Home » Archive for December, 2009
Archive for December, 2009
Bashing Singaporeans – PAP gets in on the act
Dec. 31 | Andrew Loh “Will he ever stop bashing Singapore?” – screamed a big bold headline in a New Paper report in October 2007. It was in reference to the secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, Dr Chee Soon Juan. Dr Chee was accused of...
Year In Review: HDB flats – subsidy, affordability, prices.
Dec. 30 | Statistics can be interesting and fun. TOC’s Fang Shihan sat down with Mr Leong Sze Hian to talk about the main bread-and-butter issues of 2009. In this Part One of the interview, Mr Leong looks at one of the biggest issues this year – the prices...
In pursuit of political truth at universities
Dec. 30 | Kelvin Teo Young Reformer Justin Ong (left) and Young Democrat Jarrod Luo (right) During the The Online Citizen’s Year In Review 2009, a member of the NUS Political Association (NUSPA) asked Young Democrat Jarrod Luo and Young Reformer Justin...
MM Lee’s interview with NatGeo – transcript
Dec. 30 | Transcript of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s interview with Mark Jacobson from National Geographic on 6 July 2009. Q: “I don’t think you’d be dazzled but this is what they give when they interview a big shot.” Mr Lee: “Okay. Barbara Poulson,...
“I did not expect prices to go up” – Mah Bow Tan
Dec. 30 | Nobody, no matter how prescient, no matter how clever, would have been able to predict that this is what is going to happen this year. All of us were caught off-guard…I did not expect the prices to go up. But the point is, are we able to respond...
We are a special red dot, says MM Lee
Dec. 30 | We are a little red dot but we are a special red dot. We are connected with the world, we play a special role. And we are not going to be in anybody’s pocket. MM Lee Kuan Yew
TOC Blog Feature: The expats will rule Singapore
Dec. 30 | From the website, Adam Khoo’s Philosophies And Investing Insights: I have a prediction. My prediction is that in a couple of years, the expatriates (from China, India, US etc…) will rule Singapore. They will increasing take on more leadership roles...
“Live” from Post Museum – TOC’s Year End Review
Dec. 29 | Main event starts at 7.30 p.m. Due to technical difficulties, we are not able to live stream video feed. The “live” feed is only available in audio. If the audio stops, do refresh the page. Thank you for your understanding. There is a break...
Three cheers for Act 3!!!
Dec. 29 | Ng Yi-Sheng Now that 2009’s drawing to a close, I’d like to take a moment to honour three unsung heroes of the Singapore theatre scene. You see, this year marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of our country’s very first professional theatre...
National Geographic interviews a dinosaur
Dec. 29 | There are not many countries in the world where people would persistently vote into power a leader who thinks they are all worthless ants… Ben Bland, Asian Correspondent
Review: The Confounded Composer
Dec. 28 | Ho Rui An The narrative set up is dubiously derivative. The tormented, condemned artistic genius. The charismatic rogue and his multiple scandals. The secrets and betrayals. The sexual escapades. The plot of The Composer, written by Ken Kwek and directed...
Complaint against TOC made to S’pore Police
Dec. 28 | The following is an email by a certain “Janet Wee’ which was sent to the Singapore Police Force and copied to The Online Citizen. Her email is also addressed to several other people, including MM Lee Kuan Yew, the Attorney-General, Mr Jeremy Au Yeong...
Hit-and-run incident angers blogger Xiaxue
Dec. 28 | I don’t care if a drunk driver hits a pedestrian. Fine, everyone makes mistakes. But what sort of person would witness his grave error, and decide to turn tail and run instead of giving aid to the people he hit?? May the Singapore government,...
Press Muse: Speaking “truth” for power
Dec. 28 | Invitation: The Online Citizen & Talk Politics’ Year In Review special forum will take place on Thursday evening, 29 December 2009, at the Post Museum. The forum will start at 7pm and end at about 10.30pm. Please do come and join us. A Man in...
Lee Kuan Yew had suggested “instigating riots and disorder” to crush opposition
Dec. 27 | From Martyn See’s blog, Singpore Rebel: Below is an excerpt from the newly-published The Fajar Generation. The Barisan Sosialis was then the strongest political force in Singapore and its leadership united and staunchly anti-colonial in their outlook....
