Comments on: Where’s the compassion in our “fine city”? http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/ a community of Singaporeans Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:57:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Article 1 « http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-120950 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Article 1 « Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:20:23 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-120950 [...] about Singapore? Read this report here. Leave a Comment No Comments Yet so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. [...] [...] about Singapore? Read this report here. Leave a Comment No Comments Yet so far Leave a comment RSS feed for comments on this post. [...]

]]> By: george http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-99679 george Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:19:52 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-99679 The Sinkapore judicial system is an extension of the PAP regime. It is there to enforce PAP rules and visions. Being a poor citizen has no place in Sinkapore. Sinkapore PLC is a PAP company to be managed which way that pleases the dictator and its citizens just like employees to be treated just like a digits in a spreadsheet. The true citizens of Singapore rise up and speak your mind for justice and equality. One cannot turned a blind eye to the injustice being perpuatuated by the PAP regime day in and day out for all this years. Do you have to wait your of misfortune before you realised that the a rotten system called the First World is actually a mirage? The Sinkapore judicial system is an extension of the PAP regime. It is there to enforce PAP rules and visions. Being a poor citizen has no place in Sinkapore. Sinkapore PLC is a PAP company to be managed which way that pleases the dictator and its citizens just like employees to be treated just like a digits in a spreadsheet. The true citizens of Singapore rise up and speak your mind for justice and equality. One cannot turned a blind eye to the injustice being perpuatuated by the PAP regime day in and day out for all this years. Do you have to wait your of misfortune before you realised that the a rotten system called the First World is actually a mirage?

]]> By: Amused http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-99248 Amused Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:45:14 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-99248 Daniel, A "living wage" must include the housing component. Rent/Mortgage is a huge expense in SG. If the lady you mentioned is paying installment on a new HDB flat bought at current rates, (say price of 150k with 20% downpayment), she would have to pay $438 (1.9% p/a 30 years) or $480 (2.6% p/a 30 years) for housing. Note that one is not likely to be able to rent a whole unit 3-room HDB flat at this cost. That's why one can't camp without permit at the parks - no contribution of $$$ to the Govt. Daniel,

A “living wage” must include the housing component. Rent/Mortgage is a huge expense in SG.

If the lady you mentioned is paying installment on a new HDB flat bought at current rates, (say price of 150k with 20% downpayment), she would have to pay $438 (1.9% p/a 30 years) or $480 (2.6% p/a 30 years) for housing. Note that one is not likely to be able to rent a whole unit 3-room HDB flat at this cost.

That’s why one can’t camp without permit at the parks – no contribution of $$$ to the Govt.

]]> By: NS_khaki_beret_man http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-99242 NS_khaki_beret_man Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:24:51 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-99242 Would they send poor and homeless to DB some day if jail is full? Would they send poor and homeless to DB some day if jail is full?

]]> By: Daniel http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-99138 Daniel Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:42:32 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-99138 "It prompted District Judge Mr Shaiffudin Saruwan to retort in jest: ‘I suggest you use a bicycle chain to tie yourself to a tree or you may lose yourself as well.’" Maybe the judge should also have told Noor to be grateful to the government because not only he doesn't have to pay the fine if he can't afford to, he will also be entitled to free accomodation and curry eyes with 24 hours protection for 4 days ! “It prompted District Judge Mr Shaiffudin Saruwan to retort in jest: ‘I suggest you use a bicycle chain to tie yourself to a tree or you may lose yourself as well.’”

Maybe the judge should also have told Noor to be grateful to the government because not only he doesn’t have to pay the fine if he can’t afford to, he will also be entitled to free accomodation and curry eyes with 24 hours protection for 4 days !

]]> By: mice is nice http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-99136 mice is nice Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:31:52 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-99136 with NDP not a too distant past, these are signs of a divided society. with NDP not a too distant past, these are signs of a divided society.

]]> By: hicknayed http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-99069 hicknayed Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:50:04 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-99069 Oh my god, the judge actually said that? How callous but not surprising bearing in mind many rich and powerful people including MPs here always say this kind of scathing remarks to kek us commoners. Really no commpasion. Oh my god, the judge actually said that? How callous but not surprising bearing in mind many rich and powerful people including MPs here always say this kind of scathing remarks to kek us commoners. Really no commpasion.

