PAP seems to be here there and everywhere, all for the wrong reasons, within the last two months, we heard of:
- A head-of-state is suing a commoner over a hot topic (CPF) concerning the public, and without even the verdict is out (which the High Court will assess the damages at a later date), the court already asked the plaintiff to pay the PM his legal fee and related expenses as if the PM is so short of money to pay his very expensive lawyer, if not the most expensive, in the country that this rich PM now has to turn to a poor Mr Ngerng who had just lost his lowly paid job and one who is staying in a public housing to pay the PM (who earns around $3m of salary annually and one who likely own multiple private properties) his legal fees, such precedence is unheard of as far as Askmelah is aware of.
- A minister (and a front candidate to be next PM) is name calling an also-ran opposition leader. Instead of defending the policy and arguing the facts, Chan Chun Seng stooped so low in resorting to name calling and character assassination in a foreign newspaper.
- The Government not only sued the opposition party-held Aljunied Town Council over a trivial (or not trivial in the eyes of PAP as it tries to turn into a hot potato) incident, but make a big hooha over the town council’s audit issue as if like its own house is in order.
- [Updated 12Feb15]
Parliament: Govt to withhold $7m of grants from AHPETC, change Town Councils Act, says Khaw – In a new twist and adding insult to a long list of bully tactics, the PAP Government now found a new tool to “fix” the opposition. It is getting very interesting to see if the voters will be intimidated, something this Government just has not learnt from their past mistakes.
- The now infamous Seng Kang’s columbarium incident where the Minister attempted to explain his way out of the mistake instead of issuing an apology. No wonder people often said “sorry is the hardest word” coming from the Government. The often heard “It is an honest mistake, let’s move on” seems to ring aloud again. Remember not too long that the PM said ““We have to call a spade a spade….But to weasel away, play with words, avoid the issue and then claim to be responsible, that is what we fear can drive Singapore’s politics into the same place where many other countries have gone.””
- Also remember not too long ago that the PM himself who wanted to articulate his idea of Constructive Politics, instead turn the parliamentary session into bashing the Opposition leader over the difference in opinion, where is the spirit of “agree to disagree” if you want to be constructive?
- [Updated 12Feb15] Mindef acted like big bull after Dr Ting and socialpolitical blog site TOC rejected its demands to stop commenting on a dispute over the intellectual property rights of a mobile medical station it bought. “False allegations that impinge on the integrity of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) could dent public confidence in the ministry and the Government, said MINDEF”. Askmelah says there were much worse allegations that had been circulating amongst the NS men since the founding of NS, if those had not cause a dent, what is this Dr. Ting dispute which was and is still out in the open will dent its already bad reputation?
- [Updated 16May2015] Mindef patent case: Dr Ting Choon Meng and TOC website ‘made false claims’
- [Updated 11May1015] MDA did the ‘right thing’ to shut down TRS as racial and religious harmony most important: Yaacob
Now back to Mr Ravi, probably the only outspoken lawyer since the passing of the respected JB Jayarathnam, how the hell is a professional body get itself to be involved with politics. It looks suspiciously clear that the whole episode seems to be politically driven to silent someone who often challenge the authority and have done many pro-bono works so often that he caused much irk with the authority and the Almighty power up there. Singapore politics is probably not much better than our less developed neighbour up North if you ask me. I can only sum up all these incidents in one word: BULLY!
[Updated 12Feb2015: lest you think that Askmelah’s view is one-sided, how about an outsider’s view?
Singapore’s PM-in-waiting commits a major blunder
“Things have taken a distinct turn for the worse for Singapore’s long-ruling People’s Action Party, which is often, and naively, touted as super-efficient and incorruptible.”]
Lawyer M Ravi told by Law Society to stop practising law immediately
– See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/courts-crime/story/lawyer-m-ravi-told-law-society-stop-practising-law-immediately-201?xtor=EREC-16-1[ST_Newsletter_AM]-20150211-[Lawyer+M+Ravi+told+by+Law+Society+to+stop+practising+law+immediately]#sthash.dYY4gLP8.dpuf
Saying it was seriously concerned about Mr M. Ravi’s mental health, the Law Society yesterday revealed that it has ordered the lawyer to stop practising with immediate effect.
He has been told that the ban will remain until a psychiatrist examines him and submits a report that he is fit to continue as a lawyer.
The society, responding to queries from The Straits Times, said it has received information which appears to show that Mr Ravi’s ability to practise has been impaired due to his mental condition.
Mr Ravi, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2006, yesterday insisted he was fit for practice.
He said that he had seen his psychiatrist, Dr M. Winslow, last month and then on Feb 2, and “there were no complaints about my fitness to practise”.
He added: “I am now in consultation with my psychiatrist to sort out the matter.”
This is not the first time the 43-year-old’s condition has become cause for concern.
In 2012, a very public battle erupted between him and the Law Society, after its official showed up in court with a letter from the former’s psychiatrist saying he was having a relapse.
The saga ended when Mr Ravi agreed to stricter monitoring of his condition.
Law Society president Thio Shen Yi told The Straits Times yesterday: “I cannot comment on this ongoing matter but if the society receives credible information that a member of the Bar may be unfit to practise law, it has a duty to investigate and ascertain that lawyer’s competence to practise.”
Last week, a video posted online showed Mr Ravi hitting out at his client, blogger Roy Ngerng, who was recently found guilty of defaming Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In an unrelated development, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said yesterday that it will apply to strike out an application made by Mr Ravi for his client, Ms R. Angelina, calling it “scandalous, frivolous and vexatious, and is an abuse of process”.
It is believed she wants to mount a constitutional challenge over the ban on drums during Thaipusam.
RElated links:
Recent Comments