Tuesday, January 31, 2006
News
Singapore Sends Note To KL, Seeks Clarification On Bridge Reports
Singapore's Foreign Ministry spokesman says the Republic's doing this before deciding on its response.
'Singapore Aware Of Reasons For Bridge'
Singapore is well aware why Malaysia wants to go ahead with the construction of a bridge across its half of the Johor Strait, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He said the bridge was part of the Federal and Johor governments' plans to develop the state as a "mega hub" by 2008.
Opinion
Sunday, January 29, 2006
News
Kuan Yew's Era Looks Set To Continue
PSA's Bid For P&O A Sound Business Decision: PM Lee
He admits the tussle for P&O with Dubai Ports World will not be easy, but Mr Lee says PSA has to seize the opportunities.
Opinion
PAP Government Promotes Self-Reliance
Instead of handouts that encourage a dependency mentality, the government extends a hand up by helping the lower income take charge of their lives and mvoe ahead through their own efforts.
Friday, January 27, 2006
News
DPP Won't Contest Joo Chiat, East Coast GRC
Large Charities Urged To Reveal Top Wages In Bands
Opposition SDA Joins In Debate Over WP's Manifesto
The Singapore Democratic Alliance urged the public not to be swayed by criticisms levelled by the People's Action Party at the manifesto, saying this is an election tactic.
Malaysia Plans 'Crooked' Bridge
One Malaysian politician told the Star newspaper that the shape of the bridge would be a reflection of relations between the two countries. Singaporean sources told the BBC that this statement implies the Singaporeans are straight while the Malaysians are crooked.
'Yes, Bridge Will Be Built'
Yes, the Johor Strait bridge will be built. Both Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Works Mnister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu confirmed this today.
Move Lauded But Call For Talks To Go On
Malaysia's decision to start work on the new Causeway bridge was generally welcomed by the public today, but there were also calls for the government to continue discussions with Singapore on the project.
Green Light For Scenic Bridge
Malaysia will proceed to build a bridge across its half of the Johor Strait, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The Deputy Prime Minister said that while construction of the bridge costing RM2bil was going on, negotiations to get Singapore to complete the project would continue.
Malaysia To Go Ahead With Half-Bridge
In response to media queries, a spokesman from the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Republic was surprised by the New Straits Times report, since "there is an ongoing progress in place, agreed to by Singapore and Malaysia, to discus the bridge and other bilateral issues. Singapore will seek clarification from the Malaysia authorities on this matter."
Mahathir Happy 22-Year Wait For Bridge Is Over
"I have waited 22 years, and we still have not gotten the permission to even raise (the price of raw water sold to Singapore) from 3 sen to 4 sen. So if you want to wait, you can wait until kingdom come."
WP Chairman Lim Is Playing By The Book
"I feel it's rather strange that the ruling party is trying to tell us how to write our manifesto. If you don't agree with us on the issues, the you come out with your own manifesto! Being the Opposition, we don't expect them to agree with us, and neither should they presume that we should share their views."
NKF Shortlisting At Least 4 Firms To Seek Legal Recourse
The new NKF board has shortlisted at least four legal firms to help it seek legal recourse against the organisation's former CEO and chairman.
Opinion
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Opinion
No Slur On Comunity Leaders, Says WP
For Singapore to thrive as a country and for us to build a vibrant society, it is time that the spirit of serving and sacrifice be liberated from political control.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
News
What Are Singaproe's Telecom Ambitions?
Most analysts said that the Shin/AIS acquisition was made primarily because AIS is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Thailand and offers potential for continued growth.
Are The 'Brains' Unwilling To Face Defeat?
The far of losing seems to be keeping some elite schools from playing ball — football, to be precise.
Shin Deal 'A Threat To Security'
What worries academics and political observers most is the sale to foreigners of radio frequencies and satellite broadcasting, which are national assets.
To Battle, Once More
Lee Kuan Yew confirms he will contest upcoming election, but hints it may be his last.
Opinion
How To Attack An Minifesto: A Short Primer
First. You have to control the media.
Entertainment
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
News
Singapore Press: No Plans to Sell AIS To SingTel - Temasek
Singapore, The New Student Destination?
India may not be open to the idea of allowing the Indian Institute Management, Bangalore, to open shop in Singapore, but Singapore' educational institutions are drawing Indian students in droves.
Revise Manifesto? WP Chief Says No Again
He issues point-by-point rebuttal, calls on PAP to release manifesto.
