MyAppleMenu | Tomorrow | Reader | Singapore
You are here in the archive: SingaporeSurf > 2008 > June
by Bernama
The Iskandar Malaysia development project covering 2,217 sq km will not become part of Singapore but more accurately a competitor to the republic, Johor menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said. He said the issue of Singapore becoming part of Iskandar Malaysia did not arise because until today, no direct investment from the country had flowed into the region.
by Chia Ti Lik
by AFP
Singapore is known for its grenery but it may soon be recognised for its blue - as in blue water. That is the hope of civic officials behind a project to seal off the city-state's waterfront from the sea and create a three-in-one water source for drinking, flood control and recreation.
by The Star
Enforcement agencies such as the Maritime agency and the Marine police must increase patrols along Johor waters to prevent further intrusion of the state's islands. Datuk Aziz Sapian told the state assembly that the agencies should be on their toes especially after the Johor Sultan reminded everyone that Pulau Batu Puteh was under Johor's sovereignty and must be reclaimed.
by Chan Eu Imm, Channel NewsAsia
A new basic bus service that is aimed at easing passenger load along the southbound section of the North-South-East-West MRT line will take off on July 7.
by Channel NewsAsia
Total wages - basic wages plus bonuses - of private sector employees rose by a seven-year high of 5.9 per cent in 2007, higher than the increase of 4.5 per cent the year before.
by Design Sojourn
I believe this is a great step forward for the country and for the creation of graduates suitable for any profession that requires multi-disciplinary influences.
by AsiaIsGreen
On paper, it seems that there is no need for one as the energy policies are managed and coordinated by the EPG. But on the ground, the administrative difficulties and layers of bureaucatic red tape accumulated across 11 ministries and agencies in the EPG might pose a problem to the effectivness and timeliness of the energy policies.
by DPA
Hong Kong is seen as having the fairest and most transparent tax system out of six major developed economies, followed by Singapore, a study said on Monday.
by Chia Ti Lik
In short, we have a political editor trying to play psychologist, an assistant editor without an independent opinion, and a journalist who had an opinion of how the article should read even before he started his interviews.
by Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Instead of offering more land sites for private developers to tender and build HDB flats, I would like to suggest that the HDB continue to focus on its historic role to build affordable housing to meet Singaporeans' needs, as the price of private-develpoment HDB flats tend to be higher than HDB-developed flats.
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
"If you have truth on your side and you know your cause to be just, you need never fear your rulers and what they do to you."
by Conrad Raj, Today
Few would deny that the ERP system has helped in smoothening traffic flow, especially int he Central Business District. THe main quarrel with the timing of the new round of increases is that it comes in the wake of higher petrol prices and insurance costs. Many would argue that traffic congestion here is still tolerable compard with the traffic jams in Bangkok, Jakarta and even Kuala Lumpur.
by Chia I-Ling, Today
Festival boosted Singapore's arts scene in other ways too.
by Mr Wang Says So
I am inclined to agree with Dr Lee Wei Ling (who happens to be Lee Kuan Yew's daughter) that it is possible, and desirable, to legalise organ trading.
by The Online Citizen
by Blowin' In The Wind
The Wall Street Journal and the Australian, on the other hand, were quite partisan — as indeed they might be, given their sister publication Far Eastern Economic Review's wrangle with Singapore's leaders.
The "solution" is not to make sure all newspapers be completely bias-free and objective, because, frankly, there is no such thing. THe solution is to have more newspapers, more sources, competing with different ideas and bias. At least the Wall Street Journal disclose potential bias up front, whereas Straits Times typically do not. (Look at Straits Times coverage of the local television media, where it had a substantial stake in MediaCorp TV.)
by Chemical Generation Singapore
Gopalan has bitten more than he can chew and the US Embassy has not swooped down to save him from certain incarceration (merely a matter of how long).
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
Just months after taxi fare rose sharply, cab commuters may have to brace themselves for another cost hike: fuel surcharges.
by Nawaat.org
The best and quickest way of defending those in prison may be with the help of other internet activists.
by Singapore Life And Times
Inflation is not only a function of raw material prices, fuel and electricity, it is also a function of the "Kopi Tiam effect" - large organisations of food management companies bidding atrronomical prices for many a food centre and then passing on the costs down the line finally to the consumer.
The lack of more basic choices — from hawker center to wet market to neighbourhood shopping to buses are hurting the lower incomes.
by Reuters
The Singapore government has charged two Indonesians for putting their kidneys up for sale in the city-state, in what local media say is the first prosecution against organ trade in the country.
by Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia
Health minister Khaw Boon Wan as said his ministry will review the living donor transplant programme to see if there are any lapses, after a current case of organ trading wraps up in court.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
All these indicate to Singaporeans that not all is right with the no-nonsense home affairs ministry, the frontline body that overlooks security, including the war on terrorism.
The public has called for the minister to be held accountable for his "complaency", which has been rejected by the prime minister. Some wanted him dismissed, while other said his salary should be docked as punishment.
by Seah Seng Choon, Case, Straits Times
by Cheah Chew Kuan, Straits Times
What is wrong with this organisation? There is no comprehension of the words 'customer', 'service', nor, it appears, even simple courtsey, respect and professionalism.
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
It seems that this "golden era" which MM Lee declared we are in is only for a select group - and we also wonder whose future it is that is 'really shining'.
by Tym Blogs Too
Oh, I totally agree, Mr Minister. Very soft sell on this one.
by My Paper
A confusion over what constitutes the 'City' area means that some people could end up paying $3 more than they should.
by Boon Chan, Straits Times
Sex was a major theme in more short films and at least two features in the past two years.
by Choo Zheng Xi, Straits Times
This law is ineffective against films posted on sites such as YouTube and Gogle. Unenforceable laws diminish the respectability of the legal framework, and should not be on the books.
by Hop Around With Me
The deepest impression I have about this place is the old lift that they have.
by Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia
The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) did a survey last month and it found that 240 of 395 food items surveyed could be bought at S$2.50 and below.
by The Star
There's no military agreement between Malaysia and SIngapore that authorises the use of the country's airspace by the republic's fighter jets. Deputy defence minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said that any intrusion detected would see Malaysia sending a protest note to the republic.