]]> By: NS_khaki_beret_man http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-99012 NS_khaki_beret_man Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:33:39 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-99012 This judge should be sent to SAF Ranger training for saying something so rude! Wait if he can survived in Thai jungles! This judge should be sent to SAF Ranger training for saying something so rude! Wait if he can survived in Thai jungles!

]]> By: Ang Tong Hai http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98645 Ang Tong Hai Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:02:43 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98645 Is there Compassion in : "no one owes u a living" ? Is there Compassion in :

“no one owes u a living” ?

]]> By: Homeless in Singapore | Uncompassionate Judge « iamspidermonkey speaks! http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98593 Homeless in Singapore | Uncompassionate Judge « iamspidermonkey speaks! Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:05:54 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98593 [...] To find out more… check out the on-going debate at The Online Citizen – Where’s the compassion in our “Fine City”? [...] [...] To find out more… check out the on-going debate at The Online Citizen – Where’s the compassion in our “Fine City”? [...]

]]> By: hyder http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98572 hyder Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:21:12 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98572 I do not understand how slapping an $800 fine on someone who clearly cannot pay makes economic sense. You fine someone $800, then remand him for 4 days. Who ends up paying for this? Why, the taxpayer of course. It really seems like a lose-lose situation for everyone: The Defendant gets a tarnished record of sorts, and the taxpayer's dollars are wasted on the facilities and meals provided by the corrective institutions. I do not understand how slapping an $800 fine on someone who clearly cannot pay makes economic sense.

You fine someone $800, then remand him for 4 days. Who ends up paying for this? Why, the taxpayer of course.

It really seems like a lose-lose situation for everyone: The Defendant gets a tarnished record of sorts, and the taxpayer’s dollars are wasted on the facilities and meals provided by the corrective institutions.

]]> By: anakin http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98490 anakin Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:40:20 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98490 Hi Adrian, "but the point I’m trying to make is really just that $720 a month isn’t really all that bad." didn't you know that Singapore is the 2nd most expensive city in Asia after Tokyo and Japanese and twice the per capital income. Can you survive on such a meagre salary? Hi Adrian,

“but the point I’m trying to make is really just that $720 a month isn’t really all that bad.”

didn’t you know that Singapore is the 2nd most expensive city in Asia after Tokyo and Japanese and twice the per capital income. Can you survive on such a meagre salary?

]]> By: ah kow http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98369 ah kow Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:13:08 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98369 Our people in the Ministries should not act blur and wait for TV stations/newspapers to respond. example, private schools with cheating intention luring foreign students, foreign workers without work but end up sleeping on road sides. These are inefficencies that we should look deep down at and ask why ? These people will not forget their bad experiences and eventually we hurt ourselves as we are no difference from our neighbours. Our people in the Ministries should not act blur and wait for TV stations/newspapers to respond. example, private schools with cheating intention luring foreign students, foreign workers without work but end up sleeping on road sides. These are inefficencies that we should look deep down at and ask why ? These people will not forget their bad experiences and eventually we hurt ourselves as we are no difference from our neighbours.

]]> By: Ken http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98345 Ken Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:02:47 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98345 'Judge a man not by how he treats his equals, but by how he treats his inferiors'. Of course, when you have a judge judging his inferiors with contempt, it is a bad sign... ‘Judge a man not by how he treats his equals, but by how he treats his inferiors’. Of course, when you have a judge judging his inferiors with contempt, it is a bad sign…

]]> By: c-p-k http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98282 c-p-k Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:05:42 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98282 Heh Eric Brooks, take a good look at this and learn not to jump to hasty conclusions. Do Canadian judges fine, jail and chain poor Canadians to trees?!? Heh Eric Brooks, take a good look at this and learn not to jump to hasty conclusions.
Do Canadian judges fine, jail and chain poor Canadians to trees?!?