Monday, January 23, 2006
News
Thai PM's Family Sells Shin Stake
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family sold their controlling stake in Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings for $1.87 billion in the country's biggest foreign buyout. The deal would give Temasek a foothold in the lucrative Thai mobile phone market, while enabling Thaksin to dodge conflict of interest concerns that have dogged him in recent months.
Indonesian Maid Climbs Out Kitchen Window
An Indonesian maid who was accidentaly locked in her employer's kitchen made a harrowing escape out the window rather than waking the sleeping young boy in her charge, news reports said on Monday.
Temasek Says Not Selling Singapore Assets For Overseas Growth
"We're slowly adjusting our portfolio; not by selling Singapore assets but by investing overseas to rebalance," Temasek Chairman Suppiah Dhanabalan said in an interview in Singapore yesterday.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
News
Pushing For Return Of Dialects
Police Overreacted To White Elephant T-Shirt Incident: DPM Wong
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Saturday apologised for the way the police overreacted to a group of school girls' plan to sell and wear white elephant T-shirts at the opening of Buangkok Station.
Opinion
Saturday, January 21, 2006
News
The Economist Apologizes To Lee Kuan yew; Agrees To Pay Damages
The Economist apologized to Lee for statements attributed to him in an obituary on Devan Nair, Singapore's third president who died in Canada last month.
Elections Likely In Singapore On March 25 - Paper
Singapore's pro-government Straits Times newspaper said on Saturday the city-state could hold a general election as early as March 25 after the government releases its annual budget in mid-February.
Three New Public Gardens For Marina Bay Waterfront
Three gardens are envisioned, taking up 94ha, about twice the size of the Botanic Gardens and half that of East Coast Park.
Thai Avoids Caning Due To New Sex
A prostitute who has had a sex change has escaped caning for drug dealing in Singapore after a doctor confirmed her new gender, the Straits Times reports.
Singapore Official: What Flag-Burning?
The Singapore government does not hold a grudge against Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who burned Singaporean flag in 1995 to protest the execution of Filipina maid Flor Contemplacion. Singapore Tourism Board deputy chair and chief executive Lim Neo Chian told reporters the flag-burning incident is "a thing of the past."
Opinion
Excuse Me, Do We Wear A Tudong? Why Ask This Question?
Does being a Muslim and wearing a tudong automatically disqualify me from being employed?
He Doesn't Qualify As Overseas Elector
Why is it that only Singaporeans who work for/or are training with government or international organisations qualify?
Sale Of 'Elephant' T-Shirts: Students Were Not Warned
We regret that the impression may have been formed that the students were warned. This was not the case, and we hope that they will continue to play their part as active citizens.
Entertainment
Singapore Back In FA Cup
The nostalgic moments of Singapore's performances in the Malaysian league are expected to be revived with the participation of their Under-23 squad in the FA Cup.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Ramblings
It seems that the new Budget Terminal over at Changi Airport has attracted only one customer so far: Tiger Airways. This can imply two things: either the "main" terminals are already offering extremely competitive pricing, or the Budget Terminal is too expensive.
Oh, and you know what, I kinda like the naming of the Budget Terminal. It sets more accurate expectations than "fancy" names such as Lee Kuan Yew Terminal or Terminal B. You don't want visitors getting the idea that this represents what Changi Airport has to offer. "It's budget terminal, guys."
News
Singapore Organization To Take Over Thai Telecom Giant
The chief executive of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, Ho Ching, is to appear at a news conference next Monday to announce the takeover of Shin Corp Plc, the telecom giant founded by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to a telecom industry source.
Singapore's Kidney Patients Should Consider Kidney Transplant If Possible: Health Experts
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan's signal on Tuesday for a rethink of Singapore's default dialysis prescription for patients with kidney failure made a nation used to a proliferation of dialysis centres sit up and wonder: Why did it take so long?
Singapore Figures May Lead To Trade Probe
The government should investigate the possible under-invoicing and smuggling of goods from Singapore, as that country's latest trade statistics reveal a large discrepancy in its exports to Indonesia compared to the Indonesian data, an association official says.
Is Singapore Quake-Proof?
Experts call for study to assess how the island will cope in event of an earthquake.
Opinion
What If Drugs Are Hidden On Singapore Cars?
Why VIPs To Tekong Get 'Special Treatment'
BMTC does normally facilitate the entry and exit from Tekong of persons holding national office to ensure their security and also as a basic courtesy and respect for their appointment.
