A most awaited once in 50 year event

They say great things don’t happened everyday, and often it happens once in 50 years. If that is not the case then everyone will be celebrating everyday or every hour. A 50 year break will give people the pent up feeling to want to let it all out at one go. The building up of a desire or expectation of something to come will make the event that much more enjoyable. How many of you have been caught in a situation when you have to let go but unable to, caught in the train, bus, in a meeting or half way in the highway or a long traffic jam? Imagine the explosive instant release and relief, after all the cumulated pressure, can be a most deserving experience

I heard many people have been storing up on their champagne and wine. Some were saying they will party all night out for that day. Some say they will cry in joy, hallelujah. Some say they will visit the places of worship to say thanks.

Never have Singaporeans been so excited by a coming event that would mean so much to them, almost, not Amos. It is really good that the people have something to look forward to, a great hope of jubilation, emancipation and change.

And with the whole island being in a celebration mood, the public places all nicely decorated, freebies and money to spend, this one in 50 year event better be good and better be real, and better come to the people. The people have waited for it for so long.

When the day comes, the streets would be full of people jumping in joy like children breaking out of parental control, getting their independence with the key at 21. I just can’t imagine the joy of the people in the streets. It would be just like the movie Independence Day, a people in celebration as one people, free, freedom and relief and a new beginning.

I too will be in the streets to join the party with champagne bottle in hand. It will be a celebration no Singaporean will ever forget, like a new child is born, on that fateful day. Yes, 50 years, and it is about time for a new star in the sky, A most welcome event about to happen and A most welcome child is here spreading the good news.

The day is coming. All the signs are there. Everything is moving and pointing to the day everyone is waiting for. Do not despair, there is hope. Darkness will soon give way to light and a new morning.

GE 2015/16 issues for the voters to consider – Issue 2 – Your representative, your interest

Do you want to vote for a govt that represents your interest in Parliament?

Do you want to vote for a representative that listens to you and go to the Parliament to speak up for you? Or do you want to vote for a representative that thinks what is good for you without consulting you, without getting your consent, and go to Parliament to vote against what you think is good for you?

Or do you want to vote for a representative who votes for pary interest aboveyour interest?

Think about it.

No one must be above the law

In ST on 25 Jun, it was reported that ‘The apex court has made it clear that neither the Govt nor judges can be sued for judicial decisions made, pointing to judicial immunity under the Govt Proceedings Act(GPA)… “In Singapore, the general rule is that the Govt may be liable for, inter alia, the tortuous acts of its public officers,” noted Justice Chao. This means that the Govt is liable like any ordinary employer. However, exceptions to this rule specified in the Act include those exercising judicial functions, he said.’

The above sounds logical and reasonable on the presumptions that the judges are honourable people performing the duties of judges free from interferences from other people or offices. This should be the case as Judge Chao added, ‘The independence of the Judiciary is one of the foundation pillars of Singapore’s constitutional framework and must not be shaken. To this end, the Govt should not be liable for the acts of the Judiciary, over which it has no control or influence.’

Here there is another assumption, that the Judiciary is fully independent of the Govt. What if there is a rogue govt and running roughshod over the judiciary and controlling the Judiciary? There is always the possibility of a rogue govt in office. If this law is to be read without exceptions, even if a rogue govt is in office, should it be valid to shield the Judiciary in such circumstances, or when a corrupt Judiciary is in cahoot with a rogue govt?

There is also another assumption that the Judiciary is made up of righteous men and women. In reality, there are always flawed characters in every profession and the Judiciary is no exception. What happens if there is a crooked judge or a compromised judge, a beholden judge, would he still be protected by this GPA, no exceptions?

I think this is a very dangerous precedent to set, to allow some people, in this case the Judiciary, to be above the law with no exceptions. As long as human beans are involved rogues will appear once a while. How can there be no exceptions?

