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TOC Editorial: Media’s silence on Yong Vui Kong a national shame
Jun. 16 | The following article was published here on TOC on 5 December 2009. We highlight it again as the points raised in it are pertinent and relevant still – 6 months after the article was first written. Choo Zheng Xi/Editor-at-Large Yong Vui Kong’s...
Milder but more credible
Dec. 20 | Terence Lee In this third installment of our “Youth in Politics” series, we speak to Koh Choong Yong and Ng Swee Bee, President and Vice-President of the Worker’s Party Youth Wing. Don’t expect rabble-rousing politics from the Worker’s...
Youth Olympics can, SEA games cannot?
Dec. 18 | Kelvin Teo Singapore’s decision not to host the 2013 SEA Games is baffling. There does not seem to be a good reason why it cannot do so, given that the Youth Olympics would be hosted before the new Sports Hub is ready. The first summer Youth Olympics...
Haunting mural graces Citylink
Dec. 18 | Report and photos by Wallace Woon The black wall with its black dripping paint and chalk scribblings resemble the chaos of a classroom. Yet the message within the writings is hardly academic. Facts pointing towards the various injustices throughout countries...
PMETs and degree holders among hardest hit by weak labour market
Dec. 16 | Leong Sze Hian Despite a slight increase in GDP in the third quarter of this year, Singapore’s labour market, as well as the earnings and productivity of resident workers have not recovered. A report released yesterday by the Ministry of Manpower reveals...
Graduate schools see large foreign student population
Dec. 14 | Breaking News: TV Mobile to cease its broadcast transmission from 1 Jan 2010. Mediacorp, which runs the free-to-air mobile digital television, cites the “substantial” resources required to operate and maintain the service as a reason for its termination....
Reform Party hopes to “level the playing field”
Dec. 11 | Xue Jianyue and Terence Lee The Reform Party recently introduced a series of economic proposals touching on areas like minimum wage, productivity, education, foreign workers and housing. Many Singaporeans have expressed concern about the rising deluge...
Open letter on drug trafficker to be released
Dec. 10 | Terence Lee Kenneth Jeyaretnam spells out his party’s stance towards the death penalty. He also calls on the government to release the new electoral boundaries early. Singapore’s newest political party will be putting out an open letter calling...
Yong Vui Kong given opportunity to appeal
Dec. 9 | Exclusive coverage: Starting from today (9 Dec), The Online Citizen will have exclusive coverage the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) which is being held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The reports are by members of ECO Singapore, writing exclusively...
Debunking Singapore’s government claims on climate change action
Dec. 5 | Charles As the Singapore mainstream media announced the government’s decision to reduce its carbon emission by 16 percent below ‘business as usual’ levels by 2020, the public is conned into believing that the PAP is doing something to combat or...
Reform Party: Discussion session on Singapore’s economy
Dec. 4 | The Reform Party Secretary General, Mr. Kenneth Jeyaretnam, is hosting a discussion session on Singapore’s economy. Specifically, Kenneth will discuss our proposal for a minimum wage and other measures advocated by the Reform Party to improve the...
RP on Cooling-Off Period
Dec. 3 | The Reform Party therefore strongly opposes the current government’s proposal for a cooling-off period. However this will only be one more of the numerous restrictions which tilt the playing field so far against the opposition and which prevent Singapore...
Blogging Seminar videos on YouTube
Nov. 5 | In May 2009, a blogging seminar called “Blogging: You’ve got the power (Now learn the craft)” was organised by The Online Citizen, with support from the Institute of Policy Studies and the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre. The...
Let’s say no to something
Nov. 5 | If you could say ‘no’ to something, what would you say? That’s the question the ‘No to Rape’ team has put to Singaporeans and residents from a wide range of backgrounds and walks of life, and their latest campaign film ad, “Let’s...
Human rights 101
Nov. 3 | Report and photos by Cerelia Lim WHEN PEOPLE do not know their human rights, abuse and discrimination steps in, said Ms Natalya Twohill, a speaker at the Whose Right Is It Anyway workshop on 31 October. The workshop held at AWARE centre saw more than...
Despite tragedy, Team Hope will carry on
Nov. 1 | Report by Terence Lee / Video by Patrick Chng PASTOR ANDREW Khoo, founder of New Hope Community Services, was a tired man. The day after organising a meaningful community event that ended in tragedy, he had since been inundated with calls, text messages,...
Freedom Press Index divorced from reality?
