. Led by Seelan Palay, the group got together at Hong Lim Park and called for the for the abolishment of ISA. (See here and here.)
On Sunday afternoon, Martyn See organised discussion forum about the 22 arrests. The indoor event was supposed to have taken place last Saturday. However, about before that, the owner of the venue called Martyn to inform him that he had to cancel the booking to to an ongoing CID investigation (see here.)
My internet connection was cut off — time spent briefly reflecting on various issues
From the Editor’s Desk
29 June 2009, 10pm
My internet connection was cut off over the weekend. It has not been restored, and I have contacted Starhub MaxOnline is resolve the issue. They are still working on it. Over the next few days, my updates of Sgpolitics.net might be sporadic, depending on whether I get the chance to access the internet outside home.
As a result of my not being able to access the internet, I have also not managed to clear the backlog of comments held in moderation the past few days until now. I apologize for the disruption.
The time out from surfing the internet was beneficial for me, as I managed to use it to briefly reflect upon various issues.
Why was NTU quick to jump to conclusions about David Hartanto Widjaja’s death?
Source: Straits Times, 26 June 2009
(Original title of the Straits Times article: More accusations hurled at NTU)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This was a poorly titled ST article. I have re-titled it here, to REMOVE ST’s inherent bias against David Hartanto Widjaja and his family.
WHEN Mr David Hartanto Widjaja’s family arrived in Singapore on the day he died, various people all told them he had stabbed his professor, cut his own wrists and jumped off a bridge to his death.
These were mostly representatives from the Nanyang Technological University, said Mr Widjaja’s brother William at a coroner’s inquiry into the death.
Mr William Widjaja, 24, said he was surprised everyone had already drawn conclusions about how the events had panned out even though police investigations had barely started.
David Hartanto Widjaja’s family feels unfairly treated by Singapore court
News Report by The Jakarta Post, 25 June 2009
The case of David Hartanto Wijaya, an Indonesian student who died at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in March, is entering a crucial stage, but the family continues to suspect an unfair process.
David’s family filed a request in April to the Singaporean coroner court to consider the case as a murder, challenging conclusions made by the NTU and Singaporean police that David had committed suicide.
Only if the coroner court finds it was not suicide will the case be forwarded to the criminal court.
However, David’s family has felt that they still received unequal treatment throughout the process.
Widjaja family’s application to replace lawyer rejected
Source: Channel News Asia, 25 June 2009
SINGAPORE: On the last scheduled day of the David Hartanto Widjaja coroner inquiry, his family sprung a surprise by submitting a letter to the State Coroner seeking an adjournment, permission to call another seven witnesses and a change in counsel.
They asked for their current lawyer Shashi Nathan to be replaced by popular criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan.
Mr Nathan said he was not aware of the new development.
Doctors puzzled over supply of expired Tamiflu
Source: Straits Times, 25 June 2009
DOCTORS have been puzzling over the boxes of the anti-viral medicine, Tamiflu, that they have received from the Health Ministry over the past few days.
The reason: these boxes have a new sticker stuck on the box, extending the expiry date for another three years.
This means a box, manufactured in 2003, with an original expiry date of December 2007 can now be used till December 2010.
Seelan Palay under investigation for One Nation under Lee
By the Singapore Democrats
25 June 2009
Original link
Mr Seelan Palay, maker of One Nation Under Lee (ONUL), was called up yesterday for questioning by the police. The 24 year-old Singaporean filmmaker had produced the 40-minute video narrating the rule of Singapore by Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
The film was screened at a private function last year at the Peninsular-Excelsior Hotel when the police and Media Development Authority officials barged in and seized the video. Since then ONUL has been making its rounds on YouTube attracting tens of thousands of views.
Below is the police interview as provided by Mr Seelan Palay:
TTSH releases clinical data of first 50 H1N1 patients in Singapore
Source: Channel News Asia, 24 June 2009
SINGAPORE: The World Health Organisation uses a temperature benchmark of 37.8 degrees Celsius as one of the factors to determine if someone is a suspect H1N1 case, but experts at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital warn that doctors should not overlook those with low fever as well.
92 per cent of H1N1 patients in Singapore had respiratory infections, but 46 per cent had mild fever of less than 37.8 degrees Celsius when they sought medical treatment.
This is according to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which released its clinical findings on the first 50 H1N1 patients on Wednesday.
