Monday, November 22, 2010

Mas Selamat, Family Loyalty and Asian Values

"A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them." - P. J. O'Rourke

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Dr Yaacob Ibrahim disappointed with Mas Selamat's family

"Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said he was very disappointed that Mas Selamat Kastari was helped by his immediate family members after his escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

In a statement, Dr Yaacob said harbouring is very serious offence, especially when it involves a wanted fugitive who was a threat to the whole country and at a time when everyone was deeply concerned and actively looking out for him.

He said Singaporeans from all backgrounds have come together since 2002, prominently the Malay/Muslim community which has kept the lid on the danger of terrorism.

Dr Yacoob expressed tremendous disappointment as the community has also come together to built strong ties among faith leaders and among fellow Singaporeans at the neighbourhoods and communities.

He added that the good work must continue at all levels to build understanding and confidence, and enhance safety and security for Singapore to emerge stronger from this episode as a society."


Yet, in helping Mas Selamat, his family was merely practising Asian Values:

If one is in doubt about this, it suffices to consult the teachings of the Master:

叶公语孔子曰:"吾党有直躬者,其父攘羊,而子证之。"孔子曰:"吾党之直者异于是,父为子隐,子为父隐,直在其中矣。"
(论语: 子路第十三)

In a comprehensible fashion, this translates to:

The Duke of Sheh informed Confucius, saying, "Among us here there are those who may be styled upright in their conduct. If their father have stolen a sheep, they will bear witness to the fact."

Confucius said, "Among us, in our part of the country, those who are upright are different from this. The father conceals the misconduct of the son, and the son conceals the misconduct of the father. Uprightness is to be found in this."
(Analects, 13:18)

Similarly, one can learn from the Second Sage:

桃應問曰:“舜為天子,皋陶為士,瞽瞍殺人,則如之何?”
孟子曰:“執之而已矣。”
“然則舜不禁與?”
曰:“夫舜惡得而禁之?夫有所受之也。”
“然則舜如之何?”
曰:“舜視棄天下,猶棄敝蹝也。竊負而逃,遵海濱而處,終身訢然,樂而忘天下。”
(孟子: 盡心上)

Similarly rendered intelligible (NB: Gu Sou was Emperor Shun's father):

Tao Ying asked, saying, 'Shun being sovereign, and Gao Yao chief minister of justice, if Gu Sou had murdered a man, what would have been done in the case?'

Mencius said, 'Gao Yao would simply have apprehended him.'

'But would not Shun have forbidden such a thing?'

'Indeed, how could Shun have forbidden it? Gao Yao had received the law from a proper source.'

'In that case what would Shun have done?'

'Shun would have regarded abandoning the kingdom as throwing away a worn-out sandal. He would privately have taken his father on his back, and retired into concealment, living some where along the sea-coast. There he would have been all his life, cheerful and happy, forgetting the kingdom.'
(Mencius, 7A35)

It's a pity the State has been corrupted by the Alien Western concept of Rule of Law!
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