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Every Singaporean really does count
Feb. 9 | ~by: Siew Kum Hong~ According to the Heritage Foundation, Singapore has the second freest economy in the world (after Hong Kong). But there is one aspect of Singapore that has always felt to me like a command economy: the way the Government tries to...
Jobs in Singapore – Some interesting data from Labour Force 2011 Report
Feb. 8 | ~by: Leong Sze Hian~ I refer to the Labour Force 2011 report (see HERE) Less training? “Training participation fell in 2011 ……. 27% of residents aged 15 to 64 in the labour force participated in job-related structured training...
It’s ideas and people that count
Feb. 8 | ~by: Raymond Anthony Fernando~ How much difference can one person make? Imagine the impact of the entire nation working together to improve the community. If you have been to IMH for meetings or attended talks there, you will find the word "KAIZEN"...
Public consultation on the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Feb. 8 | the following is an event notification: – In joint partnership, Public Consultation on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) You are invited to this public consultation on the Convention on the Rights of...
Yaw Shin Leong resigns from Workers’ Party leadership
Feb. 8 | the following is a media release by the Workers' Party: CHANGES IN WORKERS’ PARTY LEADERSHIP The Workers’ Party wishes to inform the public that at the monthly meeting of the Executive Council on Tuesday, 7 February 2012, the Council...
Why are public sector appointments shrouded in secrecy?
Feb. 7 | Rajiv Chaudhry When democratic governments make public appointments, it is expected that the candidates will be selected on merit through processes that are fair, open and transparent. Care must be taken not to discriminate on any grounds. It...
Lee’s vision may be different from what Singaporeans want
Feb. 7 | ~by: Ghui Former Minister Lee Kuan Yew has asserted that Singapore needs more immigrants to boost its population. He has justified this by pointing out that Singaporeans are not reproducing at a rate which can sustain our population. He further...
Will others emulate Dr Toh?
Feb. 7 | ~by: Tan Jee Say~ My memories of close encounters with Dr Toh Chin Chye went back 50 years. My eldest sister was his Rochor PAP branch secretary. As a young boy, I used to follow my sister on some of her political activities particularly when the branch...
SOS Bukit Brown – sorry to hear Tan Chuan-Jin’s priorities
Feb. 6 | The following is a media release by SOS Bukit Brown in response to Minister of State Tan Chuan-Jin’s note 'Bukit Brown…work in progress': In response to Minister of State, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin’s note posted on Friday,...
Construction workers strike at Tampines
Feb. 6 | ~by: Cheong Yaoming UPDATE: The following is a response from Ministry of Manpower on this case: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) was alerted by the Police this morning of an incident involving around 200 work permit holders employed by Sunway Concrete...
Remembering Dr Toh Chin Chye
Feb. 6 | ~by: Dr Wong Wee Nam~ I cannot forget his kind gesture. It was the morning after the 1997 General Election. I had come back at 2 am after the results had been announced that my team had lost. I went straight to bed. At 8 am, the phone rang and woke me...
Toh Chin Chye and Lee Kuan Yew were cut from the same cloth
Feb. 6 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ With the passing away of Dr Toh Chin Chye, many have come forward to express gratitude for his immense contribution to the country. Some from the opposition and the civil society also have expressed their admiration for him. Mr Chiam...
Another ‘Singaporeans First’ event by Transitioning
Feb. 5 | the following is an event notification by transitioning.org: Transitioning.org will be organising a Singaporean First event at speakers’ corner on 11 Feb (Sat) at 5.30pm. We will be gathering a group of speakers who will speak their minds...
Jobs in Singapore – 54,000 Job vacancies: Really?
Feb. 5 | ~by: Leong Sze Hian~ About two weeks ago, I gave a talk to a group of about 25 unemployed Professionals, Managers, Engineers and Technicians (PMETs). Many of these PMETs have been unemployed for more than a year. So, when the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)...
It’s up to students to speak out
Feb. 5 | ~by: Muhammad Farouq Osman~ An American exchange student's lament about the state of academic freedom and the political culture at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has ruffled more than a few feathers among students here. In an article...
World wide protests to call on Facebook to leave breastfeeding photos alone
Feb. 4 | the following is a media release by Nurse-ins calling on Facebook to leave breastfeeding photos alone: World wide protests to call on Facebook to leave breastfeeding photos alone Daily image deletions and account suspensions continue Facebook has removed...
The PAP – A victim of its own success
Feb. 4 | ~by: Ghui~ In the 60s and 70s, we believed wholeheartedly in the PAP. They fought for our best interests and we supported them with unstinting devotion. The PAP led us through our separation from Malaysia and saw us through our turbulent years of nation...
