Jul 16th, 2007
Why the support for Li Hongyi
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The Li Hongyi incident which surfaced last week saw many Singaporean netizens expressing their support for Hongyi’s action. I too agree that Li Hongyi did the right thing in blowing the whistle. However, I realised that my ’support’ for the actions of Li Hongyi might not exactly be approval of his action, but rather, disapproval with the SAF in general. And, I suspect that this might be the case for many people, especially men who have served national service.
For many people, I suspect that one major dissatisfaction is personnel management, as highlighted by Li Hongyi in his now infamous email to the military top brass. Hongyi’s email appears to insinuate some degree of cover-up by the regular soldiers. It seems that fellow officers are willing to, or at least, attempt to turn a blind eye to offenses in order not to jeopardise the career of their colleague. I believe that Hongyi’s experience, as narrated in his email, is not unique and many people would probably have stories of their own to tell.
As others have pointed out, the main (and perhaps only) reason why Hongyi can compose such an email exposing certain practices that is apparently common in the SAF and get away only with a reprimand is because he is the son of the Prime Minister. Most of the time, such practices would have just been merely coffee shop talk or urban legends. Li Hongyi changed the landscape with an email that some netizens have claimed was designed to ensure a leak. In a sense, Li Hongyi is able to garner support because he has briefly opened Pandora’s box and helped many people vent their suppressed frustrations.
Where will this incident lead to is unknown. The spotlight is now on both Li Hongyi and the SAF. For the former, it is a question mark as to whether his current fire of idealism will continue to burn into the future. For the latter, it’s a question mark as to whether there will be more scrutiny into human resource management practices. Whatever the case, despite the conspiracy theories being dreamed up by some netizens, I remain convinced that Li Hongyi did the right thing, and he deserves praise in this incident.
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Doing the right thing is one thing which he did. Raising him up to be some super courageous person might be another (which is what some people are doing). It would probably not be presumptuous to assume that he knew that he was in a position to do it and not get whack jialat jialat like the rest of us if it had been us to had sent off that email. And because of that possible knowledge (and the assurance it brings), I don’t think his action indicates courage.
Actually, I worry that this incident might be a false dawn for all of us. Later some other idealistic fool also think he can be whistle blower then get whack one times hundred times more jialat than what our Prime Minister’s son got.
My support for him stems from both unhappiness with the Army and the belief that he did the right thing. Of course it cannot be denied that if he were anyone other than the son of the PM, he would have been stripped of his rank; but thats the reality of the situation. Only one who has a certain “immunity” to the nonsense of the system would be in a position to change it, for good or for ill.
After many round of coffee shop talk. My friends and I agree there are mysteries in this whole affair.
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There are 3 mysteries in this whole affair:
1. How come the LTA dare to AWOL with the PM’s son watching him closely?
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2. How come the LTA’s superior never punish the LTA when 2LT Li complained? …Don’t they know this guy can just whisper into his father
ear and the earth will move?
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3. Why did 2LT Li cc the email to so many people?…Just sending to the CDF Minister is enough already…to get the thing done. UNLESS he wanted the WHOLE COUNTRY to know how screwed up the SAF is!!!! In which case, he is doing disservice to his father !
Come on, how new can this thing be?
Sending emails to the top brass is a definite no no in this fucked up army.
During my time, that was the christmas season and everyone was in the christmas mood. Then, got 1 CPL, I shall name him CPL Y since X already chao mia sia, emailed a 1 star general “Merry Christmas” and he got confined because of that.
So you can just imagine how screwed this organisation is.
I totally support the idea of singaporeans kicking up a big fuss over this, especially the parents of going-to-be NSFs.
I think perhaps, i have another view, the people already know what happens in the SAF, comon, we all have to serve, however, perhaps this could be part of a long term agenda, for instance, didnt his father, the current PM, serve as a ‘brigadier general’ i use that term in inverted commas, since he’s currently the world record holder for a general without combat experience.
now would people look back when his son is up for elections and thing ‘hey isnt that the guy who blew the whiste, etc etc?
long term propaganda is what i think it is, if anyone else did that, it would be instantly covered up and made to disappear….
now i wonder who is going to be the PAP front man in a couple of years?
think about that. you may support him now for his ‘valiant actions’ but for all you know, it may be a ruse, the news media in singapore is known to be an agent of the government, giving props to the current ruling party for years, and showing the opposition in a poor light.
in this country of not so free press and lack of civil liberties, perhaps we are just all part of a long term plan to keep the lee family in power for years to come.
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