Strangely, the bravado seems to have knocked out of him. In a forth coming episode of Tamil current affairs programme Ethiroli, Shanmugam will be seen and heard passing the buck to the Hindu Endowments Board:
"We should find out the wishes of the people. The Hindu Endowments Board will see how we can fulfil their wishes. They have to consult the people and see how to proceed."
Perhaps it has to do with the initiative of one courageous lady who is seeking a declaration with regard to Thaipusam in a case that lists the Attorney-General, the Hindu Endowments Board and Law Minister K Shanmugam as defendants. An application was filed last Thursday, challenging the constitutionality of guidelines prohibiting the used of musical instruments at Thaipusam processions. This may be too late to save our ear drums from the racket of the lion dance musical accompaniment which starts next Thursday, 19 February, start of the 2015 Chinese New Year celebrations. But future generations will have her to thank when they can go about without resorting to hearing aids in their evening years.
Use of artificial hearing is not without its advantages as a user, such as the prime minister, can easily switch it off and ignore what the people are clamouring for. You'll need to jump up and down at Hong Lim Park to get his attention about the CPF scam. Otherwise he will continue to tell foreign correspondents, "...they don’t jump around at Hong Lim Green, but they quietly know this is a good deal."
Shanmugam must have better hearing acumen - or more expensive hearing aids - as the chorus of support from non-Hindus is also resonating. Worse, tourist arrivals may drop further - Singapore visitorship figures last year dropped for the first time in 6 years - as touristy types may be turned off by the only silent movie version of a Thaipusam procession.
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If Malaysia boleh, why Sin City tak boleh and need to ban religious foot procession since 1964. Isn't it "scandalous, frivolous and vexatious"? Pop over to JB during Thaipusams to capture all the colour and noise. Do we see any riots or complaints? This Regime has it's head in it's arse. The flip-flop of the Law Minister has more to do with the Hindu votes than hearing acumen or racial riots. Vote wisely for your minority rights.
ReplyDeleteSinkies have been giving them too much power that they can do whatever they like - ban this ban that.
DeleteA one man protest is ridiculously treated as an illegal 'assembly' according to their dictionary, much akin to their definition of within or without 200m of polling station.
The recent laws passed -Medishield Bill, Alchohol sale Bill, Population bill - when did they actually consulted the people ?
Please drop the facade that we are a democracy
Common sense is not so common with the rich rulers after all. What seems right to them may eventually lead to deadly consequences for many. Who shall be held accountable for the blood on the streets and within the walls of HDBs?
ReplyDeleteBanning alcohol at night, blame it on the Indian foreign workers rioting as if the whole Spore is occupied by foreign workers.
ReplyDeleteBanning music in Thaipusam processions, blame it on fighting among rival musician groups or blame it on the Hindu Endowment Board.
Don't ever blame our stupid PAP Govt.
Laws in the hands of the learned can be a gun to your head.
ReplyDeleteCan be, but one must clearly see through their character before sweeping them all into the same basket: to me, the worst are the corrupt ones disguised as scholars who found their way to the top by nepotism like all the mandarins in power today, and right behind supporting them are the free-loading academic-sycophants with memoirs of LKY on their book shelves clearly on display each time the mediacorp cameras come to get their support for this or that garmen policies. Apart from those, I can live with all the smart and educated people even if they don't agree with me.
DeleteAlmost the majority, if not all, the smart and educated have been sold to Sin and their mouths are sealed or no conscience.
DeleteThey don't jump up and down at Hong Lim Green? Roy and friends are now in court for creating a nuisance by marching around and protesting. Jumping up and down would get you even more trouble. They call the shots and say whatever comes into their heads without being held accountable. Time for change.
ReplyDeleteHey Tharman. Don't just stop with Thaipusam.
ReplyDeleteHow about also saying "We should find out the wishes of the people. The CPF Board will see how we can fulfil their wishes. They have to consult the people and see how to proceed."
They have brought "flip-flopping" to a whole new level. Try to act tough but in the end still scared of losing votes. May be too little too late.
ReplyDeleteJust send them into retirement instead of blaming them for interfering with your freedom to do harmless activities.
ReplyDeleteAFTER ALL IT IS THE PEOPLE, WHICH COULD HAVE INCLUDED YOU, THAT HAD GIVEN THEM THE MANDATE TO RULE.
patriot
sweet victory.
ReplyDeleteSilent thaipusam, reminds me of LKY's aircon underwear, why bother leh?
ReplyDeleteI tot got PAP minister whining about the noise and wanting to be deaf + blind little frogs in a well for god's sake...so we all know this is what they factually are and want to be...just let these deaf+blind frogs be...if they step out of the well...they will ONLY make things worserest not better....zzz
ReplyDelete