TR EMERITUS

OPINION The arrest of a young YOG critic for "inciting violence and public disorder" by the Singapore police three days ago not only put the YOG on the world map, but damaged Singapore's international reputation as well and reinforcing its image as a repressive police state intolerant of the slightest criticism and dissent. 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 the New Paper, Mr Malik posted a comment written in capital letters saying that the incident showed it was time to “burn” the minister. In the same posting, he also called on the public to “rally together”. 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. Below is a snapshot of the original comment posted by Mr Malik who got him into trouble with the police: As we can see Mr Malik's original post above, he did not mean it literally to "burn" the minister. Taken into context, he is using the word "burn" as a metaphor or slang as he has explained himself: "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.” In a press interview two days ago, Dr Vivian claimed that he is not aware of Mr Malik's arrest till he read about it in the papers. In other words, Dr Vivian was not the one who lodged the police report. According to Mr Malik, it was the investigating officer (IO) who lodged the report leading to his arrest. Being paid for by taxpayers' monies, the Singapore police must be held accountable to its actions. It cannot "suka suka" arrest or call up law-abiding citizens for questioning on flimsy grounds for the sake of "fishing information" without any concrete evidence that a crime has been committed. The Commander of Bedok Police Division DAC Teo Chun Ching must answer the following questions arising from this case: 1. Who is the person who lodged the police report against Mr Malik? 2. Did the police receive any instructions from "above" to launch a formal investigation and if so, the identity of this person. 3. If an IO was the one who made the report, was he/she doing so in his/her personal capacity as a citizen of Singapore or as part of his/her work as a police officer? 4. Were police officers deployed to monitor the Facebook postings and if so, the number who did so. 5. Did the Head Investigator DSP Goh Tat Boon initiate the investigations on his own accord or was he directed to do so? 6. What are the qualifications of DSP Goh Tat Boon and his English grades in the "O" and "A" level examinations? 7. Is the police aware of the negative repercussions emanating from the arrest of Mr Abdul Malik just before the YOG is completed? 8. What are the grounds for the police arresting Mr Malik? Is he a threat to public order and security? The Singapore police is not above the law. The primary duty of law-enforcers is to protect citizens from criminals and NOT shield the PAP leaders from criticisms. Being civil servants on the payroll of the state, the police officers owe a duty of care to Singaporeans and not to the PAP MPs and ministers. In the absence of an independent body to check on the Singapore police such as a Public Complaint Bureau for Police Misconduct which is found in many democratic states such as United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and even Malaysia, Singaporeans will have to scrutinize the actions of the police closely themselves. The Singapore police has amassed too much power in its hands without having to account to anybody. Today, it is Abdul Malik who was arrested for criticizing the PAP. Tomorrow, it may happen to you, your friend or your children and you will have nobody else to turn to for assistance and support. We have only one another to count on. Even if Mr Malik is not charged in court in the end, his personal life and work will surely be affected by the ongoing police investigations which sometimes take years to conclude, if ever. Who will compensate Mr Malik and his family for their emotional trauma, anguish and suffering? What if Mr Malik is sacked by his boss because of his arrest? And if he is subsequently not charged in court, will the Singapore police compensate him for the loss of income? Errant police officers including the Head Investigators themselves must be taken to task for botched investigations and arrests and not allowed to get away unpunished. Not only do they deserve to be sacked from the Singapore Police Force for bringing dishonor and disrepute to its good name, they should be shamed publicly as well to send a strong deterrent message to other wannabes who are thinking of scoring brownie points with the PAP leaders. By and large, our Singapore police has proven themselves to be capable guardians of the people. Please do not allow a few black sheep to tarnish your reputation and erode public confidence in your impartiality, professionalism and efficiency. Singaporeans who have any queries on the arrest of Mr Abdul Malik and handling of this case by Bedok Police Division can submit their feedback to the following: 1. Singapore Police Customer Service Relation Branch: [email protected] 2. Ministry of Home Affairs feedback unit: [email protected]       Related articles: >> Arrest of YOG critic to squash dissent failed >> Character assassination by Straits Times >> Public support for arrested YOG critic >> 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 →

Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee Director Mr Ding Ming has taken a swipe at Singapore for splurging a shocking $387 million dollars on the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which has turned out to be a FLOP of EPIC proportions. Blighted by lack of genuine interest from Singaporeans, the YOG was plagued by controversies from the very beginning such as ticketing glitches, collapsing/leaking roof canvases, poor turnout at the games, mistreatment of volunteers, a mass food poisoning scandal and arrest of a young YOG critic for "inciting violence and public disorder" which made the international headlines thereby putting the YOG on world map. Singapore Sports minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has come under heavy criticisms from Singaporeans for bursting the YOG budget by more than three times, a fact not lost upon the Nanjing YOG committee which knows it has to contend with China's influential netizens as well. Nanjing has already sent up to 80 delegates to study how Singapore "organizes and hosts the YOG" and of course to learn from the numerous mistakes made. Mr Ding told Channel News Asia that the Nanjing YOG organizing committee will recruit 40,000 local and international volunteers, which is twice the number of volunteers for Singapore and they will go for systematic and basic training courses. When asked about Nanjing's budget for the YOG, Mr Ding declined to reveal the exact amount, but said no new sporting venues will be added. "As for the budget, we have to consider costs for marketing and improving infrastructure. But our general principle is to organise the Games with thrift and efficiency," he said, in a tacit acknowledgement that the ballooning costs of hosting the Singapore YOG is a concern taken into serious consideration. The Chinese are not short on confidence after witnesseing how Singapore blundered on hosting the YOG. "Nanjing can learn a lot from how Singapore is running its Youth Games. But it definitely can also do better," Cai Zhenhua, the head of the Chinese sports delegation, told the Nanjing Daily earlier this week. It will be a big slap on the face of Dr Vivian Balakrishnan if Nanjing is able to host the YOG at a fraction of the $387 million dollars spent by Singapore so far.   [Please sign the petition demanding a public apology from Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for mismanaging the YOG here.]   EDITORS’ NOTE: Singaporeans, please feel free to email us to share your frustrations, anger and grievances against the YOG. Your views matter alot to us. You are a citizen of Singapore and as a citizen, you have the right to speak up. Let us be your uncensored voice and fight for your rights.   Related articles: >> Vivian throws "smoke bombs" to confound critics >> Jacques Rogge: There will be more media attention for next YOG >> No public statement of support for Vivian from other PAP ministers >> Exposing the hypocrises of Vivian Balakrishnan >>Singapore schools forced to pay for YOG tickets >> Thomas Bach: High cost of YOG a concern >> Jacques Rogge: YOG is perfect promotion for Singapore >> Countering Straits Times ‘hogwash that YOG has caugh the “eyes” of the international media >> Jacques Rogge: YOG is a resounding success >> YOG volunteer: not much improvement in food >> Dr Vivian: YOG glitches unavoidable >> Petition demanding Dr Vivian to apologize >> YOG food poisoning scandal: Open letter to Dr Vivian >> Live maggot found in YOG food >> Ng Ser Miang: YOG gets positive reviews >> Kuo Chuan Primary School principal admits to blackmailing students >> Parents should pull children out of YOG >> No apology from Dr Vivian on YOG food poisoning scandal >> Massive outcry over screw-ups in YOG ticketing >> Why Ng Ser Miang should resign as Chairman of SYOGOC >> Dr Vivian: probe into YOG food poisoning scandal will take time >> PRC photographer fell down from temporary platform at YOG venue >> Cover-up of YOG food poisoning scandal? >> NEA, MOH to probe YOG mass food poisoning outbreak  >> Singaporeans “enslaved” by YOG organizing commitee >> Kuo Chuan Primary School students forced to pay $5 to attend YOG >> Singapore students forced to welcome YOG torch rally >> Mass food poisoning outbreak at YOG venue yesterday? >> YOG! What YOG? >> Canvas roof at YOG fell apart >> Zaqy Mohd defends MCYS >> Singapore students “invited” to attend YOG event >> Singapore volunteers forced to work long hours without rest for YOG >> PM Lee caught napping at YOG opening ceremony? >> Disaster at YOG opening ceremony >> 8 reasons why I am disappointed with YOG opening ceremony >> Netizens lampooned YOG opening ceremony >> No news of YOG opening ceremony in rest of the world >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve “DOG” food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Improved “DOG” food on 14 August 2010 >> PAP provides three daily buffet meals to YOG athletes and officials >> YOG volunteers complain about being given “DOG” food >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. 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By Abdul Malik I think in all fairness, the TNP journalist was doing the best he could in the circumstances. I think the first article was fair. Besides, if I was in this for popularity, I would have just stuck to the online media. Getting the mainstream media in on the act is our move to prove that we have the conviction to voice out our opinions, and live (or die) by them. My opinion may not have been accepted by everyone. The motive was to have my views aired, and it is my right to air them. I'm glad Dr Balakrishnan didn't lose sleep over this incident, because I'm sure that he WAS very busy running the YOG with Mr Teo Ser Luck. I do not doubt that they put in a lot of hard work into the YOG. Nonetheless, my call has always been for the YOG Organising Committee to be open about its expenditure. Was it really necessary to increase the budget by 3 times? The verdict is still open on that, and will continue to be as long as there is a lack of transparency in disclosing the exact breakdown of the budget to the public. The fact that I am not a member of any political party shows that I have absolutely no political agenda beyond the fact that I call the Government to account for its dealings in a transparent manner. I believe that in the coming days, this matter will be resolved. I have faith that our Government will not be so unwise as to waste our public funds wantonly. They are accountable to us, the People of Singapore. That being said, the devil was in the details, as it is said. With such a large budget, and the reputation of the Government for excellence, incidents such as food poisoning and the collapse of the canvas roof should never have occured. That must be pointed out and the responsible parties must be held accountable. Lastly, I wish to ask if there was actual popular support amongst the People for the YOG. We Singaporeans have this shameful tendency of not being very forthright with our feelings when we meet ruling party members. The result is grumbling in coffeeshops and online. I have the basic human right to freedom of expression. What I have done is not obscene nor does it violate moral norms. My words may have been strong, but I have a right to say them. It is time the Government of Singapore recognizes the fact that there exists a potent critical force online. At the risk of sounding immodest (quoted from Dr Balakrishnan), I would never have thought it possible for the voice of one man to have this much impact in Singapore. It is certainly food for thought for us all, that the pen is truly mightier than the sword. Majulah Singapura! Source: I hate YOG Note: Mr Abdul Malik is a former Rafflesian. Auspicium Melioris Aevi!   Related articles: >> Arrest of YOG critic to quash online dissent backfired >> Character assassination by Straits Times against YOG critic >> Public support for arrested YOG critic >> 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 →