Home » Archive for January, 2009
Archive for January, 2009
Too much bad news
Jan. 31 | However, many of them felt that there are just too many negative reports about the economy in the media, especially the newspapers. The front pages have been carrying news of layoffs and companies going under, day after day. Lam Pin Min, P65 blog
Blog Feature: National Service
Jan. 31 | Today’s Blog Feature, is from Thinking Better, Thinking Meta, on National Service. Here is an excerpt from the article, Defending what’s (y)ours! I do not share the same definition of “ours” as the government and its self-professed state-independent...
Permanent removal
Jan. 31 | While capital punishment may or may not have deterred would-be offenders from committing such offences, the indisputable fact is that the offenders are removed, never to be able to repeat their crimes. This should tilt the scales in favour of capital...
Forgotten and forsaken
Jan. 30 | Story by Andrew Loh / Pictures by Mervin Lee & Kenneth Tham On 22 January, the Straits Times carried a report headlined, “Workers move out of Tagore dormitory”. It reported that the dormitory at 468 Tagore Industrial Avenue, which housed several...
A response to MOM but rejected by the Straits Times
Jan. 30 | The following is a letter sent to the Straits Times by Ms Stephanie Chok, a volunteer providing help to migrant workers. It is in response to the Ministry of Manpower’s Deputy Director, Ms Julia Ng’s letter to the Straits Times forum. (See below) The...
Press on, says MP
Jan. 30 | From the Straits Times: EVEN as he remained in hospital recovering from severe burn injuries, Yio Chu Kang MP Seng Han Thong’s thoughts were on ways to encourage the labour movement in these trying times. He designed a greeting card and gave it...
Facing joblessness? Need Help? Visit transitioning.org
Jan. 30 | As Singapore braces itself for its worst recession in its history, a group of Singaporeans is stepping forth to provide counseling help for those who are unemployed or who may be unemployed in the coming months. They have set up a website called Transitioning,...
Unleashing the “unique Singapore advantage”!
Jan. 29 | In Singapore we have tripartism, and the tripartism has served us very well. It is a unique advantage, so as we go through this downturn, our challenge is to continue to unleash this unique Singapore advantage. Both parties are under a lot of stress....
S’pore’s best budget ever but please help with HDB arrears
Jan. 29 | The following is a letter sent to the TODAY newspaper by TOC columnist Leong Sze Hian. I WOULD like to applaud the Government for what is arguably Singapore’s best Budget ever, with very comprehensive measures across the board, to help Singaporeans...
Nude shock
Jan. 29 | Then, clothes in hand, they coolly walked in their flip-flops towards the market. Reuters, on couple who walked nude in Holland Village.
Euthanasia – The right to self-determination
Jan. 29 | The earlier article, “Clarify, not prevent, false claims”, has been removed as it has been brought to our attention that it has been published before. We apologise for the error. Richard Woo I am among the minority when it comes to euthanasia...
Set a good example
Jan. 28 | Whatever can be achieved for the well-being of migrant workers in Singapore does not just stay here: It is a stimulus for progress in other countries. John Gee, President, TWC2
Why this is not election year
Jan. 28 | PN Balji Budget 2009 has been praised by many as a budget fit for the times. And in a highly-calibrated statement, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam offered something for nearly every body and went close to the extreme to save jobs and...
Litter at the Istana — on Chinese New Year
Jan. 28 | By Terence Lee / Youth Editor 27 JANUARY — NO PRIZE for guessing where this is — nope, this is not your typical hawker centre or HDB block, but THE Istana. Imagine: people littering indiscriminately at the White House. I wonder what would...
Budget deals directly with economic issues
Jan. 27 | PM Lee says to assess impact of Budget before considering further measures 26 January 2009 CNA news: PM Lee says to assess impact of Budget before considering further measures Said PM Lee: “It’s too early to say yet but we are assessing the...
Blog Feature: My dear Government, why do you treat me so?
Jan. 26 | In TOC’s “Blog Feature”, we highlight blog posts which we feel deserve special mention. If you would like to recommend any blog post for special mention on TOC, please email us at: theonlinecitizen@gmail.com . Gangasudhan’s blog post, “My Dear...
“No need to be so hurried in life and also no need to earn so much money.”
