Girl Dies From Nose Job

Question:

Does this "Stockholm syndrome" applied to other countries in your experience. Please elaborate as much as you can

Answer:

I believe the Singapore Syndrome is unique to Singapore. Let me elaborate. Most countries are bigger in terms of population and geography. With a spread-out population, total control is not possible. With a big population, total control is also not possible. Only in Singapore is the small population of about 3-4 million contained in such a tiny space as 225 square miles. In other words, the Singapore Syndrome requires a captor-captive situation of TOTAL CONTROL. And we have this in Singapore.

For example, let's start with the most basic necessity, housing. 90% of us live in HDB flats. If you don't behave, you simply don't get one when you apply or can be thrown out. Mr Jeyaretnam in Parliament quotes the case of one couple who for religious reasons refused to undergo sterilisation after their second child, during the Stop At Two Campaign. The HDB told them to move out. Later the HDB desisted when the couple wanted to contest the order in court. Later the law was changed and now the HDB can throw out anybody without having to justify it in court.

Next, jobs. The government is the largest employer and this makes every one of its employees afraid to even criticise the government. Take the case of Dr Chee Soon Juan. He lost his university lecturer job when he joined the Opposition party. He was also sued and almost bankrupted. Also, a huge number of workers work in the numerous government companies or GLCs. These employees are also afraid for their jobs and dare not criticise LKY or the PAP. Thus, a huge percentage of the working population and the even larger number of their dependants and relatives have a lot to lose and are fearful of the PAP.

As an anecdotal evidence, I once took a taxi and the driver, after sizing me up in my dressing and what I was carrying, politely asked me whether I was a government employee. Then when I told him I was not, he immediately launched into a grievance story of how a fellow cabdriver friend of his lost his licence to drive a cab without reason. He had had a habit of discussing politics with passengers and one probably reported him to Comfort.

When 90% of us live in HDB flats, we can be controlled very easily. For example, under the HDB priority schemes, policemen and army personnel get priority. So there is probably a policeman in every block. I don't know about the CID and ISD men but they are probably deployed to live in every block, too. So we are all being watched. Also, see-through- wall or ceiling equipment was developed in the US for many decades. Anyone wants proof? Give me your fax number and I will fax you the USA Today Article that says that now, even lowly educated cops can operate see-through-the-wall equipment that costs only US10,000 and are widely used by police and secret services everywhere. If that is not enough, there are so-called 'grassroots' committees in every block. These PAP committees monitor every single HDB block in Singapore.

Then, there's education. I don't know if they still apply the Suitability Certificate. It simply means more control and more fear. If you criticise the PAP or worse, LKY, who is God to us, and supreme role model and paragon of virtue, then you may not get into NUS or NTU.

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