Oct. 31 | Gangasudhan / Photo courtesy of Mark O’Brien under Creative Commons Singapore officials seem to have missed the point of the index by erroneously equating it with press quality. IN RESPONSE to the Freedom Press Index 2009 released last week by Reporters...
The Führer’s gnomes
Oct. 31 | KJ >> TOC Lifestyle Photos by Werner Scheuermann (with permission from Cornelia and Ottmar Hörl) THE LIGHT falls upon the great square, upon the rows and rows of barely discernible silhouettes, immaculate in their tight formations. There they stand,...
Richard Magnus as AICHR representative
Oct. 22 | By Fang Shihan What is the AICHR? More information here. FORMER Senior District Judge, Richard Magnus is the new Singapore representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission for Human Rights, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is...
Petition against ‘marital rape’ off to slow start
Oct. 20 | Report by Wang Simin / Photo courtesy of Jolene Tan But organisers are extending campaign to 30 November to garner more signatures. RAPING YOUR wife is okay in Singapore, but while a petition was initiated to abolish this exception in the law, the response...
Celebpreneur Uncovered
Oct. 20 | Report by Jewel Philemon / Photos by Jeremy Philemon “THE PRESSURE to succeed is even higher because people are watching you every step of the way. People do notice you and they do judge you in a different scale,” says Vernetta Lopez when asked if...
25-year old collapses during football match and dies in hospital
Oct. 20 | Report by Terence Lee / Photo by Damien Chng IT WAS meant to be a momentous Sunday morning for the organisers and the people they were supporting – the homeless Singaporeans. But things took a tragic turn when Muhamad Nasri Kasbari, 25, collapsed...
Life in excess: The works of Jane Lee
Oct. 19 | Report by Rui An This article was first published on http://opencontours.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/life-in-excess-the-works-of-jane-lee/. Jane Lee is an event of the Singapore Art Show 2009 and is currently on display at Osage Singapore from 26 September...
Back in fashion – The 90s
Oct. 19 | Ravi Philemon THE NINETIES were dark. It popularised the ‘heroin chic’ look, which was characterized by pale skin, dark circles underneath the eyes and jutting bones. Models that popularised the ‘heroin chic’ look like Kate Moss stood in direct...
“If you want to do journalism, don’t do it in Singapore.”
Oct. 15 | Terence Lee Recently, Lin Junjie, the ex-Chief Editor of the Nanyang Chronicle, wrote a piece about the censorship of campus news media. This article is a reflection of a similar theme. ONE YEAR ON, it seems like nothing has changed. It wasn’t so...
The disappearing wet market
Oct. 14 | Report by Tng Ying Hui / Photos by Wallace Woon Photo: Wet markets here seem to be facing a bleak future. BARELY six months into the job, Mr and Mrs Teo, like many others stallholders in Sembawang wet market, were told by their landowner to move out in...
The future of discontent
Sep. 22 | Harrison Goh / Guest Writer SINGAPORE may have reached the end point of its involvement in the global manufacturing market with the impending departure of Seagate’s plant. While this is not unexpected, it spells a deepening crisis that most Singaporeans...
Ministerial humour
Sep. 16 | Story and picture by Chong Zi Liang for The Enquirer. ALL HAIL new media! Without it, we wouldn’t have four different ways of saying: “Yes, the ministerial forum was awesome.” An online poll with the question, “How do you find the ministerial...
Room for more, but at what cost?
Sep. 16 | While Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave students much reassurance during this year’s NTU Ministerial Forum, transient workers, on the other hand, are dehumanised as mere cogs in a machine. Terence Lee / Deputy Editor IMAGINE a gathering of Singaporeans,...
About SingaNews
Sep. 14 | This document provides a detailed explanation of what SingaNews is all about. We would like to thank Mathew Yap for his permission in putting this up. SINGANEWS.COM is a new News Portal providing balanced and in-depth news reporting and analysis of issues...
Give SingaNews a chance, says CEO
Sep. 14 | Announcement: The Online Citizen welcomes Donaldson Tan to the editorial team! Donaldson is our new Deputy Editor. He is also the Head, TOC International. Welcome on board, Donaldson! Despite strong Christian connections, SingaNews CEO Mathew Yap appeals...
The global loan shark
Sep. 12 | Ravi Philemon OVER ninety countries comprising more than half the world’s population have lived directly under International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed conditions. In other words, the IMF has had a tremendous impact on billions of people around...
Is Hokkien My ‘Mother Tongue’?