by The Online Citizen
The only way to achieve this is to roll back the paternalistic controls that may have served Singapore well in the first few decades but are now clearly hindering its progression. Otherwise this paean is liable to become a dirge for a society that could not see beyond its fanatical focus on economic returns.
by Chia Ti Lik
The issues of high cost of living caused by the bloody ruling party are that which affects all Singaporeans - someone must stand up to the PAP for this rubbish that they have created.
by Feed Me To The Fish
The arrogance that Singapore without PAP will sink has to stop. It is suffocating.
by Gerald Giam, Singapore Patriot
A fundamental shift in mindsets with respect to university education is needed. Our knowledge economy needs many more graduates, and it will be better to fill the skilled positions with Sngaporeans rather than importing more foreign talent.
by Under The Willow Tree
by Lin Yanqin, Today
To make the Marina Reservoir created by the Marina Barrage more than just a stagnant body of water, underground drains are gong to be built so that water can circulate throughout Singapore's water channels, keeping the lake fresh.
by Toh Yong Chuan, Ministry Of Home Affairs, Today
It is misconceived to generalise that these human failures are reflective of systemic failure when the findings of the investigation do not support such a conclusion.
by Koh Wei Kiang, Today
by Wall Street Journal
Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore can rightly be proud of many achievements, but full democracy is not one of them. The city-state he founded in 1965 and led as prime minister until 1990 is economically prosperous and its citizens enjoy a range of freedoms. Political dissent is not among them.
Which makes a recent David vs. Goliath exchange between one of the country's few opposition politicians and Mr. Lee worth noting. The dialogue took place in a courtroom and is therefore privileged — which means we can report on it without risking a lawsuit, which Mr Lee often files against critics.
Mr Chee is no orator, and on one level the dissident was no match for the eloquent Mr Lee. But when the subject turned to the moral underpinnings of democracy — freedom of speech, assembly and association — the debate went game, set and match to Mr. Chee.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Do you hate taking public transport because the commute time — including all the waiting — can be long? Here's my way of entertaining oneself.
First, buy an iPod. No, I didn't try out all the other MP3 players on the market, but from what I've read, the iPod and iTunes combination offers the best podcast listening experience. (Automatic bookmarking and syncing, smart playlists, and one-click subscription are my favorite features.)
Secondly, subscribe to some podcasts. You can find many inside iTunes Store. They are free, and you don't need an iTunes account to subscribe.
Here are some podcasts that I enjoy :-
1. The Leonard Lopate Show, at WNYC. "Best conversations with writers, actors, ex-presidents, dancers, scientists, comedians, historians, grammarians, curators, filmmakers, and do-it-yourself experts."
2. Leo Laporte, at TWiT. I usually listen to This Week in Tech, The Tech Guy, MacBreak Weekly, Jumping Monkeys, and Munchcast.
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, at NPR. "The oddly informative news quiz."
You really don't need to watch yet another old sitcom rerun on Mobile TV, or listen to all the shallow local radio shows. Enjoy.
(Sorry, I can't help you from all the crowding and all the idiot commuters.)
by Hard Hitting In The Lion City
As much as I respect Mr. Lee, if Singapore is ruined by the opposition in just 5 years, I'm afraid the PAP will have to take some of the blame as well.
by Tan Hui Yee, Straits Times
A 1970s bus stop due to be razed as part of improvement works will now be saved.
by AFP
The Singapore opposition would ruin the wealthy city-state's achivements in five years if they ever gained power, the country's founding father Lee Kuan Yew said.
What I think he is saying is that opposition will ruin his idea of what Singapore should be.
by Lee Lilian, The Itch To Write
Errmmmm... yes, it's again our fault, Singaporeans, you are careless, negligent!
by Steve Creedy, The Australian
Qantas and Singapore Airlines have moved to quash speculation they are looking at a merger as a result of crippling fuel prices.
by Melanie Lee, Reuters
Singapore's prime minister said on Tuesday that water security may be a source of conflicts, while launching an institute in the city-state to research Asia's water problems.
by Daniel De Costa and Glenn Tan, The Online Citizen
Is our CID doing enough in serving the citizens that it has sworn to protect?
by Gerald Giam, Singapore Patriot
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's quest to be less dependent on Malaysia for its water supply came about from day one when the country separated from its neighbour in 1965, minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew revealed on Wednesday.
by Melanie Lee, Reuters
Foreigners are providing a boost to Singapore's lagging birth rate, with one in four babies born to expatriate fathers in the last five months, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday.
by Ian On The Red Dot
Without it, what it means is we don't even have one day, one pivotal event on the calendar to stop and think what it means to be Singaporean and yes, feel Singaporean. We don't even have that once chance to generate goodwill in some of us that hopefully last through the year.
A parade is expensive, cheap SAF labour notwithstanding. There are so many more better, and possibly memorable and heartfelt, ways to celebrate Singapore-ness. Take a look at U.S., for example, from fireworks on the July 4th to the lighting of the national tree during Christmas, all of which are grand traditions that bring out the patroitism in people — yet cheaper and less militaristic than the National Day Parade.
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Electricity tariffs will go up by 4.98 per cent or by 1.19 cents per kilo watt per hour for all households from the next quarter beginning July 1.
by Alfred Siew, Techgoondu
Is it a technical problem or more based on what telcos think the market needs?
by He Zongying and Daryl Tan, Straits Times
These two estates will be provided with 7.4km of cycling tracks. They will run parallel to the existing footpaths linking residential areas to the Sembawang and Admiralty MRT stations.
by The Extra Scoop
Being the self-declared patriot that I am, I'm quite bent on starting on family in Singapore. But who is to say that 5 years from now, I would be feeling the same way?
by Tan Kin Lian, The Online Citizen
I believe that local workers deserve to have an adequate salary for a hard day's work. This salary has to be commensurate with the cost of living. It should be adequate for a worker to feed a family, at least in a frugal way. The worker should not be expected to work for 12 hours a day, and still not earn enough for the family.
My suggestion is for Singapore to go down the "minimum wage" route, because the existing pro-business policies is failing and created a large income disparity at the expense of lower-income workers.
by Feed Me To The Fish
How many more screw-ups do we need before the buck stops?
by Ivan Chew, Rambling Librarian
by Tan Hui Leng, Today
Niche degrees, such as those in gaming and hotel administration, not offered by the three local universities could become more affordable - if the government takes up a recommendation to subsidise a small number of students in foreign varsities based here.
by Neo Chai Chin, Today
Singaporeans gripe about long waiting times and buses that inch slowly towards their destinations, but we are still better off than commuters in Hong Kong, London and Tokyo, according to data from the Land Transport Authority and the Belgium-based International Association of Public Transport.
