I was asked to use one word to describe E-Jay by Dr Chee during 1 of the workshops we attended, I came up with “Eloquent E-Jay”.

It is precisely of E-Jay’s eloquence in writing that caught my attention in a popular forum back then in 2006.  That was how we both got to know each other.

E-Jay never fails to come to my defense whenever he sees or feels someone is making nasty remarks about me.  He is very protective of me like a brother will for a sister..

E-Jay never fails to lend me his listening ear whenever he sense I am feeling down.  Once, he even chatted with me till the wee hours of the morning, despite he having a long day later.  I am truly very grateful and appreciative of his patience and kind words of support encouragement he has shown me.

Just the other when the F4  met up for a get together lunch, E-Jay presented me with 3 boxes of Belgium chocolates for my birthday knowing that I love chocolates.  I was very touched and I realize he’s been giving me chocolates for my birthday since we know each other.   As I aged, my birthdays are celebrated with family and friends over lunches and dinners, presents are rare, it is touching to note that E-Jay seem to be the only friend that still buy presents for me.

E-Jay, if you are reading this humble article of mine, I would like you to know that I am glad to have a friend in you and I sincerely thank you for all the patience and support you have given me.  Not forgetting your kind and comforting words of encouragement and listening ear.

From the bottom of my heart “Thank you very much E-Jay”.

E-Jay, Ti Lik and myself, we are known to be the inseparable F4.  Me being the Empress was always seen with my 2 trusted bodyguards by my side.

We used to do many things together like in this case took part in the protest together, and charged for illegal protest and assembly together.

With the latest development, and Ti Lik choosing to plead guilty due to his work commitment, I suddenly felt so alone without my trusted bodyguards watching over me or fighting alongside with me.

I remember chatting with Sylvester on Monday, who asked me how am I doing, I told him I don’t know if end of the day, what I am going through, to stick by my believe and my conviction is worth it, but I know I have to carry on, not for myself, but for my children.  I am doing all this to pave the way for the younger generation, I hope by the time my kids are older, there is true democracy in Singapore.

Yet this afternoon after our lunch break, while Carl is doing his cross-examination, my handphone rings for several times, unable to pick up at that point of time and not knowing who called, I didn’t think much of it.  When I reached home, I realized the school was trying to contact me because my son is sick and having a high fever.  I was filled with remorse and guilt for not being there for him.

The price all of us - believers of democracy, have to pay to carry on with the trial.  Of course, this is exactly what the PAPies knew and how they using it to kill us.. Some of us has the luxury of time on our side to continue the fight, while others like E-Jay, Ti Lik, Jeffrey George, Rajan and Suraya did not.

As a mother, a woman, I do have my limitation and emotional moments.  I wouldn’t know if end of the day, what is going to come out of this trial, this fight, what I have lost along the way but I still chose to continue on.

To my remaining 12 comrades, thank you for giving me all the support I need to carry on this fight.

Thank you Siok Chin and John for always talking to me, lending me a listening ear.

Thank you Seelan for always checking if I am feeling ok.  I feel your concern.

Thank you Sylvester for always sharing with me and assuring me you know what I am going through.

Thank you Shafiie for the butter bread that you sweetly order for me for breakfast on Monday.

Thank you Kai Xiong for always coming up to me and sharing some jokes to make me laugh.

Thank you Francis, for now you are the only one addressing me as Empress.

Thank you Gandhi, for the generous compliments to me each day at our trial which never fails to perk me up (ok I admit I am vain, and I loves compliments..haha)

Thank you Dr Chee, Carl, Jufri Snr for working through all those cross-examniation and speaking up not just for us, but the rest of the Singaporeans.

Thank you E-Jay, for the chat we share in this early morning.  Your assurance and support gives me new strength and I know I have a friend in you.

Last but not least, thank you PAPies, for making all this possible.  For you have taught me to be a strong woman, to standby my conviction and belief against all odds.  You have educate my political knowledge along the way and develop true friendship from the TBT 18.

Subject: Re: UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007
To: lee_kuan_yew@pmo.gov.sg, kootk@mindef.gov.sg, indranee.rajah@drewnapier.com, lui_tuck_yew@moe.gov.sg, samtan@cdac.org.sg
Cc: “Yam Keng Baey” <baey.yamkeng@capitaland.com>, tnp@sph.com.sg, npeditor@sph.com.sg, santokh@sph.com.sg, tekmeng@sph.com.sg, melvin@sph.com.sg, kenjr@sph.com.sg, muralis@sph.com.sg
Date: Tuesday, 28 April, 2009, 8:16 PM

Dear Sir / Madam;

The New Paper Article “Go to your MP instead of Complaining” on 28th April 09, which remind us to stop complaining and go to our MP instead.

