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Ongoing saga with Telecom Credit Cooperative

May. 24 | ~ By Leo Khaw ~ The Telecom Credit Cooperative is a non-profit financial institution in Singapore. On their website they describe themselves as: “TCC is a Credit Co-operative, a non-profit financial institution different from Banks and...

The pioneers of Hougang

May. 24 | ~ By Herman Yzelman ~ I am 60 years old now and watching this by-election brings me memories of my involvement with Hougang from 1988 to 1994. I have retired from politics since and now I lead a private and quiet life. I was inspired by Mr J....

Teachers are the one and only people who save nations.

May. 24 | By Cheong Yaoming - According to the founder and first President of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, “Teachers are the one and only people who save nations.” Despite the importance of governments in forming nation shaping...

Hougang residents, a beacon of hope and inspiration. Huat Ah!

May. 24 | By Jen - Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who's obviously a veteran in political tactics, has created a distraction by questioning Workers Party if it has been "honest and upfront" over its reply on Hougang candidate...

MARUAH Event – International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

May. 24 | MARUAH as a human rights group stands up against homophobia as it is a prejudice that marginalises communities that have an equal right to space, decency and dignity as any other human being. The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia...

An alternative perspective of the second WP rally

May. 23 | By Texas Hong - Photo from TOC, taken by Chan Zhi Jian, Jeremy. I was at WP's second rally of this Hougang by-election. Towards the end of it, a heavy downpour descended upon us. Singaporeans from all walks of life, young and old, men and...

Workers’ Party balances Hougang and national issues

May. 23 | ~ By Benjamin Cheah ~ Photo from TOC, taken by Tan Buan Sen. Desmond Choo is not independent of the People’s Action Party, his candidacy is superfluous, and has been around for only a short period of time. Png Eng Huat in Parliament would...

NCMPgate: A question of dubious relevance

May. 22 | By Choo Zheng Xi ~ Political pundits are asking: was the Workers’ Party (WP) Mr Png Eng Huat the first, second or third best candidate the WP considered for the post of Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP)? Was Mr Png’s...

Business as usual in Aljunied GRC

May. 22 | ~ By Cheong Yaoming ~ With almost all the attention focused on Hougang SMC and the by-election, one might wonder if the elected MPs of the Workers' Party (WP) would be able to keep up with their day to day duties. Here is a look behind-the-scenes...

Half time report of the Hougang by-elections

May. 22 | ~ By Howard Lee ~ Five days of hustings have passed and I am acutely aware that I have missed out on bringing news from the ground. I thought I would at least do the decent keyboard critic thing and pen down my thoughts on how I feel the campaigning...

SMRT Bus Service Drivers Blow the Whistle

May. 21 | This email was sent to TOC and other media outlets by a group of SMRT bus drivers who requested that they be allowed to remain anonymous. With regards to the various reports by the local newspapers, a group of bus drivers from SMRT Bus Service would like...

ISA’s scar on Singaporean society

May. 21 | By Dr James Gomez - The ISA has scared Singaporean society at three fundamental levels. At the first level it has scared the individuals directly arrested and detained. Years after their release, almost all remain traumatized and psychological...

A tale of two rallies and Opposition solidarity

May. 21 | ~ By Kenneth Jeyaretnam ~ Saturday night I stood in the historic field where many of the Cheng San rallies in 1997 were held. This brought back memories of my father who was then the WP Leader and his confidence then that the 50,000 crowd on...

Hougang by-election rallies – putting statistics to the rhetoric

May. 21 | By Leong Sze Hian ~ I refer to 'The Straits Times' articles WP 'chose not to send Png into Parliament' and 'Voters free to pick best man' from May 21 2012. Foreign workers curtailed? The former...

A Reprehensible History: The Internal Security Act

May. 21 | By Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha - The Emergency Regulations Ordinance, enacted in July 1948, allowed the police to arrest without evidence or warrant anybody suspected of having acted “or being likely to act” in a way that would endanger national...

Open Letter to ST’s Andy Ho

May. 20 | Editor's note: This is the original opinion piece by Andy Ho in 'The Straits Times' May 19, p.A38. EYE ON ETHICS Same-sex union can't be labelled 'marriage' Marriage for same-sex couples? Gay rights activists in the United States...

Png Eng Huat: Hougang is Not for Sale!

