Cheng Bock, why took so long to speak up?

Cheng Bock, why took so long to speak up?

Cheng Bock held a press conference on 31st Mar to question how the govt compute the qualifying period for the election of a minority Elected President. The points he raised were sensible and logical as the way the govt calculate the 30 year/5 term to start from Wee Kim Wee is apparently controversial and kind of contrived. Even the brightest legal mind would have problems accepting the logic and trying to explain it legally as sound and constitutional unless one is prepared to content with funny explanations.

This move by Cheng Bock is drawing flakes from some quarters criticising Cheng Bock for being silent for too long, that the rice is cooked and it is now too late, water under the bridge. The question is that is this really too late and nothing can be done about it? Looking from another angle, what Cheng Bock has done, by waiting for all the nails to be struck into the coffin and then raised ruckus about it is a very sound strategy. It is a strategy that said, now that every is done it could not be undone except to pull down the whole scam.

Let me use the analogy of some foreign talents engaged to build a house using farcical or unsound formula for the foundation. If someone would have jumped the gun at this point to point out the glaring error, it could be corrected immediately, rectified and the building built on sound foundation subsequently. But if the questionable foundation was allowed to go undetected, no alarm raised, the whole structure built would not stand when the fault is pointed out and has to be demolished totally. You cannot fix an unsound foundation structure, say if the piling was shortchanged, or very poor material were used or inadequate support material was used. It must be pulled down, there is no two way about it.

Ok, back to Cheng Bock's objection on the computation of the 30 year/ term qualifying period, is it sound and logical? If not, if it is flawed, it must go back to the drawing board to start a new jiggle. How reasonable and logical was the use of Wee Kim Wee as the first Elected President, and from when? Is this another case of stuffing round pegs into square holes? And who is to decide whether it is sensible and constitutional if not the court of law? Some jokers said there is no recourse and if need to it should go back to Parliament. But Parliament also had a round of 'robust' debate on this issue, so everything cannot be changed. Really, is this what the legal fraternity thinks so?

I am not sure if Cheng Bock could take the case to the 'UN backed' Hague Tribunal, the one that ruled that island without its own fresh water is not an island, but surely Cheng Bock could file for an interpretation in our courts of law. This is not a lawless country. If a case like this cannot be heard in our courts of law, then it would mean that we are a lawless country, not 'boh cheng hu' but 'boh huat teng', Parliament is the law and above the law, the final say in making laws and changing the Constitution and no court of law can hear or challenge the Parliament?

My only misgiving about Cheng Bock's press conference is that it is just a press conference and the only outcome is for people to talk about it in the kopitiams. If the govt does not want to talk about it, does not want to engage, then what? Yes, Cheng Bock should do the necessary and bring the case to the courts of law for a decision. Period. If Cheng Bock's interest is only to raise awareness and start a round of public buzz, then it would be just a public buzz. The press conference is just that and nothing more and the EP would be held in September without him.

What's next Cheng Bock? Is this the end of the story? If Cheng Bock is serious and meant business, this must be a new beginning.

PS. I have a suggestion for Cheng Bock if he is not taking up the case himself. He can always ask a cleaner to take it up and have Ravi to represent her again.