Not so long ago, when Big Daddy Lee called himself "Senior Minister" instead of "Minister Mentor" (or whatever), back when Mini-Lee was still sitting behind Seat Warmer Goh, PAP leaders used to say that they were "Confucian gentlemen," and that maintaining their reputations was so important that they just had to bring libel suits (that always won in the corrupted judiciary) against anyone who dared utter the slightest remonstrance.
Perhaps one good thing about the reign of Mini-Lee is that this sort of pathetic obfuscation seems to be gone. Or am I missing something? Do PAP leaders still roll out Confucius when they want to rationalize their Legalist authoritarianism? I haven't noticed the Venerable Sage in the Lion City recently.
In any event, the kangaroo-court libel suits continue, as the most recent action against Chee Soon Juan illustrates. And the PAP is now going after bloggers who might be a bit too satirical in their postings. It seems that Mini-Lee is so insecure in his position, with Big Daddy looking over his shoulder constantly, that he has to lash out against Mr. Brown. Maybe that is why Singaporeans are the unhappiest people in Asia: humor can get you in trouble with the Law (or is it the Lees?).
Now that the the power-obssessed Legalism of the PAP regime is no longer being filtered through a faux-Confucian happy face, one question rises to the surface: Is the Old Man building a terra-cotta army to take with him into the afterlife?
(Thanks to Singabloodypore for all of its good works and links).
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