Opinions

Minister of Cyber Security, S. Iswaran was delivering his Ministerial Statement for the aftermath of the 2018 SingHealth cyberattack which resulted in 1.5 million patients getting their personal details stolen. Iswaran acknowledged that the identity of the hacker was known and that appropriate actions has already been taken. But for national security reasons, he does not comment any further.

Meanwhile many Singaporeans are questioning if the attacker is really known and if any action has really been taken. Iswaran claims that it is not in the Nation's interest to reveal the hacker. But is it really not in our interest to find out who hacked and got our details? Is it not in our own interest to know where our own personal information has gone to? 

Since the attack has been revealed, all the state media has been emphasizing on was how PM Lee was one of those who hacked. Honestly, who cares if his details got hacked? There are so many people out there who were victims too. Are our lives not as important as his? We are all Singaporeans, all humans here. We have our own loved ones to take care of. It definitely is in my own interest to know the details of this incident. Especially when I am a victim myself.

Credits: Facebook

Is the author, as a victim, right to demand for transparency from the government? What do you think?

On a post on SIM confessions, a man has apparently advertised for a contractual wife, so that they can get married, get their marriage certs and applu for a BTO flat together. The reason given by the post was that so the man can cut down on his monthly rental cost.

The man went on to explain that the cost of a monthly rental unit of $500 was too wasteful, and he would rather pay for something he owned, even though it might cost more. The man was very precise with his offer, even indicating that his legal wife could continue to date other guys, and she could even bring the guy she dates int their matrimonial flat. He also said that when they do move in together, the girl could get the bedroom with attached bathroom. 

And the approval for his wife to bring other guy she dates home was with a caveat though, that he gets to take a peek when they are going at it. Creepy much?

For many Singaporean students who just received their 'O' level results, they can finally heave a sigh of relief. The long wait is finally over. Unless you are the special 32 from Nan Hua High School and Hong Kah Secondary School (now Jurongville Secondary School) whose 'A' math exam scripts are missing. They were only briefed on the disappearance today even though the scripts were reported missing by the UK marker in Nov last year.

The overwhelming reaction to this is "seriously...wtf!". This is the second time in a year that examination scripts belonging to Singaporean students have been reported missing and that is not acceptable.

Who in MOE will take responsibility for this matter? In many other countries, heads would have rolled for these lapses but in Singapore, people seem to be not as accountable for their oversight or errors.

Singapore is going full tilt into the digital age but we still haven't figured out a way to enable the markers to be able to safely and securely access the scripts, remotely and digitally. The MOE is supposed to inculcate the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit in our students. When things get lost like this, it does not instill confidence.

This cannot happen again for the third time.

The writer, Kelvin, does not want to relieve his 'O' level nightmare.

The Foreign Affairs Ministers of both Singapore and Malaysia recently met on 8 January to a positive outcome, albeit a temporary one. Both sides agreed to immediately adopt measures to de-escalate the tensions between the two countries, thereby allowing the appointed committee adequate time and space to iron out the finer details of any agreements that the two sides come to.

We opined previously that this latest move felt a lot like an orchestrated wayang that detracts precious attention and resources from genuine cost of living pressures that are faced by citizens on both sides of the causeway.

It seems that the wayang is going to continue, especially on the Malaysian side. Local mainstream media outlets as well as the alternative IB pages widely reported on how Malaysian government vessels continue to ply our territorial waters off Tuas. There were as many as five but one continues to defy the spirit of the negotiations and continue to operate within Singapore territorial waters. MV Pedoman remained behind, having replaced its counterpart, MV Polaris. Both vessels belong to the Malaysian Marine Department.

It was even more disappointing that the Menteri Besar of Johor, Osman Sapian, chose this most inopportune of timings to pay a visit to the crew of MV Pedoman to learn more about the contested areas from the Captain of the vessel. He also took the opportunity to thank the crew and their counterparts in the security and public services for their "commitment to patrol and defend their waters". This was of course, posted on his own Facebook page.