GDP and average income figures can mask income dispartiy; can similiar scenario be at play here?
by Today
Deputy prime minister and home affairs minister Wong Kan Seng said in a statement late last night that he was "totally appalled and flabbergasted at this slip-up".
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
Suc blatant disregard for taking responsibility can and will only do further damage to the government's claim that it is a government of integrity.
by Lee Lilian, The Itch To Write
To me, it's the 5th time mistakes as such had happened.
by Patrick May, San Jose Mercury News
"We've monitoring the case very closely," a representative of the U.S. Embassy said. "Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we believe an individual should be able to peacefully exercise fundamental human rihts, especially freedom of expression, regardless of frontiers."
The Embassy representative described U.S.-Singapore relations as "generally very healthy. They're not an ally, but we consider them a close partner."
by Channel NewsAsia
A Singapore government-led committee proposed on Tuesday that a new publicly-funded university be established as part of wide-ranging efforts to retain local and foreign talent.
by Mr Wang Says So
The last time round, our finance minister missed his budget estimate by $7,100,000,000. In percentage terms, what makes you think Swee Say will do any better?
by I Made Andi Arsana, Jakarta Post
Put simply, there are now some outstanding pending boundary segments that these three neighboring states need to settle.
by Mr Wang Says So
You know what will happen next, don't you?
by The Star
Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Tan Tarn How said maintaining credibility was important to ensure continued patronage. "Most Singaporeans feel that newspapers can be trusted and don't feel they need to find the truth elsewhere. That is why the internet does not play an important role, unlike in Malaysia," he said.
by Carolyn Quek, Straits Times
He checks in at Changi, clears immigration and gets on Tiger Airways jet to Vietnam.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Via lonelysandwich, George Carlin on life.
by Bernard Leong, Simple Is The Reason Of My Heart
Technologies and social practices change and the same kind of deterrence can falter against the backdrop of innovation in the internet.
by Arun Mahizhnan, Journalism.sg
There is a sharp distinction between what is rational - rational even to political leaders - and what is politically expedient.
by Lin Yanqin, Today
Singapore employers ranked 12th out of the 27 countries and territories when it came to worryig about the brain drain, and third from the bottom in their concern that government and businesses were not doing enough to slow the outward migration.
by Denis Distant, Today
There are still seven weeks left to save that expensive jet fuel.
Seriously, why not cancel the parade too? I won't miss it.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Look at this edited transcript of an interview of Mr Goh Chok Tong by the Straits Times, released by the Singapore Government. Note that this is edited, presumably by the government, so we don't really know what is missing in the transcript. But it strikes me that there are virtually no follow-up questions asked by the Straits Times. Every assertion, every idea, every statement by Mr Goh was not questioned nor challenged by the interviewer.
We all know that Straits Times is a pro-government paper. But, even so, I hope the paper still exhibits some form of skepticism, especially from authority figures.
by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore's consumer prices rose at a slower-than-expected pace last month, reducing the need for the central bank to allow further gains in the currency to rein in inflation.
The consumer price index jumped 7.5 percent from a year earlier, matching April's pace that was a 26-year high, the Department of Statistics said today. That's lower than all 13 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey of economists, where the median forecast was a 7.8 percent increase.
See Also: Singapore Consumer Price Index, by Department of Statistics, Singapore Government. (Note: PDF document.)
by Mathew Murphy, Sydney Morning Herald
Speculation that Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon may use his last year at the helm of the Kangaroo carrier to forge a merger or "regional alliance" with Singapore Airlines would be an ambitious feat to say the least.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
I cannot see how this main artery can be unclogged without a major rconceptualisation of traffic flow.
by Clarissa Oon, Straits Times
One way to avoid stagflation is to maintain a foreign-worker policy that is 'very responsive' to business needs, labour chief Lim Swee Say said.
by Mary Bohan, Reflections On A Global Health Lab Experience
It's been five weeks since I've been in Singapore, and one thing that has become more and more apparent since arriving in this small island nation is the discrepancy that exists between the rich and the poor.
by Bernama
The government has agreed to implement a dual pump system at fuel stations in border areas so that foreigners do not buy fuel at subsidised prices.
by Leslie Wang, Today
The question I would pose is, why bother owning a car when we can't use the road as freely as we want?
Someone who drives daily from, say, Yishun to Woodlands for work should pay significantly less than another fellow who drives daily from Ang Mo Kio to Raffles Place. That, to me, is simple logic. You want to drive freely? Don't contribute to the congestion.
by Chia Ti Lik
No one need to look too far into history to know the dangers of having a foreign armed mercenary unit in Singapore.
by Gerald Giam, Singapore Patriot
Laws like this only serve to deter law-abiding citizens.
by Lee Lilian, The Itch To Write
by Saeed Azhar and Umesh Desai, Reuters
Malaysia, Asia's biggest Islamic finance market, can expect growing competition from Singapore and Hong Kong, which are raising their game to tap Middle East funds keen on investing int he region's economies.
by AFP
Got at least five million US dollars? A private banker is at your service in Singapore, which is fast gaining a reputation as the Switzerland of Asia for the world's growing ranks of multi-millionaires. The tiny, tropical island-state, Southeast Asia's most advanced economy, has emerged as a centre for the wealth management industry which caters to an elite breed called high net worth individuals.
by Cherian George, Journalism.sg
The objective over time is to subject more and more so-called "sensitive" areas to public reason, replacing intervention by the state with people's own capacities for discernment and judgement. The only viable long term response to the impracticality of internet censorship is to help Singapore mature as a society, online as well as offline.
by Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times
The issue of who should set up a consultative body of citizens to moderate internet content - as proposed by a group of 13 bloggers - came under scrutiny at a forum yesterday.
by Braema Mathi, Straits Times
For four years, the newly-weds lived on the beach.
Nomad? In almost any other countries, the term to use is "homeless".
by Lim Chih-Yang, The Online Citizen
The government can eduate and encourage gamblers to channel their hard-earned money towards investments suitable for their risk profile.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
I thought it was disturbing to get the sense that AIMS seemed to be going out of its way to find justifications for retaining the present law banning political films. I hope I am wrong, but it would be interesting to see what recommendations they intend to make to the government later this year.
