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SINGAPORE : The rule of law has served more than just a social function in Singapore; it has kept law and order, but more importantly has helped Singapore tackle contemporary terrorism, which exploits and misuses religion.
This was the view of Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar, who was speaking at an International Bar Association conference on Friday.
In a densely populated city of 4.7 million, with a multi-racial and religious make up, the rule of law has served Singapore well, said DPM Jayakumar.
Speaking at the IBA conference, he shared with delegates Singapore's experience of finding the balance between individual and societal rights.
During a question and answer session, the issue of individual rights was brought up by members of the floor.
Among them was Chee Soon Juan, a member of the opposition from the Singapore Democratic Party. He questioned the panel about using the legal system to silence political opponents and the right to public assemblies.
In response, DPM Jayakumar said all political parties are subjected to the same rules on public gatherings.
Professor Jayakumar, who is also the Law Minister, said this was recently tested last year when three people were prosecuted for posting remarks which were considered racist and derogatory by other races. Their comments were posted on blogs and online forums.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Singapore also takes a strong stand on maintaining law and order. There are strict laws and punishments, especially when dealing with drug traffickers.
During his speech, Professor Jayakumar also highlighted the dilemma in balancing different interests, especially when dealing with terrorism.
He said that in Singapore, this was not a theoretical issue but a real one, especially when authorities uncovered the plot by the Jemaah Islamiyah in 2001 when they tried to mount attacks in Singapore.
Professor Jayakumar said, "Is the rule of law violated when governments crack down on jihadist web sites, monitor internet chats, or intercept cellphone communications? Terrorism is in effect a flagrant disregard of the rule of law.
"The terrorist suicide bomber not only does not mind death, he believes death will bring martyrdom and rewards in afterlife. If the law does not produce a response that upholds law and order, the law becomes irrelevant."
He said the way Singapore has approached the rule of law may be unique from others, but it has served the country well in strengthening the social fabric. But each society and government must decide and find that balance themselves.
Another panelist at the IBA conference, Sylvia Lim, who is a member of the opposition Workers' Party, gave delegates her observations about the Singapore legal system. She said that while it has attained high marks in international rankings, there are areas to improve on.
These include the area of criminal law, where she cited examples when the burden of proof shifts to a defendant and it is not an easy task to prove his or her innocence. This is especially so when the accused is in custody, away from legal counsel.
As for the new internet media, Ms Lim believes the Singapore government is trying to grapple with the issue as well, as seen in the last general election, when the internet community was able to post pictures and speeches of opposition rallies while the coverage of the opposition in the mainstream media was more subdued.
But she told delegates she is encouraged by the Singapore government's efforts to address the issue of the internet media. - CNA/ms
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