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PAP MP says he is a man of ‘passion and purpose”
Jan. 15 | I just have the passion. And that’s why when people ask me, I always say I am a PAP man, I’m a man with Passion And Purpose. Aljunied GRC MP Yeo Guat Kwang, on why he took up the chairmanship of NTUC’s Migrant Workers Centre. (Straits...
Double-barrelled but no big impact
Jan. 15 | I don’t think it will have a big impact on our GRCs or ethnic integration policies because the majority of the population will still be the major racial groups – the Chinese, the Malays, the Indians. And these are the other racial or ethnic...
4 more ERP gantries
Jan. 15 | The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Thursday that four ERP gantries will go up in Marina Centre, which will be part of an enlarged Central Business District (CBD). Straits Times
Cooling off – PAP’s insecurity exposed
Jan. 13 | I was surprised that a shrewd leadership like the PAP could come up with a ruling that … exposes an insecurity that must make even its supporters wonder about how strong, after more than four decades of leadership, the bond between the Government...
Foreign workers shall not speak
Jan. 11 | Some employment contracts say this: Workers shall not “raise their voice to scold management, nor shall they be unreasonable, crack indecent jokes, intimidate or threaten others”. The penalty is a $100 fine each time. TODAY, on terms and...
GIC stands to lose S$800 million
Jan. 9 | Well, it wasn’t hard to see this coming. But take heart, fellow citizens: despite our tiny size, we are at the forefront of one of the most damaging financial tsunamis about to hit the world in 2010. Singapore Uncle Trader, “GIC at forefront of...
PAP on online electioneering
Jan. 9 | “That’s where the most intensive fights will be.” PAP MP Teo Ser Luck, on the extensive use of new media at the PAP Convention
Romanian diplomat not returning to S’pore after all
Jan. 8 | He explained that he would not be returning after all as he had been recalled from his post in Singapore. Straits Times
Fish more expensive during Chinese New Year
Jan. 7 | THOSE who want a taste of the tiger garoupa this Chinese New Year are likely to be hit by a double whammy: The fish, usually already more expensive during this period, is set to be priced even higher. Straits Times
Constitutionality more important than finality
Jan. 6 | In our view the public interest in having finality in court proceedings could not possibly outweigh the public interest in determining whether or not the mandatory death sentence was constitutional under the Constitution. Chief Justice Chan Kek Seong,...
Why must pay, how to pay & pay on time
Jan. 5 | About 77,200 households were slapped with a late payment notice in 2008 for not paying the $110 [TV licence] fee, compared to 65,000 who failed to do so in 2005…. MDA will launch a public outreach programme this month to “educate” the public...
JBJ doesn’t bend
Jan. 5 | “Aren’t you a bit annoyed because I don’t crawl to you?” J B Jeyaretnam to Lee Kuan Yew, during a parliamentary committee meeting in 1985.
Doing better and better
Jan. 3 | So instead of being seven, eight, nine per cent, we may (achieve) three, four, five per cent growth. But what we must try to do is to make sure that our per capita performance goes up. So even if the economy is not growing bigger and bigger, for each...
Naked man subdued by stun gun
Jan. 3 | Patrons who had been watching the naked man prance around the club area later learned that he had to be subdued with a stun gun in the end. Asia One
Pay $5 to go to the roof of a HDB block?
Jan. 2 | Non-residents can access the Skybridge, which straddles the 50th floor of the buildings, by paying S$5 per person. Channelnewsasia, on the opening of the Skybridge at the Pinnacle@Duxton
Diplomat “now a suspect” in hit-and-run incident
Jan. 1 | THE Romanian diplomat who claimed that his embassy car was stolen at the time it was involved in a hit-and-run accident a fortnight ago is now a suspect in the case. Straits Times
“I did not expect prices to go up” – Mah Bow Tan
Dec. 30 | Nobody, no matter how prescient, no matter how clever, would have been able to predict that this is what is going to happen this year. All of us were caught off-guard…I did not expect the prices to go up. But the point is, are we able to respond...
We are a special red dot, says MM Lee
Dec. 30 | We are a little red dot but we are a special red dot. We are connected with the world, we play a special role. And we are not going to be in anybody’s pocket. MM Lee Kuan Yew
National Geographic interviews a dinosaur
Dec. 29 | There are not many countries in the world where people would persistently vote into power a leader who thinks they are all worthless ants… Ben Bland, Asian Correspondent
Hit-and-run incident angers blogger Xiaxue
Dec. 28 | I don’t care if a drunk driver hits a pedestrian. Fine, everyone makes mistakes. But what sort of person would witness his grave error, and decide to turn tail and run instead of giving aid to the people he hit?? May the Singapore government,...
Malaysia to introduce 4% GST
Dec. 27 | The GST should not be introduced in haste in a Third World country like ours. DR A. SOORIAN, on Malaysia’s introduction of the GST
Singapore raises school fees for foreigners
Dec. 25 | If the Singapore Government increases the fees substantially, I may have to review my decision to send my children to schools there. Housewife Dalillah Yusof, 46, whose three children with PR are currently studying in Singapore
Criticising the government is an offence?