Everything can be political, so everything can be banned.
by Gerald Giam, Singapore Patriot
In any community, there are bound to be those who contravine generally accepted rules and codes of conduct. At stake also is the racial and religious harmony of our state, and the protection of minors from undesirable content on the internet.
The natural question to follow is of course: why should I be responsible for your intolerance of different religious beliefs? Why should I be responsible for your inability to protect your own children against what you decide is undesirable?
by Lam Pin Min, P65
Giving subsidies alone is not a problem, provided it can be sustainable and the country is able to afford it for a long, long time.
by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
Mr Goh Chok Tong said income inquality will be an increasing challenge for Singapore.
by Otterman Speaks...
by Channel NewsAsia
National development minster Mah Bow Tan has said the government cannot reduce petrol taxes despite the soaring oil prices. He warned against taking the subsidy route, noting that even countries like China and Malaysia have started to re-think their policies on this.
Even though I agree that there is really no need to cut petrol taxes yet, I don't see how cutting petrol tax equates to taking the subsidy route.
by Michelle Jean Yeang, Today
by Roy Chan, Today
Not once have we experienced traffic congestion.
by Today
The SIA announcement, while understandable, is one that is hard to police and goes against the direction in which the web is naturally evolving.
by Channel NewsAsia
Starting from 14 July, employers cannot receive payment - whether monetary or in kind - as consideration for employing a Work Permit or S Pass holder.
by Adrian Choo, Straits Times
I strongly agree that the NEA should consider outsourcing enforcement to third parties.
by Alvinology
This spoof poster is further rubbing salt into the wound.
If you can't laugh at yourself... well, you really should start to learn.
by The Online Citizen
One possible way forward is to strengthen MAS' independence from the government and to give it a strict inflation target to aim at, wich might bolster MAS' credibility and lower the costs of containing inflation.
by Choo Zheng Xi, The Online Citizen
It never strikes me how incapable our top civil servants are of finding a creative solution out of the problem we're in.
by Ambeth Ocampo, Philippine Daily Inquirer
by Farik Zolkepli, The Star
Sultan of Johor Sultan Iskandar Ismail has vowed to find numerous ways in order to reclaim Batu Puteh or Pedra Branca.
by Una Galani, Business Spectator
Barclays' promised reward never materialised. Its bid for ABN Amro failed, and Temasek and CDB's investment has since lost more than half its value.
So why would sovereign funds go back for more? Temasek and CDB's participation in the $pound;4 billion share issue would help mask their existing losses. Buying more shares will lower their average buy-in price and help spread the financial hit.
by Otterman Speaks...
by The Online Citizen
The military must recognize that it is a public organzation that is mostly staffed by people against their free will. This restriction of such a basic human right must be recompensed through a pledge of honour and professionalism, to develop each enlistee's potential to the fullest.
by Koh Chin Chye, Today
I am in full support of the LTA's move to open up th public transport industry, but this can only happen if small players are given the support to ease into the industry.
by Lianhe Zaobao
by Leslie Lopez, Straits Times
Conract says toll will be levied on vehicles entering Malaysia to pay for new link to North-South highway.
Given that Singpaore matches the toll on Causeway, looks like LTA will have new funding for its upcoming North-South expressway.
by Hiroshi Limmell, Channel NewsAsia
by Article 14
This kind of reporting does not, in any way, assist in promoting the truth.
by John Jannarone, Wall Street Journal
Exports from Singapore in May fell the most in more than two years as shipments to the U.S. and Europe tumbled, highlighting the island state's exposure to weaker demand from Western developed economies.
The data come as Singapore's central bank has embraced a stronger currency to fight inflation; that policy tool might be causing unwanted harm to the important manufacturing sector.
by The SingaporeSportsfan Says...
I will feel no pride should our women paddlers go on to break our 48-year Olympic medal drought at Beijing in August.
by Tang Li, Desparatebeep
Singapore has run a successful course but it is now necessary to ensure it continues to do so in the future.
by Amy Kazmin, Financial Times
Singapore's Temasek Holdings plans to reduce its stake in Shin Corp, the Thai group it took control of more than two years ago, through a public offering of shares.
Shin Corp shares are trading at Bt25 per share, a 35 per cent discount to their net asset value, reflecting the political changes in Thailand and Mr Thaksin's fortunes since the purchase.
by Vincent Lingga, Jakarta Post
Selling the stake to Qatar Telecom was simultaneously a clever business and political decision.
by Mr Wang Says So
Car ownership just makes you a rather easy victim for the government's Pay-&-Pay policies.
by Kerry Howley, Reason Magazine
Modern fertility panic stems from a desire to reshape polyglot cultures, to regain control over women's reproductive choices, and to locate a single, easy-to-undersand culprit for disparate social problems. As they have for hundreds of years, societies are projecting their deepest anxieties onto empty wombs.
by New Straits Times
AirAsia's propoal to increase the number of flights to Singapore will be referred to the cabinet, transport minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said yesterday.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
For the record, I am opposed to the idea of changing the law so that cyclists can ride on pedestrian walkways. Essentially, this will simply transfer the problem of bullying from the roads (by motorists to cyclists) to the walkways (by cyclists to pedestrians.)
by Tan Kin Lian, The Online Citizen
by Abdul Salim, You Have A Choice
What about our own ministers? Do they have the heart? Why don't any of them take the initiative for a pay cut? Streamline the government. Is there a need for a minister mentor post in the government? Isn't it just a waste of money and resources?
by Lin Yan Qin, Today
More than a year after veteran opposition politician Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam announced he was formng a new political party and making a political comeback, the Reform Party is now an officially-registered society.
by Andew Loh, The Online Citizen
by Insane Polygons
The problem is not with NS but with how it's bbeing implemented.
by Celine Lim, New Paper
While trying to retrieve an online copy of the title deed to the back lane, the Goh family found out that the tiny strip of land had been acquired by the government in an island-wide exercise in April last year.
