Dear MM, PM
When i was a 13 year old boy, i bought the two books of your
(Lee Kuan Yew’s) speeches by Alex Josey. To me you were a hero, you
led Singapore from colonialism to independence. Your speeches were
complex and had carried a lot of detail. Though i did not
understand them fully, i had great respect for them.
In 1988 when i was fifteen, i witnessed what was shown on TV and
the news of the marxist ISD arrests detentions. I thought Lawyer
Peter Cuthbert Low was doing a damn good and brave job. Subsequent
to the televised confessions to the marxist conspiracy, i was a
misleadingly convinced of what the government had to do.
Nevertheless, the behaviour and high handedness of your
administration disgusted me.
In those years, with the exception of the 1985 economic
recession, Singapore did well, so in the thought that there was
still overall good in the administration, my political inclinations
still remained with the then prevailing administration.
1988 General Election, Workers’ Party’s JB Jeyaretnam,
Jufrie Mahmood, Francis Seow and i think Wee Han Kim all make close
runs into parliament but fail to enter it by small margins.
Having been misled by the PAP that Jufrie was playing communal
politics i guess many in the middle ground gave their vote to the
PAP.
WP’s Dr Tan Bin Seng contested my ward in Changi against Teo
Chong Tee. I remembered waving to Dr. Tan.
I also saw the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989, i wondered if indeed
it was necessary to do so. If staying in power justified the means
of anything, then anything goes is it not? But staying in power had
many facets and motives, though violence was used, i did not see
the highest echelons of the Chinese government thereafter seek to
enrich itself.
In 1990 or so, you then spoke crap to the people about pegging
political and administrative position (public service) salaries to
the to earners in the private sector. I wondered what shit was
beginning to show. In 1991 was the year when a number of my
classmates had danced with a huge inflatable hammer during swing
singapore. I recalled that they were manhandled to the police post
and the inflatable hammer balloon burst. The Police did not take
action after establishing that they were not linked to the Workers’
Party. I heard the recollection of the events by my classmates
in Victoria Junior College with disgust.
In 1991, PM Goh Chok Tong loses 3 seats to the SDP and 1 seat to
WP. I then saw further steps taken to broaden the grip using
GRCs.
I had entered military national service in 1992, i met Teo Chee
Hean once when he was the Chief of Navy, I had a favourable
impression on him afterall he was our CNV. His departure from the
Navy and entry into politics was expected as by then you develop a
sense of where the press will try to open the road for the PAP,
that prepares the way for the political steps to be taken.
In 1992, SDP contests Marine Parade by-election introducing
Commodore Teo Chee Hean. SDP loses quite dismally. Subsequent to
that are mistakes made by SDP and dramatic responses by the PAP and
its admininstration towards Dr. Chee Soon Juan and the SDP.
In 1994, i entered law school. I read about the defamation cases
in first year of law school. I saw the number of political cases
which smeared the legal landscape.
In the January 1997 General Election, I was feverishly preparing
for my 2nd semester in 3rd year. I saw the close fight in Cheng San
GRC degenerate into threats and almost gangsterism. According to
PAPpy reports, We now have a chinese chauvinist and so
on. Subsequent to a victory in Cheng San, your PAP then
continued to lay waste to the personal estates of opposition
candidates. WP’s Tang Liang Hong and JB Jeyaretnam.
I forgot to add, i was in a clinic in Bedok when JB Jeyaretnam
did his decoy rounds. I shook his hand.
Year 2000, I was insidiously recruited into the PAP fold shortly
after being called to the Bar. The induction to MPS under Chng
Hee Kok opened my eyes. Chng Hee Kok was a good MP but what the PAP
had created negated the good work. I also met Tan Cheng Bock once,
i was impressed by the way he treated his men and his constituents,
i also witnessed the loyalty and dedication of the party members at
his branch. The PAP had its deep failings in creating a system that
no longer served the nation but more to serving itself. GE2001, i
began to distance myself from the PAP.
General Election 2001, the elections department disqualifies the
WP’s Ajunied attempt at nomination. I remember James Gomez leading
the rest of the team walking down the staircase.
Dismayed by the strength of the opposition and the uneven
playing field. I entered WP in 2004. I contested the GE2006
election. I lost the fight at East Coast GRC.
7th November 2006, I quit the Workers’ Party over a ban placed
on me from engaging and criticising the PAP in internet forums
using very harsh words under my real name. I left the party because
i saw no reason why an opposition party should seek to silence its
members from engaging in debates on political issues.
This is totally different from the application of party whip or
party discipline unlike what was described by Assoc Prof Ho Khai
Leong in the Today Newspaper following the fallout. There is no
party position to contradict at all. When the party refuses to take
a stand or is too slow to do so, is it right to gag your
members?
I entered the citizen activist fold in 2007. My paths crossed
with the much demonised SDP. I begin to see the truly valiant hard
fighters that remained in the opposition. I was arrested with
members of the SDP on 15th March 2008 World Consumers’ Day
Parliament House Protest.
In the police station, i witnessed in person the courage and the
strength of SDP members in standing up to the Regime. My phone and
beloved digital camera is still being kept by the prosecution. I am
keeping this in mind all the time. Your boys think that this will
intimidate me. The longer it drags, the more disgusted i
become.
I know on Monday 12th May 2008, the two of you Excellencies were
going all out to crush the SDP. This is all well and fine. It just
unfortunate that i like to side the underdog. The harder you
hit the SDP, the harder i will fight you.
The fight was adjourned seemingly because your missus and mommy
had a 2nd stroke. I pray for her speedy recovery. I bear no ill
feelings towards her. She is not the one who has to go, if you get
what i mean 
With Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew is down with her 2nd stroke, the
mortality of life must be pretty clear to your two Excellencies by
now. Even if the PAP retains its grip on Singapore - by all means
necessary - can you take Singapore with you wherever you go? Is it
not time to be a little more realistic? Is it too late to salvage a
good name for posterity?
Now i really I cannot recall where i left those two books
by Alex Josey, to me they are now utter rubbish. I am ashamed of
saying what i will do to your Lee Kuan Yew memoirs Third World
to First when i lay my hands on them.
I will now do anything to unseat the PAP from power. Whether or
not their MPs are good men and whether or not they give the
oft-quoted excuse that their hands are tied. This is my promise to
you. Mark my words.
Yours faithfully
Chia Ti Lik
http://chiatilik.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/lee-kuan-yew-lee-hsien-loong/