TR EMERITUS

Controversial YPAP leader and new citizen from India Mr Sinha Satyabrata Shekhar has finally "clarified" his infamous "DOGS" remarks in a way on the YPAP Facebook to an aggrieved netizen who confronted him. Mr Sinha Shekhar sparked a massive outcry among Singaporeans lately when his remarks about PAP critics being "DOGS" is widely reported in the mainstream media: [Source: YPAP Facebook] Mr Sinha Shekhar had initially said he would explain himself to the public via the media, but nothing has been heard from him so far though he has resumed posting on the YPAP and REACH Facebooks. Last week, Mr Sinha Shekhar who has changed his Facebook profile photo, finally offered Singaporeans a sort of explanation as to why he made the remarks: [Source: YPAP Facebook] Mr Sinha Shekhar claimed that he has never called anybody "DOGS" and "the whole thing was taken out of context." He alluded his statement to that of a "proverb": "People use the proverb "Top money for the top dogs" Does that mean all are dogs? Proverbs are usually metaphorical statements," he added. His explanation cut no ice with most netizens with one even going to the extent of listing out all the proverbs with the word "dogs" in them to show that Mr Sinha Shekhar's statement is NOT a recognizable proverb. A speech therapist by training, Mr Sinha Shekhar is currently the Head of Rehabilitation at Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital. He was awarded an "Outstanding Contributor Award" by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in person not too long ago for his "contributions" on the REACH forum. Though he came to Singapore at 25 years of age, he has never served a single day of National Service unlike other Singapore males born here who have to serve two years of NS followed by 13 years of reservist.   Related articles: 1. YPAP leader Sinha Shekar accused of parking at inappropriate lot 2. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar blamed Singaporeans for misunderstanding him 3.YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar threatened to sue whistle-blower for slander 4. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar complains about low rent of his resale HDB flat 5. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar described PAP critics as “DOGS” 6. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar urged CDCs to reach out to immigrants 7. Indian new citizen Sinha Shekhar scolds unemployed Singapore NSman   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.  Read More →

OPINION The recent case of Malaysian drug trafficker Yong Vui Kong has sparked a campaign against the mandatory death penalty in Singapore among a small group of activists. In Singapore the death penalty  is mandatory for first-degree murder and for the possession of more than 15g of heroin in its pure form (dia-morphine), which is deemed to be evidence of trafficking. Amnesty International, a well-known human rights NGO, claimed in a 2004 report that Singapore has the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population: "More than 400 prisoners have been hanged in Singapore since 1991, giving the small city-state possibly the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population of just over four million people. The execution figures include a significant percentage of foreign nationals. It is not known how many prisoners are currently on death row, but the shocking death toll from executions continues to rise." [Source: Amnesty International] In a stern reply to the report, Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs accused Amnesty International of resorting "to grave errors of facts and misrepresentations, which seriously calls into question the credibility of its Report." "AI is entitled to have its own view on the issue of the death penalty, and to campaign against it worldwide. But AI's position on abolition of the death penalty is by no means uncontested internationally. The issue of the appropriateness of the death penalty is one where there is no international consensus. Many, including Singapore, have determined that it is a necessary punishment for certain offences. Neither do the norms of international law constrain in any way each country's sovereign right to adopt the use of the death penalty in its criminal justice system." [Source: Ministry of Home Affairs] As we can see from the Singapore's government's strong stance, it will never buckle under international pressure to abolish the mandatory death penalty, let alone succumb to pressure from a few dozen Singaporeans campaigning against it. The Singapore opposition should and must stay clear of the anti-death penalty campaign for the following reasons: 1. The majority of Singaporeans actually support the mandatory death penalty. According to a survey done by Think Center in 2001, an overwhelming 83% of Singaporeans have voted to retain the death penalty. (Source: AFP) Though the survey is done nearly a decade ago, the figures are unlikely to change much today. Not only will the opposition not gain any political mileage from the fruitless exercise, it may even incur the wrath of the public by campaigning for a punishment which may deem necessary. 2. The issue lacks public interest and appeal. Few Singaporeans know anything about the legal aspects of the mandatory death penalty let alone the interest to see it being abolished. Even fewer will become activists to exert pressure on the government. The opposition should be spending its limited resources on more pressing issues such as the relentless influx of foreigners, sky-rocketing HDB flat prices and the rising cost of living which Singaporeans are concerned about. 3. It will only provide the PAP with easy fodder to shoot them during the election by resorting to the usual fear-mongering tactics. As an example, Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the Secretary-General of the Reform Party, who went to lend support to the campaign may be attacked by a PAP leader as such: "You vote for Kenneth Jeyaretnam, he is a vocal supporter of the anti-death penalty campaign. If you vote Reform Party into power, they will abolish the death penalty and Singapore will become like Australia, where cannabis is freely available in the streets. Do you want to see your children smoking pot in college? Do you want the drug peddlers to sell heroin to your child?" Sounds familiar? The anti-death penalty campaign will not gain any public support and will fizzle out after a while. The opposition should not jump on the bandwagon for some cheap publicity and should focus solely on bread and butter issues which most Singaporeans are obsessed about.   Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.    Read More →

