These five men, all farmers from the rural backwaters of Bangladesh, were flotsam for our bureaucracy for three months recently. They didn’t know what was swirling around them and had absolutely no control over their fate. All the while that they were stuck here and not allowed to work, their already-poor families fell into financial desperation.
Their experience reveals a side of Singapore we can’t be proud of. Continue reading ‘Five men, like flotsam’
Facebook postings about the sale of town council software to Action Information Management Pte Ltd (AIM), a PAP-owned company, fell off dramatically soon after news broke that Lee Hsien Loong’s lawyers had sent me a letter. Possibly, people felt very unsure what was safe to talk about anymore.
Therefore, I think it is important for me to clarify that the statements in the article that I had to take down, and that Lee took exception to, were not, strictly speaking, statements about the sale of the software to AIM, but phrases and sentences pertaining to him. They were statements and questions I had asked that Lee felt questioned his integrity, corruptibility and abuse of power should he not launch an investigation. The 21 readers’ comments that the lawyers cited as defamatory were of the same vein. Continue reading ‘PAP mis-AIMed, faces blowback, part 6′
On Friday, 4 January 2013, a letter from Drew and Napier came to me. Lawyer and former PAP member of parliament, Davinder Singh, acting for the firm which represents Lee Hsien Loong (in his personal capacity) said Lee was defamed by various allegations of corruption on his part in my article dated 21 December 2012, titled ‘PAP mis-AIMed, faces blowback’, as well as in 21 comments following it made by readers (referred to as ‘posts’ in the letter below). Because I moderated the comments, the letter said, it meant I “subscribe to and endorse” the views expressed by those comments.
I accept that I was wrong and am publishing an apology and undertaking as requested:
Readers can look forward to a further article from me further discussing the effect of this turn of events on the AIM saga. Yes, there will be a part 6. Stay tuned.
Teo Ho Pin’s latest public statement regarding the sale of the town council computer system to Action Information Management Pte Ltd (AIM) is far from convincing. If anything, it lends even more weight to suspicions that it was improperly decided and executed. Continue reading ‘PAP mis-AIMed, faces blowback, part 4′
The above tender notice appeared in the Straits Times on 30 June 2010. (Thanks to a reader who did the sleuthing, who, I believe, would prefer to remain anonymous). You can click on it for a bigger version, but for your convenience, here is the text: Continue reading ‘PAP mis-AIMed, faces blowback, part 3′
I am glad my instincts count for something. When I wrote in Part 1 that “the story about town council computer and financial systems is not getting as much traction as I think it deserves”, I had only a vague feeling that a possible scandal lies there. But after seeing the obfuscatory statements by Teo Ho Pin, I became even more concerned.
There are plenty of questions; even more now after his statement and after I looked at a few town council financial reports. But I have to be realistic. Getting full disclosure from this government is going to be like pulling teeth. We may not succeed, but I hope it causes them excruciating pain, so they learn never to take citizens for fools again. Continue reading ‘PAP mis-AIMed, faces blowback, part 2′
It’s almost unimaginable that there will be no by-election in Punggol East (above) until the term of the present parliament ends. It’s too many years away. Should Lee Hsien Loong delay it that long, he will only cement his reputation as the Great Ditherer.
Naturally he will want to choose a time that is most favourable to the People’s Action Party (PAP). He has already hoisted his reasons for not calling a by-election immediately, saying that there are many pressing national issues to deal with. I’m not sure how many people are as unconvinced as I am with such an excuse. Continue reading ‘PAP’s candidate search for Punggol East may be harder than ever before’
A funny thing happened on Tuesday 18 December 2012. Three mainstream media reporters called me asking the same thing: Do I know anything about construction workers going on strike in Yishun? They said that Andrew Loh had a story on Yahoo! and Publichouse about such a strike and they needed urgently to confirm the veracity of it.
“Is the story true? Where is the worksite?” Continue reading ‘Vox squawk’
The flight back from Bali was full. And full of Singaporeans, with many dragging behind them the biggest cabin bag they can get away with. Some had two, despite the one-bag rule. You’d think that this airline does not provide a checked luggage service.
As the last ten passengers boarded, a steward was heard telling another, “Cannot. No more space in overhead bins. We have to offload.”
And with that began a delay, as the last passengers were told to exit and check in their cabin bags.
A woman seated not far from me said to her companion, “Wah, lucky we boarded first. If not, like these people, have to check in our bags. Jialak.” Continue reading ‘Singaporeans stressed out by strangers’ smiles’
This article has been taken down. For reason why, please see PAP mis-AIMed, faces blowback, part 5.
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