Thursday, January 31, 2002
Top Stories
Singapore Accuses Malaysian Official Of Meddling In Headscraft Affair
Singapore on Thursday accused a senior Malaysian official of interfering in the city-state's internal affairs after he commented on the threatened suspension of four Muslim schoolgirls for waring Islamic headscarves in class.
News
No Second Medical School For Now
Health Ministry rejects the proposal by international expert panel, but idea to set up graduate school likely to be taken up.
Three Girls To Wear Tudung To School Today
Parents say it is a matter of faith and they will defend it in court if they have to.
Airline Passengers Flying Out Of Singapore To Pay S$6 Security Tax
Malaysia Minister Interfering In Singapore's Internal Affairs: MFA On Tudung Remark
Just as Singapore respects the choices which Malaysia has made, the Republic expects Malaysia to do the same.
PMO Minister Rebuts Malaysian Politicians' Criticism On Singapore's No-Tudung Rule
"How we manage our social issues is for us Singaporeans to decide."
Technology
IDA May Set Standards For SMS Service
IDA recognises that, with increase in data traffic, the imposition of a feasible and meaningful Quality of Service standard on SMS needs to be assessed in order to minimise network-related delays.
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
News
Merlion On The Move With New Look
Come September, the part-fish, part-lion icon will be restored and moved to a new $7.5-million pier at Marina Bay.
Geylang River Overflows, Causing Floods
The Geylang river burst its banks on Wednesday, causing minor floods in Guillemard Road and Dunman Road.
Entertainment
Jack Neo's Touch Of Class
The jester-satirist questions burning issues such as pressure on school kids, pampered Singaporeans and foreign talent in his latest film, I Not Stupid.
Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Top Stories
Singapore Banks Overstaffed, Needing Reform: Analysts
Singapore banks have too many workers and must either expand their services or cut more jobs, said a survey released today.
News
What Lies Behind The Tudung Debate?
Religion is not the only issue; for some in the Muslim community, it is the assertion of political stature.
New Push To Strengthen Racial Ties
'Confidence circles' will bring together religious and community leaders to help build trust, understanding among races.
Monday, January 28, 2002
Top Stories
Malaysia, Singapore Ties Not Affected By Water Talks: Mahathir
Malaysia's bilateral relations with Singapore will not be affected by the current failure to reach a water supply agreement.
News
Feedback Open To All Overseas Singaporeans
Open Bidding For All COEs From April
Chee Involves Singapore Media In Defamation Fight
Dr Chee Soon Juan has applied to the High Court to make media companies SPH and MediaCorp third parties in his ongoing legal tussle.
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Top Stories
Suspected Terrorists Deserve An Open Trial
Pressing to bring them to court may not be popular. But it will certainly be right.
No Plans To Clamp Down On Fateha.com: Abdullah
Even in a homogenous society, there can never be a 100 percent consensus, let alone a multi-racial, multi-religious one.
News
Malaysian Plan Seen As Less Of Threat To Singapore Airport
Analysts said Malaysia's sea port, especially Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor, will now pose a greater threat to SIngapore's ports.
Singapore Still Awaiting Malaysia's Reply On Bilateral Issues: MFA
Singapore asked Malaysia to set out its position on rail service and KTM land issues, so that there would be a clear framework for both sides to meet.
Review Of Medical Quota Welcomed
The Women's Wing of the People's Action Party has welcomed a review of the quota for female medical students here.
Singapore Says 2001 Visitor Arrivals Near Record
The 7.52 million arrivals represented a drop of 2.2 percent over a record 7.69 million visitors in 2000, the STB said.
Fateha Controversy Has Hurt Image Of Muslims In Singapore: MPs
Muslim MPs have said the recent debate about the Fateha group had hurt the image of Islam and Muslims in Singapore.
Technology
Asian IT Sector Recovery To Begin Mid-2002: Analysts
Recovery is still some time away for Asia's information technology sector even as regional economies display signs of a rebound from the US-induced slowdown, industry analysts said.
Entertainment
Sun's Back For A Great Start
Taiwan-based local singing sensation Stefanie Sun is beaming with yet another album and a forthcoming concert here.
Chingay Parade Brings Back Nostalgic Events
This year's Chingay Parade, in its 30th anniversary, will bring back familiar images of past parades.
Friday, January 25, 2002
News
Fateha Leader Quits
Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff will resign as its chief executive officer as he does not want the controversy surrounding him to hurt the organisation.
Singapore Private Home Prices Fall 11.7% In 2001
The drop in the URA residential price index was the second straight year of falls in home prices.
Thursday, January 24, 2002
Top Stories
Singapore Finds "Clear Link" Between Local Group And Al-Qaeda
The new evidence was a video tape found in a secret compartment in the home of Mohamed Khalim bin Jaffar.
