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by Keith Lin, Straits Times
On Saturday, the oppostion MP 'opened' the walkway which links the MRT station to the town centre, amid a shower of colurful confetti and a rousing lion dance.
by Readings From A Political Duo-ble
The Singapore courts have seriously compromised itself by allowing itself to be used as a political instrument thereby delegitising itself as an institution of and for justice.
by Jan Dahinten, Reuters
Singapore's attorney general warned that the concept of human righs must not be allowed to become a religion for fanatics to achieve political goals such as gay marriage, the Straits Times reported on Saturday. The newspaper quoted attorney-general Walter Woon as saying that it would be "hypocrisy" for such activists to decide what is acceptable for the rest of society.
So, the rest of the society is going to decide what an individual can or cannot do? Must I get permission from the rest of the society whether I should wear a blue shirt or a white shirt today?
by Stomp
"We've went through many, many campaigns to bring good service in Singapore, and we could not even fulfill a simple task of refunding cash when goods are not delivered... WHat kind of image are we projecting to these visitors?"
Sentosa, this is a disgrace.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
All these years the ruling People's Action Party and the civil service have laid claims — through super high salaries — to some of the state's best educated. The majority settle into their careers without wanting to rock the boat, even when they disagree with a government policy. In the course of the years, however, there had been a few exceptions of outspoken government people.
by Maria Almenoar, Straits Times
Now tests on 171 affected cars this week point to what may be the problem: the CashCard, not the in-vehicle unit (IU) - the electronic devices placed ont he dashboard and used to deduct payment from the CashCards.
by K Rajamanikam, Straits Times
The SMRT appears to have come up with a brilliant way of solving the problem by diverting its feeder services away from the jam bottlenecks, and returning them to the safety of the bus interchange.
by The Daily Star
by New Straits Times
A proposed ban on the sale of subsidised fuel to Singapore-registered vehicles may have an effect on petrol stations operating near the Causeway, but operators are not worried.
by Carolyn Hong, Straits Times
Malaysia will only start banning Singapore-registered cars from buying fuel in Johor stations near the southern border from June 9, instead of Friday as earlier announced.
by Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
Singapore hopes whoever becomes the next president of the United States will continue to uphold America's commitment to globalisation, free trade, and international rules. This is important as the criitcal issues of war and peace, and of prosperity and scarcity in Asia, all hinged on its outcome, according to the republic's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Justice Ang cited 15 incidences which she said had scandalised the court and impunged its dignity and authority. Ms Chee's lawyer, M. avi said that nothing was done till the end of the hearing, likening it to a "football referee issuing a player with a red card after the game has ended."
by Peter Boyle, Green Left Weekly
A pile of bags and clothing on an old shop front verandah on Cuff Road in Singapore's Little India is "home" to a group of about 50 migrant workers who have been spat out by an economy that relies heavily on so-called "guest workers."
by The Online Citizen
Better to liberalise freedom of expression rather than to allow SIngapore's public institutions to continue on this degenerate path.
by Selina Lum, Straits Times
Durai will begin serving his three-month jail term on June 10, after he asked to defer the sentence as his elderl mother was going for eye surgery next Tuesday.
by Catherine Lim
My intention in the use of the word 'little' was purely to emphasize the numble, low-ranking position of most of the nine people being punished; if the word carried any emotions at all, they were chiefly those of sympathy and compassion.
by Right Now...
We are successful because of capable leadership. We enjoy peace and stability. Can Dr Chee promise us that, especially when he's probably gonna legalise protests when he's in office?
Security and economy success is not on the opposition end of the spectrum to freedom. You don't need to sacrifice one to achieve the other.
by AFP
A Singapore judge on Friday fined a bankrupt opposition party leader for speaking in public without a permit, hours before the politician was due in court in a contempt case. Chee Soon Juan will be jailed for five weeks if he does not pay the 5,000-dollar fine, judge Jasvender Kaur ruled.
by Sam's Thoughts
My parents taught me important things, like "don't talk to strangers" and "don't go into politics; politics is very dirty."
by Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
I must say I enjoyed the IHT piece alot more than the two Straits Times pieces. I think it does more justice to Chee Soon Juan.
by China Daily
Forty km from Tianjin city and 150 km from Beijing, the eco-city will be located alon the Jiyun River in Hangu District of Tianjin Municipality, the largest northern port city of China. When finishd in 10 to 15 years, the Sino-Singaporean Tianjin Eco-city demonstration project will include residences, commercial space and factories meeting high international standards for energy use and environmental protection.
by Seth Mydans, International Herald Tribune
It was an extraordinary confrontation between the country's most dominant figure and a powerless but insistent critic.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
The problem is not one of lack of information, but a resistance to reflection.
by Tan Hui Leng, Today
Described as the "best health minister Singapore has ever had" by Mr Goh, Mr Khaw, 56, is unlikely to get any bigger bouquet than this in his role as the head of the health ministry.
by CSR Asia
by Endoh's Dungeon
by Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
About 20 companies have decided to adopt the National Wage Council's recommendation to give their rank-and-file employees a one-off lump sum payment to help them cope with inflation.
The companies are not named in this report, and there's no mention where this figure of "20 companies" came from.
by Thomson Financial
StarHub has not seen a drop in subscribers since rival Singpapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel) launched its pay TV services last year, cable TV head Patrick Lim said.
by Straits Times
Singapore has emerged as the ninth most expensive office market in CB Richard Ellis's (CBRE) lastest semi-annual Global Market Rents survey. Singapore was ranked 11th int eh last survey in November last year and 24th in the May 2007 survey, The Business Times reported on Thursday.
by Endoh's Dungeon
by Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
I wish I had such a diamond rice bowl.
by The Nation
Singapore appeared to be the only country that Burma has given permission to enter its territorial water and air space as the unta continue to deny permission to foreign naval ships and military helicopters and cargo plane from entering Burma's territory.
by Absolutjoiz
Then do we call them budget airlines anymore? Probably not anymore if things continue like that!
by Endoh's Dungeon
by Chemical Generation Singapore
A stalemate has been reached and the only people who benefit from this Chee-Lee feud are opposition parties like WP, who are sitting quietly and smartly on the sidelines.
by Ian Tan, Empty Vesel
MM Lee's two labels for CSJ are truly impressive - they are simple to understand, yet ar eloaded with meanings, and immediately carved out a public persona for people to frame CSJ into.
by mrbrown
The Airzounds air horn rules. The look on a driver's face when a bicycle horns back as loudly is priceless.
You know what, as a pedestrian, I wish I have one too. The look on a cyclist's face when I horn back is going to be priceless.
by Loh Chee Kong, Today
Responding to Today's queries, a Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman explained that NUS, along with the other two public-funded universities, are exempt from the Public Entertainment and Meetings Act.
by Tan Kin Lian, Today
You carried a statement from NTUC Income that the old bonus declared was unsustainable. I disagree.
by Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
by Catherine Lim
I was ashamed and angry that in a society that prides itself on the highest standards of accountability and fairness, the entire blame seems to have been laid squarely on the shoulders of the 'little people' who, we are told, can appeal, but who, we all know, will have neither the courage nor the resources to do so.
by Channel NewsAsia
Civil servants will get mid-year bonus of 0.5 month plus between $100 and $300, with lower division officers getting more.
by Malaysia-Finance Blogspot
by Rowan Callick, The American
Singaporeans are considerably healthier than Americans, yet pay, per person, about one-fifth of what Americans pay for their healthcare. A major reason is that Singapore's system does not focus on the question that seems to preoccupy both Europe and America: who pays? Ultimately, woever signs the checks, the money comes out of the pockets of individuals. Singapore takes a different tack.
by Stomp
by Straits Times
by Catherine Lim, Straits Times
I wish to express deep disappointment, shock and pain that in a national scandal of unprecendented maginitude and public outrage, it is only the little people who are held accountable and punished.
by The Sun Shines On Singapore
by Bernama
by Bernama
Any decision to ban the sale of petrol to foreign registered cars in border states should not be done too hastily, said Johor's former tourism executive councillor Datuk Jimmy Low.
by Saeed Azhar, Reuters
Singapore state investor Temasek early on Wednesday announced plans to boost its presnece in Braizl and Mexico to tap growth in Latin America's powerful emerging economies.
by Tan Kin Lian, The Online Citizen
by Melanie Lee, Reuters
Singapore politicians hurled insults and clashed over transparency in the city-state in a court case on Tuesday.
