Remember the titans It was raining as I wrote this- nineteen years ago a young Chinese journalist Yu Dongyue joined the fateful protest in Tiananmen. He threw painted eggs at the gargantuan portrait of Mao Zedong, a grave insult that was beyond the imagination of his communist masters. That was the last Yu Dongyue saw through his sane mind and what happened in the next few moments were equivalently maddening. Chinese soldiers, backed by tanks, on June 3-4 killed hundreds of activists who had rallied for weeks in and around Tiananmen Square and in other Chinese cities calling for greater pluralism. China faced international condemnation for the crackdown, which in 1990 then-President Jiang Zemin dismissed as “much ado about nothing,” according to Human Rights Watch. Yu Dongyue was taken into captivity for seventeen years of which two years he spent in solitary confinement. He was tied to an electricity pole, left in the sun for days, submerged in pits of sewage water and all the horrors of torture. That broke him down and drove him mad. Till this day fifty to a hundred Tiananmen activists are still in prison. Their only crime was the call for democratic reforms. The communists were relentless in meting out their dose of justice. Today in Singapore, two siblings are serving time in jail for their crime of criticizing the ruling government. In the process of the defamation suits, they were charged with contempt of court. Dr Chee and his sister Siok Chin decided to drop for appeal and serve their sentences. In another scene, US blogger Gopalan Nair, an ex-Singaporean lashed out against the judiciary in which he claimed to be corrupt and unfair. Unlike Yu Dongyue, he did not throw eggs but his words and expression seemed too offensive for the rulers of Sheep City. Mr. Nair was swiftly arrested, denied bail and currently in remand prison with no access to his lawyer. Perhaps the Sage of Baltimore was right when he mentioned that judges are like law students who mark their own examination papers. Though it is very disheartening to see these developments for those who believe in democracy and freedom, we can take heart and pride from these fearless titans. Not only from this nation but the struggle for democracy from all over the world, past, present and the future. Aldous Huxley once said: Many young people, it is true, do not seem to value freedom. But some of us still believe that, without freedom, human beings cannot become fully human and that freedom is therefore supremely valuable. Perhaps the forces that now menace freedom are too strong to be resisted for very long. It is still our duty to do whatever we can to resist them. I am on the shoulder of giants. The view is so much better up here and it has already stopped raining and the sun has returned. Yes, it cannot rain all the time. Gopalan Nair arrested! Now the stage for another showdown has been set. Former WP politician Gopalan Nair has been arrested and awaiting to be charged in court on Monday. The former Singaporean who is now an American citizen and a lawyer in Fremont, California issued a challenge to have him arrested in his latest posts. Our state media revealed the news of the arrest in this format: SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a former Singaporean for the offence of “threatening, abusing or insulting a public servant”. In response to media queries, police confirmed that Gopalan Pallichadath Nair, who is now a US citizen, was arrested at Broadway Hotel along Serangoon Road on Saturday. A warrant of arrest without bail was granted by the courts for the arrest. Nair is alleged to have sent an email to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General which contained statements amounting to the offence of insulting a public servant. The statements were directed against Justice Belinda Ang, a Supreme Court judge. The statements were also posted on Nair’s blog. Nair is presently in police custody. He will be charged in court on Monday. Read Gopi’s posts below which have been reproduced for the sake of posterity. But the real lesson here is that we common sheep are not allowed to air our disgust and frustrations towards the incorruptible and infallible members of the ruling government. Your impertinent challenge will not be taken lightly and you will be taken to the cul-de-sac, you insolent bastard. Our superior brand of democracy unlike Jeffersonian types cannot be tarnished and voices of dissent must be silenced. Have you not learned anything that our system is superior and perfect? That we are above suspicion and hearsay? We will never be a first world country if insolent dissident types like Mr. Gopi Nair and Dr. Chee are allowed to sow discord and lies. Foreigners or former Singaporeans are not exempt from this mode of justice. Even if you are American, Jamaican or Martian- consider yourself warned! You will be pursued even in cyberspace and thrown into jail. Swift is our retribution and the justice meted out is fitting! Throw these annoying people to jail and to hell whatever they are saying. We must protect our integrity. For the glory of Sheep City and the good of the people. For my million dollar salary. Gopalan Nair’s Challenge Prior to His Arrest - Upload a doc Read this doc on Scribd: Gopalan Nair’s Challenge Prior to His Arrest   Singapore is a hybrid regime! This is one example the world ranked 154th Straits Times will never report come hell or high water. According to the full Democracy Index below, Singapore is ranked 84th under the category hybrid regime. Given the current political climate and the lack of freedom of expression, it is rather appropriate. Is it any wonder why we are ranked so dismally low when we claim to have the most infallible, incorruptible and highest paid ministers in the world? What does our pledge really mean by democracy? We can no longer ignore the world unless we choose to forever remain an ubiquitous frog in the well. On the other hand, many already chose to remain blind and deaf. Perhaps if reputation is so important, the ruling PAP government should sue the bejesus out of The Economist for labeling Sheep City a hybrid regime. Irrelevant? Overruled! democracy index 2007 v3 - Upload a doc Read this doc on Scribd: democracy index 2007 v3 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2008- Singapore REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE Head of State S R Nathan Head of government Lee Hsien Loong Death penalty retentionist Population 4.4 million Life expectancy 79.4 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 4/4 per 1,000 Adult literacy 92.5 per cent   Criticism of the government grew despite restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. Suspected Islamic militants continued to be held without charge or trial under the Internal Security Act amid concerns that some were at risk of torture or other ill-treatment during questioning. Death sentences were imposed and at least two people were executed. Criminal offenders were sentenced to caning. Background Critics pointed to a persistent misuse of laws by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and a perceived bias within the judicial system, reiterating the continuing influence of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in maintaining the country’s restrictive human rights climate. The authorities rejected a proposal to de-criminalize homosexuality. Concerns emerged about a reported increase in the gap between rich and poor. Singapore chaired the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), during a year in which the regional body adopted a charter including human rights commitments. Freedom of expression and assembly Criminal charges, civil defamation suits and other restrictive measures were variously brought against government critics and human right defenders, foreign news media, peaceful demonstrators and conscientious objectors. The revised Penal Code broadened the scope of the offence of unlawful assembly. Falun Gong practitioners were fined or jailed for holding peaceful public demonstrations against the Chinese government. Dr Chee Soon Juan, leader of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), was imprisoned for two weeks for attempting, as a bankrupt, to leave the country without permission. He had been bankrupted in 2006 following a series of civil defamation suits filed by PAP leaders. He faced numerous other charges, including speaking in public without a permit and selling books on the street without permission. The Far Eastern Economic Review was banned and faced a defamation suit for a 2006 article in which it interviewed Chee