Friday, May 09, 2008
Funny things I've heard this week
Indonesia has donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Bangladesh for the country's flood victims.Wonder how much they give their own poor. Maybe they'd be praying for a flood sometime soon.If old enough for NS, why not the vote?Two words: Fuck off lah. Let's assume that the more educated, the better informed one is to vote. Any BMT instructor can attest that you REALLY DON'T want these recruits voting. Like seriously. Some can't even tie their boot straps yet and put on their helmet backwards. I mean, SERIOUSLY. At least wait till after NS.Why minister Wong Kan Seng should not resign because you can't expect him to be there everytime Mas Selamat wants to go to the toilet. (See here)
Yes, i guess you're right. He can't be there when Tok the child murderer left the crime scene via the toilet in Pasir Panjang and walked over the causeway without getting checked OR stopped. He can't be responsible for Mas Selamat using the unauthorized, non-prisoner's loo with no bars. He also can't be responsible for the relative security of a presumable maximum security detention centre because they are there to "rehabilitate" not "imprison" the detainees. (I won't even begin to point out the irony there because the prison service motto includes rehabilitation but i don't foresee Singaporeans having other convicts from Changi escaping from the loo an acceptable event.) So, it's not his first time in charge that such things happen. But that's ok, cos he's not there personally.
Let me ask you this question: If WKS cannot be held responsible for this, what CAN he be held responsible for such that he be removed or be compelled to be removed from office? From the arguments, it sounds pretty much like other than personal acts of gross indecency or criminal acts, failure to ensure the smooth running of your portfolio doesn't fall into this scope of accountable responsibility. And even if it's "not his fault", then whose fault is it? Why the rhetoric of "we should move past trying to pin the blame on someone"? It's not a matter of blame, it's a matter of a serious security breach! My first thought would be the head of the detention centre! Geographical, architectural, and human security are his/her duty, and he/her has failed in that respect and should be removed at once. While the lapse in concentration on the part of the guards can be excused as a "mistake of circumstance", the lack of workable cameras, poor fencing etc are NOT "incidental", they are the result of long term complacency.-_-