Perhaps I should refresh my MP and in fact, the whole Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs that despite sending numerous emails and reminders, till to date, I have not receive any response from my MPs.

Perhaps Mr Fulwood or Ms Elysa Chan are not aware that we can write what we want to our MPs, but MPs have the luxury to chose not to respond to us, and in situation like this, what is next for us?
cheers;

Jaslyn Go

— On Thu, 10/4/08, Jaslyn Go wrote:

Subject: UNRESOLVED ISSUES ARISING FROM BLOCK VISIT ON 4th September 2007
To: lee_kuan_yew@pmo.gov.sg, kootk@mindef.gov.sg, indranee.rajah@drewnapier.com, lui_tuck_yew@moe.gov.sg, samtan@cdac.org.sg
Cc: “Yam Keng Baey” <baey.yamkeng@capitaland.com>, chengwee@sph.com.sg
Date: Thursday, 10 April, 2008, 3:47 PM

1. 1. There are Indian glue sniffers who often loiter at the staircase and hide there to sniff glue.
   2. Inhalant abuse, a criminal act, is known to intoxicate the abusers who are then predisposed to committing more crimes.
   3. This situation has occurred many times and whenever I call the police, the latter would take 30 to 45 minutes to arrive, by which the time, the suspects would have finished their glue sniffing and left the scene.
   4. I shifted out 2 years back partly because of this situation as I was pregnant and I did not feel that the neighbourhood was safe at times.
   5. I also raised another incident in which I spotted an axe-wielding Indian man sitting in the ABC hawker centre with his eyes fixated on the adjoining car park as if he was waiting to greet someone. I called the police and offered to help identify the axe-wielder.
   6. The axe-wielder must have been loitering around on a frequent basis for the Indian man in your entourage was also able to describe him as limpy and short.
   7. I told you that the police had reasoned that they had to catch him red handed for them to take action. However, in order to apprehend any suspect red-handed, the police must respond in time but they never did so.

1. 1. Whether he was asserting that Bukit Merah was very much unsafe and with a lot of criminal activity necessitating police attention and which leads to slow response time of the Police, and
   2. Since there was indeed so much crime in Bukit Merah, why did not the Police deploy more manpower to cope with the cases?

1. 1. As an MP, you have been given the mandate by the people to find solutions to our complaints; and
   2. If you need me to provide you with the answers, what then are you supposed to do in your position as our Member of Parliament?

1. 1. I reside in a point block where the lift lobby area’s natural lighting is dim. This is made worse by having doors installed at the staircases such that even during daytime it is dim and made worse when it is cloudy, rainy or overcast
   2. On several occasions, my neighbours, our maids, our children and myself have slipped and fallen because the bad lighting prevented us from seeing that the floor was wet from the rain.

1. 1. you asked your accompanying town council staff whether the lights could be switched on when it is cloudy or rainy. The town council staff replied that residents could just call and request the town council to switch the lights on. He added that he needed to check if this was feasible and would revert
   2. You asserted that the doors were a design flaw which you could do nothing about. The staircase and door provides the residents privacy and therefore as residents we should give and take.

1. 1. to switch the lights on 24 hours a day and 7 days a week would increase the electricity bill and this cost will have to be passed onto the residents. You asked whether or not we would want that.
   2. you cannot accede to every resident¡¯s request and that I would be very surprised at what some of the residents are asking for.

1. 1. CPF money is our money. As owners, we have the right to decide whether or not we need any annuity. It is not for the Government to decide for us
   2. In any event, what proportion of people live beyond 85 years of age? How big is that sector of the population in actual fact
   3. I reminded you that not everyone is as long lived as our great leader Mr. LKY. Furthermore in our generation, with the degree of stress and pollution environment, not many can even make it to their 60s.
   4. For the small percentage fortunate to lives beyond 60, the Government should do its duty to look after them and not pass the responsibility to others
   5. Our generation, being more educated, will know the importance of planning for our future retirement, and we do not need the Government to tell us what to do and what to buy for retirement.

1. 1. By the time the details are released on the 17 Sept parliamentary hearing, there will simply be another rubber-stamping exercise, and the fate of all those aged 50 or below will be sealed
   2. One need not look very far into history for examples of such arrogance: the GST increase, Presidential, Parliamentarian and Ministerial salary increments: Once the details are out, the decision is passed and our fate is sealed!