Soon Juan. The Financial Times, rather than contest a defamation suit, apologized to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Minister Mentor for an article that linked them with alleged nepotism. Reporters without Borders ranked Singapore 141 out of 169 countries in its press freedom index. A visiting delegation of European and Asian parliamentarians were refused a permit to speak at a SDP forum on the development of democracy internationally. Justice – detention without trial At least 37 suspected Islamic militants reportedly remained detained without charge or trial under the Internal Security Act at the end of the year. At least six arrests, some reportedly after “rendition” from abroad, and at least eight releases were reported during the year. Concerns about the risk of ill-treatment or torture continued, despite government assurances that such prisoners were protected by law. Death penalty Singapore opposed a UN vote for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty. Death penalty legislation was reportedly expanded to cover terrorist-linked kidnapping cases. Trials continued to fall short of international human rights standards due to mandatory death sentences and presumptions of guilt for a number of capital offences. At least two death sentences were handed down after convictions for drugs trafficking and murder. Two convicted drugs traffickers, both foreign nationals, were executed. Cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments Criminal offenders were sentenced to caning. Despite his allegedly low IQ, Emmanuel Munisamy was sentenced to 24 strokes for armed robbery and assaulting a policeman. The sentence was overturned on appeal. Kangaroo Court Many years ago former Solicitor-General Francis Seow went down to Whitley Road Detention Center to represent two persons held there. He never came home for seventy-two days. In his book, To catch a Tartar, Seow revealed one of the disturbing dialogues made by the nefarious ISD officer:   “Look, cut out all your court English. This is not a court of law. The rules of evidence do not apply here. We make the rules here. This is a kangaroo court. No one can help you, no one. All the human rights organisations can do is make a little noise, but how long can they keep it up? After a while, you will be forgotten.” Since then the term kangaroo court have become ever so popular. If you do not know what a kangaroo court is, it is where the court that has had its integrity compromised. Popular despots like Joseph Stalin’s kangaroo trials against his political enemies, whom were labeled enemies of the people. Many were summarily executed or sent to the treacherous Gulag. In Sheep City, if you call the men in whites dishonest, greedy and corrupt, you will be dubbed a charlatan or a psychopath brimming with poisonous lies. You will be sued for defamation and damages in the form of hundreds of thousands must be paid to the parties u have defamed. Failing that you will be bankrupted and jailed. Do it again, you will be sued and bankrupted many times over. If you believe in reincarnation, you will not be able to pay the damages even in your second life. Your reputation in the present life and the other destroyed as clearly indicated in the mouthpieces of the mainstream media. The orwellian newspeak will reveal what a repugnant character you personify in the most despicable format imaginable- psychotic, rancid filled with vitriolic hate. The plebeians spit on your name and continue to exalt those in power. This much is certain and the outcome is most obvious and assured. We common folk do not bulldoze our way in to courts and escape a stern reprimand by the judge. It can only happen when ultimate power controls every facet of life, bending our will to its knees. This form of repression emphasizes the non-recognition of civil and political rights of the citizenry. It strikes fear into the hearts of men to question those in power. We lose our senses even to realize that they are mere public servants voted into power. We too have forgotten among many things that is rightfully ours like our voice and expression all but taken away. This is our mistake. Our mistake of hoping to advocate democracy when everyone else believed it is a mere fable and a concept.  When we look for justice in the name of our civil rights, we can only hope and look at the stars. There is nothing for us in the kangaroo court that we can hope to be spared from punishment. We are as guilty as hell right from the start. This is very sad. Even sadder for the good men who do nothing and sat idling by. Hiatus The hiatus you spoke about happened in 1998. I was somewhat numb from being out on the road every night. I had to stop because I was emotionally and physically drained. -Chuck Mangione Sheep City took a short break due to pressing hectic schedules. We will resume updating the soonest possible. Thank you for your kind visit- Do check back soon. Stay safe. Cheers. Are you sheep? If you believe in whatever has been thrown at you by the Straits Times and swallow every piece of news and insights that come spewing from the mainstream media including that of the size of a kitchen sink, then it is really of no use to continue to read. We folks over in Sheep City recommend that you continue to stand in the herd and be herded to your place. There is nothing more to say is there? Inflation on the rise- Check. Indiscriminate influx of untalented aliens- Check. Approval of millionaire salaries for MPs- Check. Agrees that Mas Selamat escaped through the infinitesimal window- Check. Conforms to silence and the nonexistence of free speech- Check. All you sheep- March! Those amongst you whom are not, the defenders of the democratic faith can only salute you. You know the values of freedom and power of the people. You believe in your sacred rights to speak up and be heard. You know that to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all. You affirm your belief in the pledge and reject dogmas that are bent to rob you of your constitutional rights.  Without your courage and noble standing, life becomes meaningless just like a piece of driftwood. They tell you that you cannot do this and that, a hundred times you have heard it before. You no longer listen to the lies that they are pumping to your head. With one of the greatest invention of the modern world, you sought alternative news from the web and the world is just a click away. You are connected and part of this breathing earth and part of the free human race once again. They may scoff at your polemics- calling you names and brand you a radical fool. Deep in your heart you know that they are the biggest fools if they but knew it! You have found your voice but they continue to bleat every single day, fearing so much to have a mind of their own. In their despondency, their quest for wealth are more pressing concerns than those of civil liberties and courage. They exhort moderateness but if only they could see their masters are never moderate to begin with! Years and years of relentless censorship have made them blind.  They always point the blame when things go awry and they have forgotten their own four fingers are always pointing back at them. You are not competent, they lambast, the whites are superior and competent. Such cowardice and turncoats they have become, riled by their own brand of hateful apathy and seeking nothing more but to sow the seeds of discord at the slightest hint of truth. Scores of wolves in wool have infiltrated the herd to keep the networks calm. You can easily recognize them in their typical manners of bootlicking and faulty logics. You are not sheep. You are a citizen of the world. You are not sitting on the effing fence. Arise and make yourself known! The gatecrashers I have to pee, my body was telling me repeatedly. It was midway through the film titled One Nation under Lee in the Tulip Room of the Peninsular Excelsior Hotel yesterday afternoon and boy, my bladder ached. Meanwhile the cops and the MDA friendly folks were at the door, arguing with activists why the show must not go on. These gatecrashers had barged into the private event like members of the Gestapo and tried to strut their stuff but got ejected as quickly as two shakes of a duck’s backside because they could not make a proper introduction or answer the organizers’ demands. That effectively killed my joy- damn I was beginning to enjoy the film! I glanced at the US embassy officials- the bewildered look on their faces was priceless. The film’s message of repression by means of the control of the media, ISA and political suits, came strikingly iron-hot close. We witnessed the entire drama unfolded firsthand. For the uninitiated it was the baptism of fire. Several guests actually left during the disturbances. It gave a sorry impression of fear. Fear that led the sheep back into the herd once the dogs come barking. I had to go relieve myself or I risked a very likelihood of wetting myself by the table. I was clear as hell did not want to look like a sheep and abandon ship when the chips are down. I made known my intentions to an acquaintance and his son added that he also needed to visit the john. We went. We saw the gatecrashers exchanging heated words with the organizers. The Film act requires all Singaporeans to submit their homemade videos made by their cellphones, video-cameras, camcorders to the MDA for approval. The censors present at the scene confirmed the ludicrousness of this law. It is an amazing law that makes every member of Sheep City violators of this act.  