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Activists’ meeting with Dr M: A bad move or a case of overblown public reaction?

An Aug 30 meeting between a group of Singaporeans and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad triggered a heated debate among the online community for much of this week, as Law Minister K Shanmugam and Member of Parliament (MP) Seah Kian Peng chimed in on the matter. Here are some excerpts of the comments from Facebook users who reacted to the various developments over the week.

Dr Thum Ping Tjin with Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya on Aug 30, 2018.

Dr Thum Ping Tjin with Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya on Aug 30, 2018.

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An Aug 30 meeting between a group of Singaporeans and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad triggered a heated debate among the online community for much of this week, as Law Minister K Shanmugam and Member of Parliament (MP) Seah Kian Peng chimed in on the matter.

Academic Thum Ping Tjin, political dissident Tan Wah Piow, freelance journalist Kirsten Han, civil rights activist Jolovan Wham and graphic novelist Sonny Liew were at the 80-minute meeting in Kuala Lumpur, during which Dr Thum said that he had asked Dr Mahathir to take a leading role in promoting democracy and freedom of expression in South-east Asia.

Here are some excerpts of the comments from Facebook users who reacted to the various developments over the week, as Dr Thum and his supporters defended their intentions in attending the meeting.

Singapore is recognised by the world as a sovereignty with a seat in the United Nations... As a historian, recognising history is one thing, while trying to revive a part of that past with an emphasis that subvert our current sovereignty is another. I see a distinct difference. It is rather wasteful if he seeks to be a historian by the way he researches. MU CHAN

Well, a lot of people in Singapore seem to be trying hard to make (Dr Thum) the enemy this time round. And it's a handy thing to bash opposition sympathisers. No?...

(Dr Thum is) not speaking for Singapore. He’s talking and listening and learning. It would be fascinating to talk with an elder statesman with the stature and experience of Dr Mahathir, just as it would have been fascinating to talk with Mr Lee Kuan Yew in his latter years… Put simply, I don’t see Singapore as being so weak and feeble that it will be destroyed either by Dr Mahathir or by a small group of Singaporean commentators meeting him…

For some, it's politically convenient to get angry. Hate is a good political weapon… Merdeka day is the anniversary of the day when Singapore achieved its independence from Britain — as an autonomous part of Malaysia. Yet, Singapore's National Day today is only celebrated on the day the merger failed: It's the anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew crying on TV.

To a historian, of course this seems odd, and the original independence day should still be a happy day for both countries. To refuse to remember it just because the Malaysians do, seems a bit twisted. DAVID GLASSPOOLE

Dr Mahathir's dislike for and hostility towards Singapore are well-known and have not waned over the years… He said of his close neighbour, immediately after winning his election: “The people of Singapore must be tired of having the same government since independence”.

Which right-minded political leader will say that? He has just taken over as PM for a few months, has his plate full with all the problems facing his country... how is it he has time to meet a group of Singaporeans (including one whose citizenship was revoked by the Singapore Government) for more than an hour?

And the group… “urged him to take leadership in South-east Asia for the promotion of democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of information”. They even presented him with a copy of Living with Myths in Singapore… So it is not just “talking, listening and learning” nor is it “fascinating to talk with an elder statesman with the stature and experience of Dr Mahathir”. ANG TECK HUAT

If you look up to Malaysia for democracy, human rights, and freedom of information, then the very system that Dr M created doesn’t fit the bill. ANDREW CHOK

Anyone would be curious to meet Dr M given an opportunity. However, there is a difference between meeting out of curiosity and meeting with an agenda, especially an anti-Singapore agenda. That is what Thum Ping Tjin and Kristen Han seem to miss, now that they are trying to act blur. ALVIN NG

People who want and deserve a change dared to vote for a party knowing Dr M was heading it... that has given the disenchanted hope for a new dawn... especially on this side of the Causeway. TOSHI RAU

Thum loves his "country". but which country? Malaya? JEREMY LAM

(Dr Thum) is the new Chee Soon Juan. Going everywhere to undermine Singapore. ALVIN LEE

You meet up with someone who has consistently shown himself to be anti-Singapore to the bone since the ’80s, proven himself again with his recent actions.... How do you expect Singaporeans to react? What do you expect? JAXON LEE

If so, everyone should be labelled a traitor for having friends who’re from countries who have a political agenda against us, no? REGINALD ASHTON

This notion that Mahathir is an enemy is overplayed, but it works to the People’s Action Party’s patriotic vitriol to paint Thum as a traitor. That said, to say Mahathir is a champion of democracy is a joke. NASRI NASIR

PJ Thum is his own worst enemy. I just hope that he tones down his rhetoric and go back to being an academic and a "historian”… It is hard to argue with another person about how he interprets history, as everyone can have their own take on a historical event. But to invite Mahathir to help bring democracy to South-east Asia — I think he probably thinks that he is being very smart and does not really know the consequence of what he is doing. JAY LEE

These activists, if you are so disillusioned with our Government, you have a choice to renounce your citizenships and emigrate to the country that provide your kind of democracy. JULIE CHAN

They advocate free speech for themselves but not free speech for others who are against them… Maybe they can go write a book titled "The Selectivity of Free Speech"… My comments are solely my own and does not represent any institution I belong to.

