The newspapers were predictably quiet about this and there's
certainly no way to substantiate any of the claims made by
TODAYINTERN at Sammyboy. What claims? Read this...
While we do not in any way substantiate TODAYINTERN's claims, we do
have to examine the possible truths and their implications.
So, according to TODAYINTERN, several heads rolled because of
Today's breaking news of SM Lee's commandeering of SIA to ferry his
wife back to Singapore when she suffered a stroke while in UK.
Apparently the key personnel of Today were summoned to the Istana,
and SM Lee charged them with inciting civic unrest by reporting
about the incident and causing a polarisation of the people
regarding this issue, and requiring SM Lee himself to come out to
address the issue.
There are several issues at stake in this incident. First, OB
markers are here to stay. No matter what the government says about
the liberalisation and opening-up of society in general, the
unclear and present dangers of OB markers remain a minefield that
only the bravest or those in-the-loop dare to tread. Others remain
securely away from this minefield. As free speech in print media
continues to be suppressed, alternative sources (like us) will
continue to flourish.
Second, totalitarianism. There is obviously a media clampdown on
the entire SM Lee-SIA issue. Not just the story itself, but also
the fallout. SPH has taken a few steps towards a more liberal and
questioning newspaper. However, due to its inaction, it is clear
that this is merely a facade as the practise of filling top cadre
with your own people in a twisted form of nepotism (some say
totalitarianism) still exists. Today has become yet another zombie
of the powers-that-be.
Third, the supposed shift of power from PM Goh to DPM Lee Hsien
Loong is in name only, as the true person in power is still SM Lee.
While PM Goh is the PuppetMaster, SM Lee has shown to be the real
hand behind the strings.
SM? Nay, GPM.
Bo Zheng Hu
21.02.04