Once the show was over, the gatecrashers were allowed entry into the room. I was back then at my seat, having my coffee which I made from the buffet table. We clapped and cheered for them and even invited these gatecrashers for food and refreshments which were abundant at the buffet table. They took the copy of the film and quickly left to spare themselves the sarcasm and embarrassment.  A while later when Martyn See and Seelan Palay were giving their views on the Film Act, another gatecrasher came stumbling in and demanded that he wanted the film projector as well. We told him that he may not. I added quite clearly that we gave you an inch and now you want a yard. Some asked the MDA officer- you want our eyes as well as our brains? All of us have seen the film you know. Verbally attacked at all sides, the confused official left with nothing but his tail tucked between his legs. The one thing I learnt from that room thanks to the gatecrashers is the people in there were not sheep. They were Singaporeans. And now my coffee tasted better. A vote on the wild side I was completely floored when I discovered that Yaw Shin Leong, the prominent young and upcoming politician from the Worker’s Party had used his vote for his political opponent, the PAP. This was revealed in his blog. And mind you, Shin Leong is no fluke- he is the organizing secretary and with brains to boot. But what he revealed is utterly shocking and depressing. It is like waking up to a nightmare when you thought you have already awakened from your sleep. This is a joke. This shouldn’t have happened. This revelation can only mean that Shin Leong betrays the ideals of the opposition camp just for the sake of the material. We have already witnessed the extent of PAP’s policies. We need not go to the details as much we constantly abhor it. Have we forgotten that there is not an even level of playing field? Who is Shin Leong trying to kid? Why then is there a need for WP candidates or any other opposition members if abilities and outlook are the criterion? Matched against a PAP candidate who is certainly propagated as the ideal choice, even in Shin Leong’s opposition itself will vote for the ruling party without thinking twice. He mentioned this even to discredit low quality candidates in his own party! The level of unbelievability is staggering. What is the whole point then? We might as well as hold hands together and join the PAP and perhaps in our naivety try to change their policies along the way! I am beginning to feel that an old adage that singapore opposition is useless has become a reality- thanks to you! Shin Leong, you utterly disappoint me. Please do not come to Tampines in 2011 because I intend to vote for the real opposition who has more courage no matter his calibre and whatnot. I gave not a flying rooster about abilities in my hometown in the last election- whichever opposition member appears if even he likes wearing slippers, he still has my vote and for you if you still decide to contest in Tampines- I will still vote for the sake of the opposition but I do it with despair because you are there and knowing your qualities. I feel that you no longer care about freedom and the true meaning of our constitution. You no longer care about checks and balances. With you, certain repressive policies will never get repealed. All that matters to you is the self and material. With this foolish revelation, it can be easily surmised that it is fatal to his political career. Like Judas Iscariot, his betrayal led to his own destruction. Where were you? In your impressionable youth, you were made to recite the pledge daily and sing the national anthem with gusto. You are familiar with those words, deeply entrenched in your mind and heart but as you grow older, those words lost its flavor and in translation. These days, you work primarily for the sole purpose of accumulating money. Those who do not have much, continues their unending search while those who are blessed with aplenty, never for one moment choose to relent on their desire for greater wealth. Exhausted from your daily toils, you crawl home and sought solace in front of the television. You become transfixed by sensational stories, Desperate Housewives, Lost, American Idol and quickly became celebrity crazed. You sank deeper in your couches. Images of how good this country has been and will be, remained forever etched in your mind. Years grow on and years gone by, you became increasingly paranoid. You knew that many amongst you are suffering, unable to cope rising costs with their low wages but there is nothing to help them. Their hard-earned savings remained elusive, gimmicks and schemes were all but plain to see made to delay your withdrawal. Your rage become almost xenophobic at the sight of foreigners taking away your jobs. Many try to speak but dissent is quickly put down. You realized as a citizen you no longer have the right to speak your mind. Your fear spreads like wildfire. In hushed tones you would speak while in the dark or from a dank corner, in hushed tones you always look back in trepidation. Others remained silent and continued to watch their television. Apathy has made that machine your loyal friend. Democracy is just an event that takes only ten minutes every four years. Democracy means nothing. Wealth mostly certainly do. You no longer believe in the pledge and this idea called constitution. Unlike ostriches which do not bury their heads in the sand, you readily thrust your head deeper into the earth. They cannot see what I cannot see, you assure yourself. Like Pilate, you wash your hands clean and finally leave everything to the whims of the guardians. In the near future where everything is gained and absolute wealth reigns supreme, where the cobblestones gleamed with silver and not a hint of anarchy and chaos, your grandchild grips your hand and asks why the people never resisted when their freedom was taken away. Where were you? He asks. And what answer will you give? Seventy-seven days of nothing I was sitting down at a bar the other day after a hard day’s work and I overheard a conversation from the people behind me. They were discussing about Mas Selamat the alleged terrorist who is famous for his jailbreak over at Whitley Road. A younger man was telling his drinking buddy that Mas Selamat no longer existed on this planet and the other, a ruddy-faced plump drunkard was vehemently refuting his claims. “No lah, bro,” the drunkard waved his hand. “That bugger is still in Singapore lah! You never read the news meh!” The younger man snorted. “I where got read news one! All biased.” I smiled and attended to Mr. Hoegaarden. Apparently despite the blackout of any Mas Selamat news from the media, local folk in this sheepish country are still talking about it. Despite seventy-seven days of his escape and non-capture, the ambiguity and controversy never did actually die out. With each passing day, many are still hoping to see any Mas Selamat update on the local papers. There is nothing more but shreds of revised versions of more good years, how foreign talents can contribute to the economic pie and blah blah.  After 77 days of nothing, we could almost taste the ashes of incompetence in our mouths and that humble pie tasted almost like it came from somebody’s behind. One limping terrorist who has been denied trial, completely eluded security forces and everyone including our friendly neighborhood prata-man- which they stubbornly claimed Selamat still in Sheep City. 77 days of unsuccessful recapture, 77 days of excuses and 77 days of failures. We might as well issue bounty hunts and rewards to help track down this elusive terrorist. We are also suffering from an acute shortage of wild berries thanks to Mas Selamat’s veracious appetite and his days of living up as Tarzan in our breezy jungles. But then who needs rice when we can have berries? Seventy-seven days. Berry good!   