Managing Political Dissent
What the Singapore government has been doing quietly is to develop a strategy by which it can simultaneously achieve two objectives that appear to contradict each other: on the one hand, reassuring the electorate through a generous slew of opening-up measures; and on the other, making sure that nothing has changed.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Ramblings
DBS Bank: Standard processing fees are chargeable for the cheque-return transactions that were carried out... In line with industry practice, service charges are levied on the retrieval of old documents... Such fees are not unique to DBS and they are chargeable by all banks in Singapore.
My read: Since everyone is charging such a high amount, we can charge too. It doesn't matter if the actual cost to us is much lower. It doesn't matter that we can decrease the cost to us by automation and better business processes. We can charge you such a high cost since everyone is doing it, and you have no choice.
News
Surprise Switch: Sats' Rival Bags A Tiger
SIA-backed Tiger Airways ditches sister firm Sats, inks deal with Swissport.
Warwick To Teach Course In Singapore After All
But still no campus, as British varsity joins hands with SIMTech, SIM in 3-way tie-up.
Opinion
Elephants Saga Contrary To Goal Of Open Society
If You Choose To Leave, Pay The Price
In our ongoing quest for talented Singaporeans, are we so focused on "talent" that we have forgotten about "Singaporean"?
My Wish For Budget 2006
We need to have an attractive scheme that will encourage people to save for retirement.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
News
Indonesia To Keep LCCs Ban; No Singapore Move On Garuda
Singapore's Free Speech Policy Criticized
The Buangkok episode would appear to bolster claims by critics that Singaore still has far to go to achieve an open society that tolerates differing views.
Singapore To Lift Two-Year Ban On U.S. Beef Imports
Disclosure Discomfort
Was Kwek's CDLnot prepared to reveal all, or they did withdraw from casino race due to changed bidding rules?
Opinion
Raising Penalties For Evading NS May Be Too Smplistic A Response
Let Those Who Intend To Emigrate Opt Out Of NS
Open Budget Terminal To All Airlines
Singaproe's Budget Terminal may have come a little late, when the brouhaha of budget travel is past the apex of the trend curve.
Entertainment
Mixed Singapore Spice
If you can only visit one country in Asia, Singapore is probably the best place to get a taste of the whole of that vast, diverse continent.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
News
Singapore Ready To Cane World ban/IMF Protestors
Singapore's government said it is prepared to cane or imprison protesters who commit violent crimes during the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings, to be held in the city-state in September.
Singapore Overtakes HK As Busiest Container Port
Singapore has benefited from increased shipments from other South-East Asian nations that go through the city state before reaching their final destinations.
CityDev Withdraws From Sands' Singapore Casino
Johor Crme Rate Increases By 4.9%
The statistics came at a time when the state's crime rate was being closely scrutinised because of a drop in the number of tourist arivals, especially from Singapore.
Terrorist Attack May Strain Racial Ties, Says Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said race relations would come under strain if there is a terrorist attack in the city-state, local media reported yesterday.
Singapore Seeing More Start-Ups
An increasing number of people are taking the plunge and starting their own businesses.
Opinion
Govt Cannot Claim That It Was "Misled" In NKF Scandal
Terror Drill Kept Under Wraps To Evoke Realism
In order to evoke a sense of realism, it was necessary that commuters were not informed of the specific date, time, and locations of the exercise.
Monday, January 16, 2006
News
Government To Impose Stiffer Penalties For NS Defaulters
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean told parliament on Monday that the fine would be doubled to S$10,000. The maximum jail sentence of 3 years will not go up, but the Defence Ministry will now push for a jail term for defaulters in serious cases.
More Traffic Also To Blame For Jams At Land Checkpoints
Police Have Fair And Transparent System For Allocating Rally Sites: DPM Wong
Wong Kan Seng said the procedure was on a first come, first served basis.
Could Worker's Party Throw Hat Into PM's Ring?
WP chief Low Thia Khiang has identified Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC) as one of the wards it is targeting to stand in for the coming election, which it will campaign on the theme, "You have a choice."
Opinion
Saturday, January 14, 2006
News
Friday, January 13, 2006
News
Singapore Lawyers To Review Death Penalty
Singapore's Law Society said Friday it planned to review the country's controversial use of the death penalty and make recommendations to the government.
Sorors Criticizes Singapore's Lack Of Political Freedom
U.S. billionaire financier and philanthropist George Sorors on Wednesday criticized Singapore government leaders for using libel lawsuits to crush opposition politicians.
Opinion
Thursday, January 12, 2006
News
Community Chest For Patients?
Group suggests setting up an integrated medical services fund as "safety net' for poor.
Opinion
Day I Witnessed PM And Wife's Humility
Guest Of Honor Sorry For Being Late, Tells Why
It is unfortunate that my mistake caused much inconvenience to Dr Chia and all the guests that night. I will ensure that this will not happen again.
