1. It is not possible to stop the neighbour with the same officers at Pasir Ris HDB Branch Office. A period of four years is a long time to assume the officers are correct when they said their investigations reveal no undue noise. During the same period the owner wrote to the MPs, and later in his blog, facts that could be ascertained but were not taken up.
2. Because the facts bear checking, the officers would not defend themselves or refute its conclusion.
3. Removal of the officers is the right thing to do because they collaborated with the neighbour. The owner pointed out many instances of wrongdoing on the part of HBO (Head, Pasir Ris HDB Branch Office) and those he has influence over. He is not aboveboard. Removal would sever the connection between the officers and the neighbour, and send a clear signal to the neighbour.
4. The officers have broken the rules. They stationed people in the flat across the neighbour just days after the owner went to his first Meet-the-People Session. Considering what the officers and the neighbour were about back in '98, it was likely there followed a force-entry at the neighbour's flat and a break-in at the owner's flat. They stay to monitor the situation and prevent anyone from assisting the owner. Noise is still heard at various times through the day showing work being carry out.
5. Part of a repertoire arrayed against the owner included noise to force him out of his flat and disabling his computer. The Java program made unworkable prevented him from trading at a security firm, and denial-of-service attacks prevented him from working from his computer over extended period of time.
6. The statutory board, which is also responsible for discipline, could have taken action. They did not because HBO has connection.
7. There is the ethics Do no harm. There is a saying Corruption and waste are very serious crimes. The government should not risk its reputation.
8. It would be disappointing if the government is quiet. Loyalty to person or group has to be reasonable. Officers are citizens in government, if they shield one of their own above all else, the citizens at large are in trouble.
9. Head of the Singapore Civil Service, Mr Peter Ong, said good governance is an important ingredient in Singapore's development. He added that tackling corruption with a mix of strong political will, legislation and enforcement was the state's first priority in its initial years. He was launching a book titled "Virtuous Cycles: The Singapore Public Service and National Development" commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
UNDP said other countries could learn from Singapore's example of civil service. These were reported on 24 Mar 11.
10. The owner hopes his case come up during the Presidential Election. The President appears to be one able to help. Being elected he has independence. Although he has only custodian power in specified areas and not executive power in policy matters, he is one to ask question of the government when he thinks there is failure. In principle he could defend values that are in the interest of the people. In all he is a citizen but one with much moral authority.
His view, if accepted, may be debated in Parliament.
