You can't handle the truth! (Uniquely Singapore)

How many of you have watched the film, "A Few Good Men" starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore among others?

This film is set about a military trial of US Marines who were court martialled for doing a "code-red" (blanket party or tekan in SAF lingo) or unauthorised punishment of a fellow marine. The controversy and interesting part of the film was that the two Marines claimed that they were ordered by their superior officer to carry out the "code-red" which the chain of command denies.



The most famous line uttered in the film was that by Jack Nicholson who played the character Colonel Nathan R. Jessep who was the Commanding Officer of the unit where the two Marines were stationed. His famous words confessing defiantly when cross examined by the legal prosecutor (played by Tom Cruise) were:

You can't handle the truth!

... I have a greater responsibility that you can possibly fathom...

Colonel Jessup goes on to admit that he did order the "code-red" and defended his actions by saying the ends (defending US interests) overrided the means (illegality of ordering the "code-red" on Private Santiago which resulted in his accidental death).

What does this film has to do with the controversy that involves the Minister for Finance deflecting valid questions by Members of Parliament on the "strategic differences" that triggered Chip Goodyear's sudden departure from Temasek Holdings (a State-owned investment company)?

The similiarity is that the Minister of Finance is doing a Colonel Jessup. He is essentially saying that the ends -- letting Temasek operate in a completely non-transparent manner in how it (arbitrarily) selects and removes its Chief Executive Officer justifies the means -- not telling us what the "strategic differences" that triggered the departure.

He is essentially saying although the matter is of public interest, it is not sufficient because it serves no "strategic purpose".

I disagree with the honourable Minister. The strategic purpose is public accountability and trust in a Government owned investment company whose assets and whole reason for existence is to achieve returns for the people.

The people. Rakyat. You and I who hold the pink NRIC. You and I who are male and serve 2 - 2.5 years of full-time NS plus 10-13 years of annual reservist duties.

Temasek is not a publicly listed commercial company. It was started using the surpluses generated from taxing the PEOPLE. It is set up by the Government which is meant to represent the interests of the PEOPLE and not a particular group of PEOPLE.

I fear that Minister Tharman is telling us we can't handle the truth, and thus it continues to be withheld from us.

But Minister Tharman, only the truth will set you free.

Half-truths, non-disclosures and lack of accountability will not.

Majullah Singapura.