Home » Archive for September, 2010
Archive for September, 2010
GIC report – ‘significant’ recovery but how much exactly?
Sep. 30 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the report “GIC recovers losses from previous year, sees higher returns” (Channel News Asia, Sep 27). http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1083694/1/.html It states that “The...
TOC remembers Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam (January 5, 1926 – September 30, 2008)
Sep. 30 | Today is the second anniversary of Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam’s passing. Below is a video of a public memorial gathering at Speakers’ Corner on October 4 , 2008, five days after his passing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rNYepYz14A&feature=related Feel...
Scandinavians Helping Singapore’s Poor
Sep. 29 | The following is an excerpt of an article that was first appeared in ScandAsia.com. The hallway is dirty and there is a scent of moist coming from the walls. Inside the apartment it no longer looks dirty – it looks empty. The square room has no furniture....
TOC’s queries on work safety regulations – MOM responds
Sep. 29 | On Sep 8, we ran a video showing a worker entering a flooded manhole without any safety device and asked whether there was any breach of work safety rules. (click here – http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/09/is-this-a-violation-of-worksite-safety-rules/)...
Singaporeans For Democracy Election Consultation
Sep. 29 | Do you want to see improvements to Singapore’s electoral system so that its free and fair and the results better reflects your vote? If you do, join this public consultation organised by Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD) and share your views. Presently,...
Some lower-income workers not included in Workfare
Sep. 28 | The following is an unpublished letter sent to the Straits Times on 22 Sept 2010. Leong Sze Hian - I refer to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) letter “Wages : Workfare’sthe long-term answer” (ST, Sep 22) in response to Professor Tommy Koh’s“basic...
Non-dominant Discourse: Activists in the Arts
Sep. 28 | Self-censorship and post-colonial history are among the themes of a joint exhibition by four activists at the Post Museum. Deborah Choo reports From a sociological perspective, the term “discourse” refers to a formalized way of thinking that...
Pouring ‘Cold Water’
Sep. 27 | Dr Martha Lee Have you ever poured ‘cold water’ over somebody else’s happiness? In a literal translation from the Chinese language, ‘pouring cold water’ means dousing the flames of passion. This usually happens when the opposite party is feeling...
TOC Op-ed: New twist to the by-election question, but don’t hold your breath
Sep. 27 | Dr Balaji Sadasivan’s passing this morning inevitably raises the question of whether Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will call for a by-election to fill the now-vacant seat in his own ward. Dr Balaji was an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, in addition to his portfolio...
TOC Breaking news: Senior Minister of State Balaji Sadasivan passes away
Sep. 27 | Article updated @ 1600 Ms Braema Mathi, who was invited by Dr Balaji to be on the Ministry of Health task force on HIV and who is also the former Vice President of Action for AIDS told TOC: “I’ve always felt that he really cared for the welfare for...
Low Thia Khiang on Insight report for Hougang Constituency
Sep. 26 | On 24th Sep 2010, Straits Times published two reports on Hougang Single-Member Constituency, currently held by Workers Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang. This is his response in full. I refer to the Straits Time Insight report on Hougang Constituency...
STB wants offices to waste electricity for F1 ‘wayang’
Sep. 25 | - By Gangasudhan - Green Drinks Singapore received a tip-off today that at least one office building in the city has been ‘encouraged’ by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to leave their lights on during the 3 days of F1 races in order to...
No choice but to take bank loans
Sep. 25 | On 4 Aug 2010, Straits Times published an article about how HDB helps flat-owners ‘right-size’ their flats to ease their debt problems: ‘Fewer default on loan repayments’. The following letter, published in TODAY on 24th Sep 2010...
Youth for Second Chances
Sep. 24 | We Believe In Second Chances is a youth-led, youth-oriented campaign in Singapore focusing on being young, enjoying life and being allowed to try again when we fail. The Youth for Second Chances video was created during Yellow Ribbon Month 2010. Young...
SDP’s Young Democrats celebrate Liberal Solidarity Week
Sep. 24 | Kirsten Han – The International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) website states that the Singaporean government “is of a clear-cut authoritarian nature and controls its people like a modern day Big Brother.”1 Jarrod Luo, Honorary Secretary...
Sarah Cheng-De Winne – sexiest voice in Singapore
Sep. 24 | - By Gangasudhan - Sarah Cheng-De Winne: singer, songwriter, musician – and even photographer. The up and coming talented artist has recently released her solo album Let’s Pretend (left) and it looks (or sounds) like it is going to be a hit...