News
WTC Tenants See Red Over Rent Hike
Disabled Get Free Taxi Rides Under New Scheme
CityCab taxi drivers volunteer their time while fares are paid by Michelin.
21 Nabbed While Waiting Near ERP Gantries
An illegal attempt to save money turned out to be an expensive mistake for motorists trying to avoid ERP charges.
Monday, January 21, 2002
Top Stories
Singapore Refutes Allegations Of Discrimination
Singapore has dismissed claims that the emergence of a militant group in the Republic could be due to alleged discrimination against Malays and other Muslims.
News
Sunday, January 20, 2002
Top Stories
Govermnent's Comments Red Herrings, Says Fateha Chief
Muslim group head says leaders' response ducks issues of concern, such as Singapore's ties with the US and the hijab question.
News
Government Should Built MRT Station In Balestier
The traffic and the nature of the neighbourhood would justify an MRT station.
Singapore Warns On Racial Divide After Arrests
Leaders in Singapore joined in a chorus over the weekend to warn against a possible ethnic divide following arrests of more than a dozen terrorist suspects linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
HDB Flats Not Too Steep, Says Mah
It is unfair to compare prices of high-end new Housing Board flats with low-end condominiums and conclude that HDB flats are too expensive.
SBA To Register Fateha As A Political Website
"It's not just the right of people to express themselves, but it's the right of Singaporeans to know who are these people who are expressing themselves."
Singapore's 2001 Jobless Rate May Be Above 4.5%: Manpower Minister
Singaporeans must be prepared for a worsening unemployment situation as there are no strong indications that the job market is on the upswing.
Common Ground
Arrests of suspected Al Qaeda-linked terrorists may offer an opportunity to enhance national unity between Malays and ethnic Chinese.
Entertainment
It's About Time Everyone Wins
Forget about wanting to be a Millionaire, Mr Robert Chua's new TV game show could make numerous Singaporeans rich.
Saturday, January 19, 2002
Top Stories
Consider If Housing Board Is Still Relevant
After four decades as Singapore's largest housing provider, the HDB now faces falling demand. Has it lost touch with the market? Should the private sector play a bigger role? Is it time to re-invent the HDB?
Ministry To Relook Quota For Women Doctors
Review comes after more than two decades of capping proportion of women medical students at one-third of intake.
News
Singapore Leaders Criticise Fateha Leader For 'Poisonous' Remarks
Malaysia Eyes Elimination Of Passports For Singaporeans, Thais
Travellers to Malaysia will be able to use a traveller's card or their identification card to get into the country to simplify customs and immigration procedures at border checkpoints.
Most Employers Won't Cut Jobs In Next 12 Months: Survey
Chee Will Not Get Littlemore As QC
Justice Lai turns down application, saying the lawyer had earlier shown contempt for Singapore courts.
Entertainment
Have Lunch At Orchard - And Still Feel No Pain
We all know there's no such thing as a free lunch, but at Cafe de Amigo, you can get reasonably close.
The French Taste Of Little India
Three Singapore restaurants offering culinary masterpieces at affordable prices.
Just TOo Busy To Be Blue
Blazing a trail for Singapore, the Universal Blues Band will compete in Memphis and jam at blues legend Buddy Guy's club in Chicago.
Friday, January 18, 2002
Top Stories
Singapore's ISD Arrests Not Due To US Tip-Off
The arrests were not based on a videotape of Yishun MRT station found in Afghanistan, nor on information from any foreign source.
News
Singapore Businesses Optimistic Of Recovery In 12-24 Months: Survey
Government 'Insensitive' For Supporting US Attacks In Afghanistan: Fateha Group
A Muslim society in Singapore has alleged that the government has not taken the sensitivities of the Muslim community into consideration when supporting American attacks in Afghanistan.
Technology
Thursday, January 17, 2002
Top Stories
Fewer Companies Join List Of Money-Makers
Just 3.5% more firms in the S1000 turned in a profit and only 403 of the SME 500 firms were in the black last year.
News
UOB Had To Lay Off Staff Before Merger
UOB chief Wee Cho Yaw responded to the MP in a personal letter.
Singapore Park Permits Graffiti
This famously tidy city-state now has a place where rouge painters can spray away.
Upbeat Bookings For Chinese New Year Travel Surprise Agents
It looks like the fear of flying is fading.
Wednesday, January 16, 2002
News
Government Action To Boost Growth 'By 1.3 Points'
MAS says $13.5b worth of additional government spending and tax cuts will add one point.
Technology
New iMac Models To Hit Singapore Stores In Stages
Apple is releasing them in stages and only the high-end 800 MHz version will be available this month. It will cost S$3,388.
Stars Of The Show
Apple's new flat 15.1-inch LCD panel iMac, running on a G4 800 MHz chip with SuperDrive, will be available here at the end of this month at an estimated price of $3,388, said its Singapore office.
