SingaporeSurf

PM: Singapore's Approach May Strain Relations
by Sa'odah Elias, The Star
The approach taken by Singapore in dealing with several bilateral issues with Malaysia has never helped to preserve good relations between the two countries, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

'Maps Will Show Island Is Ours'
by Shahrum Sayuthi, New Straits Times
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said other maps which would support the country's claim for the island were those issued since 1926 by the State Government, the then Federated Malay States, the Federal Government and the Indian Government.

Malaysian Boats Near Atoll 'Should Not Alarm Singapore'
by The Star
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the presence of the boats should also not be interpreted by Singapore as an act of provocation or aggression.

Has Singapore Art Really Arrived?
by Tan Shzr Ee, Straits Times
Singapore artistes have been offering a 'new voice' with their shows overseas this year. But does its own export 'brand' exist?

Police Ban Tax Protest In Singapore
by Reuters
Police in strictly controlled Singapore on Sunday refused to allow a protest march by a veteran opposition politician who is challenging the government's plans for a one percentage point hike in its goods and services tax.

Claims To Go Before ICJ Soon
by Zulkifli Abd Rahman, The Star
The overlapping claims over Pulau Batu Putih between Malaysia and Singapore is expected to be brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) very soon, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

'Media Has Right To Report Issue'
by Badrolhisham Bidin, MM Focus
There was nothing wrong for the local media to report on the matter as ìwe are just writing on our rights, not to hear Singaporeís arguments onlyî.

StarHub Offers Home Phone Lines
by Natalie Soh, Straits Times
Residential phone users now have a choice of operators with StarHub's new service and end of SingTel's monopoly.

Malaysia Has Strategy To Get Batu Puteh, Says Najib
by Bernama
Malaysia has its plans and strategy to gain sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh when its territorial dispute with Singapore over the island is brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Wednesday.

Malaysia May Protest Singapore Boat Chase
by AFP
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday that Malaysia may lodge a diplomatic protest after neighbouring Singapore chased its marine police boat away from a disputed tiny island.

Singapore Keeps Atoll Off Limits
by Zuhrin Azam Ahmad, The Star
A group of reporters who chartered a boat to get a closer look at Pulau Batu Putih said they felt an ìintense presenceî of Singaporeís authorities in the waters surrounding the island.

Singapore Says World Court Should Rule On Disputed Island
by Reuters
The fate of a rocky island at the heart of a festering territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia should be decided by the World Court, the Singapore government said.

Mahathir Chides Singapore Over Pedra Branca
by Straits Times
Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has criticised Singapore over the Pedra Branca issue and this was followed by a protest at the Singapore High Commission by about 50 National Front Youth members who pressed demands for the removal of Singapore personnel from the island.

Singapore Inflation On The Up
by BBC News
Prices have risen in Singapore for the first time in five months, in a welcome sign that the island state could avert the threat of deflation.

Malaysia Turns To Dispute With Singapore Over Tiny Island
by Associated Press
Heartened by a recent World Court decision awarding Malaysia two tiny islands also claimed by Indonesia, the government will now try to win a territorial tussle with neighbouring Singapore, Malaysia's deputy leader said yesterday.

Government Office Space Glut Puts Heat On Rent Market
by Straits Times
Office space rentals in private sector are already at a 10-year low, with slow demand and stiff competition, say analysts.

Singapore Post/SingTel: Seeking Postal Rate Hikes
by Dow Jones
SingPost is talking to the regulator about raising domestic postal rates for the first time since 1995 in light of the planned hike in goods and services tax,

Consumers Loosen Their Purse Strings
by Ginnie Teo, Straits Times
However, retailers said this may just be festive year-end buys or purchases made ahead of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike. They were not confident the momentum would be sustained.

That Divide: Same Debate, Same Answer
by Lee Hui Chieh, Straits Times
Estrangement? Let polls speak for the people. That's still PAP's stand, same as in 1994 when the Great Affective Divide issue was first raised.

Why Laud Only The Ones Who Finished?
by Tan Chor Hoong, Straits Times
I have a lot of respect for the spirit of all the pariticpants, regardless of whether or not they crossed the finish line.

Record Number Of Grads Cannot Find Jobs
by Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
Degree holders, both old and new, have it tough. A good many of them are out of work and very few of them are finding new jobs.

Bus Card-Reader System Baffles Some Ez-Link Commuters
by Channel NewsAsia
The problem is because the readers would only read the card when the bus reaches a stop and the doors open. It is part of a new Vehicle Location System being tested on 200 SBS Transit buses.

Singapore Telecoms Unfazed By StarHub Move To Fixed Lines
by Sai man, Dow Jones
StarHub this month will begin selling residential fixed-line services in Singapore, but the move isn't likely to seriously rattle dominant player Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. given its small scale.

Singapore Not Ready To Sign Southeast Asian Anti-Terror Pact
by Star
Singapore said Wednesday it is not yet ready to join a Southeast Asian anti-terrorism agreement now linking five countries in the region.

Singapore Opposes Howard's Strike Talk
by AAP
Singapore's defence minister joined other South-East Asian leaders in opposing unilateral Australian military action against terrorists in neighbouring countries.

Singapore's Shock Tactics To Deter Teen Sex
by AFP
The 15-year-olds will see colour pictures of people suffering from diseases such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.

Singapore's Lee Is Rapped Over Remark On Radical Groups
by Debbie A. Lubis, Jakarta Post
Indonesian Muslim scholars denied on Sunday the statement by Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew that there were some 100 radical groups in Indonesia aimed at establishing an Islamic superstate in Southeast Asia.

Singaporeans Generally Satisfied With Life
by Audrey Tan, Business Times
But cost-of-living issues get the lowest scores in NUS survey.

Film-Makers In The Spotlight With New Media Board
by Straits Times
It aims to develop the growth potential of film-making here by enhancing financial support and building links overseas.

Tampines Jobless Set Up Stalls At Sunday Market
by Sharmilpal Kaur, Straits Times
It is part of a self-help effort thought up by the area's MP, Ms Irene Ng, who said the germ of the idea for the Tampines Changkat Sunday Market came from what her mother had done.

Singapore Union Sacks Official For Ties To Political Opposition
by Associated Press
One of Singapore's largest unions has dismissed a branch chairman because he refused to cut his ties to an opposition political party.

A Little Chaos Will Give Singapore The Buzz It Needs
by Straits Times
Singapores in Hong Kong suggest 5 Cs — chaos, creativity, culture, concentration, connectivity — to inject life into the 'boring' country.

Singapore Says Will Continue To Halt Land Sales
by Reuters

Singapore Bans Poles From Go-Go Dancing Stage Show
by Associated Press
Censors banned the opening three minute sequence in the show by the ABC Spice Girls, when women in miniskirts and sequined vests shimmy around metal poles like go-go dancers, hours before they took to the stage in front of 5,000 people on Tuesday.

Malaysia States Rules For Talks With Singapore
by The Star
Malaysia wants to see some ìactionî and sincerity from Singapore before it sits down with the island republic to resolve the water issue, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.

A Vision For Singapore
by Electronic Engineering Times
Singapore needs an electronics industry roadmap and a plan to achieve that vision, for the country to be able to compete in the electronics sector.

Singapore Must Be Sincere In Discussions On Water Price
by Bernama
"If you want to talk, you must be sincere, we want to resolve whatever our differences, and our difference now is about the water price."

Fight Continues Over Ancestral Singapore Palace
by New Straits Times
Descendants of Sultan Hussein Mohammad Shah, the 19th century ruler of Johor and Singapore, have launched another bid to regain the rights over their ancestral home -ó Kampung Glam Palace.