Civil Society
工会、新闻媒体以及人民
让国人吃……洗洁剂?
让媒体报道洗洁剂的价格,是不是凸显了一个更深沉的利益冲突,足以危害这个国家呢?
在这个锱铢必较的非常时期,我们需要一个公正的资讯平台来避免各怀鬼胎的宣传,好让国人知道应该去哪里才能找到最便宜的商品。
Leong Sze Hian and Choo Zheng Xi
让国人吃……洗洁剂?
让媒体报道洗洁剂的价格,是不是凸显了一个更深沉的利益冲突,足以危害这个国家呢?
久不久我们都能在《新报》找到智慧的珠粒。Larry Havekamp 又名“钱医生”在他的经济专栏里把统计学比作比基尼,他说:露出来的只是诱惑,不露出来的才是戏肉。(新报,5月5日)
我们针对海峡时报的专题《米和食油带头飙升:最新的消费者协会价格调查,告诉买家哪里最便宜》。(海峡时报,5月3日)
文章写道:
“它的调查显示,职总平价合作社具有最多种类的平价货品,从沐浴露、洗碗剂、罐头午餐肉到鸡蛋等。”
对于许多低收入家庭来讲,这个一篮子调查所选择的好些物品其实并不恰当,因为有些只是占他们家庭总开支的一小部分。
在许多家庭都关注基本开销的当儿,我们不禁要问,把盐、沐浴露、洗碗剂和洗衣粉包括在调查里面是否合宜?
有人一定会说,洗衣也很重要,但是洗洁产品所占的比例也太失衡了吧,他们所选择的21项调查物品里面,竟有5项是属于洗洁用品。
为什么清洁用品占那么高的比例,占去大约四分之一?新加坡人虽然是世界闻名的爱清洁,真的有人把家庭收入的四分之一花在洗洁产品吗!
这很明显,是由政府所控制的媒体和政府所控制的工会联手来吹捧职总平价合作社,不是吗?除非这个问题受到正视,要不然那些最需要廉价产品的人可能会误信宣传。长久以往,不但工会的诚信会受影响,甚至媒体的公信力也岌岌可危。
如果我们拿掉洗洁剂,那么新加坡超市里面拥有最多便宜商品的将不是平价合作社,而是拥有七项的昇菘,拥有六项的平价合作社只是排在其后。
如果我们只专注食物的价格,那么昇菘还是以七项排在前面,平价合作社六项屈居第二。
根据消费者协会的网页,它的上两次价格调查,一次是2008年1月3日(自家品牌面包调查),一次是在2007年7月24日。调查显示最便宜的自家品牌面包是冷藏公司和首德惠(大约是$0.0017每公克,对照平价合作社5%折扣之后的$0.0019每公克),而最便宜的白米是在巨人超市,每十公斤售价是$13.95,平价则是$16.20。
这意味着平价自家品牌的面包和白米,都比别人贵了分别是12%与16%。
即使是它更早的两份调查,分别是2007年6月1日 (牛奶和糖调查)与2007年2月14日,也显示最便宜的奶粉(1.8公斤)是在昇菘,售价是$17.70,对比平价的$17.90。最便宜的快熟面也是在昇菘和巨人,售价是$0.95,对比平价的$1。
那么,为什么国人不断地被告知平价合作社比较廉宜呢?即使是消费者协会的本身调查也证明并非如此。
利益冲突
海峡时报向来都对职总给予偏爱的报道。
职总和政府之间也享有“共生的关系”,职总的秘书长也是由内阁的总理公署部长兼任的。
同时,政府对报界有一定的影响力。我们经常接受如此的安排为理所当然,其实应该从法律的观点,来理解这种利害冲突的乱源才对。
在报章与印刷法里面,报业公司的股东是分成普通股和管理股。持有一张管理股的股东在选举董事局成员和指派员工时,具有等于是普通股200票的投票权。
在该法令第10节11条之下:
“管理股拥有者在选举或举手表决时,无论在指派或开除董事、员工议决案时,每持有(管理股)一股,就等于普通股拥有者的200票。”
购买管理股必须获得资讯、通讯与艺术部长的书面批准(法令的第10节C条),报业公司无权反对部长批准的管理股(法令的第10接2条)。
简单来说,谁控制管理股,谁就有干预董事局任免的关键权力,当然也具有左右员工去留的权力,这包括编辑的阶层。
谁拥有这些管理股呢?