Tuesday, January 15, 2002
Top Stories
Get The Business Going At HDB Homes
Allow more businesses to use HDB flats as home offices, giving entrepreneurial spirit a fillip.
News
Singapore's No Less Safe Today: Envoy
US Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin said this yesterday when he spoke about the recent arrests here.
Most CPF Investors Lost Money On Shares
Six in 10 faced losses totalling $594.4m last year, but over a third who invested CPF savings made almost $230m profit.
Technology
Entertainment
Chef Makes 1 Sushi In 3 Secs
Sasanuma Mitsuyoshi may have flying fingers when it comes to making sushi. But he doesn't lift a finger in his kitchen at home.
Monday, January 14, 2002
Top Stories
Plan For Government Doctoers To Work In Private Clinics On Hold
Delays in licence applications, economic crisis force SingHealth, Parkway to rethink revolutionary project.
Singapore Stunned As Ordinary Men Are Tied To Terror
The shocking thing for people here is that the men who were apparently plotting a terrorist attack against them were fellow Singaporeans.
News
Singapore Sleepers
With intelligence from Afghanistan, the island state uncovers an alleged terrorist plot.
Chee Soon Juan's Hearing Adjourned To Next Week
This is for Dr Chee to apply to the High Court to admit a Queen's Counsel.
Sunday, January 13, 2002
Top Stories
More Turning TO Iron Rice Bowl For Work...
Applicants for public-sector openings swelled last year, with teaching and police force among the top draws.
News
Fears Over Singapore's Racial Harmony
Some analysts think the incident could revive debate on allowing ethnic Muslim Malays into the armed forces.
More Than S$13m A Year Lost To Fare Cheats
White Paper May Be Put Up On Arrests Of 15 Under ISA
A more comprehensive account of last month's arrest will be made public and debated in Parliament.
HDB Or Condo?
With falls in prices of condo units, the ultimate dream is within reach of heartlanders who want to upgrade.
Pentagon 'Pleased' With Singapore's Response
U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said officials here were 'very pleased' with Singapore's response to reported plots against U.S. military personnel in the region.
Singapore Says Terror Ring Planned Attacks On Americans
Group broken up last month had Al Qaeda training, officials allege.
Suspects In Singapore Are Linked To Al Qaeda And Plans For Anti-U.S. Attacks
United States Embassy in Singapore said it was confident of the government's ability to protect American citizens and interests there.
Singapore Fears More Terrorist Cells Are At Work
Singapore's prime minister said Saturday more al-Qaida linked terrorists may be at large.
Saturday, January 12, 2002
News
Arrests Should Not Upset Multi-Racial, Multi-Religious Ties: PM Goh
The group's behaviour has nothing to do with Islam or the Muslim community in Singapore.
Singapore Leaders Slam Acts Of Terror Plotters
Singapore government and religious leaders on Saturday condemned the acts of the 13 men now under arrest.
Afghan Tape Helped Lead To Singapore Terror Cell
Bicycle explosives shown in videotape.
Singapore Details Plot Of Al Qaeda
It was the first time a government has revealed that evidence found in Afghanistan has been used to thwart terrorism.
Technology
Incoming Calls May Soon Be Free
Infocomm Development Authority getting feedback on system in which cell-phone users pay only when calls are made.
Entertainment
Let's Get Fresh
With choices aplenty at seafood specialist shops and farms here, all one needs is recipes to tuck in.
Can This Be Called Art?
M-Spaces is an exhibition that highlights the diversity of spaces in Singapore — physically, socially and culturally.
Friday, January 11, 2002
Top Stories
Terrorists Target Diplomatic, Commercial And Military Areas In Singapore
One plan was to take place in housing estate Yishun - targeting a regular shuttle service carrying American personnel between Sembawang Wharf and Yishun MRT station.
Two-Year Detention For 13 People Arrested For Terorist Activites
Thirteen of the 15 people arrested by Singapore's Internal Security Department for terorist-related activities will be detained for two years under the Internal Security Act.
News
MediaCorp Lays Off 200 Workers, Announces Pay Cuts
MediaCorp laid off some 200 employees or 7 percent of its staff, and announced pay cuts for the remaining staff.
Home Video Found In Afghanistan Targets Singapore For Attack
The video shows surveillance of Yishun MRT station and the bus services which shuttle American personnel to Sembawang Wharf.
Thursday, January 10, 2002
Top Stories
New Ticket To Ride From March
Just a tap of contactless smart card will get you on and off the bus or train more quickly, and no need to figure out the fare.
News
Couple Got Tired Of Waiting For New Flat
Falling prices of resale units also prompted some to quit the HDB queue.
SIA Trying To Avoid First-Ever Loss: Chairman
The sector's return to health hinged on winning back travellers' confidence.
