Health MInister Khaw Boon Wan said quite a good number of times that he “welcomed debate with the opposition on this issue” and that they “can have a thorough discussion of this”. By this of course we mean the NKF and this gross mismanagement of public funds for self-gain.
Prime MInister Lee Hsien Loong says that he is “disappointed with the opposition parties’ position so far” and that “their unwillingness to spar on issues is a letdown”.
Choice comments from 2 select elite from the upper echelon. Might I ask, what exactly does PM Lee mean when he, on one hand instigates the courts to initiate proceedings against TT Durai and gang and thus evoking sub judice, while on the other hand lament the lack of discussion on the issues?
Isn’t the mismanagement of NKF an issue? Didn’t Mr Khaw say that he wanted discussion on the issue? Now that PM Lee has spoken and sub judice is in effect, Mr Khaw is strangely quiet and PM Lee is firing with all guns, seemingly in an attempt to provoke the opposition to slip up and get sued.
As MSM has vividly shown, SDP has already taken the bait but is soldiering on. WP, SDA, NSP and SPP have wisely decided to sidestep the issue, by not commenting on the issue just yet. Suffice it to say, most of them are currently in the huddle to decide what can or cannot be discussed, or at all.
Read www.todayonline.com/articles/113678.asp, TODAYOnline’s take on the NKF sub judice issue for a clearer picture on the matter. According to Mr Shashi Nathan, head of criminal department at Harry Elias Partnership, “general comments on the NKF saga can still be made during the run-up to the elections, although specific references to allegations or to people involved in the case should be avoided at all times”.
It appears that the letter of the law is so vague it leaves everything to chance, tantamount to literally a blank cheque if sub judice is violated. Yet another masterstroke by the ruling party. It’s quite doubtful if any opposition party will mention NKF by its most glaring aspects without running afoul of the law. SDP, MM Lee and PM Lee have already shown the way, charting the path of ash and cinder for those who dare tread the NKF path.
