So just recently, another big controversy that got the some Singaporeans raged about the government's actions towards a particular case and here's my point of view as a Singaporean youth.
I am quite hesitant to talk about it since it involves politics and well, frankly there's no such thing as the a one good way in politics and I sure as hell do not want to end up in a lawsuit against the government.
Oh, but this is just my opinions, no offense intended. :D (Seriously, no offense intended.)
Recently, the big case is about Dinesh Raman. (Well, about his compensations anyways.)
I was wasting my time on Facebook when I stumbled upon one of my friend's shared links.
Before I get too far ahead into the article, let's find out more about the person involved, Mr. Dinesh Raman.
Mr. Dinesh Raman, was declared dead 3 years ago in Changi Prison due to positional asphyxiation according to an autopsy released by the Ministry of Home Affairs.(So confirm Zhun)
For those that have never heard about positional asphyxiation, it's basically when a person's body position prevents themselves from breathing. Statistics shows that many people die from positional asphyxiation from restraints by police or health care staff. (According to wikipedia)
So the need for this restraint is when Mr. Dinesh Raman went to kick the abdomen of one of the prison officer. Though in http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/no-basis-for-allegations/812770.html, it states that it was unprovoked, it also states that there were a verbal exchange between him with another prison officer. I'm not saying that the prison officer might have said something offensive, but who knows?
Afterwards, he passed away shortly. Though there were symptoms showing that Mr. Dinesh was breathless, i would like to reiterate that it was pretty common in a restraint, so the prison officers didn't pay much attention to it. (That's sad.)
See this Bad luck officer. He was fined $10,000 for negligence.
Imagine you're a waiter and you're fined because you broke some glasses.
Seems like being a civil servant might not be the best job in the world.
As compensation for negligence, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) sent their staff to Mdm. Selvi (Mr. Dinesh's mother.) for her to name the compensation she wanted. However,
Since Mdm Selvi refused to name an amount right? The MHA themselves made an offer.
Remember, it's an OFFER.
The offer was made with the following guild lines.
However, the amount was never disclosed to the public and the article from: (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/no-basis-for-allegations/812770.html) stares that the MHA is still open for negotiations for the compensation.
So you've got the story so far? If you did, Good Job! (If not, go and read again.)
Now here's the point that causes many people to go bananas.
The compensation offer.
Many readers from therealsingapore.com felt that the government is putting a price tag on people based on their past actions and certificates.
Remember this:
The MHA did indeed went to use the word : Generous in their statement of the compensation.
The editor went on to interpret it as the MHA being arrogant and having a elist mindset since it sees the path that Mr. Dinesh was heading and judged him based on that, and that he would at best get an ITE certificate and get a stable job.
Of course, at the comment section, all hell broke loose. It's like all of them decided to comment all their hatred for the government be it relevant or not and in one take.
So let's focus again, netizens are angry because the government sort of condemned him because of his past history and the MHA says the ITE graduates will at best land a low paying job.
Okie, now let's view it in another point of view.
If Mr. Dinesh decided to leave his gang and carry on with life, he might eventually become the next Steve Jobs. So if the MHA just decided to compensate $1 Million. Would the netizen keep their voice down?
Of course not, that's not fair to the taxpayers. Who can assumed him to be the next millionaire? That's right, no one.
Let's use what the article had stated, to use the median of fellow Singaporeans' salaries. Now would the netizens shut up?
Of course not again. Mr. Dinesh has never contributed to the society, probably the best he got was when he served his national service (UNDER SUPERVISION), he is a gang member, he went into Reformative Training Centre multiple times, how is it fair to use a hardworking singaporean's salary for for comparison?
In my point of view, the MHA shouldn't even compensate Mr. Dinesh's family. Why? These are the reasons why the MHA calls it generous.
Firstly, the restraint could have been avoided if Mr. Dinesh decided to swallow down whatever the prison officer said to him and not freaking kicked a prison officer. What was he expecting?
Secondly, he belongs to a secret society. He even went to on cause a riot and commit theft. He caused damages that required the money from taxpayers to repair or clean up the act. So why should we pay more of the taxpayers' money to his parents?
Lastly, not judging, but it's not like the society hasn't given him a second chance. He was sent to Reformative Training Centre, but did he change, no! He even went to cause injuries to his mother. Another great example is that he went to kick a prison officer. So if even in a prison, and he can't control himself, can he really go on to succeed in life?
Before you guys go on and go bananas, I would like to reiterate that all these are my opinions!
If you like it, you can accept it, if you disagree, you're free to have your own opinions.
The reason that I felt why the MHA calls it generous is that Mr. Dinesh would obviously not have gotten into an ITE. That's pretty obvious, even for me.
And the article went to state that," It's also clear that they believe that ITE graduates will only land low-paying jobs in the future and that's how they have calculated the compensation. "
I really don't know where in the article in the MHA's websites states that ITE graduates will only land low paying jobs?
If you managed to find it, come I clap for you.
It states that," The State has offered a compensation quantum calculated on the premise that Dinesh Raman would have gone on to ITE and have had a stable job."
Is the editor saying that stable job equates to low paying job? (Haha, jokes on him since being an editor is a stable job.)
Is the editor saying that stable job equates to low paying job? (Haha, jokes on him since being an editor is a stable job.)
Also, the compensation amount was never disclosed to the public, so how did he (or she) know that the MHA calculated based on a low paying job?
There's way too much assumption in this article, isn't it?
This article wasn't written by any Tom, dick or Harry. (Maybe the editor's name is Tom, dick or Harry. Haha.)
It was written by the editor himself.
Since some readers treats the website like the new bible, shouldn't they be more careful as to what they write? Trust me, people treat this website like the new bible.
See this guy, he literally commented on almost all the comments. Either encouraging hating the government or against people who supports the government.
( isn't that sort of threatening? "Death bell for the pap government" who knows?)
What's more, the website is meant for people above the age of 18. That means that most of them would have been adults right? But whatever they comment or posts are like kids complaining. What's worst, they're complaining based on assumptions!
I would like to say that I'm not all supporting the government! Mainly, because they make poor people life a living hell. Or making the poor people play the hunger games.
But will Singaporean adults grow a pair of eyes and open them? To put it bluntly, look properly before believing some unknown sources!
Also, think before you say. Who knows? The government might just see it and next thing you know, you're in court for saying false testimonies against the government.
Be responsible for what you say! Especially on the Internet. Like how this link was shared by my friend of the same age.(a teenager)
Can you imagine the impact it does on people?
Whatever it may be, my condolences goes to Mr. Dinesh's family and I really hope that Mdm Selvi would accept what the autopsy had stated.
So till next time, stay awesome and rock on.
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