From what I know, he is a graduate student who comments on some of my postings once in a while. I don't know who he is nor do I visit his blog that often, but I came across a posting on someone else's blog about his present quandary.
Apparently, it has something to do with A*STAR and Philip Yeo who heads it. I am sure most of us Singaporeans remember some of the controversies that were ignited by what he did or said in the papers such as publicising the names of bond-breakers and holders of basic degrees being only qualified to wash test-tubes or whatever. Let's just say that he is not the most popular person in the civil service, that's if he's considered a civil servant in the first place. And I doubt he cares much about his popularity anyway. Actually most leading civil servants don't, and that's probably how they rose in the hierarchy in the first place; by doing the bidding of their political masters, not winning the popularity contest.
Frankly, I don't really care how he runs his organisation or the whole PSC scholarship thing. As far as I am concern, it's another Singapore that has little or no bearing on the rest of us plebeians. Sink or swim, I don't give a shit.
But from what I can ascertain based on my searches, it seems that whatever AcidFlask said either on his blog or probably in an interview with NewPaper has been deemed as libellous by the aforementioned organisation. Or else why would he close his site and post an apology to the organisation and its head?
Freedom of speech online? Don't bet on it darling.
"But... but... but... They did ask us to speak up and voice our opinions mahh!"
Yeah, so? Mao Tze Tung also said, "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend." Guess what happened?
AcidFlask, I don't know the whole situation or who's in the right and who's in the wrong, but I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you and I really hope you pull through this.
Sometimes I look at my country's direction and contradictions and I can't help but feel frustrated and sad.
Sometimes I wonder whether this country is really worth my affection, emotions and grief.
Sometimes I wonder whether I should just give up and ship out.
But most of the time, I just wonder what's going on.
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1601H 27 Apr 2005: I think this is the New Paper article that probably led to the whole "issue" and threat of litigation from Philip Yeo/A*STAR.
And "Singapore Legal Mumbo Jumbo Demystified" has posted an educating article on the subject of defamation suits. Yeap, he's a lawyer who's formerly a deputy public prosecutor.
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But most of the time, I just wonder what's going on.
The AcidFlask case is not the first. Neither will it be the last. Why are bloggers so surprised at the natural extension of the political state this country into the blogsphere?
Does nobody remember Sintercom anymore?
And yes, I still remember our dear Sintercom.
But I think that for a lot of us, Sintercom was like a long time ago (internet time that is) and it's a new PM now who hopefully might be different.
Well... they have a few sayings for this:
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks"
"A leopard will never change its spots"