The family said they did not recieve any letter informing them that the back lane had been acquired. Neither did they get any compensation.
by Bryan MacKinnon, Today
In comparison to other major cities in the West, there are very few bike paths in Singapore.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The electronic road pricing (ERP) rates for 32 of 65 gantries will increase by between 50 cents and S$2.00. Five new ERP gantries along the Singapore River will also be activated on July 7.
by Kengho Yap, News Release By UncleYap
by Straits Times
82.5 per cent of households here are now hooked up to broadband service, according to minister for information, communications and the arts Lee Boon Yang.
by Jon Katz, Underdog
Fortunately, Singapore is not the monolithic lockstep place that many of its rulers have sought. Numerous Singaporean dissidents are willing to speak out, and to do so in a vibrant, fearless, calm, intelligent and apparently effective way.
by Gerald Giam, The Online Citizen
The argument that having more universities will lower overall standards is a red herring. No one wants the NUS, NTU and SMU to lower their standards and rankings. There is no reason to expect this to happen if a fourth or fifth university were to set up. Why can't each university be the "best in the class"?
by Leong Wee Keat, Today
Both operators say the hike can be attributed to many factors, such as a change in travel patterns, population growth, employment growth and the government's push for more people to take public transport.
by The Panegyrist
I'm not really sure that the Mas Selamat incident had — or will have — any real lasting effect on Singaporean trust in the PAP.
by The J-Thing
Is there really a need to kill the dog?
by Zhuang Yongkang, Lianhe Zaobao
by Leonard Lim, Straits Times
The completion date for the Singapore Sports Hub has again been pushed back - and looks likely to be ready only by 2012. The two-year delay has disappointed some national sports associations, who were hoping to bid to host world-class competitions at the new venue.
by Hedirman Supian, Today
Offers galore were dangled by telcos as mobile number portability was launched last Friday, but subscribers have not exactly been jumping to switch providers — yet.
by Sharon Lim, Today
If the authorities are serious about encouraging Singaoreans to cycle to work or school, shouldn't they also ensure the cyclists are treated as rightful road users?
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore is making steady progress towards the 2015 target to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting. But MDA said the exact date to the analogue switch-of has yet to be decided.
by AFP
A US citizen was charged Monday with insulting a Singapore judge in his blog by saying she was "prostituting herself", a court document said. The latest Penal Code charge replaces an initial charge which alleged Nair sent the comments in an email, his lawyer Chia Ti Lik said.
by Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
It is abot time to re-consider the needs of spending more money to safe guard the welfare of our people, especially when life and death is concerned.
by Koh Gui Qing, Reuters
Singapore's economy will grow 4.7 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, slowing from a 6.7 percent expansion in the January-March period, a central bank survey of economists showed on Monday. Economists also raised their forecasts for 2008 inflration to 6 percent from 5.0 percent in the March survey.
by Murmurs, Mutters And Other White Noise
There was less traffic on the Malaysian roads. With the price of petrol these days, I think a lot less Malaysians are out and about. This was the same situation in the shopping centre we visited. Less Singaporeans, and a lot of empty parking lots. Petrol stations were empty. Imagine that!
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's unemployment figure for the first three months of this year is up slightly from the previous quarter, but lower if compared to the same period a year ago.
See Also: Labour Market, First Quarter 2008: Employment Growth Remains Strong; Unemployment Up, by Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Government. (Note: PDF document.) In summary, employment continued to expand strongly in a healthy economy, although uncertain outlook and more cautous sentiments resulted in higher unemployment rate. Amid an overall tight labour market, workers' earnings rose substantially. On the other hand, without corresponding improvement in productivity, cost pressures on businesses continued to rise.
by Blabbering Blob Of Blogging Blogger
by Irene Ngoo, Straits Times
The minimum sum for Central Provident Fund members who turn 55 from July 1 will be raised to $106,000 - from the current $99,600, the CPF Board announced on Monday, along with other changes to the Medisave contributions and withdrawal rule.
by Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica
No matter what you think of blogging, internet-basd citizen journalism is a real threat not just to traditional media business models but to totalitarian governments.
by Esther Tan, Straits Times
Police cars have been patrolling along the East Coast Park footpaths and members of the public are questioning the need for it.
by Melissa Sim, Straits Times
Jostling for space on the increasingly busy roads here, cyclists are getting into more accidents.
The cynic in me is thinking that we are being prepared for a revision in law to allow bicycle onto pedestrian path.
by Vinita Ramani Mohan, Yawning Bread
It is disingenuous to invite international "civil society" in a bid to make Singapore a "world-class city", but insist that the NGOs that come to Singapore are "practical".
by Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
by Insane Polygons
Like it or not, NS has become a liability in every sense of the word for the Singaporean male.
by Crystal Chan, New Paper
Under the Road Traffic Act, those who blare their horns while their vehicles are stationary can be given a $70 compound fine or be charged in court and face up to $1,000 fine and three months' jail.
Responding to queries from The New Paper on Sunday, a spokesman for both the ICA and the Singapore police confirmed that the authorities are cracking down on incessant honking by motorists at the checkpoints.
by Melvin Tan, A Sampan On Singapore Soil
This manifestation of "four schools" exemplifies more choices instead of the "only one choice" mantra provided by the "PAP kindergarten" that treats its citizens like children, such as the lame justifications against ministerial responsibility over Mas Selamat's escape or "trash index" idea of a PAP town council.
by Joel Tan, The Online Citizen
The hold of religion over law and policy creeps in like a thief in the night: once we lose sight of it, as is easy in a debate of such an emotional and "sensitive" nature, then we afford religions a trump card, even above fundamental human rights, that they do not deserve.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
While foreigners arrive in large numbers, more of Singapore's homebred talents are leaving to settle abroad.
by Siew Kum Hong
Instead of dwelling on the controversies at the margins, it seems to me more appropriate to focus on ensuring that Singapore is up to the mark on what is non-controversial to most.
by Elysa Chen, New Paper
Stallholders claim the humidity in the renovated Chinatown Complex Food Centre is unbearable and blame the recent $20 million renovation for it. They said that more parts of the building have been covered up,causing ventilation problems.
by Lianhe Zaobao
by DPA
A television ad intended to jolt viewers to the impact of environmental destruction on future generations was taken off the air after complaints that a scene of a chainsaw cutting open a boy mannequin were too gruesome, the station said on Saturday. Since MediaCorp started showing the "Saving Gaia" video on June 5, upset parents have written to newspapers and gone on internet forums describing the commercial as "distasteful," "scary" and "shocking."
by Martyn See, No Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
by Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The recent attempted escape by two accused persons from the Subordinate Courts should not have happened, said law minister and second home affairs minister K Shanmugam. It was the result of human error and non-adherence to established procedures.
by Theresa Tan, Straits Times
From next year, charities with financial reerves of at least five times their annual operating costs will be barred from staging flag days.
