Europe MPs 'gagged' by Singapore

last SG · 2007-04-16T04:44:04+00:00

I'm sure if the criminals could find a tangible way to tax you for the amount of oxygen you inhale, they'd bloody well do it too...

the Bear SG

he seems to choose the path that causes the most damage to Singapore as a whole

LazerLordz SG

Frankly, I'm not too sure about that..

Ah well..

the Bear SG

let's analyse this..

he invited a bunch of people to come talk about this...

it says a lot... he just said that Singaporeans don't have the cojones or the brains to think about or speak about this situation.. therefore he has to go abroad to get these people..

that's sticking it up the ass of Singapore..

to provoke a situation where the idiot powers will use their usual ham-fisted reactionary nonsense.. which pissed off them foreigners.. they'd be already primed by CSJ and will have a bad impression of Singaporeans as a whole, not just the accused powers...

they have the influence to spread this around.. saying "Singaporeans are not worth it" and they probably would.. again somehow, i think CSJ would be happy to goad them into doing so..

then there's CSJ himself... he's causing more problems for himself and trying to be a "martyr" but he's just an attention whore

all-in-all, what was the point of the whole situation except a destructive publicity stunt? much like most of his bloody career...

btw, i'm bitter about him causing the opposition to be set back by a few decades with his debacle of ousting his mentor... maybe i'm biased against him, but can you actually blame anyone for hating him? Mad

walesa SG

The problem with CSJ's chosen course of action stems from the wrong application of civil disobedience in an inappropriate context IMO.

He's neither mad nor delusional, if you asked me. In fact, many of his acts could be seen as being identical to that of Ghandhi(whose acts resulted in the mass decolonization of British colonies) or Walesa(who basically instigated the uprising which eventually, coupled with other factors, led to the dissolution of the USSR). The only problem is, unlike Walesa and Ghandhi, however, he just doesn't command the sort of moral authority or stature you need to effectively instigate changes through such means (the fact that there're people viewing him as a crazy megalomaniac just sums it up).

To be honest, I don't think it's that bad an idea for him to highlight the repressive practices of this regime to the international community...

AndrewPKYap SG

JBJ tried the *acceptable* way and what good did it do? CSJ is not stupid and can see that for himself...

Low and Chiam... what political changes did they make, can they make?

P*P is still taking our money right and left... in the beginning they say it was *for the good of the country* now we see that it was for investing in SHIN CORPS and their million dollars salaries... now we see which *poor* people the GST increase was suppose to help.

I doubt if there is a better way than what he is doing if he wants to effect change.

Blame him or blame those pushing him in this direction with their high handed, brass knuckles barbarian politics? Blame him for inviting or blame those stupid and arrogant enough to think that they can antagonise European parliamentarians and get away with it?

See how they antagonise Indonesia until Indonesia ban sand and granite export to Singapore? see what happens when instead of putting the best, you put in your brother sister friend uncle unties son daughter daughter-in-law, into the position?

All this talk about paying big bucks to attract the best sounds so hollow when the *best* must come from your *family* and your cronies.

I am not surprised that CSJ wants to do it... you push people too far, you have kill them... or else...

I am just surprised that he can do it.

We are all scared of change... it is a human instinct to want life to go on as it is... and most people would have been happy to let P*P continue if they are not so greedy as that... wanting more and more, taking more and more... but then that is also human instinct to take more and more and wanting more and more isn't it?

When you pay high salaries to attract people, you are only attracting those that do not know what *enough* looks like... or like the Chinese says - Don't know how to write the word *ENOUGH*

I must say CSJ's timing is perfect and those millions dollars idiots fell right into his trap.

His timing is good because you can see that the *anger* against him is getting less and less (this thread isn't even about what CSJ did, but I guess after I say it, those running dogs will start running into action and create anti-CSJ threads here or HWZ :lol Smile because of people's anger over the gross ministerial pay injustice.

blueheeler SG

I blogged here http://blueheeler.wordpress.com/2007/04/16/are-you-talking-to-me-punk/ about LKY going to NZ to visit, amongst others, their Leader of the Opposition.

If LKY can go to NZ to pay a harmless diplomatic call on their opposition politicians, why can't European MPs come to S'pore to do the same???

Anyway, if these Eurpoeans had spoken here, maybe 100 people in the forum would have heard them, and no global media would have reported this kind of run-of-the-mill talk. Now that they have been denied to the right to speak here, the global media is reporting, again, on how S'pore suppresses free speech... Strategic decision?!?!???? Haha......

