Home » Archive for November, 2009
Archive for November, 2009
Importing foreign labour not sustainable, says Citigroup economist
Nov. 30 | Over the last few years, Singapore’s rapid growth has been mostly driven by a massive increase in the workforce… But it is clear that growth powered by importing foreign labour is simply not sustainable. Citigroup economist, Kit Wei Zheng
Was Singapore just a fishing village?
Nov. 30 | It has often been said that Singapore was just a “fishing village” before independence and the arrival of the People’s Action Party. “Many years ago, when Singa pore was just a fishing village, our forefathers came here in search...
Press Muse: Age of extremes
Nov. 30 | Latest: The S’pore Prison Service, in a letter to Yong Vui Kong’s brother, says the death sentence passed on Yong Vui Kong will be carried out on 4 December 2009. TOC understands Vui Kong’s lawyer is making a last-ditch attempt to have...
Wonderful
Nov. 29 | A new Singapore record was set on Sunday for the largest number of people passing wishing spheres in formation. Channelnewsasia
Why I prefer Canada’s education system – world-ranking or not
Nov. 29 | Wing Lee Cheong / Canada “Singapore’s ranked 1st in quality education system in the world” – Global Competitiveness Report 2007–2008 “Singapore ranked one of the world’s best-performing school systems” – McKinsey...
Malaysiakini turns 10, so where’s Singaporekini?
Nov. 28 | As Malaysiakini, an independent Malaysian news website, celebrates its 10th anniversary, Cherian George gives his take on why a “Singaporekini” has not emerged here in Singapore. Cherian George SINGAPOREANS may fancy ourselves the most envied nation...
“Cheaper, better, faster.” NASA’s slogan before 1999 crash
Nov. 28 | Cheaper. Better. Faster. NASA’s slogan – before the twin Mars mission disasters in 1999. Someone please inform Lim Swee Say. The Online Citizen Facebook
Singapore company to lay Burma pipeline
Nov. 28 | A marine engineering company in Singapore has signed a multimillion dollar contract to lay pipeline off the shores of Burma next year. Voice of America
Barber in the alley
Nov. 28 | Mr Lee Yoon Tong used to operate his own salon in a shophouse in Tanjong Pagar. In 2002, he was evicted after a property firm bought over the land his salon used to sit on. He was compensated with a token S$1,000 as moving expenses. He then wrote to...
President rejects clemency petition for Yong Vui Kong
Nov. 27 | Andrew Loh Yong Vui Kong’s death sentence “should stand”, the Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to President Nathan said in a letter from the Istana. In a one-sentence response to the petition for clemency for Yong, which was sent to the President...
MEOW
Nov. 27 | “If you are not greedy, you are not Chinese. If you are not backstabbing, you are not Indian. If you are not lazy, ‘sorry’, contented, you are not Malay. If you are not made of all these three, then you are not a Singaporean.” In...
Reducing the cost of living – the Lean way
Nov. 27 | Jeisilan Sivalingam How can we become more efficient and effective while at the same time reduce costs? In these incredibly tough budget times, you would think government agencies would be trying to emulate private enterprises and be working extra hard...
Children with disabilities & the Compulsory Education Act
Nov. 27 | Please use the “Email this article to a friend” button at the end of this article and help us let your friends or family know about this event, especially those who may have children with disabilities. From Maruah: Dear all, The International...
Thieves went on shopping spree, victim has to pay
Nov. 27 | The three banks that issued her with the credit cards that were stolen and used by thieves have told her that she is liable for 75 per cent of the $17,100 bill chalked up. Straits Times
Civil servant pay should be “market competitive”: Manpower Minister
Nov. 27 | It has served us well thus far. We’ve been able to attract, retain and have a good civil service. Manpower Minister, Gan Kim Yong.
Road to Hajj – China
Nov. 26 | “Islam was first introduced in China in 650 AD by one of Prophet Muhammad’s companion.” Al Jazeera follows Chinese Muslims as they prepare to undertake the hajj pilgrimage.
