Singapore (Poppycock): Some 50 unruly motorcyclists from an Australian biker gang have been arrested, despite being lauded for foiling a robbery attempt at a community club by two masked, parang-wielding men.

“These guys [the police] were absolutely dumb as bricks,” Jerry Vancornewal, leader of the bikers, told international media.

The arrest has drawn international outcry, but the city state is adamant that the bikers will be charged for illegal assembly and rioting.

“There were more than 4 people in the group, and they did not apply for a license, so we have to arrest them,” said the police. “It is against the law — a contravention of the Miscellaneous Offences Act…”

The Singapore government had, on several previous occasions, already made clear that foreigners are not allowed “to interfere in Singapore’s domestic affairs”.

While the same group of bikers from the Southern Cross Cruiser motorcycle club were celebrated for a similar crime-stopping act in Sydney, Australia, they will face legal repurcussions here.

“But - and this is the critical caveat - no one has the right to expect, let alone demand, that Singapore bend its laws to suit the laws of another country. Sovereignty, then, is a key issue in this case,” a spokeperson said.

A ridiculous rule? Perhaps. But things are not going to change anytime soon.

According to a minister’s reply — in parliament, no less — a review of the law is “is not due for upgrading for many, many years”.

However, the minister apologised for the “lapse”.

“This should never have happened,” said Wong, who is also the deputy prime minister. “I am sorry that it had. An independent investigation is under way and we should not speculate on what and how it happened.”

Elsewhere, sources related to the authorities were less contrite over the incident.

“Bikers are stupid crackpots who belong to the sadder class and are over-reliant on the government,” said Weah Ee Lit. “They are all no good troublemakers anyway and deserve to be thrown behind bars, so get out of my elite uncaring face!”

Background info:

Hapless robbers target biker meeting
Story Highlights

• Two masked, machete-wielding robbers burst into club and empty cash registers
• 50 bikers meeting in adjacent room hear commotion and intervene
• One would-be robber ends up hogtied; the other in hospital
• Police arrest men and charge both with attempted armed robbery

(CNN) — Two masked and machete-wielding men who barged into a club in Sydney, Australia, couldn’t have picked a worse night for their robbery — a monthly meeting of bikers.

About 50 burly bikers fought back with tables and chairs — pretty much anything that wasn’t bolted down. One would-be robber was tied up; the other in the hospital.

Police arrested both.

“These guys were absolutely dumb as bricks,” Jerry Vancornewal, leader of the bikers, told CNN Thursday. “I can’t believe they saw all the bikes parked up front and they were so stupid that they walked past in.”

[read full story]

Police declare joggers an “illegal assembly”

It went back and forth like that for a while and then paused. The next part reprised the same sentences from earlier, which was how I concluded he was reading from a script, but this time was in relation to another event, the Scavenger Hunt. It went something like this:

“Are you the organiser of the Scavenger Hunt?” he asked.

“No, I’m not.” I said.

“I have to inform you that the Scavenger Hunt is against the law.”

“Don’t tell me. I’m the wrong person to inform. I already told you I am not the organiser.”

“Who is the organiser?”

“I’m sure you can see for yourself that it’s Adlus. Go and find them yourself on the web. They should have an email address somewhere.”

“Can you tell them that it is against the law?” he asked with no inflection of voice, such that it sounded like a command.

“Well, I will try to contact some people I know, but I will not guarantee that I can get the message across. It’s already late. It’s your job to find them yourself.”

“It is against the law — a contravention of the Miscellaneous Offences Act…”

“Don’t bother telling me. I am not the organiser.”

(source: Yawning Bread)

Foreigners will not be allowed to interfere in Singapore’s domestic affairs

Foreigners will not be allowed to interfere in Singapore’s domestic political scene and this includes support for or against the gay cause.

The Home Affairs Ministry reiterated this in Parliament on Tuesday, when it explained why it revoked an approved licence for gay activist Professor Douglas Sanders to speak at a public lecture in Singapore on 7 August.

(source: CNA)

Don’t ask Singapore to make an exception

Australians have the right - indeed, they have the responsibility - to be concerned about what happens to one of their own beyond their shores. They have the right, if they so wish, to argue that their laws are better than those of Singapore.

But - and this is the critical caveat - no one has the right to expect, let alone demand, that Singapore bend its laws to suit the laws of another country. Sovereignty, then, is a key issue in this case. The Australian Government understands and respects it, but some of the less circumspect voices commenting on this affair do not.

(source: Singapore Window)

HDB Flat Upgrading Program

Politics aside, the upgrading program is funded by the national budget of which the money belongs to all Singaporeans. Denying Singaporeans living in opposition wards this publicly funded program is highly discriminatory in nature. Does the government need to be reminded that residents of opposition wards perform National Service duty and pay the same rate of income tax & GST as any other Singaporeans?

When I took up the issue in parliament, the Minister’s answer was that the criteria for HDB upgrading is based on the age of the flat, geographical spread, and support for the program. When I asked about Hougang’s turn for upgrading, the minister’s reply was that “Hougang is not due for upgrading for many, many years”.

12 years have passed since the minister made that statement in 1996. Now I am asking again, is the wait long enough now for the MUP to come to Hougang? Or is Hougang Constituency denied MUP?

Is the so called criteria for the HDB upgrading program a convenient excuse for the PAP government to abuse its position in power to discriminate against Singaporeans along the line of political affiliation?

(source: Workers’ Party)

Singapore says sorry after terror group leader escapes, massive manhunt launched

The Singapore government apologized Thursday for a rare security lapse after an alleged Islamic terror leader escaped from jail, triggering a massive manhunt across the island nation for a man who walks with a limp.

Authorities said Mas Selamat Kastari, who once allegedly plotted to hijack a plane and crash it into Singapore’s international Changi airport, slipped away from a detention center Wednesday. Mas Selamat is said to be commander of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah’s Singapore arm.

Minister of Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng said Mas Selamat escaped after being taken from his cell to go to a room to wait for his family who were scheduled for a visit.

(source: AP)

Wee Shu Min elitism scandal

The Wee Shu Min elitism scandal was a Singaporean scandal in October 2006 in which Wee Shu Min, daughter of parliament member Wee Siew Kim and then-eighteen year-old student on Raffles Junior College’s scholarship programme, found herself in controversy after posting on her blog what were viewed by some Singaporeans to be elitist, naive, and insensitive statements against heartlanders.

Dismissing the views of Derek Wee who voiced concerns on job security and age discrimination on his blog, she shot back with a take-no-prisoners diatribe, calling Wee a “stupid crackpot”, belonging to “the sadder class” and overreliant on the government. Her post also called for Wee to “get out of my elite uncaring face.” Her response triggered an avalanche of criticism, as it came on the heels of the sensational suicide of an individual (said to be facing financial difficulties) at Chinese Garden MRT Station. As a result, her name topped Technorati’s search terms for a week. She has since appeared to have apologised on another blog and shut down her own.

(source: Wikipedia)

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About Poppycock

pop·py·cock
–noun

nonsense; bosh

pop·py·cock·ish, adjective

—Synonyms balderdash, bunk, hogwash, rubbish.

Strictly satirical; best served with a generous sprinkling of salt.

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