MyAppleMenu | Tomorrow | Reader | Singapore
You are here in the archive: SingaporeSurf > 2008 > March
by Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia
by Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
From 1 April, Home Office Scheme approvals granted by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for new applications and renewals will be valid for five years - up from the current three years.
by Land Transport Authority, Singapore Government
(Note: PDF document.)
by Choo Zheng Xi, theonlinecitizen
The PAP's failure to appoint a female full minister is becoming more than an oversight. It is at once a reflection and symptom of its inability to appeal to women.
by Last Commie Stronghold
by Tang Li, Desparatebeep
Leadership is more than just taking credit for the good time.
by Thoughts On Freedom
There is one ideal that unites all those who love liberty, a concept that also unites the free world - the right to speak freely. Freedom of speech is not the right to say anythign to anyone. There are caveats... That said, the act of 'causing offence' is most definitely not an exception. As Orwell wrote over 60 years ago, it is the esence of free speech.
See Also:
Thoughts On "Fitna", by Epistole Online.
Bombard Me With Your Thoughts, by Smile In The Morning.
by Ian On The Red Dot
by Monsters And Critics
Taiwan-based Tibetans on Sunday urged Taiwan's president-elect Ma Ying-jeou not to visit Singapore because the city state has supported China's recent crackdown in Tibet.
After China cracked down on the riots in the Tibetan capital in mid-March, Singapore and Russia were the first countries to issue a statement supporting China's suppression, saying they were legitimate moves to maintain social order.
by Raymond Lo Wan Mou, Today
by WilfridWong.com
When I was young and needed to travel overseas on my own, my dad always made sure that all the new items I carried across the border would have the original packaging removed.
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
By around mid-year, a new service will allow drivers to pay electronic road pricing (ERP) charges when they settle their monthly credit card bill.
by Scott Rochfort, Sydney Morning Herald
Tiger Airways has lost its second chief financial officer in less than two years, amid speculation the Singapore Airlines-backed budget airline is also struggling to retain staff in Australia.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Take heart, Seng-kang-ers and Punggol-ers, you are travelling on a world-class public transport every day to work. According to Sydney Morning Herald, the North East Line is "widely regarded as a world benchmark for the latest in metro rail."
by F1underground
WHat irony then, that at a time when Formula 1 is struggling to reinvent itself as an environmentally responsible sport that the organizers of the Singapore Grand Prix have chosen Earth Hour to debut megawatt using streetlights that will be used to illuminate F1's first night race later this year.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Transport minister Raymond Lim said he has asked LTA to work with the finance ministry to see if certificate of entitlement (COE) and additional registration fee (ARF) rebates can be given in cash when motorists decide to give up their cars.
Of course, the obvious follow up question: what about me, who "gave up" the desire to own a car even before buying the first car? :-)
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Transport minister Raymond Lim said it is premature to say whether Singapore's MRT line will eventually extend into Johor Bahru.
Mr Lim said there is a working group with officials from both sides looking into how best to enhance connectivity between Singapore and Johor. While one of the options is a rail link, Mr Lim said other options are still being discussed.
by Yaw Shin Leong
I recalled that during the elections, the PAP urged Nee Soon East constituents not to vote for WP's Dr Poh Lee Guan. The reason the PAP gave was because Ho Peng Kee had ministerial potential and therefore they cannot afford to lose him.
In view of Shanmugam's promotion, has the PAP leadership changed their assessment about Peng Kee's ministerial potential?
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
The trouble with Singapore is that we too easily see ourselves as a hotel: The guests are treated royally, and all their predilections catered to. The citizens, however, cannot talk about their rights - such talk is immediately cast as a threat to national security - nor demand respect and justice. Instead we're fed a diet of "mission accomplished" stories, telling us we're a paradise.
by Singaporeporfavor
Singapore has done a lot with itself, and, though most know nothing of it, Singapore does have an interesting culture.
by The Tide Chaser
Today, a group of us Semakau guides decided to go Marina East to explore the marshland.
by Unique-Frequency
by Gerald Giam, theonlinecitizen
In the remaining three years of this government's term in power, we can expect more of the same old politics and policies.
by Mercifulrain
This is a group of people who reduce waste by giving and taking goods for free.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Senior minster Goh Chok Tong has described Singapore's political self-renewal system as well-balancd, with very experienced ministers and new ones who have been tried out gradually.
by Marvis Toh and Jamie Ee Wen Wei, Straits Times
Unlike middle-income earners, they have fewer options to cut energy use as they use basic appliances.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
For younger Singaporeans who want political change the defining March 8 general election in Malaysia has come as an encouragement and morale booster.
by Society's Best Kept Secrets
by In Between
by AFP
Singapore Saturday expressed optimism about enhanced economic cooperation with Taiwan as long as issues involving trade are not politicised.
A foreign ministry spokesman said free trade discussion in 2001 were stopped after the government of outgoing president Chen Shui-bian politicised the issue by trying to go beyond World Trade Organisation (WTO) framework.
by Sun Youlian, Liberty Times
by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
THe release of a Dutch film on Islam is regrettable and offensive to Muslims, deputy prime minister and home affairs minister Wong Kan Seng said in a written reply to media queries on the film.
by Mr Wang Says So
The government's best idea for helping Singaporeans cope with inflation is — nothing, really.
by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong has made changes to his cabinet, which sees new ministers appointed for law, education, manpower and five promotions.
by Jinny Koh, Today
From May 1, consumers must bear the cost to produce the Nets CashCard, which is borne currently by the local banks.
by Straits Times
by Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
Despite a push toward greater transparency in the marketplace, Dr Robert Kiltgaard said the process is getting more difficult as financial products become more complex.
