Home » Archive for June, 2011
Archive for June, 2011
Jilted by the system
Jun. 30 | by: Ghui/ Adrian (not his real name) has been selling food at a canteen in a university in Singapore for 6 years. Each contract lasts for 3 years and Adrian has successfully completed 2 terms. Earlier this year, he submitted a request for a further 3...
Potong Pasir, the People’s town – Part 2
Jun. 30 | Howard Lee & Benjamin Cheah / “Hi, are you a resident of Potong Pasir?” “No no no…” You would be surprised at the number of people who are not Potong Pasir residents, but happen to be in Potong Pasir, when we dropped...
What makes a successful politician?
Jun. 29 | by: Ghui/ George Yeo and Lim Hwee Hua were both politicians who have made contributions to Singapore. George Yeo especially, was an outstanding Minister for foreign affairs. However, both have resigned from active politics after failing to win in Aljunied...
HDB: Why not so easy to downgrade
Jun. 28 | Leong Sze Hian/ Over the last few weeks, we have encountered more than 10 cases of Singaporeans with HDB housing problems and homelessness. There was a Singaporean divorcee in her mid 40s, who works as a security guard for $1,300 a month, who downgraded...
HOME’s Bridget Lew mentioned in Hillary Clinton’s speech
Jun. 28 | Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) founder and President Bridget Lew Tan was mentioned in a speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the release of the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP). In her speech, Clinton said: Our...
Harder truths about Security Bond
Jun. 28 | Sophia Tsang/ In a letter to Today, MOM made a declaration regarding the Security Bond. (“Truth about the Security Bond” June 25 2011 ): It is aimed at ensuring that employers remain responsible for the proper upkeep and maintenance, as...
Germany and Singapore embark on Human Rights Logo Initiative
Jun. 27 | Deborah Choo/ In an unprecendented effort to form and crystalize a unified symbol for human rights, Germany has launched a world wide competition on 3 May in Berlin. The competition is running from now until 31 July, after which the contest enters...
NKF reserves can last forever?
Jun. 27 | Leong Sze Hian/ I refer to the reports “Charity sector to get public confidence boost” (Channel NewsAsia, Jun 25)and “Donations to charities up 13% to S$776m in 2010” (Channel NewsAsia, Jun 17). The latter states that: “… the sector remained...
Our responsibility as citizens
Jun. 27 | by: Ghui/ The advent of the internet age has seen the prolific rise of websites such as Facebook, Twitter and You Tube. Their usage has been diverse, from virals promoting various products to broadcasting the latest breaking news. The impact of the internet...
Assessing a Nation’s True Competitiveness
Jun. 27 | Ultimately what any country should be worrying about is not comparisons but differentiation. In Singapore’s case, with its strategic imperative of focusing on developing both its service industries and very high-end manufacturing, its differentiator...
Resorts World Sentosa: Petition by 650,000 people to let dolphins go not received
Jun. 27 | We reproduce here in full the letter by ACRES Executive Director Louis Ng to Resorts World Sentosa’s CEO Tan Hee Teck, to directly address the questions raised in this letter, point by point and in detail. — 27 June 2011 Mr. Tan Hee Teck CEO Resorts...
Why do married women kill off their unborn children?
Jun. 26 | by: Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss/ In the last few years, we have seen an unprecedented number of foreigners arriving to Singapore to take up jobs. Why did the Government invite them? They were invited to come because there are not enough Singaporeans in the...
It’s time to move on – Goh Meng Seng (with updates of NSP’s new CEC)
Jun. 26 | Update: National Solidarity Party has elected it’s members for the Party’s 14th CEC. Sebastian Teo remains the President. Hazel Koon Koon Poa is elected secretary-general. CEC members are: Christopher Neo, Gan Theng Wei, Ivan Yeo, Jeannette...
SFD members released from investigation over death penalty book
Jun. 25 | The SFD trio: Jarrod Luo (far left), Seelan Palay (second from left) and Rachel Zeng (second from right) Singaporeans For Democracy (SFD) members Mr Seelan Palay 27, Mr Jarrod Luo 27 and Miss Rachel Zeng 28 had been released from police investigation...
Potong Pasir, the people’s Town
Jun. 25 | by: Howard Lee and Benjamin Cheah/ You’ve heard it before. The slum of Singapore, the dirty neighbourhood, the run-down poorer cousin of modern housing. Such associations have often been cast on the township of Potong Pasir, that enigma of Singapore...
KTM Railway Lands: What next?
Jun. 25 | TOC speaks to Mr Leong Kwok Peng, Nature Society’s (Singapore) Chairperson of Conservation Committee on the latest development in NSS’s efforts to save the KTM railway lands and push through its proposal to convert the area surrounding...