Hush puppies and poor Singaporeans It is a very funny feeling when you wake up one day to discover that your pair of shoes have gone missing from the front door. It is even weirder that a pair of flip-flops too have made the same disappearance along with the shoes. What’s the deal, baby? I wondered if Singaporeans have become so poor as to resort to stealing shoes and slippers. Maybe they cannot no longer afford a decent pair. Maybe the inflation, rising costs, unemployment and the relentless torrent of foreign talents have made lives so untenable which compelled the local folk to resort to stealing. Wait? It is really? Could it be the work untalented aliens? But who knew? Mas Selamat? I checked and discovered that my older pair of Hush Puppies were left untouched. The newer ones were the intended target. How disconcerting! At least take the older pair lah! I wouldn’t have objected! I could even throw in a pair of socks in the act of charity. But the slippers? Why take the slippers too?  Alas I have no answer. For a moment there I breathed a sigh of relief that I discovered this thievery earlier. If it had been on a lousy Morning morning, then it would be very alarming.  Hush Puppies are a nice brand of shoes that I’d like to wear. They are very comfortable and the shoes make my feet feel happy. Now I could almost hear my feet moan at this loss. They will not wear the older pair. Within the fraction of time where I breathed a sigh of relief, I was quite angry and actually cursed the thief with gangrene and hope that his feet gets rotten and have to be amputated. Now that I have regained my wits and an astute sense of direction, I retract my hideous curse.  Why it happened- my fault since I was the complacent bastard that deliberately left the shoes outside the house. I should know that Singaporeans are getting desperate and the poor are rising in numbers. What to do to prevent this from recurring in the future is simply putting them in the shoe-rack inside the house. Problem solved. Poor folks have to steal shoes, I told myself repeatedly, lame bastard generals seizing aid and putting their names on the boxes. I went back to my room and meditated. So now you know what to do when your shoes are stolen. Just look back and reflect on our wise prime minister had said some time ago: What to do- it’s happened. The end of SDP? This Monday- the 12th of May we will witness another great day. A day that will quickly put an end to the Tak Boleh Tahan campaign to its premature death. With the impending doom, the Singapore Democratic Party will see its fate on the cold hard floor of the courtroom. Perhaps Dr. Chee should lay prostrate in repentance at the feet of mercurial duo and beg for deliverance. Or the party can stand in defiance and watch themselves with their quaint beliefs in so-called democracy and freedom of expression self-immolate before their very eyes. As that day fast approaches, SDP have already ran out of options. Nothing can save them, not even the scandalous and irrelevant affidavit by the exile former solicitor-general Mr. Francis Seow.  The defamation suit will never swing to their or anyone else’s favor. We have witnessed time and time again the breathtaking conclusions of past defamation cases. It will be over in ten minutes tops and a downtrodden Dr. Chee can watch the victorious smiles on their opponent’s faces and the gleam in their eyes. Will this be the end of SDP? Will the Tak Boleh Tahan campaign which we ingrates have supported its noble cause  come crashing to a halt at the halls of justice? An ominous soothsayer from Sheep City has already spoken and predicted these events. Either way you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out: It is undoubtedly sure SDP will lose this case. It is confirmed and guaranteed (unless the sky drops on me) that the party will be made to pay tens of thousands in favor of the Lees. Unable to pay the damages, SDP will be de-registered and shutdown with relative ease. Judge Belinda Ang is as sure as rain and you can only watch in transfixed horror. Having said that, it will be a sad day for the opposition which have been so far rather inanimate. They have also failed to rally behind SDP in support. Their fears as just like the same as many common folk would have had.  In retrospect, do not doubt that the Chees and their supporters will grow stronger. Their loss on Monday will strengthen themselves and reinforcing their activism of civil disobedience to further expose the shortcomings of the ruling government.  Those of you who believe in your civil rights and liberties should make present yourselves in the courts this fateful Monday. Honor these heroes even when defeat seems inevitable. Singaporeans who believe in the pledge and the rule of law should never forget this day. Carpe diem, Lions. A letter from Amnesty International Dear Aidil, In the face of impossible odds, your thousands of letters made a huge impact last week. On May 1st, Sami al Hajj was released from Guantánamo Bay prison after six and a half years in detention. Al Hajj was a focus of our write-a-thon in December and was adopted by Amnesty groups across the country. Sami was a journalist for the television station al-Jazeera. In 2002, he was assigned to cover the conflict in Afghanistan. While traveling in Pakistan, Sami al Hajj was stopped by Pakistani police and detained. He was handed over to U.S. forces, taken to Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, and ultimately to Guantánamo He was never charged with a crime, yet was held and allegedly tortured for six years. Upon being released, Sami flew to Khartoum, Sudan. His health was in such bad condition that he had to be carried off on a stretcher. Amnesty International won’t stop until everyone held at Guantánamo is given the chance to defend themselves in an impartial court of law or set free. Thank you again for your passion and hard work. Sincerely, Larry Cox Executive Director http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuJsCi_BiM0 Perhaps some may believe this is entirely un-newsworthy and that people should not concern themselves about the shortcomings or fallacies of the repressive ISA laws. Our sheepish populace may not know who was this man illegal detained in Guantanamo Bay for many years without trial and perhaps they too are disinterested if they are any similar cases in our very little Gitmo version of Whitley Road. In this part of the world, we in our quaint and apathetic ways, still perceive human rights as a dirty word. Nine Inch Nails gives away free album online Nine Inch Nails showed the world why money isn’t everything and to repay the loyalty of their fans, their latest record, The Slip is available online for download- and for nothing. This is seen as a brilliant move to widen the fan base and strengthen loyal fans. If you have never heard of this band then perhaps it is safe to say you are not from this earth. This is your chance to see and hear what the hype is all about. The genius behind the groundbreaking sounds of Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor said, “Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years — this one’s on me.” Here are the track listing spanning over 43 minutes: 1. 999,999 2. 