Gopalan Nair arrest suggests Singapore worth fighting for

The Lees vs Chees trial has certainly met with the strangest unexpected turn of events yet.

Gopalan Nair, returns to Singapore from Fremont California, where he practises law after he sought and won asylum status, and demands to be arrested.

In occurrences such as this, it is somewhat heartening to know that there is somebody who is still passionate enough about engaging with Singaporeans and in its affairs, even though he can always choose not to be, and challenge the powers that be based on fundamental rights. Impressive.

In his recent trial, Dr. Chee was portrayed as a pyschopath for his antics in court, but suddenly, he found himself a supporter. I think the issues both of them are championing have merit and reside within the realm that comes before "bread and butter" issues. The mechanisms that run the State lay unconscious and must be brought to mind if Singapore ever wants to join the league of nations that are considered First World (I'm thinking more of Norway and Sweden as bastions of democracy, and not the United States as an example).

The cracks within the present system is indeed showing itself with Gopalan's arrest. Running Singapore based on the legitimacy gained from satisfying the economic imperative so that the needs of the populace are met and imposing fear as a necessary condition to govern that same populace serves to shove aside the nuanced understanding required to enhance the overall quality of life and making sense about why the general well-being in Singapore is not wholly gratifying.

Whether or not Gopalan is making a theatrical political statement is besides the point. Judging by the way Singapore is run, anything associated with politics is made to look theatrical anyways.