The Fajar Generation
Dec. 27 | “The decades in which the club existed were tumultuous times in the history of Singapore as they coincided with the genesis of the quest for nationhood and ended tragically with the unprecedented suppression of those who argued for an alternative path....
Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu
Dec. 27 | Come 9 January 2010, dozens of Indian youths will speed across Singapore in an ‘Amazing Race’-style contest, all in the name of active and healthy living. The event, entitled ‘Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu’ (Tamil for ‘Hunt and Play’), will involve...
Lim Swee Say on tripartism
Dec. 27 | In November 2009, NTUC Secretary General Lim Swee Say was invited to give a talk on Singapore’s tripartism at INSEAD in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the business school. He not only elaborated the concept of “Cheaper, Better,...
Malaysia to introduce 4% GST
Dec. 27 | The GST should not be introduced in haste in a Third World country like ours. DR A. SOORIAN, on Malaysia’s introduction of the GST
The 70s, 80s, 90s and the… erm…
Dec. 27 | As the first decade of the 21st Century comes to an end, no one has yet managed to answer the question, “What should we call this decade?” Excerpts from the Washington Post: Jesse Sheidlower, editor at large of the Oxford English Dictionary, cannot...
Lessons from 2009
Dec. 26 | Alvin Phoon As 2009 draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the lessons the year has offered us. Lessons we should all learn by heart, lessons that will be helpful to us all in every aspect of life. It has been one hell of a year. With all that’s...
Singapore raises school fees for foreigners
Dec. 25 | If the Singapore Government increases the fees substantially, I may have to review my decision to send my children to schools there. Housewife Dalillah Yusof, 46, whose three children with PR are currently studying in Singapore
Shopkeepers dismayed at NTUC Fairprice’s presence in Eunos Crescent
Dec. 25 | Wong Chun Han NTUC FairPrice sets up a new mini-mart in Eunos to the dismay of local shopkeepers. It may be the Christmas festive season, but shopkeeper Mohamed Eliyas has little to cheer about. Run for the last 12 years from a HDB shop unit at Block...
Singaporean extradited to the US on terrorism charges
Dec. 25 | Greetings: The Online Citizen wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Koh Yi Na Balldev Naidu (pictured on the left), a founding member of the Reform Party, has been extradited to the United States on charges of terrorism. The 48-year-old...
The man who stretched the political machinery
Dec. 25 | Kelvin Teo When a brave soul ventures to reform a difficult system and makes an inroad, the system will evolve to impose greater barriers and obstacles that the reformers must overcome. It is like Neo who is trapped in a titanic struggle with an ever...
Exchange of letters between Kenneth Jeyaretnam and TOC
Dec. 23 | Below is Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam’s letter to The Online Citizen in response to our earlier report, “Milder and more credible”, written by our News Editor, Terence Lee. Following Mr Jeyaretnam’s letter are the responses from Terence and TOC Chief...
“I kept quiet. Just weep. What else?”
Dec. 23 | Breaking News: TOC has learned that Mr Balldev Naidu has been extradited to the United States. Mr Balldev, who is also a member of the Reform Party, is wanted by the US govt for alleged terrorist involvement. TOC understands that he was extradited last...
Loving a schizophrenic
Dec. 23 | Raymond Anthony Fernando I met Doris on Good Friday 1974. She was 20 years old, a young, sincere and caring woman. But three years before, she became stricken with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is perhaps the most distressing of all mental disorders....
Remembering those who helped build our nation
Dec. 23 | In this holiday season of Christmas, we remember the less fortunate, particularly the elderly. Film by Martyn See. Rated NC16 by the Board of Film Censors. “Nation Builders”
Higher HDB prices good for Singaporeans?
Dec. 21 | Leong Sze Hian Our columnist picks apart the latest announcements and replies from HDB. I refer to the HDB’s latest announcement on Build-to-order (BTO) flats for December – in Queenstown (Dawson), Bukit Panjang and Sembawang. Once again, the...
“Milder but more credible”…for whom?
Dec. 21 | Seelan Palay The following is a letter from Mr Seelan Palay in response to TOC’s report, “Milder but more credible“. A lead article on The Online Citizen portal a couple of days ago described the Youth Wing of the Workers’ Party...
Tilting the playing field in favour of lower income group?
Dec. 21 | Leong Sze Hian Six months after the last general elections in 2006, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong dropped a bombshell on Singaporeans. In November of that year, PM Lee announced in Parliament that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be increased from...