by Lee Lilian, The Itch To Write
by Yaw Shin Leong
We cannot merely attribute rising food and oil prices as 'short-term phenomena'?
by Cheow Xin Yi, Today
Industry veteran Tan Kin Lian has called off his high-profile web protest against his former employer NTUC Income over its move to restructure bonus payouts on its life insurance policies. Mr Tan told Today: "I'm satisfied that they told me that they are going to take the best interests of policyholders into account."
by S Ramesh and Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
The High Court on Tuesday set time limits on the cross-examination of prime minister Lee Hisen Loong and minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew during the hearing to assess the amount of damages to be awarded to the two Singapore leaders in their defamation suit against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
by Channel NewsAsia
Dr Blakrishnan said the move to promote the lingo is a "pet project" by "linguistic elites" that can cause more harm than good.
by Thomson Financial
by Eastcoastlife
What are these people peeping at?
by Reuters
Malaysia will restrict sales of petrol and diesel to foreign motorists from Saturday to prevent abuse of fuel subsidies, Bernama news agency reported, a move that could hamper tourism and upset retailers.
by Jinny Koh, Today
The air along Robertson Quay has finally been cleared. And the source of the offending stench a 1m-thick layer of sludge lining the bed of the Singapore River has been removed, giving the area a breath of fresh air.
by Mohamaed Jawhar Hassan, New Straits Times
The judgment at The Hague has advanced Malaysia's interests far beyond what it would have, or more accurately what it did not have, if the original status quo had remained.
by Maria Almenoar, Straits Times
by Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin did not just repeat 'false and malicious attacks' against prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew, lawyers for both men told the High Court. They had timed their libel as 'part of a premeditated and planned strategy to gain political mileage' in the 2006 General Election, they said in a statement at the start of a hearing yesterday.
by AFP
Singapore on Monday maintained its stand against legislating mandatory rest days for foreign domestic helpers, saying they were adequately protected by existing measures.
Advocacy groups joined forces last month to launch a campaign to provide foreign maids with rest days, citing a poll showing only about 50 percent of the 170,000 FDWs are given a regular day off.
by An OFW Living In Hong Kong
There are those who take advantage of the laxity of the laws and thus able to maintain their modern age slaves. The Singaproe government is guilty of abetting in this terrible practice.
by Anthony Chua, Fence In
Was it really the harsh realities of extremist activism that caused the reversal of stance? Perhaps that's really what being a politician is like?
by Regathering Thoughts, Redefining Meanings
Pontian MP, please check your facts before commenting as it would only bring embarassment and confusion to the people who has chosen you.
by The Star
There is no danger of losing Pulau Pisang to Singapore as Malaysia clearly has sovereignty over the island. Johor mentri besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said that this was despite Singapore operating a lighthouse on the 154ha island.
by Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia
Households that have disabled family members who require constant attention, acting manpower minister Gan Kim Yong said, may find it difficult to release their FDWs for a prescribed period every month.
So, if you work for a disabled person, you cannot rest? Are there really any scenarios in the entire world that made just one day off impossible? Slavery?
by Li Xueying, Straits Times
The director of the Internal Security Department holds broad responsibility for the entire organisation. And to blame him for the Mas Selamat Kastari ecape is to place an 'unreasonable and overly onerous burden' on him, said deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng.
by Imedla Saad, Channel NewsAsia
National devleopment minister Mah Bow Tan said a substantial portion of the Malay Village site will be reserved for a new civic bilding, housing a commuity club, the community development council office, and possibly a community library.
by New Straits Times
Maritime patrols around Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks should be conducted jointly with Singapore as the two features were close to each other, home minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.
by Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
"We should be more relaxed now about safeguarding our claims, about the intensity of our patrols and so on," local media today quoted Singapore's foreign affairs minister George Yeo as saying in Yangon, Myanmar yesterday.
by SIm Leoi Leoi, The Star
Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan urged the government to move into Pulau Pisang, where Singapore still maintains a lighthouse, and develop it.
"Why should Singapore be allowed to keep the lighthouse there? WIsma Putra told me that under the present agreement, Singapore is allowed to maintain the lighthouse as long as it is still being used and for as long as there are stars and a moon. But in this day and age, no ship uses a lighthouse and all of them now rely on global positioning system and radar to guide them. So what's the use of the lighthouse?"
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
The minister has had 90 days already - to capture a limping terrorist, with the entire security force at his disposal, in this tiny island.
The buck, surely, must stop somewhere.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
In court on Monday, PM Lee said all he is seeking is to establish that the article had published lies.
Mr Lee said the article had implied that the mistake made by the NKF epitomised what the whole government had stood for. THis was a very grave charge and action had to be taken to defend the entire system.
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Foreign minister George Yeo has said there is no evidence of any Singaporean company being involved in the export of weapons to Myanmar, nor is there evidence that such a transaction has occurred.
by Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's exchange rate policy has helped dampen the effects of inflation while providing support for sustainable economic growth, according to trade and industry minister, Lm Hng Kiang.
This cannot lah, that cannot lah. Meanwhile, poor families will have to hope that their employer gives one-off inflation bonus, and wait for economy to get better and inflation to go back down.
by Eddie Choo, The Online Citizen
When something becomes a ritual, it loses its meaning, and whatever pasion there was is lost, and what you get ar ethe tired faces and the bad-ass attitudes that are commonplace among the guys serving.
by Hard Hitting In The Lion City
Let some time pass, some heads to cool and then decide.
by Seen This Scene That
by Simply Jean
It's probably things like this that made me feel "Singaporean".
by Channel NewsAsia
The superintendent of the Whitley Road Detention Centre has been sacked over secruity lapses that led to the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah detainee Mas Selemat Kastari. His deputy has also been demoted in rank, with a corresponding pay cut.
by Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's manufacturing output declined 5.7 percent in April, worse than analysts' expectations, due to a contraction in electronics and pharmaceuticals production, the government said Monday.
by BothSidesOfTheJohorStraits
Perhaps cheap healthcare and education are not only vote-winning gestures for the government, they are also necessary a healthy and smart workforce to power our ever-growing economy?
by Jane Ng and Yen Feng, Straits Times
A check with 25 primary and secondary schools showed that almost all have some form of classes,mostly for graduating batches of students - primary 6s and secondary 4s and 5s.
by Hong Xinyi, Straits Times
by Authority Sites Directory Blog
These are of course introduced by our country's elite who benefits greatly from such foreigner influx into our job market since they are the biggest employers. The simple reason is to suppress overall workers' salaries.
by Mohd Afiq
by Mohd Kamal Abdullah, Kamal-talks
Since Pulau Batu Puteh is so close to Johor, Singapore's ownership will be very detriment to Malaysia since the territorial waters of Singapore once realigned would enhance Singapore's marine supremacy since Singapore has always been noted for their stubborn and uncaring attitude towards its neighbours although it may speak otherwise.
by ABGDARK
by Ng Tze Yong, New Paper
by The Moley Prophet
by Ephraim Loy, A Writer's Blog
The PAP will be seen as the party that just appears before the elections online just like how they attacked the opposition in real life.
by Esther Fung, Today
All 13 companies taht Today surveyed last week had no plans to give out the one-off special lump-sum payment the National Wages Council (NWC) had urged for.
by Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia
by Tan Dawn Wei and Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Straits Times
After years of being branded a 'white elephant', the death knell has finally sounded for the Malay VIllage in Geylang Serai.
by Jamie Ee Wen Wei and Dhany Osman, Straits Times
by Gerald Giam, Singapore Patriot
It would be much less distracting if Chee didn't appear to be doing that to win votes at the polls.
by Infernal Ramblings
If you ask me, Malaysians are far too obsessed with petty and irrelevant things like Singapore.
by DPA
It will mark the first time any leader of the ruling People's Action Party has been cross-examined by a political opponent in open court, political analysts noted.
by Choi Tuck Wo, The Star
It's been 18 years, and ambassador-at-large Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad is still searching for a crucial letter that could have helped to shed light on sovereignty involving Pulau Batu Puteh.
by New Straits Times
Singapore's foreign ministry said the country would "put this issue behind us and move on to strenghten our bilateral and regional co-operation." This is the Asean way to solving disputes, with respect for international law and a commitment to settling disagreements in an amicable manner.
by New Straits Times
DAP chairman Karpal Singh qustioned how Pulau Batu Puteh could be awarded to Singapore when it was much nearer to the tip of Johor compared with Singapore.