by Loh Chee Kong, Today
by Judith Tan, Straits Times
Lack of anonymity cited as main deterrent, but hospital still hopeful.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Are we glad that — based on experiences such as this — we didn't name our brand new Budget Terminal some fancy name like "Lee Kuan Yew Terminal"? :-)
by Sivasothi, Cycling In Singapore
by Mely Caballero-Anthony, RSIS
Southeast Asian officials and analysts have complained about the waning US interest in the region due to the US preference for a bilateral approach to Southeast Asia. This US approach is out of sync with the rapidl changing security environment of the region, which can be redressed by looking at non-traditional security threats.
by Jean Chua and Simeon Bennett, Bloomberg
Temasek Holdings Pte's fund management unit said investors have passed "the point of maximum fear" amid the global credit squeeze and it expects to meet a target of $3 billion in assets by June.
by Ng Baoying, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore will see fewer jobs created this year compared to last year and economists from Nanyang Technological University said this will happen regardless of whether the United States goes into a recession or not.
by Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia
Hailstones were raining down in some parts of Singapore, according to callers to Channel NewsAsia's hotline. They were seen mainly in Bishan, Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio.
by Straits Times
See Also:
Profile: 35, Successful, Single, Lives With Parents, by Cowboy Caleb. In other words, if you can't get hitched by the time you're 35 then you can decrease your chances of finding a mate even further by the fact that you're living with your parents for good.
by Judith Tan, Straits Times
by Brian Koh, Harmless? Bananas!
Waffletown and I have quite a bit of history together. I basically grew up eating Waffletown as a kid, when mom would buy back fried chicken, mashed potatoes and the awesome waffles with ice-cream hom for lunch.
I enjoyed going to Waffletown when I was younger, simply because this is no McDonald's.
by Joyce Lim, New Paper
Laugh all you want, but one day, AirAsia will be bigger than Singapore Airlines (SIA).
This is the brash claim of the Malaysian budget airline's chief, Mr Tony Fermandes, who added: "We are already carrying more passengers than SIA."
by 938Live
The Urban Reevelopment Authority has unveiled plans for the vacant state land above Dhoby Ghaut MRT station to be home to a new open space that will play host to community events and performances.
by Deadpoet's Cave
"Please mind the platform gap."
by Teh Joo Lin and Diana Othman, Straits Times
An ICA spokesman confirmed that the old checkpoint was being used on a trial basis when lory traffic is especially heavy.
by Esther Tan, Straits Times
by Associated Press
Singapore's security forces will scale back a nationwide ground search for a top Muslim terror suspect who made a stunning escape from a high-security prison one month ago, the deputy prime minister said Wednesday.
He gave no reason for the change in tactics. But efforts to track down Mas Selamat have no doubt been costly.
by DPA
by Creative Spark
by Tracy Sua, Straits Times
by Where Bears Roam Free
by Joanne Lee, Straits Times
In recent years, Singapore has seen an influx of venture capitalists (VCs) setting up their Asian offices here. But Creative remains one of the rare home-grown technology companies that VCs call a 'double-digit-bagger' - an investment that returns more than 10 times the initial investment.
The problem is that until there are more Sim Wong Hoos soundblasting their way to the big time, there seem to be few angels willing to bridge the financing gap.
by Chow Penn Nee, Business Times Singapore
Having already established a foothold in China, Singapore's banks are now broadening their presence in India, the other burgeoning global economic powerhouse.
See Also:
Singapore To Dig Out Business Opportunities In Northern India, by Preeti Parashar, Financial Express.
by Lee Poh Onn, Straits Times
by Lee Chor Lin, National Museum of Singapore, Today
We learn from your disappointment that we must publicise more widely and diligently the rich content which the museum has in our permanent galleries.
by Jinny Koh, Today
Proponents of Earth Hour 2008, a worldwide effort to create awareness about global warming, are urging Singaporeans to switch off all lights for that hour.
by Tan Weizhen, Straits Times
A growing number of businesses and individuals are customising parts of the map of Singapore on Google Earth, and, are using it as a marketing tool, to exchange notes, or to indulge in a hobby that is catching on - 3-D modelling.
by Channel NewsAsia
From 1 April, those who need to change their home address on their NRIC would need to produce documentary evidence.
by Valerie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
by Channel NewsAsia
Under the new rules, sponsorship refers to cash and in-kind sponsorships where tax deduction receipts are issued.
by Straits Times
The High Court on Tuesday dismissed the appeal by online map provider Virtual Map againast a District Court's decision that the company had infringed the copyright of the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
by Lim Wei Chean, Straits Times
Hotels in Singapore have become more expensive than Hong Kong, with February's average room rates peaking at $256 - a record high.
by Singapore Angle
by Frances Lorraine, Flipflopping My Way Around Town
by Alvinology
Made a mental note to myself not to buy Akira products again from now on.
by Sam's Thoughts
by Tan Pin Pin, Notes From Serangoon Road
Everyone, please do not take your independent arts institutions for granted.
by Enblocing Singapore
Some of the criticisms raised in parliament about the potential negative consequences of this 1999 amendment, they are the very reality we live in now. These were all raised almost 10 years ago, and ignored.
by Reuters
Singapore said on Tuesday it supports China's policy in the handling of the unrest in Tibet and opposes politicisation of the Olympic Games.
by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, Hollywood Reporter
Despite facing a significant cut in its annual budget, the Singapore International Film Festival that kicks off Friday will welcome more than 200 films from 40 countries.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
Our Internal Security Act is open to abuse. It gives a lot of discretion to the executive branch of government, with virtually no provision for judicial oversight. With our history, how can we trust that the detention of Rijal, or for that matter, Mas Selamat bin Kastari, is legitimate?
by Swan Tan, New Paper
by Tan Peng Hui, Today
I am a physically disabled 35-year-old Singapore citizen. I lost the use of both upper limbs after a road accident in 2006.
