The Malik Affair - An Open Letter to Opposition Leaders

[Goh Meng Seng]

Your post gives me the impression that the opposition will back down if the PAP happens to play its cards right.

I hope that is not the case.

Don't think you have provided a convincing excuse yet why Malik is different from past cases of abuse of power. Note that the whole discussion has been centered around degree -- 1 man versus 10 men, or around the issue -- homelessness for instance, but no one has talked about blatant abuse of power. Why? Is it not important to recognize that fact?

There are 101 issues every week. Abuse of power is something difficult to define and debatable. There is no clear cut case in winning over public opinion and yes, PAP has played its cards right. Whether opposition back down or not, depends on what comes next. For political parties, I do not think it is wise to jump the gun. Let them charge him then we calculate our next moves.

There has been a long discussion on the roles of social activists/NGOs vs political parties (i.e. opposition parties). There is a distinctive line, no matter how fine it is, between the two. Human Rights NGOs would have the more appropriate platform to raise this issue immediately.

Goh Meng Seng

 

[heartlander]

How is fascism a big word? Only to an imbecile I suppose! :oIo:

If you don't know words that are too big for you then go somewhere else where they talk at your level. BODOH!

hahaha i rest my case

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

I tend to agree with GMS and think that it is natural not to jump in when PAP plays the cards right. No opposition around the world has done otherwise - and ours have already done many times.

If you do not mention degree, then cat culling is also an abuse of power. Perhaps we could define/redefine "abuse of power" before carrying on. Surely your definition can't be same as "using power for enforcement or prevention".

Ours is a tyrannical govt, and there is abuse of power here. It is not an issue like cat culling or dog beating where the beings involved are non-human and opposition can afford not to "jump the gun".

My defn of abuse of power is as majority of lay persons would define it: Arrest or detention or charge on frivolous grounds, malicious prosecution, etc. For malik, pressure was also exerted on his family members, which is despicable.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

There has been a long discussion on the roles of social activists/NGOs vs political parties (i.e. opposition parties). There is a distinctive line, no matter how fine it is, between the two. Human Rights NGOs would have the more appropriate platform to raise this issue immediately.

Goh Meng Seng

I am well aware of this discussion.

Perspective mentioned the behaviour of our opposition vis-a-viz opposition from other countries. I would go on to say that in other countries, political parties and NGO/civil society tend to blur the line.

Even in a country like M'sia, that is also the case.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

I am well aware of this discussion.

Perspective mentioned the behaviour of our opposition vis-a-viz opposition from other countries. I would go on to say that in other countries, political parties and NGO/civil society tend to blur the line.

Even in a country like M'sia, that is also the case.

NGO/civil society works together with political parties very closely in most countries but that doesn't mean that they do not have different objective, mission and agenda.

In Singapore's case, opposition movement is still in its infancy. There is also another debate about which comes first, political parties or NGO/civil society.

Whatever it is, they have complementary roles to play.

Goh Meng Seng

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

NGO/civil society works together with political parties very closely in most countries but that doesn't mean that they do not have different objective, mission and agenda.

In Singapore's case, opposition movement is still in its infancy. There is also another debate about which comes first, political parties or NGO/civil society.

Whatever it is, they have complementary roles to play.

Goh Meng Seng

You got the right word, complementary.

But the way oppositions here behave, it is more like "mutually exclusive".

It still does not cause you even a wee bit of shame to admit opposition is still in its infancy, despite 40 years of WP, close to 20 years of NSP, over 20 years of Chiam, etc?

 

[Ramseth]

Opposition are not in infancy, they're in an advanced stage of warring states.

Since civil war 2006, three new states have declared independence.

 

[ChaoPappyPoodle]

hahaha i rest my case

What a pathetic loser you are. You called yourself an idiot and even congratulated yourself thereafter.

Your masters should be ashamed of you. :oIo:

 

[Perspective]

Ours is a tyrannical govt, and there is abuse of power here. It is not an issue like cat culling or dog beating where the beings involved are non-human and opposition can afford not to "jump the gun".

My defn of abuse of power is as majority of lay persons would define it: Arrest or detention or charge on frivolous grounds, malicious prosecution, etc. For malik, pressure was also exerted on his family members, which is despicable.

You'll be surprised how many people here love animals more than humans. Easily more than the people who gathered for Yong VK.

You mention arrest, detention or charge on frivolous grounds, but I think you omitted mentioning that it is done for a purpose. No government would prosecute without a purpose, even if it has the power to do what it wants. Then the question is whether the arrest was done for a political reason or overreaction due to the Seng Han Thong affair. The point to note is, where does Malik stand compared to the opposition and activists of all shapes and sizes?

