:Originally posted by
robertteh:
After 40 years of anti-communist ISA rule, and 20 years of demise
of communism, have we not achieved a certain degree of
maturity?
How many people have been incited by what the opposition
politicians into violent conduct or behaviour. If at all there are
signs of emotional display of any kind, most likely it occurred
only in the IR, NKF or the white elephant placards displayed. The
people's reactions to certain NKF wrong doings have been mild and
matured. The people who displayed the white elephant placards were
even creative in showing their unhappy reaction to the prolonged
delays in opening of the Buangkok MRT station.
From these evidences any one will be able to conclude that the
fears of the government over opposition making of certain remarks
are unnecessary or extraneous.
I must highlight that I have selectively quoted from the
original post and may in the process not show the full thrust of
the post.
I think ISA is important regardless of how mature a society is. Its
existence is useful to allow impending threat to national security
that may not be proven beyond doubt that the courts need to throw
people in jail. It is important to note how the ISA has been
implemented in the past few instances. I am glad that we managed to
prevent JI from carrying out its act and mitigated its impact on
our trade, as well as that of the region.
Yes, I agree that the state must be equipped with certain power
to deal with potential threats to society's survival e.g. power to
arrest terrorists or communists who resorted to violence to
overthrow popularly elected government without trial but evidences
should be made available which can be disclosed to certified panel
of responsible citizens for accountability and transparency in use
of such special power.
But as society progresses and threats receded, the sweeping aspects
of the special ISA power of arrest without trial should be
reexamined so as to confined such use to check on any likely
excesses due to past emergencies or overwhelming threats. Any
excessive powers to arrest ordinary citizens without accountability
or transparency should be cut down to size.
Is ISA necessary to deal with political oppositions who are legally
constituted under the respective laws and taking part not in
overthrow of power of elected government but are serving the
people.
Is there a chance that such extensive overwhelming powers might be
used to curb political dissents or people who may be opposed to the
government taking part in political processes or any one called the
marxist conspirators.
In the same way, often we need to pass certain laws such as law to
avoid discrimination against minority race in our multi-racial
society. However should be pass such law in such a way as to curb
or hinder citizens' choices in exercising their constitutional
one-man-one-vote sacred voting right to choose the best persons
available like the GRC. Can there not be better options or choices
in passing such laws instead of gerrymandering the election voting
system..to do so. It is like using a sledge hammer to swat a fly.
People are objecting to GRC because it has been case of overkill of
law which is what is currently the problem in passing of our law.
The upcoming proposed amendments to the Sedition Act should be
critically examined so that there is no similar overkill as to
totally deprive citizens of their last venue of political views and
expressions.
I am not sure the government fear the opposition making certain
remarks. I grant that in any contest, competition, football
matches, the winner is not known until the whistle is blown. I
respect the PAP putting up a strong fight and not be complacent,
for I want my government to be eternally vigilant and second to
none.
If nothing else, the bungkok MRT incident highlighted the
insightfulness of the government. Utilisation rate of the MRT is
low and not economically viable. I, too, thought it was quite
strange to build a MRT station and wait for passenger and thought
some statistician was wrong and a proper survey was not carried
out. So now, I am wrong and the MRT station is under utilised.
In running a country, I suppose leaders will have to be alert
and vigilant in safeguarding the major interests of the people like
costs of living, employments, opportunities and basic freedoms to
stand for election and express their concerns to the
government.
Lack of care or vigilance in the conduct of charity organization
like NKF, delayed operation of completed MRT and non-admission of
responsibility to oversee safe construction of MRT resulting in
Nicol highway collapses are mistakes which have could have been
avoided if there has been greater accountability and transparency
in the running of the ministries.
Fundamentals like attainable work processes, good corporate
government, accountability and transparency are not yet put into
practice by the government which considers itself successful or
efficient. The "20 major problems of the government" as posted in
another thread have yet to be solved.
There is no readiness to admit mistakes of such nature. It is a
good season to ponder over such unsolved problems as the leaders
are once again saying to the people they are the best to run the
government. They must prove their case that they are truly problem
solvers not just make good presentations or justifications.