根据2007年报业控股的年报,许多政联公司都握有管理股,它们是新电信(13.3%)、星展集团(9.5%)、新加坡国立大学(5.36%)和当然的新加坡职工总会(16.34%)。
一小撮私人公司也拥有报业的管理股,但是别忘了,他们拥股是需要部长同时也包括那个职总头头的内阁来批准的。
总而言之,这就出现两大利益冲突:职总在政府里面的代表决定它自己能不能够拥股?同时职总所拥有的庞大管理股,又让它对海峡时报的董事会和编辑部人员具有决定性的影响力。
从上述的利益冲突可知,海峡时报对职总平价合作社过分正面的报道,只会使两个机构的诚信尽失。
什么是普通新加坡人最关心的?
公民在线(TOC)过去也曾为文指出“职总4万元礼券送给贫困工人”是自吹自擂。
随着报章不断拨出版面宣传平价合作社,可能会促使一般贫困家庭花费超出预算。那些为平价合作社涂脂抹粉的报道,也可能会阻碍人们到价格真正便宜的地方去购物。
同时,对于邻里商店也不尽公平,毕竟他们没法拥有全国大报的管理股权,已经输在起跑点了。每一篇对平价合作社的正面报道无疑就是让这个品牌获得一次免费宣传,就算是昇菘超市也不能比。
在这个锱铢必较的非常时期,我们需要一个公正的资讯平台来避免各怀鬼胎的宣传,好让国人知道应该去哪里才能找到最便宜的商品。
—————–
![](https://theonlinecitizen.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/03/26202010/TOC_newlogo_small.webp)
Civil Society
Thailand withdraws reservation on refugee children’s rights, welcomed by UN Human Rights Office
Thailand’s withdrawal of its reservation on Article 22 of the CRC is hailed by the UN, marking a key step in enhancing protections for refugee and asylum-seeking children.
![](https://theonlinecitizen.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/09/06162242/UN-Logo.png)
The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) has praised Thailand for its decision to withdraw its reservation on Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a move expected to improve the protection of refugee and asylum-seeking children in the country.
Cynthia Veliko, the OHCHR Representative for South-East Asia, hailed the decision, calling it “a significant, positive step” toward aligning Thailand’s laws with international standards. “This move helps protect the rights of all children on the move, no matter their nationality or origin,” Veliko said.
The Thai Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the reservation took effect on 30 August 2024. Article 22 of the CRC ensures that refugee and asylum-seeking children receive protection, humanitarian assistance, and equal access to services provided to national children, in line with international human rights laws to which Thailand is a party.
This withdrawal is also expected to strengthen the implementation of Thailand’s National Screening Mechanism (NSM), introduced on 22 September 2023.
The NSM grants the status of “protected person” to individuals who cannot return to their home countries due to the fear of persecution. However, despite these legal advancements, children without legal status in Thailand remain at risk of being detained in immigration facilities.
The UN has raised concerns over the continued detention of children despite the Thai government’s 2019 Memorandum of Understanding on Alternatives to the Detention of Children (MOU-ATD). The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has reaffirmed that every child has a fundamental right to liberty and should not be detained based on their migration status.
Veliko urged Thailand to focus on ending child immigration detention and adopting human rights-based alternatives.
“Children on the move are children first and foremost,” Veliko stressed, adding that detention due to migration status is never in the best interests of children.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed its readiness to assist the Thai government in developing alternatives to detention, ensuring that all children receive the protection and care they need.
