Home » Archive for June, 2010
Archive for June, 2010
Million-dollar salaries but monumental screw-ups
Jun. 30 | By See Leong Kit (29 June 2010) [Letter was rejected for publication by TODAY Voices Editor Agatha Koh Brazil ] TODAY (Jun 21) really sets me thinking. I refer to P N Balji’s commentary “New mood, a reality check for bosses” and Second Minister...
CJR: Singapore not so modern on press freedom
Jun. 30 | Extract from Columbia Journalism Review: What Singapore’s overseers don’t seem to grasp is that without a press free to monitor power and challenge wrongdoing, even otherwise “developed” countries suffer greatly. One need look no farther east...
Why course subsidies are a really bad idea
Jun. 30 | - By Tony Sealy - The Singapore government is pro active and aggressive in many areas of economic development. This is something for which they need to be wholeheartedly congratulated (and emulated by others in the region). Many people have spoken to...
Discrimination of overweight staff in Singapore hospitals
Jun. 29 | - By Ravi Philemon – “If you are fat, how do you teach patients?” asks nurse Rajaletchumi Raja Singam. Discriminatory words like hers are not uncommon. In fact, subtle and invidious discrimination against people who are overweight happens...
Sex Heroes
Jun. 28 | Dr Martha Lee A few weeks ago, while watching ‘Robin Hood’ starring Russell Crowe, I found myself cringing at the predictability of the plot. I am usually not so squeamish about my buttons being so obviously pushed. However, I walked away from the...
Ministry of Education
Jun. 28 | Dear Minister is the space where we hope to engage the ministries (and ministers) directly. We will approach the ministries for their views on various issues. We would also like to encourage you, the public, to use this space to engage them. To...
Ministry of Defence
Jun. 28 | Dear Minister is the space where we hope to engage the ministries (and ministers) directly. We will approach the ministries for their views on various issues. We would also like to encourage you, the public, to use this space to engage them....
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
Jun. 28 | Dear Minister is the space where we hope to engage the ministries (and ministers) directly. We will approach the ministries for their views on various issues. We would also like to encourage you, the public, to use this space to engage them. To do so,...
TOC Special Feature: Safer transport – what are we waiting for?
Jun. 28 | Story by Stephanie Chok / Video edited by Natalie Soh / Pictures by Stephanie Chok & Mykel Yee / Additional reporting by Patrick Chng / As a nation, we are wired, advanced and wealthy. So surely Singapore can find a better, safer yet financially feasible...
An open wound
Jun. 28 | - By Andrew Loh - “Operation Spectrum is an open wound… a little black hole in history,” playwright Alfian Sa’at said in his introductory speech at The Legends Hotel at Fort Canning on Saturday. He was addressing more than 150 people in the audience...
Death row case: Malaysian Law Minister’s puzzling about-turn
Jun. 28 | - By Andrew Loh - Malaysian Law Minister, Nazri Aziz, has made a turnaround about meeting Mr Madasamy Ravi, the lawyer for Yong Vui Kong who is on death row in Singapore. On 19 June, Malaysiakini reported that he had asked to meet with Mr Ravi about the...
Vandalism – the new evil (message from your leaders)
Jun. 27 | A letter from your Leaders Dear Singaporeans, In a few hours from now, a Caucasian bottom that once graced the lush meadows of the Swiss Alps will be given the pounding of its life in the hallowed grounds of New Auschwitz…oops sorry, Changi prison....
Vivian’s Sleight of Hand: Blaming S’poreans for PAP policies
Jun. 27 | Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Vivian Balakrishnan certainly pulled no punches in the week gone by. In an adjective laden tirade, he referred to some Singaporeans as “small-minded, unfair and very very selfish”. What did Singaporeans...
Crowded trains – Do you agree with SMRT’s CEO?
Jun. 27 | In the Sunday Times of 27 June 2010, SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa, referring to crowded trains, was reported to have said: “People can board the trains – it is whether they choose to.” As commuters who take the train daily, do you agree with her statement? __________________________________
Floods – are we prepared?
Jun. 26 | By James Ong Case Study 1: On 2 December 1978, a total of 512.4mm of rain fell, the highest ever recorded for the month of December on a single day, according to NEA, resulting in one of the worst floods in Singapore’s history. In fact, it is the...
