Letter to ST Forum on Wee Siew Kim's Comments (Unpublished)
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Dear All
I had on the morning of 25th October 2006 responded with biting criticism to the Straits Times report on MP Wee Siew KimÂ’s comments in defiant defence of his dear daughter.
I was totally disgusted by MP WeeÂ’s comments which I will not let go pass untouched.
The STÂ’s Forum Editor had passed over my response and published another letter which was far less critical.
I am a strong proponent of freedom of expression, I will not stop at being silenced by elements of the mainstream press. Attached below is the letter that was targeted at our PAP AMK GRC MP Wee Siew Kim.
My purpose for publishing this letter is to encourage greater freedom of expression stronger and unrestrained criticism of the Ruling Party by all and I am taking the lead here.
Coincidentally, MP Wee made a statement in the press today which was of course published. This statement claims to be apologizing to the readers who were offended.
I have read MP WeeÂ’s statement and I am not of the view that the apology is full and unreserved. I trust Singaporeans can come to their own conclusions on the matter.
“RESPONSE TO PAP MP FOR AMK GRC MR. WEE SIEW KIM’S COMMENTS IN STRAITS TIMES REPORT OF 24TH COTOBER 2006.
I had read in amazement of what Ms Wee Shu Min had written in her blog. I ruminated on her statements and her lineage and illustrious background and after much thought, decided not to criticize her in spite of the callousness she had exhibited at such a tender age.
For to me, there is simply no reason to overreact to the ignorant bigotry of an 18 year old girl and that the matter is best left to rest after the barrage of criticism she met with on the internet.
However, when I saw the Straits Times report of 24th October 2006, I read with disgust what Ms Wee Shu MinÂ’s father PAP MP for AMK GRC, Mr. Wee Siew Kim had said in brazen defence of his dear daughter justifying her callousness and adding further insult and injury to Singaporeans.
MP Wee, in his dismal attempt to soften the effect of his daughter’s ramblings, had sought to downplay the incident as a lack of sensitivity on her part and to quote him “Some people cannot take the brutal truth and that sort of language, so she ought to learn from it.”
Whilst the less discerning may opine that MP Wee has apologized on behalf of his daughter, in truth both father and daughter have exhibited no more empathy or remorse than when the remarks were first made in Ms WeeÂ’s blog. MP WeeÂ’s remarks albeit more diplomatic had in fact exhibited an even higher level of arrogance and lack of empathy.
MP Wee must note that her daughter has since removed the offending posting from her blog. That is itself discordant with the stance he exhibited in his interview in the Straits Times. One wonders whether the removal of the posting was a father-sanctioned public perception management exercise for damage control or was it a true indication of remorse and regret?
If indeed MP Wee had similarly been just as careless with his callous remarks, he ought to acknowledge so and then extend nothing short of an unreserved apology to all Singaporeans especially those who are in situations similar to that of Mr. Derek Wee.
And upon doing so, MP Wee should also take steps to inculcate the appropriate level of humility in his daughter and do so in an early stage of her life, for MP Wee must remember that the government that he backs has taken bloggers to court, punished and shamed them for the undue comments they have made similarly for a limited audience.
Whilst I do not hope that the current establishment gets richer as a result of whatever discussion that takes place, I do hope that the former does get a lot humbler and wiser for Singapore will need leaders who can truly empathize with the people instead of having to live with parrots perched tree high above ground and their dissonant cacophony of callouness and insensitivity.”
The PAP and its supporters are invited to attack this posting with unrestrained fervour.
Regards
Chia Ti Lik -
'An apology that is not' - MP Wee had a Mentor to learn from in making a 'face saving' apology without any meaning or sincerity in the words and sentence formed.
The entire state machinery has been mobilised to play down the impact, and soon this event will fade from memory, with more positive propaganda being displayed with renewed gusto.
Will it be any surprise that if this issue is to continue, bigger guns will soon come forth to explain away this issue as 'a storm in a tea cup' ?
However, is this a mere 'storm in a tea cup', or does it portend the under current that will soon form into a ground swell of suppressed ill feelings by the 'hardpressed heartlanders' towards the 'chosen Elitist breed' ?
If the youthful bigotry of other young bloggers towards the sensitivities of a particular religious group can arouse the attention of the authorities, why should such youthful bigotry towards a larger group of hardpressed Singaporeans be ignored ?
It becomes even worst, when the discovery is made that such youthful bigotted thinking can come forth from the family of one who has been elected to represent those whom his offspring has shown contempt at.
The hurt and damage is doubled, when the Elected People's Representative will be dismissive of the genuine concern of his constituents - and Singaporeans at large - while in defence of his own miscreant offspring.
Arrogance should have its limits, and so will the patience and tolerance of Singaporeans towards such arrogance. -
sigh..
sigh!!!
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Well, when your mouth refuse to say the words your mind is thinking, what can you do except.....Originally posted by Ito_^:sigh..
sigh!!!
sigh~~~ -
Mouth may not express what the minds wish to say, but at times middle fingers and other body languages have been just as effective and expressive.
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sigh....sighOriginally posted by Atobe:Mouth may not express what the minds wish to say, but at times middle fingers and other body languages have been just as effective and expressive. 