"Malaysia should not have been judged by the ICJ unless it was confident of a win. The decision may lead to other disputes of a maritime nature between Malaysia and Singapore."
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Goh Chok Tong said the calm reaction shows a level of maturity in relations between Malaysia and Singapore and that augurs well for the future.
by The Star
Federal marine police commander senior asst comm II Isa Munir said the decision whether to allow people to go there had yet to be made. He added that Malaysia and Singpaore had to several issues over Middle Rocks before people could have access there.
by mrbrown
The hours that foldies are allowed under the current trial means people who go to work and og home at regular office hours will not be able to take advantage of the changes.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
With stem cell research in Singapore now becoming virtually all government-funded, and after spending S$500 million in building Biopolis, the science park dedicated to biomedical sciences, with millions more on personnel and operating costs, the question of accountability to the public takes on greater importance.
by No Buns No Life
by What Is Blog?
What is does do is merely confirmed that Singapore can push forward its plan to do what she knows best - reclamation!
by Nor Faridah A. Rashid, Bernama
by Bernama
The Singapore government has been urged to consider that Johoreans, especially fishermen, have been using Pulau Batu Puteh for generations for transportation and fishing. International trade and industry minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Malaysian government hoped Singapore would take note of this and not jeopardise the livelihood of the fishermen.
by Gerald Giam, Singapore Patriot
That is what they are best suited for. They can still get their foreign funding (in fact it will be easier as they will not be subjected to the Political Donations Act) and the prickly Lees won't see them as a political threat (although I don't see why they do now).
by Singapore Life And Times
by Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia
Sovereignty over South Ledge was left to eb determined later between the countries when they sort out their territorial waters, the ruling said. So more work is in store for SIngapore and Malaysia.
Associate professor Robert Beckman from the NUS Faculty of Law said: "Indonesia may have to intervene in this case if the boundary is to be determined because their interest will be affected as well."
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
The island-state, once a mere 'sampan' tossing about in a turbulent South-East Asia, is today a large ship cruising international waters. However, its dependency on the world for its daily necessities makes it vulnerable to any global economic downturn.
by Nicholas Fang and Alvin Foo, Straits Times
SIngaore is facing a triple whammy of economic threats in the form of surging inflation, slower-than-expected growth and weaker exports, the government has warned.
by The Star
The International Court of Justice decision on Pulau Batu Puteh means that all natural resources and minerals in the territorial waters wil now belong to Singpore.
Maritime Institute of Malaysia director-general Datuk Cheah Kong Wai said under the Law of hte Sea, a country's erritorial waters stretched 12 nautical miles from its shores or any piece of land.
by The Star
by The Star
For the first time in decades, Malaysian fishermen will be able to fish off Middle Rocks, which are just 0.6 nautical miles south of Pulau Batu Puteh (or Pedra Branca), which now officially belongs to Singapore.
by Endoh's Dungeon
by Hamish McDonald, Sydney Morning Herald
by Bernama
The decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to give Malaysia sovereignty over Middle Rocks proves that Singapore cannot act unilaterally, including in activities involving land reclamation, says deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
by Bernama
International trade and industry minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin calls on the people to accept the split decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday which gave sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh to SIngapore. "Hopefully, Singapore will not be arrogant over the latest decision on Pulau Batu Puteh," he said.
by Bernama
Despite being a country very much larger than Singapore, Malaysia had been sincere from the beginning to solve hte issue peacefully and amicably, head of the Department of Political Science, International Islamic University Malaysia assistant professor Dr Wahabuddin Ra'ees said.
"I hope that the SIngapore government will not regard the decision on Batu Puteh as an opening for them to ride rough shot over Malaysia's sovereign rights on other bilateral issues," said president of the INternational Movement for a Just World, Dr Chandra Muzaffar.
by Bernama
The Pengerang Fishermen's Association will abide by the decision of the International Court of Justice that gave Singapore sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh. Its chairman Abu Bakar Mohamad said the fishermen would go on with their lives as usual and would respect Singapore's ownership of the island although they were rather disappointed with the decision.
by Nor Faridah A. Rashid, Bernama
"The fact that we have lost Pulau Batu Puteh is not due to the weakness of our arguments but to the lack of exercise by the authorities (on that island) for some 100 years," foreign minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim told Malaysian journalists.
Rais said that while Pulau Batu Puteh was the significant material where the HOrsburgh Lighthouse had been built and the administration done by Singaore, "we should also tell the publi cin Malaysia that we also won Middle Rocks which is so close."
"Of course in terms of area we have less than what it is compared to Pulau Batu Puteh but nonetheless, because of the adjacent position of these two units neither party can do any exercise of reclamation for anything without consultation," he said.
by White-Analyst
Malaysia is not behaving like a big country, they are trying to destroy Singapore... Let us remember that today as the most humiliating day of the Republic of Singapore, the day we fail to protect our land despite overseeing them for 130 years.
by Unabridged Excerpts
by Borneo Tips
With Singapore cointinuing to manage the island, one can be assured that it will be well maintained and security around the area be assured.
by Malaysia's Chromosome
by Mahaguru58
Our foreign minister tries to paint the picture as a 'win win' situation. Hahahahahahahaha!!!
by Rocky's Bru
by Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin
Two is surely more than one! Positive thinking! Positive belief! Positive writing! Constructive and motivating journalism! Positive Message! Malaysian values!
by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
Prof Jayakumar said: "I think Malaysia and Singapore, by resolving this dispute in an amicable manner by recourse to the ICJ, or third-party dispute settlement, have in fact shown our peoples as well as the region that this is a way of resolving intractable issues, and I think it's a model for resolving other issues."
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
Sigapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it is pleased with the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which awarded sovereignty of the Pedra Branca island to Singapore on Friday.
But the minstry said the judgement is not totally in SIngapore's favour as the court has awarded Middle Rocks to Malaysia. Even though Singapore had argued that these features are part of Pedra Branca, MFA said it accepts the court's decision.
by Bernama
"This morning's decision is a 'win-win' outcome to both sides. The ICJ decided based on historical facts and international law as well as administrative implications and other related matters.
"... the court decided to award sovereignty to Singapore but at the same time awarded sovereignty over Middle Rocks to Malaysia. This is a victory for Malaysia as well," foreign minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.
by AFP
The International Court of Justice ruled Friday in favour of Singapore in a 28-year sovereignty dispute with Malaysia over a tiny but strategic uninhabited island the size of half a football field.
The granite island is considered important for its strategic position and impact on territorial marine boundaries.
by Channel NewsAsia
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in the Netherlands has awarded sovereignty over Pedra Branca island to Singapore, while the sovereignty of Middle Rocks has been awarded to Malaysia.
As for the island's other maritime feature, South Ledge, Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, the acting president of International Court of Justice, said: "The Court has not been mandated by the parties to draw the line of delimitation with respect to the territorial waters of Malaysia and Singapore in the area in question. In these circumstances, the court concludes that for the reasons explained above, sovereignty over South Ledge, as a low tide elevation, belongs to the State in the territorial waters of which it is located."
See Also: Case Concerning Sovereignty Over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks And South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore): Judgment, by International Court of Justice. (Note: PDF document.)
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
The subliminal message is this: The government wants you to open your mouth, but when you do, they will wave a big stick over your head. They also reserve the right to dismiss your ideas with contempt as soon as they have made a moral judgement about your honesty and sincerity.
by Jan Dahinten and Saeed Azhar, Reuters
Singapore's booming property market has peaked and will continue to moderate over the next two years, the country's trade ministry said on Friday.
by Mr Wang Says So
by The Online Citizen
by One Less Car
I doubt that a substantial proportion of Singaporeans 'understand and accept' the incineration situation. Most of them just consume and throw their waste without a thought to how it is being disposed of.
by Shamim Adam and Jean Chua, Bloomberg
Singapore's economy expanded less than initially estimated in the first quarter, adding to concerns growth may ease in the coming months as global demand weakens and inflation accelerates.
Gross domestic product increased 6.7 percent in the first three months of the year from a year earlier, less than the gvoernment's April 10 estimate of 7.2 percent, the trade ministry said in a statement today. Inflation soared to a 26-year high of 7.5 percent last month, a separate report showed.
by Chua Hian Hou, Straits Times
Singapore's two most popular pornographic websites, both of which allow users to uplaod porn videos for others to watch, have been banned here.
