Man sets Singapore lawmaker on fire

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Monday, 12 January 2009

CNN

A Singapore lawmaker was in intensive care Monday after a man set him on fire at a community event, a hospital official told CNN.

Seng Han Thong of the ruling People's Action Party underwent skin graft surgery at Singapore General Hospital Monday morning and was in stable condition, said hospital spokeswoman Junaidah Hameed.

Seng suffered burns to his face and chest after a man in his 70s came up behind him as he was sitting down for lunch, poured thinner on him and set him on fire, party official George Tan told reporters.

An event organizer who rushed to Seng's aid and tried to douse the flames was also injured, the hospital said.

Seng had gone to the community center in his parliamentary district to hand out money to residents -- a tradition among many politicians ahead of the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 26 this year.

The attacker was a 70-year-old former cab driver who has been in and out of a mental clinic in recent months, the English-language daily newspaper the Straits Times reported.

Tan, the party official, said the man had met Seng at several meet-and-greets and complained about "evil spirits in his house."

"No matter what the reason is, and whatever condition the person is in, that is no reason to commit such a crime against anyone, not just against an MP [member of parliament]," Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told reporters at the hospital.

Two years ago, Seng was attacked at another community event by another cab driver, the newspaper said. In that incident, the cab driver punched Seng because he was upset that the lawmaker was not helping him get his revoked license reinstated.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/12/singapore.lawmaker/index.html

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Comments (12)

Tue 13 Jan 2009 8:56 AM | AnnA - Hmmm.. Suspicious.

If there are 2 incidents on different occasions and a totally different year apart, I think this MP must be somehow 'rude' to these people. Or most likely he is somewhat an arrogant person. How come 2 different people snapped on the same MP and the only MP in Singapore who got 'beaten' up twice? Perhaps his words are too flowery.

Tue 13 Jan 2009 4:26 PM | Gopalan Nair

Is this an indication of the widening rift between the people and Lee Kuan Yew dictatorship?

Tue 13 Jan 2009 7:59 PM | tan

This is the direction we are going, thanks to LKY. Well done.

Tue 13 Jan 2009 8:34 PM | tan

Happy chinese new year.

Tue 13 Jan 2009 9:30 PM | Level Playing Ground

We should all set off fire crackers to celebrate!

Tue 13 Jan 2009 9:59 PM | Tan Tai Wei

By reporting that the attacker is a mental patient, the local press leads the public to assume that the attack has no political significance - just insanity and so motiveless, or no motive worthy of note.

And yet, he is to be prosecuted, and when convicted jailed and probably whipped.

Now, this implies sanity and responsibility, and his having reasons for attacking an MP (not anyone else), which may have political significance.

Wed 14 Jan 2009 12:06 AM | tan

I read many of the comments regarding this incident on TOC and it is obvious that many have shown(not very obvious)malicious joy although not supportive of the violent action itself. It was also obvious that what actually happened was not really the talking point. More so that Seng represents the govt or the PAP, the attacker the common folks or us and the attack a strike at the authority. In this sense it was a feeling of opportunity, a chance finally being able to "give one back to them" A lot of people are not happy with the govt's style of red-tape, top-heavy management and the years of repressing freedom of expressions. So an incident ike this gave the people hope that all is not lost yet, that the people do have the power after all. I'm sure there are many who do not agree on this and I'm sure there are those who get my drift. Too bad it happened, Seng, could've been worse. Sympathy? Nay, not from me dude, I ain't got any, sorry it happened tho and besides, this is Singapore and that's the way the govt runs this place. Get well soon so you can serve the people.

Wed 14 Jan 2009 12:06 AM | Disappointed Citizen - Singapore Lawmaker On Fire

He deserved it!

This is a sign of problems not solved by our lawmakers. NATO lawmaker set on fire.

Is our lives better off after reign by this current, dominant party.

Disappointed Citizen

Wed 14 Jan 2009 10:30 AM | AnnA - Disappointed Citizen

I BELIEVE our lives will be better without the current ruling party. Obviously another party who has been oppressed on their livelihood will try to avoid this kind of system.

Yes, BETTER

Definitely, BETTER

Absolutely, BETTER

Although slowly... It WILL STILL BE BETTER!!

And I for one, believe so :) Who else?

Wed 14 Jan 2009 7:53 PM | Dick - The begining of the end

The violent action is not condoned, but the significant of it, is.

Someone from the bottom of the society got even with a ruling elite as there's no other avenue out for him.

Dirty Harry is slowly paying the price for suppression of freedom in Singapore.

Those with nothing to loose, will resort to this type of retaliation since we have no more faith in the democratic way through ballot box.

Fri 16 Jan 2009 3:28 AM | tewniaseng

Hi Harry Lee,I love you.Chinese New Year you eat abalone,shark fin,Buddha jump over the wall....I eat ikan bilis,rotten salted egg,cucumber,brandless roti.Thank you Harry for ruling Spore 50 years anniversary coming.Hope you can see the 100 years anniversary!!!

Thu 22 Jan 2009 1:39 AM | fooyy

?! Okay, he must be really incensed...
According to the Strait's Times, (okay lah, you guys don't trust it) he didnt get ang pow. Happy CNY then...

If you buay song, don't actually set him on fire lor. But can give oppo tips...that way you wont kena arrested, and if you do, then you can ask then: Eh, you got see my vote meh?

Want to vent anger on someone at least use a bit of brain. Strong substantives can topple point-of-informations in debates, if any