Comments on: Interview with Mr Yoong Siew Wah, Director of ISD (1971 – 1974): Role of ISA in Singapore http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/16/interview-with-mr-yoong-siew-wah-director-of-isd-1971-%e2%80%93-1974-role-of-isa-in-singapore/ The Voice of Singapore from Singaporeans for Singaporeans Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:21:02 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: XiSd Tay http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/16/interview-with-mr-yoong-siew-wah-director-of-isd-1971-%e2%80%93-1974-role-of-isa-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-35064 XiSd Tay Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:05:05 +0000 http://www.temasekreview.com/?p=15603#comment-35064 This interview is as good as not having one. These questions could have been answered by TR itself or someone who have already left ISD. Even the spin doctors at Shitty Times could have done a better job. This interview is as good as not having one. These questions could have been answered by TR itself or someone who have already left ISD.

Even the spin doctors at Shitty Times could have done a better job.

]]> By: ocean http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/16/interview-with-mr-yoong-siew-wah-director-of-isd-1971-%e2%80%93-1974-role-of-isa-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-34698 ocean Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:46:32 +0000 http://www.temasekreview.com/?p=15603#comment-34698 Yoong, why is an anti-terrorist unit "not good enough" to deal with terrorists? Because an anti-terrorist unit cannot be used to throw your opponents into jail? Why does TR gladly let this non-answer go? TR should have asked more questions. Yoong sounds like a PAP type of character to me. Yoong, why is an anti-terrorist unit “not good enough” to deal with terrorists? Because an anti-terrorist unit cannot be used to throw your opponents into jail? Why does TR gladly let this non-answer go? TR should have asked more questions. Yoong sounds like a PAP type of character to me.

]]> By: Not_impressed http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/16/interview-with-mr-yoong-siew-wah-director-of-isd-1971-%e2%80%93-1974-role-of-isa-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-34534 Not_impressed Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:39:25 +0000 http://www.temasekreview.com/?p=15603#comment-34534 Well there's a surprise - the leopard cannot change his spots even at age 82, can he? Once a bully boy always a bully boy. Give people like Yoong a vague, sweeping, all-encompassing law like the ISA and watch this Nazi step forward and go for your throat. Why? Simply because he can — by law. You've effectively handed him the power of life and death over you and your family. It would take a f***king saint to resist the primitive thrill of absolute control over one's fellow man, just ask Pol Pot, Mao, Stalin, Lee, and every cursed tyrant who ever lived. How come other far larger nations can manage without a law like the ISA and microscopic Singapore can't, Yoong? Is the ISD so hopelessly useless? Until recently, the UK suffered 30 years of merciless IRA bombing campaigns which made Singapore's so-called Communist experience laughably pathetic by comparison. Today they still have the on-going Islamic terrorists to deal with, suicide bombers in London, but they have felt NO need to abrogate citizens' civil rights. The same goes for Spain, France and Greece who have had to endure far worse violence than Singapore has ever had to in peacetime. None of these nations saw the need for an ISA, so what's wrong with your tiny little dysfunctional nation, Yoong? Could it be that...whisper it...the ISA has little to do with a communist/terrorist threat and everything to do with suppressing political dissent? Is it possible that such a Draconian law, one which civilised nations hesitate to introduce even under the most extreme provocation, is it possible that it's a heaven-sent opportunity for an authoritarian government unable to win its argument by peaceful means to lock up all opposition and throw away the key? Well there’s a surprise – the leopard cannot change his spots even at age 82, can he? Once a bully boy always a bully boy.

Give people like Yoong a vague, sweeping, all-encompassing law like the ISA and watch this Nazi step forward and go for your throat. Why? Simply because he can — by law. You’ve effectively handed him the power of life and death over you and your family. It would take a f***king saint to resist the primitive thrill of absolute control over one’s fellow man, just ask Pol Pot, Mao, Stalin, Lee, and every cursed tyrant who ever lived.

How come other far larger nations can manage without a law like the ISA and microscopic Singapore can’t, Yoong? Is the ISD so hopelessly useless? Until recently, the UK suffered 30 years of merciless IRA bombing campaigns which made Singapore’s so-called Communist experience laughably pathetic by comparison. Today they still have the on-going Islamic terrorists to deal with, suicide bombers in London, but they have felt NO need to abrogate citizens’ civil rights.

The same goes for Spain, France and Greece who have had to endure far worse violence than Singapore has ever had to in peacetime. None of these nations saw the need for an ISA, so what’s wrong with your tiny little dysfunctional nation, Yoong?

Could it be that…whisper it…the ISA has little to do with a communist/terrorist threat and everything to do with suppressing political dissent? Is it possible that such a Draconian law, one which civilised nations hesitate to introduce even under the most extreme provocation, is it possible that it’s a heaven-sent opportunity for an authoritarian government unable to win its argument by peaceful means to lock up all opposition and throw away the key?

]]> By: sheldon http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/16/interview-with-mr-yoong-siew-wah-director-of-isd-1971-%e2%80%93-1974-role-of-isa-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-34509 sheldon Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:44:22 +0000 http://www.temasekreview.com/?p=15603#comment-34509 mr yoong, (if you are reading this, that is) if you are not under some secrecy oath, would you care to share what kind of evidence you guys had regarding their communist links? mr yoong, (if you are reading this, that is)

if you are not under some secrecy oath, would you care to share what kind of evidence you guys had regarding their communist links?

]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/16/interview-with-mr-yoong-siew-wah-director-of-isd-1971-%e2%80%93-1974-role-of-isa-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-34497 Anonymous Coward Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:08:27 +0000 http://www.temasekreview.com/?p=15603#comment-34497 The sweeping powers is what makes alot of people uncomfortable as it's too open to abuse by the powers that be, along with the vagueness of the word, "terrorism". You know, that new buzz word that floats around these days in order to restrict and muzzle alternative voices. You know where i'm coming from. - Anonymous Coward The sweeping powers is what makes alot of people uncomfortable as it’s too open to abuse by the powers that be, along with the vagueness of the word, “terrorism”. You know, that new buzz word that floats around these days in order to restrict and muzzle alternative voices. You know where i’m coming from.

- Anonymous Coward

]]> By: Ravenclaw http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/10/16/interview-with-mr-yoong-siew-wah-director-of-isd-1971-%e2%80%93-1974-role-of-isa-in-singapore/comment-page-1/#comment-34486 Ravenclaw Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:39:04 +0000 http://www.temasekreview.com/?p=15603#comment-34486 I think that the problem doesn't lie with the ISA per se, but rather how it is shockingly vague and open to abuses. I think that the problem doesn’t lie with the ISA per se, but rather how it is shockingly vague and open to abuses.

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