1. 1. You referred to statistics which purportedly show that almost 50% of the current population will benefit from the annuity scheme
   2. You threw the challenge for me to walk around Block 3 to witness the large number of single old folk or those abandoned by their children and who have no one to look after them
   3. You cited the need for the government to increase the pool of resources to help those who have no means of supporting themselves in old
      age.

1. 1. The current older generation who could live to an old age would not benefit from the proposed annuity scheme as it applies only to those aged 50 or below
   2. Furthermore, like my case where I have my own retirement plan, why is the government still making it compulsory for these people who are better-off to buy the annuity
   3. Should it not be every citizen’s personal right to decide how we spend our CPF money? CPF Money is after all our money AND NOT the Government’s money.

here is my feedback to TNP…

I am writing in response to Ms Elysa Chan article on the above.

Perhaps Mr Fulwood would like to know that I have written to my MP Mr Baey Yam Keng 8 times and forward the emails to Tanjong Pagar GRC which includes our well respected MM Mr Lee Kuan Yew twice and till to date, they have conveniently chose to / refused to reply to my emails which are the concerns I raised during Mr Baey block visit at my constituency.

Mr Baey indicated and even get the town council staff which was among his entourage to take down my concerns and assured me that they will get back to me.

So, if writing to MP should be the way to go, tell me then why isn’t my MP and the whole Tanjong Pagar GRC is not responding to my email?  So what is next for us when our MP refused to address our concerns?

Jaslyn Go

‘Go to your MP instead of complaining’ By Elysa Chen April 28, 2009

WHILE some of his countrymen are eagerly joining in the bashing of Singapore on the Facebook group ‘Singapore Sucks’, an English teacher from the UK who has been living here for the past five years is leaping to Singapore’s defence. HAPPY: Mr Anthony Fulwood (left), an English teacher from the UK, is an active participant in grassroots work. TNP FILE PICTURE This unlikely knight in shining armour is Singapore permanent resident Anthony Fulwood, 30. Mr Fulwood, who lives in an executive HDB flat in Bukit Panjang, is so proud of Singapore, he even dubbed himself an ‘ambassador’ to promote ‘life in Singapore’. That is why when he heard that a group had formed on the social networking site to criticise his adopted homeland on things like the lack of freedom and the ungraciousness of its people, he felt that he should speak up. ‘It hurts me when I hear people attacking my home like that. When your home is being attacked, the first thing you do is to stand up and defend your home,’ said Mr Fulwood, who is active in grassroots work in Bukit Panjang. ‘I don’t want a gold star, and no one’s going to give me a gold star either, but I just want people to know the truth about life here,’ he said. Mr Fulwood, who has lived in India, Africa and the Middle East, added: ‘People always say that the grass is greener overseas. My challenge to them is: Go overseas and see what it’s like in another country. ‘I am sure that 100 per cent will come back and say that Singapore’s better.’ Mr Fulwood listed government policies such as the baby bonus scheme, his HDB home, the community spirit and safety as some of the reasons why he loves Singapore. The New Paper, 23 Apr. He also felt that there was enough political freedom here as people have the right to choose in elections and they have the Speakers’ Corner to voice their opinions. ‘Yet, people don’t want to go to the park. They want to complain in pubs and Facebook groups. These teenagers that complain about things they know nothing about are immature,’ said Mr Fulwood. ‘They should approach their Member of Parliament, and try to solve the problem. But these people want an audience. That’s why they go to Facebook to complain,’ he added. American expatriate Bill Hedman, 52, the managing director of an investment firm said: ‘Singapore’s great. I have had no problem in the last seven years my wife and I have been here. Everything works ‘Everything is clean, there are good restaurants and everything works. The business climate here is also very good. The Government is very pro-business.’ Addressing one of the main grouses of the Facebook group, the lack of freedom here, Mr Hedman felt that ‘Singapore is still a young country, but political and artistic freedom will eventually come’. The only downside to living here, he said, is the ‘hot and humid weather’, but that did not bother him much either as he is from Florida, he added, chuckling. Agreeing, Mr Lin Menuhin, 45, a British expatriate who has been working here for the past three years, said: ‘Singapore is a regional hub that’s efficient and comfortable, and provides a safe environment to work in. ‘As someone who is here for work, to be honest, there is nothing negative I can find about the system.’ Singaporeans have also rallied online to rebuke the comments made by foreigners. Some observers have noted the irony that Singaporean netizens are defending their country against accusations that they themselves have often made online. Explaining why Singaporeans are reacting so defensively even though they may agree with the foreign critics, Dr Tan Ern Ser, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology in the National University of Singapore, said it was because Singaporeans wanted to ‘reserve the right to criticise ourselves’. And even though the Facebook group has garnered at least 400 supporters, Dr Sulfikar Amir, from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Nanyang Technological University, said: ‘They may not necessarily represent the opinion of the majority of people here, which is why so many others have hit back at the people who have set up and joined this Singapore Sucks group.’ When The New Paper asked the creator of the Facebook group, who gave his name as Mr Wils Cheng, why he created the group, he said in an e-mail reply: ‘I did expect some negative reaction but I never thought that the group would be covered by sites like Stomp, Asiaone, The New Paper and Singapore Enquirer.’ It is not known if he is a Singaporean. Adding that he was ’surprised’ to see how his group could have ’stirred up such a big fuss’, Mr Cheng said: ‘I don’t see Japan Times covering the group ‘Japan Sucks’ or the French AFP writing about the group ‘France Sucks’.’

