Home » Archive for August, 2010
Archive for August, 2010
Vui Kong’s appeal set for Jan 2011
Aug. 31 | January 2011 – that’s the date the Registrar of the Supreme Court has set for the Court of Appeal to hear Yong Vui Kong’s appeal against the High Court’s decision on his judicial review application. Vui Kong’s lawyer was today informed that...
Nazri Aziz’s remarks – a significant step?
Aug. 31 | Andrew Loh “It is time for Malaysia to abolish the death penalty,” Malaysian Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said on Monday. His remark is a significant recognition on the part of his government in the debate over capital punishment in Malaysia....
New citizen issue – poor grasp, useless ideas?
Aug. 31 | Howard Lee - Regrettably, I did not watch this year’s National Day Rally, as I would have liked to appreciate the nuances of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s words. Nevertheless, I managed to grab my free copy of Today on Monday. It amazes...
The PAP and the Malay Singaporean: Between rhetoric, reality and meritocracy
Aug. 30 | Pritam Singh - There appears to be a shift in how the People’s Action Party (PAP) is handling public communication involving the influx of foreigners into Singapore. In his National Day 2010 speech released to the mainstream media on 8 Aug 2010,...
A public relations exercise, RP says of PM’s rally speech
Aug. 30 | PRESS RELEASE 30/08/2010 The Reform Party www.thereformparty.net The Reform Party’s Response to the PM’s National Day Rally Speech The Reform Party was disappointed with the PM’s speech. This was an opportunity for the PM to address some of the...
Abolish death penalty: M’sian Law minister
Aug. 29 | From the Star Online: By RASHVINJEET S.BEDI rashvin@thestar.com.my KUALA LUMPUR: It is time for Malaysia to abolish the death penalty, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz. “If it is wrong to take someone’s...
Political fear and apathy? What fear? What apathy?
Aug. 29 | Political filmmaker Martyn See reviews that historical 2006 televised debate between MM Lee Kuan Yew and the post 65′ers. During the run-up to the 2006 General Elections, Mediacorp’s Channel News Asia aired a 50 minute-long programme entitled...
Nationhood and history: An interview with Sandcastle director, Boo Junfeng
Aug. 29 | Ho Rui An Singaporean film director Boo Junfeng’s debut feature film Sandcastle has opened in local cinemas. The film, which opened in Singapore on 26 August 2010, made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival back in May. The film is the...
Vivian Balakrishnan vs Ngiam Tong Dow
Aug. 29 | “I make no apology for trying to grab all talent available. Ultimately, whether the PAP stays in power or not depends on which party can attract, nurture and grow that talent pool, and offer that talent pool to the people of Singapore to decide.” MCYS...
CausewayEXchange
Aug. 29 | Ho Rui An Singapore and Malaysia are set to forge closer neighbourly ties through the bridge of theatre, film and visual arts at the inaugural CausewayEXchange, a new annual festival that promotes the exchange of art, ideas, creativity and business opportunities...
Japanese officials reveal execution chambers
Aug. 28 | From New York Times: TOKYO — The Japanese government opened up its execution chambers to the public for the first time on Friday, taking journalists on a tour of Tokyo’s main gallows. The insides were stark: a trapdoor, a Buddha statue and a ring...
Wanted – Youths who believe in second chances
Aug. 27 | A youth-led, youth-oriented campaign is being launched in Singapore, celebrating life and second chances. Damien Chng and I (Kirsten Han) are currently working on a campaign targeting the youths of Singapore which will tie in with the campaign to save...
Language scuffles
Aug. 27 | From Yawning Bread : Thanks to a reader, I nearly suffered whiplash as I read this story from Channel NewsAsia (CNA) that he/she attached in an email: 24 August 2010, 1716 hours Channel NewsAsia S’pore named ‘Top International Meetings City’ for...
Inciting violence? Judge for yourself
Aug. 26 | This is the remark posted by Malik Mohammad Ghazali which got him arrested by the police for “inciting violence”. Malik posted the comment on the “I hate YOG organising committee” Facebook page. What is your opinion on the matter? Is Malik...
A family’s plea (video of petition delivered to Istana)
Aug. 25 | Read also: A family’s plea by Lainain Film: The Istana guards were ready for the family when they arrived. Ravi had made sure to inform them in advance. They quickly accepted the petition and signatures, then a guard curtly told the family, “You...
Vui Kong given extension to file clemency, Shadrake’s trial postponed
Aug. 25 | The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) has granted an extension to death row inmate Yong Vui Kong to file his clemency appeal to the President. In a letter on 25 August to Yong’s lawyer, the SPS said, “[In] view of your stated intention to file the said...