I cannot use my limbs, so to tap my Ez-link card on the bus, I have to balance myself on the steps, turn my upper body 90 degrees to the left or right, and lean forward. This is very dangerous for me.
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
From April 15, roadside electronic signboards will help motorists in the built-up Marina Centre area zero in on available parking lots.
by Nazry Bahrawi, Today
First came its housebrands. Now, as prices of food items continue to climb, NTUC FairPrice is considering a "no frills" store for low-wage workers.
by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore's inflation in February held near the highest since 1982, signaling the central bank may allow the currency to strengthen to contain price pressures.
The consumer price index jumped 6.5 percent from a year earlier, after gaining 6.6 percent in January, the Department of Statistics said today.
by DPA
Business confidence in Singapore has slumped to its lowest level since the end of 2004, according to a survey Monday. Large and local firms accounted for the most severe drops.
by Lin Ern Sheong
by My.death.note
It's just life. Limited slots. Limited seats.
by Department Of Statistics, Singapore Government
During the second half of 2007, the inflation rate for general households was 3.4 per cent compared to the same period of 2006. The corresponding rates experienced by the lowest 20% and middle 60% income were 2.8 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively. The top 20% income group experienced the highest inflation rate of 3.9 per cent during July - December 2007. (Note: PDF document.)
by Readings From A Political Duo-ble
by The Boy Who Knew Too Much
by Singapore Government
(Note: PDF document.)
by Gerald Giam, theonlinecitizen
I am not convinced that Mas Selamat is still in Singapore as the authorities have repeatedly insisted.
by Alvin Lee, Traffic Police, Suhana Kharudin, Land Transport Authority, Stephen Yeo, Committee For Tampines Grassroots Organisations, Today
The Traffic Police and the LTA would obviously study carefully the results of the Tampines trial to better understand the issues involved in any proposal to allow cyclists on footways for other parts of Singapore.
However, even if the decision is taken following the trial to allow cycling on footways in Tampines, it does not automatically follow that this would be extended to other towns.
by Kog Yue Choong, Today
National Museum has crucial function to fulfil beyond being an F&B outlet.
by Channel NewsAsia
Three out of four jobs at its casino have been pledged to Singaproeans but this is a quota the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort may not be able to fulfil, said the founder of Singapore's latest casino training school.
The reason: Not enough locals are being trained for the job.
by Yaw Shin Leong
by Majulah Singapura
Smetimes I wonder why Singapore government is being so nasty to its poorer Johor Bahru cousins by constantly using subliminal methods into tricking Singaporeans not to go over and spend their precious earnings.
by Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia
Rijal Yadri Jumari, 27, was arrested in February for his involvement in the terrorist group, the home affairs ministry said on Sunday. The ISA order against Rijal was issued three days ago.
by Leong Sze Hian, theonlinecitizen
by Antara News
The Indonesian government should always pro actively protect the dignity of the Indonesian nation and its citizens in the eyes of the international community and not tolerate acts of harassment such as Singaporean authorities committed against two Indonesians at Changi airport on Thursday, an academic said.
Prof Dr Suhaidi SH, an international law expert at North Sumatra University, was commenting on the detention for more than two hours of senior Indonesian lawyers Adnan Buyung Nasuton and Abdul Rahman Saleh by Singaporean authorities at Changi airport on Thursday night.
by Diary Of A Singaporean Mind
by Shuli Sudderuddin, Straits Times
Some young Singaporeans seem to have caught the 'Obama' fever as Americans prepare to elect a new president in November.
Much of the buzz here extols Mr Obama's message of change.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
by Arul John, New Paper
Melbourne tries free ride scheme. We ask experts if this could work for our MRT system.
by Richard Wray, The Guardian
The financial crisis enveloping the world banking sector has left the sovereign wealth funds, controlled by governments from Singaore and China to Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, nursing multibillion-dollar losses after helping to bail out major western banks.
by Bloomberg
Temasek Holdings said that it is not affected by an agreement by Singapore, Abu Dhabi and the United States on principles to increase the transparency of sovereign wealth funds.
"Temasek is not a sovereign wealth fund," its spokesman Mark Lee said in a telephone interview yesterday. "Temasek has to sell assets to raise cash for new investments and doesn't require the government to give approvals."
by Lydia Lim, Straits Times
The government has funds to spare, and yet there are poor folk who struggle to get by. This combination is one that a growing number of better-off Singaporeans seem to find discomfiting.
by Arthur Lim Teck Meng, Straits Times
The longer Mas Selamat remains uncaught, the more we must face up to the possibility that he has already left the country, although I really hope I am wrong.
by John Brinsley, Bloomberg
by Gerald Giam, SIngapore Patriot
It is an important lesson in diplomacy that we should never write off anyone, because one day they may return to power and they won't forget.
by Neo Chai Chin, Today
by Zul Othman and Ng Jing Yng, Today
"If we had not done these 100-per-cent checks, he would have escaped undetected."
by Thomson Financial
"The news, if true, is positive for SingTel. Given iPhone's (appeal to consumers), we believe iPhone would lead to higher market share for SingTel. However, the impact on SingTel's bottom line should not be very significant given Apple's hard bargaining tendency and tough competition from StarHub," said DBS Vickers in a note to clients.
The money is not in Singapore. For SingTel to get into bed with Apple, the money is Australia, where SingTel has a wholly-owned subsidiary doing mobile phone services.
