mindef has spoken on melvyn tan's case

mindef takes a serious view on ns defaulters. and melvyn is still liable for ns and had been dealt with under the law, fined $5000. presumably melvyn is still a singapore citizen and that's why he is still liable. does it mean that he holds two citizenship? thought i read somewhere that he is a british citizen. assuming that a young man has denounced his citizenship and taken another citizenship, presumably he would no longer be liable and thus not be affected by the enlistment act. so someone before reaching 18 denounces his citizenship, he is free from our ns liability. and he could come back anytime as a citizen of another country, even work and stay here as a pr. this is a route that some might take. another possibility is for him to come back, say in his late 30s or 40s and reapply for a new citizenship. of course assuming that he is now world renowned and a prized talent. i think the state will welcome him with open arms as a new citizen. but for the less talented, they might not be so welcomed. as the case for dual citizenship, not sure if this is accepted by our govt.

hanging of drug trafficker - what is my stand?

it all depends on what hat i am wearing. if i am the law enforcer - hang him if i am a moralist - save him if i am a victim of drugs - hang him if i am his lawyer - save him if i am a populist - save him if i am his family member - save him if i am a drug trafficker - save him if i am a busybody - save/hang him, depends on which way the wind blows if i am a reporter - sensationalise it to increase readership if i am a politician - make a lot of noise to gain political capital

changi prisioners are saved

it may be providence. joachim kang is reported to be very jovial and kind of happy in changi. his holy presence may be an act of god, to bring salvation to the prisoners and sinners in the gloom of changi prison. light has shine on changi.

singapore has resurrected an australian hero

drug trafficker nguyen tuong van is the latest australian hero, with compliments from singapore. probably his photo will grace the cover of the times magazine or all the popular magazines in australia. the australians may even build a monument in his honour, dying for australia. australian drug traffickers are now world famous. the australian people are all behind them, in the courts of singapore and jakarta. soon the world will get used to australian faces as synonymous to the new breed of drug traffickers. the world may see a new version of opium war between australia and indonesia. hail to the great australian empire!

illegal immigrants

the rounding up of more than a hundred illegal workers is only the tip of the problem. there could be thousands of them around. and the problem will be more severe with the days gone by. when they become hungry, crime is a certainty. the sickening thing about this problem is that it is so easy to solve. these are workers who need work and need an employer. without an employer they are dead duck. they are different from the freelancers who solicit for business in the streets. that is a more difficult problem. how to deal with illegal workers who need to be employed? go for the accomplice, the employers. jail them or fine them heavily. the social problems that these employers are creating can be very serious in the long run. the law must come down hard and swift on these irresponsible employers. when there is no employer, the illegal workers will have no work and must return home. it is so tardy and so unbelieveable that the problem is allowed to fester and grow in a city reputed for efficiency in solving problems.