Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Nobody will be punished but us
After the not-so-independent Committee of Inquiry (COI) had released their report slightly longer than the 1 month they promised, PM Lee quickly uses Mark I, Diazepam, DS10 and other neutralising agents to mitigate yet another tsunami of public responses. But did it convince me? Not really!
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that public officers, including Ministers, should not be automatically removed or punished just because a lapse has occurred down the line. ~CNA
This I agree as we shouldn't be judgmental before we find out what really happened.
In his statement, PM Lee said while the government must admit its mistakes openly and honestly, Singapore should not encourage a culture where officials resign whenever something goes wrong on their watch, or encourage witch-hunts. ~CNA
It's good that he said the government MUST accept their incapabilities overtly and sincerely, but did this really happen?
Quoted from MM Lee response over the furore of whether the government should be blamed and punished he said "Singaporeans are being complacent when they believe that the Government will take care of all security matters. MM Lee disagreed that the Government deserved to be blamed."
Are the citizens being complacent? No, because the people who should be escorting our dear Selamat are not locals! And shouldn't we citizens give full faith and trust to the government to take care of all security matters? If not what for we pay them multi-million dollar salaries? For them to take care of toilets? Oh sorry, they can't!
He (PM Lee) acknowledged that the Minister is ultimately accountable for the policies and operations of his ministry, but said a rational approach to establish who is responsible for lapses has to be taken.
These include finding out who failed in their duties and whether there was negligence or incompetence. ~CNA
This is what I call a decoy. It's undeniable that when NSF does the drills or exercises wrongly, or goes AWOL or misses fire call regularly, while their immediate superiors (the PC/RC or OC) didn't do any checks or rectify those problems immediately, the NSF himself will be punished by confinement or go to the DB (Detention Barracks) while the PC/RC or OC will be given warning, a decrease in their performance bonuses, a demotion or worst, sacked. by CO or anyone higher.
When putting this system to the government it seems that it can't work. Yes, the escorts and guards might be punished (demoted, sacked etc...) like what the NSFs will have to accept, but their superiors - directors, minister etc... will get away scot-free... ...maybe a smack on their ass with a roll of toilet paper!
Such superior authorities I see them as figureheads as their men do all the shit work and get all the blame when things screwed-up, but they'll still be seated nicely on their throne and continue to have their salary increments annually.
This is the world class, multi-million dollar, sovereign-state government for you!
DSZeng scribbled this at 8:35 PM
