18 September 2008

Facing down a grave security threat: politics

Cycling events by political parties are not allowed, said the government, unless it is organised by a charity foundation, such as the PAP's own. Gopalan Nair is sentenced to three months' jail for insulting judge. Singapore prides itself in being tough, so that we enjoy a safe and peaceful society. Full essay.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for putting things into perspective as usual, Wise Bread Man.

It is much needed for people to see...

Anonymous said...

Thank u for opening our eyes.

We need resposible fellow singaporeans to help us see the woods and the forest...

yuen said...

quite aside from the connection between political parties and charity foundations, the task of the police is to maintain public order, and decision about whether an event should be banned, ought to be based on the possibility of public disturbance, not on whether an event is for politics or charity

for example, if the charity foundation has a history of holding peaceful events, while the political party has a history of causing disturbances, then there may be ground for approving the former but not the latter; that type of thinking would be consistent with the police being part of an apolitical civil service

Anonymous said...

What can I say? The last couple of years, the govt has been brushing asides relevant comments and queries on a number of issues.This instant the explanation, if you can it call it that,is so weak that the only way to win it is for Prof Ho to brush it aside and move on. Pathetic..

Anonymous said...

Very simple,any activity that is against the interest of Pap would not be allowed.So it is pointless to argue with Ho.PM Lee said before, he wants to find ways to fix the opposition.

Anonymous said...

my pet peeve - on the same day Tang was given a 2 hour jail term (while represented by some powerful senior counsel or something - we cheer the judge's compassion) in another court, another chap was jailed 7 months for opening a massage parlour - even after it was mentioned he has terminal lung cancer. Justice is blind, but it helps if you are rich and have powerful lawyers to help you.
I hope Walter Woon will relook that cancer case - if it is not too late!

KiWeTO said...

Rule by law


"The difference between "rule by law" and "rule of law" is important. Under the rule "by" law, law is an instrument of the government, and the government is above the law. In contrast, under the rule "of" law, no one is above the law, not even the government..."

Its up to each person to decide what they believe the system here in SG belives more.

Few thousand miles and years from China we be, yet, our political system here looks and feels just a wee bit too similar.

Legalism.
The state's only purpose is to preserve its existence. 'Serving' the people just means issuing more writs of summons on them.


E.o.M.

Anonymous said...

the thing that puzzle me about our parliament debate is the ruling party will most of the time brush aside questions from the oppositions and the NMPs with moronic answers and these people will not retort and say that their questions had not been answered or that the reply is just "a going thru the motion and nonsensical".

I am not saying that the oppositions and NMPs need to be like Ding Howe Doong with his infamous "dont talk cock" retort but at least do not let the ruling party treat them in such a condescending way like they are some kind of moron, pest or nuisance.