Yes. I am talking about the impact, the shock and the aftermath.
Certainly, I am not referring it to terrorist attack or religion issues.
After so many peaceful years, we suddenly have to face
a (long existence) new reality – a product of our very successful economic
model
The investigation should go beyond a Committee of
Inquiry. It should be a Commission
Report like the 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT#1 in the United States. It cannot stay
put at the technical level like the COI of SMRT bus strike. It should touch on the cultural aspects, the
humanity, and the sociology besides the psychology of mob and riot. It
basically calls for a re-think of our cheap and low-cost labor driven economic
model.
The 9/11 Report details the terrorist attacks in New
York and Washington. Besides this, it
has many chapters on the development and background information of the terrorist
movements. It also highlights and covers a lot of background issues and problems
inside the US government operations and co-ordinations. As a result, the
Department of Homeland Security was created in the States (and Singapore also
followed later by setting up a Co-coordinating Minister for National Security.)
However, Little India Riot is not a terrorist attack. It is our own problem and we have to solve it
ourselves. There is no learning curve. Looking at the way the police conducts
the search for more suspects island-wide and the ban of alcohol over the weekend
in Little India, it looks more like Singapore is facing a national security
issue. The call for clam and classified it as an isolated incident are another
acknowledgments of the seriousness of the riot.
Learning
from 9/11 Report
The COI on Little India riot really cannot do much as
it has limited power to interview the top. The top leaders must also come under
scrutiny for certain policy and strategy options that may lead to the
unfortunate incident.
In USA, the 9/11 Commission was empowered to interview
everyone in America, including the President.
The Commission interviewed President, Vice-President, secretaries of state,
defense and other departments, and many other senior government officials and military
officers. If you look at the 9/11 Report, you will know what I mean.
However, as the PAP government has downplayed the riot
and its impact. The COI will not be able to tell us the views of our senior
political leaders and senior government officials including top Police
officers. So, I am afraid the COI only
gives a partial story of the riot – the face fact of the so-called isolated
incident.
Not to forget the 9/11 Report is a bi-partisan
product. You can’t blame the other side
for any wrong doing or gain any political advantage. While in Singapore, the
COI on riot will certainly produce different political implication because it
is a PAP product.
Old
school thinking of inclusiveness
By setting up a COI for the Little India Riot is a continuation
of old school thinking. It shows the PAP
still wants to solve problems within its own rank, within its own capability
and ignored the public interest at large. It still believes it is the only party capable to
solve all problems in Singapore.
In fact, the timing is right for the PAP as it has
just shifted its focus (back) to “democratic socialism”. Why doesn’t the PAP use this opportunity to
tell Singaporeans and foreigners in an honest way how to move forward? “Our new way forward: A call for action.”
Yes, we want to see the action. An action goes beyond COI.
However, even the government is willing to set up a
commission to investigate the riot, I am afraid Singapore alone has no expertise
in language, culture and customs in coming out a report like the level of 9/11
Commission Report.
We basically have very little knowledge on foreign
workers and foreign maids. We just treat
them as cheap labor. So, how can we invest money in understanding them? We even
want to isolate them and house them in an island.
After the 9/11 Report, there are more investment and
funding in the USA for Arabic language and studies, Islamic study, terrorist
study and even broadcasting in Arabic language.
Residence
and non-residence
Different from many foreign countries, we have not
considered foreign workers as residents. They are on work permits. They are not
talents so they can’t be PRs.
In the very first days when they enter into Singapore,
they are already different. We consider
them as substitutable goods. When they become expensive, we source for cheaper alternatives.
With this in mind, where is the belongingness?
If I may bring in another example, the rich-poor gap
in Singapore is already a concern. The PAP’s new way of socialism is to tackle
this problem. Only now, the PAP wants to take serious action to solve this lower
income Singaporeans problem. So, where do they find time and mean to consider
the problems of more than one million foreign workers in Singapore?
The best way is to isolate them. But Singapore is so small, how can we isolate
foreign workers in a humanity way?
Love
and not hate
In his speech to the Congress after the 9/11, former
President Bush asked:
[Americans are asking ``Why do they hate us?''] #2
Because of ‘hate’, Bush went on for more military
built ups and wars. Hate cannot solve
the problem, we should ask: why don’t they love us? (As Singapore has given
them opportunities to earn more income to support their families back home?)
I don’t think the COI on Little India Riot can suggest
and convince the PAP government to come out with a Love strategy for foreign
workers.
This is why a more powerful, multi-party and national-wide
Commission is needed. But will the PAP
listen?
#1
#2
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