Home » Archive for February, 2008
Archive for February, 2008
Home Affairs Minister’s explanation on terrorist escape
Feb. 29 | Latest from the Straits Times: Mas Selamat has fled to Indonesia: The Star. SINGAPORE‘S most wanted terror fugitive, Mas Selamat Kestari, who had worked with Malaysian Jemaah Islamiah members to carry out terrorist activities at one time, is believed...
Breaking News: INTERPOL issues global alert for suspected terror leader
Feb. 29 | From INTERPOL’s website. An urgent worldwide security alert, or Orange Notice, has been issued by INTERPOL after the escape of an alleged leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group from a jail in Singapore. Mas Selamat bin Kastari escaped from...
Why a lapse of four hours before public was notified?
Feb. 29 | This is a letter by student Lee Weijia sent to the Straits Times Forum Page. TOC thanks Weijia for allowing us to publish it here. Dear Sir, The escape of Mas Selamat, and the subsequent response to the escape, has raised many queries. However, I would...
Bloggers’ reaction to JI leader’s escape
Feb. 28 | Unfortunately Singapore – JI Detainee Escapes: State Not Intrusive Enough? “Minister Wong sure has some explaining to do. First of which is how a limping middle-aged man could escape from an ISD run facility?” Pleinelune – Great,...
“Limping Terorist” escapes – 10 questions for Wong Kan Seng
Feb. 28 | Channel NewsAsia (CNA): “Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng has cited a lapse in security at the Whitley Detention Centre on Wednesday as the cause for the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) member Mas Selamat Kastari.” 1. Given that Mas Selamat...
Government fees freeze doesn’t address real concerns
Feb. 28 | By Andrew Loh It is interesting to note that the Finance Minister announced the extension of the freeze on government fees and charges only on the third day of the Budget debate – after criticisms of it not doing enough to alleviate Singaporeans’...
Bitter medicine prescription – with a little spin thrown in
Feb. 26 | Breaking News: Feb 27: Freeze on government fees extended till end of 2008. The one-year freeze on government fees which kicked in last July will be extended till the end of 2008. This will include fees charged on all government-provided services such...
CPF Life – does it really address retirement needs?
Feb. 26 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “Income that stretches a lifetime, under new scheme” (BT, Feb 13). Under the old CPF system, a minimum sum (MS) of $ 67,000 at age 55, at the old guaranteed interest rate of 4 per cent, can provide...
Homeless soon, thanks to HDB
Feb. 25 | By Selene Cheng 6.5 million people. That is the projected number of people our government believes Singapore can accommodate. Already, 80% of the population lives in subsidised housing, and with the development of estates in Sengkang and Punggol, no one...
Reflections on Budget 2008
Feb. 22 | By Eric Tan Heng Chong My parents taught me to be gracious when you receive a gift, and not to scrutinise it. This year Singaporeans received a ‘gift’ in the form of the Budget. There are many good things about the Budget for both individuals and...
Knowledge-based economy needs more Uni education financing
Feb. 20 | By Gerald Giam FINANCE Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced in his 2008 Budget Speech that the Government will increase the CDC/CCC-University Bursaries for students from the lowest 20 percent of households from $1,000 to $1,600. This is a step in...
5 Minutes With… Leong Sze Hian on the budget
Feb. 18 | With reference to the Straits Times report – Hongbao Budget. Straits Times: SINGAPOREANS received a $1.8 billion surplus-sharing hong bao from Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday. TOC: The Straits Times also reported a total surplus of...
Budget Speech 2008
Feb. 15 | This is an extract from the Budget Speech by Minister of Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Enhancing Financial Security in Retirement This year, we are moving on four further initiatives to help ensure adequate savings for retirement. Voluntary Savings...
A CASE of double standards?
Feb. 15 | UPDATE: 20 Feb 2008: CASE to hold its annual “Walk With CASE” event on March 16, 2008. Its website says: ““Walk with CASE” is a mass event which will bring together over 5,000 consumers…” By Andrew Loh Every year, on March 15, consumer...
Uniquely Singapore – F1 or F9: Income statistics?
Feb. 13 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “Economic growth key to dealing with rising costs: PM: He says incomes must rise more than inflation, and growth means more income” (ST, Feb 9). It states that “Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong...
Breaking News: Malaysia PM calls for general elections
Feb. 13 | Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has dissolved Parliament, paving the way for national polls to be held in Malaysia. The polls must be held within 60 days of Parliament’s dissolution. Read Reuters’ report. ———–
Separating fact from fiction – Addressing the allegations against theonlinecitizen
Feb. 12 | Theonlinecitizen (TOC) would like to address certain allegations which have been expressed against TOC in recent weeks. Addressing the allegations (highlighted in bold font): One: TOC is an anti-establishment, anti-PAP, anti-govt blog/website. TOC is...
Allegations against TOC
Feb. 12 | Dear everyone, We are aware of the allegations against TOC. We will be responding shortly to those allegations. In the meantime, we ask for your patience. Thank you. Regards, Andrew Loh
NKF – more in reserves now than during the scandal
Feb. 5 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “NKF moves forward with $31.2m in surplus” (BT, Dec 15), and media reports that charities like the Salvation Army, Boys Brigade, Heartware Network, etc, received less donations during the Christmas...
5 Minutes With… Leong Sze Hian on rising inflation
Feb. 4 | 5 Minutes With… is a new column on theonlinecitizen where we get a more immediate reaction to a news item of the day. In this first installment, TOC chats with Leong Sze Hian, the President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, about...
