TR EMERITUS

Former journalist Mr Robert Ho was arrested by the Singapore Police in late 2001 for "criminal defamation" against PAP leaders on a blog post, representing the first-ever case of its kind. Ho was accused of posting "inflammatory" articles online during the general elections alleging electoral fraud for the Cheng San GRC Constituency in 1997. The article wrote that 2 eye-witnesses, a retired Police Inspector and a practising Lawyer had "inadvertently witnessed election rigging during the ballot counting for the Cheng San GRC Constituency of 5 MP seats......taking place in the Anderson Junior College Hall." The witnesses claimed that they saw a closed box van being driven into Anderson Junior College Hall (after couting had started) to unload 7 to 8 ballot boxes which were brought into the counting hall.  The newly arrived ballot boxes were added to the pool of already opened boxes undergoing counting. The scrutineers and the opposition candidate in the counting hall at that time also said they checked the unopened boxes and found that the opposition party seals were not in place. This was reflected to the Returning Officer who then said that the absence of the opposition seal did not render them invalid as the responsibility for having the seal in posiiton was that of the opposition party. The PAP candidates, led by Lee Yock Suan went on to win the GRC by 54.8% of votes over the Workers Party's team led by Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam. Following his arrest, Ho was immediately charged in Court for "incitement to violence" and ordered to be remanded at IMH for observation. The Prosecution subsequently dropped the charge and he was warned not to speak to the Press upon release. Barely eight months later on 3rd July 2002, he was arrested again by the Police for another 2 similiar postings he made in his blog and on soc.culture.singapore. The Police also took away his personal computer and every single computer-related device from printers, floppy disks, CD-ROMs [and] modems to cables. He was not charged in Court this instance for "criminal defamation", which the Police is investigating him for. He was allowed to leave after giving his statement.  He never heard from the Police again until 26th July 2002, when he was again arrested by the Police. No statement were taken from him and he was immediately sent to IMH and admitted against his strenuous objections. He was discharged from IMH a week later with no further action taken. Eager for the result of this pending investigation against him for "criminal defamation" and the return of his personal computer, Ho repeatedly tried to contact the Investigating Officer for further information but he was repeatedly ignore, citing "investigations are still ongoing". When Ho was interviewed by Martyn See in 2007, his case remains “Investigation are still ongoing”  and his personal computer not returned. It was only around 2008-2009 (exact date can't remember) that his personal computer was returned to him and the case officially closed.      by Forecaster Extraordinarie II   What is criminal defamation? It’s considered an archaic law in most countries that still have it, in that it has historically been used to silence speech inconvenient to the powers that be. In Singapore, it is found in Sections 499 and 500 of our Penal Code, which say: 499. Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs, or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person, intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter excepted, to defame that person. [.....] and 500. Whoever defames another shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with both.  Read More →

