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The Dunno Cartoons (Updated 30/07)
Jul. 30 | This thread is called “The Dunno Cartoons” because sometimes we don’t know what the government is doing. All cartoons by Joshua Chiang ————— ————— ————- -...
Join SADPC & TOC at Speakers’ Corner this Sunday
Jul. 30 | It’s been three years since then-19-year old Vui Kong was sentenced to death in Singapore. He’s been sitting on death row since 2007 at Changi Prison awaiting the day he would be hanged. For someone so young, that in itself is torture. His family,...
90 per cent “not interested at all” in YOG
Jul. 30 | Poll on Channelnewasia’s website – as at 3.45pm on 30 July 2010. Out of 3,912 votes, 3,513 say they are “not interested at all” in catching any of the Games. Only one per cent say they will watch the Games at selected venues. With...
Self before service
Jul. 30 | Richard Seah For want of 10 cents, I once nearly made a mess of myself. It could have been worse. I could have made a mess of the place I was at – the Maxwell Road Food Centre. I am talking about those public toilets operated by turnstiles. You deposit...
Singaporeans’ national duty: buy women from abroad
Jul. 30 | The Sunday Times knows him well. Virtually annually, they run a feature selling to its Singaporean readers the idea of buying foreign brides. They ran one again last Sunday, 25 July 2010, mentioning once again like in years past Mark Lin and his business,...
Lee Kuan Yew – a sad sight indeed
Jul. 30 | Andrew Loh - I remember in the ’80s when I would look forward to each National Day Rally on television. Lee Kuan Yew was gonna speak and I’d always found him to be a great orator, someone who enthralls me each time. I would be glued to the...
Upset S’porean writes to SSC, slams YOG
Jul. 29 | A woman, who wishes to be known as “Bystander”, is so upset with the way the Youth Olympic Games has been organized that she has written to the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) to voice her disapproval. We publish her letter below (without edits). The...
Retire? Shrivel and face the wall – Lee Kuan Yew
Jul. 29 | “WE’VE got to make old people productive and I don’t think there should be a retirement age. You work as long as you can work and you’ll be healthier and happier for it. ‘You ask me to stop working all of a sudden, I think I’d...
London’s history, Singapore’s future?
Jul. 27 | James Goh – The party had already commenced the night before with throngs of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) crowd from different parts of the European Union (EU) and beyond descending upon one of the most popular gay capitals in Europe...
Next Gen broadband system may not be for next generation S’poreans
Jul. 25 | Henry Cheong / Leong Sze Hian – We refer to Thomas Lee’s letter: “World Cup rights: Problem lies with MDA, not the telcos”. (ST, Jul 24). It states that: “The MDA erred in not foreseeing the problem that would arise from the two telcos...
Review : Once A Jolly Hangman
Jul. 24 | A review of “Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock” by British author/journalist Alan Shadrake Dr Vincent Wijeysingha Abolitionism conjures up images of bewigged nineteenth century reformists campaigning against the evil mercantilist...
I am not going to be cowed: Alan Shadrake (Updated)
Jul. 24 | Latest: Alan Shadrake visited the Gleneagles hospital on Saturday. TOC understands he has been advised to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours starting Tuesday as his heart is weak. Excerpts from the British Weekly’s interview with author of Once A...
Better, betterer, betterest in sex
Jul. 24 | Dr Martha Lee Is it possible to get better, ‘betterer’ and ‘betterest’ when it comes to sex? A certain Singapore minister was cited in the media as saying, “If you’re the best today, strive to be better. If you’re better today, strive to...
Press Muse – Oh what a tangled Web
Jul. 23 | Spiegel - Eons ago, an Invisible Magic Friend raised some luscious, fertile trees yet thought it inappropriate to share their goodness. So he told his young ‘uns to lay off, or risk death. But seriously, who could turn down something so expressedly...
Lawyer M Ravi files judicial review on Yong Vui Kong’s case
Jul. 22 | By Choo Zheng Xi Mr M Ravi, the lawyer for death row inmate Yong Vui Kong on Wednesday filed a judicial review application to ask the Singapore courts to hold that his client’s right to a fair clemency hearing has been undermined. Mr Ravi’s application...
Our police state is fraying at the edges
Jul. 21 | By Ng E-Jay Recent events have shown unequivocally that not only has the PAP government run the country as a police state, but also that the authorities are now getting panicky and desperate to the point that they are fumbling and making glaring mistakes. Barely...
Alan Shadrake’s crime?
Jul. 19 | Choo Zheng Xi - Alan Shadrake’s book “Once a Jolly Hangman” makes for uncomfortable reading. One case in particular might have made those in power uncomfortable enough to arrest Mr Shadrake on the rarely used draconian charge of criminal defamation. A...