Judges are also human beans and human beans are human beans, no exceptions. Just because one becomes a judge, one is flawless in character and above the law.

The only consideration that may warrant an exception is that the judiciary cannot be sued by the govt, but can be sued by the people. The people are the highest office in the country. All govt and govt offices, officials are there to serve the people. And if the judiciary committed errors or there is a miscarriage of justice against the people, they must be answerable and held accountable.

The point about cannot be sued by the govt is to protect the judiciary in case they have to rule against the govt. And this is a very likely case when no one can guarantee the characters of politicians and rogue govt. The judiciary must be free from the fear of the govt, independent and not beholden, to do what it is supposed to do, to deliver justice to the people. It is the people that the judiciary should serve and be accountable for and cannot be above the law.

What do you think?

Amos Yee – Baffling saga

‘I find the whole saga of “managing Amos” baffling. First, months ago, Amos’ mother told the court that Amos was assessed on 2 separate occasions before the trial began, by IMH psychiatrist(s).’ – Ang Yong Guan

Dr Ang is a psychiatrist in private practice. He graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1979 and did his postgraduate training in psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh between 1984 and 1986. He served as a military doctor with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for 23 years from 1980 to 2003 (17 of which as a military psychiatrist) and retired, with the rank of Colonel, as Head of Psychological Care Centre, Military Medicine Institute, SAF Medical Corps.

Dr Ang was the president of Singapore Psychiatric Association (1997-1998); chairman of the Chapter of Psychiatrists, Academy of Medicine (2001- 2003); and member of National Council on Problem Gambling (2005 – 2011). He is currently founder-chairman of Action Group for Mental Illness (from 2004 to the present), a national advocacy group championing for the mentally ill.

Finally, after so long, there is someone with a unquestionable credential on Psychiatry speaks out. No one can doubt whether his degrees are real or fake or from some degree mills. Ang Yong Guan’s qualification and experience are rock solid, a local talent and authority in this field. He posted an article in his Facebook and reposted in the TRE titled ‘ Psychiatrist: ‘Managing Amos’ saga baffling’.

This is the first time a person of authority and carrying some weight has spoken voluntarily on the Amos case. Let’s see if there is anyone else of some standing that would be bitten by his conscience to open his golden mouth to say something about this case.

Amos Yee is now in IMH and according to his mother he is the only sane person there among the insane. Poor boy.  If he is not mad, his residency in the company of the mad will get to him.  Is managing Amos Yee baffling?

I dunno. I really dunno. 人在做天在看

Here is a comment in his post at TRE

Detention Barracks: June 26, 2015 at 8:54 am  Detention Barracks(Quote)

@Ang

'As ex-Army Colonel shouldn’t you access whether he is suitable for enlisted straight to Detention Barracks instead?
You seems to forgotten your root that feed you for your career. Turning your back against the hand that feed you is not going to get any votes !
Seems like you have been influenced by Glucose Chee a serial loser than turn against his mentor.’

The reason for this comment is to chastise Ang Yong Guan for being ungrateful which is more important than being right or wrong. Being grateful is more important than being morally righteous and just, the rule of law can go down the drain.

PS. Amos' mother Mary Toh also has a post in TRE titled 'A mother visits her son in IMH'. Reading it gives one a creepy feeling and a sense of haplessness.

GE 2015/16 issues for the voters to consider – Issue 1 - Freedom to information

This is the first part of a series of issues that I would be writing about for the coming GE. I would deal with one issue at a time and put it simple and short for brevity and easier for the voters to remember.

The main question is who would the people want to vote for?  The first issue is about the right to information. Would the voters want to vote for a govt that want to decide on what they can see, read, hear or say? Is this simple enough?

Do you want to vote for a govt that dictates to you what you can or cannot read, what you can or cannot see, what you can or cannot say? In other words, would you vote for a govt that wants to control you, control your thoughts? Do you want to be controlled by the people you elect to be the govt?

Think about it.