TR EMERITUS

The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is finally over. Singaporeans can finally return to their lives and embrace the return of the center lane where drivers had to give way to YOG buses. It was not a smooth few weeks here. While we had highs like watching the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, cheering our Young Lions' heroic performance in the Under-15 football matches and seeing young Isabelle Li take the silver in table tennis, the YOG also made some people mad. Take Abdul Malik Ghazali, for instance. This guy was so mad he posted very angry remarks on his Facebook page and an "I hate the Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee" page that got him arrested on charges of "incitement of violence." What did the fellow say? Well, his diatribe against the recent floods, a terrorist's escape and the money spent on the YOG ended with the sentence, "THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO BURN VIVIEN BALAKRISHNAN AND THE PAP!!!!! RALLY TOGETHER AND VOTE THEM OUT!!!" Read rest of article here.  Read More →

As the Olympic Flame at the Floating Platform slowly extinguishes, it symbolises the end of the 'money burning' process that Singaporeans witness in front of their television screen everyday since August 14, 2010. Whilst there were many calls by various platforms on the success of the YOG, there were a comparable number of voices who felt that the YOG is a failure. Locals vs Foreigners The local ministers were very quick to announce this event as a 'resounding success' and that it brought Singaporeans together. How true were the words of the Ministers as many Singaporeans were brought together to rally at 'I Hate YOG' Facebook pages, or the arrest of a certain Mr Malik who used the metaphor 'burn' the Minister, only to find himself 'burnt' by the Police Officers - who now apparently stick their eyes on the PC to look for any anti-YOG remarks. The foreign contingent were hardly present and many were uninterested in this 'prestigious event' which supposedly broadcast to the World, future sports personnel. IOC Chairman, Jacques Rogge sums it up the best when he proclaimed that the next YOG would gain more international exposure. 'Hidden Meaning' in Jacques Rogge's Statement? When IOC Chairman Jacques Rogge made a statement of such weightage, I would believe he was making an indirect snub on the arrest of Mr Malik. China is considered to be the most inaccessible when it comes to the internet and media wave. Look at the 2008 Olympic Games at Beijing and you would be able to compile a book on the inaccessibility of the Internet in the country. Yet, this same country is expected to generate more media hype for the next YOG than a country that is more internet-accessible and supposedly, freedom of speech. Does Mr Rogge feel that Singapore is ranked behind China in terms of transparency, PR duty as well as Citizens' right for him to make such a statement? By 2014 we will be able to tell. Teo Ser Luck: Singaporeans should be more supportive Surely Mr Teo should have know that Singaporeans were especially supportive of the YOG when they did not voice concern over YOG replacing their favorite television programme with some sporting events in which the commentator themselves are confused with. In addition, the fact that NO drivers were fined $130 for obstruction of YOG buses and taxis proved that Singaporeans played their part. However, the fact that only 350 drivers received letter of commendation for their gracious act is questionable. Considering that there are thousands of YOG buses and taxis on the road for the last 15 days, only 350 drivers were gracious enough to give way to this 'special' transport? Or are they family members or related to the drivers in anyway? Mr Teo should also capitalize on the fact that Singaporeans are so supportive of the event that even when a budget of more than $387 millon dollars was burst, there was no explicit call of audit was made by anybody, Opposition party or the Cabinet. Moreover, even when volunteers were served food that was more suitable for 'dogs' than human, only less than 5% of volunteers voiced their concerns. Conclusion The YOG was a resounding success to the Locals as it is a microsm of the impending problems that our country is facing and further showcase our ability to accept Foreigners more readily than helping locals who are given 'loose change' when it comes to welfare. As for the foreigners, it was also a success considering the kind of 'freebies' that was taken away by them after the event.     Fernando Fonseca   (P.S. Should Dr Vivian or Mr Teo or the SPF feels that this letter is offending and could "incite xxx" or threaten the peace of the society, maybe they should just "burn" me. But I believe that accountability is more important than anything else.)  Read More →

Beleaguered Singapore sports minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who has come under heavy criticisms for mismanaging the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, now claimed that he has nothing to do with the arrest of young YOG critic Mr Abdul Malik by the Singapore police on Tuesday which made the international headlines. Mr Malik had posted a comment on his Facebook taking Dr Vivian to task for the YOG mass food poisoning scandal on 15 August which caused 21 YOG volunteers to suffer from diarrhoea after taking food provided by the YOG caterer. According to international news agency Agence France-Presse, Mr Malik posted a comment written in capital letters saying that the incident showed it was time to “burn” the minister and the PAP. In the same posting, he also called on the public to “rally together and vote the PAP out." He was arrested at his workplace two days ago by three plain-clothes police officers from Bedok Police Division whose Commander is DAC Teo Chun Ching and Head Investigator is DSP Goh Tat Boon. Mr Malik revealed on Facebook that he was questioned  on the charge of “inciting violence and public disorder” under Section 267 Chapter 244 of the penal code. His laptop was also seized. Below is a snapshot of the original comment posted by Mr Malik who got him into trouble with the police: Mr Abdul Malik, who is a Rafflesian, continued to maintain that he did nothing wrong: "I still state that I have done nothing wrong. It is my own critical opinion of the YOG and the SYOGOC (and related persons). How is this construed as “inciting violence and public disorder” is really beyond me, and I have re-iterated that to the police. I maintain that (to me), I am NOT GUILTY,” he added. The shocking news was published by international media agency Agence France-Presse and reproduced by major papers in the world, thereby putting the YOG on the world map, as so craved by Dr Vivian: “The August 14-26 event, held for competitors aged from 14 to 18, has generated limited public interest, with many events blighted by empty seats and the host country’s athletes faring badly. Vivian Balakrishnan, the minister for community development, youth and sports, has come under particular fire from online critics over the games," reports AFP which has billions of readers worldwide. [Source: AFP, 25 August 2010] When asked about the controversial case, Dr Vivian pleaded ignorance and said he didn't care about it. "I didn't know about it until I read about it in the papers. It shows that I almost didn't care. I had more important things to do." [Source: Channel News Asia, 26 August 2010] If Dr Vivian did not lodge a police report, how is the police able to launch a formal investigation into the case and arrest Mr Abdul Malik? Who is the person who makes the decision to arrest him? Bedok Police Division Commander DAC Teo Chun Ching should step forward and clarify to the public to allay anxieties among Singaporeans. Being paid for by taxpayers' monies, the Singapore police has to be held accountable to its actions. It cannot "suka suka" arrest a citizen like this without any strong grounds to do so.   Related articles: >> Arrest of YOG critic to squash dissent failed miserably >> Character assassination by Straits Times against YOG critic >> Netizens voice support for arrested YOG critic Abdul Malik >> Outcry among Singaporeans at arrest of YOG critic >> Singapore police put YOG on world map >> Did Dr Vivian lodge police report against YOG critic? >> YOG critic arrested by Singapore police >> Participant of “I hate YOG” Facebook arrested by police Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us  Read More →