I'll put the view this way that sounds similar to GMS's even if it's unpopular. "Burn" might be a metaphor but it is badly and rarely used and given the SHT affair. If I wanted to rant, I would have used "hanging upside down" or "crucify him" on Viv B. And I can safely say Malik will be off with warning, that's all.

 

[Perspective]

It still does not cause you even a wee bit of shame to admit opposition is still in its infancy, despite 40 years of WP, close to 20 years of NSP, over 20 years of Chiam, etc?

The number of years is immaterial. Opposition is measured by the strength in capacity to the conditions. With 1 seat after 14 years, 2 seats 10 years after that and no new opposition MP 19 years later, who can say opposition is not infancy?

Mind everyone, there are opposition of all shapes and sizes here.

 

[Ramseth]

This is a state of warring states where rebels (well, perhaps dissenters or detractors) declare indpendence without land, army or population, and the state of the union is loving it.

 

[kingrant]

I followed this thread thru every post. I must say I can see Scroobal's and Thick face Black Heart's points of view. I agree with them fully. As for GMS, I am really dismayed that you made that "most unkindest cut of all". Et tu, Brut?

If we do not stand up now against tyrannical abuse of power over a flimsy turn of phrase, and make our point, I think we deserve to be ruled by the PAP gor another 50 years.

The only thing that can trip us up will be if Malik was actually devious enough to use that verb in a literal sense but retreated behind the ambiguity offered by the fact that it was a metaphor, which he also antiicpated, after the fact. But no one will know what was really in his mind.

The upshot is: so what if he really thought it.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

I'll put the view this way that sounds similar to GMS's even if it's unpopular. "Burn" might be a metaphor but it is badly and rarely used and given the SHT affair. If I wanted to rant, I would have used "hanging upside down" or "crucify him" on Viv B. And I can safely say Malik will be off with warning, that's all.

Firstly, Malik's woes do not end with just a warning. His family has been intimidated (according to Scroobal). He has been arrested at his workplace, which may affect his job.

Malik's affair has opened a can of worms. Even the slightest remark, poorly worded, can be regarded as worthy of arrest.

 

[Ramseth]

My friend and PA-buddy personally arrested Malik and is investigating into it.

Since I'm no longer in the force, he won't tell me more but I believe there's more it.

He's also obviously trying to discharge the case with a warning, provided circumstances allow.

 

[Perspective]

Firstly, Malik's woes do not end with just a warning. His family has been intimidated (according to Scroobal). He has been arrested at his workplace, which may affect his job.

Malik's affair has opened a can of worms. Even the slightest remark, poorly worded, can be regarded as worthy of arrest.

I don't know where Scroo had his info from but if it was the case Malik would have made it known on his Facebook. Furthermore, he announced joining SDP after the call up showing that employment was pretty secondary to all these.

I think the point is still missed. It's not a poorly worded remark. It was a poorly worded remarked that made authorities think that this chap was planning an Ong Kah Chua Part II. Now, I think it was an overreaction but it doesn't change the fact that the authorities thought that this chap was planning an Ong Kah Chua Part II. Remember that no one has supported Ong Kah Chua - not NSP, RP, SDP, SPP, WP, TOC, SFD etc. - except the naive Alex Tan. If JBJ was alive he would have condemned Ong's actions. It shows the gravity of the situation, even if this case was based on a suspicion.

 

[scroobal]

I think my mistake was to associate the opposition with well educated and probably with those who are have depth in politics. Please do not think that I am being arrogant. When this first surfaced, I did not bother as it seemed to the usual run of the mill stuff where the police and the authorities overeact like the press photographer.

I sensed something was wrong when Viv B distanced himself and the cat got out of the bag when Malik after his defiant stand after his release apologised. It then became talk of the town at least amongst those who I supposed who are not the ordinary man in the street.

There is one imbecile who felt that felt if Malik was intimidated he would have revealed it in his facebbook. Maybe he does not understand the term intimidated. By the way he was not intimidated but his parents were. The term intimidated only applies if the intended victim develops genuine fear and acts accordingly by taking action that he normally does not.

In summary, if the opposition is not keen to act in such a situation, when will they act? Ong Kah Chua actually committed a criminal offence. Malik did not. There is nothing in his comments that a reasonable person who assume to suggest violence. He actually mentioned the polls. If Malik did suggest violence or even committed a crime, I would not have started this thread.

Some years back, I mentioned that ISD threatened a local merit scholar with withdrawal of his scholarship if he did not act as their informant at he local Uni. They picked the wrong man. He went straight to PSC and complained. PSC screwed the shit of Director ISD, and the 2 clowns quickly apologised and said it was a misunderstanding.

So far the comments I got from the oppositon has not been convincing. If their tactic was to prepare for something bigger, I would say good luck. This is a golden opportunity to make meal out of this oppressive government. It was a missed chance.