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Call for moratorium over plans for Bukit Brown
Mar. 21 | the following is a media release by Community for Bukit Brown: The community of concerned groups over the future of Bukit Brown is formally calling for a moratorium on all plans for Bukit Brown. This moratorium should be in place until there is clarity...
Court reveals two more charges against alleged druglord in Yong Vui Kong case
Mar. 20 | ~by: We Believe in Second Chances~ In a letter responding to Mr M Ravi, counsel for Mr Yong Vui Kong, the Court of Appeal has revealed two further charges made against Chia Choon Leng, the alleged drug syndicate mastermind in Yong’s...
Bukit Brown – what we’ve really lost
Mar. 20 | ~by: Joshua Chiang~ Towards the end of our hour-long tour at Bukit Brown cemetery (which culminated with a visit to the biggest tomb of the cemetery, that of businessman Ong Sam Leong) one of the participants, suddenly declared, “I have learnt...
MOS Tan Chuan-Jin: We failed to conduct a session in line with what campaigners wanted
Mar. 20 | the following are Minister of State for National Development, Tan Chuan-Jin's notes on Bukit Brown from his Facebook: We just had a briefing and discussion on Bukit Brown. This was an opportunity to share our considerations behind the issue of...
Let’s donate to taxi hijack victim’s family
Mar. 19 | In their Facebook post, Changi Airport has indicated how members of the public may help the family of the late Mr Chandra Mogan. Mr Chandra Mogan was killed when a taxi hijacked by a PRC national (after an argument with the taxi driver) was rammed...
New website wants to help solve transport woes with buspool service
Mar. 17 | the following is a media release by ShareTransport.sg: Moh Hon Meng, CEO of Estatebuzz Pte Ltd, the technology company that developed the ShareTransport.sg website and app says the current transport situation in Singapore is “critical”. “MRTs...
Transport Minister, is pragmatism more important than values?
Mar. 16 | "Public transport concessions are given to different groups of individuals such as students, senior citizens and males serving their National Service. Such concessions are presently not provided to persons with disabilities. To promote independence...
Judgement reserved at Yong Vui Kong’s hearing
Mar. 14 | The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement in the case of Yong Vui Kong once again after he filed a criminal motion alleging unequal treatment. Yong’s lawyer Mr M Ravi, submitted in court this morning that his client has been a victim of unfair...
Performance bonus breeds the culture of avoiding responsibility
Mar. 12 | ~By: Tan Kin Lian~ The culture of avoiding responsibility and minding turf has grown to be very bad in Singapore. Political leaders and civil servants spend a significant part of their energy in explaining why they should not be addressing a particular...
PUB’s incompetence is one reason for recent floods says a TOC reader
Mar. 12 | A reader (Philip Ang) sent us these pictures, saying "I read with disbelief PUB's intention to install prototype vertical gratings (link http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_772824.html). PUB seems...
Petition by parents of children with autism- MP Denise Phua on the defensive
Mar. 12 | ~by: Jewel Philemon~ A petition making its round among parents of children with autism, seems to have caused Member of Parliament for Moulmein-Kallang GRC and President of Autism Resource Centre, Denise Phua to go on the defensive. On her Facebook Ms...
TNP accused of racism – just words or intentions?
Mar. 11 | ~by: Howard Lee~ When The New Paper published an article on 7 March with a front-page title “Bangla boys show their appeal”, it attracted one reader letter that was never published. The reader took issue with the use of the word “Bangla”,...
It’s about time the Government looks into the welfare of caregivers
Mar. 10 | ~By: Raymond Anthony Fernando~ I am a caregiver for 37 years and recently I read about the rest days for maids and makes me wonder what about fulltime caregivers. Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin announced in Parliament on 5 March 2012...
Guidance Is at hand for therapists working with LGBTQ clients
Mar. 9 | the following is a media release by Oogachaga Counselling and Support: Therapists and social workers who are beginning to work with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender clients, and individuals who are questioning his/her own sexual orientation and/or...
