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Why Singapore politics is ‘Uniquely Singapore’?
May. 24 | By Jackson Tan - As a young voter since 2011, I personally take the initiative to understand the politics governing the country. From direct issues such as public transport and employment to indirect issues such as education and community affairs, the...
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...
Opinions on Hougang By-Election
May. 21 | ~By Foo Jun Kai ~ As a 20 year old Hougang resident who cannot exercise his right to vote in the upcoming by-election (due to the voting age in Singapore not being in line with many developed countries as the government knows that allowing...
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...
Singapore joins the Danone Nations Cup
May. 20 | PRESS RELEASE For the first time ever, Singapore will be participating in the Danone Nations Cup. The Danone Nations Cup is the world's largest international soccer tournament for 10 to 12 year-olds. The 2012 finals will take place in September in...
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...
Majority of Singaporeans will not be directly affected by inflation. Who do we believe?
May. 19 | By Jen - Inflation Some of us know the difference between truth and half truth and the meaning of “spin” which is why we read carefully between the lines when it comes to news related to politics. For the uninitiated, spin is defined by Wikipedia...
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...
Don’t Be Swayed So Easily Singapore!
May. 18 | ~By John Chan Chi Yung~ The PM and the rest of the PAP would like all to keep in mind that they have changed many policies and taken many actions to address 'our concerns' (but which are more correctly problems that they themselves caused). If...
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...
Ben Pwee: Vote with the national political agenda in mind
May. 18 | ~By Benjamin Pwee~ Benjamin We are happy to see Hougang residents having a chance to exercise their vote again, in the coming Hougang by-elections. This is testimony to elections being the constitutional right of every citizen of Singapore, for the common...
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...
OPEN LETTER: CLEMENCY FOR YONG VUI KONG
May. 17 | By Amnesty International - AI Index: ASA 36/2012.002 Mr. K. Shanmugam Law Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs The Treasury, 100 High Street, #08-02 Singapore 179434 Dear Minister OPEN LETTER: CLEMENCY FOR YONG VUI KONG URGENTLY REQUESTED Amnesty...
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...
Asia-Europe connections through the eyes of young filmmakers**
May. 17 | PRESS RELEASE Asia-Europe connections through the eyes of young filmmakers** *Singapore – Over 100 young filmmakers from about 30 countries took part in an international short films contest organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation and NYU Tisch School...
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...
One Year After A Watershed Election, Reading The Signs
May. 17 | ~by Catherine Lim ~ One year after the watershed General Election of May 2011 (GE 2011), political observers, reading the signs being sent out by the government, must be wondering about when – or if – the changes that had then seemed...
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...
Hougang by-election – my vote
May. 16 | ~ By Tan Kin Lian ~ Is this a local election to elect a Member of Parliament to represent a constituency or a mini referendum on the performance of the PAP Government? In my view, it is both; and more inclined towards the latter. Local election Both...
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...
Medical Tourism In Singapore Needs A Careful Rethink
May. 15 | ~ By David L K See~ The timely article "India's medical tourism could cause superbug to spread globally" ( TODAY May 9) referred to a new superbug that has emerged from India — in part because of medical tourism — with scientists...
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...
Workplace Safety Issues of Domestic Workers
May. 14 | This joint statement is endorsed by both the Think Centre and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2). We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are deeply concerned about the persistent trend of foreign domestic workers being injured or killed due...
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...
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