Herzog_Zwei SG

Beg to differ.If the opposition is smart, they would have been voted into power a long time ago. The opposition still ain't coming close to grappling with bread and butter issues but so far Workers Party is getting close.

Herzog_Zwei SG

That'll depend on how large a diplomatic call, if a international press conference is put up and a coupd'etat is incurred, what kind of trouble is LKY in?

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

Excuse me? If the Govt ever bothered with Bread and Butter issues, it wouldn't run off raising GST, raising their pay etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. et al infinitum.

Seriously, quit the bread and butter nonsense already! Are you going to believe every single solemn holy word of the Govt as holy truth and regard all else to be blasphemy?

Herzog_Zwei SG

At least, the present government is concerned about fixing the economy although they are out to benefit themselves first.

LazerLordz SG

Well, he visited the opposition leader, and in the context of his stature, it's akin to acknowledging him/her. It's something practised around the world. If Nancy Pelosi can visit Syria, all these are part of international norms.

What is at stake here is that apparently our govt believes that we can do the same abroad, and others cannot come here and offer their views. This is something very duplicitious.

LazerLordz SG

Your statement is a fallacy. Fixing the economy? There are many things they could have done, most of which are non-economic, but will influence the economic climate and the relative attractiveness of Singapore to foreign investors and real talent.

Not a lax scheme of import substitution where there is talent duplication and a keen, overrated belief that one can fix the economy by only focusing on economic measures.

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

And how have they fixed the economy? The manufacturing sector hasn't changed much and still dominates the economy, with biotech filling the void left by the electronics sector and it is by no means as strong as the electronics sector every was at its height and instead fluctuates as hell.

The only area I see some degree of improvement, in which was largely due to foreign MNCs was in the financial sector and local banks had to play catch up.

So what has changed really? Anything?

And quit the apologist nonsense. There is a clear conflict of self-interest here and hopeless lack of accountability, not least most of the MPs that were "voted" in are nothing more than pansies and scum of the earth.

LazerLordz SG

Are we so banal that only bread and butter issues are important? This only reinforces a communal belief that citizens should not dabble in national issues or international issues, and only focus on their grassroots. It's a deficiency.

blueheeler SG

At least, the present government is concerned about fixing the economy although they are out to benefit themselves first.

Herzog, I think I have to disagree. For too long, S'pore was dwelling on low-to-mid-end 'manufacturing'. When the ASEAN/China competition speeded up, S'pore made a slow switch from 'manufacturing' to 'creative industries' and high-tech R&D. But then, the govt acknowleged that our rote-learning school-system was NOT churning out enough 'creative' thinkers, thereby having to hasten 'creative' learning in our schools. But then again, 'creativity' in schools are left to teachers schooled in the old 'memorising' manner, so there's now a mismatch.

So, are we still wondering why the govt is paying so much $$$ to buy foreign talent and infrastructure to staff our many high-tech R&D vnetures? And also to get the casinos in to earn more forex?

Gazelle SG

Singapore was the last man standing during the 97financial crisis and Singapore government has made very swift decision in reviving the economy during recession. If not for SARS and SEP11, singapore economy could have recover much faster.

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

If by anything, our economy was revived largely because of strong electronics and IT growth in the US. We rode on the back of the growth of the US economy and not because our Govt did this did that.

But of course, our Govt got the shock when the electronics bubble burst. Just who is responsible for not foreseeing it? And then did the Govt foresee the rise of China stealing most of our manufacturing? The Govt merely stood on its laurels all those years and simply chose the simplest solution available and didn't diversify beyond manufacturing. Now of course, we are straddled with countless other problems, not least that inflation has gone unabated and wages are stagnant.

Gazelle SG

I am sure Singapore didnt inherit the electronics and IT industry from Tengku of Johor or the Queen of England when Singapore was seperated from Malaysia.

What about the FTA Singapore government signed with the USA and other countries, MAS supporting the falling Sing dollars during the asian financial crisis, cutting employer CPF contribution and reducing corp and income tax structure to prevent further hollowing out of industry overseas, and the security we had during the Sep11 period.

Fingolfin_Noldor SG

Humbug. The measures taken are merely to attract foreign companies to set up shop here and they are not by any means inclined to bring their high end jobs here but instead the middle management ones of which have instead added to the stagnation of wages here. It merely encouraged people to quit the country and head elsewhere for greener pastures. Eventually it won't just be the hollowing of the economy but the hollowing of the population.

And what the heck is the comment about the electronics industry supposed to mean?

mistyblue SG

when it is convenient and serves their self-serving purpose, only then will external interference be accepted.

I am touched other people from other country care...

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