MOE’s mistake ravages 11-years child’s passion
Mar. 7 | ~by: Think Singapore~ A Singaporean 11-years old child, who has been with her school volley team since Primary 3, has been barred mid-competition this year in Primary 6 due to MOE’s oversight in drawing up rules for national school competitions....
Yong Vui Kong files affidavit alleging unequal treatment
Mar. 7 | Yong Vui Kong has filed an affidavit alleging unequal treatment by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) after further evidence concerning his “boss” Chia Choon Leng was brought to light. The AGC initially brought 26 charges...
![Why foreign workers are not to be entirely blamed for the issues we face in Singapore [Part 2]](http://theonlinecitizen.com/wp-content/themes/newstube/includes/timthumb.php?src=http://theonlinecitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sg_needs_ft1.jpg&h=100&w=100&zc=1)
Why foreign workers are not to be entirely blamed for the issues we face in Singapore [Part 2]
Mar. 7 | ~ By: Eugene Lim ~ In Part 1, I pointed out that some claims of foreign workers being the main cause of some existing issues Singaporeans face are misleading. The stagnation in productivity is not purely because of the influx of foreign workers but also...
Bukit Brown: What is your vision?
Mar. 7 | ~ By: Ng Yi Shu ~ The Bukit Brown controversy has been raging ever since LTA’s decision to build a road through Bukit Brown. Much heated discussion has occurred since then, as open letters, commentaries and pleas for conservation and...
Citizens concerned over lack of social mobility
Mar. 6 | ~ By: Kumaran Pillai ~ Instead of welcoming the government’s benevolence of helping the downtrodden, citizens are outraged by the government’s lack of empathy. For the most part, the ‘noise’ or the Internet chatter has not helped...
New legislation will not prevent shameful exploitation of foreign domestic workers
Mar. 5 | ~by: Jolene Tan~ The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced that work permits for migrant domestic workers (MDWs) issued from 1 January 2013 will provide for “mandatory” weekly rest days. Although on the surface, especially in tone, this...
What Women Really Want – Diamonds Aren’t Forever
Mar. 5 | ~ By: Melanie Alfred ~ Panel speakers (from left): Delphine Kang (counsellor at the local mission school); Surayah Akbar (member of Women Democrats and businesswoman), Chee Siok Chin (moderator), Dana Lam (former president of Aware), Hazel Poa (secretary-general...
Prejudice and Discrimination: The Differences We Make
Mar. 4 | ~By: Ng Yi Shu~ In the first part of this series I talked about the fact that our reactions speak volumes about what we believe, while in the second part I spoke about the prices foreign workers paid for our choice to discriminate. Many of you may have...
Prejudice and Discrimination – The Prices Others Pay
Mar. 3 | ~By: Ng Yi Shu~ As mentioned in my previous article (Prejudice and Discrimination – Xenophobia), discrimination is a manifestation of our prejudices; our beliefs about things, people and events. We have to be aware, however, of the prices foreigners...
Momentum for animal rights is growing
Feb. 29 | ~by: Cheong Yaoming~ This year’s Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium and Public Forum 2012 was held at Chong Pang Community Club with exhibits from returning animal welfare groups (AWGs) such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals...
The Shark Fin debate
Feb. 28 | ~by: Ng Yi Shu~ ~picture: Cheong Yaoming~ Two NGOs for shark conservation, Shark Savers and Project: FIN, protested against Singapore’s unwillingness to ban shark fin products, at the Animal Welfare Symposium last Saturday. Project: FIN founder...
An ageing population? – Part 4
Feb. 17 | ~by: Gordon Lee~ Welcome to the last part of this article. In the previous three parts, I have hopefully shown that an ageing population is not as bad as this Government would have you believe. This issue has been unfortunately politicised to serve certain...
NUS Campus Crusade for Christ removes insensitive and disrespectful posters
Feb. 16 | ~by: Jewel Philemon~ National University of Singapore's student group NUS Campus Crusade for Christ has removed a website and several posters deemed disrespectful and insensitive to other religions and communities. The contents of the website and...