I don't subscribe to unfettered free speech. I think the Western concept of free speech is overzealous and unrealistic. While some might argue that South-east Asia doesn't deserve free speech because our collective society is still immature, I think no one deserves free speech because of rights, duties, and obligations. Is the rights of an individual more important than the rights of the society? I argue not. Speech must still be regulated to encourage responsible discourse.

If you adopt the Kantian concept of rights and duties, free speech should only be allowed as long as it does not infringe the rights of another entity. At the same time, I think Singapore has taken a more liberal stance towards free speech. (Dr Thum’s) argument was not censored by the media. It was only criticised by the Government. If one is ready to comment against an opinion, he must also be willing to be challenged. KENNETH YEO

How is this (asking MP Seah Kian Peng to retract his statement) inconsistent with free speech? Debate and rebuttal is part of free speech, including verbally asking your interlocutors to retract. It's lawsuits and coercive (eg. State) action which suppress free speech… The idea that meeting a head of state is automatically treason is bizarre. JOLENE TAN

Who harassed them? They went across the Causeway and made very public statements, our MPs commented on how their statements and behaviours are being perceived. They pride themselves as "public figures" and "activists", then they should protect their reputation. If untrue, why allow themselves to be compared to, say, Vidkun Quisling or Wu Sangui? No legal mechanisms have been brought to bear against them because freedom of speech and freedom of association is being respected. They are, however, not exempt from negative perceptions associated with their speech and association. DONALD TAN

Sonny Liew said, “For myself, I'd only agreed to proceed once we were assured that those of us (Jolovan, Kirsten and myself) who didn't want to be part of the press conference could choose to do so — which I thought would mean that we would get to meet Dr Mahathir in a personal, unpoliticised capacity.” Even an ex-Malaysian has enough sense to know that this meeting is a big no-no. For Han and Thum to claim that this whole saga is just an innocent meeting with a Singapore-hating prime minister of our immediate neighbour, is like saying they've done nothing wrong when caught with their hands in the cookie jar. KY SEETOH

(Dr Thum) is a historian. It's completely understandable he would talk about our historic links, especially because they are significant. And there's absolutely nothing to it in wishing us to be working together (once again) as brothers side by side. KUMAR NATHANAEL ELIJAH

Not sure what history we're supposed to recognise here. Our unofficial independence day is supposed to be Aug 31? So Aug 9 is what? What does it even mean, “unofficial”? There is a difference between criticising government policies and disputing the sovereignty of Singapore. The latter is definitely treasonous. Go take a look at his old tweets again. VICKY LI

What is wrong here? Academic meets an internationally respected PM. Gives him a book, invites him to attend a forum he is organising and asks him to be a beacon for democracy, takes a photo and the next day wishes all, including ex-British colonies and now-independent countries, a great independence day. Is that wrong? Only in the ruling party's politicians’ books, I guess. THIRU SC

Thum did not just comment on the historical links (between Singapore and Malaysia). He is a revisionist "historian". He wants to rewrites history. He still thinks Malaysia is the rightful owner of Singapore. JASON CHUA CHIN SENG

The meeting backfired. Many politically neutral people and opposition supporters are putting this group of activists down for affiliating themselves with the man known to threaten us endlessly over the years… These activists must have thought their association with and call for Mahathir to lead South-east Asia, in pushing for human rights and democracy in this region would be better received. But we know better. JULIE CHIN

Opposition party members from different countries can meet up in their personal capacity and they may even know each other socially, but… the whole fiasco was ill-conceived. If they are really going to run for office in the next election, this blight is going to be remembered and it certainly does not inspire confidence. They can invite Tun M all they want, it will never change the nature of the opposition's troubled squabbles, incoherence, strife and fragmentation. CHRISTINA TEH

There are no winners at all, only losers. The biggest losers are the activists. HOH JIN WEI

It is so disheartening to see so many (hopefully) matured adults making irresponsible speculative accusations; including that MP who wasted much of his time on a matter like this. His conclusion is speculative at best, defamatory at worst… I am no friend of Dr M's, nor any of the Singaporean "activists". However, I do expect a reasonable and objective perspective especially from an MP. GILBERT YAP

Why is everyone jumpy about this? Recognising history isn't, in any way, reason enough to suspect anyone of disloyalty. Perhaps Singaporeans should open up their minds that embracing alternative views opens doors to debate, and a healthy debate is what ensures progress. Perhaps political leaders should set the best example if they want a population robust in critical thinking and a population that isn't politically apathetic and always get too personal in their arguments with lack of objectivity. HANIFFA ITHNIN

*Comments were first posted on TODAY’s Facebook page and TODAY Readers Facebook group. They are edited for language and clarity.

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