Home » Archive for May, 2011
Archive for May, 2011
“Tens of thousands of rental flats needed”
May. 31 | Andrew Loh/ “The problem that the HDB face is they are just short of rental flats. In the whole of Singapore today, we have about 45,000 rental flats. But that’s not enough. “It’s quite clear in my mind, we need to ramp up the...
Hannah’s Ordeal
May. 31 | Deborah Choo/ A typical day started at 5am. Hannah (not her real name) would do some household chores and feed the family’s many pets. Mid-mornings saw her shuttling between her employer’s fruit stall and his daughter-in-law’s photo shop in Clementi....
Reviving the Minimum Wage Debate (Part 2)
May. 31 | Gordon Lee/ In Part 2, we study costs of production, inflation, productivity and competitiveness. Costs of production A minimum wage policy will lead to increased costs for firms – but the degree to which costs increase is diluted by non-wage costs...
Letters to TOC – Dignified pay & national direction needed
May. 30 | Dignified pay Sophia Tsang There is much discussion regarding ministerial pay. Dr Lim Wee Kiak’s comments have now gone viral. This shows how much the populace of Singapore care about this issue. For a start, not many bought the “pay millions to ensure...
Excuse me, did the Prime Minister just say sorry?
May. 30 | Sophia Tsang For the longest time, I never understood why members of the ruling party never seemed to ever, EVER say sorry. I mean, I heard complaints about how there was no lift upgrading, about how salaries were so low, low, low but cost of living was...
TOC Blog Feature: Why S’pore TV is dead
May. 30 | From the blog, Jelly Farm: Since late 2001, I have been immersed in many gigs in the Singapore TV/media industry. After 9 years busting butt on the ground, I have decided that this may the last year I want to be as involved in it and perhaps seek an alternative...
Cleaning up after Mr Mah
May. 30 | Dawson Koo / 21 May 2011 denotes a significant milestone in Singapore’s history. Mr Mr Mah Bow Tan finally bowed out as the Minister for National Development (MND), after 12 years at the ministry. He will most likely be remembered for allowing...
The Dolphin Project makes proposal to RWS over dolphins
May. 30 | The following is a letter from Mr Richard O’Barry to Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on the importation of 23 wild dolphins from the Solomon Islands by RWS for entertainment purposes at its Integrated Resort in Singapore....
Disagreeing without being disagreeable
May. 30 | The following is a Facebook entry by Ms Joan Fong, the daughter of Mr Hon Sui Sen, Singapore’s Finance Minister from 1970 to 1983. Mr Hon was also the first Chairman and President of the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), the first Chairman of...
You’re invited to “Post-Election Transformation Series”
May. 29 | The Online Citizen presents the “Post Election Transformation Series“. Post elections, we gather to talk about what transformation we want to see most in Singapore. We would like to invite you the the following event. Speakers Leong...
Picking up where Ong Teng Cheong left off
May. 29 | Ravi Philemon / I said on my Facebook page a few days ago that “I am one of the many Singaporeans who urged him (Dr Tan Cheng Bock) to stand for the upcoming Presidential Election.” I think that it is important to say why I support Dr Tan’s...
Cynicism – PAP’s main battle
May. 28 | Andrew Loh Being in power for half a century breeds arrogance and hubristic tendencies. This much has been said of the People’s Action Party (PAP). Such sentiments were clearly and loudly expressed during the recent elections. Even the PAP’s own candidate...
Letter to Heng Swee Keat, Education Minister
May. 28 | The following is an excerpt of a Facebook posting on Ms Monica Lim’s page: Dear Mr Heng, The recent polls have triggered many dramatic changes, the biggest of which is PM’s consistent refrain for transformation. In this spirit, I’m writing to you...
PAP MP withdraws remarks on ministerial salaries
May. 28 | Andrew Loh People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Dr Lim Wee Kiak has apologised and withdrawn the remarks he made about ministerial salaries. Dr Lim was reported by the Chinese press last week as having said: “If the...
ACRES needs your help to “Save the World’s Saddest Dolphins”
May. 27 | Howard Lee / At the turn of this year, I interviewed Louis Ng, the Executive Director of the Animals Concerns and Research & Education Society (ACRES), and one of the questions was what ACRES plan to do for the coming year. Ng affirmed ACRES’s...
Vote for an independent-minded President
May. 27 | Jason Lee / Notwithstanding the Government’s recent announcements (ie. review of Ministerial salaries) and actions (ie. PM’s apology during an election rally) which received lavish praise from many Singaporeans – especially journalists and...