Civil Society
FORUM-ASIA condemns Myanmar junta’s forced conscription expansion, urges international action
FORUM-ASIA condemns Myanmar’s military junta for expanding forced conscription, calling it a desperate bid to maintain power. The policy, affecting men aged 35 to 60, adds to a long list of human rights violations, including forced labor and the use of civilians as human shields.
![](https://theonlinecitizen.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/09/04161632/myanmar-conscription-law.png)
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has condemned the Myanmar military junta’s recent decision to expand the age limit of its forced conscription policy, calling on the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.
The move is seen as a desperate attempt by the junta to maintain control in the face of a growing pro-democracy resistance movement.
On 25 August 2024, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced the introduction of a new “security system with public participation.”
This system would require men aged 35 to 60 to serve as guards, potentially placing them on the frontlines of conflict. The announcement follows the formation of the Central Supervisory Committee for People’s Security and Anti-Terrorism on 16 August, tasked with organizing military training and overseeing “people’s security and anti-terrorism” groups at various administrative levels.
The junta’s plan builds upon the forced conscription policy it implemented on 10 February 2024, invoking the 2010 People’s Military Service Law.
The law mandates men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 to serve two years in the military, with professionals like doctors and engineers potentially serving up to five years. Those who evade service or assist others in doing so face up to five years in prison. As part of this policy, the junta planned to conscript 5,000 individuals monthly from April 2024.
#Myanmar’s junta has begun implementing a conscription law to replenish its depleted ranks. pic.twitter.com/YaQ2s83d69
— Radio Free Asia (@RadioFreeAsia) April 18, 2024
Myanmar youth are still risking their lives protesting against recent mandatory conscription law. Stay safe guys. pic.twitter.com/gFJDesRMyT
— Hsan (@HsanLoatheCoup) April 8, 2024
Civilians as Human Shields and Forced Labor
FORUM-ASIA has condemned the junta’s forced conscription policies, highlighting the military’s history of using civilians as human shields and forcing them into hard labor.
The International Labour Organization’s Commission of Inquiry found in October 2023 that the military continues to impose forced labor amidst the ongoing armed conflict, a practice that has escalated since the 2021 coup attempt.
Local news and human rights groups have reported that the junta is also abducting and arresting citizens to use as human shields, further contributing to the human rights violations in Myanmar. Many youths, rather than being conscripted into fighting for a regime they oppose, have fled their homes to join the resistance.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concern over the junta’s detention and recruitment of Myanmar youth. Meanwhile, Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, noted the junta’s increasing use of powerful weapons against civilians as troop losses and recruitment challenges mount.
Call for Action
FORUM-ASIA is calling on the Myanmar military junta to immediately halt its forced conscription, abductions, forced labor, and the use of civilians as human shields.
“FORUM-ASIA urges the international community, including the UN and ASEAN, to thoroughly investigate the Myanmar military junta’s long list of human rights violations. The junta should be held accountable for all its crimes through sanctions and other punitive measures,” said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.
“The international community must urgently isolate the junta and support the people of Myanmar in their struggle for justice and freedom,” Bacalso added.
-
Opinion4 days ago
Singaporean voters and the ‘Battered Wife Syndrome’
-
Diplomacy3 days ago
India PM Narendra Modi meets with PM Lawrence Wong; Four MoUs signed
-
Food3 days ago
NTU stall food prices questioned after parent pays S$6.30 for meal
-
Politics2 days ago
PAP adopts SDP policies after criticizing them: Dr Chee urges Singaporeans to see through tactics
-
Civil Society5 days ago
CIVICUS Monitor labels Singapore as ‘repressed’ for crackdown on civic freedoms
-
Opinion6 days ago
Is the shuttle bus service at Marine Parade town cluster just a S$1 million political ad campaign?
-
Economy4 days ago
IRAS reports S$80.3 billion in tax revenue for FY2023/24, a 17% increase from the previous year
-
Parliament4 days ago
Workers’ Party to question Govt on Mobile Guardian breach and entry of extremist preacher in upcoming parliamentary sitting