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TOC/TRE: FACE-OFF
Feb. 9 | Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 Time: 8pm – 10pm Place: Sinema Old School, 11b Mount Sophia, Old School, #B1-12, Singapore 228466 Moderator: Founder and Managing Director of Senatus, Mr Kien M Lee Organised for: Social Media Week attached What keeps two...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
SCDF chief suspended from duties, CNB director probed
Jan. 24 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ According to Chinese newspaper Lianhe Wanbao, the Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Mr Peter Lim, is under suspension for nearly a month. Six other SCDF officials, including two of senior rank have also been...
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...
40% Discounted Ministers anyone? I’d say, ‘No thanks!’
Jan. 20 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ “If the annual salary of the Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts is only $500,000, it may pose some problems when he discusses policies with media CEOs who earn millions of dollars because they need not listen...
The ministerial pay debate that will never be
Jan. 20 | ~by: Howard Lee~ With the long and extensive debate on ministerial pay – in traditional media, online media, and most recently in Parliament – the last thing I want to do is discuss whether the cuts that will most likely be implemented...
Some Fundamental Aspects about Floods
Jan. 19 | ~by: C L Cheong~ From time to time a spate of flash floods would trigger off public concern and debate for a while. While newspaper reports and commentaries on floods tend to be fragmentary in nature, a perspective of the flood problems can be gained...
Salaries that are beyond reach, must still be logical
Jan. 19 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ Many Singaporeans, I believe, will agree that Ministers should be free from undue financial distractions and so, in general would not begrudge the fact that Ministers need to maintain a reasonable lifestyle, as Siew Kum Hong puts it,...
Poor children have 10% chance of making it to the top?
Jan. 18 | ~by: Leong Sze Hian~ I refer to the article “Mobility in S’pore ‘higher than previously thought’” (Today, Jan 13). It states: Having poor or less-educated fathers does not necessarily mean their sons will fare similarly,...
We are a little red dot and so must be extraordinary – PM Lee
Jan. 17 | the following is a brief report of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’a speech in Parliament today on Ministerial salaries: – Speaking in Parliament today, PM Lee said that the issue is not just whether salary is “correct” or “incorrect”,...
Don’t give up on Singapore’s Special Olympics
Jan. 16 | ~by: Ellery Aruldoss~ Hanako sits comfortably at one end of the sofa, her arms clasped gently in front of her. She answers my questions with sincere enthusiasm, her eyes at times glistening as she recounts her experiences. It isn’t every day I talk...
Catherine Lim: My best hope lies in the young Singaporeans
Jan. 15 | the following is the full transcript of Dr Catherine Lim’s acceptance speech on being awarded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Online Citizen on the occasion of its 5th Anniversary, on 13 January 2012. – Following the shock results...
TOC may not last another 5 years
Jan. 15 | ~by: Ravi Philemon~ the following is the transcript of my welcome speech at TOC’s Awards Night: – Thank you Mr Chiam See Tong and Mrs Lina Chiam for gracing our event as Guests of Honour. Thank you to our friends, well-wishers, volunteers...
TOC Awards Night – The award recipients
Jan. 14 | At the turn of its fifth birthday, TOC felt that it would be good to show our appreciation to our friends, readers, supporters and volunteers who have helped us along the way, some who have played central roles to our stories. They have made the last...
TOC turns 5 – Congratulatory notes from well-wishers
Jan. 13 | President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam “wishes you and members of your organising team the best and success in organising the event.” “TOC has come a long way from its humble beginning with a simple mission in mind. The ‘gazette’...
What are Mr Lui’s view on SIA’s A380s?
Jan. 12 | ~by: Ghui~ On Friday, 6 January 2012, Singapore Airlines and Qantas Airways announced that they discovered cracks on the wing ribs of their Airbus A380s. Both carriers went on to say that the cracks posed no threat to safety and that repairs have been...
Democracy works!
Jan. 12 | ~by: Gordon Lee~ Again and again, I hear the accusation that democratic governments are short-termist. Over and over, I see the charge that democratic governments are populist. What truly annoys me is that these allegations come from states which are...
The boy’s mother
Jan. 12 | This article was first published on August 1, 2010. TOC republishes this article to support the call to Singapore’s Cabinet to grant him his one birthday wish – a second chance at life. You are also invited to the Speakers’ Corner this...
Can eligibility criteria for PA scheme be made more “humane”? Chan Chun Sing’s non-answer
Jan. 11 | ~by: Leong Sze Hian~ I refer to the article “MPs urged to tell MCYS about those in need” (Today, Jan10). The article quoted Acting Minister for MCYS (Ministry of Community Development Youth and Sports), Mr Chan Chun Sing as saying “We are...
The birthday that might not have been
Jan. 11 | ~by: Kirsten Han~ When you’re involved in a death penalty case, you’re always aware of the ticking clock. Time is running out. There might be no tomorrow, no next week, no next year. Life events like birthdays are no longer just one more landmark...
Potong Pasir – A town that is losing its soul?
Jan. 10 | the following is a letter from a TOC reader: – It has been 7 months since the General Elections 2011, when Potong Pasir fell to PAP. There were many blogs and heartfelt tributes to Mr Chiam in the immediate aftermath. As I was driving home this...
We’re Five! – TOC Awards Night
Jan. 10 | TOC recently turned five years old. It has been an interesting and tumultuous journey since we penned our first article in 2006, but at the heart of it all is you, our readers, who form the Community of Singaporeans that we have written for. As such,...
18 percent drop in salary for poly graduates?
Jan. 10 | ~by: Leong Sze Hian~ I refer to the article “Higher pay but fewer full-time jobs for polytechnic graduates: Survey” (Today, Jan 9). It states that “The median gross monthly salary of fresh poly graduates in full-time permanent employment went...
Breakdowns on 15 and 17 December were ‘disruptive’ and ‘poorly managed’ – Transport Minister
Jan. 9 | “SMRT could have better handled the evacuation of the passengers in the stalled trains to reduce the sense of distress, and provided clearer and timelier information and instructions to the public, instead of leaving commuters confused and apprehensive...
Complete accountability for our land transport grid
Jan. 9 | ~by: Howard Lee~ In the months to come, speculation will be rife about why SMRT chief executive Saw Phaik Hwa decided to resign. Did the SMRT board of directors force her to do so, given the big dent that the latest train disruptions caused to SMRT shares?...
Paradigm shifts needed to reform political pay structure
Jan. 8 | ~by: Hong Weilun~ This week in Singapore saw intense debates and discussions in two areas, namely the pay of our political leaders and entry tests for children’s admission into tuition centres. The former topic concerns our current leaders, the latter...
NCMP Lina Chiam: KPI for Transport Minister should be tied to quality of Singapore’s public transport system
Jan. 8 | the following is a media release by Singapore People’s Party: – I will not be releasing my full response to the ministerial pay review until the parliament debate of 16th January , because there are two major points that my team and I are...