When “no comment” is not enough
Jun. 25 | by: Ghui/ I refer to the article entitled “SMRT: Effective Crisis Management” by Shanta Arul. While the incident I am about to relate is not directly on point with Shanta’s article, it does have many parallels to the issues raised by...
Needy: Pay $10 to get $6 back?
Jun. 24 | Leong Sze Hian/ Source: fairpricefoundation.org When TOC’s Interim Chief Editor, Ravi Philemon, asked me to write something on the report “NTUC FairPrice to raise $1 million for low-income workers” (Yahoo News, Jun 22)., my first instinct...
Post Election Transformation Series, 2nd Talk (feat. Dr Ang Yong Guan)
Jun. 24 | About Post Election, many organisations have tried to sustain the election awareness though forums and discussion platforms. Most of these efforts cannot sustain over time because people’s interest in politics in the past, were highlighted only during...
Who do our civil servants serve?
Jun. 24 | by: Tan Meng Lee/ When the 12th Parliament opens in August this year, the ruling People’s Action Party will hold 93 per cent of the House. That’s despite the fact that they won just 60 percent of the vote at the General Elections this year....
Security bonds encourage “xenophobia and classism” – H.O.M.E
Jun. 24 | The Online Citizen speaks to Jolovan Wham, a social worker with H.O.M.E (Humanitarian Organization for Migrant Economics) on the recent calls for giving migrant domestic workers a weekly day-off. H.O.M.E is also a co-partner of the Day-off Campaign for...
“How could I remain a spectator?” Dr Tony Tan
Jun. 23 | by: Jewel Philemon/ The former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, announced his bid for the 2011 Presidential Election, this morning. Dr Tan, accompanied by his wife Ms Mary Chee Bee Kiang, arrived at the Election Department at...
TONY TAN ENGAGES THE BLOGS: NEW ERA IN RELATIONS WITH ALTERNATIVE MEDIA?
Jun. 23 | Citizen journalism in Singapore appears to have made a major breakthrough, with the Tony Tan Campaign for President inviting some of the country’s most influential political bloggers to its press conference announcing his candidature this morning....
AGC will take no further action against Alan Shadrake
Jun. 23 | by: Jewel Philemon/ Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has decided not to take any further action against Alan Shadrake, the author of ‘Once a Jolly Hangman‘, following their investigation into offences of criminal defamation and wrongful...
Former Deputy Prime Minister to contest presidency
Jun. 23 | Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam (age: 71), Executive Director and Vice Chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH), is now at the Elections Department to collect the presidential elections...
What is too little too late?
Jun. 23 | by: Ghui GE 2011 has been described as a watershed event, the dawn of a new age in Singapore politics. In light of the dramatic fall in PAP vote share and the WP winning a GRC, this is a fair statement to make. In recent months, the PAP has been scrambling...
Letters from Vui Kong – The Tenth Letter : Drugs and the Death Penalty
Jun. 22 | 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...
If you want a break, she should get one too
Jun. 22 | Photo: Reuters Kirsten Han/ The following is a letter written to the Straits Times forum by Madam Low Ai Choo on the issue of a weekly day off for domestic helpers, interspersed with some of my thoughts. It is true that maids should not be treated differently...
DBSS – ‘Overpaid’ by 550 million dollars?
Jun. 22 | by: Leong Sze Hian/ with contributions from: Ravi Philemon/ The Ministry of National Development’s (MND) replied today in a letter titled, “Ministry to review DBSS housing option” (Straits Times, 22 June 2011) to another letter in the...
Regarding MND’s response to questions raised on DBSS
Jun. 22 | Ministry of National Development (MND) responded today to Patrick Tan’s letter on the Straits Times Forum titled, ‘Four questions on DBSS‘. Sophia Tsang responds to MND’s reply in her blog ‘SpeakSpokeWriteWrote‘, and...
Economic growth and human rights not mutually exclusive – Dr Wijeyasingha
Jun. 22 | Dr Vincent Wijeysingha was to speak at the Liberal International’s 57th Congress held in Manila, Philippines, last week. The theme of the Congress was Human Rights and Trade. He was scheduled to speak in a panel “Economic growth and human...
SMRT: Effective crisis management?
Jun. 22 | by: Shanta Arul/ In a horrific accident in April, Thai teenager Nitcharee Peneakchanasa lost both her legs falling off an MRT platform ahead of an incoming train. Her family is now suing SMRT for $3.4 million dollars. SMRT ultimately allowed liability...
Tan Cheng Bock: I refuse to compromise
Jun. 22 | by: Jewel Philemon/ Jovial, open and down to earth. These are the words that immediately come to mind when one tries to describe Dr Tan Cheng Bock, prospective Presidential Election Candidate. For our team, which included youths who are not as familiar...