Civic Life’s Where The Heart Is: time to vote
Sep. 23 | Earlier this year, we mentioned the Civic Life project which explores the ideas of memory, place, belonging and community through film and writing. A short film, TIONG BAHRU, has been shot with a cast of 150 volunteers from Singapore and directed by...
Meet the NSP Malay Bureau
Sep. 22 | Ng E-Jay – The recent announcement by the National Solidarity Party (NSP) to establish a Malay Bureau has been greeted with much interest from both the grassroots as well as the online community. Last week, I took the opportunity to meet up with...
“It’s never too late for people to change.”
Sep. 22 | From We Believe In Second Chances: When I was 18, I was in my 2nd year of my pre-U days but working hard to get into University was the last thing on my agenda at that time. All I wanted was to be seen as this cool gal in school; I wanted all the attention...
I’d Rather Not Say
Sep. 21 | Dr Martha Lee I was on the MRT train with a new friend the other day, and he asked me what caused my marriage to end. We were both standing, dangling from different handrail supports. I looked around. We were surrounded by a lot of other commuters. This...
Tan Wah Piow: Challenge Singapore’s Facade Democracy
Sep. 21 | by James Gomez Singapore’s façade democracy needs to be challenged if citizens want their political rights – this is what I took away from my one hour conversation with Tan Wah Piow at London Heathrow Airport on 19 September 2010. For Wah Piow,...
Global Disarmanent – Coasta Rica leads the way
Sep. 21 | Imagine all the people, living life in peace. - John Lennon The abolishment of nuclear weapons, stopping the proliferation and misuse of conventional weapons, and redirecting at least 10 percent of global military expenditure towards achieving the Millennium...
Casino disclosure, really disclosure?
Sep. 20 | Leong Sze Hian - The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) disclosed in Parliament last Thursday that more than a million locals have visited the casinos in the integrated resort since they opened here seven months ago. MCYS minister...
Minimum wage not necessary in “today’s world”?
Sep. 19 | Kirsten Han - Upon reading the ChannelNewsAsia article ‘S’pore should not set a minimum wage for low-income workers: Lim Boon Heng‘ on 16th September, I wrote the following tweet: It wasn’t meant to be much but it got re-tweeted...
Satays protest Straits Times’ headlines
Sep. 19 | Satays simmer with anger over ST’s use of the word ‘grilled’. By Usad Ahdar About 20 sticks of satay gathered at Speaker’s Corner yesterday to protest the Straits Times’ use of the word ‘grilled’ in its headlines...
SIA – making a mockery of government policies
Sep. 18 | This is the letter by Leong Sze Hian which was published in the New paper on 18 September. Read also: Even GLCs are cutting older workers’ pay? Leong Sze Hian – I REFER to media reports that female flight crew of Singapore Airlines (SIA) may finally...
“Please stop hum-tumming Singlish! Just leebit alone!”
Sep. 17 | Andrew Loh – The Speak Good English Movement was officially launched on 7 September this year. It has been more than a decade since the first campaign was started here. Its aim this year is to get Singaporeans “to speak the language well in more environments.” Launching...
HDB policy on singles: Singaporean vs Permanent Resident
Sep. 16 | Leong Sze Hian Why are Permanent Residents (PRs) who are single buying HDB resale flats like nobody’s business? Singaporeans who are single and below age 35 are not allowed to buy HDB resale flats unless they are orphans. PRs sibings who are single...
Mandatory living wage – no more cheap excuses, please
Sep. 15 | Stephanie Chok - As Senior Diplomat Tommy Koh pointed out in today’s Straits Times (‘Basic pay: Tommy Koh weighs in‘), all advanced economies, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and nowHong Kong have a minimum wage. Malaysia is now...
Who owns Singapore?
Sep. 15 | By Dr Wong Wee Nam 13 September 2010 “It is important to guarantee the people’s democratic rights and legitimate rights and interests. We must resolve the problem of excessive concentration of power, create conditions that allow people to criticise...
Minimum wage – the debate begins
Sep. 15 | The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) was among the first to call for a minimum wage for Singaporean workers. It was part of its election manifesto in 2006. (See here.) “Ensuring a minimum wage for the lowest of the low-skilled employee guarantees...
“A person who has a heart gives second chances.”
Sep. 14 | From We Believe In Second Chances: I share something in common with Vui Kong. I have run afoul of the law before. I will spare you the details of what happened to me, but I’m admitting this fact so that those who are reading this will know that...