Dear Singaporeans, Many of us have seen how PM Lee has tried to appease our desire for greater voice in parliament by increasing number of NCMPs. What we really need is not that but for PAP to remove all the obstacles that hinder political participation by other political parties. What each one of us should do is write to or email or MP and demand that there must be no walkover in each of our constituency and that no PAP MP must get elected by the back door. COLONIAL BRITISH DIDN'T OBSTRUCT US Singapore was a city up to 1959 with a large number political parties and independent newspapers. There was freedom to start political parties, freedom to organise politically, freedom to communicate ideas, freedom to express disatisfaction in a civilised manner and so on. All this was possible under the colonial British. The British did not obstruct us like the way PAP is doing today. It is a shame that foreign imperialists did not put us to such condition and yet our own people are refusing to let us be independent. Whoever thinks Singapore got its independence in 1965 is naive. It only got its independece from British then. It however remained till this day under the subjugation of PAP. Singapore will only be independent that day when it is free from all forms of autocracy. WE TRADED OFF FREEDOM FOR ECONOMIC SUCCESS YESTERDAY, BUT WHAT ABOUT TODAY? We accepted PAP's repression and autocratic methods naively believing that it is a tradeoff for the economic success PAP will bring us. We did that tradeoff for 50 years. However today we are still giving up our freedom but we are not receiving economic success in return. We are indeed shortchanged. When we look at Taiwan and South Korea, we must feel ashamed that we have been short changed. Those countries, including one which is a Chinese country, did not give up freedom and have managed to reap greater economic success than us, even leapfrogging us in the last two decades. Let us just look at Indonesia. There was a time General Suharto, a close friend of Lee Kuan Yew, ruled Indonesia as a dictator for 3 decades. He deprived Indonesians of every freedom that PAP denied us. Yet Indonesia was an Asian Tiger and everyone thought freedom over autocracy cannot bring greater economic success. After the fall of Suharto and the gradual increase in democracy has proven today that is not true. Indonesia is enjoying far more economic success than during Suharto's era. In fact in the earlier teething years of transition after Suharto, critics (mainly Singaporeans) were claiming Indonesia need to go back to be an autocracy to enjoy economic success. Today they have been proven wrong. SINGAPORE WILL REAP GREATER ECONOMIC SUCCESS IF PAP FALLS Undeniably Singapore will reap greater economic success if PAP falls. What is keeping Singapore from reaching the economic heights of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan is really the system PAP has built and maintains. It cannot bring change to that system without removing itself from power. It is pure naiveness and even stupidity to believe that PAP can rejuvenate itself and change itself therehence change the system. It has tried for last 20 years and it has failed. Even in another 100 years, it will not succeed. No autocratic party ever succeeded in changing itself. Hence if PAP falls, Singapore can indeed reap greater economic success. The transitionary years may be teething but within 5-8 years after fall of PAP, Singapore will reach a higher economic height that PAP cannot offer today or tomorrow. Stop asking who will bring about greater economic success after fall of PAP. When Suharto was overthrown, who imagined about Susilo Bambang Yudoyuno or Yusuf Kalla? All the options available was Habibie, Megawati, Abdur Rahman Wahid and Amien Rais. They could not give people the promise of what Indonesia has achieved today.Tomorrow even if SBY goes, there are other titans to replace him. Likewise we will get our SBYs and Yusuf Khallas tomorrow if PAP falls. Singapore is a do-or-die place. Hence at any moment, no matter if PAP is around or gone, it is one system nobody can sit back and be complacent and instead everyone will be stepping forward to give their best. If we dont we cannot survive nor sustain. In fact we may already have our SBYs and Yusuf Kallas in the opposition parties. Even if you believe there is none, there is nothing to worry because they will come tomorrow. PAP always talks about how the opposition will destroy Singapore if it comes to power. That is the stupidest remark because that can happen elsewhere. Mugabe can destroy Zimbabwe and remain in power full of riches. That cannot happen in Singapore. We dont have farming nor fishing to survive a single day unlike Zimbabwe. We import everything unlike Zimbabwe. We have no natural resources like Zimbabwe. No oppposition party can plunder any natural resources. Even if any opposition head steal from our financial researves, he cannot even run far. Our situation is so unique. Everyone has to work hard to survive. Even LKY cannot rob this country of its riches and run away scot free. That is why he has to work such long hours at his old age or else his political empire will fall.     A Concerned Singapore  Read More →

The Temasek Review pledges its unwavering support to Lianhe Wanbao photo-journalist Mr Shafie Goh who was handcuffed by the Singapore police in the course of his duty last Saturday when taking photos of flooding at Upper Bukit Timah Road. We believe Mr Goh when he said that he did not obstruct the police officer in the discharge of his duties and neither did he put up a struggle when asked to move away from the scene. The explanation from the Singapore police force that Mr Goh was handcuffed for his own "personal safety" stretches one's imagination to the limits. Till today, it has yet to explain the many procedural lapses in the case which runs contrary to what is stipulated under the Criminal Procedure Act (CAP 68). Our journalists play an important role of bringing the reality on the ground to the general public and serve as a bridge between the people and the government. How can journalists be expected to perform their duties well if they are always on the lookout for over-zealous police officers who may handcuff them for no apparent reason? With elections looming ahead, it is highly unlikely that SPH will pursue the matter and sue the Singapore police on behalf of Mr Shafie Goh. The matter is likely to be settled quietly behind closed doors away from the prying eyes of the public with Mr Goh being offered a token compensation to keep his mouth shut. If Mr Goh still feels aggrieved and wishes to seek redress for himself in the court of law, we are more than willing to take up his case and fight for him. Based on our extensive contacts, we will be able to recommend some good lawyers for Mr Goh. We can also launch a fund-raising campaign to help raise funds for Mr Goh's legal fees so long he is able to provide us with his bank account number. We are confident that many TR readers will support our initiative and donate generously. It is our fervent belief that the Singapore police is not above the law and certainly not a law upon itself. The Singapore police is getting too powerful without a proper system of checks and balances such as an Ombudsman put in place to rein in on its excesses. Though the majority of police officers are hardworking, competent and honest individuals, there are some errant ones who abuse their power to get innocent civilians into trouble. For example, the Head Investigators of Police Divisions have the power to launch an (unjustified) investigation into any person without having to account to anybody or explain their decisions which may ruin the lives or careers of the victims. Police officers found guilty of harassing, bullying and/or intimidating innocent civilians must not be let off scot-free with only a slap on their wrists. They must be SHAMED publicly, DISMISSED from the police force and CHARGED in court for criminal intimidation. We reiterate our call for the setting up of an independent Public Complaint Bureau for Police Misconduct staffed by MPs, lawyers, retired police officers as well as members of the public to study, monitor and scrutinize questionable police interrogations, investigations and operations carefully, thoroughly and methodically to ensure that such unpleasant encounters like the one experienced by Mr Shafie Goh will not happen again. To Mr Shafie Goh, if you ever any legal advice or assistance, please feel free to contact us. No matter what happens in the future, we will forever stand on your side. You can always count on us for support. You will never walk alone.   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 →