作者: 冀居·谢 最近读了一本书，书名叫做《没有标准答案的哲学问题》，是美国纽约 大学讲师PhilWashburn著作的中译本，原来的书名叫做《Philosophical dilemmas》。我觉得很有启发性。 【淹水车的汽车保险】 对于一个社会的组成，共有两类看法，一种是契约论，一种是有机论。契约论者认为社会上下层是因为契约的缘故而能够走在一起，人们放弃一定的自由来换取当政 者所提供的安全。要是当政者不能够提供允诺的东西，这个契约就会出现裂痕，甚至可以推翻。但是有机论者认为社会的组成比较像生物有机体，会互相影响和牵 制。就好比这个武吉智马和乌节淹水所带来汽车保险费上涨的问题，就比较符合有机论。 怎么讲呢？因为政府把大雨淹水的责任推得一干二净、怨天尤人，我们的“契约”好像也不会出现裂痕。但是由于没有人负责，变成保险公司和车主吃死猫（别忘了还有商店保险），最后“痛”一定要发生，就好像生物一样。 这使我想起美国对BP钻油台的海湾漏油事件所施与的压力，使到BP不得不筹足500亿来长期救援受灾户，因为如果奥巴马不这么做，最后的“痛”还是会算在他的头上。 行动党政府是完全麻木了，还是慌得手忙脚乱？ 【精英主义】 你知道精英主义的对立面是谁吗？答曰：平等主义者。精英主义者有四项坚持： 1. 有的人在特定的领域里面有过人的才能，有的人没有。 2. 当人们没有才能的时候，我们应该实事求是告诉他们。 3.如果政府把精英安置到他们擅长的领域里面，那么人人都会受益。 4. 天生有才华和智慧过人者总是少数。 但是看看咱们的总理内阁，就知道这些人外表是精英主义，里子其实是平等主义，只要是党内同志，大家同捞同煲，生养死葬服务周到。 1.有的人在特定的领域里面有过人的才能，有的人没有：除了少数几个，如许文远（医药）、尚达曼（经济）、张志贤（国防）之外，其他都是各部门轮流做，很多做 半任就来个大风吹。有个兽医做到文化部长、有个外科医生做教育部长，还有个HP的人事部经理做到副总理，才能吗？笑话倒有一大摞。 2.当人们没有才能的时候，我们应该实事求是告诉他们：以前是悄悄叫他们去死，或者潜逃，现在是公然袒护他们。有者闯下大祸，还可以留到大选才下台，退休金得以保障。 3.如果政府把精英安置到他们擅长的领域里面，那么人人都会受益：参考第一和第二项，因为我从没看过他们有任何“退场机制”。 4.天生有才华和智慧过人者总是少数：这少数的才华过人者还有个怪现象，只要脱离执政党的卵翼，他们马上就贬为平庸辈。很多虽然是很不光彩从高位跌下来，百万年薪变成二十万年薪，只要记者的麦克风递到他的面前，他还是会说：“只要党还有需要，我一定会鞠躬尽瘁死而后已的效劳。” 来源: http://www.malaysia-chinese.com  Read More →