Presidential candidates Tan Jee Say and Tony Tan were involved in a heated exchange over the issue of the Internal Security Act and how it has been used in the past
By Alan Mok
Contributor
Presidential candidates Tan Jee Say and Tony Tan Keng Yam clashed over the issue of the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) during a dialogue session held at the Fort Canning Centre yesterday in a sign that the Presidential Election is starting to take on an inevitable political slant.
Responding to a question from the crowd regarding the arrest of the ‘Marxist conspirators’ in 1987, Tan Jee Say offered his view that the ISA has “outlived its usefulness”. He continued:
“I don’t even know whether it was justified in the first place, because the ISA has been used on political opponents and those on the other political side of the law,” he said, adding that “the history is such that it’s been used for political purposes”.
At this point, the usually placid Dr Tony Tan jumped in and interrupted Tan Jee Say. Adopting a pointed tone, Dr Tony Tan said: “When one says this is used against political opponents, I think this is a very serious charge. You must be able to back it up.”
Tan Jee Say did not back down. Instead, he shot back: “The people who have been detained have opposed the government. That’s what I’m saying. Have they been pro-government?”
Moderator Viswa Sadasivan attempted to get Tan Jee Say to stop, but the latter continued: “No, no, no, Viswa. Let’s be fair. I have been attacked on my understanding on the English language. What is in his (Dr Tony Tan’s) English dictionary about political opponents?”
Dr Tony Tan did not respond.
On the case in question, 22 people were arrested under the ISA and accused of plotting a conspiracy to replace the government with a Marxist state. The ISA allows the government to arrest and detain people without trial for up to two years at a time. Several former members of the opposition Barisan Socialis were detained for decades between the 1960s to 1980s. Dr Tony Tan was a cabinet minister during the 1987 detentions.
He offered his view that the ISA was a “blunt tool” that could only be used in “extreme” situations. He went on to say that Singapore needs to be vigilant against the threat of terrorism, as it is not limited to any racial or religious group. To illustrate his point, he pointed out Anders Breivik, the Norwegian gunman who is currently on trial for killing more than 60 people and setting off several bombs. However, he did not not directly provide an answer as to whether or not he felt the law could be abused to detain political opponents.
The other candidates also offered their views – Dr Tan Cheng Bock wanted to see new evidence before taking any action, while both Tan Jee Say and Tan Kin Lian proposed a commission of inquiry to find closure to the 1987 matter.
The video clip of the exchange can be viewed here.
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The author is a second year student at the Nanyang Technological University. He has offered to contribute articles on a voluntary basis during the Presidential Election campaign.
Tony Tan keeps talking as if he is a messenger from heaven who is going to be our saviour, only he can get us out of this economic “perfect storm” and no one else can do it.
Then, let me ask him, our PM is there for what? Our finance minister is supposed to do what? Economic policies and getting Singapore out of trouble is the PM/FM’s job or the President’s job?
Didn’t you say that the Presidential candidates should run for the office that exists and not the one that they want to have?
Tony Tan is nothing more than a phony and a liar.
He has yet to account for the Patrick Tan NS saga and he also owes us an explanation regarding the billions he lost while in charge of GIC. As President, now he wants to audit GIC?
Who you want to vote as EP is your choice. It is the destiny.
The world economy is going downward soon. Those who are greedy will suffer. Hopefully Singapore can sail through this storm. Don’t blame the government at that time, if interest goes up or devaluation of our currency. Retailers closing their stores as landlord does not reduce rental by 20%. Employers retrench their workers. This is no bullshit. You will face this situation within 12 months.
If you have extra cash don’t spend and convert some to foreign currency if you are rich enough.
The Tan’s who are aware will not tell you, as you will not listen, and may lose vote.
Looks like this roTTen egg instead of unifying us Singaporeans, has already carried enough political baggage to put people off. Can we stand another ‘even worst than Prataman’ as our President for the next 6 years ?
For me, anyone but TT …… Durai.
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Dr TT is not a dignified and humble person to be our president hopeful. He is rude and act like another PAP candidate, i.e. not independent candidate. The Viswa shows himself as an unfair moderator. Dr TT interrupted TJS and the moderator did not stop TT but instead stop TJS from clarifying his statement. Viswa sucks! TJS is my HERO!
Dr TT super rude to interrupt TSJ who was his turn on ISA. He was also threatening TSJ to back up. TSJ shot back with a passionate response. Moderator sucks big time. An idiot VIswa can be a moderator?
Yes, idiocy is a pre-requisite for journalists moderating on-air political forums in Singapore. Did you watch Janadas Devan interpreting the constitution and criticising Tan Jee Say.
where can we view it in video??