As Singapore enters Orange Alert (perhaps even Red, if the situation worsens), our hearts must go to the people of Wuhan, the humanity at Novel Coronavirus Ground Zero in Hubei province, central China. In particular, all hats off to the doctors and nurses trying to cope with and contain the virus outbreak which has not yet peaked and may get worse.
For special mention and perhaps nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize this year: Dr Li Wenliang, the hero and fast becoming an icon, who had just died after contracting the virus while treating patients in Wuhan. He was the whistle blower who tried in a closed WeChat group last December to warn the local authorities about the virus but was told by the police to “stop making false comments” and was investigated for “spreading rumours”. His death sparked an avalanche of public anger and grief in China. The 34-year-old ophthalmologist became infected himself. Nothing Li said was incorrect, but it came as officials in the city were initially downplaying the seriousness of the outbreak and its danger to the public.
By Friday (Feb 8) morning, the South China Morning Post reported, hashtags “Dr Li Wenliang has passed away” had 670 million views, “Li Wenliang has passed away” had 230 million views and “I want freedom of speech” had 2.86 million views on Weibo. They were, however, quickly removed by the shaken authorities.
All power to the whistle blowers and to the Chinese social media which carried the justified backlash at the authorities in a media-controlled society (much like Singapore) by a regime which dislikes dissent or bad news (again, much like a government we are all very familiar with).
Now, throughout China, Time said, fear is mixing with inchoate rage. “In Hubei province, people from Wuhan are ostracised. But in other provinces, people from anywhere in Hubei are shunned. Videos circulating on social media show vigilantes tooling up to protect their villages. In one video, a man in a dark jacket and wide-brimmed hat guards a bridge with a pistol. In another, a man in an orange puffer jacket sits on a table at the entrance to his village, brandishing an enormous sword. All have signs nearby with a common theme: outsiders cannot pass.”
Singapore, if and when orange turns into red, may face its first real test of nationhood. No amount of pseudo-Bicentennialism celebration can substitute for the coming challenge of community trust. Already some signs of panic buying and irresponsible behaviour have been showing. Medical swipes, thermometers and surgical masks are being hoarded amid a stream of fake news and mischievous online postings.
And there is this huge group of 30,000 work-pass holders from China due to come back to Singapore after the New Year break. They will be put on the mandatory 14 days leave of absence first. Do we sympathise with them as we would the people of Wuhan? Or shun them as collateral damage in Singaporeans’ overall disenchantment with the PAP government’s pro-foreigner policies?
Tan Bah Bah, consulting editor of The Independent.Sg, is a former senior leader writer with The StraitsTimes. He was also managing editor of a local magazine publishing company.
http://theindependent.sg/novel-coro...with-the-governments-pro-foreigners-policies/