May. 20 | ~ By Benjamin Cheah ~ “Hougang is not for sale!” Mr Png Eng Huat declared. In his maiden rally of the Hougang by-election, this is the battle cry of the Workers’ Party (WP) as it kicks off its campaign for Hougang in earnest. The...

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong attends ASEF 15th Anniversary Signature Event as Guest-of-Honour

May. 19 | Press Release SINGAPORE – The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) organised a signature event, the Award Ceremony for the first Asia-Europe Short Films Contest in Singapore to commemorate its 15th Anniversary on Thursday, 17 May at the...

NSP’s Statement regarding inaccurate reporting on Nomination Form collection

May. 19 | We refer to the following statement which appeared in a Straits Times report captioned "Speculation of unhappiness within WP" published on Wednesday, 16 May 2012: "Sources said National Solidarity Party founder and council...

Yaw Shin Leong apologises and urges voters to support WP

May. 18 | ~ By Kumaran Pillai ~ Yaw Shin Leong finally breaks his silence and has written a letter to the residents of Hougang to support the Wokers' Party in the upcoming by election on the 26th of May 2012. The Hougang SMC seat became vacant after he was...

Postponement of Event to 2 JUNE 2012

May. 18 | ~ By Funtion 8 & Maruah ~ Postponement of Event to be held on Saturday, 19 May 2012 at Speakers’ Corner, Hong Lim Park We have been informed by the police on the evening of Tuesday, 15 May that the exemption granted under the Public...

TOC Statement on Photo Misuse

May. 18 | "The photo you see below, taken by TOC photographer Chan Zhijian Jeremy, was reproduced without credit on Occupy Singapore's Facebook page. This photo was used to create the impression that the PAP’s Mr Desmond Choo was refusing...

The Hougang Divide

May. 18 | By Ghui - Recent events have given Singaporeans an opportunity to make up for lost time in the exercise of their democratic rights. From having virtually no opportunities to head to the polling station, Singaporeans now find themselves in the throes...

SPP Career Fair for Singaporeans 16th June 2012

May. 17 | PRESS RELEASE The Singapore People’s Party (SPP) will be organizing a Career Fair for firms wanting to hire Singaporean PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians). With our Ministry of Manpower reducing the Dependency Ratio Ceilings...

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

May. 17 | By Maruah - The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is celebrated every May 17. It is coordinated by the Paris-based "IDAHO Committee," founded and presided by French academic Louis-Georges Tin. The day...

Hougang by-election: Nomination Day and Workers’ Party Press Conference

May. 17 | ~ By Cheong Yaoming ~ Rather than give a chronology of events that happened, which can be found in almost every mainstream media piece, I will attempt to address certain rumours and myths, backed up by events witnessed on the ground and...

Hougang By Elections Nomination Day vBlog

May. 16 | By Terry Xu - It will be a straight fight between Desmond Choo of PAP, 34 vs Png Hng Kiat of WP, 50 in the Hougang by elections. Polling day will be on the 26th May 2012. ALSO SEE Desmond Choo & Png Eng Huat Factsheet This...

Latest statement by Sajeev Kamalasanan

May. 16 | Statement from Sajeev Kamalasanan on public’s reactions to his resignation from The Workers’ Party 1) My departure/resignation from The Workers’ Party (WP) was not timed to discredit/affect WP in the Hougang by-elections. The timing...

Desmond Choo & Png Eng Huat Factsheet

May. 16 | ~ By Howard Lee ~ Desmond Choo Pey Ching 朱倍庆 Png Eng Huat 方荣发 Age: 34 Age: 50 Party affiliation: People’s Action Party Party affiliation: Workers’ Party Highest education qualification: Bachelor of...

In Focus: Eric Tan

May. 15 | ~ By Kumaran Pillai ~ Mr Eric Tan, a seasoned opposition politician in Singapore. He served on the CEC of the Workers’ Party from 2001 to 2011. He left the Workers’ Party soon after the general elections in 2011 to pursue his other interests...

Discrimination alleged in WP resignation

May. 14 | Press Statement by Sajeev Kamalasanan on Resignation from The Workers’ Party May 13, 2012 With immediate effect, I regret to announce my resignation as a member of The Workers’ Party (WP). The reason for my resignation is my dissatisfaction...