In recent years, flag days have become increasingly popular among charities because they cost little to stage, but deliver big returns. Smaller charities have said they are increasingly being pushed out by the big boys.
by Where Bears Roam Free
My advice to activists in Singapore is that before you draw you gun, take a step backwards, study Woon's words and reflect. He may be talking about someone else or something else in the first place.
by The Online Citizen
The attorney-general is right that we need a real debate on human rights, but he probably won't like the answers.
by Mollymeek
by Desmond Ng, New Paper
A recent survey indicates that while more than half of surveyed people still go to wet markets to buy fresh food, more are now heading for supermarkets and hypermarkets.
by Mr Wang Says So
There could only have been two reasons why ICA didn't do it: (1) ICA is just too stupid; or (2) ICA just can't be bothered.
Either way, it just reflects very badly on the ICA.
by Tarani Palani, Malaysiakini
A fledgling website in Singapore hopes to emulate its counterparts across the Causeway in bringing democracy to the island state.
by Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
The Bukit Panjang resident said he would not vote for his MP, Dr Teo Ho Pin, at the next election, and urged Singaproeans to 'vote in solidarity to deny the PAP'.
by Ryan Hui
by Adam Majendie, Bloomberg
Tommy Koh presided over the 1982 United Nations agreement that set the world's maritime boundaries, and charied the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro a decade later. He was the first executive director of the Asia-Europe Foundation and led Singaproe's free-trade negotiations with the U.S. in 2003.
In between, the engaging 70-year-old with unruly gray hair and glasses has spent two decades trying to persuade Singaporeans to love culture, first as head of the National Arts Council adn currently as chairman of the National Heritage Board, which oversees the state museums.
by K.S. Ramkumar, Arab News
Singapore is expecting a high volume of visitors from Saudi Arabia this summer, with the island nation offering a range of new attractions.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
After the press conference, I sat chatting with Chia Ti Lik for 15-30 minutes more, during which time, he received a call from the prosecutor, I'm told the latter expressed some displeasure that Gopalan Nair had gone to the media so quickly within hours of being charged.
by Melody Zaccheus, New Paper
"Singapore does incinerate its waste, but the very fact that we are generating so much of it from plastic bags alone is still a problem."
See Previously: Trash And Burn: Singapore's Waste Problem, by Gillian Murdoch, Reuters.
by Esther Fung, Today
What happens when a bank sends you a card to replace the one you already have, with different features, and imposes an annual charge that you feel you have to accept no matter what?
by Conrad Raj, Today
Indonesia vice-president Jusuf Kalla appears to have come out in support of ST Telemedia's sale of its stake in the country's second-largest provider of mobile phone services, Indosat, saying that the sale basically achieves the country's main objective of making the telecommunications sector more competitive.
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
In his press statement, Nair said, "I did not at anytime send any emails to judge Belinda Ang or anyone else as far as this incident is concerned."
by Aidil Omar, Sheep City
Such is the fear among the people.
by Melanie Lee, Reuters
A U.S. lawyer already facing a charge of insulting a Singapore judge was indicted on Thursday in a Singapore court for disparaging another member of the bench in an email he sent two years ago.
by AFP
Singapore's military has suspended its physical and endurance training for three days after two recruits died this week, the defence minister says.
by Cowboy Caleb
So Singaporeans make good managers in a stable environment where the status quo is to be maintained. Malaysians however thrive in chaotic situations with no clear instructions by behaving like leaders.
by Straits Times
Asean members must not set artifiical deadlines for the creation of a new institution just for the sake of setting up one, said Singapore's second foreign affairs minister Raymond Lim on Thursday.
In particular, he said advancing the human rights agenda within the regional grouping should be achieved through an evolutionary approach and any new Asean institution must have the support of all the 10 member states to reflect Asean's diversity, compleity and realities in all fields.
by Channel NewsAsia
Former Singapore lawyer and ex-Workers' Party election candidate, Gopalan Nair, is facing another charge of insulting a High Court judge. On Thursday morning, the court heard that Nair, now a US citizen, had on 17 March 2006 insulted justice Lai Siu Chiu in an email while the judge was hearing an Originating Summons case.
by Straits Times
A breach in procedure allowed two detainees to make an escape bid from the lock-up at the Subordinate Courts on Wednesday, said police, which will carry out a probe to see if there was any negligence involving the officers.
by Alice Cheong In Wonderland
This exactly show how the moral of the society has deteriorated.
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
When you go and ask MOF a question, say, "why is there such a tax by the government," or "why is there such a rule in place," what do you expect MOF to reply?
One blogger wanted MOF to, essentially, answer in the manner of "you are asking the wrong ministry. We just collect the money.", or "you are asking the wrong ministry. We just make sure we collect the money."
I hope nobody is listening to this blogger's advice: answer as narrowly as possible. In fact, I'm glad agencies in Singapore government, mostly, do not subscribe to this policy.
(I don't think anybody will be listening much to this blogger anyway, because, frankly, his debating skills is lacking. Especially since he cannot offer a single piece of counter-point except to just repeat himself louder. Especially since he keeps contradicting himself with statements like, for example, on one page that says "the taxation of petrol in Singapore was never designed as a measure to counter traffic congestion", and on another page that says "I do not deny petrol taxation is one of the various methods on top of ERP and higher road-tax charges etc. [to control traffic growth]".)
by Joel Tan, The Online Citizen
by Karman Tse, Today
It has all the makings of an indie mystery film worthy of inclusion in the festival that he has been synonymous with for so long.
Singapore International Film Festival (Siff) director Philip Cheah has stepped down as its frontman after 21 years — and one year after the resignation of Lesley Ho and Teo Swee Leng, who together with Cheah had been heading Siff from the start.
by Cheryl Soh, Today
by Ahmad Dhafeer, Channel NewsAsia
Foreign affairs minister George Yeo said Singapore can become a hub for the region's Arab community, even as it broadens its ties with Middle Eastern countries like Yemen.
by Benjamin Koe
You still have to go down to the SingTel shop to confirm your reservation. Yes, confirm.
by Todd R. Brown, The Argus
Gopalan Nair said he might have gone too far in lashing out at Singapore officials who then had him jailed on a sedition charge.
