Singaporean Water Polo Team's Sense of Humour?

The Asian Games have been good for the odd odd story, like the Yemeni beach volleyball team claiming they lost their match because the bikini-clad entertainment was too distracting for them. However, the Singaporean Water Polo team might just have taken the cake with their self-designed swim wear.

The swim wear as you can see is a departure from the traditional black swim trunks they used to wear. The new costume is a red get up with the Singaporean flag prominently placed on the front. Now, in conservative Singapore the self-designed outfit was sure to raise eyebrows. This is especially the case when the position of the crescent moon gives the impression of a raging erection. They don't call this type of swim wear budgie smugglers for no reason. Although, when I was a kid they were called dick-stickers.

Anyways, this 'story' gets interesting because in the thriving democratic police state, also known as Singapore, before the flag or any other national emblem or symbol is used on any costume the users have to get the permission of the Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts.

If permission is not obtained prior to use and the use is then deemed to be 'disrespectful' then the users are liable to fines of up to SGD 1000 for their indiscretions.

I will let you be the judge as to whether the use of the Singaporean flag in this way is disrespectful.

The ISA in Malaysia -- Protests, Tear Gas, and Water Cannons

The Internal Security Act, or ISA, is a law that allows police in Malaysia to detain people without trial in certain circumstances. The primary concern for most is that the ISA does not recognize some basic human rights with respect to the idea of a right to a speedy and fair trial. The ISA is designed, according to its supporters, to ensure that Malaysia's domestic security is protected from all threats. In essence, the ISA gives the authorities the right to undertake pre-emptive or preventive detention.

As this as a backdrop, some 15,000 Malaysians seeking to have the ISA removed from the statute books took to the streets (photo courtesy of Reuters). If I was Malaysian, and perhaps even if I wasn't but just there, I would have taken to the streets too. Human rights are human rights. These basic human rights, no matter what the former Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahatir, says, are not based on western or eastern / Asian values. Human rights are human values, simple.

In Kuala Lumpur the 5,000 police on hand were seemingly outnumbered by protesters. Nevertheless, police had at their disposal water cannons and tear gas, both of which they were prepared to use, and did so.

At least 175 people have been arrested in this heavy-handed assault on a peaceful demonstration. According to Anwar Ibrahim, the former Deputy Prime Minister and one-time jail inmate, the police action was not only unwarranted but unnecessarily brutal.

The current Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has called the protest unnecessary as he has already agreed to review the ISA. However, it would seem that at least 15,000 Malaysians do not believe him and are prepared to make their lack of faith in the PM known.