TR EMERITUS – Untold Hard Truths From Around The World – 淡马锡评论 – formerly Temasek Review

Released on bail, British journalist accused of contempt of court

Reporters without Borders, 20 July 2010 Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the contempt of court charges that have been brought against British freelance journalist Alan Shadrake in connection with his new book, “Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock.” Freed on bail last night, Shadrake is due to appear before the Singapore high court on 30 July. The press freedom organisation has seen a copy of the complaint brought against Shadrake by the attorney-general’s office. It consists of just a series of biased and malicious allegations that show that the case is an abuse of judicial authority. The complaint says that parts of the book, which is about Singapore’s use of the death penalty, “contains imputations against the independence and integrity of the Singapore judiciary.” In evidence, it quotes around 20 passages which for the most part contain widely-known facts about Singapore’s justice system. Read rest of article here. Read More →

PUB: Oh wait, it wasn’t a blocked culvert that caused the flood

Singapore was hit by "Freak Floods" on 16th June wreaking havoc on many parts of central Singapore, flooding basement carparks and shops, and making roads impassable to cars. The floods affected Orchard Road, Coronation Road West, Fourth Avenue, Kings Road, Kheam Hock Road and Veerasamy Road, bringing traffic to a crawl. The worst-hit area was the Orchard Road and Scotts Road intersection, with large stretches from Paterson Road - where Ion Orchard and Wheelock Towers are - to Ngee Ann City submerged in nearly half a metre of flood waters. The PUB was quick to make a sweeping statement pinpointing a culvert choked with debris as the cause of the June 16 flash flood in Orchard Road that shut down commerce in some sections. (‘Blocked drain blamed for Orchard Road flood’; Straits Times - June 18) Environment Minister Yaacob Ibrahim, who has just returned from his 'learning experience' and impressed Netizens with his stunning findings that “floods are caused by intense storms” made another startling revelation in Parliment recently that after 'intense investigation' by the PUB, it wasn't a blocked culvert along Stamford Canal that caused the flood at Orchard Road on June 16, the debris only "worsened" the flood. (Debris 'worsened' flood, but didn't cause it: PUB, TODAY - July 21) "In the case of Orchard Road, the canals are way upstream, and we may not have enough capacity to drain all the water as quickly as possible ... This has to be studied as a system and not just as a barrage, together with all the drains.", he said. There was little reason to doubt the water agency's evaluation then, although public mutterings hinted at serious shortcomings in the drainage capacity. This has turned out to be the case: Singaporeans now know it wasn't just a blockage but that the Stamford Canal could not drain away fast enough the runoff from two bouts of heavy rainfall that morning. For an agency like PUB, with all the resources of Singapore at its disposal to make such sweeping statement without investigating further is plain outright IRRESPONSIBLE and the person in charge should be held accountable for the blatent mistruth they/he concocted. But DAFT Singaporeans, best known for their short memory and forgiving nature, will soon not remember this incident ever took place. by Forecaster Extraordinarie II Recent Floods: 1) 19 Nov 2009 – Bukit Timah 2) 16 June 2010 – Orchard Rd & other areas 3) 25 June 2010 – various parts, island-wide 4) 1 July 2010 – MacPherson & Tai Seng 5) 17 July 2010 – various parts, island-wide Read More →

大水灾让政治体制裂缝露馅

作者：http://utwt.blogspot.com 译者：新加坡文献馆星期一，2010年7月19日在风平浪静与没有大犯错之际，一党专政体制里的主从机构可以轻易的相互展示其表面上的团结与力量，从而让执政党持续掌握其极权政治权力。然而，当极其严重的过失出现后，这些犯错事件就会凸显出这一种体系之间的裂缝，漏洞和脆弱性。这时那些原本看来团结一致的一伙开始转变为相互批斗，因为各个小头目开始保卫自已的地盘，从而相互推卸过错。这种情况之所以出现是因为对党持有惩治权力的最高在位者，其权力开始萎缩。另外，在当权者再也不能把犯错归咎于人民时，体制本身的弊病自然就会显现。这儿列出在大水灾过失之后发生的地盘批斗。 1、警察部队批斗新加坡报业控股吴庆顺，57岁，他是新加坡报业控股拥有的联合晚报的摄影记者，在为报馆拍摄灾情时被警员粗暴的拷上手铐并驱赶出水灾现场。根据海峡时报，吴先生指出他仅有一次的被告诫离开，而就在刚要走开时警员把手铐拷上。然而警方却是说，在使用武力之前，他们曾多次告诫吴先生离开。那么，谁会在这场斗争中作出让步？是黄根成管辖的警察部队？或者是前副总理陈庆灾管辖的新加坡报业控股？ 2、吕德耀批斗雅国伊布拉欣吕德耀少将，丹戎巴葛集选区国会议员，代信息通讯及艺术部长，他要求公用事业局（PUB）向受影响的居民作出解释。这是由于他的选区如剑桥道和多塞特路地区皆受到严重影响，其情况比‘上两回在6月份的更为严重’。那些把车子停放在地下层停车场的住户，他们的车子被水淹没至车门。吕先生本身在星期6早上要离开在直落古楼的住家时也遭到困难。具讽刺意味的，他的内阁同僚雅国伊布拉欣先生，就是那位必须回应吕先生的呼吁：‘在此刻必须有能力和受影响的人民维持沟通’。不幸的很，在这场让商人与住户蒙受上百万元损失的水灾时段内伊布拉欣先生明显的在公众场合缺席。不知吕少将会对雅国伊布拉欣的缺乏领导才能和几乎懦弱的行为会有何进言？ —————- 这场新加坡大水灾带来巨大的损失，需要多个部门共同负责处理。民防（国内事务部）被动员以清理水灾造成的破坏。报章作出公正与平衡的水灾报导。国会议员们和民众就损失事项进行沟通和解决居民们面对的问题。最为重要的事项是国家环境部要担当责任确保沟渠排水系统的通畅运作，这是防止水患的首要任务。当多个利益集团彼此进行保卫地盘时，冲突就会发生，斗争的摩擦火花亦会满天飞。这将会是场令人叹为观止的斗争，因为这些不同的利益集团，原本都是由威武的李光耀一手操控。这些冲突有其自然性。在这过程中必然有人要退出，那只是迟早要发生的局面。看看这场大水灾会延续多长的时间，会带来什么程度的破坏损失，以及我们可以在报章上看到那类的更多冲突。这确实是新加坡历史里最为有趣的时代。来源：http://utwt.blogspot.com/2010/07/massive-flood-cockup-exposes-fractures.html Read More →