After years of living unchallenged as a million-dollar-paycheck Minister, it is a rude shock to read criticism about himself being corrupted. K Shanmugam is after all, the Law Minister.
Unlike other politicians around the world who stood their ground, debate and allowing the public to be the judge, the first response of the Singapore minister reading abject criticism of himself is to lodge a police report. Keep in view K Shanmugam is also the Home Affairs Minister, the boss the police reports to – everyone knows the definite outcome.
Resorting to lodging police report as the first response to handle political criticism is a waste of police resource, a running dog of the ruling party Calvin Cheng once said. To me, it is a sign of weakness and repugnant vindictiveness. K Shanmugam wants to ruin your life for criticising him, how could anyone speak good of his character? It is hence no surprise when everyone thought of a minority Prime Minister, they think of Tharman and not Shanmugam. The only difference between the two Indian Minister is that Shanmugam thinks he is Lee Kuan Yew.
Minister K Shanmugam’s actions simply says he is incapable to set things straight in words. Lodging a police report means you are out to hurt. The Law Minister wants the critic arrested, investigated and trialed. K Shanmugam wants the critic to be jailed or fined for criticising him, and this pretty much sums up the rotten character of a typical Singaporean elite.
In Singapore, criticism of the government is not a petty crime. It warrants serious consequences nothing less than bankruptcy and jail sentences.
The abuse of police and laws is cowardice, and that size up what the Law Minister is – a coward. Such oppression works superbly on Singaporeans in Singapore.
However, the failed extradiction of David James Roach, the robber of StanChart bank in Holland Village, goes to show the oppressive powers of the Singapore government is not all encompassing. I laughed when he resorted to his usual childish method “I will call police”, to which I jested “Police? Which police?”
States Times Review remains as Singaporeans’ only independent media, unlike the embarrassing 154th-ranking Singapore Press Holdings. Technically-speaking, STR is an Australian media for Australians interested in Singapore news – it is hence not a Singapore media.
Oppression of criticisms have unfortunately hindered Singapore’s progress, resulting in widespread apathy and ignorance. Singapore’s society is increasingly fractious as the government refuse to accept disagreement, and have taken the autocratic path to force policies down the people’s throats.
Then again, like physics, every acting force face equal opposing force in response of the same magnitude. STR forms part of the equation that keeps Singapore balanced, the country’s successes and failures are hence similarly attributed to STR.
STR Editor
Alex Tan