MDA restricts access to 100 'mass-impact objectionable websites as a symbolic statement of our core societal values', MDA senior assistant director for media policy Jason Hoong said in an e-mail reply to The Straits Times.
by Wildfilms
by Reuters
by Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's economy expanded at a slower-than-expected annualised rate of 14.6 per cent in the first quarter from the fourth in a seasonally adjusted and annualised basis.
by Bernama
"(There is) the need for our Malaysian society to be calm and mature about it so as not to translate this into a political upheaveal either way," foreign minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim told journalists. "This is very important."
by Gladys Tay, The Star
Fishermen in Pengerang are keeping their fingers crossed that the Pulau Batu Puteh verdict will be in Malaysia's favour. They have been prevented from fishing in the area for the past 20 years due to Malaysia and Singapore's overlapping claims on the island.
by Associated Press
The University of Illinois plans to expand its reach in Asia with a new digital-science research center in Singapore.
by Roslina Mohamad, The Star
"In Malaysia, we just let them be and due to some bloggers, people tend to believe unfounded articles as the truth," said mentri besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
by The Online Citizen
Singapore remains not having subscribed to the Wllington Declaration which affirms the countries' "objective of concluding the negotiation of such an instrument prohibiting cluster munitions that cuase unacceptable harm to civilians'.
See Also:
Cluster Munitions And International Humanitarian Law, by International Committee of the Red Cross.
'Circle Of Impact', Report On The Human Impact Of Cluster Bombs, by Handicap International.
by Karen Wong, New Paper
Disneyland Hong Kong has cast its net in Singapore for drama and dance graduates to star in its stage shows.
by Today
Opposition politician Chee Soon Juan is employing delaying tactics to avoid the assessment of damages hearing next week, said minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew's press secretary yesterday.
by Chemical Generation Singapore
Ideally, the law should not be brought in at all.
by Jalil Hamid and Neil Chatterjee, Reuters
Johor officials said privately that the Johor state government could be forced to turn its back on Singapore if Kuala Lumpur loses the case, with the southern state's hereditary ruler losing face.
"The Sultan may freak out and make it diffcult for Johor state officials to have direct dealings with the Singapore government," said one. "There's also the possibility of ruling party politicians staging anti-Singapore demonstrations."
by Choi Tuck Wo, The Star
Expectations are high that the 17-member bench headed by vice-president judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh will rule in favour of Malaysia. The source added that Malaysia had presented a compelling case to the court during the hearing between Nov 16 and 23 last year.
by Bernama
The settlement of the overlapping claims between Malaysia and Singapore on the sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and SOuth Ledge thorugh a judgement by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague Friday demonstrates Malaysia's steadfast adherence to the fundamental principles governing interstate relations in her foreign policy.
by Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has revisd the application process for its Build-to-Order and Balloting Exercise modes of sale to address recent increases in non-selection of new HDB flats.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
The obvious absurdity of all this tilting at windmills and the ultimate ineffectualness of it must eventually strike someone with that rare ounce of common sense as pointless, in fact, damaging.
by Yusho Ahmad, The Ancient Mariner
Datuk Shabery believes that whatever the outcome, Singaproeans in general will not be overly concerned because they consider this more of a "government to government" issue. For Malaysians on the other hand, it is more of an emotive "people to people" issue. Win or lose, it may lead to some negative repercussions.
by Ian On The Red Dot
by Tania Tan, Straits Times
by Gillian Murdoch, Reuters
For critics, Singapore's set-up is a dirty mess. "Waste incineration sounds like a pretty good idea if you don't really look into it too deeply," said Neil Tangri, of the International Global Anti-incinerator Alliance.
by Ian On The Red Dot
The best way to remove racism is to put it out in the light nad let it wither and die under the glaring heat of public scrutiny.
by Bernama
Foreign minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said a technical committee will "administer and carry out the decision according to international administrative principles." The committee would determine matters, among others, as to who should be on the island after the decision was made and also questions on fishery areas.
by B. Suresh Ram, New Straits Times
Information minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek urged Malaysians to accept the decision and not to get too emotional if the court ruled in Singapore's favour.
by Singapore Life And Times
Well, what to do?
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
Has Yaw Shin Leong committed political suicide, for himself and his party?
by TelecomTV
by Liew Hanqing, New Paper
He claims he wrote only for friends, but says he will apologise online.
by Sujadi Siswo, Channel NewsAsia
This is the last available legal recourse in Indonesia to have the decisions against Temasek Holdings overturned.
by Keith Lin, Straits Times
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan and party supporter Yap Keng Ho were found guilty on Wednesday of speaking in public without a permit in the run-up to the 2006 general election.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's Agent to the Court, Professor Tommy Koh said, "being a natural born optimist, I am optimistic but I am not arrogant or presumptuous because the court could decide in any one of the four ways. I hope no matter what the outcome is, that both sides will take inspiration from this process and will see this as a possible precedent which could be used to settle bilateral disputes."
by Reuters
Singapore's media regulator is investigating the screening of a political film that an opposition party said critically examines the city-state's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. The film, "One Nation Under Lee", was made by a group of political activists and looks at the rise of Lee and his relationship with the media, Chee Siok Chin, a senior member of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), told Reuters.
by Ian Lim, Straits Times
by The Maxima
by Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
I disagree with many of the methods employed by the SDP but the act of seizing a film screened for a small group of people isn't going to make me like the PAP. The Worker's Party suddenly seem like a nice in-between.
by Nadelicious Till De Very Last Drop!
by Movign Higher In Souped-Up Heeeuristically Agon Moment
by Singapore Peak Oil: Energy, Entropy, Economics, Ecology
by Jeffrey Law, Straits Times
by Pkchukiss
My guess is that the designer was probably in a hurry and simply dumped the first image he found in the clip art gallery.
by NTT's Core Dump 2.0....
I liked the idea for its freshness and its tongue-in-cheek artistic sense. I mean after all it is a kind of performance art, but something different.
by T C Chang, Environment And Planning A
The power and powerlessness of public art in Singapore are not unlike those encountered in other cities where artful planning has taken centre stage in contemporary urban redevelopment. (Note: PDF document.)
by William J. Dobson, Newsweek
As much as the government is trying to spin the prison break as a cautionary tale, the episode is revealing shortcomings in Singapore's nanny state. Singapore does an excellent job mobilizing its resources and directing them at recognized problems, a Western diplomat said. But there are few external or independent checks on the system — and this lack of scrutiny, combined with the government's generally successful record, has produced serious blind spots.
by Tan Kin Lian, The Online Citizen
The key performance indicator of a government should go beyond economic growth.
Personally, I'd rather not have the pay of ministers linked to any indices. I would like to have the prime minister go to the parliament and the people regularly to justify why he is paying how much to his cabinet.
by Today
Police have arrested a 24-year-old man for posting contents in his blog that could "wound the racial feelings of another', according to their statement.
by Associated Press
World Bank managing director Juan Jose Daboub praised the tiny Southeast Asian nation for its economic success but said it needs to strike a right balance between social order and stability to allow more innovation and creativity to product high-value goods and services.
"At a time of increasing chanllegnes," he warned, "the margin for error for a small country like Singapore is small, despite the sucess to date."
by Mollymeek
Are non-PAP politicians obliged to be anti-PAP and only anti-PAP?
by Chemical Generation Singapore
by Today
Salary increments in Singapore for the next 12 months will lag inflation, according to the results of a survey by global management consultancy Hay Group released at the weekend.
by Ian On The Red Dot
Control is going to be hard to maintain.
by Chen Meiyue, Straits Times
Residents of Marsiling Causeway View estate near the Causeway are being driven up the wall by the incessant blaring of horns and revving of motorcycle engines.
by Jamie Ee Wen Wei, Carmen Onggo and Terence Lee, Straits Times
A numebr of food-delivery services - having to cope with higher food and transport costs - have upped their delivery fees or menu prices, or both.
by Antara News
Indonesia's investment agency chief on Monday rejected suggestions that a court ruling against Singapore's Temasek Holdings for alleged breach of anti-monopoly laws would deter foreign investors. "Decisions were made by two different institutions and both found Temasek guilty," Muhammad Lutfi told AFP.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
With things still in flux — and the legal case charging Surin Upatkoon of Kularb Kaew for acting as Temasek's nominee is still pending — two and a half years after the controversial purchase, we might want to ask, when will we know whether it was a good investment or not?
by Chua Hian Hou, Straits Times
The annual crackdown on people who have not paid their $110 TV licence is underway.
by Ephraim Loy, A Writer's Blog
The law is a more often a painful experience than a pleasant one.
by Otterman Speaks...
