The Importance of Being Paranoid

After writing my article "It's Time" which came about in response to Wong Kim Hoh's "Chagrin and Bare it" I pondered over the contents. It made me recall another case of harassment. Rev. Samuel Sia was finally acquitted, but what happend to the lady accuser? If the law should punish and jail a man if he is found guilty, then why does the law not punish the lady if she loses her case? You can imagine the stress and anguish the accused and his family and friends had to go through all those horrendous months of humiliation and pain.

Recently I helped a client, Mr. Ong, to sell his 5 room HDB flat. He told me that the moment some agents knew he was going to sell his flat, many attempted to get an exclusive from him. A lady agent who happened to pass by insisted on coming in to have a look at his lovely flat, but Mr. Ong, adamantly refused, saying that he was the only one at home as his wife was in church. He proudly declared to me, "You never know, Choo, nowadays it is very dangerous. Women are very bold now. What if the lady shouts molest...even if I were innocent, I would be in deep trouble. It would be her words against mine and she would not go to jail even if I were finally proven innocent!" I commended my client for his wisdom. Until the law changes, it is wiser for the men to be extra cautious, even to the point of being paranoid. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Gan Chau :-)