This comment by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan more or less confirmed the fact that superior forces were responsible for the shutdown of the Today newspaper column by Mr Brown.

“If you feel there is a problem with cost of living, say so, let’s collectively explore solutions. But don’t in the name of humour distort or aggravate on an emotional level. That sort of discourse does not generate solutions. It generates more heat than light.

“So we should put this in its proper context. If someone says something which we disagree with, we will say so. If someone says something which is unhelpful we have a right to say it is unhelpful. We have a right to remind everyone that at the end of the day, this is not a fight.

“We are in search of solutions and by working together and by engaging in an honest constructive dialogue we can do so and we want our newspapers to be a part of that process and also to be aware that, the mainstream media in particular. You are not an internet chat room.”

Problem is, would higher forces openly admit to doing that?