It was inevitable after the recent announcement about the trail that the public holiday would draw in the crowds.
by Jinny Koh, Today
Stench from river affecting business, they claim.
by DPA
A majority of Singapore consumers have stopped doing business with at least one firm in the last year due to poor service, a survey said yesterday.
by Martyn See, No Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
by Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
by Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
by The Star
The Iskandar Malaysia project is a platform for Singapore to expand its sovereignty, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He explained that the project was intended to lure Singaporeans and Malay land would be sold to them for 10 times its worth. "After the land is sold, the Malays will be driven to live at the edge of the forest and even the forest itself."
by Grace Chng, Straits Times
A vibrant ecosystem of hackers, software developers and accessor retailers has sprung up to support a growing Apple iPhone user base in Singapore.
This is amazing, given that the most talked-about cellphone is not even officially available here yet.
by Maria Siow, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore foreign minister George Yeo has said that even as regional countries extend a helping hand to Myanmar and China, they have to accept the autonomy of these countries. That is because only they know their internal situations better.
by Aaron Peng, A New Beginning
by Romeo V. Pefianco, Manila Bulletin
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
by Martyn See, No Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The wearing of seat belts on small school buses is to be made mandatory. Transport minister Raymond Lim revealed this on Saturday, saying the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is currently working out how best to do this.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Have affluent, educated Singaporeans become too self-centred and insensitive to other people's plights? Can Singapore be considered a First World city with such boorishness? A mature, developed country isn't defined only by wealth and education; it is also about humanity and concern for others.
by Liam Fitpatrick, Time
These days, Singaporean film relishes the themes of alienation, sexuality and dysfunctionality, challenging viewers to see beyond the city-state's straitlaced stereotypes, and exploiting to the full a more relaxed attitude among Singapore's censors. Time's Liam Fitzpatrick spoke to Khoo (whose last feature, My Magic, has just been accepted into the main competition at Cannes), as well as to Ekachai Uekrongtham (the only other Singaporean director to have shown at Cannes) and one of the city-state's most promising young directors, Brian Gothong Tan.
by Elia Diodati, E Pur Si Muove
Shortcircuiting the checks and balances in democratic institutions for whatever reason, including "efficiency", represents a blatant violation of the fundamental tenets of democracy and a failure to appreciate the distinction between a functioning democratic society and the populist tyranny of the majority.
by Selene Cheng, The Online Citizen
The number of Burmese, though, is not the real issue. THe real issue really is this: there's a lack of transparency from the bureaucracy.
by DK
by Chan Whye Chuen, Straits Times
by Cheung Phei Chiet, Straits Times
Should we even have different shades of innocence (or guilt)?
Innocence and guilt must be binary description, otherwise, the idea of "innocence until proven guilty" doesn't work. But it must work.
by Bernama
Viewers can catch the 'live' telecast on RTM1 at 4 pm, a Broadcasting Department statement said Friday.
by Jennifer Fishbein, BusinessWeek
The U.S. is still No. 1, but not for long, according to IMD's annual list. With Singapore leading the way, Asia looks like an unstoppable force.
by Sheep City
Who is Shin Leong trying to kid?
by The Kway Teow Man
The fundamental reason why Yaw Shin Leong is right is: nation before party, principles before dogma.
by Esther Fung, Today
Singapore ranks little better than Russia when it comes to the number of companies with measures in place to protect corporate whistleblowers.
by Maria Almenoar, Straits Times
by Maria Almenoar, Straits Times
This includes an electronic signboard to tell motorists their speeds, lane markings to indicate an upcoming pedestrian crossing, triangular lane markings to get motorists to slow down and dotted lines at pedestrian light crossings.
by Brian Koh, Harmless? Bananas!
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
by Singapore Government
(Note: PDF document.)
See Also: Government Accepts National Wages Council's Guidelines For 2008/2009, by Singapore Government. (Note: PDF document.)
by London, Lanka And Drums
In Orchard Road, in Singapore where I coul dhave got almost anything I wanted to eat within a short walk I headed for the easy win, the quick get back on the first rung of the ladder place.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Growth in Singapore's real basic wages last year outpaced productivity for the second consecutive year. That is the conclusion of the tripartite National Wages Council (NWC).
by Urbanrant
If the EDB is found to be lacking in its process when reviewing investments and granting incentives to foreigners, Singaporeans would want the EDB to tighten its process.
by Sgpolitics.net
by His Food Blog
For such a price and Straits Times claiming that it deserved at least one Michelin star, expectations were high and I expected more. However, only the roast chicken made it for me that night, that one is definitely better off having the rest of the dishes at some tze char stall elsewhere.
by The Anti Neo-Democracy Theorist
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
The National Wage Council (NWC) has asked for a one-off payment to low-wage workers to help them cope with the impact of higher inflation.
by New Straits Times
Asked about Singapore deputy prime minister Prof S. Jayakumar's statement on Singapore winning the case, foreigner minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that the republic might feel they too had submitted strong evidence. "We cannot stop them from expressing their confidence."
by The Online Citizen
by Lim Chih Yang, The Onlien Citizen
by Ansley Ng, Today
Lawyers for the Far Eastern Economic Review (Feer) will present their case in court today, to fight off an application for a summary judgment made by lawyers for prime minister Lee Hisen Loong and minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
by Derrick A Paulo, Today
There are questions to be answered before we even start considering what the voting age should be. Above all, are we doing enough in our schools to prepare our youth to make all-important political judgments?
To me, things are quite clear. Youths, in general, tend to be liberal. The existing government is more conservative than liberal. Why, then, will the government want to lower the voting age to get in more voters that, likely, will not vote for the current government?
by Harriet Alexander and Brian Robins, Sydney Morning Herald
The University of NSW lost $47.6 million through the closure of its Singapore campus, the first official figures to disclose the extent of the financial fallout over the controversial enterprise show.
The Singapore government had contributed nearly $26 million in loans and grants towards its establishment, resulting in an ugly dispute over liability of costs when the university pulled out.
An audit raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest when the campus was terminated. THe university's Asia president, Greg Whittred, was also a member of Singapore's Economic Development Board, the main creditor when the campus collapsed.
by Hua Zhongwei and Fang Yan, Reuters
China Eastern Airlines is still in talks to sell a stake to Singapore Airlines, and it is very likely the two carriers will complete a deal, China Eastern chairman Li Fenghua said on Thursday.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Driving in the Central Business District will be a different experience from June 2. That's when full-day bus lanes will be extended to 11 new locations. The extension is in addition to such lanes already in operation along six stretches of roads, like Orchard Road and Eu Tong Sen Street.
See Also: LTA Extends Bus Lane Scheme To Improve Travel Experience For Bus Commuters, by Land Transport Authority, Singapore Government.
by Anthony Yeo, theonlinecitizen
by Rais Yatim, New Straits Times
In the end, it is what Malaysia and Singapore do after May 23 that will decide whether we canbring closure to a bilateral issue that has besieged us for more than three decades. Whatever the final outcome, Malaysia and Singapore will remain steadfast as friends and neighbours bound by understanding and harmony.
by Daryl Loo and Kevin Lim, Reuters
The real estate arm of the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) said on Thursday that the credit crunch arising from the U.S. subprime crisis is being felt in Asian property markets.
by Samuel Tang, Straits Times
We are faced with the sole option of hiring a maid based on ministry's policy, rather than our needs.
by Alicia Wong and Ng Jing Yng, Today
Checking on the regular price — before any discounts — of fragrant rice at supermarkets/hypermarts over May 6 and 7, the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) found some huge price differences.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
by UnwiredView.com
A recent comment from a StarHub spokesperson in Singapore indicates that the iPhone could arrive but not on an exclusive deal with any of the telcos.
by Bernama
by Sheep City
77 days of unsuccessful recapture, 77 days of excuses and 77 days of failure.
by This Lush Garden Within
Many of us never had the opportunity to choose our leaders before... maybe even for the rest of our lives we will continue to see 'walkovers' in our own constituencies. However, we can choose to leave for somewhere else, where citizens are treated with more respect, somewhere where the political scene is healthier, where the grass is greener.
by Tan Kin Lian, theonlinecitizen
We need a coordinated national effort to implement the "work from home" or "work near home" idea.
by Hsu Dar Ren
It is the sense of being wanted and being appreciated that make these people stay overseas.
by Lim Heng Liang, Straits Times
Foreigners are hawking food in ever increasing numbers at places where crowds throng, such as outside MRT stations and temples. The National Environment Agency said that so far this year, 800 illegal hawkers have been caught, and 650 of them were from China, Bangladesh, Mongolia, India and Indonesia.
by Green W
Tah Chung Emporium - one of those department stores that any person living in Queenstown would remember.