This move by the Johor MB brings into question the sincerity and commitment of the Malaysian government in finding feasible and sustainable solutions to the conflict. Barely three days after the Malaysian Foreign Minister visited Singapore to start discussions, the Johor MB placed himself in a Malaysian government vessel in our territorial waters. He had the temerity and audacity to post the visit on his own Facebook page. Why couldn't he learn more about the incident and thank his officers on land? What message was he trying to send to us here in Singapore? 

Could there also be cleavages and differences in how the Malaysian federal government and the local Johor government want to approach the issues?

This may also demonstrate that all is not well in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. Osman, formerly from UMNO, is now a member of the ruling coalition and is a Secretary of Johor PH and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi). What he has done by visiting a Malaysian government vessel in Singapore's territorial waters is inconsistent with the approach articulated by the federal government (and by extension, the PH coalition) and is, to put it mildly, disrespectful.

Regardless of whether this was a political wayang staged by the Malaysian government to put pressure on us during negotiations, or whether we are dealing with a single, ambitious, loose cannon who is looking to ingratiate himself with important power brokers in the PH coalition in order to become a Minister, the Singapore government must remain focused on preserving the the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country.

Going by the PAP's rationale, millionaire salaries are required to attract capable people to become Ministers. They made so much noise over the past two months, trying to rally Singaporeans behind the country. One by one, they took their turn in the spotlight, including designated future PM, Heng Swee Keat. Other fourth generation leaders also followed suit. Now, they must walk the talk. Whether it is Osman's own personal defiance, or an orchestrated attempt by the Malaysian government to pressurise us, will our millionaire Ministers prove that they are worth every penny?

It is time we put their own theory to the test.

The writer, Kelvin, is confused. 

Magically, after a meeting yesterday between the foreign ministers of Singapore, both sides have agreed to take several steps to de-escalate the tensions between the two countries. Singapore immediately suspended the use of ILS (Instrument Landing System) while Malaysia suspended the permanent restricted area over the airspace in Pasir Gudang.

After all that noise from both sides of the causeway, going back and forth over what the ILS is and what the implications are for its implementation, and the claiming of the port limits and territorial waters. 

These are very important issues related to the sovereignty of both countries which deserve the attention of the citizens of both countries.

So for this further de-escalation to happen within the day of the meeting between both parties, does this mean that both sides just did not explore all available avenues to reach out to one another?

Yes, the said measures are temporary - until the committees find an agreement or consensus on the contested issues. They may be re-instituted if any parties find the solutions unsatisfactory. It still begs the question of why this wan't done one month ago? 

The Malaysian government is a new one with little experience in governing a country while the Singapore government is in a leadership transition period. Perhaps, this was seen by both as an opportunity to rally their citizens behind the governments.

The ones who lose out are the citizens. On both sides of the causeway, there are genuine bread and butter issues that chronically affects the people.

Issues related to the high cost of living are top most on our minds. This issue should also be foremost on the minds of the governments. Their job is to provide a solution to mitigate the impact and to ensure that no citizens are left behind.

Stop the political grandstanding. Don't distract from the matter.

The writer, Kelvin, likes theatre, not wayang.

From defamation cases to the Lee family drama, what is Singapore turning into? Lawyer and activist Remy Choo questioned the fate of our little red dot given the perceived lack of freedom in an over-protected, controlling society. 

Will our politicians today let Singaporeans have dynamic conversations on politics and the like? Do they trust their people with the freedom to disagree, grow and thrive? 

Unfortunately, Choo finds it naive to believe that they will allow it to happen. 

"Archaic legislation like criminal defamation is being dusted off and deployed against government critics, and a slew of criminal charges and civil suits have been mobilized against social activists. A Constitutional office and organ of state has recently been deployed in what appears to be a retaliatory move in a private family feud. Singapore continues to cling onto blatantly discriminatory colonial-era legislation like s377A despite its clear impact on our fellow citizens and Singapore’s reputation on the world stage."

In our supposedly modern world today, Singapore sure look regressed. Why are things like this today? Do Singaporeans not concern themselves enough with civil liberties or is it our politicians' fault for wanting to micro-manage everything? 

"Power concedes nothing without demand. But if we can't be arsed to safeguard and demand the civil liberties which are rightfully ours, then maybe we deserve to live in the Singapore he warns of." 

So, what's next?