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
Rail operator SMRT Corp is appealing against a $387,176 fine imposed upon it for a seven-hour delay that affected over 57,000 rush-hour commuters in January.
It is basing its appeal on the efforts it made to mitigate the service disruption.
by Ngiam Tong Dow, Journalism.sg
I believe passionately in the sacred mission of the press, which is to uphold truth, and protest the integrity of our nation in clear, simple, inspiring writing. Our role is to read the verdict of the people correctly, so that the government can continue to retain the mandate of heaven to rule.
by Dharmendra Yadav, theonlinecitizen
by Thanh Nien Daily
The number of Vietnamese workers in Singapore was still modest, said Tran Quoc Ninh, vice chairman of the Vietnam Labor Export Association, but the island-nation would surely become an important labor market in the very near future.
by Ling Chang Hong, Straits Times
Old friends Singapore and Thailand swept away last year's troubles yesterday as they pledged to work more closely to enhance cooperation.
by Timothy Ouyang, Channel NewsAsia
Companies in Singapore are losing customers faster when compared to firms across the region, according to a recent survey which found that six out of ten consumers here changed service providers in the past year.
by Terence Chong, Today
by April Chong, Straits Times
Secretary of the Disabled People's Association Judy Wee said it would be better to have more wheelchair-accessible drop-off points because "there is no point stopping at a side road when there is a kerb there'.
by Channel NewsAsia
The iPhone may finally see its official launch in Singapore by SingTel as early as September, according to industry sources.
When contacted, the telco would neither confirm nor deny this, but a local vendor who works closely with Apple associates in the United States told Channel NewsAsia that "SingTel has more or less sealed the deal".
by Jed Yoong, Asia Sentinel
Although many countries, particularly the United States, might look upon it as a blessing, Singapore is facing a growing shortage of lawyers and is trying to find ways to increase their numbers even as they leave the profession in droves, driven out partly by low pay, long hours and, critics say, a legal straitjacket that prevents them from the effective practice of the law.
by Mollymeek
And for peasants, note that a full account is not a truthful account is not a verifiable account. It's just something to be believed and retrieved for purposes of National Education.
by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
by Myrialogues
If we are to raise the level of discourse in the country, as well as the political maturity of the people, the national soapbox has to stop inundating the national consciousness with mundaneity.
by Theory Of Knowledge
by Times Of My Life
by The Red Grade
It's a soulless country, that's what Singapore has become. There's no real happiness here no matter what people say. Because deep in everyone's hearts, people know that happiness is nothing without freedom.
by Singapore Life And Times
By being efficient and quick to implement a policy, it leaves all the stakeholders behind.
See Also:
No Taxi Stand No Stop, by The Lastsplash. Despite their mistake, LTA refused to admit so and attempted to take some kind of credit for their quick dirty solution.
by Where Bears Roam Free
by Chee Siok Chin, Singapore Democratic Party, Pseudonymity
If the police have evidence that I had attacked or even attempted to attack an officer, then they should produce it. Otherwise they must retract the slanderous and scandalous statement, failing which I shall consider taking action against them.
by David Robertson, The Times
The Singapore government has indicated that it is willing to adopt a controversial new code of practice that would regulate the investment decisions of sovereign wealth funds if western countries commit to not blocking future acquisitions.
Singapore's two sovereign wealth funds are among the largest in the world with combined assets of more than $500 billion and the country is concerned that protectionist sentiment in Europe and the United States could prevent it investing its vast reserves.
by Carolyn Quek and Diana Othman, Straits Times
Lorry drivers have been most affected, and the mood among them when The Straits Times visited Woodlands Road early on Tuesday morning can be described in one word: restless.
See Also:
It's Faster To Walk, by Zubaidah Nazeer, New Paper. Madam Teo Puay Hua said the Causeway jams have scared off customers from the Woodlands Centre area, causing her profits to drop by half.
by Toh Yong Chuan, Press Secretary To Deputy Prime Minister And Minister For Home Affairs, Straits Times
Even though the inquiry is conducted in closed chambers out of necessity, we have stated clearly that we will give a full account of how Mas Selamat Kastari escaped.
In other words, trust us. We say it's full account, it's full account, even though you have no way of knowing it's the full account yourself.
by Christie Loh, Today
by Singapore Democrats, Singabloodypore
The officer who arrested Ms Chee Siok Chin got ahold of her finger and bend it. Ms Chee cried out "You're breaking my finger! You're breaking my finger!" which was recorded on video.
by The Hammersphere
Young middle-class or low-incomes buyers might feel exasperated by Mah Bow Tan's total omission of mention of this one aspect - the cash-over-valuation portion.
by kelvintan73
Through his actions, we are reminded that all of us are so willing to give up basic freedoms all because we fear the unknown.
by Fusion Dispatches
The first parent-teacher meeting came up recently, and we attended it, and might I say right here that I get immense amusement and enjoyment out of interacting with the school prefects.
by Daryl Loo, Reuters
by mrbrown
The news report called it "LTA Fine-tuning". I think most people would call it "LTA tires to fix f**k-up".
by Carolyn Quek, Straits Times
Security at Singapore's checkpoints will be further tightened, with all travellers leaving the country - except children - subject to fingerprint scans from now on.
The checks, which will also include full inspections of all vehicles entering and leaving the country, will go on until escaped terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari is caught, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced yesterday.
ICA should tell us what it is going to do with the collected fingerprint data. And I sure hope we will not take another step closer to being a police state, especially if this alleged terrorist is never going to be caught. (What if he drowned in the sea, and the body is never found?)
