- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 33,627
- Points
- 0
<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffeeshop Chit Chat - UK English teacher refutes MHA’s claims</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>Sep-4 8:36 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 12) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>38409.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>British English teacher refutes MHA’s claims that the word “burn” will incite violence
September 5th, 2010 |
Author: Your Correspondent
A British English teacher based in Madrid, Spain has refuted the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) outrageous claims that the word “burn” used by YOG critic Mr Malik in his Facebook comment criticizing PAP minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, could “incite violence and public disorder”.
Mr Abdul Malik made the international headlines when he was arrested by the Singapore police for “inciting violence and public disorder” with a comment he posted on Facebook criticizing Dr Vivian Balakrishnan over his handling of the YOG.
Below is a snapshot of the original comment posted by Mr Malik who got him into trouble with the police:
He was arrested at his workplace 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.
The controversial case made the international headlines, sparking a huge outcry among Singaporeans who were flabbergasted at the inability of the Singapore police to differentiate between a harmless metaphor and a genuine threat.
In a letter to the Straits Times Forum yesterday, a MHA director Toh Yong Chuan continued to insist that Mr Malik’s comments will “incite violence” against Dr Vivian, much to the disbelief of Singaporeans.
“It is a serious offence to instigate violence or injury against another person. It does not matter if his target is a government minister, a journalist or someone from any other profession,” he wrote.
A netizen Kojakbt has posed a question on the authoritative English language forum usingenglish.com asking if the word “burn” will indeed “instigate violence” as used in the context of Mr Malik’s original comment:
“This is the time for us to burn the Minister and his political party! Rally together and vote them out!” What does this mean? Does it mean the writer intends to physically harm the Minister by rallying the people to burn him? Please help. Thanks.”
Below is the reply from the English language teacher:
“No. I think it’s a metaphorical “burning” meaning to destroy his career as a Minister and ensure that someone else is voted in. I don’t think anyone would be so silly as to advertise their desire or plan to physically harm someone. In some countries, that’s a criminal offence.”
[Source: usingenglish.com]
With the case attracting attention from the international media, Singapore will be made a laughing stock again should the AGC proceed to charge Mr Malik which will surely cast doubts on the English proficiency of Singaporeans.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
A British English teacher based in Madrid, Spain has refuted the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) outrageous claims that the word “burn” used by YOG critic Mr Malik in his Facebook comment criticizing PAP minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, could “incite violence and public disorder”.
Mr Abdul Malik made the international headlines when he was arrested by the Singapore police for “inciting violence and public disorder” with a comment he posted on Facebook criticizing Dr Vivian Balakrishnan over his handling of the YOG.
Below is a snapshot of the original comment posted by Mr Malik who got him into trouble with the police:
He was arrested at his workplace 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.
The controversial case made the international headlines, sparking a huge outcry among Singaporeans who were flabbergasted at the inability of the Singapore police to differentiate between a harmless metaphor and a genuine threat.
In a letter to the Straits Times Forum yesterday, a MHA director Toh Yong Chuan continued to insist that Mr Malik’s comments will “incite violence” against Dr Vivian, much to the disbelief of Singaporeans.
“It is a serious offence to instigate violence or injury against another person. It does not matter if his target is a government minister, a journalist or someone from any other profession,” he wrote.
A netizen Kojakbt has posed a question on the authoritative English language forum usingenglish.com asking if the word “burn” will indeed “instigate violence” as used in the context of Mr Malik’s original comment:
“This is the time for us to burn the Minister and his political party! Rally together and vote them out!” What does this mean? Does it mean the writer intends to physically harm the Minister by rallying the people to burn him? Please help. Thanks.”
Below is the reply from the English language teacher:
“No. I think it’s a metaphorical “burning” meaning to destroy his career as a Minister and ensure that someone else is voted in. I don’t think anyone would be so silly as to advertise their desire or plan to physically harm someone. In some countries, that’s a criminal offence.”
[Source: usingenglish.com]
With the case attracting attention from the international media, Singapore will be made a laughing stock again should the AGC proceed to charge Mr Malik which will surely cast doubts on the English proficiency of Singaporeans.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
