Big Balls Award to the Following Outstanding Singaporeans

[scroobal]

To mark the start of a new Year and the end of an interesting decade of openess, lets recognise the exceptional few that had the balls to stand up with no agenda in mind. 3 of them are our young and our best hope for the country.

1) Catherine Lim - a story about a lady, a knuckleduster, and 2 golf fanatics. This one needs no explanation.

2) Jamie Han - History Undergrad at NUS who not carried himself well but spoke his mind and that of many Singaporeans when he old the man what he felt. And guess what, he won the debate hands down.

3) Melanie Lee - Reuters Journalist who told the old man to fuck off who instead of answering a question posed by her instead came back with a question on her school background. At age 23, she probably holds the record of being the youngest Singaporean to tell the old man to behave courtesly.
http://politics.sgforums.com/forums/10/topics/303561

4)) Alex Zhixiang Tan - another young Singaporeans who decided that he had enough and had his way at a YPAP session recently. He created enough questions in Singaporeans' minds that are yet to be answered.

 

[Perspective]

Ken Kwek?..........

 

[scroobal]

Ken Kwek, Kor Kian Beng and another young lady (forgot her name) from the media comes close. Ken spoke about fear, Kian Beng told the old man to step down etc. Ken has left SPH and has been contemplating running in the GE. Kian Beng unfortunately is losing the battle with himself - the fact its a monopoly and therefore alternative media as an employer is closed, high pay and 6 mths bonus does that to a person.

So, I thought best stick to the ones that were firm and never wavered in the wind.

Ken Kwek?..........

 

[kingrant]

Ken Kwek, Kor Kian Beng and another young lady (forgot her name) from the media comes close. Ken spoke about fear, Kian Beng told the old man to step down etc. Ken has left SPH and has been contemplating running in the GE. Kian Beng unfortunately is losing the battle with himself - the fact its a monopoly and therefore alternative media as an employer is closed, high pay and 6 mths bonus does that to a person.

So, I thought best stick to the ones that were firm and never wavered in the wind.

Not a bit fair tho, as Melanie works in Reuters which is foreign ( so human rights bent ) and Ken and KB were from SPH, Lee's fiefdom. So K&KB had higher stress factor so be given higher weightage.

 

[scroobal]

Its how Melanie handled the old man that counted in my view. I have not seen a foreign jounalist handle himself well in Singapore in front of old man. She as a singaporean did and in Singapore. Same with the others. Both the Ks were given to the same forum as other state media reps and were asked to query old man with no holds barred. I remember the 2 Ks and another lady did well. May be medium balls award.

Here is another factor, one does not have to join SPH, the PAP etc. I know of scholars who left the service because they could not stomach certain politically unfair policies. Credit to Ken that he left and its known why he left.

Not a bit fair tho, as Melanie works in Reuters which is foreign ( so human rights bent ) and Ken and KB were from SPH, Lee's fiefdom. So K&KB had higher stress factor so be given higher weightage.

 

[kingrant]

Its how Melanie handled the old man that counted in my view. I have not seen a foreign jounalist handle himself well in Singapore in front of old man. She as a singaporean did and in Singapore. Same with the others. Both the Ks were given to the same forum as other state media reps and were asked to query old man with no holds barred. I remember the 2 Ks and another lady did well. May be medium balls award.

Here is another factor, one does not have to join SPH, the PAP etc. I know of scholars who left the service because they could not stomach certain politically unfair policies. Credit to Ken that he left and its known why he left.

What I'm saying is that Mel had less to fear from retribution than the Ks. She also maxed out her mileage from her Reuter's credentials as well as her gender. Old Man probably reined in his nastiness on a young lady. Not so nice PR. I saw the one where he dumbed down Ken on Tv. The classic Lee was worse in the 70s. The bugger practically threatened to deport you if ur a foreign reporter.

