Gordon Bennett wasn't without his failings in Malaya. He refused to demolish the towers in Johore overlooking the Singapore straits (which proved to be invaluable to the Japanese) because they belonged to his good mate, the Sultan of Johore. The British were party to a similar imbecility in refusing to destroy a large number of motor launches at Penang and other ports in northern Malaya 'because they were private property'.
The Japanese used these launches to great effect in putting the 'penetration parties' referred to in Andu's post behind the British front lines and accelerating their advance south.
It was another time... and I can just picture some long term colonial tea planter or official spluttering in indignation at the very thought of some junior military type suggesting that they destroy his floating gin palace.
Some indication of out of touch with relity they were might be gained by the fact that they held a bloody ball at Raffles the night before the surrender!