Endoh’s Dungeon

It’s a hot topic on Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape, but thanks to him, he has highlighted the incompetency of our Government we voted into power. While bloggers are being tagged with “overall undertone of incredulity” in a CNA’s article, I am trying hard to think of a suitable one for the Ministers involved.

It wasn’t that bad if PM Lee hasn’t spoken at all, and I would prefer him not to. If Home Affairs Minister Mr Wong can’t even think of something new to add to the report, the past press releases are made to look like musical rehearsals and the Parliament being the official casting. Furthermore, if Mr Wong is not even aware and in control of a high-security facility directly governed by his office, what would PM Lee know anyway? And so, PM Lee’s speech left more question marks on the integrity of Singapore’s Government than actually addressing to the issue.

Sure, the great escape is a planned one. I don’t actually need an academic to tell me that, because common sense is not taught even in MBA classes. The price of common sense is often paid with years of experiences, and coupled with a few setbacks here and there. But at the highest level of our bureaucracy, common sense is charged at a much higher price. So while the Ministers are busily scratching each other’s back, I was puffing away while reading up on PM Lee’s speech like a movie script. Remember, it’s fictional… what you see is not necessarily what you get.

I am sure some of you remembered my post on my resignation from Civil Service. Well, now you see one of the many reasons why we had to forsake our duties. I even had a friend who used to be with Security Command (SECCOM) who eventually resigned to join the banking sector. In our mind, all we can say is… “See? I told you so? Phewwww… thank God we’re out of the system!”

PM Lee’s shielding of Mr Wong, seemed to oppose the very fundamental thought of a credible pool of academics with high levels of integrity. At least, a lot of horn-blowing was done when the salary hike for Ministers was being justified. Forget about whatever was being said back then, for now, a salary hike does not necessarily improve the work output of a Minister does it? Our Ministers are living examples for the citizens of Singapore.

A lot have been said, but for the sake of argument, to what extend of major lapses does PM Lee feel adequate for a Minister to be held liable and punishable? It’s agreed top-down, that the escape of Mas Selamat is a huge setback for the security agencies. Particularly for agencies belonging to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Is a word of “sorry” enough?

I do agree that changing Ministers from time to time is not beneficial for our country. Am I about to switch side? Of course not. What I’m pointing out is that, the fear of national instability should not prevent us from making a Minister step down from his appointment when he had failed the country in the most dramatic manner. Having a terrorist escaped from one of the safest countries in the world, does that not warrant Mr Wong’s stepping down? Do bear in mind, that this is not the first incident surrounding terrorism in Singapore but a series of events. Just to remind PM Lee & Mr Wong a little…

1. The video of Yishun MRT was found by foreign military forces elsewhere, and totally undetected by our security agencies in the production and shipment out of Singapore.
2. The enforcement on reform propagandists are tougher than what they have catered for a terrorist in a high-security facility.
3. And citing another unrelated issue, how did Mr Richard Yong escaped from one of the best secured airport in the world amidst his liability over the NKF’s scandal?

The call for Mr Wong’s resignation is not solely because of Mas Selamat’s escape. PM Lee should have taken note that Mr Wong’s recent failures in managing his Ministry and subsidiaries are well documented. With repeated failures one after another, the building up of resentments against incompetent Ministers is bound to show up one day. Perhaps PM Lee should be grateful that there have been no calls for anyone who is attempting to shield incompetent leaders to step down too. At the manner the defence of Mr Wong was put across, I cannot guarantee one day Singaporeans will not ask for the resignation of the Prime Minister himself.

However, not to worry. I am sure PM Lee will be reminded of these series of events surrounding competency and the conscience for a Minister to receive punishment in the next election. Singaporeans can almost predict what the next opposition slogan will be. Just like how Mr Goh Chok Tong told his wife “You’re in trouble…” over the NKF’s peanuts comment, perhaps it is time someone should tell PM Lee… you’re in trouble, too.

Are our Ministers immune to taking responsibility and punishment? PM Lee’s stand has somewhat told us the answer. Through the NKF’s saga, at least the Board of Directors automatically furnished their resignations. It doesn’t matter if they did it to shirk responsibility, or they do not want to involve themselves any further than they had been, at least they did what they had to do. What about our Ministers then?

“And every time something happens in the government, you change (the) prime minister. This is not how this government works,” said PM Lee.

So how does it works, I’m curious? Are top civil servants offered a deal of guarantor-ship over their appointment, even if the sky falls on them on their own accord? And how many skies can Mr Wong afford to have falling on him? I wonder… What does it takes for the Government and Minister involved to take realistic responsibility? When Mas Selamat emerged from the public gallery wearing a T-Shirt that prints “You Cannot Catch Me” like a magician suddenly appearing from among the audiences?

The other disturbing statement PM Lee made in Parliament is somewhat contradictory to just causes and effects.

“If you generate the culture that nobody wants to make mistakes and (is) afraid to do something for fear of making mistakes, that - as Dr Goh Keng Swee used to say - would be the biggest mistake of all,” said PM Lee.

Mr (Insignificant) Endoh says, “If a Prime Minister generate the culture that no Minister should be punished and (is) afraid to do something to take responsibilities over his Ministry’s failure - as Singaporeans ALWAYS say - would be the biggest mockery of all.”

Sadly, I can only accept PM Lee’s explanation and defence of Mr Wong if my doubts below are clarified with total transparency beyond any doubts.

A. Is Mr Wong unaware/not kept in the loop/advised on the latest development in a high-security facility housing terrorists, especially when it is guarded by two prominent units - ISD and Gurkhas?

B. Is Mr Wong not briefed/aware/advised on major projects like the construction or renovation of Whitley Detention Centre governed by his Ministry?

C. With so many lapses as I have stated above, why is Mr Wong always not in the loop?

D. If the answer to all or any of the above is yes, why weren’t these flaws spotted by Mr Wong during all his meetings and briefings?

E. If the answer to all or any of the above is no, is Mr Wong even proactive and involved in all these development?

I can almost smell which box my vote will go into for the next election, if I am still eligible after this post. Perhaps, the same box as the previous election? And by the way regarding that “overall undertone of incredulity”, bloggers do not like to mince our words and beat around the bush. That’s what set us apart, why we are bloggers and you are a Minister.