Flood: NSP calls for committee of inquiry
Jun. 26 | Press release by the National Solidarity Party. Dear Sir/Madam, Set up a Committee of Inquiry to look into improving drainage & weather warning system NSP shares the frustration and disappointment of many Singaporeans whose lives have been severely...
Singapore = Global Torture Hub
Jun. 25 | Oliver Fricker has been sentenced to 5 months in jail and 3 strokes of the cane In that light, I would now like everyone to watch this video: HERE. Now tell me if you think such treatment does not disregard human rights standards. Tell me if you don’t...
Swiss train vandal given 5mths jail and 3 strokes of cane
Jun. 25 | Swiss national Oliver Fricker has been sentenced to five months in jail and three strokes of the cane, after pleading guilty to spray-painting two train carriages and for trespassing into Changi train depot. A third charge for cutting the fence at the...
Ban transport of workers on backs of vehicles – TWC2
Jun. 25 | TWC2, an NGO which is involved in the welfare of migrant workers, shares its views on the recent traffic accidents involving workers who were ferried on the backs of vehicles. Three Chinese workers died when a lorry in which they were being carried skidded...
Heavy downpour, several areas flooded (Updated with videos)
Jun. 25 | LATEST – PUB Explains: “The PUB said 100 mm of rain fell within an hour, between 8 and 9.30am. That’s the same amount of rainfall on June 16 which led to massive floods in Orchard Road. That amount is more than 60 per cent of the average...
Filial piety ad – what was not shown
Jun. 25 | By Joshua Chiang ________________________ “If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place where you will have a roof over your head, where you will have food on the table. Even if you can’t afford it, we will have...
New citizens overwhelmingly support PAP
Jun. 24 | By Ng E Jay You would have thought the mainstream media would have been coy about this issue. But today, Straits Times columnist Rachel Chang finally admitted in her article “New citizens and the next GE (24 June 2010)” that new citizens regularly...
Former RP chairman sets up new political party
Jun. 24 | Mr Ng Teck Siong, former chairman of the Reform Party, has confirmed with The Online Citizen that he is in the midst of setting up a new political party. Mr Ng told TOC that he submitted an application to the Registrar of Society (ROS) ‘almost one month...
Sand smuggling – out of M’sia to S’pore
Jun. 24 | From The Star Online JOHOR BARU: Sand worth millions of ringgit is being illegally “floated” out of the country daily via Sungai Johor here. And this has been going on for the past three years. A Starprobe team investigating this lucrative trade found...
Filial piety – or sending the wrong message?
Jun. 23 | The following one is from Malaysia, also about filial piety. Letter to the Straits Times forum page 23 June 2010 Does ad convey right values? THE new TV advertisement to promote filial piety – spearheaded by the National Family Council and supported...
World Cup 2010: What will England’s excuse be this time?
Jun. 23 | By Ganga England play Slovenia tonight in their final group stage game at World Cup 2010 and they desperately need to win in order to have any chance to qualifying to the next stage (see table below). With the USA team playing Algeria in the other...
S’pore’s electoral system – SFD to submit report to UN
Jun. 23 | Singaporeans for Democracy`s (SFD) will be submitting an independent report on Singapore’s electoral system to the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process set up in 2006 to review member countries’ human rights record. Dr. James...
“In Potong Pasir, it’s not always about the money…”
Jun. 22 | A Potong Pasir resident speaks in defence of her home and hearth, and about the Town Council Management Report. _______________________________ By Cien Xu In a letter addressing the Town Council’s arrears in service and conservancy charges, Chiam...
Re-examine judicial & clemency process, M’sian lawyers urge S’pore
Jun. 22 | Lawyers for Liberty, a Malaysian group which is against the death penalty, has called on the Malaysian government to raise the case of Yong Vui Kong with Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, who is on a one-day visit to the country. Prime Minister...
The Mas Selamat scandal: Its impact on the government-people relationship
Jun. 22 | This article was first re-published from Ms Catherine Lim’s website on TOC in April 2008. We re-post it here as we feel Ms Lim’s article is just as relevant now as it was in 2008 – given recent events which have taken place. We thank...
Paying for monkeys
Jun. 22 | By Andrew Loh It has been a week since the flood at Orchard Road and several areas around Singapore. It was the worst flood we have seen in 26 years. It has been two weeks since the Town Council Management Report was released. More than a month since...
Floods: Monitor or don’t monitor also flood?
