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Sunny passes away – from political party member to homelessness
Jul. 28 | TOC just got news that Sunny passed away yesterday. Since this story was published, Sunny had found shelter in a Home for the Aged. His family cannot be traced to claim his body. TOC is enquiring how we may claim the body and give him a proper funeral....
Don’t focus solely on GDP growth, NMP says
Jul. 24 | Wong Chun Han - Used under Creative Commons licence Singapore should cut its focus on economic growth and measure its progress with socio-economic indicators apart from the gross domestic product, a nominated member of parliament said Monday. “The changed...
Opacity from MAS concerning some foreign stock counters
May. 28 | The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has been discreetly compelling stock brokers in Singapore to impose trading restrictions on certain foreign stock counters, particularly Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs). Affected counters can no longer be purchased. ETNs...
Good news about jobs almost everyday, really?
May. 5 | Counter offers of higher pay for the “best workers” or “workers”? I refer to the report “3 out of 5 firms in Singapore will make counter offers when employee resigns” (Channel News Asia, 4 May). Almost everyday, there is news of a booming...
ComCare cartoonised for the simple-minded
Apr. 15 | MCYS cartoonises the Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare) supposedly for the simple of mind.
Threes and fives of an alternative economic stratagem
Apr. 13 | Latest: Ministry of Trade and Industry revises economic growth forecast Singapore to 7 – 9% growth from the previous forecast of 4.5% – 6.5%; and Monetary Authority of Singapore re-centres the exchange rate policy band to allow for a stronger...
COE may stall economic recovery
Apr. 10 | I refer to the articles “Supply cut sends COE prices rocketing again” (Straits Times, 8 April) and “COEs the next lighting rod?” (Today, 8 April) The My Paper article stated that “COE for cars above 1,600cc hit $45,501, 26.1...
BREAKING NEWS: Las Vegas Sands may be involved with triads
Mar. 30 | Excerpt from Reuters At first, the men had been ordered to break the arms and legs of a dealer at Sands Macau suspected of helping a patron cheat millions of dollars from the business. Later, a call went out to murder the dealer, court records show. But...
TOC Editorial: PAP, ignore Sheng Siong debacle at your risk
Mar. 28 | By Choo Zheng Xi, Editor-at-Large In Singaporean political lore, Dr Seet Ai Mee of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is widely held to have lost her seat to Mr Ling How Doong of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in 1991 after being caught...
$2 billion in PAP town councils’ sinking funds but need to increase charges?
Mar. 18 | Please support The Anti-Mandatory Death Penalty Photo Project by simply taking a photo of yourself that says you do not support the Mandatory Death Penalty, and sending it to us! It can be as simple or as creative as you want, as long as it expresses...
Re-tune the COE quota
Mar. 17 | By Chemical Generation The government just announced a change in the COE quota system. From April onwards with a pro-rated formula first and then every 6 months from July, the car population growth rate would be the number of deregistered vehicles...
Low Thia Khiang: Low productivity not workers’ fault
Mar. 3 | By Gerald Giam Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang has slammed the PAP government for seemingly suggesting that Singaporean workers have only themselves to blame for their low incomes, because of their low productivity and skills. He said it was easy...
Singapore – highest income gap, 2nd highest prison population in the world
Mar. 1 | From Press Run Singapore has the biggest income gap among 23 rich nations surveyed in the book, The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger, by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. This chart from the book shows the income gap between...
Raising foreign worker levy will not solve problems, say critics
Feb. 26 | By Wong Chun Han Raising the foreign worker levy will not reduce Singapore’s dependence on foreign labour or raise productivity, but will increase the financial burden on workers and employers, social workers and analysts say. The levy hike – part...
Dissecting Budget 2010
Feb. 23 | Announcement: The electoral rolls for the next General Elections are now open for inspection. Please go to: http://elections.gov.sg . By Ng E-Jay Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivered the Budget Statement in Parliament on Monday 22 Feb. In...
Many helping hands – how can hands best help?
Feb. 22 | By Lisa Lee In March 1995, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, then-Acting Minister for Community Development, introduced Singapore’s “Many Helping Hands Approach” at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark. He explained Singapore’s...
The final nail in the “HDB affordability” coffin?
Feb. 12 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “HDB resale prices: Don’t just find a scapegoat – It is not an issue of us-versus-them, but one of a rise in demand” (ST, Feb 11). It states: “But actually, what exactly is the issue? Are rising...