Shadrake’s appeal dismissed, to start jail term
May. 27 | Andrew loh / British author Alan Shadrake’s appeal against a conviction for contempt of court was dismissed by the Singapore Court of Appeal on Friday. The author was arrested in July last year, the day after he had launched his book, Once A Jolly Hangman,...
The sandwiched class of PAP bureaucracy
May. 27 | G Hui / A friend of mine who works in the civil service once commented: “If you think the ministers are high-handed, you should try talking to their minions!” This statement stuck in my mind because it encapsulates the mindset of the civil...
Dignity and respect come from genuine service
May. 27 | Andy Soon / I refer to the article in ‘Lianhe Zaobao’ in regards to PAP MP Dr Lim Wee Kiak remarks about ministerial pay which should be able to reflect the dignity and status of a minister and his subsequent claims that his comments was taken out...
About that other comment, Dr Lim
May. 26 | Dear Dr Lim Wee Kiak, It must have been a difficult time for you now, especially with all the furor over your recent comment to the Chinese press. I think everything that needs to be said has been said, and I have nothing more to add. I am writing to...
Quoted out of context, Dr Lim?
May. 26 | Dawson Koo / A flurry of comments was unleashed on the Internet after Dr Lim Wee Kiak, People’s Action Party Member of Parliament, was reported to have made the following comments to the Chinese press: “If the annual salary of the Minister of...
10 ideas for ministerial salary reform
May. 26 | Leong Sze Hian, Alex Lew 1. Remuneration should have a reasonable basis and be internationally benchmarked across comparable nations. What constitutes a reasonable basis? A benchmark that would command an above average pay and to reflect the risks of...
Reviving the Minimum Wage debate (Part 1)
May. 26 | Gordon Lee / Since the parliamentary “debate” in January this year, which saw Members of Parliament coming out strongly as a united front against implementing a minimum wage, discussions on the pros and cons of a minimum wage seem to have died down. Government...
How civil service can serve better
May. 26 | (The following letter to TODAY Voices was rejected for publication.) See Leong Kit Your TODAY May 14 edition featured two timely reports, ”When grassroots leaders may not provide most accurate feedback” and ”Public Service must...
Gratefulness has nothing to do with it
May. 25 | This is a letter from a TOC reader. G Hui/ I would just like to add on to Elaine Ong’s article: “False Identities and disloyalties”. Like her, I have heard many comments levelled against voters who have voted against against the PAP....
Bring Eric Tan back to the party: WP volunteers
May. 25 | Andrew Loh/ credit: Mervin Lee A group of supporters and volunteers of the Workers’ Party (WP) is calling on the party to reinstate Mr Eric Tan back into the party. The group, which includes volunteers who helped with the party’s...
The Mandatory Death Penalty
May. 25 | This was originally posted as a Facebook note by the author. David King/ The recent arrest of an author has highlighted the Mandatory Death Penalty here in Singapore once again, even with the various Human Right’s groups and activists doggedly...
Social Media in Singapore Politics: It’s Serious Business Folks!
May. 25 | This article was originally posted on 24 May 2011 on Economy Watch . TOC thanks Economy Watch for permission to publish this in full here. Raymond Tham/ Singaporeans Find Their Voice (Credit: Stell Woll) It takes a brave person to write...
REACHing out? Try a little humility first
May. 25 | Howard Lee/ Today published an article on 24 May, “Going through REACH alone might not work”. The headline is about as close as we will get to the People’s Action Party admitting that the crown jewel of its engagement efforts since the dawn...
PAP MP irked by coverage on opposition MPS
May. 24 | The People’s Action Party (PAP) Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC, Ms Irene Ng, seems irked by the media coverage given to opposition MPs. In a comment posted on her Facebook page, she insinuated that the media attention given to opposition...
Potong Pasir petition campaign called off after police intervened
May. 24 | Elliot Aruldoss, Jewel Philemon It all started on 7 May when the results of the 2011 General Elections were revealed. A group of Potong Pasir residents gathered at a coffeeshop at Block 108 eagerly awaiting the results. This was the same coffeeshop which...
False identities and disloyalties
May. 23 | Elaine Ong / The voice of the electorate at the recent General Election resounded loud and clear to the ruling party and indeed, some observers claim that politically, the population has come of age. I beg to differ. The political maturity of the electorate...
Another potential problem with the GRC
May. 23 | Andy Loh/ Much has been said about how the GRC system has failed because it has seen the exit of able politicians and the entry of politicians who were considered less than able. However, this is not the only failing of the GRC system. The GRC system...