My memories of Queenstown include the public library, where an old librarian will walk around and telling people to "shhh!", and the dim sum restaruant on the third floor which was narrow and crowded.
by The Tom!
by Kaustubh Kulkarni, Business Standard
Singapore is trying to position itself as the destination of choice for Indian students. The country wants Indian students to enrol in its institutes, from the higher secondary or the junior college level onwards.
by Aaron Khoo, Channel NewsAsia
Industry watchers said the telco sector is poised for greater competition, following SingTel's announcement that it has signed an agreement to bring the iPhone into Singapore.
They said the timing is crucial as mobile number portability is set to kick in next month, allowing subscribers to keep their numbers even when switching service operators.
by Insane Polygons
by Terence Lee, theonlinecitizen
by Vincent Lingga, Jakarta Post
To the laymen, the Cenral Jakarta District Cout's ruling Friday that the Singapore government-owned Temasek holdings and its subsidiaries breached anti-competition laws through minority cross-ownerships in PT Indosat and PT Telkomsel is both a worrisome and confusing logic.
by Bamboo Rain:Through His Eyes
In flavor, I think that in many cases the local coffee is better than a Starbucks, especially in the price.
by Ian On The Red Dot
History is filled with cautionary tales about empires that expand beyond their means and who rely on foreign talents/labour to sustain the expansion.
by Tan Mingjuan, Yawning Bread
If Singapore wants both to retain and attract talent, it must give its people a say in how our country is going to be developed.
by Suman Balani, Nets Singapore, Today
We discovered that the number of complaints have risen in tandem with the growth in the ERP gantries and extended hours of ERP operations.
That is the wrong metrics to measure, I believe. It should be the number of ERP users that Nets should be benchmarked against, not the number of ERP use.
by Timothy Ouyang, Channel NewsAsia
Another landmark near Orchad Road may soon get a facelift. Channel NewsAsia understands that Shaw Organisation is considering a major redevelopment of Shaw House and its neighbouring Shaw Centre. According to sources, plans are in the pipeline to expand Shaw Organisation's Lido Cineplex, and to add more retail space.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
On Monday, the High Court adjourned the hearing to give SDP and its lawyers more time to prepare their arguments.
by Channel NewsAsia
Singapore Telecomunications (SingTel), Bharti Airtel, Globe Telecom, and Optus announced on Monday that they have signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to Singapore, India, the Philippines and Australia later this year.
by Mr Wang Says So
As I see it, either the Aljunied Town Council has suddenly changed its plans about the index, or the Straits Times made a big error in reporting the story the first time around.
by Lydia Lim, Straits Times
Officials from Singaproe and Malayisa met recently ahead of next week's verdict on the sovereignty dispute over Pedra Branca, to discuss ways to ensure a 'smooth and problem-free' enforcement of the judgement to be handed down by the world court, deputy prime minister S Jayakumar said on Monday.
by Itchy Traveller
Here is a walk where I can guarantee that you will experience one of the most memorable nature adventures by the eastern shoreline.
by Leong Sze Hian, theonlinecitizen
It is preplexing for CASE's executive director to explain the disparity by saying that "only NTUC FairPrice had told the consumer watchdog of its uniform pricing."
This is esepcially bewildering because CASE was supposed to have done a survey of all the supermarkets - instead of waiting for the supermarket chains to tell it about their uniform pricing.
by Hedy Khoo, New Paper
Forget the red-light district. The way rents are going, Geylang is now the red-hot district.
The demand for properties between Lorong 1 and 25 is so hot that rents have shot up, and some long-time businesses are being forced to move out.
by Bernama
by Cowboy Caleb
by Jinny Koh, Today
The LTA is in discussions with cab companies to see if they can provide rebates for their cabbies, even as it considers extensions to the operating hours of existing ERP gantries.
by Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia
by Maria Almenoar, Straits Times
Five new gantries to go up in Singapore River area, but retailers should not worry, says Ministry.
And the rest of the article does not even tell us where the five new gantries will be.
by Songs Of Innocence And Experience
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
by Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
by Singapore Life And Times
by Urbanrant
Why is the matter so difficult?
by Sun Bin
by My Very Own Glob
by Feed Me To The Fish
by Zaihan Mohamed Yusof, New Paper
It's never been this bad, said stallholders at the food centre near the Causeway.
by Musings
Should Channel 5 have challenged MDA's fine in court?
by Mr Wang Says So
by Ian Tan, Empty Vesel
It's basically a rewritten version of an old official response, but it's positioned in a way that pushes all the wrong buttons in our battered Singaporean male psyche.
by Under The Willow Tree
Not only are the industry's most respected analysts holding diametric opinions to you, the world's most respected investors have also made the opposite investment decisions compared to you.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Despite a growing disenchantment at home, tiny Singapore has attracted scattered admiration in countries keen to follow its way of solving problems.
Those involve mostly economic and management systems that were well crafted and implemented by a purposeful and hard-working population — rather than its form of politics.
by Jermyn Chow, Straits Times
After four years of decline, the consumption of shark's fin spiked last year, with more than 470 tonnes eaten despite pleas from environmental groups for consumers to cut down.
See Also: The Brutal Business Of Shark Finning, by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
by Sayoni Speak
by Kiapura
At least they get the food right. Damn do they get ghe food right.
by Seth Mydans, New York Times
It miht seem late for a fresh start, but that is the story of J. B. Jeyaretnam's life, a political intruder who refuses to stay away.
Last month he was back again after six years of political banishment, the grand old man of political opposition ready to joust again with Singapore's immovable political establishment.
by Glenda Chong, Channel NewsAsia
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) expects the management of foreign exchange reserves to be more difficult in the coming years due to economic uncertainties and market volatility.
Is this an admission that GIC had made a few bad investment lately?
by Andrew Loh, theonlinecitizen
by Trash Served Fresh
You know what, pui!
by Jan Dahinten, Reuters
Singapore's sovereign fund GIC, one of the world's biggest state-owned investors, warned on Friday that risks to the global economy could rise in the next 12 months due to falling house prices and a spike in energy costs.
by Jennifer Tan, Reuters
Singapore Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia), a unit of state investor Temasek Holdings, said on Friday it would challenge an Indonesian court's decision to uphold the anti-trust ruling on its parent.
by Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia
A shopper at a FairPrice supermarkt told Channel NewsAsia he was not allowed to buy more than three packets of rice. FairPrice said the restriction is to protect consumer interest.
Hmmm... there are two numbers thrown out in the article: 3 packets and 5 packets.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
by Channel NewsAsia
A Jakarta court has turned down an appeal by Temasek Holdings and ruled that the Singapore investment company must sell or reduce its stakes in two Indonesian telcom companies.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
Fairness is a discipline. No matter how monstrous we think a person is, morality demands that we treat him fairly. Tacking on an additional charge under Section 377A of the Penal Code is an act of discrmination.
by The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod
by Jessica Lim, Straits Times
Shop N Save, Giant and FairPrice ensure items are priced the same at all outlets.
