NAGAENTHRAN K Dharmalingam’s case exposes the reality of the island nation, Singapore. It exposed how its Government runs the country and why people there live in fear rather than live freely. It also showed that human rights and people’s lives have no value if you are poor.
Singapore’s court registry has fixed 2.30pm today to hear Nagaenthran’s appeal against his death sentence for a drug trafficking conviction, as well as hear a new application for a psychiatric assessment of his deteriorating mental state. Singapore’s system has proven yet again that it has zero tolerance for dissent.
Many in Malaysia glorify Singapore as a role model nation. However, its attempt to rush the hanging of a drug mule with mental health issues is disgraceful and shocking. While capital punishment itself is a problem but rushing to kill a mentally challenged human being is beyond rationality.
In recent weeks, there were even Tik Tok videos going viral showing how former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew suppressed workers’ unions and opposition in the country when he was in power.
In my view, the late Lee was just an evil dictator who used repressive laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) to crush dissent. Many people were jailed and suffered tremendously.
In the 1980s, people used to debate who is the biggest violator of human rights – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad or Lee? While the debate continues, it looks like this arrogant zero tolerance for dissent is carried on as a mantra by every Singapore prime minister to show how successful the country is.
Singapore has only developed its physical ability but mentally, it is a sick nation.
Many people glorify Singapore as a squeaky-clean nation with little corruption, while forgetting Singapore’s graft cases are in the “premier league” – that is off shore accounts and tax haven for the rich and powerful to hide their wealth.
It is sad that many people like to compare Malaysia with Singapore. They talk highly about Singapore’s discipline and administration. The truth is, the most elementary aspect of being human is being free and that freedom has no place in Singapore.
If there’s one thing this Nagaenthran episode has taught us, it is that Singapore as nothing but an authoritarian state with a repressive system in place. – Nov 9, 2021.
S Arutchelvan is the deputy chairperson of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
