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[h=2]MP Zainudin: Part of society stokes distrust and hatred[/h]
May 28th, 2014 |
Author: Editorial
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Zainudin (Photo CNA)
In Parliament yesterday (27 May), MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr Zainudin Nordin, told the House that while many Singaporeans are still gracious, there is a segment of society that is “loud, more demanding and less willing to accommodate changes”.
This segment, Mr Zainudin said, is usually seen online. They frequently make arguments against foreigners, as well as stoke distrust and hatred.
Mr Zainudin added, “In other instances, some people have gone about questioning government policies by running so-called exposés and articles. There are more bizarre allegations that are made online. It all makes for very interesting reading, but if you ask me, it belongs in the realm of pulp fiction novels, rather than for any serious consideration.”
Mr Zainudin said it is worrying that many well-educated people believe untruths despite their bizarre nature. He wants the government to explain policies and mount robust challenges to these online “insidious untruths”.
“It is time that the government made efforts in explaining its policies and mount a robust challenge to dispel these insidious untruths. Even as we strive to make personal aspirations and achievements, we must not ignore the well-being of the people around us,” he said.
This is not the first time he is “complaining” against “a segment of the society” that is “loud, more demanding and less willing to accommodate changes”.
As also the President of Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Mr Zainudin made a comment in last October that the new media is a factor in increasing pressure from the public, and it makes his job as FAS President difficult [Link].
“Football is the number one sport in Singapore – if you win, you get praised; if you lose, you get criticised,” Mr Zainudin said. “With new media [such as online platforms], it is more difficult [for me]. Not like last time, where you just read the papers.”
In any case, it’s strange that Mr Zainudin is talking about “bizarre allegations” being made online when he himself has also contributed some online controversies.
Last May, he posted a quote from controversial American writer, Terry Goodkind, on his Facebook page (‘MP Zainudin posts controversial quotation on Facebook: ‘Gang rape is democracy in action’‘):
Mr Goodkind was essentially saying that democratic rule could result in the tyranny of the majority and sanctify mob rule, suppressing the minority and their individual rights. However, in his comment, Mr Goodkind used the extreme example of gang rape to illustrate his point of the tyranny of the majority. He said, “Gang rape, after all, is democracy in action.”
Many netizens, especially women, took offence to Mr Zainudin for posting Terry Goodkind’s quote. Even NCMP Lina Chiam was not too happy with his posting of the quote. SPP issued a public statement asking Mr Zainudin to retract his Facebook statement and apologise to women in Singapore (‘SPP: MP Zainudin should apologise for ‘gang rape is democracy’ statement‘).
Mrs Chiam said:
But a day before sending his apology e-mail to ST, Mr Zainudin, in fact, sent an e-mail to a blogger, threatening legal action for creating a meme over the incident and sharing it on the blogger’s Facebook page (‘PAP MP Zainudin sends ‘Cease & Desist’ email to blogger Ganga‘).
The blogger, Ganga, was also not comfortable with the MP using “gang rape” to explain the concept of democracy. In his Facebook posting, Ganga asked the MP, “Seriously?”:
The blogger refused to take down the posting from his Facebook page as he felt that he was right to criticise the MP for what he did. The blogger also felt the MP was wrong to use “gang rape” to explain the concept of democracy.
Few days later after his public apology, some netizens went through Mr Zainudin’s past postings and discovered that he did not serve his National Service (‘PAP MP Zainudin did not serve NS‘):
Understandably, netizens are not too happy with the MP for not serving his NS:
Is Mr Zainudin justified to complain that “a segment of the society” being “loud, more demanding and less willing to accommodate changes”, making “arguments against foreigners” as well as stoking “distrust and hatred”?
What do you think?
In Parliament yesterday (27 May), MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr Zainudin Nordin, told the House that while many Singaporeans are still gracious, there is a segment of society that is “loud, more demanding and less willing to accommodate changes”.
This segment, Mr Zainudin said, is usually seen online. They frequently make arguments against foreigners, as well as stoke distrust and hatred.
Mr Zainudin added, “In other instances, some people have gone about questioning government policies by running so-called exposés and articles. There are more bizarre allegations that are made online. It all makes for very interesting reading, but if you ask me, it belongs in the realm of pulp fiction novels, rather than for any serious consideration.”
Mr Zainudin said it is worrying that many well-educated people believe untruths despite their bizarre nature. He wants the government to explain policies and mount robust challenges to these online “insidious untruths”.
“It is time that the government made efforts in explaining its policies and mount a robust challenge to dispel these insidious untruths. Even as we strive to make personal aspirations and achievements, we must not ignore the well-being of the people around us,” he said.
This is not the first time he is “complaining” against “a segment of the society” that is “loud, more demanding and less willing to accommodate changes”.
As also the President of Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Mr Zainudin made a comment in last October that the new media is a factor in increasing pressure from the public, and it makes his job as FAS President difficult [Link].