 

[scroobal]

I disagree on the gender but I see your point on other issues. Lets put it this way, unless someone grew up outside in Singapore, I will be disappointed if they joined SPH, PA and other entities whose existence is to maintin the PAP hegemony. The streetwalker gets my nod anytime.

What I'm saying is that Mel had less to fear from retribution than the Ks. She also maxed out her mileage from her Reuter's credentials as well as her gender. Old Man probably reined in his nastiness on a young lady. Not so nice PR. I saw the one where he dumbed down Ken on Tv. The classic Lee was worse in the 70s. The bugger practically threatened to deport you if ur a foreign reporter.

 

[Perspective]

Ken Kwek, Kor Kian Beng and another young lady (forgot her name) from the media comes close. Ken spoke about fear, Kian Beng told the old man to step down etc. Ken has left SPH and has been contemplating running in the GE. Kian Beng unfortunately is losing the battle with himself - the fact its a monopoly and therefore alternative media as an employer is closed, high pay and 6 mths bonus does that to a person.

Was surprised when I first saw Kor Kian Beng stated before reading on. Never struck me as a 'Balls Award' chap.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Ken Kwek, Kor Kian Beng and another young lady (forgot her name) from the media comes close. Ken spoke about fear, Kian Beng told the old man to step down etc. Ken has left SPH and has been contemplating running in the GE. Kian Beng unfortunately is losing the battle with himself - the fact its a monopoly and therefore alternative media as an employer is closed, high pay and 6 mths bonus does that to a person.

So, I thought best stick to the ones that were firm and never wavered in the wind.

If Ken Kwek wants to run in the GE, I am interested to talk to him!

Goh Meng Seng

 

[Perspective]

Not a bit fair tho, as Melanie works in Reuters which is foreign ( so human rights bent ) and Ken and KB were from SPH, Lee's fiefdom. So K&KB had higher stress factor so be given higher weightage.

Not true. Foreign news services here are also wary of treading in too hard. Few notice that the PAP's tolerance of them is lower than the local press, which is to set an example for the other foreign news.

 

[scroobal]

Do have a chat with him. We need folks like that.

If Ken Kwek wants to run in the GE, I am interested to talk to him!

Goh Meng Seng

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Do have a chat with him. We need folks like that.

But I have lost his contacts. :(

Goh Meng Seng

 

[scroobal]

For those who are keen, here is the excerpt on the Ken Kwek vs Old man, one giving his views and the other conducting an excellent demonstration on how to badger, bully, intimidate while claiming to listen to views.

MM Lee: But you won't know who comprises the 60%, right?

Ken Kwek, 26 - Journalist; Never voted: You don't need to know that to strike fear, though.

MM Lee: Oh, come off it! (laughter) You mean to tell me you have, you're one of the 40% who voted against the PAP and something happens to you?

Ken Kwek: I mean, I've never voted for that matter, but I mean - we talk to hundreds of voters in the course of our work, and it's either "no comment" or "if I vote against the PAP, I may..."

MM Lee: No, no. Let's get down. What are the hundreds of voters? You name the hundreds of voters, a few of them. Tell me.

Ken Kwek: Well, I mean I can't name them by name...

MM Lee: No, no. You tell me you've spoken to and tell you they're afraid.

Ken Kwek: A few weeks ago, the Straits Times did a report, we polled a hundred voters...

MM Lee: No, no, no, no. Never mind the Straits Times poll. You made a statement just now, that "I spoke to a hundred respondents, and they were all afraid." I say, you name them. Tell me who.

 

[scroobal]

You can reach Ken via Alfian Saat. [email protected]. Here is a suggestion ; ask to have a coffeetable chat with both of them together on singapore politics. Can be quite illuminating.

Alternatively, contact Ken via: [email protected]

But I have lost his contacts. :(

Goh Meng Seng

 

[kingrant]

Not true. Foreign news services here are also wary of treading in too hard. Few notice that the PAP's tolerance of them is lower than the local press, which is to set an example for the other foreign news.

