singaporean conspiracy

SO was there a conspiracy to dish Malaysia by the Singaporean press?

Many observers seem to think so after two highly reported incidents in the Republic’s mainstream newspapers- with regards to former Malaysian international football player and national coach Chow Kwai Lam and the Formula One fiasco.

Kwai Lam was found guilty by the Singaporean District Court for corruptly offering between S$200-S$300 (RM455-RM684) and a further unspecified amount to Singaporean club side Paya Lebar Punggol goalkeeper Zulkifli Zainolabidin. The gratification was to intentionally allow the opposing team to score goals in an S-League match between Paya Lebar Punggol and Home United.

While family, especially Kwai Lam’s wife Shirley Sam, and friends strongly believe in Kwai Lam’s innocence, the Singaporean media has spun the story so wide, that even foreign new agencies picked on the story.

What baffles many is that Kwai Lam, who donned the national jersey from 1965-1971 and later made coach in 1978, would not have succumbed so low to actually ‘test’ the goalkeeper of his loyalty. Also, it must be noted Kwai Lam was not coaching any Singaporean team at that time and that the courts have only relied on Zulkifli’s testimony to charge Kwai Lam.

With all this going on, some strongly believe the Singaporeans have a hidden agenda. The same can be same with their ambitious outburst in hosting a night street F1 Grand Prix within the streets of the Island.

The moment Singaporean mogul Ong Beng Seng held talks and a dinner session with F1 supremo Bernie Eccelstone, the Singapore media have been on such hype, that they even got bold to thrash the Malaysian GP, adding that a leg run on their soil would be a replacement if not hurt the Malaysian GP for good.

It is an open secret Singaporean journalist are kept on a tight leash within their administration and can only find solace in whacking personalities or parties outside their country. This has been evident on numerous occasions and seems to be the case this time around.

Perhaps this is how Singapore- a country which claims its national language and national anthem Majulah Singapura is in Malay yet their formal administration letters are all written in English- works.

A country which claims to hear the voice of its people but only on certain issues and gags them if it goes against the wishes of the government.

Perhaps the observers are wrong, or perhaps not.

-The Man Who Sold The World-