PAP governs Singapore through fear

7/31/2019 PAP governs Singapore through fear

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PAP governs Singapore through fear~by: Teo Soh Lung

Professor Chan Heng Chees letter of 21 June 2012 titled 'SingaporeIs Evolving' to The New York Times cannot go unchallenged. (link:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/opinion/singapore-is-evolving.html ). She said:

Even as Singapore evolves, we cannot forget our fundamentalvulnerabilities as a small, multiracial society.

The Internal Security Act was used in the past to deal with a violentinsurgency and active subversion by the Communists. It remainsrelevant as a pre-emptive tool to safeguard security, especiallyagainst the threat of terrorism.

Several countries have introduced similar preventive measures.


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As a political prisoner once upon a time and a friend of severalformer detainees who were imprisoned for decades and subjected to

inhuman and degrading treatment by the PAP government, I amconvinced that though Singapore is a small country, we do not needthe Internal Security Act (ISA). Indeed, if we had abolished the ISAafter the British left our shores or even after we were ejected fromMalaysia, Singapore would today be a thriving democracy and anintellectual hub in South East Asia.

If only we have leaders like former ISA detainees, Dr Chia Thye Poh(jailed for 32 years), the late Dr Lim Hock Siew (20 years), Dr Poh SooKai (17 years), Mr Said Zahari (17 years) and Mr Tan Jing Quee (4years), just to name a few, Singapore would be a more equal and justsociety today. Our elderly would not have to worry about hospitalbills for the state would have provided basic health care. Our school

going children would not need tuition every day of the week. Theywould have been able to enjoy their childhood as much as we did inthe past. Our working adults would not need to compete for jobs byworking long hours, neglecting their own families. There would havebeen time for leisure and the pursuit of hobbies that enrich lives.

For more than half a century, the PAP has only one method of

governing Singapore that of instilling FEAR in our people. Thosewho managed to rid part of this Fear are swiftly arrested andimprisoned under the ISA. The PAP believes and practises theChinese idiom Slaughter the chicken to teach the monkey. Yes,Singaporeans are all monkeys and we need bloody chickens to keepus docile. Hence the periodic mass arrests under the ISA.

The PAPs constant refrain that we cannot forget our fundamental


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vulnerabilities as a small, multiracial society is simply a ploy toperpetuate Fear in us. I know of no government which uses such athreat to govern a country.

Professor Chans bold claim that the ISA was used in the past to dealwith a violent insurgency and active subversion by the Communistsis a claim without basis. I would like to see the evidence that therewas any insurgency, let alone, violent insurgency. As Singaporesambassador and a citizen who has lived through the 1970s as anadult and had witnessed her friends and contemporaries like Mr HoKwon Ping arrested under the ISA, I expect her to know more thanothers about the PAPs ruthless use of the ISA. I expect her to readbooks such as Dark Clouds at Dawn, The Fajar Generation and TheMay 13 Generation in addition to Men in White and speak the truthinstead of following her masters voice.

Professor Chan also said that the ISA remains relevant as a pre-emptive tool to safeguard security, especially against the threat of terrorism. Before she makes such a claim, she should ask if shewould like to be imprisoned for 20 years without trial under the ISA.It is easy to talk of the use of the ISA as a pre-emptive tool when thevictim is not the speaker.

And finally, Professor Chan claims that Several countries haveintroduced similar preventive measures. Name me one first worldcountry that has such a law as our ISA. Name me one first worldcountry that has a record of imprisoning good citizens without trialfor 32, 20, 17 or 4 years.

I am tired of intelligent people like Professor Chan Heng Cheemouthing PAP mantras without making any attempt to investigate


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the past and without reflecting on what their friends who have beenimprisoned under the ISA went through. It is time they stand up forwhat is right and speak the truth.

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PAP governs Singapore through fear