Sep. 8 | Alfian Sa’at A long time ago, a Chinese man saw some Malays eating a fruit. It had a spiky shell, but its insides were filled with large seeds covered by yellow, buttery flesh. He had never seen (nor smelt!) a fruit like it before, in his native...
Stageit presents: Animal Farm by Ian Wooldridge
Sep. 4 | CONSIDERED one of the best novels in the 20th Century, Animal Farm has enthralled generations of readers with its tale of political intrigue and allusions to the Stalinist era before World War II. Nonetheless, what gives Animal Farm its longevity is the...
When the economy dives, the GST must too
Aug. 28 | Imran Ahmed / http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/ It is time for the government to consider lowering the GST rate in light of how it hurts the poor more than the rich. RECENT reports in the international media suggest that the US tax collector has received...
Constructive disharmony
Jul. 5 | Organisers of inter-religious dialogues in Singapore seem to like playing it safe, focusing too much on preaching harmony rather than facilitating constructive disharmony. IF YOU’VE never been to an inter-religious dialogue, my advice to you is...
Operation Spectrum – A public forum
Jun. 26 | Please note that the forum is on Sunday, 28th June. REVISITING HISTORY Operation Spectrum – Breaking The Ice After 22 Years An open forum. No designated speakers. Admission is free. All are welcome to speak. Date: 28 June 2009 (Sunday) Time:...
The Widjaja family tells their side of the story
Jun. 26 | Xue Jianyue / Reporter Family insists that David Widjaja could not have committed suicide, as he appeared “talkative” and cheerful”. This contrasts with evidence found on his laptop, which portrayed him as suicidal. 24, 25 JULY 2009...
Police investigates filmmaker over screening
Jun. 25 | The uninvited guests should be investigated for barging in to and disrupting a private event. Seelan Palay, answering a question at a police interview about a private screening of “One Nation Under Lee”.
Instances of wasteful spending at stat boards?
Jun. 25 | From Straits Times: Oversights include failure to seek bids for contract and letting six chalets go to waste. A $26 MILLION decision by the National Heritage Board (NHB) has been called into question by a parliamentary committee. The Public Accounts Committee...
Let the Games continue!
Jun. 25 | Ravi Philemon / Head, Current Affairs Desk While we should be concerned with the spread of the H1N1 virus, we should not overreact. Cancelling or delaying the Asian Youth Games is a knee-jerk reaction that is uncalled for. WITH ONE Filipino footballer...
MDA replies to Lionel De Souza
Jun. 24 | On 15 June 2009, a complaint letter was written to TODAYonline alleging that certain comments on The Online Citizen violated the Penal Code. The letter also implored the Media Development Authority to “look into the conduct of TOC’s moderators”. We...
Remembering Anthony Yeo
Jun. 23 | Terence Lee / Deputy Editor Anthony Yeo was more than a veteran counselor; he was a social critic and an activist. (Join the Facebook tribute to Anthony Yeo here.) HE MAY be a leading counselor in Singapore, but he made his mark not just within the profession,...
PM Lee urges citizens to do their best to get through downturn together
Jun. 22 | The government has done what it needs to do through the GST offsets, the Resilience Package and the many schemes which Singapore has in the Budget and off the Budget, in order to help people in the ways which would help them to help themselves –...
A nation of foreigners in 11 years
Jun. 22 | Ng E-Jay / Current Affairs Desk Half of Singapore’s population could consists of foreigners in 11 years time, if the government continues its current plan of attracting foreigners to feed its “growth-at-all-cost” economic model. This,...
Seek help when necessary
Jun. 21 | Gilbert Goh / Writer Professional counseling is a viable option for those who are unemployed. FOR those feeling hopeless or depressed as they are without a job, it is time to consider professional counseling support. They are many family service centres...
Report: Mooting a social assistance scheme search engine
Jun. 20 | Cerelia Lim / Reporter This idea, along with a new mentoring programme for kids, were some of the things discussed at a workshop on urban poverty. 11 JUNE 2009 — A SEARCH engine to plug gaps in the current social assistance schemes was proposed...
World Refugee Day – Wan’s Story
Jun. 20 | Rocky Lim / Sydney Today is World Refugee Day – the 58th Anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. In his 2009 World Refugee Day message, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres reminded us that refugees...
Report: Close friend of Widjaja takes the witness stand
Jun. 19 | Xue Juanyue / Reporter David’s friend testified that the deceased had trouble with final-year project and had become irregular for church service prior to his death. MR Edwin Lesmana, a close friend of David Widjaja, the Nanyang Technological University...