In defense of young Singaporean adults
Feb. 4 | ~by: Eugene Lim~ I write in response to “The young Singaporean adult” by Ng Kai Ling & Stacey Chia (The Straits Times, Home Section, Page B4, 2 Feb 2012). The accusations about Singapore youth lacking drive and being unwilling to...
Launch of Noise Singapore 2012
Feb. 3 | Noise Singapore 2012 Festival Showcase begins 16 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 with 3 showcases at 3 different locations throughout Singapore. Below are the listings to the 3 events. All admissions to the events are FREE so do come visit the showcases with your...
Unfounded claims from LTAs train purchases for SMRT
Feb. 3 | ~by: Ng Yi Shu~ A recent report detailing the purchase of trains for the North-East Line and Circle Line has got netizens abuzz around allegations of LTA using taxpayer costs to benefit SMRT and SBS Transit, the private train operators. Under the Land...
Dr Toh Chin Chye – one of the architects of modern Singapore passes away
Feb. 3 | The following message is from the Prime Minister's Office: 1. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues are sad to learn of the passing of Dr Toh Chin Chye and wish to convey their condolences to...
Conversations on mandatory death penalty must be based on facts
Feb. 2 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ On 1 February 2012, I wrote an article for TOC titled, 'Death penalty has contributed to low rates of drug use? Where's the proof?'. In that article I had said: I refer to the Law Ministry's media release refuting...
Urbanisation contributes the most to worsening flood conditions
Feb. 2 | ~by: C L Cheong~ In the article posted on TOC on January 19, I have attempted to provide, and to share, a perspective of flood problems. To recap, there are several fundamental aspects to it. First, floods are caused by two types of heavy...
Chiam See Tong: We have no ill intentions towards the ex-CEC members
Feb. 2 | the following is a public statement by Mr Chiam See Tong: Some of the claims made in public against members in the SPP and myself have become so warped that I am now compelled to give a personal explanation. The six members of the CEC submitted their...
We wish SPP and Mrs Chiam all the best
Feb. 2 | the following is a media release by the 6 who recently resigned from Singapore People's Party: We are glad to hear that the recent SPP OPC elections was held constitutionally. Such public clarification and accountability bodes well for the SPP's...
Death penalty has contributed to low rates of drug use? Where’s the proof?
Feb. 1 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ I refer to the Law Ministry's media release refuting Human Rights Watch's (HRW) country report for Singapore. In its media release the Law Ministry said, " HRW also made false assertions. For example, contrary...
Jobs in Singapore – 2011 income growth, 1% or 0.7%?
Feb. 1 | ~by: Leong Sze Hian~ I refer to article “Median monthly income of Singaporeans rises 6.3%” (Straits Times, Feb 1) and the Employment Situation 2011 report, (Report) released on 31 January, 2012. Foreign employment up, locals down? Despite...
Effective ethical standards in Singapore
Feb. 1 | ~by: Walter Jayandran~ Some readers may recall my last article on this subject in TOC a little more than a year ago (http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/12/ethics-and-morality-in-public-service/) where I stated that there was the possibility of a systemic...
Rethinking Volunteerism: By volunteers, for volunteers
Jan. 31 | ~by: Benjamin Cheah~ “We learned that we should listen to what our customers want to say, and find out what their needs are,” said Mr Keith Tan. He was describing the lessons learnt while organising Rethinking Volunteerism, a seminar held...
Francis Khoo – celebration of his life and memory
Jan. 31 | MEMORIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The friends and family of Francis Khoo invite you to celebrate his life and memory at his Memorial Mass AT Where: The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, "A" Queen Street, Singapore 18853, (nearest MRT Bras Basah) When: Saturday,...
How was the $2 ERP rate arrived at?
Jan. 31 | ~by: Ghui~ I note the changes on the ERP rates on the CTE and the PIE with concern (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/erp-rates-on-cte–pie-to-change-from-6-feb.html). For two gantries along the PIE (Adam Road and Mount Pleasant Road), the revised...
This is not the way – how not to hold a conversation
Jan. 31 | ~by: Joseph Teo~ Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was interviewed by CNN's Fareed Zakaria on 26 January. In response to questions on the election results and the need for political openness, he said, “We are in a new situation, and we must govern...
New map launch – potential climate change impacts in South East Asia
Jan. 31 | ~by: Cheong Yaoming~ Organised by the British High Commission, an esteemed panel of three were invited to launch a new map which showed the potential impacts of global warming in South East Asia. They were: Barbara Woodward, Director General for Economic...
