Uniquely Singapore!

Where's the compassion in our "fine city"?

A short summary: this homeless guy who was sleeping in a tent at East Coast Park without a permit got picked up by some National Parks ranger and ended up being fined $800 - going to jail for 4 days because he couldn't pay. "In court on Tuesday, Noor was asked to produce his Identity Card or passport but he said that he had lost both items. It prompted District Judge Mr Shaiffudin Saruwan to retort in jest: 'I suggest you use a bicycle chain to tie yourself to a tree or you may lose yourself as well.'"

At this very moment District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan has made me so very proud to be Singaporean. He should have sent him to jail even longer so that at least the guy could've enjoyed a few extra days of decent shelter.

On a more serious note, wtf? In that callous remark where was the respect and compassion due a human to another human? Was the judge lost in the contemplation of his wit?

In my view that remark was incredibly degrading, unnecessarily cruel and offensive. Surely this is not what we mean by the phrase 'to pass judgement'.

Sack this dude already.