But the Fremont immigration attorney said he was speaking from the heart when he attacked the foreign government on his blog for suing leaders of an opposition political party, then taunted the judge in the case for "prostituting herself" during the trial.
by Jessica Lim and Tessa Wong, Straits Times
The prices of eggs and some vegetables have jumped at wet markets across the island, according to a Straits Times check. This comes barely a week after Malaysia - Singapore's biggest food supplier - trimmed domestic fuel subsidies.
by Chua Hian Hou, Straits Times
StarHub spokesman Michael Sim said the telco expects to sell the phone eventually while MobileOne is in talks with Apple.
by Glady's Tay, The Star
Middle Rocks is still off limits to Malaysia fishermen despite a decision by the Malaysian and Singaporean foreign ministries allowing them access.
by ABS-CBN
by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, New York Times
"It is really a quintessential Singapore experience to live in one of those grand old houses surrounded by nature. You can live in a condominium anywhere, but these houses are really unique."
by Ng E-Jay, The Online Citizen
Singaporeans need to better their understanding of human rights, not because we are a nation of slaves, but because we are often a nation of sheep.
by BothSidesOfTheJohorStraits
Even though Khaw soiled himself by defending a guy later proven guilty, the minister distanced himself far from the NKF fallout, and ahs not paid the price for his lack of judgement.
by Mr Wang Says So
by Financial Times
by Siew Kum Hong, The Online Citizen
I think we have spent more than enough years hearing abot our obligations as citizens without a corresponding discourse on our rights. The meergence of a rights-based discourse in Singapore is long overdue.
by Channel NewsAsia
The telco added that it will announce pricing and availability at a later date.
by Mahathir Mohamad
Abdullah frustrated that his scheme was blocked then punished the Johore people by cancelling the bridge project altogether. No straight bridge, no curve bridge either. The result is that more than RM1 billion have been wasted building the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities, foundation and work on a new railway station, pilings and preliminary works on the road linking the CIQ to the bridge and compensations to the contractors because of the cancellation of the projects. The CIQ building is now a white elephant, unused and yet have to be maintained costing hundreds of thousands of Ringgit a month. Clearly Dato Seri Abdullah has wasted public money. All because he was angry with the Johor people for not enabling one billion cubic metres of sand to be sold to Singapore and the profits thereof.
by The Bosonic State
If we compare the same kind of attractions, like zoo to zoo, then I think it may not be quite on the mark.
Another data point: the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C. of the Untied States is free.
by Lee Weijia, The Online Citizen
The judgements may becorrect in every conceivable way, but the courts will never have credibility if it is perceived, whether rightly or wrongly, to be biased.
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
At this point, the ministry said, there are no plans to review the three-quarter tank rule. It added the rule is part of Singapore's policy to moderate vehicle usage and reduce traffic congestion.
by Thomson Financial
Tbk, Indonesia's second-largest mobile phone company, to partner Qatar Telecom is 'an insult' to the legal system here, an official of the country's anti-trust body said on Monday.
by Martyn See, No Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
What is an education, unless a person takes an interest in, and to a degree, participates in affairs of the world?
by Ramblings Of A Chinese American Expat In Singapore
I think if they have this posted in the US, the company will be sued so fast.
by The Online Citizen
The present accusations are far more insidious than amateur political intimidation. They are a refined version of a form of gutter politics that uses medical accusations to serve political ends that we have seen before.
by Izatun Shari, The Star
The federal government will consult the Johor state government officially before engaging with Singapore on taking over th emanagement administration of the lighthouse on Pulau Pisang.
by Journalism.sg
Nair's actions may mystify most Singaporeans - even government critics and opposition members - who prefer to stay clear of legal trouble if they can help it.
by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
A Temasek Holdings Pte unit defended a plan to sell shares in PT Indosat, saying the divestment wasn't related to a May court ruling compelling the Singapore company to pare its investments in Indonesia's mobile-phone companies.
by Daryl Tan, Straits Times
Parents say that high admission fees and miscellaneous charges at spots like the Night Safari or Singapore Flyer are pricing them beyond a regular family's reach. A check of 10 main attractions here found that a day out would set a family of four back by $125 on average.
by Satiman Jamin, New Straits Times
The fear that Pulau Merambong could become another contentious point with Singapore stems from its proximity to the republic, being about 1.6km from the reclaimed area of Tuas.
Tales of Gelang Patah fisherman harrassed by Singapore marine police near Pulau Merambong are not uncommon.
by Under The Willow Tree
Perhaps it is time for the government to rethink its strategy with regards to its management of its sovereign wealth, and perhaps consider some sort of proper privatization of the GLCs under Temasek's ownership.
Will you be comfortable if some private entity manage taxpayer's money? I certainly don't.
by Mum's The Word (Or Pa)
These little gimmes may not mean much in the larger scheme of things. Yet perhaps they not only brighten one's day, but serve to reaffirm the essential goodness of humanity... Oh, what nonsese.
by Anthony Yeo, The Online Citizen
by ICT For Peacebuilding
The facade of a progressive, westernised society hides the reality of media cocooned in a straight-jacket of repressive legislation and government control.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
Chua Lee Hoong has made absolutely no effort at hiding the true intentions of the state media which she works for. One propaganda piece after another, each one distoring the facts with greater and greater impunity, leaves me no doubt that Ms Chua and her state media are obsessed with putting the man down at all cost, even at the risk of destroying whatever credibility they have left (if any).
by Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
I would like to suggest a balance to satisfy the call for more transparency and the need to forestall others anticipating GIC's moves - why not disclose on a delayed 2-year basis? Historical information which is more than two years old, are of no use to others, and will also improve Singapore's international standing and reputation for disclosure and transparency.
by Walter Woon, Today
I gave the example of those who think that the right to free expression means that one can insult the prophet of a great religion with impunity. I asked rhtetorically, can we accept this in our society?
by Dudley Au, Today
There is no middle ground, where the supposed balance meets.
by Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia
Finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Sunday gave the assurance that Singapore is not heading for a recession. "From all indications we have at this point, I don't think we're heading for a recession. But there will be discomfort on the ground."