I wonder, though, that when I purchase stuff from the neighbourhood supermarket, which happens to be a FairPrice store, by the way, am I "subsidizing" part of the higher rental of a supermarket in a shopping mall or MRT? Why is this one-price policy a good thing?
by Singapore Life And Times
When competition truly does comes, then the CCS ceases to be relevant.So why isn't it doing anything when it is relevant today?
by Chia Ti Lik
by Sudi Piggott, Time
Chili crab, Singapore's unofficial national dish, is not meant to be consumed politely — covered in a gloopy sauce, the crab is usually served whole and eaten with your hands. But with gastronomic trendspotters declaring utensil-less dining the next big thing, I sought out the best of these tasty crustaceans on a recent trip to Singapore.
by Teo Xuanwei, Today
by A Xeno Boy In Sg
There is something fundamentally wrong in Singapore if we have to standin line for a kilo of rice from Tua Pek Kong while 30% of the conservancy charges we pay every month feeds nobody.
by Rachel Kelly and Jonathan Peeris, Channel NewsAsia
Inflation is a more serious problem for Singapore and other Asian economies than an economic slowdown in the United States, according to HSBC's senior Asian economist, Robert Prior-Wandesforde.
by Yang Huiwen, Straits Times
If your latest power bill gave you a jolt, you'd better get used to it because there is more to come.
by CLessThanThreeC
by Global News
by Gladys Tay, The Star
Invite your Malaysian friends over.
by Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Just as currency speculators are clueless as to how much money the Singapore government has, Singapore citizens are just about as clueless.
by Vincent Su, Straits Times
by Alicia Phua, Straits Times
by Cherian George, Journalism.sg
by Angelne Lee, Today
This more benign approach of waiting for the LTA to create competition rather than taking independent pre-emptive action may be instructive of its policy approach as competiition regulator in Singapore.
by Musings
There are miles to go before we sleep.
by Leong Sze Hian and Choo Zheng Xi, theonlinecitizen
Why are we being constantly told that Fairprice is the cheapest, when even Case's surveys seem to indicate otherwise?
by Ivan Chew, Rambling Librarian
by Simply Jean
Retrun to Singapore after graduating from a GMS overseas probabl meant that I'd be treated as a 3rd class citizen and 3rc class doctor anyway.
by Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
A group of bloggers has submitted 20 pages of propsals on internet freedom to the government, which says it will consider their ideas.
by Saeed Azhar and Kevin Lim, Reuters
by Singapore Government
by Leong Sze Hian and Andrew Loh, theonlinecitizen
Instead of charging more, how about reducing S & CC for the cleaner precincts instead?
by ieatishootipost
I just wish that some of the good old hawker centres can be put on the heritage list so that they can be preserved for our future generations.
by Anonymous_X
by Yesterday.sg
by secretsatsixth
Basically, the competition had a bake theme... to bake anything that has a green ingredient. I did a green bean tea-ramisu and a creamed spinach quiche.
by TheBachelorGirl.com
by Ivan Chew, Rambling Librarian
by Mollymeek
by Singapore Government
On behalf of the government and people of Singapore, I would like to extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims, with the hope that they will find the strength to recover from their grief and loss. (Note: PDF document.)
by Jinny Koh, Today
by Ng Jing Yng, Today
by Ivan Chew, Rambling Librarian
by Feed Me To The Fish
by Melvin Tan, A Sampan On Singapore Soil
Singaporeans would not wish to pay the government higher salaries to think of new ways to make more money from them.
by DK
by Reuters
Singapore's prime minister said on Tuesday that its sovereign wealth fund GIC will not move to the same level of financial disclosure as its sister fund Temasek.
"We do not want to tell people exactly how much we have, so people can take a run on the Singapore dollar."
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
We are already living the reality of a digital space that is borderless. Fitna is easily accessible, and there is more porn available from a two-click websearch than any of us have time to watch. The pigeons are among us. Why do we still want to undermine respect for the law by using it as a shaggy scarecrow?
by The Moley Prophet
by theonlinecitizen
The opposition needs someone who combines the ruthlessness and iron-will of Margaret Thatcher and with the kind of clear, sweeping vision that Franklin Rosevelt brought to an America in crisis.
by Presenting The(new)mediaslut!
by Nicholas Loh, Straits Times
I am disappointed that MP Seng Han Thong, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)), responded by challenging the WP to 'not allow its contractors to employ foreigners', instead of addressing the issues raised.
by Yeo Khee Quan, Straits Times
FairPrice, being a cooperative, pays no corporate taxes and is under no obligation to show a profit.
by Jorn Madslein, BBC News
Water shortages are making waves all over the world, with supplies increasingly seen as an issue of national security. In Singapore, they have boiled it down to economics.
by The Fiji Times
Public Service Commission chairman Rishi Ram says the civil service in Singapore, though small in size, is efficient. Mr Ram says the commissiion feels that model would be beneficial for Fiji's civil service.
by Zubaidah Nazeer, New Paper
Customer service officers at a social services centre have come under fire for allegedly raising their voices at those who approach them, and for exhibiting what appeared to be unprofessional behaviour.
Residents who have been to a branch of the North West community development council (CDC) at Woodlands Civic Centre were observed to have been rudely served.
by Mr Wang Says So
In 2006/2007, Aljunied Town Council could have spent double the amount they actually did, on cleaning works, and still have money left over.
by Under The Willow Tree
I seriously think there's no debate.
by My Very Own Glob
What happened to the "Swiss Standard of Living" Goh Chok Tong talked about in the 90s? Left it in Switzerland?
by Insane Polygons
I ended my subscription to The Straits Times. If I was going to have shit shoveled into my face, then goddamnit I should be at least be paid.
by The Biz Walk
by Blowin' In The Wind
Is Lee Kuan Yew one of the foremost thinkers of our time? He is among the top 100 public intellectuals listed by Foreign Policy magazine. It is asking people people to choose the world's five foremost thinkers.
by Ian Lim, Straits Times
Singaproeans want the government to take a more proactive and consultative approach to setting priorities and making decisions, and be accountable for public spending, according to a survey released on Monday.
by Presenting The(new)mediaslut!
I was wondering if Madam C. Suwarin, HSA deputy director, could share any evidence that these drug companies are "paying for editorial coverage in the newspapers, magazines or radio". Such sweeping statements, not only affect the integrity of the publication, but that of the journalist too.
by Singapore Life And Times
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Do you know that you can subscribe to SingaporeSurf via this URL http://www.myapplemenu.com/singapore/rss.xml in your favorite news aggregator such as Google Reader and Bloglines?
:-)
by I Have Succumbed To Peer Pressure
Assuming that the ST will never regain its credibility until an overhaul takes lace first at the level of the state, I think the onus is now on the Singaporean New Media to build up its credibility in terms of discussion and debate.
by Melvin Tan, A Sampan On Singapore Soil
Why a PAP MP couldn't fathom a Workers' Party statement.
by Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times
How could this be? We are a great power. How could we be borrowing money from Singapore?
by Sgpolitics.net
by M. Bakri Musa
Oppression is still oppression no matter ow seemingly sophisticated the guises and excuses. Singapore effectively controls its citizens through inane and intrusive rules as well as punitive laws like its libel statutes. South Korea's General Park justified his on the pretext of economic efficiency and national security. It worked only temporarily in South Korea; it will be the same with Singapore. Sooner or later citizens' yearning for freedom will emerge. Once the flame of freedom is lighted, it can be doused only temporarily.
by AFP
Finance mnisters of 13 Asian nations agreed on Sunday to set up a foreign exchange pool of at least 80 billion dollars to be used in the event of another regional financial crisis. China, Japan and South Korea will provide 80 percet of the funds, with the rest coming from the 10 members of ASEAN.
by Rob McKay, New Zealand Herald
Singapore is full of novel ideas that make the city so safe and prosperous. The place is run like an efficient organisation. Why? Because Singapore has an over-riding policy of "zero tolerance for poor performance and bad behaviour".
by Lincoln Tan, New Zealand Herald
by Douglas Wong and Haslinda Amin, Bloomberg
Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore, predicted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations eventually will allow people and money to move freely within the region like the European Union.
by Lai Yew Chan, Today
It must remain our long-term goal to empower Singaporeans with the comparative advantage when seeking a service job, or any job for that matter.
by Loh Chee Kong, Today
by Ng Jing Yng, Today
Gaming cafes register as clubs to get around rules restricting entry for young patrons.
And this is different from students skipping school to go to the nearby long kang to catch fish, how?
by SM Ong, New Paper
$200 is supposed to help me cope with the 2 per cent GST increase in July last year. Now, a mere 10 months later, we seem to need mor than a GST Offset Package.
by Mr Wang Says So
It seems that the police authorities want the NEA to take on an additional role - deal with opposition politicians who cannot be prosecuted for unlawful assembly or illegal outdoor demonstrations.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
At least Ding was vindicated on appeal. But it has been a long-drawn and expensive trial for him. He has to pay his own legal costs; the state is not going to compensate him for the homophobic panic of its officers.
This is another example of how the state wrongs its own citizens through a homophobic climate in the very corridors of power.
by he Kway Teow Man
by Singapore Angle
by AFP
Singapore may be one of Asia's wealthiest nations but soaring food prices have hit its poor hard, as can be seen by the queues at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, which serves daily free vegetarian meals.