Jan. 26 | Gilbert Goh In this down time and over the festivities of the lunar Chinese New Year, it is good to take time to reflect on what we really want in our lives. During the past few years of prosperity, many have concerned themselves with making money and...
Happy new year! We will be back…
Jan. 25 | Everyone here at The Online Citizen wishes all our readers health, peace and prosperity in the new Year of the Ox. 恭喜发财! 万事如意! (TOC will be back in a few days.)
NSP on Budget 2009
Jan. 24 | One day after Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam ntroducing the Budget for FY2009, National Solidarity Party (NSP) took to Speakers’ Corner to share its view on the budget. Following is an excerpt of some of the key points made by its leaders. Mr...
Savaging filmmakers
Jan. 24 | The internal contradictions in policy, motivated by white-faced fear now fully displayed by the government, is jaw-dropping. Alex Au
No apology to public
Jan. 24 | Mr Tan has apologised to me, acknowledging that his article was ill-judged and insensitive to the feelings of Singaporeans. Peter Ho, Head of Civil Service, on Perm Sec Tan Yong Soon cooking class article
Can I work till 65, please!
Jan. 24 | Richard Ee Statistics show that we have one million ‘baby boomers’ going into retirement. What are the job opportunities for them? The Baby Boomer Survey* characterised a late baby boomer (born 1947-64) as one who is better educated (34% have some...
Who’s the boss?
Jan. 23 | Whenever I meet our leaders, I never offer my hand first. It is always them who take the first step, even PM Lee. I know my rights. And when there is eye contact from afar, they smile and nod. I’m not talking MPs, they are Ministers Ng Eng Hen,...
Budget 2009 – Singapore’s Limits
Jan. 23 | Excerpts from the Wall Street Journal: Singapore’s economy would be more resilient if it were better balanced. Consumption composes only about 40% of GDP — far less than other developed Asian economies, nearer to 55%. Yesterday’s budget...
The Budget
Jan. 23 | Leong Sze Hian 12% credit wage reimbursement Since employers can already cut wages, cut the work week and ask workers to take “no pay” leave, to what extent will the 12% job credit wage reimbursement up to the first $2,500 of wages for workers who...
Kudos…
Jan. 23 | In light of the Budget announced Thursday, where a big focus was on helping companies cope with costs, public transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT have now said they will not apply for any fare adjustment this year. Channel NewsAsia
Filming an illegal event is… illegal?
Jan. 23 | Will recording or filming of events which are considered illegal in law now itself be considered illegal? This is what the Home Affairs Ministry seems to propose to amendments of the Films Act. Does this mean that no one is allowed or will be allowed...
The high expectations required of the association
Jan. 23 | From Mr Endoh’s blog: The establishment of an association for bloggers has certainly been controversial in many aspects, which led many to speculate on the true intentions behind the move. I’m not quite sure if I can regard the enormous criticism...
Economic growth fell well below expectations
Jan. 23 | Budget for FY2009 Key Budget Initiatives Resilience Package totalling $20.5 billion to save jobs to the maximum extent and help viable companies stay afloat to prepare emerge Singapore with strength when the global economy recovers to enhance capabilities...
Budget 2009 – good or bad?
Jan. 22 | I think we did not do enough in the area of cost reduction. This is a very urgent issue, I know that the government can do a lot. Freezing government charges alone, probably, was not sufficient. We could have reduced and also looked at other areas to...
The Association of Bloggers – representing who?
Jan. 22 | From Melvin Tan’s blog: A newly formed local bloggers’ organisation is now in place. Named the Association of Bloggers (Singapore), it officially received the stamp of approval from the Registrar of Societies on 16 January 2009 and was featured...
Religious harmony in Singapore – a façade?
Jan. 22 | By Terence Lee / Youth Editor THE WORLD watched intently when Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. But being a Singaporean, it came to me as a surprise that God was invoked so many times during the ceremony....
“Effectively a dictatorship”
Jan. 22 | How else do we describe a government [which] prohibits public speech and peaceful assembly, controls [the] media, detains citizens without trial and manipulates elections? Chee Soon Juan, in message to President Obama
Life in Singapore
Jan. 22 | Tan Kin Lian / Columnist How do Singaporeans feel about life in Singapore. I carried out a survey in my blog. 115 people replied. A breakdown by age and annual income is: Below 30 20% 31 to 50 52% Above 50 28% Below $50k 51% Above...