1,000,000 3. Letting You 4. Discipline 5. Echoplex 6. Head Down 7. Lights in the Sky 8. Corona Radiata 9. The Four Of Us Are Dying 10. Demon Seed Rather than the earth-shattering political Year Zero; Reznor sings introspectively in the fourth track Discipline, “Feels like I’m losing touch, nothing matters to me. See you left a mark up and down my skin- I don’t know where I end and where you begin.” You are once again drawn into the ethereal melancholy especially noted in the eerie instrumental of Corona Radiata that reminds many fans how deceptively easy Reznor transports us into a landscape filled with loneliness. It is recommended that you download the highest quality possible to take advantage of the sonic prowess of this excellent recording. Year Zero was dramatically engaging, this album fills in the gaps quite nicely without being overtly extravagant. For this free record, I can’t complain much. At any rate, you mustn’t give, come high or high water, this latest effort by Nine Inch Nails the slip. So what! Now sheepish citizens can safely assure themselves that protesting in this little tropical island of theirs is no big deal. We can start carrying our placards in the streets and express our views on government policies, price hikes, Beijing Olympics, gay rights, untalented aliens and the rancid blogger Xiaxue and her bimbotic ways. Let’s gather a few friends, more than five wherever possible, step on the good foot and do the bad thing. It is no longer illegal really! No wonder no one was arrested during the last Tak Boleh Tahan campaign. Coming from the horse’s mouth, it has been reported that protests are irrelevant and has no effect at all. It is simply shrugging your shoulders and make a face. The communist chinese is still used to arrest political dissidents, throwing a big net to snag protesters and haul them to the nearest friendly Peking Correctional Hall of The Ten Monkeys. At extreme cases, tanks were used to steamroll over people. That ought to teach those pesky protesters a thing or two. But in the age of globalization, incidents such as these would only draw flak and brimstone from the international community. Let us not resort to such barbarity no more, learn and be enlightened from the wisest ways of the ruler in Sheep City. Burmese generals should take heed from this important lesson of passivity and ignorance. When things get heated in the streets, with monks and dissatisfied citizens en mass, the best thing to do is to prop your feet up on the ottoman, hands behind the head and watch Sex in the City or a smurfy version of Saving Ryan Privates. The rest is self-masturbatory explanatory. Go ahead and complain about my million dollar salary: So what! The cyclone that failed to destroy the junta Sheep City expresses deep condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones when the terrible cyclone struck Burma on last saturday. But the one thing is left me seething is the fact that the junta is unwilling to allow international aid and emergency teams into the country. Apparently these despotic generals did not want international agencies anywhere near the referendum. If I must be blunt, the cyclone Nargis should have battered them senseless and swept every one of those totalitarian bastards off the face of this planet. The storm left thousands dead and thousands more homeless and displaced and even this did not register one iota of consciousness in their heads. This is a sign of things to come. The generals are in it for the bollocking. For too long they have repressed, murdered and pillaged the people. Too long their cruelty goes unchecked. They did not realize that they have been administered a good dose of whopping on their arses courtesy of Ms. Nargis. Even now they are wondering what to do- whether or not to accept international aid. It is possible that the generals are still reeling in aftershock, too dumb to do anything and to dumb to begin with. Maybe this time they need a shock and awe treatment, right smack in their fortresses. The Americans do this best with their bombs. Whatever you do, don’t donate money directly to the Myanmar embassy. International emergency agencies are best. Hang in there, burmese bros, help is on the way. Beware those who made the slopes slippery If you have read Chong Chee Kin’s article titled Beware the slippery slope, you would’ve been inspired. It is a brilliant piece of journalistic writing to cover beyond all facts and insight which would leave a delectable stain on your mind. My title however is rather odd and I am not a crime reporter from the world ranked 155th Straits Times. Perhaps it is time for you to know why it is ranked so dismally low. Chong Chee Kin’s brilliant piece will provide the final piece to the puzzle. By the end of this post, the meaning of the title will become quite self-explanatory. In the article, we were given an explicit detail of how two crooks escaped from custody while doing time in Elmira Correctional Facility in New York and another from State Correctional Institution at Albion, California. In the course of the report, we learned how Timothy Vail and Malcolm Kysor managed to make the escape. To draw comparisons in the reader’s mind, we were also transported back to the time where Mas Selamat lulled his minders and possibly planned his escape and executed it with the help of no one but toilet paper. The final conclusion is that others have made the same mistake so what’s the big deal.  Aren’t we a happy lot? Certainly for the average Joe Moe who wakes up every morning, sees the morning show where two people speak in funny accents while he is having prata served by our good ol’ prataman, buys the papers and reads it while on the morning train although he is sandwiched by Poh Kok Seng, Ahmad Rejab bin Jantan and Allapansamy son of Thirukumaran and countless other bleary-eyed blokes. He goes about his day telling people about the news (It’s in the papers! he triumphantly announces) and goes home to watch the nine o’clock news diligently (honey, change the channel- it’s the news. You know I can’t miss the news) and then perhaps bonk his wife before going to bed. Joe Moe is a shining example of an indoctrinated persona and product of the mainstream media which is not independent. With a little thinking we can also arrive at the conclusion that quite obviously Mas Selamat was not a common thief or crook like the above-mentioned escapees. He is an alleged terrorist, hell-bent on destruction and terror, detained without trial along with other jihadists in a maximum security facility not even a rat can infiltrate. The comparisons were somewhat meek. The ones that stood guard in Whitley Road were not your average prison guards like those American buggers. They were Gurkhas and the insidious ISD. They are the elite superhuman security forces who can jump through an infinitesimal window, scale a wall and leap over double fences within an earth-shattering record of 49 seconds. And then you have the Internet which is truly a wonderful place. It is nothing short of a miracle. Here we can challenge truths in sheer check and uncover un-truths. A simple thing called Google can reveal the information easily. All we need is to extract the facts and the excess of information can be discarded. We also learnt that how the Strait Times report conveniently left out the facts that Timmy Vail was recaptured within a day and Mr. Kysor nabbed on on the following saturday in a park. What about our dear man Mas Selamat? You know the answer. Sixty-four effing days. Chong Chee Kin failed to report how swiftly the convicts were recaptured. Mind you, the Americans did not deploy their infantrymen, community grassroots folks or even the fire engine but with excellent police work. Their close-circuit cameras were not being upgraded- they have backup tapes in case they missed anything.  There. Have I got news for you. Why so serious? In the sequel to Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, the clown prince of crime makes a face and pops that question. Maybe the sight of his nemesis, dressed in a skintight leathery black Bat suit with some parts of his body, especially the family jewels unable to breathe, made him feel concerned. Plus Batman never smiled. Then again it’s probably the cramped family jewels that gives the comic hero the constant constipated look. I don’t know I haven’t watched The Dark Knight yet- it’s due next month and for now this question of seriousness was playing in my head. In some parts of Toa Payoh yesterday afternoon, I was having my cold beer at the coffeeshop where I sought refuge from the relentless sun; from my strategic location, I could observe the Tak Boleh Tahan campaign already underway in full swing. The activists were busy handing out flyers to people strolling by, some accepted with warmness, the majority gave a cursory look and avoided the democrats like they were lepers. They had that distinct constipated look on their faces, the same for Batman. I wondered why. Maybe it was the sun. The heat was pretty unbearable. I was already sweating like a stuck pig, my shirt stuck to my body like a second skin not to mention my underwear which I will not delve into for the sake of this blog post- I have the profound ability to make people nauseous. I was saved by the cold Mr Heineken. Which is why they said a beer is better than a woman. I digressed but the point remains. It could be the scorching heat. Another possibility that automatically sprang into my mind was the general perception of the opposition amongst the common sheep folk. The mainstream media have worked deep and successfully entrenched the orthodox belief that the opposition is somewhat of a bogeyman out to destabilize the very fabric of this sheepish society. I would surmise that many even would perceive Dr. Chee as a political terrorist. Which is why the constipated look on their faces. The sophomoric Tak Boleh Tahan campaign yesterday was an event to raise awareness of the plight of citizens in this country. The rising unabated costs, indiscriminate influx of foreign workers, million dollar salaries and the Mas Selamat fiasco. In simple layman language the campaign clamors this simple phrase: I have enough of this shit. Given the premise in Sheep City, it is quite apt. The campaign went successfully without incident; T-shirts, badges, books were sold to raise funds to support further campaigning. Many deliberately overpaid for the wares or donated graciously. I took the time to exchange a few words with Dr. Chee and his sister, Siok Chin, party chairman Gandhi Ambalam, lawyer Chia Ti Lik and many others. I had a great time conversing with Uncle Yap and Rachel Absinthe as well as activists Seelan Palay and Rizal. It was a May Day well-spent except for the heat that made me feel groggy. Ti Lik was sun-burnt; I was sitting in the coffeeshop having a poor man’s grog. Maybe the air-conditioned culture already turned me into a wuss.  