In between the silence

Dec. 21 | KJ Can there be real transparency and accountability in an authoritarian one-party state? In popular banter, in coffeeshops, during taxi-rides, Singapore is often likened to a dynasty, a fiefdom, a monarchy. The benevolent emperor is aging, and the...

The art of passing the buck

Dec. 14 | Andrew Loh Investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy on 15 September 2008. (Guardian, BBC, CNBC) For the next two months, our town councils kept silent on whether they were affected by the collapse of Lehman, even as investors gathered in their...

Residents query but PAP town councils keep mum

Dec. 1 | Breaking News: US President-elect Barack Obama appoints Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. (Fox News) Benjamin Cheah / Andrew Loh Each town council has the duty to explain to its residents how it invests its funds, what is its philosophy, what are...

An expected Straits Times forum letter

Nov. 18 | Some Town Councils prefer to charge higher S&C charges so they put their savings in very safe investments. Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu in Parliament ———- Is Mr Tan organising the rallies at Speakers’...