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GE2020 demonstrates how far Singapore achieved in gender equality, but violence against women remains a major issue, says AWARE President
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This year’s General Election (GE) has demonstrated how far Singapore has achieved gender equality in politics but violence against women remains a major issue, said Margaret Thomas, president of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE).
Ms Thomas was among the panellists in the Ethos Books’ gathering of civil society that has brought together activists from different areas. The gathering, which titled The Ground Speaks: Civil Society After GE2020, was live-streamed on Facebook on 26 July.
“GE2020 demonstrated both how much has been achieved in the quest for gender equality and how much work is still needed,” she remarked.
Noting that there were 27 female politicians have been elected in Parliament, the former journalist said that it shows women now hold a significant part of the political process.
“So when Parliament reconvenes next month, we will be just shy of the UN’s [United Nations] 30 per cent target for women in leadership positions. We would, of course, like to see an equal number of women in Parliament, but 30 per cent is a whole lot better than the zero per cent that we had from 1978 to 1984,” she added.
It is notable that gender equality was also being discussed in some of the political parties’ election campaign, which can be observed from the People’s Action Party (PAP) in its Straight Talk show and the Hammer Show by the Workers’ Party (WP).
“I think this is partly because there are now more women in politics, so there is naturally greater interest in the understanding of these matters,” she added.
Ms Thomas also saw several proposals related to gender equality in WP’s manifesto, such as closing the gender wage gap. Though the proposals were “nowhere near as comprehensive” as those in AWARE’s gender equality manifesto, she believes “it’s a good start”.
“Also, the fact that one candidate who is now an elected MP, Raeesah Khan from the Workers’ Party has proudly described herself as a feminist and intersectional feminist. Our women leaders have tended to fight shy of this term. It’s okay, ‘feminist’ is not a dirty word,” she said.
Ms Thomas also recalled the case of a National University of Singapore student who physically assaulted his former girlfriend, which had led PAP’s female politicians to express concerns over the lenient sentence that the student received and called for Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) to look into it.
“I think it’s the first time that the women’s wing has taken a stand on the outcome of the court case. By doing so, they were echoing the unhappiness of many about what appears to be a tendency for better-educated offenders to be treated,” she said.
However, Ms Thomas said that the PAP had used an “ill-advised reference to wife-beating” just to make a point during the General Election.
PAP in a press statement following the political debate between the parties, used an analogy involving spousal abuse to explain how Chee Soon Juan – the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) chief – is not telling the truth.
The statement went, “Imagine this: Dr Chee claims you said you want to beat up your spouse. You deny it, and show proof that you neither said this nor have beaten your spouse. Instead of apologising, Dr Chee says, ‘Victory! I extracted a promise from you that you will never beat your spouse’.”
“Many people, especially survivors of domestic violence, were very upset about this. The fact that the ruling party could so casually and callously use a domestic violence analogy to try to score a political point shows just how much more work is needed,” she noted.
Ms Thomas stressed that violence against women remains a major issue as many women are suffering in silence.
“We need to further improve our systems for handling cases of sexual assault and we need to get into the school curricular comprehensive and objective gender and sexuality education.
“Another great need is better support for the caregivers who are usually women, better support is also needed for women who want to return to the workforce after taking time off to have children or to look after elderly relatives,” she stated.
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Netizens question NTU’s choice of timber for Gaia Building amid mould issues
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SINGAPORE: The Gaia building at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), which opened in May 2023 as Asia’s largest wooden structure, was initially celebrated for its sustainable design and architectural beauty.
However, just over a year later, the S$125 million (US$95.5 million) timber building is facing an unexpected challenge: mould growth.
The 450,000-square-foot Gaia building, constructed with sustainable timber beams and panels, has developed mould on its walls, raising concerns about the suitability of timber for large-scale construction in tropical climates like Singapore’s.
The mould issue highlights the global challenges that timber structures can face, especially in environments with high humidity.
According to Bloomberg, the mould problem at Gaia underscores the difficulties that timber buildings encounter worldwide.
The Gaia building’s timber supplier claims that the structure sequesters over 5,000 tons of CO2, even when accounting for shipping, as trees absorb carbon dioxide during growth.
However, Singapore’s tropical climate, with its high humidity and frequent rainfall, has revealed the limitations of using timber in such environments.
The wood used in Gaia, primarily Austrian spruce processed into mass-engineered timber, is less resistant to mould compared to other species.
In Singapore’s humid conditions, untreated spruce is particularly vulnerable to mould and rot, according to Andrew Wong of the International Wood Culture Society.
Erik L’Heureux, an associate professor of architecture at the National University of Singapore, emphasized that different climates present unique challenges for timber construction.
He noted that in tropical regions, special care is required to prevent issues like mould, while in other climates, such as deserts or freezing environments, timber faces other risks like cracking and splitting.
Singapore has used mass-engineered timber in over 20 projects in the past decade, but it remains unclear if other buildings are experiencing similar issues.