Philippines news report “100,000 jobs opening” in S’pore
Jul. 19 | On 15 July, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore needed 100,000 foreign workers in the coming year. He said this was “was unavoidable as the labour market was bursting at the seams.” (See here.) The Prime Minister’s remarks have apparently...
The neglect of professional responsibility by the mainstream press
Jul. 18 | Choo Zheng Xi – 22-year old Yong Vui Kong might soon be hanged. His neck and spine will be snapped, an effect calculated with precision by the hangman who places the noose around his neck. [Picture left: Vui Kong, third from left, with his sister, Vui...
Illegal hawker? My story (by Goh Meng Seng)
Jul. 18 | From Goh Meng Seng’s blog, Singapore Alternatives: There is nothing shameful to admit that I was also an illegal hawker since I was 5 years old, helping my parents to mend our temporary “stall” or going around the flats to sell their lasi...
A safe system of equal justice for all?
Jul. 18 | Andrew Loh – “Does Singapore have a safe system of equal justice for all? I say no,” Alan Shadrake [picture, left] told the audience at the launch of his book, Once A Jolly Hangman, at the Post Musuem on Saturday. “It is unsafe, it is warped,...
Photographer handcuffed by police for taking flood pictures
Jul. 18 | Mr Wu Qing Shun, a photographer with the Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao, was handcuffed by the police for taking flood pictures at Upper Bukit Timah road yesterday, 17 July. (See Omy’s report here.) The daily reported that during the downpour yesterday,...
Here we go again
Jul. 17 | Report from The Straits times. HEAVY rains lashed Singapore early on Saturday morning, uprooting trees and causing flash floods in many area. The affected areas included Braddell Road, Changi Road and Bukit Timah, where rising floodwaters stranded several...
Fastest growing economy? What about jobs and wages?
Jul. 16 | Leong Sze Hian – After adjusting for historical inflation of about two per cent, the annual real wage increase may only be about 0.6 per cent. I refer to the articles “Economy set to grow 13% – 15%” and “100,000 foreign workers needed:...
Lack of funds threaten food aid project for migrant workers
Jul. 16 | Wong Chun Han Hundreds of jobless migrant workers may go hungry as the food aid programme they depend upon could fold due to a lack of funds. Some 450 men, forced out of work by injuries or non-payment of wages, are receiving free meals everyday from...
Malaysian lawyer denied access to Yong
Jul. 15 | The Singapore Prison Service has denied access to Ms Ngeow Chow Ying, a Malaysian lawyer representing death row inmate, Yong Vui Kong. Ms Ngeow had requested access to her client in order to advise him on his constitutional rights as a Malaysian, now...
Straits Times – “accurate, timely and balanced”?
Jul. 14 | Andrew Loh – On 10 July 2010, the Straits Times published a report – “Law Ministry rebuts lawyer’s claim”, by Zakir Hussain. The report is essentially a regurgitation of the Law Ministry’s statement in response to earlier remarks made...
Film banned, so here’re the transcripts
Jul. 14 | The following transcripts are by Donaldson Tan of New Asia Republic. The video on Dr Lim Hock Siew has been banned on Youtube and on Martyn See’s – the fimmaker – blogsite at http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com . It is however available on...
Law Minister’s comments prejudicial to Yong Vui Kong’s clemency appeal
Jul. 12 | The following is the press statement from Mr M Ravi, lawyer for Yong Vui Kong, in response to the Law Ministry’s comments on Yong’s case. PRESS STATEMENT LAW MINISTER’S COMMENTS PREJUDICIAL TO YONG VUI KONG’S CLEMENCY APPEAL Cabinet...
It is not about just providing food
Jul. 12 | Jia Ye We call them Special Pass holders – workers who, incurring large debts to pay for their agents’ fees in hopes of securing a work-permit job in Singapore for their families back home, have run into employment disputes. For most of these men...
Gerald Giam – taking politics beyond the Internet
Jul. 11 | Wong Chun Han / Andrew Loh He had been contemplating taking his interest in politics beyond the Internet for a while. One and a half years ago, after much thinking and discussion with his wife, he signed up as a member of The Workers’ Party (WP) and...
Things we forget
Jul. 11 | When the recession hit us last year, the worldwide economic landscape was dire indeed. Singapore, being an open economy, was the first Asian country to go into recession – with more than 100,000 people losing their jobs. Government officials and Members...
Is Singapore ready for a plant-based food day?
Jul. 10 | By Dr George Jacobs Around the world, there are all sorts of ‘Days’. There is a Smokeout Day, when people are urged to breathe easier, even a Dog Swimming Day, when people are encouraged to take their dogs swimming, and many, many more. The purpose...