See Also:
Act To Ease Traffic Jams At Causeway, by Gan Techiong, Straits Times.
by Chia Ti Lik, Sgpolitics.net
by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
by Sol E Solomon, ZDNet Asia
IT professionals in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong saw salary increases of up to 40 percent last year, as companies in those countries jostled for skilled IT talent, a new survey finds. Busiensses in the region have also resorted to other retention practices to keep their staff.
by Mollymeek
I reject your demand for me to be transparent because... I refuse to be transparent.
by Philip Bowring, Asia Sentinel
Asia Sentinel warned three months ago that the sovereign wealth funds had become too easy a touch for US financial giants. Their investments in the likes of Citibank, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Merrill Lynch and Blackstone, intended to gain seats in the sancta sanctorum of western finance, would probably come back to haunt them. And so it transpires as prices of the whole financial sector continue to plummet.
by Yeo Ghim Lay, Straits Times
Taxis are allowed to pick up and drop passengers on side roads in the Central Busienss District which are not served by public buses, the Land Transport Authority announced on Monday. The rule, however, remains for trunk roads served by buses.
by Alien Nation
Protests are an integral part of the democratic machine. The government in Singapore likes pretending that by banning protests they are protecting the country's stability.
by Inconceivable Concepts
I think, the hunt is just a show to placate the fears of Singaporeans.
by Singapore Attitudes To Biological Conservation
Even more amazing I believe are the many many individuals ranging from professors to the common man who could appreciate the beauty and the treasure trove of wildlife that we have here in Singapore.
by Fang Zhi Yuan, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
The more the government try to deceive the public with misleading and biased articles, the greater the backlash will be from the reader.
by Nelson Benjamin, The Star
Malaysia cannot interfere with the stringent inspection of commuters at the checkpoints here as this is deemed a security matter, Malaysian high commissioner Datuk N. Parameswaran said.
He said while he sympathised with the plight of thousands of commuters, especially lorry drivers, who were stuck for hours at the checkpoints, there were other modes of transport. He instead hoped that the "human side" of the problem could be addressed, such as placing portable toilets, allowing lorry drivers to change crew after certain hours and also for food to be provided for lorries stuck at the Causeway and Second Link.
by Aidil Omar, Sheep City
by Nancy Chia, Handicaps Welfare Association, Straits Times
In implementing this new rule, the LTA probabl failed to address the concerns of people in wheelchairs. This grop of people depends largely on taxis to meet their transport needs.
by Porcin
by Striped:Shirt
It's too eary to tell but "iPhone Planner/Buyer" job does seem intriguing.
by Bernama
Taking advantage of Singapore's international trade links, the federal and Johor governments should forge a smart partnership with the republic to market the Iskandar Development Region (IDR).
Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, whose constituency is located in the IDR< said as many multinationals were based in the republic, the international trade link could also be used to thwart negative reports from foreign media.
by Shashi Tharoor, The Hindu
The economic boom at home is changing the way in which Indians abroad relate to each other.
by Chong Chee Kin, Straits Times
Mr Wong Kan Seng said the inquiry will not be conducted in public 'regardless of whether it is conducted under the ambit of a committee or a commission of inquiry.' The reason? The detention centre is a 'sensitive installation' which is more than just a prison.
by Bernard Leong, Simple Is The Reason Of My Heart
by Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Straits Times
Adjustments will be made to the rule restricting where taxis can pick up and drop off pasengers in the Central Business District (CBD) and an announcement will be made soon, transport minister Raymond Lim said yesterday.
by Mavis Toh, Straits Times
Locals rush to visit the US and shop online, but things are more costly for some foreigners here.
by Liang Kai Xin and Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
Many who live in Johor but work in Singapore used to take the public transport. But even this group of people has found it easier to cover the distance on foot.
by Andre Yeo, New Paper
Mr Christopher de Souza's comments in parliament on 28 Feb about Duxton Road being a red-light district has drawn strong rebuttals. Pubs and nightspots there told The New Paper his remarks were unfair to the area's reputation.
See Also:
Vice Up, But Not At Duxton Road: Police, by New Paper.
by Elia Diodati, E Pur Si Muove
At the end of the day, it's not the credntials, awards, honors or academic pedigree that matters. It's how you behave as a human being that's paramount.
by John Kao, Huffington Post
Singapore is interesting precisely because the public sector leads; in fact one could argue that the bulk of the innovation and entrepreneurship in the country resides in the public sector.
by Associated Press
Singapore police rounded up six people at an opposition party rally Saturday for holding an authorised protest against the rising cost of living in the city-state.
See Also:
Breaking News: Protestors Arrested For World Consumers Rights Day Event, by Andrew Loh, theonlinecitizen.
Photos: Singapore Police Manhandle & Drag Away Peaceful Protesters, by Pseudonymity.
What's So Dangerous About Placard-Carry Citizens?, by The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore.
by Eddie Choo, theonlinecitizen
It is clear that quiet, "ulu" Seletar is transforming; change is everywhere as we speak.
by Alvin Foo and Lee Pei Qi, Straits Times
Time is money, with businesses on both sides of the straits feeling the pinch as costs rise by about 25 per cent, according to some.
by Sandra Davie, Straits Times
See Also:
When Perfect Scores At A Level Is Just Average, by The Ignorantsoup.
by Audrey Ang, Singapore Police Force, Straits Times
In the circumstances, considering there was imminent dnger of death or grievous hurt, the officer had no choice but to open fire.
by Mollymeek
by Singapore Kopi Tok
Even assuming it is done with the best intentions, the issue of offering money in the case is contentious.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
What it shows is that our problem is not so much that people are unwilling to vote for our opposition parties, despite the ranting we see on many blogs, but that our electoral system in Singapore makes such votes nearly meaningless. Consequently, it shows the need for us to put more priority on electoral reform, rather than just exhorting people to vote for the opposition.
by DPA
Singapore revised downward the number of jobs created last year to 234,900, but foreigners still formed 33 per cent of the 2.73 million people employed in the city-state, the manpower ministry said on Friday. "Robust economic performance led to another record-breaking year for employment creation," said the ministry, which had previously estimated the new job figure at 236,600.
by The Star
Lorries and trucks, which used to make three to four trips in two days to the republic, could now do only one or two trips in three days.