Lately, I been traveling rather often, which leave me very little time to update my blog.

I realize it can be rather taxing wearing many hats at the same time, (my role as a mother, activist, supporter of SDP, running my own biz, setting up a new biz venture etc) It is at times like this, that a warm and encouraging SMS from a supporter keeps me going and rejuvenates me..

Here is the SMS I received from a supporter;

+65 *** *8525 : Our people probably will nvr understand why u’re doin what u’re nw.  I wish to say my sincere thanks to you for takin up such a difficult n often   thankless task.

Me : Thanks for ur encouragement…btw you are….??

+65 *** *8525 : Juz an ordinary citizen. Jiayou.

Me : I am too an ordinary citizen pal

To whoever you may be, I sincerely thank you for your kind words and encouragement.  I do hope one day, besides encouraging me, you can walk along with me..

I know many out there are not ready to walk with us yet, not when the establishment has been successful in instilling fear in us for the past 40 years, and with the recent change in POA which are meant to incite more fear into us, however, there are many other ways you can help us….

1) Financially - Every successful campaign needs money (photocopying, printing, organising activities, workshops or public forums, etc). Help by pledging a monthly donation to SDP (no amount is too small for us) you could do that via internet bank transfer / paypal / cheque / meeting 1 of us personally (your choice your convenience your comfort level) - Click here and donate online

2) Volunteering - Contribute your talents (writing, poster design, photography, IT skills, ideas, or simply a pair of hands & running legs :- ) Volunteer in some of our activities.. perhaps you can start by joining us in those activities before you start volunteering.. it is a good way to get to know SDP and us better.. trust me, along the way, you get to make some really good friends..

3) Broadcasting - Help us pass our message to your family..friends, friend’s friends, anyone and everyone.. remember, our media is all state controlled, so we can only rely on internet and word of mouth to spread our message around..

We must all come together to play a part in bringing back democracy and human rights in Singapore, without which we can’t even voice out about all the unfair polices, laws that are being shoved down our throat and passed through parliament.

My comments on TOC article;

10) Jaslyn Go on April 6th, 2009 6.57 pm

Engaging netizens – time to come out of comfort zones, politicians

Breaking News: Woman who was hospitalized for severe food poisoning after eating at a Geylang Serai rojak stall has died in hospital.

Andrew Loh

If discussions on issues of importance are to progress, both parties have to accept that perhaps it is time to stop staying on their respective sides of the fence.

We have come some ways from the anonymous and sinister-sounding “counter-insurgents” which the government was reported to be sending into cyberspace to counter its online critics in January 2007.

Now, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is adopting a different approach. Its “embrace of the diversity of views”, mentioned by its newly-appointed president of its Youth Wing, Mr Teo Ser Luck, includes those in cyberspace. It wants to engage netizens upfront, it seems. And it has delegated the task to its youth branch, the Young PAP (YP). Mr Teo has made this his priority, apparently. “When I took over YP, I wanted to make sure there’s an embrace of diversity of views. So, you will see more diversity and more participation,” Mr Teo is reported to have told the Today newspaper.

While there will be cynics who will pooh-pooh this cyber outreach by the PAP, the move is to be applauded, nevertheless. Political parties in Singapore have, all this while, seemed unsure and hesitant about engaging netizens, including those from the opposition parties. So far, such engagements do not include what I would call “close quarter contacts”. Parties would put up articles or postings on their sites – and that’s about it. There are no replies from party elders to the comments from readers.

