Human Rights and the PAP Practice in Singapore

Good evening, Mr Chairman, ladies and gentleman.

It is an honour for me to be invited back to the Think Centre forums. I am asked to speak about Human Rights in the context of Opposition Politics. I am not an expert in Human Rights, but I do hope to share some interesting perspective with you.

What are Human Rights? Doesn't it sound very foreign? Have anyone here ever read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? I for one didn't -- until I am asked to speak at this meeting tonight. Can anyone name me some basic human rights?

I shall now take the opportunity to briefly read to you some of the articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and share what I think of it.

Article 1 -- All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

I don't know about you, but don't you sense that some human beings in Singapore are more equal than others. First, you have a suggestion by SM Lee that some Singaporeans will be entitled to 2 votes. Others below certain age range will continue to get only 1 vote. Do you remember this suggestion? Then recently, Parliament made new laws on overseas voting. Singapore citizens and private company scholars are required to fulfil the 2 years residency requirement for overseas voting eligibility. But civil servants and government scholars are exempted from this 2 year residency requirements. It seems that some humans are more equal than others.

Imagine you are overseas on a SPH or private scholarship and you happen to room with a Government scholar in the hostel. The General Elections is called and both of you happily went to the voting center. Your roommate voted, but you can't. To your horror of horror, you realized that your fellow roommate have more right than you. In the eyes of the PAP Government, not all humans are born equal. Some are more equal by their association.

Article 3 -- Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Do you? Do I? Do you feel secure? Some do. But many opposition Politicians don't. The PAP Government thinks that the Internal Security of Singapore is more important than the security of individual person. What I am talking about is the issue of arbitrary arrests. Under the ISA, the government can come and arrest you and throw you into detention at the pleasure of the Minister. They have done it in the past. They have not done it for a long time, but that does not mean that they will not do it again. The law is there for them to use it as they please.

Article 5 -- No one shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Is torture still being practised in modern day Singapore? We seldom read it in the papers these days. Sounds good. But wait a minute, have you read Francis Seow's book "To catch a Tartar." If not, go overseas and get a copy and read of his sufferings as depicted in the book. You will know what I mean.

Article 9 -- No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Need I say more? Of the many old opposition Politicians, do you know how many are arrested under the ISA? The most recent is Francis Seow. Do you know who have been kept in detention for the longest, and who have been forced into self-imposed exile? It seems that this right does not apply for the Opposition Politicians.

Article 11 -- Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty. Is that really the case in Singapore? Do you really think so? I am not a lawyer here and may be I am wrong, but anecdotal experience tells me that the law is practised otherwise.

Article 12 -- No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, or to attacks upon him, his honor and reputation.

This article seems to apply only for the PAP. There shall be no interference on their privacy, family, home or investments. On the other hand, attacks on Opposition Politicians' honour and reputation are the in-thing. The best and most efficient way for the PAP to knock down their opponents is to attack his reputation, discredit him; intrude his privacy, family etc and see what other hidden skeletons can be found. Look at Mr Tang Liang Hong. A private speech given in a private setting is taken as evidence against him years later. What can I say, being in this game, I just have to be prepared for the coming attacks! Mark my word. Some of the contents in my speech will be used against me in future.

Article 19 -- Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expressions.

Is that ever practiced here? Do you really think you -- as a citizen --have the right to freedom of opinion and expressions? No you don't. Our Prime Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong tells you to "go join a Political Party -- if you want to talk about Politics." That effectively silenced Dr Catherine Lim and the rest of Singapore. No more talking about politics. You need to join the PAP or us -- if you're still keen to talk politics.

Article 20 -- Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Do you know that, without official approval, anyone who gathered in groups of more than 5 can be arrested for unlawful assembly? Do you know how hard and troublesome it is to get a permit for forums like these? Do you really really need to join a political party to talk politics? Is your right trampled upon when you are compelled to join the NSP? Our friend here, James can share with you his recent experience in organising a peaceful assembly and what happens thereafter.

Article 21 -- Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country.

Everyone? Not really. Not unless you join the PAP. No matter how weak you are, you are sure to get into the Parliament under the tailcoats of a powerful Minister in a GRC. First, the PAP government changes the rules of the games constantly. Whenever they are losing out, the goal posts are shifted. When there is no FAIR level playing field, how can anyone have the right to take part in the running as part of the Government?

Let's play fair; introduce a fair competition act overseen by the office of the elected President, not the Prime Minister's office. Oh, by the way, none of you here, I would assume, have the right to run for the President of Singapore. The criteria is set up so stringently that even the PAP Government finds it difficult to get people to run for it, talk about any contest.

Article 23 -- Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

Of late, it has been very clear that the PAP government favours foreign talents over locals. In the pursuit for greater excellence and economic growth, the PAP has switch to a "promote foreign talent policy". All these are at the expense of our Singapore citizens, many of whom are now suffering the agony of being unemployed. Do you mean foreign talents have the same or higher rights than us as a citizen? What does it mean for you as a citizen then?

Conclusion

As you can see. There are many human rights found in the declaration that is not practiced in Singapore. Where do we -- as Singaporeans -- go from here? Do we continue to accept the PAP's practise and allow our rights to be trampled upon? Or do we have to stand up and be counted?

If you need to vote for the PAP because of your job, or your pension scheme, then it means your rights have been trampled upon? You are not free from fear. Think about it. Such fears are unfounded and should be dismissed. And it can only be done by you alone. The PAP can scare you, but cannot act against your political preference. Doing so will violate the law on freedom of election.

In summary, I would like to state that "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Power in the hands of a select few is very addictive. It is like a drug. You just want to crave for more. Look at Saddam Hussien. Look at North Korea. Look at Wahid. They are gripping onto power despite the calls and protests for them to step down. Do we want to wait for this day? Do we really want to give too much power to a select few, and suffer from their intoxification and addiction. It doesn't happen now, but it doesn't mean that it will not happen in future. It is better to play safe and build safety nets for us now. We need to stop giving too much power to the PAP Government.

We need to divide their power and share it. Only when power is divided will there be proper check and balances. Only when there is fair competitions will our lives be better and society improves. Only then can we have a vibrant society.

Thank you.

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