12/07/2013

Is there freedom of expression?


The ST reported that Hri Kumar continued his attack on WP’s silence on controversial issues this morning. WP was invited to a seminar, dunno who was the organiser, with a topic, ‘Is it true to say…there is freedom of expression in Singapore’. Two days before the seminar the WP declined to send a representative. In Hri Kumar’s view, WP had missed a good opportunity to talk about such a hot and troubling issue in this city state. And as usual, WP chose to remain silence.

The attitude or strategy of the WP is something only they understood and outsiders can at most speculate on what they were up to. Coming back to freedom of expression, whether there is or there isn’t, nothing will come out from a seminar except allowing some blowing of hot air.

To some quarters, there is definitely freedom of expression here. If in doubt, ask the politicians, or ask the main media. They will swear with the lives of their grandfathers that there is definitely freedom of expression. Just because the WP chooses to be silent and many people choose to be reticent do not mean there is no freedom of expression. It is their fault for not speaking out. How true. For those who want to be double safe, just say the right thing and you can express anything you like. Why is Alex in court? This is nothing to do with freedom of expression. He was allowed to express his view freely. That was how they heard him. Otherwise they would not know what he said.

I remember an old Russian joke of an American leader visiting Moscow in the days of the Cold War. The Americans could not help to take a jab at the Russians by challenging them about freedom of expression whenever they met. The American said to his Russian host, ‘In America, we can even say fuck President Johnson in public’. The Russians nodded and said they too could do that. And he climbed on top of a table to mean business and shouted, ‘Fuck President Johnson’. See, freedom of expression.

Anyone wants to argue there is no freedom of expression here?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is not true there is no freedom of expression in Singapore

Of course, there is freedom of expression.

The question really is: Is there freedom AFTER expression!!

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Hahahahahh....

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Chin Leng,

Pray tell. Why would WP have to do anything? When the PAP apparachiks along with apparatus of mass assimilation such as the nation destroying press are all doing such a great job of laying the red carpet to their own demise circa 2016.

At the rate things are going. I really don't see the PAP holding on to power for very long.

Under such circumstances it's best for WP to just keep stoically silent.

I am sure their time will come like the fabled farmer who just waits underneath the durian tree....the fruit will surely drop.

I must go the field now.

Good Day.

Darkness 2013

Anonymous said...

RB, it's like the famous president Johnson giving the hand gesture just before he enter his plane from kl after the visit when pm told him that the hand gesture was a friendly one when he saw many doing it to him to fuck off. Being a USA president with freedom of expression, he returned the hand gesture!

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Hi Darkness, WP knows exactly what they are doing and would not engage needlessly. Waste of time talking nonsense. Better do more grass root work than fighting shadows and strawmen.

You are right on this.

Anonymous said...

Sun Tzu

"All warfare is based on deception.

When able to attack, we must seem unable;
when using our forces, we must seem inactive;

when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away;
when far away, we must make him believe we are near."

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Anon 10:12, I almost forgot the friendly sign. : )

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

There is no cuntry in the world that has the DEGREE of freedom of expression like America. The reason is because when the USA was formed, the authors of the constitution purposely put LIMITS on governmental power, mainly because of their experience under British rule.

However, most western democracies do come the closest.

In cuntrees like Singapore, it is the government which determines what you are free to do and what you are not. The degree of freedom of expression has to accord with the governing principles of Confucianism.

IMO there is adequate freedom of expression in Singapore for ANYONE to make a point or criticise the government -- at the moment. That could change if Shanmugam and LHL get their way in "regulating" speech on the internet.

The said...

Hri Kumar trying to egg the WP to response to his trolling.

The WP is smart enough to maintain its elegant silence.

Anonymous said...

The more this Hri Kumar cowpeh cowbu, the more I say the WP is correct to keep mum. Let this PAP dog bark and sweat and agitate, it's getting under his skin. Good job WP in maintining your discipline, patience and silence.

Actions speak louder than words.
Silence is golden.
Barking dogs seldom bite.
Empty vessels make the most noise.
Proverbs 13:3: Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.