Looking in retrospect, I believe the campaign will grow in momentum as more people are made aware and one day citizens in Sheep City will wake from their drunken stupor and breathe a new dawn. To paraphrase a quote from the Joker in the highly-anticipated movie The Dark Knight, the Tak Boleh Tahan campaign: It’s all part of the plan. What to do this May Day Citizens of Sheep City love May Day. It’s a holiday for workers, to take break and gather some time with friends and family, sit down and have a friendly chat. For some of us drones, it’s a scream. It’s not often we can do this in view of our busy schedules and haphazard lives. Do not be disheartened if you are still jobless or recently retrenched, just hop down to your nearest friendly ATM and cash out those handy Growth Dividends. It’s time to boogie. If you are the clueless sort and having no knowledge of the ways of the land, we happy folks over in Sheep City recommend these activities to spice up this May Day. . Go get a nice haircut. It’s time to get your lawn mowed and during the holidays, it’s best to do so. Better still, chum, get it colored. I recommend a striking red mop to go with your killer look. Show support for Sheep City.   . Spend some change and to do this buy the local newspapers and just skim it through. Laugh your heart out at the credibility of the mainstream media (probably your heart needs a good workout anyways) and then shove it up where the sun don’t shine. Don’t be sad you still have the internet. Consider it a good 80cents spent. . Book a pair tickets and watch Mas Selamat Escape from Whitley Road, now showing at local theaters. This movie is a blockbuster this summer and already won critical reviews. Don’t forget to leave your brain at the entrance. If it is sold out or the premise no longer interest you since it’s no big deal that a limping terrorist escaped, you’re in luck, try Iron Man.  . With your new killer hairdo, hop down to Toa Payoh Central, near the library around in the afternoon and show your support for the Tak Boleh Tahan campaign. Sign the petitions, fraternize with the lovely chaps, buy their wares or follow them to make house visits. Isn’t this fun? When was the last time you did something this fun anyways? I am sure you can think of many other ways to keep your posteriors busy this holiday. Apart from sitting them down and watching the darn television of course. You can throw a face at the nearest foreign PRC talent beside you if you must when spending those handy growth dividends. Yes I know, some of them looked like they were from Mars or the strangest remote parts of Mongolia but they are talented digits like you and me. If you don’t mind them snagging jobs that were meant for you, try to wink at them the next time when those nice PRC beer ladies pour your beer.  More good years, folks and have a Happy Labor Day, Sheep City. Cheers. We love you Chua Lee Hong When I came across Chua Lee Hong on the newspaper, I was filled with bliss. For a moment there I actually felt lost. I have always assumed I had been very ignorant of the facts, that I alone was guilty of ill-perspectives and brevity, that the majority of the local bloggers were irrational and condescending- now I am doubly sure we are not alone.  She wrote to imply that the entire Mas Selamat debacle did not warrant the resignation of the home minister. She is right I am sure. An escaped terrorist who have had plans to blow up Changi Airport and now might return to exact vengeance does not mean anything to Singaporeans. Deaths of many is nothing, just a statistic. Perhaps it was just a load of bollocks in the first place. She could be focusing on the point that Mas Selamat was just an imaginary hobgoblin. Indeed! Why didn’t we think of that? Of course it’s nothing. Let us focus on critical issues instead and forget about Mas Selamat. Look at your mailbox, now we are getting goodies, more money- more good years. Aren’t we going to be happy idiots? Sure we are. We are happy as the kid sucking into his lollipop, we are as happy as the gayest rainbow and we’d drink and make merry. So now we know why we are blissful. We cannot afford to be ya-ya papaya and ask someone who is a rare talent and being paid millions to resign. Our island will sink. Thanks be to the wisdom of Chua Lee Hong. This is one hell of a writing, a fine piece of journalism. This is love at first sight and it is already breaking my heart. Everyone in Sheep City loves you. I wonder how much I can get paid by writing this? Myanmar Nationals Protest Constitution Hundreds of Myanmar nationals, many wearing red or t-shirts with the word “No,” gathered outside the Myanmar embassy in Singapore on Sunday to protest against the country’s proposed new constitution. Public protest is rare in Singapore, where all outdoor demonstrations are banned and a public gathering of more than four people requires a permit. According to Myanmar nationals outside the embassy, citizens living in Singapore can this week vote on whether to accept or reject a constitution written by the country’s military leaders. But they said most of them were turned away because they lacked documentation such as a form certifying that they had paid their taxes. “We are here to cast our votes. We will wait until we can vote,” said one of the waiting crowd, who said he was a student called James. A female companion with him, who declined to be named, said the organizers provided the red t-shirts as well as drinks and snacks to people waiting outside the embassy. The group, which at one point raised their Myanmar passports in the air to demonstrate their nationality, was well-organized, and largely peaceful, following instructions from the Singapore police to make way for passing traffic and clearing rubbish from the ground. Some monks were seen walking through the crowd. An official from the Myanmar embassy declined comment when contacted, while Singapore police on the ground declined to speak to Reuters. “We have the impression they don’t want us to vote,” said an organizer of the event who identified himself as William Thein. “People are very sure the junta will cheat. We can only wear these caps and t-shirts to show that the people are overwhelmingly against this unfair referendum.” Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy has called for a rejection of the constitution, drafted over the last 14 years by an army-picked committee. Other underground opposition groups are also pushing for the former Burma’s 53 million people to reject the charter. At least 60 people have been arrested in Myanmar for wearing t-shirts urging people to vote “No” in the May 10 constitutional referendum. New York Times 27th April 7:12 a.m ET MSK: What could have happened Nay! You could have painted a story so believable that if the late Ah Meng was hearing your prattle even she would have gone berserk with disbelief. We will not move forward with you but instead we will regress and take a few steps backward. But this is not the story about dead primates- this, members of the jury, is the story about a man arrested and detained for the wrong reasons; a man who had been denied his civil rights and could even have possibly been murdered! Look around you. If walls have ears and the trees could talk, they will tell you that this is the stuff what the people are talking about. If you have a sophisticated machinery to detect human conversations and filter their topics, you are most likely to hear dialogues concerning Mas Selamat’s death in the hands of the nefarious ISD. Everyone is talking about it- the old geisha auntie at the Sheng Siong market selling cheap cosmetics, the perspiring prataman serving you one plate of two kosong and a bowl of watery fish curry and even the sexy  ladyboys at Changi Village who drew stares from lecherous old men. Hell, even the lecherous old men are talking about how Mas Selamat could have died during detention while rubbing their peckers. Their concerns and suspicions are valid and cannot be ignored. The COI executive summary report did nothing but added fuel to the speculation. The suspicions have risen to a height no one is able to put a lid on it. One quick glance at the window where Mas Selamat escaped and you’d see that it was purposefully built for escape. The door, the ledge, the openable grille-less window, the damnable cameras, everything- The works. For good measure, they should have thrown in a ladder and a red sign by the offending window which says: EXIT HERE.   