“Thank you Mr Chiam!” – Night of Champions
Jun. 21 | Benjamin Cheah and Chong Woon Hien/ Photos by Han Thon and Sebestian Song A kind of hush fell. Outside the ballroom, conversations grew shorter, quieter. Heads faced the driveway, hands and fingers poised over cameras and touchscreens, eyes scanning...
Implementing the reform agenda
Jun. 21 | from: Donald Low’s FC/ Instead of its leadership fetish, the PAP government must “widen its aperture” and put in place the mechanisms to foster debate, dissent and creative tension in the system. It has to look to dissidents down the ranks...
A Look at Tan Kin Lian
Jun. 21 | Dr Wong Wee Nam/ Tan Kin Lian was one year my junior in Raffles Institution. However, I did not know him in school. There are many reasons for this. Firstly we belong to the baby-boomers and it was unprecedented that each cohort had ten classes and each...
Homeless and Abandoned with Four Children
Jun. 21 | by: Leong Sze Hian Miss Lee (not her real name) is a 37-year-old Permanent Resident (Malaysian citizen), with four young children. Her husband is a 39-year-old Singaporean businessman and they have been married for about ten years. He abandoned her and...
A case of too little too late?
Jun. 20 | by: Jason Lee/ Since the May 7 election, several MPs from the ruling party have told their grassroots leaders to do away with excessive and unnecessary formalities at events which they will be gracing. One MP, who was first elected in 2006, has requested...
From State to Temasek
Jun. 20 | Leong Sze Hian/ According to Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) Annual Report 2009/10 , “Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG) was formed on 16 June 2009 and the corporatisation of Changi Airport followed on 1 July 2009”. Its revenue for...
Pink Dot 2011 – Stimulating Social Change or Reinforcing Status Quo?
Jun. 20 | by: Lisa Li/ On 18 June 2011, a crowd more than ten thousand-strong turned Hong Lim Park into a giant pink party1: there were pink T-shirts, pink wigs, pink cupcakes on pink picnic mats, dogs in pink leashes and pink bowties, and ten thousand people in...
“I would like to be that unifying figure for Singaporeans,” Presidential hopeful Dr Tan Cheng Bock
Jun. 20 | In Part 2 of 3 Dr Tan talks about his motivations for wanting to be a presidential candidate as well as his views on the powers of the Elected President.
LGBT communities are never homogeneous, and never will be
Jun. 19 | by: Bryan Choong We saw 10,000 people showing up to show support for PinkDot yesterday. Today the Facebook, Internet portals and mainstream press covered the event extensively. There was something else I saw in Hong Lim Park and it probably will not be...
Pink Dot – hope of a more inclusive, open-minded Singapore
Jun. 19 | by: Otto Fong/ My friends, gay brothers gay sisters, straight brothers and straight sisters, welcome! My name is Otto Fong. Some of you may know me for publicly outing myself as a gay man while I was teaching in a secondary school. Thank you for being...
![Hong Lim Park turns into a sea of Pink [UPDATED WITH PHOTOS]](http://theonlinecitizen.com/wp-content/themes/newstube/includes/timthumb.php?src=http://theonlinecitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/PinkDotSmall.jpg&h=100&w=100&zc=1)
Hong Lim Park turns into a sea of Pink [UPDATED WITH PHOTOS]
Jun. 19 | Media release by the organisers of Pink Dot/ Over 10,000 pink-attired Singaporeans turned Hong Lim Park into a sea of pink, where they gathered – for the third year running – to form a giant pink dot in a show of support for inclusiveness, diversity...
Chiam See Tong has given Potong Pasir a History, a Heritage and a Memory
Jun. 18 | by: Liew Kai Khiun/ This article first appeared HERE during the General Election 2011 period. We want to thank Liew Kai Khiun for giving us permission to republish an edited version of the article on TOC. — Although I have spent most of the 38 years...
The true genius of Chiam See Tong
Jun. 18 | by: Dana Lam, Potong Pasir Voter/ Etched in my memory is an image of a lone and visibly worn Mr Chiam See Tong submitting to a yawn in a corner of a counting centre at the end of polling day under the headline, Loneliness in Defeat (ST 12 February 1979)....
PUB’s Cuscaden Road misinformation?
Jun. 17 | In her commentary piece of 13 Jun 2011, headed, “ Plumb depths of floods for good solutions”, Tan Dawn Wei quoted the PUB as having told her that (quote) “ Cuscaden also sits on a higher plane, so water should be flowing down to Orchard Road instead,...
NGO Calls for International Domestic Workers Law to be Ratified in Singapore
Jun. 17 | Singapore, Friday 17 June 2011 – Non-governmental organisation, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), has called on the Singapore government to ratify the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers which was approved by vote at the International...
Community Organisation- Empower the people!
Jun. 17 | Change. A word that was repeated like a mantra throughout the fiery 2011 General Elections period that saw many volunteers, young and old, stepping forward and lending helping hands to the election process. In light of the huge community response, so...