Have independent board for clemency petitions: SFD
Aug. 25 | Media Release Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD) 25 August 2010 Singapore Independent Clemency Board for Death Penalty Petitions Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD) calls on the Singapore government to set up an independent board to introduce transparency...
“You may leave now”
Aug. 25 | Kirsten Han At first I thought I had misheard, or at the very least misunderstood. We had just trudged uphill in the oppressive Singapore heat for 15 minutes, the family laden with binders, boxes and stacks of papers. Everyone was covered with a sheen...
The “O” Levels meltdown
Aug. 24 | Kirsten Han It’s my brother’s O Levels year. Watching him trudge home from school and being snowed under by relentless tutorials reminds me of my own O Level experiences. In particular, The O Levels Meltdown. It is my personal belief that every...
Vui Kong’s family pleads at Istana (Full report)
Aug. 24 | Andrew Loh – The family of Yong Vui Kong has been working hard these past two months – hitting the streets in both Singapore and Malaysia to collect signatures for a petition begging President SR Nathan to spare Vui Kong’s life. Activists in...
Don’t try. Be.
Aug. 23 | Dr Martha Lee – When I was in my third semester studying for my Doctorate in Human Sexuality, I went to the Florida Sex Therapy Institute to complete a Certificate in Sex Therapy. Dr Susan Lee, my teacher, introduced me to her clients I bumped into...
They represent us but they know nothing about us
Aug. 23 | The following is a letter from a lady in her early twenties. Hello, I was reading about the YOG. I’m not a well-read person of the newspapers. And I knew that YOG has exceeded their budget but didn’t know that it was a staggering $387 million. Is...
President urged to convene Constitutional Court
Aug. 23 | “Not a single clemency in the last 11 years,” lawyer for Yong Vui Kong, Mr M Ravi, told the crowd at Speakers’ Corner on Sunday. The event, titled “The elected President is not a rubber stamp”, is in response to the High Court’s decision on...
Click Five concert – who is telling the truth?
Aug. 21 | My Paper, 20 August 2010: According to concert-goers my paper spoke to, the Celebration at Marina Bay free concerts organised by the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) were poorly attended on Sunday. The SYOGOC is contesting this,...
The innocent man who was nearly hanged
Aug. 21 | From Yawning Bread: The prosecution’s case against Zainal Kuning appeared watertight. They had a confession from him that he had stabbed to death Ang Chye, 65, a caretaker of a Yishun coffeeshop, on 2 February 1989, in what was alleged to be a bungled...
ASEAN urged to support call for UN COI into Burma
Aug. 20 | For Immediate Release: 20 August 2010 From Altsean Burma: ASEAN/REGIONAL COUNTRIES URGED TO SUPPORT A UN COMMISSION OF INQUIRY The Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma), a regional network of human rights groups, reiterates its call for...
Align success factors with true spirit of YOG
Aug. 20 | Howard Lee – Let me state up front that I fully support the YOG. That is, I believe in the ideals it enshrines, about friendship, respect and doing your best. As a former school dragon boater, I recognise especially that, in the mad flurry of paddles,...
Will Yong Vui Kong be hanged on Aug 26?
Aug. 19 | Report by Malaysiakini. Susan Loone The lawyer for Yong Vui Kong, the Malaysian prisoner on death row across the causeway, is asking prison authorities to confirm that it will not execute his client until his rights are determined by the Court of Appeal. M...
The return of Singapore Migration Film Festival
Aug. 19 | Following the success of the first Migration Film Festival in December 2007, Migrant Voices, a local community arts charity, is partnering The Substation to present the 2nd Singapore Migration Film Festival on Saturday, 11 September 2010. The films...
An open letter to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
Aug. 18 | Dear Dr Balakrishnan, First off, thank you for entering the blogosphere and deciding to open your eyes to the reality on the ground. In a recent response to a blogpost, you said: “I wish the cynics would just focus their negative energy on me, and let...
Past Presidents powerless, never actually decided clemencies?
Aug. 18 | Choo Zheng Xi - Singaporeans are justifiably shocked to discover that Singapore’s Elected President has absolutely no discretion to grant clemency. For years, the media, defense lawyers, and the general public have been deliberately given the impression...
W!LD RICE’s Boeing Boeing: A Jolly Ride
Aug. 17 | - By Ho Rui An - Boeing Boeing deserves a place in the canon for being such a crowd pleaser. It’s a very difficult thing to make hard-nosed Singaporeans laugh, but W!LD RICE makes it all seem so effortless. The play is an apt choice for commemorating...