However, this seems to have changed in recent times, especially with the PAP. On Facebook, for example, Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo has been more willing to explain his position on certain issues. This writer had an exchange with the minister over the recent Thein Sein orchid-naming controversy. It was cordial and civil. However, Mr Yeo has yet to emerge from his own corner in Facebook or blog to respond to postings on other people’s sites. But he did, to the surprise of quite a few people, invite his Facebook friends to join him for a morning jog recently.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, PAP MP for Sembawang GRC, has also been posting comments on other people’s Facebook accounts - commenting on Abdul Salim Harun’s Facebook, for example. Mr Salim, up till recently, was a Workers’ Party member. Dr Lim too had an exchange with this writer over the issue of foreign workers on this writer’s Facebook page. Most of the so-called P65 MPs have Facebook accounts.

The YP set up its Youngpap blog some time back but the postings there have been roundly castigated by netizens each time they appear. The blog was more for defending its parent party, at times rather illogically, and not for a true and sincere exchange of views with readers. Its YoungPAP Facebook is more lively, and has more than 600 friends. Its Facebook looks to be more engaging too. Its latest posting, titled “Opposition redundant?” has had a decent discussion, with most disagreeing with the suggestion, including YP members.

A blog, which seems to have been created by either pro-PAP or pro-government supporters, was set up in 2008 to specifically counter the SDP’s views. Called Not My SDP, a reference to the SDP’s website which is named “http://yoursdp.org”, it is unknown who the people behind the blog are, though some suspect that it may have been set up by PAP grassroots members. Notmysdp perhaps is the clearest manifestation of the so-called “counter-insurgents” from the government. (TOC has written to the blog and is awaiting a reply.)

What about the opposition?

The Workers’ Party secretary general, Mr Low Thia Khiang, does not have a presence in cyberspace beyond his own party’s official website – save for a fan page created by supporters. The same for its chairman, Ms Sylvia Lim. On its official website, the postings consist mainly of Parliamentary speeches and press releases. The WP, however, has members and supporters who are quite active in blogs and in social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter but there has been very limited engagement on current affairs. On the blogs, members do share their views on some current and national issues from time to time, most notably its Organising Secretary, Mr Yaw Shin Leong and former CEC member and GE2006 candidate, Mr Tan Kian Hwee.

The WP’s youth wing has an official website which is best described as a ghost town, really, and thoroughly uninteresting. Its latest posting is an entry about the then newly-elected Youth Wing Executive Council – in August 2008. Party supporters previously set up The Hammersphere blog, but it has since also become inactive. The party’s youth wing got into the Facebook bandwagon recently. Besides the party’s official websites, the party has given no official endorsements to the other sites or blogs.

The Singapore Democratic Party is perhaps the most active on the Internet with its daily website updates. However, on closer look, its party leaders too are not as actively engaged as perhaps its supporters and members, in terms of close-quarter contacts.

Party leaders write articles and post them on their official website. Dr Chee Soon Juan and assistant secretary general, Mr John Tan, would then highlight such postings on their Facebooks. Close-quarter dialogues between the leaders and readers are not very frequent. The SDP had, however, engaged forummers in 2007 on a forum for a one-week period, with party leaders discussing various issues with forummers. The party made a slight revamp to its website on April 6 to make it “more user friendly and easy on the eye.”

The Young Democrats, the SDP’s youth branch, has a Facebook “closed group” account. One has to request to join or be invited to join before one can have access.

[Update: Thanks to Jaslyn Goh for informing the writer that a "Friends of  SDP" Facebook group has also been set up.]

The relatively new Reform Party’s chairman, Mr Ng Teck Siong, recently set up a Facebook account and has been noticed posting an occasional note on others’ pages.

The SPP’s Youth Impact too seems to be dormant on the Internet.  The NSP and the RP have no youth wings.

It can thus be seen that there is much room for improvement for the political parties, if they want to engage the Internet generation. Engagement would and should go beyond the postings of reports or articles or pictures. The key is dialogue – and sadly, not many politicians are doing this.

The fear, perhaps, is that getting into discussions opens one up to attacks and turns such dialogues into a rowdy and meaningless farce. While there is always a possibility of this happening, there are ways to minimize these. One way is to require commenters to register, as the SDP website does, before any person is allowed to post replies. Another way is to moderate comments, as many sites do. Those who are serious about engaging the issues will find this acceptable, while those who are bent on attacking the other parties may not find it so appealing. But at the end of the day, everyone should respect and accept that it is the site owners who set the rules for their sites – and that they have the right to.

Internet engagement by politicians is a new phenomena in Singapore – and parties on both sides of the fence are adopting tentative stances towards it. The politicians do not want to get into something they are not familiar with; while netizens are wary of politicians usurping Net space for their political agenda.

But if discussions on issues of importance are to progress, both parties have to accept that perhaps it is time to stop staying on their respective sides of the fence.

