The last few weeks, everything on my Facebook feed is related to GST (Goods & Services Tax). More recently, more depressing stories continue to develop revolving around Germanwings, sedition charges and the recent arrest of The Malaysian Insider (TMI) journalists. Another big news in the past week was about Lee Kuan Yew.
You see, my history is not really that good. And I can't understand why everyone is so fascinated about this man, LKY. But I finally did understood a bit more in the last few weeks. It's hard to imagine how a first-world country is like. Confession: I have not been to Singapore in my entire life.
LKY had single-handedly led Singapore from a small port city into a wealthy global hub. Here we have someone who was criticised for his dictatorship yet it may be a huge irony.. but I see so many Singaporeans, educated citizens from all walks of life, who overlooked his leadership style simply because they know that this man loved Singapore.
Okay, I'm not even Singaporean right but what to do. I'm catching up with a lot of Singapore news because now that I have a sister studying there, I can't help it.
Anyway, amidst all these posts that commemorate one of the greatest world leaders, my local news feed is filled with.. news about arrests.
Everyday I'm seeing the Twitter boss on the newspaper, on national primetime news.. for what? Arresting politicians, activists, lawyers, even a cartoonist! - all in the name of sedition. And today is the worst. The all time low happened - police arresting journalists. I understand that the arrest of TMI journalists was apparently because of false reporting. We'll see what else develops from this.
I have always supported the freedom of speech. And I can never understand the motion that the Sedition Act should be still in place but with amendments. I'm no law expert or what but I just think that freedom of speech and Sedition Act simply cannot coexist. How can we, on one hand wants freedom of speech but then think that Sedition Act should stay to impose restrictions. The problem is when we impose restrictions, by whose standards are we going by? It doesn't make any sense.
Thus when I see racist bigots making dumb statements, I don't call for them being arrested. I don't believe that anyone should get arrested for speaking up. It is everyone's right and I stand by it. That is why one of my favourite quotes is by Evelyn Beatrice Hall: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to death our right to say it".
Anyway, things aren't looking good for my fellow country. Future seems bleak. But you know what? Reading Psalms 46 just gives me the confidence that I will be okay.
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