absolutum dominium

Extracted from Thio Li-Ann's article: Recent Constitutional Developments: of Shadows and Whips, Race, and Rights, Terror and Tudungs, Women and Wrongs

"First, a narrow definition of political speech is adhered to insofar as the government has
stated its view that only people involved in politics, that is, politicians, should engage in
political discourse, meaning, the merits and otherwise of policies of the day. The range of
speakers is thus limited, unduly. Secondly, in engaging in political speech, one is
enjoined not to transcend the "OB markers", presumably in terms of subject matter.
These OB markers, notoriously ambiguous, are declared by the government and must inject a
high degree of uncertainty and thus, exert a muzzling effect on potential speech. Last, one
should preserve a certain deference in debating, best encapsulated by the admonition to
maintain distinctions between the senior and junior party, what the Hokkiens refer to as "boh
tua, boh suay". In making this observation, Minister George Yeo noted: "You must make
distinctions -- what is high, what is low, what is above, what is below -- and then, within this,
we can have a debate, we can have a discussion". Thus, his view is that political authorities
are to be treated as superior and that the average man in the street must not presume to
address them as "equals". This rejects the idea of democratic equality in favour of an
antiquated feudalism. Cumulatively, this requirement that only politicians speak politics in a
manner which respects authority and within the constraints of undefined OB markers sets its
face against robust, free and frank debate. This tendency to control speech will have to be
managed against the government's desire to be more consultative and to promote civic
participation."