Sharp rise in illegal loans: Singapore police
Feb. 8 | AFP SINGAPORE — Illegal loans rose almost 60 percent last year as Singaporeans reeling from the economic crisis turned to loan sharks to tide them over the tough times, a senior police official said Monday. There were 18,600 cases of illegal loans made...
Do upgrading skills and Workfare help low-wage workers?
Feb. 8 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the report “Measures to encourage low-wage workers to take up training expected during Budget” (CNA, Feb 7). It states that “Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has hinted that issues such as making it easier...
The Reform Party responds to the Economic Strategies Committee Report
Feb. 3 | Kenneth Jeyaretnam The Reform Party The Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) finally released its report yesterday after over eight months of deliberation. The ESC is supposed to include the best brains from the private and public sectors yet all it...
The Singapore Government – Worth its weight in gold?
Feb. 2 | Wakka Kong and Simeon Ang The Singapore government has always taken pride in its strong stand against corruption, as substantiated by Singapore’s high ranking (fourth) in the global corruption survey. According to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, the...
Medisave contribution may increase to cover costs – Leong Sze Hian replies
Jan. 31 | Leong Sze Hian I refer to the report “Medisave contribution may go up to cover costs” (ChannelNewsAsia, Jan 28). It states that “Medisave contribution may go up as the need for long-term care increases with Singapore’s aging population....
Re-evaluating the Singapore story
Oct. 12 | Alastair Su In February last year, French President Nicholas Sarkozy called for the re-evaluation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the primary method to measure a country’s living standards. (Left: HDB flats in Ang Mo Kio, Photo Credit: Timmo...
The unsustainable Singapore model
Sep. 23 | Ian Choo There has been much talk about the “Singapore Model”. The West has long equated economic development with the free market ideology and liberal democracy. To the West, the “Singapore model” is characterised by the unorthodox...
Little green dot
Mar. 10 | TOC Exclusive:. TOC will be bringing you an exclusive report on one of the most atrocious living conditions for foreign workers we have yet come across. Stay tuned. For a prelude, visit our Facebook here. Goh Zhi Qian in Spain Living in a nation where...
Employees need to be protected from unethical employers in bad times
Dec. 26 | The following is a letter to TOC from Max Chua. Dear people at TOC, First of all, thank you for being such a fabulous site!! :) Currently, there is a situation that I feel needs to be promptly addressed or looked into, at this present moment of economic...
How to stay lean in these tough times?
Dec. 21 | Gilbert Goh This statement is, I am afraid, easier said than done. When one decides to downsize due to financial constraints, it is always tough as we are used to a certain lifestyle that has become a part of us. The basic necessities such as groceries,...
10 ways to raise cash during hard times
Dec. 12 | Gilbert Goh / Writer During recession, especially when one is jobless, finances become a critical need that will become an emergency item when one is very short. I wrote in my previous article, “Facing joblessness – a personal account”...
Networking your way to a new job
Dec. 7 | Excerpts from Quint Careers: Career experts estimate that the vast majority of job openings are never advertised or publicly announced, but filled through word-of-mouth or networking — known as the “hidden job market.” The likelihood...
48 years old, jobless for 5 yrs and badly burnt out in stock market and totally depressed
Nov. 30 | Question from a Singaporean to Mr Gilbert Goh: Any advice for a 48 yr man, jobless for 5 yrs and badly burnt out in stock market and totally depressed. ——– Mr Goh’s reply: I empathise with your situation. Five years of unemployment...
Coping with joblessness: A personal account
Nov. 27 | The following is a personal account by Mr Gilbert Goh. The article was first published in the Straits Times forum page in October 2008. We thank Mr Goh for giving us the permission to re-publish it here. We hope that the article will help those who are...
A corner where we band together in bad times
Nov. 26 | This is your space – to share your views or stories about the recession, being retrenched, how to cope with everyday living. You may be going through it, or may have some good advice for those going through it. You may be an employer who has jobs for...
Vacuum cleaners and the financial service
Jun. 26 | Wilfred Ling One week ago, a salesperson came to my house to demonstrate and sell a vacuum cleaner. It was an impressive vacuum cleaner with many capabilities: The machine was highly sophisticated and her four hour demonstration was highly impressive....