YOG – what the local media don’t show you
Aug. 17 | Here are some pictures taken by Leonard Soosay and Valence Sim of the YOG music concert performances at downtown Marina. The pictures were taken on two separate days – the first on Sunday 15 August, while the second on Monday evening, 16 August. The...
Dea(r)th of our Olympic Dream
Aug. 16 | Choo Zheng Xi - The unhappiness of Singaporeans at everything YOG can really be narrowed down to this: the government’s unfailing belief that everything, even passion and enthusiasm, can be manufactured if you throw enough money at it. Unfortunately...
YOG farce continues….
Aug. 16 | A letter from the YOG organizers to the parents of a student: Note what the letter says: “Transport to and from the event will be provided for your son/ward. Please ensure that your son/ward brings sufficient money for his break as refreshment...
“But you see, it IS religion”
Aug. 16 | Joseph Teo - On 12 July 2010, the Ministry of Information Communication and the Arts (MICA), through the Media Development Authority (MDA) banned a film of Dr Lim Hock Siew, once a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP), and subsequently a leader...
Getting feedback after sex (Part 1 of 2)
Aug. 15 | Dr Martha Lee In previous pieces*, I have covered how sex is not a one-way experience (in ‘Don’t Lie Back and Think of England’), as well as how sex can be like an elephant in the bedroom when it comes to communicating any problems that might be...
Gulfstream jet for YOG flame – at what price?
Aug. 15 | From Singapore Lighthouse blog: The original price tag of the Youth Olympic was S$122m and the new price tag is now S$387m. According to news report, the journey of the Flame alone will cost S$7m. The Chinese news portal Xinhua.net (good to have a strong...
YOG: NSmen become spectators?
Aug. 15 | Leong Sze Hian - I was told that the mother of a Natonal Servicemen (NS Men) was griping about her son not being able to attend a family event because he had been ordered to attend the Youth Olympics Games as a spectator. He will be given an early dismissal...
Shanmugam says he had been “misrepresented”
Aug. 15 | Report by Channel Newsasia: SINGAPORE: Law Minister K Shanmugam said Singapore’s constitutional provision for presidential pardons is similar to what’s practised in countries like the UK, Australia and Malaysia. He was responding to media...
When should one retire?
Aug. 14 | By Dr Wong Wee Nam 08 August 2010 “If I’d known that retirement was going to be this good I’d have done it the day after I left school!!!” — Mickey White Flowers know when to shrivel and die. Trees know when to shed their leaves. Animals...
Offer volunteers a decent meal, at least
Aug. 14 | Letter by Leong Sze Hian to Straits Times forum page published on 14 August 2010: I REFER to yesterday’s report (“Caterer acts after criticism of YOG food”). It states: “The committee did not respond to questions on how much was...
Reader: too much red tape in government jobs and funded courses
Aug. 14 | Dear Gilbert, Like many other unemployed Singaporeans, I’ve been looking for jobs in vain for the past five months after been asked to go from my last employer due to ‘FT is cheaper than me’ and organizational restructuring. I’m...
Straits Times, you don’t have to try so hard lar
Aug. 13 | Kindergarten-standard reporting by the Straits Times’ ROYSTON SIM: Front Page Headline: “YOG football competition kicks off to a rousing start’ Inside Page Headline: “Fans lap up girls’ football” Sub-headline: “About...
Seelan Palay goes to jail
Aug. 13 | From the Singapore Democratic Party’s website: Human rights activist Mr Seelan Palay is serving a 12-day prison term for taking part in the Tak Boleh Tahan (Malay for “cannot take it”) protest on 15 Mar 08 outside Parliament House. Mr Seelan was...
President has no discretion in clemency appeal (Full report)
Aug. 13 | “I therefore hold that the President has no discretion under the Constitution, and specifically under Article 22P, to grant pardons,” High Court Judge Steven Chong said. “The power to do so rests solely with the Cabinet.” Justice Chong handed...
Letter to Mah Bow Tan on corridor clutter
Aug. 12 | The following is a letter from a Punggol resident to the Minister for National Development. Dear Mr Mah Bow Tan, I have been living in a hdb flat all my life and am very proud of the quality of life it has provided me and my family. I have stayed in various...
NDP reflections
Aug. 12 | By Howard Lee A long weekend cooped up at home with a hyperactive toddler is definitely not the best way to go. As such, the evening of National Day 2010 found us footing around Changi Boardwalk. We eventually grabbed dinner at Changi Village, and caught...
Doughnut reporting
Aug. 11 | From Yawning Bread: I was speechless after reading the Straits Times’ version of the story about a protest note being lodged at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. It told readers about all the stuff peripheral to the main issue but said...