Landed
As a frequent customer of the national airline, I'm a bit appalled at how low the standards have fallen.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
News
DJ Indonesia Says Sinapore Cooperation Key In Graft Battle
"I don't want to criticize other countries, but we've been trying to have an extradition agreement with Singapore, but it's not an easy job."
Opinion
Later Start To School Day Ensures Pupils Get Enough Rest
Why is there a necessity to start school at 7.10am?
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
News
Single Intake For Junior Colleges, Centralized Institutes From 2009
The Education Ministry said this was possible as the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board would be taking greater control of the GCE 'O' Level examination from this year.
Opinion
Reveal Date, Locations Of Emergency Drill
Is withholding information on the timing and locations — to make the drill more realistic — helpful?
Monday, January 9, 2006
News
Singapore Completes Budget Air Terminal At Changi Airport
Singapore has completed construction of a dedicated terminal at Changi Airport to serve the booming low-cost airline sector, officials said Monday.
Opinion
It's Not Easy To Whistle In The Dark
Whistleblowers here may not come forward if there is no legislative protection.
Sunday, January 8, 2006
News
Why Can't We See PSLE Papers?
More parents are asking that the Ministry of Education to release PSLE question papers once the exams are over.
Singapore Holds Terror Attack Response Drill
The drill started at 6.25 am.
Saturday, January 7, 2006
News
Blitz On Motorists
South Johor Baru traffic police collected compounds totalling RM41,510 from Singaporean motorists on the first day of the New Year in an operation launched on Sunday afternoon.
Many Don't Want To Take Part In Big Health Study
Among reasons for Singaporeans' reluctance is fear that their details will be leaked.
Friday, January 6, 2006
News
NTU Hostelites Stay Put To Protest Fee Hike
Tried Twice For The Same Crime?
Has a long-practised procedure of the Court of Appeals violated the Singapore Constitution?
Opinion
Singapore: Learning In The Lion's Den
Singapore is well known for its shortcomings in human rights, freedom of speech and democracy. It's also well known for creating a stable, safe and prosperous multi-racial society. Maybe it's time for students of human development to take a closer look.
Thursday, January 5, 2006
News
Opinion
Service Please, Town Council
The Town Councils should be more pro-active in maintaining the areas, instead of growing their sinking fund and only announcing multi-million dollar projects when elections are around the corner.
Brave New Singapore
Amid its pristine spires, economic prosperity, efficient subway and infrastructure, and the almost perfect cleanliness and crime-free environment of Singapore lurks an eerie fiend: slavish oppression.
Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Opinion
Is It An ERP Gantry Point Or A Toll Trap?
I am disturbed by the fact that when a new system is introduced, instead of having an efficient system to serve the public, it is the public that has to adjust its actions and behaviors to suit the system.
Be A Whistle-Blower? Not When So Much Is At Stake
Those who blew the whistle on the NKF learnt their lessons the hard way and at a high cost to themselves. Would they do it again? I wonder.
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
News
We All Have A Lot To Learn
Singapore's students do brilliantly in math and science tests. American kids test much worse but do better in the real world. Why?
Singapore Swing: Casino's Not Worth The Gamble
The expected returns were insufficient to justify the higher capital costs.
Elections Department To Revise Registers Of Electors By Feb 28
Johor Baru Auto Accessory Shops Drawing Singaporeans
On long weekends, Singaporeans stream across the Causeway to here for their grocery shopping but many car owners are also making a beelne to auto accessory shops.
Opinion
Entertainment
Ch 5 Winners & Lowers 2005
Tiramisu episode breaks record for lowest prime time ratings.
Monday, January 2, 2006
News
Singlish Spoken Here
Centuries of trade and crossing cultures make this city-state percolate.
Opinion
Let's Not Regress To A Tipping Culture
Is It Time For Another Holiday Yet?
The City At Night
The best time to walk Orchard Road, really, is after midnight.
Sunday, January 1, 2006
News
Costly To Speak Ill Of The Rich And Powerful
The National Kidney Foundation scandal raised a question whether the republic's defamation law is protecting wrongdoings by the rich and powerful from being discovered.
Chatterbox's Retrenched Chicken Rice Chef To Be His Own Boss
$20,000 payout will help fulfil dream of opening his own stall; and he will charge just $5 for a set.
Opinion
Singapore Cure
Singapore has strict laws with severe punishments for even minor transgressions... Yes, it's a simplistic argument, but there's no denying the fact that the Singapore system works.
