Friday, March 16, 2007

So this is justice?

Today's Straits Times:

"Last October, laws were tightened against employers who put their maid's lives in danger. On conviction, an employer who knowingly allows a maid to endanger herself, or forces a maid into a dangerous situation, can be jailed up to three months and fined up to $250. The employer will also be permanently barred from hiring foreign maids."

So ..... forcing a person into a dangerous (life threathening situation) attracts up to three months jail and find of $250 but punching an MP attracts up to 20 years jail and an optional fine?

I think we have our priorities all mixed up here.

It is blatant that this government is promoting double standards with regard to the sanctity of human life / security.

Should the citizens then choose to behave any other way then what is reflected as governmental policy?

Are Singaporean employers really to blame for treating maids this way since the law reflects this inequality?

If the government and the law makers - certainly not the MPs in this case - have no regard for ordinary human life, and are apparently appointed into position by representatives chosen by a simple majority of Singaporeans through an election then ................

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You can say that again. 2 person of the same sex having consenting sex are liable to be jailed of up to 2 year to 10 years!

Anonymous said...

Is there justice in Hougang?

http://youngpapblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-thoughts-in-hougang.html

My Thoughts In Hougang
Posted by Joel Leong at 9:40 AM

Singapore has been politically stable and maintaining stable economic growth since independence. Many of us borned after 1965 have never seen a ruling party other than PAP. Sad to say, the rest of the political parties did not rise up to the occasion to challenge PAP in a credible way all these years.

I’m an activist in the PAP – Hougang Branch since 2002. Through my years of working on the ground I have observed some interesting mindsets of the residents in Hougang and possibly for the rest of Singaporeans too.

The residents in Hougang appreciate what the ruling party or the government has done all these years since independence. However, they felt that the ruling party did not show sympathy and empathy towards the feelings of the residents in Hougang. Many still bear grudges against the ruling party for its decision to relocate the farmers in Hougang/Punggol back in the 70’s/80’s. Hence, votes were given to the Workers’ Party (WP) all these years as Mr Low Thia Khiang, in their opinion, has shown that he empathized with them.

The WP knew that showing empathy would not translate to vote in the long run. The WP is lacking in resources and talents compared to PAP. Knowing their weaknesses, they embarked on propaganda to entice the residents to vote for them by telling them if they vote for WP they will get the benefits of both PAP and WP. They have succeeded in the past elections.

This, to me, has to be put to an end. Politics is not a game. There is a price to pay for a decision to choose a political candidate and party. One cannot claim that he is a taxpayer and should benefit from the likes of those in a PAP constituency when he voted for the opposition. Have we taken our efficient and incorruptible system and political stability for granted? Can WP garner its own support and resources to benefit the residents of Hougang instead of whining and complaining that the government is not doing enough?

I believe most Singaporeans yearn for a credible opposition party to rise up. I am not opposing to the view of having more opposition parties in our parliament. But I believe we need to set the bench markers high. At the end of the day, we want those we voted for in the elections to add value to Singapore and able to lead Singapore into the future.

Anonymous said...

PAP MPs are "untouchables"! You touch them you die. Remember the famous "sai" (reference to the material that you excrete in the toilet)? Only PAP MP can use such language and get away scot-free. Why? you go figure.