The right of privacy

By Bob Yong
21st February 2009

In no uncertain term, the right of privacy must be protected; more so, when it is blatantly violated in a place where we called home.
In politics, more often than not, those who are quick to judge others are those whose moral character is in question.
These shameful so-called leaders who are themselves immoral are making use of every single opportunity to condemn on the morality of others to gain political mileage.
Assemblywoman, Elizabeth Wong is acknowledged by many that she has done a good job in her duty as an elected state representative. She is firm when dealing with environmental issues and this perhaps causes her to step on toes of those corrupted officials.
I like to quote a passage written by P Gunasegaram from his column, Comment in The Star.
“Let’s admit and acknowledge for a wide section of the public - the vast majority of us normal human beings - there are boyfriends and girlfriends and intimate moments of great privacy. If a partner violates that privacy for any reasons, the other party is not to blame - the blame lies with the person who broke that trust, not the person who gave it.”
I share his view.
I also feel that it is a criminal act for anyone who takes and distributes the pictures which are private in nature and not intended for public circulations. Stricter laws must be at hand to protect privacy, not just for the people in power but for the general public, like you and me. I endorse harsher penalties for those responsible of this criminal act.
It is however difficult to draw a line to separate one’s public and private life when one is holding a public office. The advent of Internet makes it all the more easier for the culprit to do it.
The private lives of politicians are constantly under strict scrutiny and the aspiring politicians must be conscious of their acts and behaviors, lest their dreams to serve the country will be derailed by misfortune.