New book puts death penalty on trial
Jul. 10 | Excerpt from Alex Au’s website, Yawning Bread: To give a new twist to an old saying: Justice unevenly applied is justice denied. Alan Shadrake, in his new book, Once a Jolly Hangman — Singapore justice in the dock, shows how uneven it is. It’s...
YOG – another farce?
Jul. 10 | Andrew Loh - “IF YOU want tickets to catch the Youth Olympic Games, you will have to act fast,” the Straits Times urged on 7 July. “Ticket sales to the first Youth Olympic Games have been brisk, with more than 100,000, or close to 50 per cent...
NKF – the neverending need to raise funds?
Jul. 9 | Leong Sze Hian - How many years of reserves does the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) have? Well, going by what is reported, it is hard to tell. Last year, in November 29, 2009, the chairman of the NKF, Mr Gerard Ee [picture left] was reported to have...
Do not print pictures of me smiling – Lee Kuan Yew
Jul. 9 | The United Kingdom (UK) introduced the Freedom of Information Act in 2000. It allows members of the public access to otherwise confidential papers in the possession of “public authorities”. The UK released papers pertaining to Singapore’s independence...
How many companies re-employ older workers?
Jul. 9 | Leong Sze Hian - “The latest Ministry of Manpower survey on some 3,600 private sector establishments earlier this year found that only 2.8 per cent of the establishments with employees aged 60 and above” practise wage cuts for employees who reach...
Breaking News: Death penalty book banned by MDA
Jul. 8 | “Once A Jolly Hangman – Singapore Justice In The Dock” has been “banned” in Singapore, The Online Citizen (TOC) has learned. The book by renowned investigative journalist, Alan Shadrake, delves into and exposes the lesser-known aspects of Singapore’s...
Death row case: S’pore’s media buries its head
Jul. 7 | Andrew Loh - On 5 July, the lawyer for Malaysian Yong Vui Kong, paid a visit to Malaysia to seek help from the authorities there for his client. Yong Vui Kong is currently on death row in Singapore’s Changi Prison after having been found guilty of drug...
YOG budget over-run, Comcare budget under-run?
Jul. 7 | Leong Sze Hian - I was about to leave home to attend the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) 10th Anniversary Giving 2.0 Forum, when The Online Citizen’s Chief Editor, Andrew Loh, asked me if I would like to write something about...
YOG budget balloons – S$104m to S$387m
Jul. 7 | According to the Straits Times, “The budget for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) has surpassed original estimates of US$75 million ($104 million) by more than three times. The projected government spending for the 13-day Games in August will...
Malaysian FM: “If I save one life, it will give me great satisfaction”
Jul. 6 | Choo Zheng Xi / Kuala Lumpur Yong Vui Kong’s lawyer met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Anifa Aman and a supporting team of international lawyers, securing a promise by the Malaysian government to directly appeal with “all urgency” to the...
How should I help?
Jul. 5 | After Mr Koh (not his real name), a businessman, came to know of the plight of the homeless in Singapore through the stories on The Online Citizen, he felt he had to do something to help them. He was shocked that there are so many Singaporeans who are...
Taken for a ride
Jul. 5 | Leong Sze Hian - In 2009, public transport operators offered a 3 per cent rebate to commuters. Since 03 July 2010, this rebate no longer applies. In its place, distance-based fares were introduced. The PTC said: “[The] PTC decided to implement the full...
Singaporeans – never good enough
Jul. 5 | Minister-Without-Portfolio and NTUC Chief, Mr Lim Swee Say, was quoted by Channel NewsAsia as having said: “If you’re the best today, strive to be better. If you’re better today, strive to be ‘betterer’ and if you’re ‘betterer’...
Opposition party fined for selling party newspaper
Jul. 4 | On 27 June, officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) gave verbal warnings to members of the opposition National Solidarity Party (NSP) to stop the sale of their party newspaper, The North Star. The NSP had been doing what opposition parties...
Death row case: M’sian Parliament to debate emergency motion
Jul. 4 | After some flip-flopping by the Malaysian Law Minister, parliamentarians will finally get to ask him about the case of Yong Vui Kong. Yong, a 22-year old Malaysian, is in Singapore’s death row after having been convicted of drug trafficking in 2007. Malaysian...
Bukit Timah bridge incident – commuters left stranded
Jul. 4 | In light of the recent heated debate about the transport system in Singapore, I would like to share my experience with the bus service along Bukit Timah Road. This afternoon [03 July], the overhead bridge at Sixth Avenue “collapsed”. The exact...