Jun. 21 | By Leong Sze Hian “I think the response by the PUB, by the agencies, has been commendable,” the Minister for Environment and Water Resources said on 20 June with regards to the flood at Orchard Road. “We have done our best to help the businesses...
We will do everything we can, British PM assures Suu Kyi
Jun. 21 | British Prime Minister David Cameron has written an open letter to Aung San Suu Kyi. The pro-democracy leader turned 65 on 19 June, and has spent 14 of the last 20 years under house arrest in Burma for advocating democracy and respect for human rights...
Heterosexuals, come on out
Jun. 21 | Dr Martha Lee - You might have come across the term ‘Coming out’. What does it mean? It is a figure of speech used by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in disclosing their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Also referred...
Moving towards plant-based diets
Jun. 21 | - By Dr George Jacobs - To me, the big news story of this week came from Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan’s blog, where he stated, “I have adopted a fully plant-based diet plan, avoiding all meat, not even fish or dairy products.” Mr Khaw is not...
The Great Singapore Farce – Now Showing
Jun. 21 | By Andrew Loh Perhaps it is because the elections are near. No one really knows – except the Prime Minister himself. The word is that it could take place anytime now. Some have proffered as early a date as September. One clue could be the circus of...
The Full Monty’s got the goods!
Jun. 21 | Kirsten Han – Men getting naked. Stripping. Thongs, bums and nudity. That’s usually what comes first to people’s minds when The Full Monty is brought up in conversation. But Pangdemonium! Productions’ The Full Monty (a first for both the company...
Death row case: Malaysian minister to meet Yong’s lawyer
Jun. 19 | Report by Susan Loone – Malaysiakini - Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian national currently on death row in Singapore, may finally be getting a shot at keeping his appeal alive, as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz and our Ministry...
The TCMR finger-pointing farce
Jun. 19 | Andrew Loh – When one reads what Members of Parliament (MPs) are saying about their performance in the Town Council Management Report (TCMR), it is quite obvious where they stand. “We are not responsible for the low scores.” The Ministry of National...
Australians sue Singapore Power over 2009 firestorm
Jun. 19 | From AFP: MELBOURNE — Victims of Australia’s deadly 2009 firestorm have launched legal action against a Singapore power firm alleging poorly-maintained electrical wires sparked the blaze, reports said Saturday. Lawyers representing almost 600...
The irresponsible Straits Times
Jun. 18 | Andrew Loh – On 11 June 2010, the Straits Times reported on the press conference by Mr Madasamy Ravi [Click on picture, left]. Mr Ravi is the lawyer for Yong Vui Kong, a 22-year old Malaysian who is facing execution under Singapore’s drug laws for...
Aung San Suu Kyi’s desperate plea to the world
Jun. 18 | Burmese pro-democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, celebrates her 65th birthday tomorrow, 19 June. As she continues to be under house arrest imposed by the military regime, she pleads once again for the world to “please use your liberty to promote...
Deceased – but still must pay S&CC?
Jun. 18 | On 17 June 2010, the Straits Times reported People’s Action Party (PAP) MP, Zainudin Nordin, who chairs the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council, as having said: “Even after a person has passed away, the liability is passed on to the next-of-kin. It is possible...
Malaysian High Commission visits death row inmate
Jun. 18 | Andrew Loh – Representatives from the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore have visited Yong Vui Kong in prison, The Online Citizen has learned. This is the first time that Malaysian government officials have done so since Yong’s arrest in June...
Confused by S&CC arrears management score?
Jun. 18 | Leong Sze Hian - According to a Straits Times report [1], “Seven [PAP town councils said] they write off only a tiny amount of unpaid S&CC, typically around 0.1 per cent”. The People’s Action Party (PAP) is responsible for 14 town councils. Therefore,...
Jack Neo to screen new movie at City Harvest church service
Jun. 18 | Terence Lee – Jack Neo is back. The controversial director’s new movie “The Little Star” will be screened at the church’s services in celebration of Father’s Day. The surprise announcement was made at about 11pm on Thursday...
Low Thia Khiang rebuts Grace Fu’s latest assertions (Updated)
Jun. 17 | The Workers’ Party’s website. Letter from Low Thia Khiang, Chairman, Hougang Town Council I refer to the press report on Town Council Management Report (TCMR) and Upgrading Programs on June 17, 2010. SMS Grace Fu said the Lift Upgrading Program...