Johor Baru Chinse Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Soh Poh Sheng, who expressed concern over the situation, said they were now seeking help from the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore to look into the problem.
by This Lush Garden Within
by Singapore Life And Times
by Lin Yanqin, Today
by Channel NewsAsia
by Michelle Tay, Straits Times
The Singapore dollar hit a new high of just under $1.38 against the United States dollar yesterday as speculators kept dumping the greenback on US recession fears.
by Jeremy Yap, Land Transport Authority, Straits Times
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) wishes to explain that the principal reason for the new rule is safety. Sudden stopping and haphazard lane changes by taxis along heavily used roads to pick up or alight passengers pose a danger to passengers and other road users.
See Also:
Cabbies Concerned Over Difficulties, by CityCab, Comfort Taxi, Premier Taxi, Smart Cab, SMRT Taxi, and Trans-Cab Operators' Association.
How To Create 'Temporary' Stands, by Jailani Osman, Today.
by Seth Mydans, International Herald Tribune
In Singapore, words like that amount to marching orders, and government agencies seem to be rushing to demonstrate that whatever else they are, they are anything but complacent.
by Life Of PeePee
I had no idea that your body could adjust this much.
by Journals Of A Philosophic Inquisitor
Is your vote supposedly a representation of your values? Or is your vote simply a means to an ends?
by The Boy Who Knew Too Much
by Sam's Thoughts
by Mollymeek
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
If you are broke, perhaps it's easier to just queue up at your member of parliament's weekly clinic and ask him for a handout.
by Jessica Lim and Lee Pei Qi, Straits Times
Road travel to Johor has taken a hit since security was stepped up at the country's two border checkpoints - the result of a massive manhunt for fugitive Jemaah Islamiah terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari.
by Jackie Lau Wai Wan, Straits Times
If bus operators want Singaporeans to take up the bus captain's job, they should offer more attractive working conditions, rather than resort to the cheap solution.
See Also:
: Why Singaporeans Aren't Bus Captains, by Png Eng Huat, Straits Times. For some strange reason, the job pays only $5.33 an hour.
by Yeo Ghim Lay and April Chong, Straits Times
The taxi stand rule was meant to help improve road safety in the Central Business District, but it is raising the hackles of both commuters and cab-drivers, as well as residents and businesses in the area.
by Soham Pablo, Life And Other Weird Things
By any account, Singapore is a unique place.
by Readings From A Political Duo-ble
By making the assumption that Mas Selamat Kastari is guilty and taking the government's words at face value that this is a dangerous man at large, the Singapore blogosphere is indirectly agreeing that it is perfectly acceptable to detain someone without a due process of court, and that human rights can be sacrificed for hte perceived good of social stability. To stretch this logic further, the Singapore blogosphere is comfortable with and believe that the war on terror is one that can be won even at the expense of eroding human rights.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
by Bernard Koh, Straits Times
by Where Bears Roam Free
For a change, how about MM Lee sending his own loved ones to die at the frontline, instead of expecting other people's loved ones to die, for the sake of fulfilling his insane desire of having cheap oil?
by Alice Cheong In Wonderland
There is no good reasons for the scholar high up there to get their hands dirty.
by Adrian Michaels, Financial Times
Sovereign wealth finally arrived in Italy yesterday when the Singapore government agreed to invest about €1bn (US$1.53bn) in the main investment vehicle of the Benetton family.
by DPA
Increasing numbers of Singaporeans are marrying a bride or groom from a different race, reflecting the waning influence parents have over their offspring in the cosmopolitan city-state, news reports said on Wednesday.
by Koh Jie Kai, theonlinecitizen
by Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia
According to the ministry, deputy prime minister and home affairs minister Wong Kan Seng has said that after the inquiry is completed, the public will get a full account of how Mas Selamat escaped and what has been done to tighten security to prevent a repeat of such incident.
by Mr Wang Says So
by Sylvia Lim, Workers' Party Of Singapore
In a matter of such high public interest as the escape of a high-risk terror suspect from a government-run facility, what assurances or checks are there that the public will be given full information?
See Also:
Workers' Party Calls For Full Disclousre In Mas Selamat Probe, by Straits Times.
by Chua Hian Hou, Straits Times
by Javert's World
When come to a crisis, no top managements are there to take the responsibilities. They are there all the time to enjoy the perks but never there to take the blames.
by Tan Kin Lian
by Hard Hitting In The Lion City
2 weeks in, and they still don't know how it took place? That I find unacceptable!
Me also not sure whether the government know or not. But which is more probable: the government do not know how the alleged terrorist escape, or the government do not want to tell yet?
by Wang Zhenghua, China Daily
by Tay Ai Cheng, National Library Board, Today
The National Library Board is pleased to announce a new email notification service for book returns that will be implemented towards the end of the month.