Dec. 20 | The Judge agreed with the Prosecution that distributing flyers in a group of 5 or more persons criticising the PAP Government’s policies is an offence. Your SDP
K Shanmugam’s slippery slope argument
Dec. 17 | And if the majority chooses slower development and a lower quality of life, and is willing to accept more tensions within our society in return for changes in the political system, then so be it. Law Minister, K Shanmugam
Family’s kayaking dreams drifting in red tape
Dec. 17 | “You cannot just bring your own kayak and start kayaking here you know? You need a permit. Give me your particulars.” Jason Toh, Straits Times Forum Page
Embassy car in hit-and-run
Dec. 16 | A CAR believed to be from a foreign embassy was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Bukit Panjang Road early on Tuesday, hitting three people at two different traffic junctions. Straits Times
Lee’s inglorious past
Dec. 14 | The word gratitude is not to be found in Lee’s lexicon. In fact, it would have been a great joke if Lim’s detention had caused him any grief. Singapore Recalcitrant
MM Lee: I am exception to the rule
Dec. 12 | We also have a rule, I’m the exception to the rule, I’m 86… But I’m not doing the work; I’m just forecasting… The work is being done by younger people in their late 40s and 50s. MM Lee Kuan Yew, on why younger politicians...
Blogger sued for slander
Dec. 11 | A BLOGGER who claimed that a former secondary school teacher was corrupt now has to fend off a defamation suit brought against her by the latter. Straits Times
“I’d rather be sued for defamation than shot in the head” – P65 blogger says of opposition in S’pore
Dec. 9 | [If] I were in the opposition, I would rather be in Singapore than in any other Asian “democracy”. Life is unfair, but I daresay I would rather be sued for defamation than shot in the head. Fredric Fanthome, P65 blog, in his replies to readers
Democracy and Good Governance
Dec. 8 | People have known for a long time that countries can succeed if they are not democratic. The question is: Can countries continue to succeed if they are not so? Parag Khanna
Yong Vui Kong meets his mother in jail
Dec. 5 | Yong was allowed to see his mother through a glass panel on Wednesday. Upon seeing his mother, Yong knelt down and bow to her three times. Rachel Zeng
Govt to reaffirm bilingual policy
Dec. 4 | To put it very simply, we are affirming our bilingualism policy. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
RP on Cooling-Off Period
Dec. 3 | The Reform Party therefore strongly opposes the current government’s proposal for a cooling-off period. However this will only be one more of the numerous restrictions which tilt the playing field so far against the opposition and which prevent Singapore...
Cooling-off…. into a deep freeze
Dec. 1 | [Elections] in Singapore are already devoid of any heat. Any more cooling and the elections will go into deep freeze, sending voters into hibernation. Singapore Democratic Party
Importing foreign labour not sustainable, says Citigroup economist
Nov. 30 | Over the last few years, Singapore’s rapid growth has been mostly driven by a massive increase in the workforce… But it is clear that growth powered by importing foreign labour is simply not sustainable. Citigroup economist, Kit Wei Zheng
Wonderful
Nov. 29 | A new Singapore record was set on Sunday for the largest number of people passing wishing spheres in formation. Channelnewsasia
“Cheaper, better, faster.” NASA’s slogan before 1999 crash
Nov. 28 | Cheaper. Better. Faster. NASA’s slogan – before the twin Mars mission disasters in 1999. Someone please inform Lim Swee Say. The Online Citizen Facebook
Singapore company to lay Burma pipeline
Nov. 28 | A marine engineering company in Singapore has signed a multimillion dollar contract to lay pipeline off the shores of Burma next year. Voice of America
Thieves went on shopping spree, victim has to pay
Nov. 27 | The three banks that issued her with the credit cards that were stolen and used by thieves have told her that she is liable for 75 per cent of the $17,100 bill chalked up. Straits Times
Civil servant pay should be “market competitive”: Manpower Minister
Nov. 27 | It has served us well thus far. We’ve been able to attract, retain and have a good civil service. Manpower Minister, Gan Kim Yong.
Bukit Timah flood – where were the police?
Nov. 26 | During that time, not one police officer was seen and the traffic continued to accumulate. Why were no officers sent out to divert traffic in other directions? Debbie Eisenach, letter to ST forum
“PRs need to have a home in Singapore” – Mah Bow Tan
Nov. 24 | PR families are not eligible for housing subsidies that Singaporeans enjoy. They are not allowed to buy a new flat from HDB or enjoy any housing grant. However, PRs need to have a home in Singapore. Therefore, they are allowed to buy properties from...
Property tax hike – Minister Lui’s reason
Nov. 23 | The problem is, the longer you defer it, the larger the increase will be…if HDB prices continue to go up. Minister Lui Tuck Yew, on property tax hike SAVINGS accounts have seen miserly interest rates of below 1 per cent per annum since 2001 –...
Minister knew canal was not big enough but did nothing…
Nov. 22 | Would the Minister be saying the same thing if a child got swept away and drowned in the flood on Thursday?… I would have expected at least an ounce of contrition on the part of the Minister for his ministry’s failure to act on a problem that...
Refused the right to take empty seat – because he’s a male
Nov. 21 | On Wednesday, I boarded one of the new SMRT buses. When a passenger vacated a seat and I was about to occupy it, the woman next to it objected, saying she could not “allow” me to sit next to her as I am a male and my body would “touch”...
Flood was a “freak” event, says Minister
Nov. 21 | What happened was very unusual. The intensity was tremendous. Minister for Environment, Yaacob Ibrahim, on flood at Bukit Timah. Yaacob called it a “freak” event
Speaking English in workplace is weird, says Malaysian minister
Nov. 20 | This also occurs in government-linked companies where we have this weird culture of people speaking to each other in English instead of the national language… We are polluting our own culture and identity as a nation. Malaysia’s Deputy Education...
Teens left 8 suicide notes – and jumped
Nov. 20 | Mernel mentioned in a letter to her mother she would rather die than be sent to a girls’ home for her offence. Straits Times, “2 teens had problems, jumped”
