Koh Elaine wrote:It is time our leaders recognise this and stop deceiving the world that Singapore respect the rule of law. The fact that our leaders are prepared to use the ISA against Yeng Pway Ngon and Kuo Pao Kun shows how deprave they are.
Should it be "It is time our leaders recognised this and stopped deceiving the world that Singapore respected the rule of law"?
Thanks!
It depends whether they are talking about one particular act in the past, or
their ongoing attitude. I think it is probably the attitude as a whole, even if these events were in the past
- that Singapore
respects the law
(singular because it is the country, the entity here, as a single unit)
But if this was only in the past and they are not talking about the current government, then yes
- that Singapore respected the law
also the adjective - how
depraved they are.
Although depraved is a very strong and odd term. You usually use it for sexual deviance or psychopathic torture and murder. Even though the writer clearly has very strong feelings on this matter, that seems a bit odd!