Bukit Timah flood – where were the police?
Nov. 26 | During that time, not one police officer was seen and the traffic continued to accumulate. Why were no officers sent out to divert traffic in other directions? Debbie Eisenach, letter to ST forum
Pre-election test – Name your MPs (Quiz 2)
Nov. 26 | With the next General Election not that far away, how well do you know your MPs? For a start, do you know what they look like? Do you know their names and the wards they’re in charge of? For the ministers, do you know which ministries they head? If...
By 2015, born and bred S’poreans may be the minority in S’pore
Nov. 25 | Gangasudhan Recent figures revealed in parliament show that less than 2 in 3 persons on the island hold pink NRICs – but that’s not all… In response to MP Chiam See Tong’s query on Permanent Resident figures, Minister for Home Affairs, Mr...
Asia Sentinel loses a Singapore correspondent
Nov. 25 | Taking a breather: Hi everyone. TOC is taking a short breather. We’ll be back in a few days with more stories and reports. We’ll recharge and return with better content for you. Thank you for understanding. From Asia Sentinel. Article...
“PRs need to have a home in Singapore” – Mah Bow Tan
Nov. 24 | PR families are not eligible for housing subsidies that Singaporeans enjoy. They are not allowed to buy a new flat from HDB or enjoy any housing grant. However, PRs need to have a home in Singapore. Therefore, they are allowed to buy properties from...
Pre-election test – Name the MPs (Quiz 1)
Nov. 23 | It has been said that most Singaporeans do not know who their Members of Parliament (MP) are – unless and until they run into problems and see their MPs at the Meet-The-People sessions. With the next General Election not that far away, how well do you...
Property tax hike – Minister Lui’s reason
Nov. 23 | The problem is, the longer you defer it, the larger the increase will be…if HDB prices continue to go up. Minister Lui Tuck Yew, on property tax hike SAVINGS accounts have seen miserly interest rates of below 1 per cent per annum since 2001 –...
Singapore Police Force – stretched and fatigued
Nov. 23 | Andrew Loh Government admits Home Team is stretched but what has been done so far? The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has its work cut out for it, looking at the way things are going. While Singapore’s crime rate remains low, at 684 cases per 100,000...
Minister knew canal was not big enough but did nothing…
Nov. 22 | Would the Minister be saying the same thing if a child got swept away and drowned in the flood on Thursday?… I would have expected at least an ounce of contrition on the part of the Minister for his ministry’s failure to act on a problem that...
TOC Blog Feature: UK election vs S’pore election
Nov. 22 | Excerpts from the blog, Singapore Lighthouse: I was listening to BBC sometime last week and was surprised that the newscaster announced that the UK election will be held in 2010 (I had forgotten if they mentioned any specific date). However with the advance...
Is Singapore a better place without foreigners?
Nov. 21 | The following is a comment posted on TOC by “AAA”, under the article, “How Singapore appreciates a PRC who tried to integrate”. The author of the comment describes himself as a “PRC scholar”. TOC tried to get in touch with him but our email...
Refused the right to take empty seat – because he’s a male
Nov. 21 | On Wednesday, I boarded one of the new SMRT buses. When a passenger vacated a seat and I was about to occupy it, the woman next to it objected, saying she could not “allow” me to sit next to her as I am a male and my body would “touch”...
Flood was a “freak” event, says Minister
Nov. 21 | What happened was very unusual. The intensity was tremendous. Minister for Environment, Yaacob Ibrahim, on flood at Bukit Timah. Yaacob called it a “freak” event
Casinos, the Internet and the sex trade
Nov. 21 | Breaking News: Former CEO of Ren Ci, Rev Shi Ming Yi, has been sentenced to 10 months jail for fraud. (AFP) Ravi Philemon Ms Kaelbel-Sheares is looking forward to serving the rich and famous at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) as its director of Paiza (MBS’...