The more loving One
Feb. 15 | ~by: Muhammad Fadli~ Recently, a Saudi blogger, Hamza Kashgari, has been deported from Malaysia by its Home Ministry into the custody of the Saudi authorities for allegedly blaspheming against the prophet in his tweets. Despite the lack of...
An ageing population? – Part 3
Feb. 14 | ~by: Gordon Lee~ In Part Two, we saw how this Government uses the Old Age Dependency Ratio to instil panic in and extract acquiesce from the public – and how we should instead use a bench-marked overall dependency ratio instead to take into account...
‘I could have died that night’ – Expat assault victims tell all
Feb. 13 | ~by: Jewel Philemon~ “All of these things are common sense. What really makes me sad is how incompetent our system is.” – Mr Laurence Wong Timeline 11 April 2010: Assault (Mr Liew hospitalised) end April 2011: assailants...
Rejection of the Old – A Crying Shame
Feb. 12 | ~ By: Dr Wong Wee Nam ~ Two recent incidents that made some headlines in the media sadden me. The first is the objection by some residents to the proposed elder day-care centre to be built in Woodlands. Following closely is the furore over...
An Ageing Population? – Part 2
Feb. 12 | ~by: Gordon Lee~ This article looks at the issues surrounding an ageing population. Is it really as terrible and as serious as politicians make it out to be? In Part One, we saw how this Government stuck a pair of horns on the phrase “ageing population”,...
Police’s manpower shortage, ‘How is that my problem?’ – Expat assault victims tell all
Feb. 12 | ~by: Jewel Philemon~ “What are the extra ingredients that require expedited justice? It's not rocket science.” – Mr Paul Louis Liew Kai Ming on the inefficacious police force and legal system.” Inefficient, Ineffective,...
Internet prostitution syndicate – Former principal of renowned school being investigated
Feb. 11 | ~by: Jewel Philemon~ A former principal from a well known school who has been in the education field for 15 years is being investigated in connection with a suspected internet prostitution syndicate. Including the principal, about 80 people (including...
‘If you don’t f**k off, I will kill you’ – Expat assault victims tell all
Feb. 11 | ~by: Jewel Philemon~ "Who's your daddy?" was the last Mr Lawrence Wong remembers hearing as a suited Mr Robert James Springall sped away in a taxi from the scene of a violent assault. It all began on a Saturday night in April 2010 when...
An ageing population? – Part 1
Feb. 11 | ~ By: Gordon Lee ~ This article is written in response to the repeated lectures from politicians about the “immense ills” of an ageing population that supposedly threatens to send us all back to the Stone Age (or even to extinction). Political...
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"...
Thaipusam 2012: A photostory
Feb. 8 | ~by: Cheong Yaoming and Ng Yi Shu~ Thousands of Hindu devotees attended the annual Thaipusam festival at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple yesterday to honour and give thanks to the Hindu god Lord Murugan by carrying kavadi. It is a form of tribute in terms...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
More than 150 overseas appeals to spare Yong Vui Kong
Jan. 24 | ~by: Joshua Chiang~ Following an event at Speakers’ Corner last Sunday to mark Yong Vui Kong’s 24th birthday, TOC has received more than 150 overseas letters – mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, France as well as Spain –...
Former VP of GIC is Non-Executive Director of firm GIC invests S$38 million in
Jan. 22 | ~by: Jewel Philemon~ According to Today newspaper the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) will invest around 189 million yuan (S$38 million) in Li Ning a Chinese sportswear company through a convertible bond. GIC will own around 8 per cent...
Atiqah’s death sentence set aside!
Jan. 21 | ~by: Kirsten Han~ Today (20 January 2012) we’ve received wonderful news: the Malaysian Court of Appeal has set aside Atiqah’s death sentence, replacing it with 12 years imprisonment. Following reductions and the time that Atiqah has already served,...