Stories of elderly and poor Singaporeans – told by bloggers
Mar. 19 | Below is a collection of stories written by bloggers about poor, elderly Singaporeans. They are personal accounts of how some of our senior citizens and the poor live. A Stranger, My Friend by Zyberzitizen: A cat nearby keeps him company, sometimes...
Analysis of PTC’s news release on fare increase
Sep. 12 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the Public Transport Council’s (PTC) News release on 11 September, on the increase in bus fares from 1 October. I would like to comment on the following:- “PTC considered Singapore‘s economic outlook...
3rd World Savings, 1st World Cost of Living
Sep. 4 | This is a letter from Jason, one of our readers. It has been argued strongly that elderly Singaporeans are not saving enough, despite the CPF scheme. This is hardly surprising. The CPF was introduced in 1955 when Singapore was a Third World colony. Our...
Extravagant help for the needy?
Aug. 31 | By Leong Sze Hian The ChannelNewsAsia report “50 needy households receive free electrical appliances” (29 August) (link) said that: “Needy residents in the South West District received various free electrical appliances on Wednesday...
Unanswered questions about CPF changes
Aug. 24 | By Leong Sze Hian This is in reference to media reports that the CPF Special, Retirement and Medisave accounts’ rates will be modified next year. The question that may be in every Singaporean’s mind is whether the peg to “an appropriate...
$150 per month for severely disabled elderly – extended by only one year?
Aug. 16 | By Leong Sze Hian Media reports in July said that Singapore is in a “golden period” that can stretch out over many years. There were two other media reports in that same week about the payout period for disabled seniors under The Interim...
Nation Builders
Aug. 9 | As we celebrate National Day, lets not forget the ones who are struggling and who continue to struggle on a daily basis. Many thanks to Martyn See for taking the time and effort to lend a voice to the less-abled and needy – especially the elderly....
More than just money needed to help poor
Jul. 15 | This is TOC writer Leong Sze Hian’s letter to The New Paper which was published on the 14th of July, 2007. I refer to the article ‘Would you work 2 shifts over 14 hours for $4.90 an hour?’ (The New Paper, 6 Jul) and the recent launch of...
CPF – F1 or F9 : Poor get less % than the rich?
Jul. 2 | By Leong Sze Hian I REFER to NTUC’s proposal to reduce the CPF contribution for lower-income workers and put 40 per cent of the Workfare bonus to CPF. On the one hand, we are putting more of the Workfare Bonus cash payout to worker’s CPF,...
CPF – F1 or F9 – Do you know who gets your CPF when you die?
Jun. 28 | By Leong Sze Hian CPF announced the amendment of the treatment of Special Account savings invested in fixed deposits, and media reports that the CPF Board has reminded three non-bank investment administrators (IAs) that members’ CPF Investment Scheme...
CPF – F1 or F9? Half also cannot withdraw anymore
Jun. 25 | By Leong Sze Hian On Jan 22, 2007, the manpower minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen, was quoted by the media thus: ‘To a question if the minimum CPF sum of $90,000 would be enough for retirement, Mr Ng said changes are being made so Singaporeans can have more...
Land of milk and money – and the politics of envy
Jun. 21 | Singapore has changed. And I am not talking about physical changes such as the new MRT Circle Line or the new shopping malls or even the upcoming Integrated Resorts. One can almost feel the fundamental changes that are taking place – in the hearts and...
$200 GST offset, but so much more to pay ad infinitum
Jun. 14 | This is a letter by TOC writer Leong Sze Hian to the Straits Times I REFER to StarHub’s announcement that it will increase cable TV subscriptions by between $4 for basic groups and $10 for sports content. This is an increase of 17 to 67 per cent....
“895 HDB flats repossessed since 2003″
Mar. 29 | By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “895 HDB flats repossessed since 2003” (TODAY, Feb 28). It states that “seven per cent of those who took HDB mortgage loans were in arrears of at least 3 months”. As at the end of last year,...
Public assistance for the elderly – where the ethics lie.
Mar. 19 | “There will always be arguments on whether a sum we’ve decided is enough or not and as I’ve said yesterday, frankly one limiting factor must be the sum that we give through public assistance cannot be so generous as to erode the work...
The poorest in our society
Feb. 2 | With the increasingly fast pace of life in Singapore, there perhaps is a tendency for us to forget those who are left behind, those who can’t run as fast as the rest of us – even if they want to. The government, to its credit, has set up various help...