NSP sec gen weighs in on Nicole Seah controversy
May. 23 | Andrew Loh / The following is an excerpt from Mr Goh Meng Seng’s blog, Singapore Alternatives. In his latest post, Mr Goh, who is also the secretary general of the National Solidarity Party, weighs in on the controversy surrounding it’s star candidate,...
PAP Transformation Series – 12 Suggestions to reform healthcare
May. 23 | Leong Sze Hian “Nothing’s sacrosanct in Government review of policies.” – PM Lee Hsien Loong. I refer to the article “’Improve affordability, accessibility and adequacy of healthcare’” (Today, May 21) . I would like to applaud...
PAP Transformation Series – 13 suggestions to transform the CPF
May. 23 | Leong Sze Hian, Alex Lew / “Nothing’s sacrosanct in Government review of policies.” – PM Lee Hsien Loong. I refer to the articles “Tharman open to ideas, say economists” and “Big change, great expectations” (ST, May...
PAP Transformation Series – 18 suggestions to reform HDB
May. 23 | Leong Sze Hian, Alex Lew / “Nothing’s sacrosanct in Government review of policies.” – PM Lee Hsien Loong. I would like to applaud the Prime Minister for his bold changes to the cabinet. I believe what Singaporeans would like to see going...
One year after assault, investigations still ongoing?
May. 23 | Andrew Loh / On 11 April last year, three friends tried to help a taxi driver who was being heckled and assaulted by a group of four Caucasian men at the taxi stand at Suntec City Tower 5. Instead, the three do-gooders were pounced on by the Caucasian...
A macro outlook on the Singapore property market
May. 23 | Chua Soon Hock / Despite a number of cooling measures from the government in the past year, the Singapore property market continues to be strong, hitting all-time high in prices. A recent prime condo traded at new record high of $5,842psf. This resilience...
RP’s Response to Setting Up of Committee to Review Ministerial Pay
May. 23 | PRESS RELEASE 22/05/2011 The Reform Party’s Response to Setting Up of Committee to Review Ministerial Pay The Reform Party notes the news that the PM has set up a committee to review Ministerial salaries, to be headed by the chairman of the National...
A good start
May. 22 | Andrew Loh/ credit: chinadaily.com.cn The setting up of a committee to review ministerial salaries is a good start-off point of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s promise of change. The move is an acknowledgement that ministers’ salaries have been...
PM Lee pledges a just and fair society
May. 21 | SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY HELD IN THE STATE ROOM, ISTANA ON 21 MAY 2011 Mr President Ministers and Members of Parliament Fellow Singaporeans 1. We have just gone through a watershed general election. Almost...
S’poreans and PR job stats – making no sense
May. 21 | Leong Sze Hian / I refer to the reports of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech on 21 April on the launch of IM Flash Singapore, a joint venture memory chip facility between US tech giants Intel and Micron. The reports cited PM Lee thus: “In his...
Letters from Vui Kong – Me and my life
May. 21 | Yong Vui Kong is a death row inmate in Singapore. He was arrested at age 19 with 47.27g of heroin, convicted of trafficking and sentenced under the Mandatory Death Penalty. His final appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 4 April 2011. He can...
Temasek Holdings – “not required” to disclose?
May. 21 | Leong Sze Hian I refer to Temasek Holding’s letter “Protection of Temasek’s past reserves” (Today, May 20). It states that “Although not required to do so, Temasek publishes an annual Temasek Review, providing a summary of key financials as...
Election shocker, now a Cabinet cracker
May. 21 | PN Balji / If the results of the May 7 general elections can be described as a shocker, then the Cabinet changes announced yesterday (Wednesday) must be a cracker. And what a cracker it was. Three minsters who were under severe attack during the campaigning...
21 May 1987
May. 21 | Andrew Loh / On 21 May 1987, a group of social workers was arrested by the authorities under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for allegedly plotting to topple the government through a “Marxist conspiracy”. No charges were ever brought against them...
Time to go beyond complaining
May. 20 | Andrew Loh / The General Elections have resulted in what PM Lee called “epochal” changes to the Cabinet. We have seen 2 Senior Ministers, the Minister Mentor, and 6 other ministers stepping down from the Cabinet. The GE also saw historic achievements...
Unanswered questions on ministers’ pay
May. 20 | See Leong Kit / ( Writer’s letter to TODAY Voices was rejected for publication ) The letter ”Clearing the air on pensions” ( TODAY May 14) from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is just a first step on transparency...
