There is a quibble going on between MP Zaqy Mohamad and a Ms Serene Tham over at The Real Singapore (TRS) website.
I say quibble because it seems such a small thing.
But MP Zaqy evidently thinks otherwise.
He has demanded that TRS take down a posting within 24 hours if they cannot prove Ms Tham’s allegations, since, according to our hyper-sensitive MP, they are “clearly false and border on defamation”.
Ms Tham fell down a staircase at Blk 293, Chua Chu Kang Ave 3. Suffering pain in her lower spine and an injured tailbone, she has sent pictures of her injury and medical updates to Chua Chu Kang Town Council.
Mr Zaqy is chairman of the town council.
In the TRS piece that Mr Zaqy is unhappy about, Ms Tham alleges that the staircase railings have been replaced. She says that Mr Zaqy was “adamant” that the staircase was safe even though the railings had been replaced since her accident.
“Why (was) there a replacement if there (were) no issues with it as claimed by MP Zaqy?” Ms Tham wondered aloud.
Mr Zaqy disputes the allegation. “Clearly, there has been no replacement of any staircase railings as mentioned in the article whatsoever,” he replied, adding that the matter is being investigated for an insurance claim and urging all parties to respect the legal process.
Mr Zaqy said: “I would have expected (The Real Singapore) to know that during such time, disclosure of the facts would be prejudicial to the parties involved. It seems even odder since (the website) had been long aware that the article contributor, Ms Serene Tham, has personal interests, as the one claiming insurance in this case.”
How does disclosure of the facts prejudice the parties involved in any way? I certainly cannot imagine how, can you? It sure sounds pompous to say (chest sticking out), “disclosure of the facts would be prejudicial to the parties involved.”
Sometimes it’s dangerously true e.g. naming a suspect or revealing certain facts in a murder case might tip off the murderer. In other words, scared the killer will run away.
But it can’t be true in Serene Tham’s simple case. Either the railings were defective and replaced, or they were not. Why, scared the railings will run away ah?
MP Zaqy has made a bare assertion and if he thinks that it passes muster because it sounds pompous, he is sorely mistaken.
If Mr Zaqy thinks he can get away with it because he is an MP, he is doubly mistaken.
Mr Zaqy has no more rights than any Singaporeans. If he makes any assertion, no matter how bombastic it sounds, he has to prove it.
Since he is fond of 24-hour deadlines, perhaps he should, with all integrity and honesty befitting a PAP MP, self-impose the same deadline. Let Singaporeans know exactly how “during such time, disclosure of the facts would be prejudicial to the parties involved”. Come on Mr Zaqy, the clock is ticking…
Politicians should learn not to throw phrases around like cheap confetti. To say the public –including especially the online public – mustn’t discuss a case because an insurance claim is being processed is ridiculous.
PAP MPs have a terrible habit of talking nonsense and making it seem as if they are dispensing wisdom.
But wait, Mr Zaqy embarrasses himself further.
He says, “The website should have taken “great care to validate all facts before considering to publish such potentially defamatory articles.”
Hang on! Didn’t he just say that “disclosure of the facts would be prejudicial to the parties involved”? And now he advises TRS to “take great care to validate all facts” before publishing them?
Do you want the facts to be made known or don’t you, Mr Zaqy? The poor man doesn’t know what he wants!
It is amazing how much the calibre of the PAP has dropped.
People say PAP stands for “Pro Alien Party”, “Pee And Poo”, “Pui and Pui”. How about adding one more – “Poor Argument Party”?
No Shit