As of now no party leader has a presence on the Internet whose presence is of any consequence. Most seem to prefer to stay in their comfort zones. However, with a virtually 100 per cent broadband penetration rate in Singapore (as reported recently by the Straits Times), politicians cannot afford to ignore cyberspace much longer – and sooner or later, the fence will have to come down.

March 15th mark the first anniversary of our Tak Boleh Tahan protest at Parliament House.

In March 15th 2008, I was merely a protester who support the call for protest against the rising cost of living in Singapore by SDP..

Fast forward to March 15th 2009, I am now not just a supporter, but a friend, a comrade, a helper to SDP.

A relationship that of course is not receiving well to the people around me initially.

My family, who were once strongly against my involvement with Dr Chee and Siok Chin, are now acceptable of my friendship and support for them..It does helps when my kids are always talking about An-Lyn, E-Lyn and Shaw Hur, cause now my family see them as not just a political party, but as humans too..(haha)..

My close friends, especially JL, she idolize LKY, she is proud to share the same surname / ethnic group as LKY,  she doesn’t understand why I am going against a otherwise capable government especially her idol LKY…but she has since accepted our political differences and never allow that to affect our friendship in anyway, though at times we can get into debate about some policies…

My political views has matured.  From not knowing what is my “Constitutional Rights”, to exercising that rights of mine, I have become more vocal about my views / opinions.

I used to be rather quiet during some of the meetings, be it with SDP or activists, keeping my views / opinions to myself or only comfortable sharing with E-Jay and Ti Lik..

Friends see me being more vocal nowadays, they see my involvement since after March 15th 2008 has develop my conviction and independent views / opinions of politics.  Sadly, not all are taking too well to the ‘new’ me.

In fact, my involvement comes with a price… along the way, I win some and I lose some;

Win - Friendship with Mrs Chee, Siok Chin, TBT18 (just to name a few), respect from stranger who wrote encouraging emails to spur me on..

Lose - privacy - having people posting my personal info / pictures all over the forum, dealing with nuisance calls even late at night, disagreement with friends / family members who do not share my passion or views.

Yet till today, I have no regrets in my involvement in this peaceful and meaningful protest.

To my fellow TBT friends and comrades - Happy 1st Anniversary.  I am proud to be part of TBT 18, proud to be walking alongside with you all in the March 15 2008 peaceful protest and proud to be standing alongside with TBT 18 in our trial.

We shall overcome someday!

Not my composition but someone sent this to me.

Sad Life of Singaporeans

Once upon a time, in nineteen sixty-nine.
HDB were not only subsidized, but standard of living also very nice.
One spouse working, all can survive,
children are children all running around so nice.

Fast forward 40 years, it is the dreaded two thousand nine,
HDB flats had all became smaller in size.
Now termed “market subsidized, their prices are not so kind.
Cost of living had grown so high, now both spouses have to work nine to nine.

We all have to work like mice, just so we can get some rice.
While ministers all sitting on cloud-nine, busy scheming for our every dime.
PAP MPs, all pretending to sign, but in reality, have no minds.
Terrorist escaped, no need to resign, fixed the oppositions also never mind.

Children from two, are getting up-sized, before they even recognize, whatever is life.
Their minds are filled, with all sort of lies, that Lee Kuan Yew is the only one who ever sacrificed.
Golden age came and went, in a flash of an eye, economy chewed to death, by rodents and mice.

The government is simply, not so nice, hinting us to send our elderly, far off to die.
Asking to explain, they are not kind, “Lesser mortals” we became, while they walk high.

Is this the end? We can’t resign.

This sad story of Singaporeans is our life.

Found some articles from bloggers who rebutted Mr Tan Hau Teck’s letter..

1) http://street71.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/what-if-hes-your-own-bright-future-son-on-dr-ooi-death/

2) http://wayangparty.com/?p=7321

This morning when I flip through Today, the letter by a Mr Tan Hau Teck caught my eyes..

I am rather disturb by his comments and mercenary attitude..as I am rather tied up recently with work, I highlight this article to my trusted friend E-Jay whom I know can come up with a better rebuttal than me.

Living up to his name, E-Jay came up with the following article shortly, and while chatting with him, I was mentioning to him that I am quite sure, the way the letter was crafted, this must be someone pro-establishment trying to defend Mindef at a time when there is a tremendous public sympathy towards Dr Allan Ooi’s tragic demise.