Huh? How the heck does this e-mail receipt help solve the problem of book borrowers returning books that got lost by NLB? Tie a string to the book, throw the book into the returning bin, wait for the email, and if no emails arrive, pull the book back out from the bin with the string?
by Duncan Edwards, Straits Times
Singapore used to have one of the best taxi services in the world. Now, it is to expensive and too inconvenient.
by Today
by Associated Press
by Azlinda Mohd Said, Straits Times
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has fined SMRT nearly $400,000 for causing severe disruption to train services betwen the Tanah Merah and Pasir Ris MRT statioins on Jan 21. Investigations showed that the incident was the result of SMRT not complying with operating procedures.
by AFP
The election setback suffered by Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's rulign coalition is not likely to affect ties with Singapore, the city-state's foreign minister said on Monday.
by Anuradha Raghu and Mohd Hanafi Hanafiah, The Star
The tight security at the Singapore checkpoint after the Feb 27 escape of accused terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari has discouraged many Singpaoreans from travelling into Johor Baru.
by Darth Grievous' Dark Domain
by Reuters
Singapore will provide more land for offices as part of a strategy to strengthen its position as an Asian financial centre, the government's real estate planning agency said on Monday.
by Mithcell Landsberg, Los Angeles Times
Fundamentalists called for a return to basics; reformers demanded a curriculum that would emphasize conceptual understanding. Mathematicians on both sides of the divide say the Singapore curriculum teaches both. By hammering on the basics, it instills a deep understanding of key concepts, they say.
by Elysa Chen, New Paper
With many big projects underway, will our construction resources be strained? That possibility is worrying some in the industry.
by Jim Eagles, New Zealand Herald
The most impressive thing about Singapore's marvellous old Raffles hotel is the welcome.
by Hedy Khoo, New Paper
New rule for cabs in CBD causes confusion.
See Also:
Human Queue For Taxis Are Back..., by The Keropok.
by Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong warned that if the country stopped saving and investing for the future, economic growth would grind to a halt and 'we would be in serious trouble'.
This, I believe, is an attack on a strawman. Nobody is seriously saying that we shouldn't invest for the future. The real question: how much to invest, and where to invest.
by Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
"How did it happen? We're not absolutely sure yet," Mr Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.
By not saying why the government is unsure, I don't think I can buy the story.
by Melissa Kok, Straits Times
by Lee Kuan Yew, Washington Post
Whatever candidates might say in the course of this presidential campaign, I cannot believe that any American president could afford to walk away from Iraq so lightly, damage American prestige and influence, and so undermine the credibility of American security guarantees.
by Neil Khor, The Star
This biography of one of modern Singapore's founding fathers is neither "authorised nor unauthorised, says author Tan Siok Sun. It is, she explains, a "tone poem". By this, she means a variation on a personality rather than its complete picture.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Stringent restrictions have placed local filmmakers in a straitjacket when competing in the world.
by Burning Pipit
I am sick that a mistake of this proportion only warrant a lame "We are sorry" from DPM Wong. We need more leaders like LKY.
by Teo Xuanwei, Today
Several former cops Today spoke to believed, given the facts disclosed so far, that the officer's decision to open fire was a legitimate judgment call.
by Peh Shing Huei, Straits Times
The escape of Mas Selamat Kastari is a 'very severe lesson in complacency' and it shows that Singpaore is not infallible, said minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Friday.
If the former Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader has escaped to Indoensia, Mr Lee said he would be ablet o link up with his old networks and Singapore must brace itself for a 'return hit sometime'.
by Muhammad Ridzwan, Ridzwan.com
by Andrea Hayward, AAP
An Australian aboard a plane intercepted by fighter jets in Singaproe says the dramatic incident was the result of lies told by someone in Thailand angry at being denied a bribe.
Mr Johnson said Mr Thomas notified Singaporean authorities of the flight plan by radio, which was accepted and the plane was cleared by Singapore to land at Seletar airprot. The aircraft, however, was intercepted by fighter jets over Singapore and escorted to land at Changi.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
by Cheeky
Yes... finally, I am posted to Mindef Reserve.
by Singapore Government
by Melanie Lee, Reuters
Singapore's state-controlled media and government have come under fire from critics and internet bloggers for failing to give the public important answers on the escape of a suspected Islamic militant.
by Tessa Wong and Lim Wei Chean, Straits Times
The great $40 million Orchard Road makeover has stalled because some mall owners are objecting to some aspects of the works. One sticking point appears to be in the details of the makeover, although most of the mall owners believe the revamp is overdue.
by Straits Times
To fend off competition from other airports in the region, Singapore will be building a fourth passenger terminal at Changi Airport, said minister of state for transport Lim Hwee Hua in parliament.
by Singapore Government
To ensure that we have a liveable city. This is our overriding goal and it forms the basis for our land transport policies.
by Elena Chong and Carolyn Quek, Straits Times
A man was shot dead by a police officer at the Northeast Line platform in Outram Park MRT station at about 3.35 pm on Thursday.
Police spokesman Danny Tan told reporters that the man, aged 43, tried to attack the cop with a dagger. The spokesman said the man had earlier stabbed a middle-aged man at Jalan Kukoh, not far away from the Outram Park MRT station, over a dispute.
by Straits Times
The expansion project will involve the addition of seven check-in counters and the installation of additional baggage handling equipment. Three more passenger boarding gates will be constructed, bringing the total number of boarding gates to ten.
by Walk To Me
A real gunshot! No kidding! At Outram Park MRT station today!
by Reuters
Singapore state investor Temasek, trying to soothe Western concerns over investments by Asian and Middle Eastern government funds, has told the United States its intentions are commercial and aimed at maximising long-term returns.
by Gerald Giam, theonlinecitizen
It is just unfortunate that despite the gravity of the mistakes that were made by MHA officials before and after Mas Selamat's escape, Singaporeans are still expected to put up with haughty statements and lack of transparency from our government.