Friends of David Widjaja say he was a reserved person
Source: Channel News Asia, 24 June 2009
SINGAPORE: In the ongoing coroner’s inquiry into the death of Indonesian student David Widjaja, friends from his university’s bible study group told the court on Wednesday the student was a reserved person who avoided talking about his personal life.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference, his elder brother William Widjaja expressed his disappointment about the way the university had handled the issue.
Is Marina Barrage the reason for unhealthy water conditions?
ST letter (online) by Mr Goh Shi Hai, 23 June 2009
FOR the past few months, dead fish have been seen floating at the shoreline of Marina Reservoir, near Kallang Basin.
Many dragonboat rowers who use the reservoir have also been suffering skin infections. Even with small cuts and abrasions, recovery is complicated, often developing into badly infected wounds that, in some cases, even required surgery.
Previously, dragonboat trainees hardly suffered from such conditions. Is the construction of the Marina Barrage the reason for the contamination of the water?
Could it be because the Barrage blocks the flow of the water from the area to the open sea? Is the problem exacerbated by the decomposing marine life dotting the shoreline?
Can the relevant authorities advise on the current water conditions as well as the measures in place to ensure that the water remains safe and fit for rowers?
Goh Shi Hai
Standing up for the people on bended knees
Written by Ng E-Jay
23 June 2009
In his no-holes-barred masterpiece Requiem for an unbending Singaporean, former President C.V. Devan Nair recounted how, after J.B. Jeyaretnam had won the 1981 Anson by-election, the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said that he would make him “crawl on his bended knees, and beg for mercy“.
But the former Worker’s Party leader was made of far sterner stuff, and in Devan Nair’s own words, “he never did crawl on bended knees, or ever begged for mercy, and it is to Lee Kuan Yew’s eternal shame that Jeyaretnam will leave the political scene with his head held high, enjoying a martyrdom conferred on him by Lee.”
Today, it still remains to be seen whether the Worker’s Party is able to live up to J.B. Jeyaretnam’s principles and embody the same kind of moral rectitude and courage so consistently displayed by its former stalwart.
A nation of foreigners in 11 years
Ng E-Jay / Current Affairs Desk, The Online Citizen
22 June 2009
THE NATIONAL Population Secretariat announced on Wednesday that Singapore’s total population grew to 4.84 million in 2008, with the proportion of foreigners increasing to 25 percent.
Noting the challenges faced by families during the current downturn, the Secretariat reiterated the need to encourage marriage and parenthood, attract foreigners, and foster naturalisation and integration of new immigrants.
The challenges faced by Singapore in integrating foreigners into the local community is by no means unique, but the fact remains that the large influx of foreigners in recent years have the potential to cause many social problems. Foreigners have been blamed for depressing wages and making it harder for citizens to secure employment — factors that are exacerbated during an economic crisis.
If the growth in the number of foreigners continues on its present trajectory, the proportion of foreigners in our midst will continue to grow every year, and might hit one-third of the total population when the Government achieves the target population of 6 million.
Assuming that there is no limit placed on population growth and policies remain the same, in slightly over a decade, foreigners could account for half our population. This would spell dire consequences for our social fabric and national identity.
Read the full article at TOC: A nation of foreigners in 11 years
Your flame will always shine, Anthony
By the Singapore Democrats
21 June 2009
Original Link
It is with very heavy hearts that the Singapore Democrat and Friends write this about Anthony Yeo. Anthony passed on last evening due to complications that arose from the cancer that he had been suffering from.
In this very difficult time, we can only hope and pray that his family is encouraged and comforted by all the love that is pouring in from those who knew this wonderful man.
Anthony has a very special place in the hearts of those of us in the SDP. He was a friend whom we never hesitated to invite to our functions and events and one whom we could readily call on if we needed his help.
TRULY SHOCKING: Only half of flu clinics meet criteria to deal with flu pandemic
Source: Channel News Asia, 20 June 2009
SINGAPORE: It may not be long before Singapore sees a sustained community spread of the H1N1 flu.
On Friday authorities confirmed what may be three locally transmitted H1N1 cases, bringing the number of possible community cases to four.
It also brings Singapore closer to the mitigation phase of coping with the infection.
This means resources will be focused on caring for those who are ill, instead of the current strategy of quarantining potential and confirmed patients.
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