Malays in 2007: Renewed confidence amidst turbulence?

Dec. 29 | By Kamal Mamat Amidst the gloom of inflation and concerns over spiky social issues, one can sense that generally, 2007 has been a positive year for the Malay community. Of course, the rising costs of goods and services dent this sentiment.

Healthcare costs increase the most, but MediFund payouts declining?

Dec. 28 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “Nov inflation hits 4.2%, 25-year high” (ST, Dec 25), and the news report “Singapore‘s Nov consumer prices up 4.2% year-on-year” (CNA, Dec 24). Healthcare registered the highest...

Contrasting Tactics of Resistance: our own Aung San Suu Kyis and Bhuttos?

Dec. 26 | By Travis Tan If a top-ten list of 2007 buzz-phrases were to be compiled, somewhere between “rising costs” and “enbloc fever” you would find “military junta” and “pro-democracy movements”. Thus, with our vocabulary extended and our eyes...

Paying more for good people – what if it backfires?

Dec. 20 | Higher pay means better leaders?

ComfortDelgro’s “self-examination” exercise

Dec. 20 | ComfortDelGro not comforting at all.

Is the Singaporean population shrinking? – Part 2

Dec. 19 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to Stephanie Lim Pek Hsia’s letter “Cap number of foreign workers they can hire” (New Paper, Nov 10), and media reports about the record jump in the number of new PRs, PRs becoming citizens and foreigners this...

Are ministers already being paid more than their private sector salary benchmark?

Dec. 18 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the report “Fatter bonus payouts expected this year” (ST, Dec 15). It states that “Employers are expected to hand out bigger bonus payouts this year… recruitment industry leaders expect this year’s...

A government-controlled media is superior to a free media?

Dec. 16 | By Benjamin Cheah On the 11th of December, the TODAY newspaper published an article titled “Social stability is key: Poll”. On first glance, it seems to support the view that a government-controlled media is superior to a free media. Indeed, its...

Is the Singaporean population shrinking? – Part 1

Dec. 14 | By Leong Sze Hian To what extent has our liberal foreign labour and citizenship policies affected Singaporeans’ rights with reference to Article 22 and 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights ? Is the Singaporean population shrinking...

Ministers, top civil servants to get 4% to 21% pay rise in Jan

Dec. 13 | Breaking News: From the Straits Times. By Lynn Lee SINGAPORE‘S ministers and top civil servants will start the New Year with a pay increase, ranging from 4 per cent to 21 per cent. This is the second phase of an increase that was decided on in...

83% Hike in Taxi Fares not Comforting at all

Dec. 12 | By Gerald Giam The newspaper, TODAY, carried this report in its August 14, 2007, issue: “For the half-year ended June 30, 2007, ComfortDelGro achieved an 8.6-per-cent increase in revenue to about $1.5 billion. Net profit rose 10.5 per cent to $113.9...

Who really is “not ready” for a non-Chinese PM?

Dec. 11 | By Gerald Giam The recent announcement of Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s promotion to Finance Minister — in addition to his current Education portfolio — set many tongues wagging as to whether he might be the successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien...

Lawyers petition Law Society of Singapore

Dec. 10 | Below is the letter which was delivered to the Law Society of Singapore earlier today by several local lawyers. (Watch the video at the end of the letter.) President The Law Society of Singapore 39 South Bridge Road Singapore 058673 HUMAN RIGHTS...

Local activists commemorate International Human Rights Day

Dec. 10 | Several Burmese activists and members and supporters of MARUAH, a group of Singaporean activists advocating the setting up of an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, commemorated International Human Rights Day in Singapore on Sunday, December 9. The group of...

Unanswered questions on Singapore’s population policy

Dec. 8 | By Dark Matter A speech by Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong at Marine Parade National Day dinner on 19 August 2006 brought public attention to the issue of falling birth rate again. The Prime Minister followed up on this issue in his National Day Rally...

International Human Rights Day Commemoration

Dec. 6 | HOW DOES IT FEEL to LIVE INSIDE AUTISM? SINGLE MOTHERS – DO THEY HAVE A VOICE? WHAT DO SAMSUI WOMEN AND MIGRANT WORKERS HAVE IN COMMON? CAN SOCIAL WORK AND ADVOCACY GO TOGETHER? International Human Rights Day (IHRD) Commemoration 8 December 2007 NAFA...

$1 billion in town council funds : what’re they used for?

Dec. 3 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the CNA news report “Prudent to protect sinking funds of town councils: DPM Wong” (CNA, Dec 2) and the article “Move to protect council funds” (Today, Dec 1). According to Creative Technology’s...

Al Jazeera reports on Singapore-Burma ties

Dec. 2 | Tony Birtley of Al Jazeera takes a look at Burmese refugees who have fled the tyranny but are prevented from peaceful demonstrations in Singapore, and call for ASEAN countries, especially Singapore, to be more transparent in their trade and financial...

Uniquely Singapore, F1 or F9: “Residents willing to pay more for service and conservancy”?

Dec. 2 | By Leong Sze Hian and Andrew Loh The following article was first published here in TOC on the 2nd of Oct 2007. The Straits Times has a report titled “New rule to safeguard council funds“, December 2nd 2007, which addresses some of the issues...