Are we to sit by here and swallow this amount of garbage being shoved down our throats? What do you think we are? Children?  If Mas Selamat is a criminal, a terrorist as you and your high-handed milion dollar salaried buddies claim, produce the evidence in court. Give the man a just trial and convict him if he is guilty, if not set him free. The glaring fact that they cannot put him to trial speaks volumes of their innate competence to furnish enough sustainable evidence. Mas Selamat is not alone. There are many Muslims, some professionals cooped up in Whitley Road Detention Center, alleged terrorists or even self-radicalized, as they were taken away from their livelihood and families to be subjected to interrogation, humiliation and abuse. Some were told repeatedly to present themselves at the WRDC for investigations. They will keep you for as long as they wish or they may take you away even without warning. Taken away in the dead of the night, accused of being a terrorist, stripped and doused in cold water, forced to accept their terms of confession in order to be free. What would you do if you were in their shoes? These folks could have traveled to parts of Indonesia and Middle East, that was all the good reason they need to suspect you. Your human rights automatically denied.  Such are the fearful times we live in. Removing ISA will erase this fear. Mas Selamat could have been that stubborn person to refuse their terms. He might have openly defied them and shouted his faith in God is greater than to submit to these heinous accusations. Non serviam. He could have died a hero. Perhaps he truly escaped but nobody knew. Who really knew? Do you? MSK: What really happened Blessed congregation. We all know what the PAP government really is and 66.6% of us also believed that they are honest, upright men and women, who are blessed with talent and heroism. And to boot, none of them are corruptible. What a government this country is blessed with. If this is not kingdom of heaven, what then? So you see, we cannot fault them really, the government have done their best to bring Humpty Dumpty back together again, and they did. So let’s give credit where it’s due and cut this talk about sacking the poor old Home Minister. Come on, even his drinking buddies are saying we are treating him appallingly.  Some of us are downright curt as to go at lengths to tear the Committee of Inquiry’s executive summary report delivered on Monday to shreds. If we’d gather all the finest conspiracy theorists round the globe and the moon, they could not have done what we have accomplished. Go on and get them. And by a long shot, and as sure as rain, all of us are wrong right from the start. Have a look at the COI executive report, it’s so perfect it is immaculate. Therein lies the answers to our troubles. It describes there and there how the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari made his infamous escape from the Whitley Road Detention Center. What more do we want? A golden table and a glorious book from the high heavens? Don’t you even know that the WRDC has been protecting our country since in its infancy from the powers of evil and tyranny? All of you cynics out there, get a load of this: Mas Selamat escaped via the toilet window which has no grilles. The guards let him close the door and when they managed to open it, the smooth cat had already made his getaway. According to the report, the terrorist scaled the covered walkway and jumped over the fences like a jack in a box and the rest is history. Yes I know, it isn’t much but there it is. Don’t laugh, this is as good as it gets. You asked for transparency and now you have it. Oh lord, and here we are going bonkers and demanding the heads of those responsible. What gives? We believe the Strait Times (who says we don’t?) and we cannot forget how important it is towards our nation-building. We love our newspaper. It is far from good, it is perfect. Every word in there is gospel truth. Surely you know this you avarice-ridden libelous spawn of hell? Recant your wayward beliefs now and all is forgiven.  This is what really happened. This is the supreme truth.  Never mind the lack of window grilles or the suspecting toilet folding doors. Don’t you think about the terrorist running away without his pants and don’t start about the non-operational closed circuit cameras or surveillance tapes. You will listen and obey orders, damn you. Haven’t you been listening what the prime minister just said? We cannot give someone the sack who earns several million more than us and tell him to bugger it. That’s not right, chappie. This is not how it works in this miraculous island. We cannot hold these upright politicians accountable for such a small lapse. What we’d do, since everyone is asking for blood, is sack those who made the mistake of letting the fascist JI terrorist escape. The ones on the ground! Yes, they are complacent bastards and deserved the harshest reprimand. Discipline them, demote and transfer them to Pulau Hantu island- whatever, just get the job done and throw a smokescreen. Besides, they are nobody. They are some Gurkha mules, some local old lazy guard who cannot even pass his individual physical proficiency test or some nerd whose names we’d never heard of. They are nobody. Come on, they are no more than dirt. -whisk!- -whisk!- Let us learn from this debacle, close ranks and move forward. Let us fight this scourge of terrorism that seeks to break us with discord and squabble among ourselves. A great weapon of mass distraction. Away from your real worries of rising costs, inflation and social problems arising from the relentless stream of foreign nationals. This is for you and me. For the good of the republic. For democracy, Rome and Uranus- whatever you may fancy. For my million dollar salary. For your puny insignificant existence. Onward, Sheep City! Who’s with me? Resignation Letter Sample To the President of the Republic of Singapore Prime Minister, I hereby submit to you my resignation from the Government. I have informed you the reasons behind my decision fifty-two days ago. During those exchanges, you encouraged me to stay on and would try to find a way out but now it seems we have reached a cul-de-sac. Based on the latest Internet findings, the executive report drew scathing and vehement attacks from the people and raised more questions than trying to provide answers.  It is clear that our public relations and damage control machineries blame on the officers, the toilet window, perimeter fence or the local public. Accepting responsibility is a saving grace not a sign of weakness or form of punishment. I should have shouldered this responsibility weeks ago and perhaps the people may perceive otherwise. Perhaps it is still not too late. This resignation would still be the most decent thing to do. Cui bono?  You might ask and the answer you already knew will benefit you and the party from my departure and grow stronger with experience. In addition, my resignation should restore public confidence. I thank you for your support for all these years. I wish the Government many good years ahead.   Yours sincerely,   ____________________________________ the undersigned.   