Dissident urges Obama to push Singapore on rights
Jan. 22 | From the International Herald Tribune: A Singapore opposition leader has called on President Barack Obama to take steps to encourage the island nation’s government to stop committing human rights abuses. Chee Soon Juan, the leader of the Singapore...
Mohamed Kamaluddin
Jan. 21 | Andrew Loh (Additional reporting by Deborah Choo) *Visit Migrants Workers Singapore for consolidated news reports and articles about migrant workers. All that most Singaporeans know about Mohamed Kamaluddin, 28, is that he is the Bangladeshi worker...
When true leader speaks
Jan. 21 | President Barack Obama 2009 Inauguration and Address —– —– FULL TRANSCRIPT: President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address —– At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of...
“Move-on” law
Jan. 21 | We must remember: laws are meant to serve the people, not the government. Alex Au
Singapore inflation up 6.5% for ’08 but expectations lower for ’09
Jan. 21 | Report from Channel NewsAsia: SINGAPORE: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Singapore increased 6.5 per cent on-year in 2008 due mainly to higher costs of food, housing, transport and communications. Housing costs rose 12.7 per cent, reflecting higher...
A smaller gap?
Jan. 21 | THE income gap in Singapore last year narrowed for the first time in 10 years, as families in all income groups enjoyed higher earnings… On average, the monthly income of all households rose by about $700 in a year, from $6,300 in 2007 to $7,090 last...
BUDGET – NSP takes to Speakers’ Corner on Friday
Jan. 21 | A day after Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivers the Budget speech, the National Solidarity Party will take to Speakers’ Corner to give its views. Its secretary general, Mr Ken Sunn, says the event is to let Singaporeans “participate,...
Philip Jeyaretnam: Remove perception of government intervention in legal profession
Jan. 20 | Choo Zheng Xi / Editor-in-Chief 23 year old amendments to the Legal Profession Act curtailing the Law Society’s powers continues to be a hindrance to the perception of the legal profession’s independence. This was the view put forward yesterday...
“Live” feed of Obama’s inauguration
Jan. 20 | Barack Obama will be sworn in as the United States’ 44th President tonight (Singapore time, 11pm). Watch the event “live” here on TOC. The “live” feed is provided by the Associated Press. Via ‘Live Inauguration Guide’
PAP MP floats idea of minimum wage, criticizes ‘overheated’ growth model
Jan. 20 | Choo Zheng Xi / Editor-in-Chief “If we would like to see Singapore moving up as one of the most developed countries in the world, and costs increase accordingly, lower income Singaporeans might need a minimum wage to survive.” A minimum wage law...
The “rights” balance
Jan. 20 | Leong Sze Hian / Columnist I refer to Dr Chee Soon Juan’s response to the Minister of Law’s remarks in conjunction with the opening of the legal year, that Singaporeans should not protest against the laws of Singapore. How do we strike the right...
Singapore May See 200,000 Foreigners Leave, Credit Suisse Says
Jan. 20 | Report by Shamim Adam from Bloomberg: Singapore’s population may shrink in the next two years as “sizeable” job losses amid the city- state’s deepest recession force 200,000 foreigners to leave, Credit Suisse Group said. About 300,000 jobs may...
Time to protect the worker
Jan. 20 | The following is a letter by Gilbert Goh which was sent to the Straits Times. I refer to the recent news about errant employers who cheated on their foreign workers and many others who provide a raw deal to our local workers. I am glad that Ministry...
Cooking up a storm?
Jan. 19 | It struck a discordant note during the current difficult economic circumstances when it is especially important to show solidarity and empathy for Singaporeans who are facing uncertainties and hardship. Teo Chee Hean, Minister in charge of the Civil...
Muddy Singapore – an update
Jan. 19 | This is an update on the Chinese workers who were featured in Alex Au’s articles, Muddy Singapore Swallows China Workers (Part One & Two). You can also read Alex Au’s updates here: http://yawningbread.org/ Stephanie Chok There has been...