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I dread to think that what MP Wee Siew Kim has written is a true reflection of what and how he feels for the less well-off. If we have many of such people in Parliament and top civil service posts, can we not expect the cost of living to keep going up?? And the poor become poorer?
And he expects all the graduates and high earners to think and do alike, i.e. just accept the challenges, work hard and aim high for their own personal gains. How about those who are at the bottom of the rat race ? Is it wrong for somebody who is more capable to speak on their behalf. Or should they be ignored and if possible eliminated ?
Do we need to see more people committing suicide (like throwing themselves at a moving MRT train) before our "elected" leaders reaslie that society as a whole is not as rich and glamorous as what they see, or pretend to see. -
"WAH... MP mm zhai si ahh?!" -
Not cannot lah, but all the minor and major court will be damn busy lor.Originally posted by Atobe:Mouth may not express what the minds wish to say, but at times middle fingers and other body languages have been just as effective and expressive. -
After all that's been said, i did not expect Wee Siew Kim to apologise on behalf of his daughter.
On the other hand, he is certainly not obliged to, given the fact that his daughter is no longer cradle-bound and capable of standing on her own two feet. Having had the gusto to commit such a virulent outburst, surely she should be expected to reflect upon her words and humbly apologise, as many others before her have done.
One wonders whether enough 'lessons' have been taught and learnt by our self-styled ruling party. With MPs such as Wee Siew Kim, is it any surprise that AMK residents gave the ruling party a 'resounding' 66% mandate against a team of alternative 'freshies'?
Maybe the 'freshies' managed a surprise 33% because they offered a breath of 'fresh air' and down-to-earth approach the ruling party are simply incapable of nowadays. Even a simple press statement is deliberately used as a launchpad to staunchly defend their position when one was simply looking for a humbler response.
It is therefore unsurprising that our MPs, with little political experience and with a cushy path to office, are pathetically unskilled at diplomacy, revealing the true nature of their motives when they weren't asked to 'show hand'. -
let's just say that we will have forgotten this by the time the next election rolls in...
just like the last elections, we forgot what one former "health minister" said..
just like....
nevermind...
what does the pattern tell you?
we are apathetic and that we are forgetful of the type of people we put in power...
let's start changing by changing ourselves.. stop being apathetic.. and stop being forgetful..
i'm going home.. i could not for the life of me allow myself to go home before i wrote this.. -
Go Chia! I support ur views.
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I am afraid....no, very afraid that our "future leaders" that are "elected" are without compassion or humbilities.
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Seriously, I think his dad kind of agreed with what she say.. But the thing is.. If everyone are so capable and talented, Then we no need those ppl on top to help us with our problem. We can take care ourselves.
We need not pay tax anymore.
We need not need civil servants
We need not need military
We need not need Government.
Please not everyone is so fortunate. seriously RJC produce this type of students.. Kinda sad that our future leaders might be like that. only help the rich but not the poor. Is true that ppl should not depend on government too much but sometime we need help... If the government cannot help, then why we need them? Maybe ppl here might think "My words are too Brutal" that you guys cannot take it
But i'm so sorry this is the truth fact.
(By the way I no need anyone to slam to learn. I did it on purpose
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Chia,Originally posted by Chia Ti Lik:The PAP and its supporters are invited to attack this posting with unrestrained fervour.
Well said, well said.
Did any of the PAP members or its supporters take up your invitation? I doubt so for none of them would want to be tainted by the self-proclaimed uncaring elite father and daughter! -
The thing is - Are there any PAP supporters here? They wun dare to come here one la.
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but Mr Wee got apologise lei
Read HOME of today Straits time
u guys got read papers anot or just skip to forum oni -
Read already, but you buy that?Originally posted by pierre^^:but Mr Wee got apologise lei
Read HOME of today Straits time
u guys got read papers anot or just skip to forum oni -
at least apologise ma
for a MP to publicly apologise on national paper hor takes alot of guts u noe
and tink of his career, i dun tink he able to climb higher liao -
whatever he said, i don't even consider it an apology.Originally posted by pierre^^:at least apologise ma
for a MP to publicly apologise on national paper hor takes alot of guts u noe
and tink of his career, i dun tink he able to climb higher liao
especially the line about people that are unable to accept the brutal truth. -
Well, (I forgot who said) dun be surprise when Sr Wee "retires" from politics on GE2011.Originally posted by pierre^^:at least apologise ma
for a MP to publicly apologise on national paper hor takes alot of guts u noe
and tink of his career, i dun tink he able to climb higher liao -
i actually would prefer mah bow tan to get off immediately
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apologizing was just about the only thing he could do to save himself from more blastings, though i wouldnt say its very effective
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That was as close as an apology as you will see.
But I must say, the online community did do a great job, the amount of furore did push him into saying something more.. -
That's what fears the ruling party: an inability to control or contain comments in the internet. Just look how fast Mr Brown's Mee Pok Man's podcast spread during election time?Originally posted by LazerLordz:That was as close as an apology as you will see.
But I must say, the online community did do a great job, the amount of furore did push him into saying something more..
But the question is really: why should they fear it when they should be embracing it? Regulating comments on the net is as good as govt censorship.
Anyway, Wee Senior gave an upfront apology. Time to move on.