Criticising the government is an offence?
Dec. 20 | The Judge agreed with the Prosecution that distributing flyers in a group of 5 or more persons criticising the PAP Government’s policies is an offence. Your SDP
Loosen stranglehold before providing political education
Dec. 20 | Ng E-Jay In the latest edition of Petir, the People’s Action Party’s bi-monthly party magazine, Law Minister K Shanmugam warned party members that younger voters could erode the PAP’s political dominance if they are not convinced that...
PM Lee addresses Govt’s position on climate change
Dec. 20 | On the last day of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (COP15), the ECO Singapore delegation finally met PM Lee Hsien Loong for a short interactive session. In this 2-part video, PM Lee clarified the government’s position at COP15, domestic...
Milder but more credible
Dec. 20 | Terence Lee In this third installment of our “Youth in Politics” series, we speak to Koh Choong Yong and Ng Swee Bee, President and Vice-President of the Worker’s Party Youth Wing. Don’t expect rabble-rousing politics from the Worker’s...
Government must act against climate change
Dec. 19 | ECO Singapore Climate Change is a global phenomenon and all states small and big will face the brunt of it if no action is taken. Singapore, though a small island state, has a role to play. Beyond our own survival, Singapore has the moral duty...
Meet our ECO Heroine – Amira Karim
Dec. 19 | Update: Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (COP15) concludes with a non-binding Accord. Cheong En Min Amira Karim (the smiling lady in the centre) The Online Citizen (TOC) speaks to 24-year-old Amira Karim. She is a member of the ECO Singapore delegation...
The ability of countries to reduce their emissions will vary, says PM Lee
Dec. 18 | This is Singapore’s national statement to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, delivered by PM Lee to the international community. Lee Hsien Loong Mr President First, I wish to thank you and the Government and People of the Kingdom of Denmark...
Youth Olympics can, SEA games cannot?
Dec. 18 | Kelvin Teo Singapore’s decision not to host the 2013 SEA Games is baffling. There does not seem to be a good reason why it cannot do so, given that the Youth Olympics would be hosted before the new Sports Hub is ready. The first summer Youth Olympics...
Haunting mural graces Citylink
Dec. 18 | Report and photos by Wallace Woon The black wall with its black dripping paint and chalk scribblings resemble the chaos of a classroom. Yet the message within the writings is hardly academic. Facts pointing towards the various injustices throughout countries...
Media reports on Killer Litter case miss the point
Dec. 17 | By Gangasudhan Reports focus on the incident instead of the fact that it could have been prevented months ahead Photo source: Simpsons Crazy In Wednesday’s copy of TODAY, a report (below) mildly suggests ‘In court over chilli sauce bottle’ whilst...
Does Singapore have a climate change policy?
Dec. 17 | Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrives today at Copenhagen to attend the high-level negotiation at the UNFCCC COP15. Civil society participation at COP15 has been reduced to meagre 1,000 today. By friday, the number would be reduced to 90. Donaldson...
Let’s ask the Government!
Dec. 17 | Update: ECO Singapore will be meeting PM Lee at 5pm (Danish Time, i.e. SGT minus 7h) on 18 Dec 2009 Eleina Eleina is a member of ECO Singapore, hoping to bring forward the gravity of the climate change issue in Copenhagen this December. The group is...
Copenhagan must push US Congress
Dec. 17 | Amira Amira is a member of ECO Singapore, hoping to bring forward the gravity of the climate change issue in Copenhagen this December. The group is part of the International Youth Climate Movement (IYCM) at the United Nations Framework Convention for...
K Shanmugam’s slippery slope argument
Dec. 17 | And if the majority chooses slower development and a lower quality of life, and is willing to accept more tensions within our society in return for changes in the political system, then so be it. Law Minister, K Shanmugam
Family’s kayaking dreams drifting in red tape
Dec. 17 | “You cannot just bring your own kayak and start kayaking here you know? You need a permit. Give me your particulars.” Jason Toh, Straits Times Forum Page
The future of human-computer interaction (and possibly mobile phones)
Dec. 17 | MIT students discovered how to turn a typical LCD into a low-cost 3-D gestural computing system. Users activate controls on the display by touching the screen but as soon as they lift their finger off the screen, the system interprets their gestures....
