There is No Fancy Way of Saying. “I Have Sinned.” – Bill Clinton, Former President of the USA

 Singapore has returned to what is politically known as “phase 2” alerts, thanks to an outbreak of cases of Covid-19 in Karaoke joints and the fishery ports. I’ve effectively lost my restaurant side gigs, which had given me much needed pocket money to supplement my weekly income from corporate insolvency and it looks like things will be quiet for a while. A best friend’s mother and brother are down with the virus and life looks a little less promising than it did a few weeks ago.

In many ways, the return to these measures is a sign that our government, which the world perceives as being a model of super competence, is a little less than what its public image suggests. The government in particular has been facing plenty of brick bats thanks to the out break in karaoke lounges, which all of us have known were a polite euphemism for whore-joints.

I’ve argued on many occasions that Singapore has what one would call an enlightened approach to the vice-trade. Lee Kuan Yew famously stated in his book that a total ban on the trade would only force it underground, so it was better to keep in out in the open. Our red-light districts aren’t as famous as Thailand’s more obvious flesh markets but they’re not the crime infested dens that you see on Western dramas. The police do make their presence felt once in a while. It’s enough of a presence for the pimps and prostitutes to understand that they need to stay on the right side of law enforcement but not so much that business is actually affected.

Whilst this approach worked well in normal times, the point remains that these are not normal times. Bars, clubs and other night spots have all been shut down because, well, it’s been proven that the best way to spread this virus is at places where crowds gather. Singapore’s “vice-scene” has been no exception. Geylang, our most prominent spot for the vice trade has been transformed from a bustling spot of activity into a sleepy centre of not very much. Sure, in normal times its fine for the sexually deprived to have a place to relieve themselves but in normal times, you want to limit the places where people are likely to get something nasty.

So, many of us are questioning why the karaoke lounges were allowed to stay open and more importantly how was it such where they were able to do so under a legal loophole where they officially claimed that they would “pivot into food and beverage outlets.” What’s more annoying for the tax payers is the fact that those who claimed they were pivoting, helped themselves to a government grant of some $50,000. The pivot is best explained by the following cartoon in our mainstream news

 

What is perhaps far worse than the actual outbreak itself, has been the explanation provided by the government. Singapore’s most pugnacious fighter for truth and justice, our magically unconflicted writer and enforcer of laws, Mr. K Shanmugam proceeded to deliver the what can only be described as a tax-payer insulting, how dare you expect us to do the job you’re paying us to do speeches in parliament. Mr. Shanmugam’s speech can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI7hD7MI-Ic

 

One has to ask if Mr. Shanmugam is determined to provide Singaporeans with another reason not to vote for the ruling party? Why is it such that a ruling party with every advantage determined not to provide the voters with their one simple request – a little bit of humility.

Mr. Shanmugam should perhaps look at what Bill Clinton did after his was acquitted in his 1998 impeachment trial.  Mr. Clinton invited reporters to the rose garden and ensured that he looked suitably contrite for his role in subjecting the nation to an impeachment trial. He told the world, “There is no fancy way of saying, I have sinned.” Like him or loath him, Mr. Clinton’s contrition after that key moment in his presidency, played a role in ensuring that he saw his presidency as one of the most popular presidents around. People overlooked his indiscretions and obvious flaws and focused on his achievements.

This is something our politicians need to learn. The current situation has no precedent.  Nobody can expect perfection. However, what we do expect is greater accountability and while we can expect mistakes and oversight, we do expect leadership to own its mistakes. The dialogue should be, you made a mistake, now tell us what are you going to do about it. It should not be “How are you expect me to do my job.”