Singapore MP Was Set On Fire

Mr Seng Han Thong, a member of Singapore's parliament, was set on fire on Sunday by an angry 70-year-old man over a Chinese New Year gift. The MP was done handing out bursaries and hong baos (red envelopes which contained $135 each) at Chu Seng Temple to about 150 needy people and was settling down to lunch with them in the club's hall when the attacker poured paint thinner on the MP and ignited it with a kitchen stove lighter. According to the officials, the attacker was disgruntled at not being selected to receive the hong bao; he was arrested immediately and charged on Monday with voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means, an offence punishable by up to life in prison.

The victim

Source: The Straits Times

As a result, the Yio Chu Kang Member of Parliament suffered nearly 15 per cent burns on his face, chest and arms; he underwent a skin graft operation on his upper right arm at the Singapore Hospital. Aw Chui Seng, the temple chairman, who helped in covering the flame suffered about 10 per cent burns of his body and is recovering in the general ward in the Burns unit.

It has been reported that this is the second time that Mr Seng, who is also the adviser to the Taxi Operators' Association, has been attacked. In July 2006, he was punched by a disgruntled constituent who believed Mr Seng was not doing enough to help him get back his revoked taxi licence. Residents of Yio Chu Kang and those who have been working closely with Mr Seng described him as someone who is always willing to help. As a matter of fact, Mr Seng announced several measures to help taxi drivers tide over the economic downturn last Friday.

The attacker

Source: The Straits Times

Apparently, Mr Ong (an ex taxi driver) is a former mental patient; he was being held at a mental health institute for psychiatric test. Neighbours described Mr Ong as an eccentric character who would run up and down the corridor outside his flat for no apparent reason. Source for this article can be found here, here, here, here and here.

My oh my, I can't believe something like this happened in Singapore, one of the safest countries in the world with low crime rates.