I try googling for Mr Tan Hau Teck, and this is what I found :

Centre for Culture and Communication

Hau Teck graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Arts and Social Sciences, majoring in Political Science and Psychology. After spending ten years in the army, he decided that it was time to seek a new challenge. Since he always had a keen interest in education, he chose to join RP. Hau Teck has a keen interest in current affairs and volunteer work, and he hopes that he will be able to positively influence the youths of today.

Need I say more?

MINDEF should conduct a formal inquiry into Dr Allan Ooi’s tragic demise

Written by Ng E-Jay
02 April 2009

I REFER to the letter by Mr Tan Hau Teck published in the TODAY newspaper on 02 April 2009, entitled “Rather than point the finger …”. (See here.)

Mr Tan is of the opinion that MINDEF should not have anything to do with Dr Allan Ooi’s tragic demise because it was Dr Ooi who chose to sign on the dotted line, even if Dr Ooi’s job turned out to be too stressful for him to manage. He is also of the opinion that it is a waste of taxpayer’s money for MINDEF to set up an inquiry into the incident.

Mr Tan is not only missing the point, he is adopting a mercenery attitude that is utterly beyond my comprehension. Someone has already died. And we are talking about saving money by avoiding a formal inquiry into his death?

I do not know which netizens, in Mr Tan’s own words, are suggesting that “MINDEF is to blame for (Dr Allan Ooi’s) death”. As far as I am concerned, I am blaming nobody as I do not have enough facts to make a complete judgment about the case. However, it is my strong opinion that MINDEF has a lot of accounting to do to the parents of Dr Allan Ooi, especially when the contents of Dr Ooi’s farewell letter, which has been published by both the mainstream press as well as alternative media, and MINDEF’s version of the story are at odds with each other.

In a letter to the Straits Times forum page dated 20 March 2009, MINDEF claimed that on 03 Oct 2008, Dr Ooi’s superior offered him the option of posting to an alternative appointment, but Dr Ooi did not get back to his superior on the offer.

However, in his farewell letter to friends, Dr Allan Ooi wrote about his bond being “unbreakable”, and he suggested that 12 years of bonded service had been arbitrarily extended to possibly 15 or 16 “at will by an administration” (due to his participation in a six-month specialist training stint in Britain).

Dr Ooi’s family claimed that his bond was “subject to policy changes”, and that MINDEF’s condition that it was “breakable only in strong, extenuating circumstances” had not been stated in his contract.

Contrary to mainstream media speculation that Dr Ooi had committed suicide over a failed romantic relationship, Dr Ooi wrote categorically in his farewell letter that his anger and resentment over his career situation was the “main reason” for ending his life (even though it was not the only one).

Mr Tan is correct to say that not all questions can be answered by MINDEF. But many can. Given the discrepencies between Dr Allan Ooi’s and MINDEF’s testimonies, is it not fair and reasonable to ask for a commission on inquiry to be established to look into possible abuse of authority or administrative incompetence at MINDEF?

A young, promising life has been tragically lost. We have to do everything in our power to reduce the chance of such happening again. Our human capital is the only natural resource that we have. For Mr Tan Hau Teck to even suggest that it would be a waste of taxpayer’s money looking into the cause of Dr Ooi’s death is unthinkable and unconsciable.

Mr Tan is correct to say that instead of always pointing the finger, we should look around us and see what we can do for the people near us.

One good way we can help those around us is to hold the authorities accountable and put their feet to the fire.

Categories Events, My Perspectives, News

This is my TBT comrade, Sylvester Lim’s cross examination of SI Yeo Kok Leong..

Syl: Mr Yeo, as a member of the police force, you are a civil servant is that right?

Yeo: yes

Syl: as a civil servant , who are you serving?

DPP: relevancy?

Syl: I just want to make sure that Mr Yeo understand the duties of a civil servant afterall he’s been a civil servant for 15yrs..

DPP: we are not here to be schooled on civil servant, you should ask relevant questions..

Syl: I just want to verify that Mr Yeo, in understanding his duty as a civil servant that he could have made a wrongful arrest…Mr Yeo as a civil servant, do you thnk you made a wrongful arrest of the Indian man that you mentioned?

Yeo: I have no comment..

Syl: Mr Yeo, as a member of the police force, you have certain authority, if u have made a wrongful arrest, wouldn’t that be an abuse of your power?

Yeo: if the said Indian man felt that I’ve wrongfully arrested him, he should have made a report against me for wrongful arrest 1 yr ago…

Syl: Mr Yeo, when you are given an order, do you just follow without questioning?

Yeo: I can only comment on this incident whch DSP William Goh ordered me to make arrest. I complied..

Syl: as a civil servant, if you think that what you are asked to do is morally wrong, would you question your superiors?