No private sector job would give you five years to prove yourself
Jan. 30 | ~by: Ghui~ There is ongoing debate with regards to the revised salary package for ministers. While salaries have been reduced, contention in relation to the bonus scheme still remains. Proponents of the revised salary package have argued that politicians...
Competence, messy PR, and a conspiracy theory
Jan. 30 | ~by: Howard Lee~ For all the blunders and perceived partisanship often attributed to it, I continue to have faith in our public service. I don't necessarily mean the top dogs in the service, but the rank and file who continue to soldier on each day...
Unfair discrimination of Malays in National Service
Jan. 30 | ~by: Shiwen Yap~ It is past time to seriously reconsider the treatment of Malays in the SAF and National Service in general. While potential enemies in the form of Malaysia and Indonesia are both Islamic, I would like to state a simple truth: bullets...
The barren political landscape
Jan. 29 | ~by: Dr Wong Wee Nam~ The ominous forecast is if we don’t continue to attract a stream of good people into political leadership, we are doomed to become a little black dot. This statement is essentially true except that salary, however high, would...
Former CNB chief was probed by CPIB in 2010
Jan. 29 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ A well-wisher of TOC wrote in to us on 25 January that he "had heard from reliable sources a long while ago (early 2011 or even in 2010) that top CID guys are under investigation by CPIB", and that it was around this time...
Start Now – Rethinking Volunteerism
Jan. 28 | the following is a media release from Start Now's upcoming event 'Rethinking Volunteerism': – Discontent with the state of active volunteering in Singapore, two youths launched an initiative to ‘Rethink Volunteerism’....
Don’t sensationalise Yaw’s alleged marital woes
Jan. 28 | ~by: Ghui~ Workers' Party MP, Yaw Shin Leong has come under fire for an alleged extra marital affair. From a moral standpoint and in a black and white world, Yaw’s actions, if true are reprehensible. However, does this have any bearing on his...
Can only the top 1000 earners in the private sector take up political office?
Jan. 28 | ~by: Adrian Ng~ I read with interest the PM’s speech in parliament with regard to the recent ministerial pay issue. There were some things he mentioned that jumped out at me and stirred an uneasiness within. “If you have the wrong system...
Government has no obligation to provide Workers’ Party with information for robust debate
Jan. 28 | the following is a media release by National Solidarity Party: In the last election, Singaporeans have demonstrated a keen desire for a more balanced political landscape, a wider range of views and more robust debates in Parliament. One important ingredient...
Law Ministry: Human Rights Watch report made false assertions
Jan. 27 | the following is a media release by the press secretary to Law Minister K Shanmugam: – We refer to Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) January 2012 country report for Singapore (Report) and the comments of its deputy director Phil Robertson, as quoted...
Selective prosecution? Re-open the decision upholding the Vui Kong’s conviction
Jan. 27 | ~by: Damien Chng~ A Criminal Motion has been filed in the Court of Appeal today on behalf of Yong Vui Kong. The motion challenges the constitutionality of the prosecution’s decision to charge Vui Kong with a crime that attracts the mandatory death...
Ethnic based self-help system – broken?
Jan. 27 | ~by: Muhammad Fadli~ The recent news that a man was caught stealing $32 from a mosque for food for himself and his wheelchair bound mother has raised many sentiments. The most pressing is of course the fate of the mother. With her son behind bars, it...
The duo’s alleged misconduct and the sad state of Singapore’s mainstream media
Jan. 26 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ “The New Paper had become aware of the investigation after Mr Ng was picked up in late December.” – The New Paper dated 25 January 2012 This comment from The New Paper seems to suggest that the mainstream media...
Does NKF have $27 million more in the kitty now than it had in 2005?
Jan. 25 | ~by: Leong Sze Hian~ I refer to media reports that the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is raising funds from the general public again, after a hiatus of about five years. It has launched a “give $1 a day to help sponsor artificial kidneys” campaign. According...
PAP supporters are the ‘silent majority’?
Jan. 25 | ~by: Ghui~ In the article entitled “Silent Majority is truly disturbing” (Yahoo! News, 19 Jan 2012), the differences between the supporters of opposition parties and PAP supporters were pointed out. While the supporters of opposition parties were...
Pay for Performance
Jan. 25 | ~by: Tan Kin Lian~ I wish to add my views to the big debate about the revised salary package for government ministers and other senior political offices. I find the basic salaries to be adequate for the office bearers and acceptable to me, and perhaps...