Speaking English in workplace is weird, says Malaysian minister
Nov. 20 | This also occurs in government-linked companies where we have this weird culture of people speaking to each other in English instead of the national language… We are polluting our own culture and identity as a nation. Malaysia’s Deputy Education...
Teens left 8 suicide notes – and jumped
Nov. 20 | Mernel mentioned in a letter to her mother she would rather die than be sent to a girls’ home for her offence. Straits Times, “2 teens had problems, jumped”
Mah’s explanation does not square with HDB’s annual report
Nov. 20 | Leong Sze Hian Number of flats sold declined, contradicting Mah’s explanation on reasons for HDB’s S$2 billion deficit. On 7 November, the Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, explained why the Housing and Development Board has incurred...
Deconstructing the Singaporean – foreigner and local alike
Nov. 20 | Note on posting comments: Please do not post your comments entirely in capital letters. There is no need to “shout” so loud. Everyone can read you fine. And also, please keep comments to 500-words or less. Thank you. Molly Meek “Singapore,...
Eniminiminimos: Artists who make things small II
Nov. 20 | Bathing in the last light of Polaris (2004), Thomas Doyle, Mixed-media sculpture Ho Rui An Size matters. Even the most mundane and insipid object can inspire awe by its magnification. In this sound-bite society where our mental spaces are cluttered...
How Singapore appreciates a PRC talent who tried to integrate
Nov. 20 | Excerpts from “Frankly Speaking” blog: All the talk about PRC scholars remind me of my classmate in NUS. He was born and bred in China. He had arrived earlier with his parents and attended JC and did well. Unlike the PRC scholars, he spoke decent...
Singapore refuses to renew foreign journalist’s visa
Nov. 20 | From the Committee to Protect Journalists’ website: New York, November 19, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Singapore government’s refusal to renew British freelance journalist Benjamin Bland’s work visa and his application...
S’pore’s 2nd longest-held political prisoner speaks
Nov. 20 | Dr Lim Hock Siew is Singapore’s second longest-held political prisoner. He was accused of being a communist and was arrested without trial in 1963 in Operation Coldstore.
Higher property tax from next year
Nov. 19 | HOMEOWNERS: be prepared to pay higher property taxes next year. Straits Times
Recession in Singapore is over, says MTI
Nov. 19 | Effectively, the recession in Singapore is over. Ravi Menon, permanent secretary with the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Remember this? Speak Mandarin campaign song
Nov. 19 | This was one of the first songs used in the Speak Mandarin campaign in the 70s and 80s. This will certainly bring back memories for older readers. (English translation below)
Lawyer for death-row inmate denied access to client
Nov. 19 | Andrew Loh / Rachel Zeng Despite having confirmed that inmate is represented by new lawyer, the Prison Service insists on having the Court’s permission before it allows lawyer access to his client. Malaysian Yong Vui Kong was arrested for trafficking...
MM Lee’s admission – a good time for govt to reflect on policy
Nov. 19 | Amnesty International Press Release: “If Singapore has pretensions to being an international commercial center, especially in the age of the internet, its legislature must immediately act to bring the country in line with commonly accepted concepts...
Jet Li – why I took up S’pore citizenship
Nov. 18 | Singapore is much cleaner and safer as compared to many other cities. However, the weather here is also much hotter. I was also attracted to the country’s bilingual education policy, diverse culture and the Western-style corporate culture. Chinese...
MM Lee: My insistence on bilingualism was wrong
Nov. 18 | “Successive generations of students paid a heavy price, because of my ignorance, by my insistence on bilingualism.” MM Lee Kuan Yew Video from Channelnewsasia
Dow Jones ordered to pay PM & SM S$400,000
Nov. 18 | From AFP: A magazine and its editor have been ordered to pay Singapore’s prime minister and his father over 400,000 dollars (290,000 US) for defamation, court documents showed Tuesday. The High Court ordered the Review Publishing Company, publisher...
Lead Shake’s wife gets 16 years
Nov. 17 | The wife of opposition politician, Tan Lead Shake has been sentenced to a total of 16 years in jail. Channelnewsasia