DPP: relevancy again

Syl: Your Honor, there are members of the police force here, they are forced to listen because its their duty to this court proceedings. During the whole process it is rather saddening that a civil servant of the police force can be so evasive at times with his answers. I would have thought that the police force being civil servants, are to protect the citizens of Singapore and they should be very proud of their jobs and their duties…

Judge: relevancy?

Syl: I just want to ensure Mr Yeo is as truthful as he can with his answers and I will move on with my next question…

I thank you Your Honor

Since I have discharge my lawyers on 26 February 09, I have been following the trial more attentively. It helps that I am also typing the transcript for the on-going trial..

The current PW 2 on the stand SI Yeo Kok Leong has been avoiding and evasive in his replies to question posed to him.
Not only that..at times, he will make his own decision that he don’t see the point in answering the question.
On a few occasions we have to request the judge to direct him to answer the questions posed to him.

Today, when DJ Chia Wee Kiat asked me if I have any questions for PW 2.. I decided to exercise my rights as a defendants to question PW 2 on the witness stand..

Below is our exchange ;

Jas: Mr Yeo did you know thatt,when u were there under the instructions of your superior or William Goh or whoever thatt is, the event was an sdp event and that the permit was rejected by u?

Yeo: can u repeat the question again?can I request Ms Go to explain?

Jas: when u were there on March 15 08, do you know that it was an SDP event?

Yeo: I knw thatt there is an event but I am not sure whether it was done by SDP..

Jas: so do u know that the event was the permit that you have rejected?

Yeo: yes

Jas: so if it was a yes, then how do u not know it was an SDP event?

Yeo: I knw Dr Chee is frm SDP but his application did not mention thatt this was an SDP event..

Jas: ok thank you u..my next question.. if application was approved or rejected is between the SPF and the applicant, will the public be aware of such approval or rejection?

Yeo: for my unit, we need not reveal to any members of the public.as for the SPF as a whole, I don’t know…

Jas: if the application for CASE permit is between SPF and CASE, do u thnk the 2000 or 3000 protesters who attended the event reasonably ought to have known that there is/isn’t any permit issued?

DPP : relevancy..is she expecting the witness to speak on behalf of 2000 or 3000 people?

Yap: I think DPP is trying to stretch your ruling..

Jas: allow me to rephrase that question…in the situation of CASE and SPF, the permit application, did the police make any announcement to the public that a permit was granted for the event?

DPP : relevancy?

Jas: I am a member of the public. for me, I am not particular who organized the event but the relevancy why I attended or participated in the event. I attend as member of public.n I believe CASE protesters also attended as member of public. As a member of the public, how do I know which event is legal and which is illegal?

DPP : when Ms Go asked about the event in question, whether the application or the rejection thereof is communicated to the public I ddn’t object..as to whether another application or rejection or grant for that matter was communicated to the public, is of no relevance to this case

Judge : irrelevant but u can direct the question to PW 2 on the event you attended…..

Jas: before the SDP event or this 15 March 09 event, did SPF make a public announcement, either through mainstream media or SPF website that the event had no permit? or advise the public not to attend?

Yeo: I don’t know…

Jas: as a Licensing Officer, isn’t it his duty to inform the public about such illegal event?

Yeo: my duty is to inform my supervisor.

Jas: does SPF conduct public education on the difference between state event, ministerial event or political event?

Yeo: I don’t know….

Jas: I am wrapping up my questions but I will like to add, if PW2 who’s been in the police force for past 15 yrs don’t know so many things, me as member of public, should not be expected or reasonably ought to know that much as well. That’s all. thank u..

When I am done, I was touched that many of my co-defandants were clapping and cheering me.  Not because that I have done a good job in my cross-examination with PW 2, but because they see that not only I have exercise my constitional rights as a citizen to speak up which landed me in court, but I have also exercise my rights as a defandant to question PW 2..

To my TBT 18 - thank you for your encouragement,  I believe I will improve with time

Re: Fw: Complaint against the behavior of Town Council Staff
Thursday, 26 February, 2009 3:01 PM
From:”Yeo Jin Kiat”
Cc:”feedback” , “Wang Yam Peng”

Hi Jaslyn,

Agree with your view point. In fact, the management have met up with the cleaner together with the staff [ supervisor ]. The staff acknowledged that it was not right for him to lose his temper and raised his voice at the cleaner. The cleaner, on his part, also acknowledged his repetitive oversight to carry out the cleaning tasks as instructed by the supervisor. Through this episode, both parties have come to respect one another better as working partnes to deliver a better service to the residents.

Thank you once again for your feedback .

Cheers,
Jin Kiat