Man with pistol gets 12½ years, 17 strokes

I refer to The Straits Times of Friday, June 25, 2010, Page A3. “Man with pistol gets 12½ years, 17 strokes”

A brief summary of the entire article: Low Hua Choon, 42 was busted last July for delivering duty-unpaid cigarettes to customers. He also hid a pistol given by his friend, Guan Choon, in a black bag at the back of his truck, which also became a millstone around his neck. A man called, and requested for Hua Choon to deliver the cigarettes to Chai Chee and Ang mo Kio. It was in Ang Mo Kio that he was caught and his fate was sealed. His lawyer said that (as quoted) “ Low wanted to get rid of the pistol, but did not know how to” and “he was ‘very sure’ he would never need to use it”

What are my thoughts: Well, after looking at this same article for the second time, I have contrasting views. My first thoughts were that, this person deserves what he received, which was the proclaimed sentence. However, on second thoughts, I pitied him.

Why is that so? I shall explain my distinct feelings.

On one hand, I know that what he did was reprehensible. He delivered contraband cigarettes, which were duty-unpaid and illegally imported into Singapore. It is against the Singaporean laws, and he should be sentenced to imprisonment. Other than being an illegal contraband cigarette seller, he could have taken up other jobs, instead of engaging in these kinds of unlawful importing and exporting. He could work as a cleaner, having a lawful job, instead of smuggling contraband cigarettes.

Instead of constantly living in fear, with his heart constantly pounding, why not go and learn a new subject at any educational institution? Instead of engaging in unlawful activities, why not learn a new skill that will be useful in the long run? Is it for the money? Will it even benefit him? He knows that he can run, but he can’t hide. Therefore, sooner or later, he will still be caught by the local authorities for just one slight mistake. Is it even worth the hassle, to go through so much, and the eventual result being imprisonment? Therefore, what he did was erroneous. And he deserves his outcome.

On the other hand, I pity him. What is our society becoming of now? It is too meritocratic. Low Hua Choon, being with a record for having a 1994 conviction for rioting and causing grievous hurt, will not get a single chance or opportunity to turn over a new leaf. He is unable to get a job just with the employer looking at his previous criminal records. The employers won’t want a person who is a past offender working under them. Why? He is not trustworthy. If money is lost, or the whole shop is burnt down, the first person that they will blame would be the past offender. This is because of a hasty generalization that criminals are deceitful.

Many people in Singapore reward those that do well, and are biased against those who do their job poorly. Even if he is a post-graduate, but has a criminal record under his belt, it would still be hard on him to get a job. Therefore, Singapore is meritocratic till the extent that past offenders do not get another chance. This forces the past offenders, be it by drug abuse, being a runner or illegal betting, to work for the secret society once again.

With that, I leave you with two questions:

1)Is it right for Singapore to be so meritocratic?
2)With Singapore's laws being so strict, is it propitious for us as Singaporeans?

Thank you.