]]> By: Eureka http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98229 Eureka Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:03:21 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98229 The main reason why there is a rising number of homeless for the past few years is the high price of the HDB pigeonholes. When you have to pay up to 1/3 of your salary on the HDB mortgage, this puts people in a dangerous situation when they get retrenched when their savings cannot tide them over two years of being jobless. When these people delay their payment to the bank for 3 months, the bank will seize the flat over and resell the flat in the open market. The owners have to be evicted and become homeless. Fining the guy over "illegal" camping in the park is not going to prevent homeless people from seeking refuge in the parks. Please have compassion, his guy is already homeless and can't afford to pay the fines lah. The kangaroo judge should not chide him by telling him to hang himself over a bike chain in the tree (aka commit suicide). I suggest the government should build more 1 room flats to reserve for those homeless people evicted from home and charge a very cheap rent of $50. This will ensure most homeless people can have temporary place to stay in instead of sleeping in the parks, benches or void deck. The main reason why there is a rising number of homeless for the past few years is the high price of the HDB pigeonholes. When you have to pay up to 1/3 of your salary on the HDB mortgage, this puts people in a dangerous situation when they get retrenched when their savings cannot tide them over two years of being jobless. When these people delay their payment to the bank for 3 months, the bank will seize the flat over and resell the flat in the open market. The owners have to be evicted and become homeless. Fining the guy over “illegal” camping in the park is not going to prevent homeless people from seeking refuge in the parks. Please have compassion, his guy is already homeless and can’t afford to pay the fines lah. The kangaroo judge should not chide him by telling him to hang himself over a bike chain in the tree (aka commit suicide). I suggest the government should build more 1 room flats to reserve for those homeless people evicted from home and charge a very cheap rent of $50. This will ensure most homeless people can have temporary place to stay in instead of sleeping in the parks, benches or void deck.

]]> By: Adrian http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98133 Adrian Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:58:58 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98133 Amused - I agree with a lot of what you said, but I disagree that $720 a month (even if it comes at 60 hours a week) isn't a living wage in Singapore. I know a lady who supports herself and her son (just the two of them living in a three-room flat) just by selling kueh-kueh and earning some $500 a month. Of course, you can argue that it's not so bad for her cos she already has a roof over her head, but the point I'm trying to make is really just that $720 a month isn't really all that bad. Amused – I agree with a lot of what you said, but I disagree that $720 a month (even if it comes at 60 hours a week) isn’t a living wage in Singapore.

I know a lady who supports herself and her son (just the two of them living in a three-room flat) just by selling kueh-kueh and earning some $500 a month. Of course, you can argue that it’s not so bad for her cos she already has a roof over her head, but the point I’m trying to make is really just that $720 a month isn’t really all that bad.

]]> By: whjho http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98117 whjho Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:32:50 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98117 I guess the Judge needs to reinforce and make sure that MM Lee's " Where are the beggars? Show me." is proven. Since this poor little boy violated MM Lee's vision for Spore, the sandwiched Judge has to find some laws to pluck it. I guess the Judge needs to reinforce and make sure that MM Lee’s ” Where are the beggars? Show me.” is proven.

Since this poor little boy violated MM Lee’s vision for Spore, the sandwiched Judge has to find some laws to pluck it.

]]> By: sturmtruppen http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98111 sturmtruppen Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:26:33 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98111 folks....what the judge if he actually actuate those demeaning de-humanising words is most un-called for Mr Noor who is already in dire straits. instead of being funny or witty or being wise at Mr Noor expense, and also giving Mr Noor a criminal record thus making his life become more of a living hell in singapore [with a criminal record, harder to get a job]... since the past can't be change unless someone is authority made the changes to help Mr Noor in his situation... can the judge [since he post-create this unfair and undue scenario] help in a more constructive and more humane way [yeah meals and lodging for 4 days...but wrong way to go about it] once Mr Noor is out of jail by getting him into some kind of public assistance scheme or joh assistance scheme. folks….what the judge if he actually actuate those demeaning de-humanising words is most un-called for Mr Noor who is already in dire straits.

instead of being funny or witty or being wise at Mr Noor expense, and also giving Mr Noor a criminal record thus making his life become more of a living hell in singapore [with a criminal record, harder to get a job]…

since the past can’t be change unless someone is authority made the changes to help Mr Noor in his situation…

can the judge [since he post-create this unfair and undue scenario] help in a more constructive and more humane way [yeah meals and lodging for 4 days...but wrong way to go about it] once Mr Noor is out of jail by getting him into some kind of public assistance scheme or joh assistance scheme.

]]> By: loop http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/08/where%e2%80%99s-the-compassion-in-our-%e2%80%9cfine-city%e2%80%9d/comment-page-2/#comment-98057 loop Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:51:33 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=12533#comment-98057 Town Councils, GIC & Temasek should be made to pay for all these fines since they lost so much $. Town Councils, GIC & Temasek should be made to pay for all these fines since they lost so much $.

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