P.S. Please do something about sleeping MPs in Parliament. They are an embarrassment. Physical weakness This is what have been revealed in Parliament. Let’s get down to the quick and dirty: The ventilation window in the toilet that Mas Selamat used to escape did not have grilles. The two Gurkha guards and one junior ISD officer allowed him to close the urinal cubicle door. A physical weakness in the perimeter fencing made it possible for the detainee to escape from the detention center. This is very interesting. A window that does not have grilles, armed trained guards that let Mas Selamat close the urinal cubicle door and a physical weakness that could mean just about anything. Let us go through this one at a time, let’s start with the windows. I do not know about you but windows without grilles always spell danger. Just look around in your apartment- You have window grilles, don’t you? We are quite familiar with maids failing out of HDB windows to their deaths. Are we to believe that there are no window grilles in a prison facility where potentially dangerous criminals are? How big is this window by the way? According to the report, a pack of toilet rolls was discovered at the bottom of the external wall, supposedly to break his fall upon descend. Where did Mas Selamat get that? Did he buy that pack of toilet rolls from Sheng Siong? Did he place it there earlier which means he can stroll around the detention center like a walk in a park? This is a highly unbelievable report which is downright incredibly silly that the scenario painted by the COI may have well been borrowed from The Phantom in the Pink Panther series. Second- the guards allowed Mas Selamat to close the toilet door. How absurd since he was using the urinal cubicle. Tell me, have you seen a door to a urinal cubicle? If they meant by saying the toilet proper why mentioned urinal to begin with? We all know what urinals are and there are no doors to urinals. This is a sheer load of bollocks. A lot more utter nonsense that the guards let him close the door and unable to see him squirming through the window like a cat. By the way, that toilet looks spanking new like it was just renovated a week ago and the closed circuit cameras were not operational at that time. How irritatingly convenient. Ouch our intellect begins to hurt here. Third and finally, the ambiguous physical weakness in the perimeter fencing. This is the WTF moment. WTF! What is a physical weakness? A loose fence? A breach? A hole made by gophers? What? From the moment Mas Selamat stepped into the urinal cubicle, closed the damn door, climbed out through the grill-less window, made his way to the physical weakness, all in the span of 8-11 minutes or so and voila! He’s gone and not one Jack, Ahmad and Tiago noticed this? Where were the guard dogs? What happened to the guards patrolling the perimeter? Oh boy, don’t you just love that word- physical weakness. It rocks. Mas Selamat must have exploited this weakness to his advantage. He could have gnashed the wired fencing with his teeth, or dug a hole underneath the fence like a wombat or even scaled the two fences albeit laced with barbed wires. I bet after Mas Selamat made the leap of faith, he punched his fists in the air and shouted,”Yeah- all too easy!” while the clueless guards were still in the toilet, knocking on the door, saying,”Cepat lah, Selamat!” This is a weak report revealed in Parliament. The independent Committee of Inquiry did a lousy job as expected since it is incapable of producing a comprehensive report as clearly demonstrated here. You can read the report in pdf here and judge it for yourself. It is very troubling. It is even more disconcerting that no one offered to resign or made to hold accountable. It seems, for some especially amongst the ruling elite skin can be thicker than an armored car and sorry seems to be the hardest word. At any rate, despite the security dragnet cast far and wide big enough to snag ten sperm whales or more and despite thousands of Mas Selamat’s handsome mugshot pasted everywhere like a plague, the alleged terrorist is still missing and the COI report changes nothing except further blotting the repressive laws of ISA. Let us see what the prime minister has to say tomorrow. I have enough of this nonsense already. Please stop and pass me the remote. The discovery of a new element - Governmentium Research has led to the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element,Governmentium (Gv), has one age-defying neutron, 82 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 369. Depending on the environment and geographic location, the neutrons may differ. It is noted that a neutron was affectionately called The Dear Leader for its odd characteristics. This is one of many examples. In these case, 369 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take from four days to four years to complete.  Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2- 6 years; It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass. In certain environment where moronic particles can become strangely inert, the life of governmentium can stretch as far as 49 years and more. Scientist have concluded that inert morons are the primary factor why the element can ridiculously survive that long. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons. Scientists have issued a general warning that Governmentium can cause severe intellectual constipation. Governmentium Research has led to the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one age-defying neutron, 82 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy nondescript neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 369. Depending on the environment and geographic location, the element properties and affecting neutrons may differ. It is noted that a neutron was affectionately called The Dear Leader for its odd totalitarian characteristics. This is one of many examples. In this case, 369 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take from four days to four years to complete. Its properties can be best described as completely oxymoronic. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2- 6 years; It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. The age-defying neutron remains and steadily creates itself new positions each time reorganization takes place. In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. At present in this location, isodopes are not in abundant. In certain environment where moronic particles can become strangely inert, the life of governmentium can stretch as far as 49 years and more. Scientist have concluded that 66.6% inert morons are the primary factor why the element can ridiculously survive that long. When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons. Sheep City is believed to be exposed to a higher grade of governmentium, sophisticated and almost incorruptible. Scientists have issued a general warning that governmentium can cause severe intellectual constipation. Travel to governmentium-exposed locations is ill-advised. The material rich The material rich loves everyday. We do not care about anything else. We wake up every morning, thinking of ways to bolster our finances and strengthening it. We eat and drink wine and talk about money. We go to the toilet, thinking about money. Every step of the way, it’s all about money, our cars and our comfortable cushy jobs. So what if JBJ returns to the political arena? We are more interested in the new Audi R8 and Vorsprung durch Technik. That we can flaunt. We can flaunt it each time we send our kids to school; we zip around Chulia Road in and around the business district in style and revving loudly enough at the right corners; we’d show off to silly relatives during the Chinese New Year and we love mahjong. Now that’s enriching and fulfilling. And what about politics? We don’t give a rat’s ass about it quite simply. Regarding your rights, regarding the state-controlled press, regarding internet regulations and banned films and that silly terrorist- and just about whatsoever that spews from the orifices of your insignificant self. That’s just talk from beggars and people who are bored. You can jump into the deep blue sea for all we care. The rich have only one to thank for and it is not God. We have towering skyscrapers, Singapore Flyer, casinos and we make a weekly offering at the fountain of wealth. Bless us with more fortune! Keep us away from sacrifice, tenacity, conviction, righteousness and spirit but bestow us singly with immense wealth. Even if it is heretic, even if it means we are elitists or bourgeois pigs, the PAP government deserves our gratitude. We must extend our thanks to the infallible, incorruptible government for keeping us safe and our wealth intact. Thank you, eternal ruling party. Thank you ISD. You cannot imagine how this means to us even if it does actually mean we have stooped so low for our worldly riches. Nothing else mattered except money. You must know this by now. Comment on Return of Sheep City by Aidil Omar Thanks man!