“Football is the number one sport in Singapore – if you win, you get praised; if you lose, you get criticised,” Mr Zainudin said. “With new media [such as online platforms], it is more difficult [for me]. Not like last time, where you just read the papers.”
In any case, it’s strange that Mr Zainudin is talking about “bizarre allegations” being made online when he himself has also contributed some online controversies.
Last May, he posted a quote from controversial American writer, Terry Goodkind, on his Facebook page (‘MP Zainudin posts controversial quotation on Facebook: ‘Gang rape is democracy in action’‘):
Mr Goodkind was essentially saying that democratic rule could result in the tyranny of the majority and sanctify mob rule, suppressing the minority and their individual rights. However, in his comment, Mr Goodkind used the extreme example of gang rape to illustrate his point of the tyranny of the majority. He said, “Gang rape, after all, is democracy in action.”
Many netizens, especially women, took offence to Mr Zainudin for posting Terry Goodkind’s quote. Even NCMP Lina Chiam was not too happy with his posting of the quote. SPP issued a public statement asking Mr Zainudin to retract his Facebook statement and apologise to women in Singapore (‘SPP: MP Zainudin should apologise for ‘gang rape is democracy’ statement‘).
Mrs Chiam said:
“We clearly need to avoid outrageously chauvinistic statements that condone rape culture. This is not a tall order, and our leaders should observe this.”
“I therefore regret that the MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh Mr Zainudin Nordin has reproduced on his Facebook page an abhorent quotation which characterises gang rape as ‘democracy in action’. As a woman and an advocate of democracy, I urge Mr Zainudin to retract his statement and apologise to women in Singapore.”
Facing intense online criticisms against his insensitive posting, Mr Zainudin finally apologized to the public through ST (‘MP Zainudin Nordin apologises for offensive quote‘). He said, “I hope that Netizens will see the quote its in entirety. I never for a moment intended to offend anyone and I apologise sincerely for the unintended offence which the posting has caused.”“I therefore regret that the MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh Mr Zainudin Nordin has reproduced on his Facebook page an abhorent quotation which characterises gang rape as ‘democracy in action’. As a woman and an advocate of democracy, I urge Mr Zainudin to retract his statement and apologise to women in Singapore.”
But a day before sending his apology e-mail to ST, Mr Zainudin, in fact, sent an e-mail to a blogger, threatening legal action for creating a meme over the incident and sharing it on the blogger’s Facebook page (‘PAP MP Zainudin sends ‘Cease & Desist’ email to blogger Ganga‘).
The blogger, Ganga, was also not comfortable with the MP using “gang rape” to explain the concept of democracy. In his Facebook posting, Ganga asked the MP, “Seriously?”:
The blogger refused to take down the posting from his Facebook page as he felt that he was right to criticise the MP for what he did. The blogger also felt the MP was wrong to use “gang rape” to explain the concept of democracy.
Few days later after his public apology, some netizens went through Mr Zainudin’s past postings and discovered that he did not serve his National Service (‘PAP MP Zainudin did not serve NS‘):
Understandably, netizens are not too happy with the MP for not serving his NS:
Neon92: Bo serve NS still talk big [Ed. "bo" is Hokkien for "did not"]
arcturuz: but can relate by ah boys to men parts 1 & 2?
starlike: guy watches 2 jack neo movies and think he understand NS
vinn: he is not fit to comment on anything abt national service when he only had some b grade sh1tty movies to relate to.
LightTrail: what the fark this guy???!!!! why he never serve NS???!!! and what the fark is he relating the NS experience to a farking Jack Neo movie???!!!
SpeedingBullet: Those nv serve will always talk as if they know EVERYTHING abt ns.
blackvelvet: PCB….never served still can talk until got dragon got phoenix…pui!
reformist: Even Tony Tan’s son served NS. Please vote this guy out in 2016. HE DOES NOT DESERVE OUR RESPECT.
It is not known why MP Zainudin did not serve NS but certainly, he is a Singaporean born in Singapore [Link].arcturuz: but can relate by ah boys to men parts 1 & 2?
starlike: guy watches 2 jack neo movies and think he understand NS
vinn: he is not fit to comment on anything abt national service when he only had some b grade sh1tty movies to relate to.
LightTrail: what the fark this guy???!!!! why he never serve NS???!!! and what the fark is he relating the NS experience to a farking Jack Neo movie???!!!
SpeedingBullet: Those nv serve will always talk as if they know EVERYTHING abt ns.
blackvelvet: PCB….never served still can talk until got dragon got phoenix…pui!
reformist: Even Tony Tan’s son served NS. Please vote this guy out in 2016. HE DOES NOT DESERVE OUR RESPECT.
Is Mr Zainudin justified to complain that “a segment of the society” being “loud, more demanding and less willing to accommodate changes”, making “arguments against foreigners” as well as stoking “distrust and hatred”?
What do you think?
