Comments on: Escape has yet to dent govt’s hubris http://geraldgiam.sg/2008/03/escape-has-yet-to-dent-govt%e2%80%99s-hubris/ Alternative proposals for a better Singapore Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:59:13 +0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gerald http://geraldgiam.sg/2008/03/escape-has-yet-to-dent-govt%e2%80%99s-hubris/comment-page-1/#comment-768 Gerald Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:42:00 +0000 http://geraldgiam.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/escape-has-yet-to-dent-govt%e2%80%99s-hubris/#comment-768 Hi Newcastle,<br/><br/>Good observation that there is no man in charge, except for WOng Kan Seng (who happened to be the man in charge of SARS too). <br/><br/>It's interesting that our top leaders have been so silent on this. <br/><br/>I think this is new territory for them: they have never been in a such a big fiasco that was 100% their own fault.<br/><br/>About the credibility of the MSM, I wonder what it will take for S'poreans to say enough is enough. I'm going to read blogs from now on.<br/><br/>I guess the answer is the same as with politics. The onus is on blogs to improve themselves in order to find a ready audience. Hi Newcastle,

Good observation that there is no man in charge, except for WOng Kan Seng (who happened to be the man in charge of SARS too).

It’s interesting that our top leaders have been so silent on this.

I think this is new territory for them: they have never been in a such a big fiasco that was 100% their own fault.

About the credibility of the MSM, I wonder what it will take for S’poreans to say enough is enough. I’m going to read blogs from now on.

I guess the answer is the same as with politics. The onus is on blogs to improve themselves in order to find a ready audience.

]]> By: Newcastle http://geraldgiam.sg/2008/03/escape-has-yet-to-dent-govt%e2%80%99s-hubris/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Newcastle Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:33:00 +0000 http://geraldgiam.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/escape-has-yet-to-dent-govt%e2%80%99s-hubris/#comment-767 sorry forgot to leave my usual nickname, Newcastle, in the previous post... :D sorry forgot to leave my usual nickname, Newcastle, in the previous post… :D

]]> By: Anonymous http://geraldgiam.sg/2008/03/escape-has-yet-to-dent-govt%e2%80%99s-hubris/comment-page-1/#comment-766 Anonymous Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:30:00 +0000 http://geraldgiam.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/escape-has-yet-to-dent-govt%e2%80%99s-hubris/#comment-766 Dear Gerald,<br/><br/>I had read in brief your article on theonlinecitizen. A well thought out article. <br/><br/>Perhaps a little hypothesis; The fact that the news was released in drips and drabs by the authorities shows 2 things:<br/><br/>1) Clear incometence by the man-in-charge. He/she has obviously felt that it is unwise or immaterial to release the information to the public and operate on the false beliefs that the authorities would nab him. It also shows how unprepared the man-in-charge is equipped to deal with situations out of the box.<br/><br/>2) A lack of clear leadership in the whole operation. In all crisis, for example SARS, there is always a Minister in charge of the operation to give clear direction and coordinate among the various agencies to ensure maximum success. There is a lack of clear leadership from the Ministers. It appears that no minister is willing or are advised not to take up a clear public leadership role in the hunt for fear of getting blamed for any operational mishap.<br/><br/>Hubris or not. We are the laughing stock of the world. The fact that bloggers or netizens' comments are drawing more credibility by the day has shown how much credibility is lost by ST and Today on a daily basis.<br/><br/>Will we be presented with a full accountability of the whole situations? I doubt it. Can trust between the people and the goverment ever be the same after the latest handling of the Mas Selamat crisis?<br/><br/>Our goverment is very quick to point the blame and give full transparency during SARS as it was an external issue but their accountability fell several notches when it comes to removing the log from their own eyes. Dear Gerald,

I had read in brief your article on theonlinecitizen. A well thought out article.

Perhaps a little hypothesis; The fact that the news was released in drips and drabs by the authorities shows 2 things:

1) Clear incometence by the man-in-charge. He/she has obviously felt that it is unwise or immaterial to release the information to the public and operate on the false beliefs that the authorities would nab him. It also shows how unprepared the man-in-charge is equipped to deal with situations out of the box.

2) A lack of clear leadership in the whole operation. In all crisis, for example SARS, there is always a Minister in charge of the operation to give clear direction and coordinate among the various agencies to ensure maximum success. There is a lack of clear leadership from the Ministers. It appears that no minister is willing or are advised not to take up a clear public leadership role in the hunt for fear of getting blamed for any operational mishap.

Hubris or not. We are the laughing stock of the world. The fact that bloggers or netizens’ comments are drawing more credibility by the day has shown how much credibility is lost by ST and Today on a daily basis.

Will we be presented with a full accountability of the whole situations? I doubt it. Can trust between the people and the goverment ever be the same after the latest handling of the Mas Selamat crisis?

Our goverment is very quick to point the blame and give full transparency during SARS as it was an external issue but their accountability fell several notches when it comes to removing the log from their own eyes.

]]>