TR EMERITUS

The following was emailed to [email protected] on 15th May 2014. There has been no reply (as of 24 June 2014). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request for an interview with Mr Lee Kuan Yew Dear sir, My name is Martyn See. I am an political blogger and filmmaker. I have made films on Dr Chee Soon Juan, Mr Said Zahari and the late Dr Lim Hock Siew. I would like to request for a video interview with Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The final video will be published online on youtube, but the final cut will be subjected to the approval by your office. The interview will likely take about 90 minutes and will cover the following topics: A response to accusations of having served as a translator for the Japanese news agency during the Occupation. A response to open records of the National Archives of UK which contained testimonials that contradict the government's long-held assertions that Mr Lim Chin Siong and the detainees of Operation Coldstore were engaging in communist activities. A response to a published comment by Dr Toh Chin Chye that he did not understand why you had shed tears during the press conference over Separation when it was you who had wanted it. A response to the extended incarceration of Dr Chia Thye Poh. A response to the view that the Marxist conspiracy arrests of 1987/88 were based on bogus charges. A response to charges by Amnesty International and former detainees to the use of physical and psychological torture by the ISD. A response to a US State Department report that the government routinely conduct surveillance on the opposition and government critics. A response to a view that public funds, in particular the CPF, are used to prop up the investment losses suffered by GIC and Temasek Holdings. Your views on race, with regards to maintaining a Chinese majority in the country, Malays in the military, HDB's racial quota, race-based welfare organisations and the GRC system. A response to a view that government policies are increasingly being influenced by Christian moral values, particularly in the areas of sex education, arts censorship and rights of LGBTs. A response to the immigration and foreign workforce policies. An appraisal of Lee Hsien Loong's performance. A view on Lee Hsien Loong's likely successor. A prognosis of a post-LKY PAP and Singapore. An update of your health. Your views on spirituality, death and the afterlife. I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely,   Martyn See * The writer blogs at http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com  Read More →

Security staff surround China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun, center back, after paint was thrown on his car as it entered National Sun Yat-sen University in Greater Kaohsiung on Friday evening. Photo: CNA (29 Jun) - A mess of white paint and joss paper greeted delegates to the second meeting between Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) in Greater Kaohsiung on Friday. Protesters, including members of the Black Island National Youth Front and the Taiwan Solidarity Union, were already present and chanting slogans when Zhang’s vehicle arrived near the Sizihwan Sunset Beach Resort, the venue for the meeting. “Taiwan’s future should be decided by Taiwanese,” “Zhijun came, and democracy died” and “We condemn police violence,” they shouted. Protesters said the cavalcade resembled a funeral procession, as Zhang’s vehicle entered the resort slowly, flanked by security agents. A student protester surprised the police by appearing suddenly and tossing ghost money at the convoy, but was soon taken away by police. In the chaos, another protester splashed white paint at Zhang’s vehicle, hitting several security personnel, who were protecting the car. The police opened up black umbrellas as protesters threw water at the car, making the scene further resemble a funeral. Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) member Chen Chang-huei (陳昌輝) tried to force his way into the venue, but was blocked and removed by police, despite other TSU members wrestling with them. In the commotion, Chen seemed to have tripped and hit his head on the ground. He lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital. At least 400 policemen were dispatched to the site and an additional 66 special officers deployed. The student who tossed the joss paper was injured by the police. He said he did not belong to any group, and that he was merely an adult who cared about Taiwan’s future and wanted the public’s dissenting voices to be heard. The group accused the police of turning into Chinese public security agents who protected a low-ranking Chinese official, but used violence against young Taiwanese. After the Chinese guests finally got into the building, MAC Deputy Minister Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀) appeared outside the venue visibly angered. He criticized council staff and demanded to speak to the police officer in charge, questioning why there was an insufficient police force present. Chang then started to direct the police, ordering a SWAT team to stand by the door. Yesterday, Zhang said the protests were “normal.” “Taiwan is a pluralistic society where people hold a diversity of views. It’s normal. I believed that both sides of the Strait should adhere to a path of peaceful development in cross-strait relations and this is also mainstream public opinion,” Zhang said. However, Zhang did not comment on the paint-splashing incident on Friday night. Wang told reporters late on Friday night that he had told Zhang people protesting to make their voices heard is “a part of life in Taiwan,” and that he must get accustomed to it because Taiwan is a democratic society. “I told him that this is pretty much what we experience in our daily lives. We are used to it. Now that he is head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, he has to understand Taiwan more,” Wang said. For her part, Greater Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) said yesterday that people expressing their views in a non-peaceful manner is not the sort of hospitality that Taiwanese should show.   [Source]: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/06/29/2003593937  Read More →

That’s one of PAP Govt’s ideologies (coming from PAP’s spiritual father LKY) when it comes to collecting monies from citizens be it COE or CPF — “What’s wrong with collecting more money?” The PAP Govt will not take the risk for ordinary citizens even on unforeseen circumstances nor care about the high premium burden boded by ordinary citizens. PAP ministers paid themselves exorbitant pay and at the same time “firewall” (if there isn’t one, create one like the SSGS) themselves from responsibility to account for incompetent medical loss ratio projection. Just collect much much more to be safe as echoed by Janil Puthucheary in Parliament. Why vote the PAP Govt always out to benefit themselves over the masses of citizens? Quotation from Mr Ngiam Tong Dow, former head of the Civil Service, taken from the interview featured in the September 2013 issue of the Singapore Medical Association Newsletter: “One of these conversations involved the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) scheme. I had a big fight with him over this because the implementation of the COE scheme meant that we were taxing every man, woman and child in Singapore, from the day of his birth till the day of his death. As COE taxes transportation, nobody can avoid it. You can avoid eating good durians, but you cannot avoid using transportation. He saw that I was right, but he was a charmer. Looking at me, he asked, “Ngiam, are you the Permanent Secretary of the Budget and Revenue Divisions at MOF?” I said yes, to which he replied, 'What’s wrong with collecting more money?'”   5starmoon * Comment in Govt should take on more risk on behalf of citizens    Read More →