Special Branch probes defection rumours: S'wak MP

This is a post in Malaysiakini. How come the Malaysian Special Branch finds it their duty to question MPs from crossing over to the opposition? This is politics and nothing concerning the police. It is not a threat to national security. It is the right of the politicians to join whichever party they want. The police, as the executive arm of the govt, civil servant, should not be involved in the politics of the country. They should remain neutral. Once the police and army get into politics, Malaysia could end up like Thailand and Indonesia. That would not be healthy. Maybe it is too late. The Anwar saga before and the new Anwar saga in the making do not speak well of what is happening to the police force.

More chilling revelations in paradise

A few years back a stockbroker was found to turn cuckoo for harassing the former Chief Justice. He was then sent to the IMH for observation and recuperation. Wonder if he is still there? Today the ST reported that a lawyer, M Ravi, who claimed to be a leading Human Rights lawyer, was also found to have unsound mind. He was also sent to the IMH. The new bill to scan lawyers for unsound mind is very timely. It must be the stress in this world class city. Too competitive. And more professional people are going to go cuckoo at the rate it is going. Quite a chilling thought. Who's next? I think the most sane people will be the bloggers. They are blessed with the internet to let off steam and frustration. They will be the last to go cuckoo. The internet is a great invention for stress relief and keeping one's mind sane. Better not to keep harping on one being sane. The more one claims to be sane, the more insane one will sound.

Another secret success formula

I think I have just discovered another secret formula for Singapore's success, or to be specific, the Table Tennis Team's success. Firepower! Firepower not only among the players, but the management team. The latter is even more critical. There are 38 talents in the STTA's Committee. And these include a Minister of State, 3 MPs and one ex MP. This is a powerful combination of some of the best brains that a sports association can ever dream of. We almost got Zhang Yi Ning in the team if things had gone our way. She was spotted long ago by one of the committee members and was chosen. But the Chinese refused to release her. That was a golden choice. This Committee is the brain behind the STTA's success. They did all the planning and talent scouting and laid the foundation for the development of a solid team. All the sports association can learn from this secret formula. Recruit more supertalents into the association first. Then the medals will come.

Speaking up in Speaker's Corner

Do we need a Speaker's Corner to speak up? With the internet, would it be good enough? How would Speaker's Corner add up to the right to speak up on Singapore issues? The first thing that came into my mind is money. No, you don't need money to speak at the Speaker's Corner. But the spectators need money to get there. With the high cost of travelling, $3 average to and fro to listen to someone speaking at the Corner, would it be too expensive? Many Singaporeans are more or less confined to their homes and neighbourhoods unless there is a real reason to spend $3 to take public transport. They will have to think very carefully to want to go down to the Speaker's Corner. There will be some listeners, the same people day in and day out. Those that happen to stay around the Speaker's Corner, and those lunch time crowd of office workers working in the area. That may be all there is. And if public transport cost keeps going up, the number of spectators will likely to go down unless there is a hot issue that everyone wants to listen to. Or maybe a great orator will appear to enthral the crowd. Come to think of it, tranport cost is a big factor to decide how big the crowd is. For the many who have been used to the new media, the Speaker's Corner will be too far away.

The people behind our Olympic medal

Singapore Table Tennis Association Board Members. This list was posted by a forumer in TOC. Advisers Ms. Grace Fu Hai Yien Mr. Liang Eng Hwa Mr. Yeo Guat Kwang Mr. Chan Soo Sen Mr. Choo Wee Khiang Honorary Presidents Mr. Goi Seng Hui Mr. Tony Phua Mr Seah Moon Ming President Ms. Lee Bee Wah Deputy Presidents Mr. Jack Soh Tze Churn Mr. Ng Ah Hwee Mr. Seah Chwee Lim Vice Presidents Mr. Low Chee Seng Mr. Chew Soo Sheng Mr. Teo Hock Hoe Mr. Han Ngge Juan Mr. Lau Pub Taai Honorary Secretary Mr. Soon Min Sin Honorary Assistant Secretary Mr. Teo Nam Meng Honorary Treasurer Ms. Judy Sim Hock Cheng Honorary Assistant Treasurer Mr. Tang Shiuh Huei Legal Adviser Dr. William Koh Hai Keong Committee Members Mr. Foo Soo Peng Mr. Chia Wing Yew Mr. Tang Mun Fai Mr. Pang Tow Chai Richard Mr. Oh Eng Tiong Mr. Ong Teng Dit Mr. Tan Guan Kee Mr. Thomas Yong Mr. Loh Men Kuan Mr. Chan Pong Heng Mr. Steven Loi Mr. Chang Foo Chiang Mr. Timothy Ng Cheong Lum Mr. Ho Kok Khun Mr. John Tan Wui Meng Chief Executive Officer Mr Jackie Tay Auditor C C Yang & Co While everyone is celebrating the success of the Table Tennis Team, we shall not forget the contribution of all these people who have worked very hard behind the scene to make it possible. They are the unsung heroes in this saga and some recognition must surely be due to them. All 38 of them, including one minister of state, 3 MPs and one ex MP.