In contrast, Singapore’s colonial shophouses, built with regionally native hardwoods, are naturally resistant to mould.
However, sourcing these traditional hardwoods today is both difficult and costly.
Loh Kee Soon, the lead architect for Gaia at RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, explained that while thicker protective coatings could have mitigated some of the mould issues, his team opted against it due to cost concerns and a desire to showcase the natural wood grain.
Despite its aesthetic appeal, the presence of mould has raised health concerns among staff and students.
While the mould is not expected to affect the building’s structural integrity, NTU has implemented a comprehensive maintenance plan, which includes reapplying sealant to the timber, adjusting air-conditioning settings, and instructing staff to keep windows closed to reduce condensation.
Experts also recommend treating surfaces with bleach, applying thicker coatings, installing dehumidifiers, and running the air-conditioning continuously, although these measures could undermine the building’s sustainability.
Netizens question sustainability of NTU’s Gaia building amid mould concerns
Under Mothership’s Facebook post, netizens have expressed various concerns regarding the mould issue at Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Gaia building.
One user questioned whether continuing to use the building is worth it, given the upcoming maintenance and potential health risks to staff and students.
They suggested that if maintenance is not feasible, it might be better to endure a one-time inconvenience of demolition rather than face ongoing issues.
One commenter questioned the logic of using wood in Singapore’s hot and humid climate, suggesting that protective coatings should have been applied to prevent mould.
They pointed out that NTU should have had the resources to implement such measures.
Another netizen proposed that demolishing the building and replacing it with a concrete structure might be a better long-term solution than continually dealing with mould.
Netizens raise concerns over material choices for NTU’s Gaia building
Several netizens focused on the choice of wood for the building, criticizing the decision to use Austrian spruce instead of locally sourced tropical wood that is more resistant to humidity.
One commenter pointed out that using wood from Austria hardly seems sustainable or environmentally friendly when considering the carbon footprint.
Another suggested that the building should have used hardwoods like teak, ebony, or mahogany, which are more resistant to termites and mould.
Further criticism focused on the project’s planning, with some questioning why wood from a cool climate was used in Singapore’s tropical environment.
They speculated that the original committee might have prioritized reducing construction costs, leaving the current management to deal with the consequences.
One commenter expressed disbelief that the project proceeded with wood susceptible to mould, despite the availability of more suitable materials like teak and cedar.
They criticized the $125 million price tag, suggesting it reflects a “lowest cost wins” mentality that overlooks potential long-term costs.
One netizen also raised doubts about the building’s sustainability, questioning whether the cost of treating and preventing mould might become exorbitant over time and ultimately undermine the building’s sustainability claims.
The post Netizens question NTU’s choice of timber for Gaia Building amid mould issues appeared first on Gutzy Asia.
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Malaysian burger vendor duped by repeat scammer: Calls for safer payment protocols
In a viral TikTok video, an Ampang burger vendor recounts how he fell victim to a scam, losing nearly RM100. This incident sheds light on a notorious scammer’s modus operandi, prompting calls for improved payment procedures in the local food scene.
MALAYSIA: A roadside burger vendor in Ampang, Selangor, fell victim to a scam, losing nearly RM100 (US$21.3) in the process.
Taking to his TikTok account “mohdazroyampang” on Wednesday (20 Sep), the burger vendor shared his ordeal, and the video quickly went viral, garnering over 218 thousand views.
@mohdazroyampang Dengan rendah diri aku halal kan makanan yang kau ambil, semoga ada rezeki untuk aku pada masa2 akan datang amin #crispybitesburger #burgerayamcrispy #chickencrispyburger #scammers
According to Azroy, the incident transpired at approximately 08.30 pm (local time). A middle-aged woman and a young man, seemingly a mother-son duo, arrived at his stall riding an electric scooter.
They placed an order for two triple-crusted chicken burgers, a double venison special, and a double meat special but requested to collect the food later due to a sudden influx of customers.
True to their word, the duo returned to claim their order and inquired about the total cost. They also mentioned their intention to place another order based on the receipt.
The initial order cost RM48 (US$10.20), which the son promptly paid and left on his motorcycle.
Subsequently, the mother asked Azroy to prepare another meal, bringing the total to RM96 (US$20.5).
Then, as she pretended to scan the QR code, she suddenly claimed to be short on credit and needed to return home for money.
Seizing this opportunity, they both abruptly left the stall, taking the first set of burgers with them.
Azroy shared that they waited until closing time, but the duo never returned.
He expressed relief that his wife had stopped him from making the second order, thus preventing further financial loss.
In the video, Azroy went on to reveal that the individual involved was a notorious scammer in Ampang, with several other food vendors falling prey to the same modus operandi.
A fellow seller in the comments section confirmed that they almost had been scammed by the same individual.
Many viewers expressed sympathy for the burger seller and called for improved payment procedures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
One commenter suggested that, moving forward, the seller should request payment upfront before allowing customers to leave with their food.
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