Wednesday, January 9, 2002
News
Flat Unsold, So More Choice For Buyers
Big selection exercise will give all in the HDB queue their pick of 17,500 flats in new towns as government acts to boost demand.
Singapore Changi Airport To Impose Security Tax
Pssengers will soon have to pay a security tax to help cover the cost of tighter security.
Bus Stop Flyers An Expensive Headache For LTA
The LTA has said it is spending some S$200,000 a year to remove notices and flyers put up indiscriminately at Singapore's bus stopes, and the problem has got worse with economic slowdown.
Contractors Welcome HDB's Decision On New Flats
The Singapore Contractors Association has welcomed the HDB's decision to build new flats only when sufficient bookings for the flats are received.
Technology
Entertainment
MediaCorp To Shut Down City TV Channel
MediaCorp TV will be shutting down its City TV channel after the close of this Friday's transmission.
No Chingay Preview This Year
Organisers have scrapped the usual parade preview to focus on making one big bang.
Tuesday, January 8, 2002
Top Stories
Hot Spring Next For Conservation?
Visitors to Sembawang's hot spring, possibly the last on the mainland, want it preserved.
News
Monday, January 7, 2002
Top Stories
Door Is Not Closed On School-Selection Issue
MOE studying whether the timing of exercise can be changed without compromising the accuracy and fairness of the system.
News
Minister Warns Job Losses Could Hit 1986 Levels
As of September 2001, there were about three job seekers for every job opening.
Sunday, January 6, 2002
News
Policy On Muslims In SAF Won't Change: DPM Tan
Singapore will not practise idscrimination and abandon the principle of meritocracy.
Sengkang New Town To Get Three New Major Roads By Next Year
Sengkang's transport problems started in the mid-90s when its roads and commuting facilities did not keep up with the number of people moving in.
Don't Panic, Terror Network Has Been Disrupted: Singapore Government
All measures that can be reasonably taken to defend ourselves against terrorist threats have been taken.
Saturday, January 5, 2002
Top Stories
ISD Arrests 15 For Involvement In Terrorism-Related Activities
A statement from Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry said the arrests were made between December 9 and 24 last year. Also, the government would be making a full statement when the investigations are completed.
News
Retrenchments Are Not Just Compensation Cheques - NTUC
The NTUC has called on employers to pay particular attention to the psychological well-being of those who are retrenched as well as those who remain.
Friday, January 4, 2002
Top Stories
Singaporeans Less Gloomy About Economy
Survey shows rising level of confidence, with more people than before expressing optimism about keeping their jobs.
News
Squeaky-Clean Singapore Hurt By Bunker Scandals
Singapore To See More Lighted Ads Soon
Advertisers are clambering to rent wall space from building owners barely a month since the authorities relaxed the rules.
Club Memberships At 3-Year Low
The year-end bonus season seems to have done little to boost demand for golf club memberships.
More Applying To Become Teachers
To cope with the overwhelming response, the ministry has started a supplementary intake of trainee teachers.
UOB-Style Layoffs Not The Way, Says Halimah
Companies should take a humane approach when retrenching staff because poorly-handled layoffs may backfire on the organisation, said NTUC assistant secretary-general Halimah Yacob.
Retrenched Local Band Staff Getting Poor Deal
When it comes to job assessment and performance appraisal, local banks try to adopt more comprehensive and stringent measures. But when it comes to severance packages, they invariably give a poorer deal.
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Top Stories
A Stormy Ride For Singapore
Singpaore has been hit hard in the global recession.
Lecturers Broke Law In Producing JBJ Film
A documentary about opposition politician J.B. Jeyaretnam made by three polytechnic lecturers could have broken a little-known law banning political films here.
News
Seeking A New Path
For Singaproeans, 2001 could best be summed up as the year of living dangerously.
Singapore Tourist Arrivals Fall In Nov On Terrorism, Recession
Singapore visitor arrivals dived 14.7 percent in November from a year earlier.
Fewer Companies Hired Executives In December: Survey
The information technology sector suffered the worst contraction — some 88 percent.
Wednesday, January 2, 2002
Top Stories
Singapore Economy Ranks Worst In Asia
Recession has hit particularly quickly and hard.
Tuesday, January 1, 2002
Top Stories
Jobs Issue Will Continue To Take Centrestage On Political Scene
Government will have its work cut out trying to manage changing times, expectations.
News
Bubbly Flows Less Readily This New Year As Drinkers Tighten Belts
Distributors and retailers said that overall consumption has taken a considerable nosedive.
New Year, New Name For Westin
The twin Westin hotels change names at the stroke of midnight, marking their return to Raffles International group.
Singaporeans Turn To Civil Service For Jobs As Downturn Bites
This time, it is the Defence and Home Affairs ministries which hsave seen a significant jump in applicants.
SMRT Will Ensure Service Levels Do Meet Demand
SMRT will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that service levels are adequate to meet demand.