Billy runs into bureaucratic roadblocks

May. 14 | ~ By Leong Sze Hian ~ Billy (not his real name) thanks the numerous valuable suggestions (here) and words of encouragement that he has received from TOC readers on how he can resolve his housing problem. Billy has already taken action based...

Madam Vallema will have her Day in Court

May. 13 | ~ By Cheong Yaoming ~ In light of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) response from The Straits Times article (12th May 2012, 'Bid for open court hearing withdrawn'), Madam Vellama has decided to press on with her lawsuit. This...

Why Hougang by-election is not a local election

May. 13 | ~ By Jackson Tan ~ This article is a response to DPM Tharman’s statement that Hougang by-election is a ‘local election’ and it’s more about choosing an MP on a constituency level rather than national level. I wish to highlight...

RP’s Statement on Hougang By-Election

May. 13 | Press Statement from the Reform Party We note the announcement of the PM’s decision to hold a by-election for Hougang on the 25th May. We are disappointed that he has prevaricated for so long and then called the by-election with only a week’s...

Support and recreation crucial for our seniors to lead meaningful lives

May. 12 | ~ By Raymond Anthony Fernando ~ The National University Health System experts who carried out a study on the elderly in Singapore (see the Sunday Times report “Lonely and depressed elderly cause for worry”- ST 6th May 2012) came out with...

Are Singaporeans too easily offended?

May. 12 | ~ By Tim Smith ~ Singaporeans have begun a crusade. Not against tyranny, or oppression, or privilege. In fact, this crusade, as far as anyone can tell, is against ever having to feel offended. And this crusade is leading more and more Singaporeans...

Politics not your cup of Starbucks?

May. 11 | By Victoria - I wrote this article for the purposes of putting my thoughts about Singapore’s future (and in turn mine) into words. I’m not writing to tell you to vote for one party or another, but to hopefully make one or two youths...

All eyes will be on Hougang – the lightning rod of the nation

May. 11 | ~ By Jen ~ Singaporeans living in the Tanjong Pagar GRC must be turning green with envy upon hearing that Hougang residents will get to vote again for what may seem like the umpteen time in Singapore’s arid political landscape. The sudden announcement...

90% of unemployed residents are Singaporeans?

May. 11 | ~ By Leong Sze Hian ~ I refer to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Employment Situation First Quarter report. (here) It states that “An estimated 59,100 residents, including 52,800 Singapore citizens were unemployed in March 2012. The...

WP Focuses on Upgrading Hougang, Transport and Elderly Services

May. 10 | ~By Yaoming ~ Mr Low Thia Kiang addressed the press conference with this statement in English and Mandarin: The election slogan for GE 2011 and the party philosophy has been "Working Towards a First World Parliament". Transparency and...

That we may dream again: Chiam’s finest hour

May. 10 | Media release “In the whole of Singapore, 2.6 million people, who will speak up for these 15? Somebody has to do the job. It is a necessary job.” – Chiam See Tong. To mark the 25th anniversary of Operation Spectrum in which 15 (later...

National Solidarity Party’s Statement Regarding By-Election In Hougang

May. 10 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: After careful deliberation, the National Solidarity Party has decided that it will not be fielding a candidate in the upcoming Hougang by-election. Hazel Poa Secretary-General On behalf of the Central Executive Committee

Hougang by-election: An occasion for opposition unity

May. 10 | Press statement issued by Tan Jee Say I welcome the Prime Minister's decision to call for a by-election in Hougang. In addition to allowing the people of Hougang to be represented in Parliament, the Hougang by-election has...

Who’s telling the truth about HDB flat sizes?

May. 10 | ~ by Ng E-Jay ~ So, who is really telling the truth about HDB flat sizes? On 26 November 2011, the Straits Times published an article, “Shrinking HDB flats due to need to maximise land and to adapt“. The article stated that according to HDB,...

Separating Singapore from the PAP

May. 10 | ~ By Ghui ~ In the article “Love Singapore, Our Home?”, Jen said “True love for the country is nurtured deep from within, and it is expressed joyously when we feel real ownership and gut-bursting pride for our country which goes beyond...

Hougang by-election called

May. 9 | ~ By Kumaran Pillai ~ Breaking: President Tony Tan Keng Yam has issued the writ of election for the Hougang by election. The Nomination Day for the Hougang by-election will be on 16 May 2012. Serangoon Junior College will be the nomination...

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