mandatory death penalty in singapore, page-79

molonski,

you may have spent a lot of time in Singapore but it appears you failed to grasp the "essence" of Singapore culture and politics. Your examples of extreme punishment are simply fantasy on your part, no doubt you can search through Australias law books and find many similar repressive laws still on the books, but they are never enforced, unless someone is out to nail you by any means. Singapore is the same in this respect and you never hear about the everyday activities of law enforcement until someone decides to challenge the system, and like here, the full weight of the law is then bought to bear if the person displays contempt for the law. Anyone who displays respect for authority and recognises that they may have trangressed will be treated differently to someone who doesn't. I'm not talking about the more serious crimes, but the everyday application of the laws that affect the citizens and visitors as they go about their everyday business. Singapore is still very young, only 40 years since independence, it started amongst choas that demanded strict action to bring order, as it passes through it's various phases of growth it will adapt to changing circumstances, that is the Singapore way.

In regards to the media, whilst it appears to generally reflect government policy, it doesn't always. But are you right in assuming that the media is a tool of the government, have you ever considered that perhaps it is the government that is merely in line with general public sentiment.

With regards to your friends that were delighted you took them to "sexpo", I'm wondering why, they must have been very young. Whilst Singapore may not stage such events, who would be interested when the real thing is so available and so much more enjoyable. Of course there is a degree of control, but that is ensure it remains safe, not repress it.

What I consider a national disgrace is the way the politicans have all jumped on the bandwagon and proclaimed that they are going to force Singapore to make an 11th hour reversal that is simply never going to happen. To give such false hope to the family is not displaying compassion, but a dispicable display of political opportunism. Anyone that has more than a passing knowledge of Singapore politics knows that they do not back down in such a public confrontation.
The pollies are 2 or 3 years too late taking up the case, and it in this case it is certainly not better late than never. They simply haven't done their homework.

Perhaps the only redeeming factor is that the publicity is going to get through to those at risk of going down this road, and also may mean parents may consider taking a closer interest in guiding and advising their kids of the dangers. The pollies have the opportunity to turn this mans death into a positive lesson for the future that may save multiple lives and ensure his death has not been in vain.