My point is: if I were Mel and I have imbibed Reuters' culture a la woodward & bernstein, I'll naturally be peeved by Old Man's ploy too, and I wld also rebut him similarly, knowing that my bosses will back me up. If I were Ken, I know that I will be on my own, likely alone on the street without a job. Still Ken went ahead and locked horns with Chief Sitting Bull(shit). Now who's gutsier?

 

[kingrant]

For those who are keen, here is the excerpt on the Ken Kwek vs Old man, one giving his views and the other conducting an excellent demonstration on how to badger, bully, intimidate while claiming to listen to views.

MM Lee: But you won't know who comprises the 60%, right?

Ken Kwek, 26 - Journalist; Never voted: You don't need to know that to strike fear, though.

MM Lee: Oh, come off it! (laughter) You mean to tell me you have, you're one of the 40% who voted against the PAP and something happens to you?

Ken Kwek: I mean, I've never voted for that matter, but I mean - we talk to hundreds of voters in the course of our work, and it's either "no comment" or "if I vote against the PAP, I may..."

MM Lee: No, no. Let's get down. What are the hundreds of voters? You name the hundreds of voters, a few of them. Tell me.

Ken Kwek: Well, I mean I can't name them by name...

MM Lee: No, no. You tell me you've spoken to and tell you they're afraid.

Ken Kwek: A few weeks ago, the Straits Times did a report, we polled a hundred voters...

MM Lee: No, no, no, no. Never mind the Straits Times poll. You made a statement just now, that "I spoke to a hundred respondents, and they were all afraid." I say, you name them. Tell me who.

Actually, I felt sorry for Ken. I think he thought that Old Man was sincere and genuine when he sat down and said he wanted to be open and candid. Now ken took him up on it and the old bstd gave him the third degree. The bastard knew the truth behind the question, but unfairly browbeat Ken and deflected the question. If he was any good, he shld have said something like assuming Ken was right, and went on to answer the question directly and frankly.

 

[scroobal]

I agree. Clearly you can see from the exchange that old man had no desire to listen. He was intimidating. Note the point that he refused to accept the SPH poll findings.

I hope old man undestands that Ken stopped out of respect to 80 year bastard and not because there was no basis to pursue.

Actually, I felt sorry for Ken. I think he thought that Old Man was sincere and genuine when he sat down and said he wanted to be open and candid. Now ken took him up on it and the old bstd gave him the third degree. The bastard knew the truth behind the question, but unfairly browbeat Ken and deflected the question. If he was any good, he shld have said something like assuming Ken was right, and went on to answer the question directly and frankly.

 

[kingrant]

I agree. Clearly you can see from the exchange that old man had no desire to listen. He was intimidating. Note the point that he refused to accept the SPH poll findings.

I hope old man undestands that Ken stopped out of respect to 80 year bastard and not because there was no basis to pursue.

Ken should have said all the people he polled were afraid to give names, and that showed the degree of fear. At least as a parting shot.

Alas! It's all water under the bridge now.

 

[Perspective]

My point is: if I were Mel and I have imbibed Reuters' culture a la woodward & bernstein, I'll naturally be peeved by Old Man's ploy too, and I wld also rebut him similarly, knowing that my bosses will back me up.

My point is, the bosses at Reuters will not back her and she probably knows this. Heads of foreign news bureaus are warned about the PAP's sensitivity and they would pass down the warning to all the local journalists they employ. She probably did it out of her own spur.

All the recent media sued by the PAP were all foreigners.

Not that they were willing but not surprised if Melanie got a friendly reminder from her bosses.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

You can reach Ken via Alfian Saat. [email protected]. Here is a suggestion ; ask to have a coffeetable chat with both of them together on singapore politics. Can be quite illuminating.

Alternatively, contact Ken via: [email protected]

Thank you Scro.

Goh Meng Seng