MPs to question ministers on YOG, housing and foreign workers
Sep. 14 | The following are some of the questions tabled by MPs for the Parliamentary sitting on 15 September, Wednesday. You can view the rest of the questions in the Order Paper here. Questions for Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth...
When is the last leaf falling? Imagining a Singapore without Lee Kuan Yew
Sep. 14 | Tiffany Chuang - Yesterday I read the Straits Times reprint of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s interview with the New York Times. I got a lump in my throat. What got me was not just the poignant nostalgia of the interview, but just how old Mr Lee is, judging by...
The Satirist Says: Speak Good English Movement incites violence with guerilla campaign
Sep. 14 | Singapore, 14 September 2010 – In an apparent disregard for those who champion Singlish (local colloquialism that mixes English with the various dialects and languages used by Singaporeans) and the blatant persecution of those who are too busy trying...
Transcripts – New York Times/IHT interview Lee Kuan Yew
Sep. 13 | The following is the transcript of the interview Seth Mydans had with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, for the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. The interview was held on 1 September 2010. Mr Lee: “Thank you. When you are coming...
S-League – the sinking league or the successful league?
Sep. 13 | The Today newspaper, on 13 September, carried an article by Mr PN Balji, director of the Asia Journalism Fellowship, a joint initiative of Temasek Foundation and NTU, on the state of the S League. It comes on the back of revelation by the Football...
Migrant workers one of us too
Sep. 13 | Deborah Choo for The Online Citizen The inaugural Migrantion Film Festival greeted an audience of over 200 on Saturday at The Substation. Many of those present were students. The festival is organized by Migrant Voices, a Community Arts Charity founded...
Sex and the king of fruits
Sep. 13 | Dr Martha Lee What is the relationship between sex and durians? Is there any at all? Since I am paid for my time, I like to use metaphors and analogies to make sure that I get my intended message across in the most effective way in the shortest amount...
Keep discussion on immigration in perspective: DPM Teo
Sep. 12 | Straits Times, 11 September 2010. Click on picture to enlarge.
HDB flats – S’poreans come first?
Sep. 11 | Dear TOC, While the government keeps saying “Singaporeans come first”, my experience in trying to have a house of my own shows me otherwise. In fact, being a Singaporean doesn’t mean you will automatically be able to have a home of your own. I am...
Ex-teacher finding it tough to return to the workforce
Sep. 11 | Hi Gilbert, Thanks for the prompt reply. I’ll continue to find a way back into the workforce, thanks for the support you are giving to people like me. The best thing about your website is that I feel assured that I am not alone and that someone...
Deaf children not less deserving, says American teacher
Sep. 11 | Deborah Choo for The Online Citizen – “I really think Singapore needs to see what deaf people can do. They’ve got to interact with other people of the world to see what’s possible,” says Susan Elliot, 57, winner of the 2009 Colorado State...
Let a hundred censors bloom
Sep. 10 | From Yawning Bread: You will have noticed that Nanyang Technological University requires students to get its approval before creating web content touching on politics and religion. So, not only did it reiterate, reinforce and render immediate the imported...
Press Muse – Servility to higher powers
Sep. 10 | Spiegel - The Christian Post Singapore published on its website Tuesday (7 September) an intriguing article titled “NCCS Workshop Prepares Churches to Engage Press“. It covered an event organised by the National Council of Churches of Singapore...
Burma’s election and ASEAN’s inaction
Sep. 9 | Ravi Philemon - Any election has to adhere to the norms of international principles guiding an election process. But a number of developments in Burma before and after the announcement of the election date are cause for concern. As Burma (like Singapore)...
Minimum wage law works
Sep. 9 | The following article was first published in the Straits Times. By Hui Weng Tat, For The Straits Times IN A surprising departure from its usual free market orientation, Hong Kong lawmakers recently voted in favour of a minimum wage law for vulnerable...
Is this a violation of worksite safety rules?
Sep. 8 | Andrew Loh – In the video that follows this article (see above), a worker submerges himself into a hole which apparently has flooded over. We are unsure how the hole became flooded or what the worker was trying to do by immersing himself into it. The...
Meet your “walkover” MP
Sep. 8 | Koo Tsai Kee MP, Tanjong Pagar GRC Walkover MP since 1991 Never won a single vote outright ————– Vivian Balakrishnan MP, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Minister for Community Development, Youth & Sports Walkover MP since...