At the bare minimum, the Singapore government has demonstrated a lack of skill in crisis management.
by Pauli Priskila, Today
by Jason Chiam Chiah Sern, Straits Times
While minister Khaw has given an assurance that he would be flexible on the matter, I am less sanguine.
by Diana Othman, Straits Times
Lorry drivers said the traffic build-up has worsened in the last two days and many of the vehicles waiting to cross the Causeway or Second Link into Malaysia have been caught in the long jam for more than 24 hours.
by Li Xueying, Straits Times
by Andrew Loh, theonlinecitizen
A week of silence is deafening - and worrying.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
by Kevin Lim, Reuters
Investment guru Jim Rogers believes that U.S. bank stocks could fall further and predicts that Singapore's state investors will lose money on their multi-billion dollar investments in Citigroup and Merrill Lynch.
by The Hammersphere
by Nerdy Is The New Cool
Is it any surprise that Singaporeans just love fad9ing into the wallpaper roles when they are overseas?
by David C Rambles
by Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
Mr Tharman's point was that while it is important to motivate the student, the ministry should leave schools to find their own balance on how they want to affirm or challenge the student.
Leaving it to the 'marketplace' is a good idea, so long as it is easy to switch from one 'brand' to another — which is not the case for education in Singapore.
See Also:
FY 2008 Committee Of Supply Debate, 1st Reply By Minister On Educational Policy, by Singapore Government. (Note: PDF document)
by Stressed Teacher
I feel tired and worn out. Every single bloody day.
by This Lush Garden Within
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
When was the last time you see "Microsoft" and "Innovation" in the same sentence? That's why the local newspapers are no longer talking about producing the next Bill Gates in Singapore. It's all about Steve Jobs now. :-)
by Tessa Wong, Straits Times
Eateries and the supermarket at Terminal 3 have been doing brisk business since its opening.
Good food is good food, regardless where the restaurant is.
by Sandra Dvaie, Straits Times
by Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
There will be a new secondary school option for primary school leavers come 2010 - a new School of Science and Technology will offer students a four-year curriculum, placing heavy emphasis on applied learning.
by Reuters
Asian expatriates have ranked Singapore as the best plac to live in the world ofr its safe and clean environment.
by Doris De Guzman, Green Chemicals
Spending a few days is not enough to delve more about Singaporeans' green consciousness but the government is definitely into climate change.
by Elizabeth Wong
by Thomson Financial
by Singapore Kopi Tok
Let the bureaucrats put forth their arguments and attempt at transparency and accountability before any mob lynching is meted out.
by AFP
Terrorism is usually no laughing matter, especially not in security-conscious Singapore, but the escape from custody of a limping Islamist extremist suspect has led to scorn on the internet.
Barbed jokes and irreverent spoofs have sprouted up on websites five days after Mas Selamat bin Kastari, the alleged Singapore chief of regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, escaped with apparent ease from a detention centre.
by New Paper
by Jinny Koh and Ng Jing Yng, Today
On the first day of the work week since the change kicked in, cabbies and commuters alike did not seem to have bought into the new rule that taxis can stop for pasengers only at taxi stands and building driveways in the Central Business District.w
by Straits Times
All Singaporeans who earn below $3,200 a month will continue to enjoy full subsidies from the government when they are hospitalised in class B2 or C wards in public hospitals. At the highest end, patients with a monthly income of $5,201 and above will still receive 65 per cent in subsidies in a Class C ward and 50 per cent in Class B2.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
Our Singaporean culture of not speaking up when something goes wrong is also part of the reason that things are the way they are.
by This Lush Garden Within
I personally feel even more motivated to leave after hearing the recent comments from Singapore's leaders in the press about how they can easily replace lost homegrown talent with foreign ones.
by Ben Nadarajan, Straits Times
An internal probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will look into whether 'criminal wrongdoing' was involved.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Did you know that, according to Martin Izzard, operations director of the company Community Clean, when Singapore banned chewing gum, "it still took 10 years... to remove all the bits and pieces off the street"?
by Martin Abbugao, AFP
Singapore's government has come under stinging public criticism after the escape of an alleged militant leader from custody dented the country's reputation for airtight security.
Open criticism of the government is rare in tightly ruled Singapore, but the apparent ease with which Kastari managed to slip out of a detention centre raised questions about the authorities' anti-terrorist measures.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
An independent committee of inquiry has been set up to find out exactly how Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from custody and will also propose measures to prevent this from happening again.
See Also:
The Independence Of The Inquiry Commission, by Mr Wang Says So. Dr Choong May Ling is a bad choice [for the commission]. I do not know what she's doing there on the committee. For goodness sakes, the woman is the current MHA deputy secretary. You cannot put the current MHA deputy secretary on the commission and call this an "independent investigation". Clearly there would be potential for conflict of interest.
by Straits Times
by Cherian George, Journalism.sg
Treating citizens as if they were brain-dead will not make them so; they will simply migrate to other media that take them more serously.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
With land above ground exploited almost to the point to extinction, the only way for Singapore to grow is downwards.
by Straits Times
The escape of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari is a setback for Singapore, but one that foreign minister George Yeo is confident the country can bounce back from.
See Also:
Security Forces Comb Forests And Seas For Singapore's Escaped Terror Suspect, by Associated Press. Security forces in Singapore and Indonesia hunted for a top Muslim terorrist suspect who staged a stunning escape from a high-security jail.
by Keith Lin, Straits Times
The government has made public data to show that Singaporeans are benefiting from the employment boom, contrary to the belief of a few MPs and internet chatter. They show that citizens landed a record number of the new jobs created in recent years.
More importantly, the vast majority of the jobs they got went to professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
Put it the other way, if you are not a PMET, chances are you'll be struggling to find a job, right?
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.