With inflation at a 26-year high, charities say more people are joining queues for free meals.
by Faizis
by Insane Polygons
There was a time when our leaders was truly worthy of emulation and admiration.
These days in return for a couple of million dollars, all we get are a bunch of middle managers with delusions of grandeur and a diminised sense of responsibility. Who when push comes to shove would have the lapdog media do the dirty work for them rather than own up to their mistkes and shortcomings.
by The Biz Walk
by DPA
Peddlers from China and Vietnam are hawking bootleg cigarettes openly in Singapore and even stopping cars to sell their stash, The Sunday Times said. The cigarettes are smuggled in on board cargo ships which dock at Jurong Port.
by Tara Tan, The Star
It is a tiny film from a tiny island. But it has made the big time. Singapore film My Magic is competing with the world's biggest names in film-making for the prestigious Palme d'Or (Golden Palm), the highest accolade at the coming Cannes Film Festival.
Days after the news, director Eric Khoo was still pinching himself.
by Ho Choon Hiong, Bishan Busy Body
by Shuli Sudderuddin and Samantha Eng, Straits Times
Experts say outright ban may have effect of making unhealthy food more desirable to pupils.
by Queer Rant
Despite being a developed country and having one of the highest concentration of queers in the region, are the people so this closed minded about things like this?
by Bright Lights
by Gerald Giam, Singapore Patriot
When some amoeba civil servant comes up with a great idea, the government mouthpieces boast that "minister Cin Tua Liap mooted the idea". But if a disgraceful prison break occurs, the blame is contained within the detention centre and no higher.
by Joel Tan, Daily Backtrack
The government has to learn that the sentiment of 377A is not politically expedient anymore, that it is one part of the caustic erosion of the wall between the state and those who wish to exert their dogma on it.
by Urbanrant
So what do I expect from our police? Not much, but they are pretty good at showing up whenever Chee Soon Juan turns up.
by Journalism.sg
by Ng Yi-Sheng, theonlinecitizen
Minister of home affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng, do please keep your boys and girls in blue focused on important affairs like missing alleged terrorists and rapists and murderers and, oh, maybe even a little effort on petty crime would be a good idea. Why send them over to rough up a sauna? Let them behave with a little dignity.
by Ng Yi-Sheng, theonlinecitizen
WHat the show revealed was that gay families exist, which they patently do. For MDA to manically hide such facts from your average viewer is tantamount to fraud: a policy of lying. For its own reasons, the group wants Singapore audiences to be innocent and ignorant - in a word, stupid.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
Dangers lurk when a government begins to rely on their ability to get the media dog to jump at their bidding. Instead of doing right, it may at times become more tempting for those in power to do quiet. Today, it's a detainee's escape that is "no longer topical", tomorrow it might be a bread-and-butter issue that resonates more widely with ordinary voters. Would the government bulldoze its way through and rely on its editors to ignore popular feeling and "move on"?
by Under The Willow Tree
There are direct links between ministerial responsibility and the recapture of Mas Selamat. Netizens, bloggers, MPs and the opposition would do well to focus on these links.
by Wooden Dino
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
The republic is paying a high price for becoming a global city of fine living comparable to the likes of Paris, New York or Tokyo. It has created something more than high inflation: A permanent high-cost structure — from property to taxi fares and restaurants.
by The Biz Walk
by Straits Times
by Bryan Murphy, Daily Campus
by Haslinda Amin and Liza Lin, Bloomberg
Soaring rice prices are less likely to cause instability in China, India and other major Asian economies because they are buffered by domestic production of hte cereal, Singapore's minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew said.
by Neo Chai Chin, Today
by Richard Hartung, Today
Instead of size, developing a welcoming environment that nurtures talent and enables it to flourish seems more likely to drive growth than just pouplation increases.
by Anrul John, New Paper
Having such a statute ensures that the accused person's right to a fair trial is not undermined because of loss of evidence or gaps in the memory of witnesses.
by Loh Chee Kong, Today
"The question by the prime minister is an unnecessary question. I have not called for the resignation of the minister. Is that not an obvious answer to you?" he told Weekend Today.
by he Kway Teow Man
If the government tired to regulate, it's probably going to scew it up - because MAS won't be able to do it right.
by Ian Tan, Empty Vesel
Xenophobia's been around for a long time but to need to have the Gahmen constantly telling us to stop fretting about foreign workers in our midst? C'mon people. We're made of tougher stock than that.
by Gandhi Ambalam, Singapore Democratic Party, theonlinecitizen
Our workers became victims of big business, including govenment and Temasek-linked companies.
by Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia
by Yaw Shin Leong, The Workers' Party
For the record, the staff of HGTC are all Singaporeans. However WP recognizes the contribution of foreign workers and is not against their employment. FOr instance, HGTC does not object to its contractors deploying foreign workers in the estate.
The issue here is not of foreign workers' employment per se but rather how the Singapore government ahd the labour union will ensure that the dignity and societal position of Singaporeans workers are not compromised in view of globalization and labour mobility.
by Alfred Siew, Straits Times
Starhub raised the bar on Friday on internet deals by giving its home broadband subscribers free wireless access on the go as well.
by Blowin' In The Wind
I know the Straits Times means well and didn't want to spoil the holiday mood, but does it have to look only on the bright side? It's a newspaper after all, not a get-well card!
by Daniel's Adventures In Adultland
Singapore might not be the most complicated country in the world but it's certainly not the land of simpletons New York Times like to believe it is.
by Faith's Transient Life
by THomson Financial
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its 'AAA/A-1+' sovereign credit ratings on the Republic of Singaore, to reflect its enduring fiscal and external strengths and competitive economy, while factoring in the challenges it faces as a small open economy.
by theonlinecitizen
Without a more progressive agenda to alleviate inequality, lower-income groups are likely to languish despite Singapore's continued growth.
by Ian On The Red Dot
by Aidil Omar, Sheep City
by SGFRAC
by Walter Lim, Cooler Insights
by Presenting The(new)mediaslut!
by New York Times
It's a welcome sign that Washington is committed to playing a sustained and constructive role in a vital and cmpetitive region where China is determinedly cultivating a growing influence.
by Zul Othman, Today
Nearly $2,000 worth of groceries were given away to about 780 one- and two-room homes during the three-hour exercise, which was co-organised with charity group Red Star Community Service.
by Lin Yanqin, Today
Yesterday, Mr Seng Han Thong, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general, challenged the WP to set an example on the issue of foreign workers.
"According to their statements, I propose that they start with their Hougang Town Council by ensuring that all their workers and employees are Singaporeans only. That's the best way to start."
Sure, why not. In fact, Hougang Town Council should even go one step further: hire Hougang residents first.
by Diary Of A Singaporean Mind
by Journalism.sg
by theonlinecitizen
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The opposition Singapore Democratic Party marked May Day by distributing flyers and getting SIngaporeans to sign two petitions.
by Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
Lee Hisen Loong, and his party, has missed the problem, in my opinion. In this particular case of the coffee shop, the local worker cannot even earn a decent living with one job: rather, she has to do two jobs to get a decent living wage. What happens to a decent day of work for a decent day of wage?
by Unique-Frequency
by George Thomas, CBN News
Singapore is one of the cleanest places in the world — where you can be fined or arrested just for spitting, littering or selling chewing gum. As CBN News discovered, Singaporeans don't mind the strict laws one bit.
by Today
Both workers and employers have to take into account the uncertain economic outlook when negotiating their wages this year, said prime minister Lee Hsien Loong in his May Day Message yesterday.
by A Singaporean
by Martyn See, No Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
Six video documenting a recent spate of public protests in Singapore were submitted to the Board of Film Censors yesterday by filmmaker Ho Choon Hiong.
by The Kway Teow Man
Just look across the causeway and see what happens when you subsidize necessities.
And take a look down south too.
by Tim Hooker, Sushi Tuesday
by Channel NewsAsia
by Singapore Angle
by Joel Tan, Daily Backtrack
The two journos sought to clarify the 'myth' surrounding the ST as a sycophantic mouthpiece of the government. Though their largely sterile, uninformative and sometimes condescending waffling, I think they merely reinforced it, and also explained the paper's institutional arrogance - it is staffed by many highly-educated, bright young minds, the type of minds, as we know, most likely to be impatient and adverse to the swarm of middle-class sensibility.
by Gerald Giam, SIngapore Patriot
by Diary Of A Singaporean Mind
Mas Selamat has decided to move on from our newspapers...
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