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
by AFP
by Bernama
Malaysia should start negotiations with Singapore to take over the administration and management of the lighthouse in Pulau Pisang from the republic, said Pontian member of parliament Ahmad Msalan.
If this happens, my guess is Singapore will want to get the KTM out of the republic.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
If you look at it from this angle, you find yourself conceding, grudgingly perhaps, that the SDP is not completely unsuccessful. Time and again, they bring out the worst in the PAP for everyone to see. The police overreact at Hong Lim Green. Four people standing on the sidewalk saying nothing but wearing similar T-shirts (i.e. less than the minimum five that require a police permit) are nevertheless arrested for refusing to disperse. Judges are made to look like hatchet men for the PAP and both the attorney-general and the law minister have recently been provoked to say outrageous things, making themselves look quite unbecoming. Lee Kuan Yew himself is made to look the bully that he is while on the witness stand.
by Braema Mathi, Straits Times
Many have seen their salaries and work benefits shrink over the years as bosses seek to cut costs.
by Rizalman Hammim, New Straits Times
The fishermen around Sungai Rengit, Pengerang, about 65 km from Kota Tinggi, are looking forward to a better catch with the news that they can now fish around Pedra Branca, Middle ROcks and South Ledge.
by The States Times
by The Online Citizen
Given the apparent flimsiness of the charges, the only thing that Nair's arrest might serve to accomplish is to reveal the extent to which the judiciary's integrity will be compromised for political ends.
by Huang Shoou Chyuan, nofearSingapore
Whatever it is, don't tell me that even if I am willing to pay the sky-high price and work to be the best of the best that I am barred because I am not Green or not Singoopoolean!
by Die Neue Welle
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
In the court of public opinion, neither side came out winners.
The opposition leader, however, has emerged with an improved standing among Singaporeans who hanker for a stronger opposition. Coffeeshop critics talk of "bullying".
by Lin Quan Zhong, IPS
When Lee Hsien Loong became Singapore's prime minister after his fater, Lee Kuan Yew, four years ago, he encouraged citizens to "feel free to express diverse views, pursue unconventional ideas, or simply be different." Today, these hopes for a city-state that can be more relaxed about criticism and more open to frank debate appear to have been too high.
by Tan Weizhen, Straits Times
by Today
Put those questions in the context of a society that shies away from a public fight, even more a political fight, and Chee's personality, actions and intentions become even more intriguing.
by Kor Kian Beng, Straits Times
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) launched a legal defence fund on Friday and appealed for ocntributions so that party chief Chee Soon Juan and his sister Siok Chin can mount appeals against their convictions for contempt of court.
by Bernama
Malaysia and Singapore have agreed that fishermen of both countries would be allowed to continue with their current traditional fishing activities in the waters around Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
by Lee Lilian, The Itch To Write
by Reuters
Long lines of strained faces wait inside to scoop up ladles of rice, noodles and stir-fries. They then stand next to walls to shovel in the food if they can't find a spot at packed tables.
Most are elderly or labourers, in a country that has the second highest GDP per capita in Asia after Japan but ranks alongside the Philippines and Guatemala for income disparity.
by Chia-Peck Wong, Bloomberg
UBS, the bank with the second-highest writedowns and credit losses from the subprime crisis, plans to sell new shares at a 31 percent discount to May 31's price to raise about 16 billion Swiss francs in new capital, the company said last month.
by Channel NewsAsia
THe prices of tour bus tickets to and from Malaysia are likely to increse. Bus transport operators are already expecting to make big losses, following the fuel hike in Malaysia.
by Martyn See, No Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
by Gerald Giam, The Online Citizen
The PAP leaders who have been bringing lawsuits against their political opponents all these years never cease to boast about the independence of our judiciary. Unfortunately, what they don't seem to realise is that every frivolous lawsuit they launch only serves to chip away at ordinary Singaporeans' confidence in the judiciary.
by Channel NewsAsia
The foreign ministers of both countries released a joint statement on Friday, saying that a technical sub-committee will be set up to oversee joint survey works, to prepare for eventual talks on maritime issues in and around that area.
by Choongyong.com
I applaud the effort to raise awareness, but questions the message behind the TV advertisement.
by The States Times
With the new AG drawing his line in the sand so early in his honeymoon year, it looks like Singapore will be sticking to the artificially flavored stuff.
by Ethical Martini
by Leong Wee Keat, Today
Claiming Singapore Airlines' ad shows "a lack of compassion towards animals," the Asia Pacific branch of the US-based animal rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) gave SIA its Litterbox Award.
by Teo Xuanwei, Today
One of the first things that former Signaproean lawyer and ex-Workers' Party election candidate Gopalan Nair hoped to do after he was released on bail yesterday was to return to the United States to settle some personal affairs.
Nair's lawyer, Mr Chia Ti Lik, said Nair's car has been racking up parking charges at the San Francisco Airport since he came here on May 25. The lease for his law firm in California is also due soon.
by Christopher Toh, Today
We all know laptops are portable, but just how protable ar ethey? And just how sturdy are some of the gadgets today? These are just some of the questions posed on The WTF! Show, a new 30-minute TV technology and consumer gadget review show produced by Mega Media and King Content, and broadcast on Sling HD, the first Singaporean HD channel.
by Ng Tze Yong, New Paper
Today is Mas Selamat's 100th day on the run. He is believed to be in Singapore, but if he did go overseas, one NTU don says it would be to Riau...
There has been no evidence offered by anyone that Mas Selamat is still in Singapore.
by Bernama
While Malaysians are crying foul over the increase in fuel prices announced by the government Wednesday, their neighbors in Thailand and Singapore welcomed Malaysia's decision to lift the ban on the sale of fuel to foreign-registered vehicles up to 50km inside Malaysia from their common borders.
by S Irshad Ahme, Newindpress.com
The hapless parents of Katturaja, 32, of Nemmeli North in Orathanadu taluk are crying foul over the "mysterious" death of their son in a Singapore prison.
by Mollymeek
I suppose we cannot even question whether Singapore is democratic or not. It is when a minister says it is. It isn't when a minister says democracy is bad.
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Electricity tariffs in Singapore are unlikely to come down any time soon given the backdrop of soaring oil prices. The CEO of Senoko Power, Singapore's largest power generation and retail company, explained that about 80 per cent of the cost of producing electricity here is related to oil prices.
by AFP
A judge ordered Gopalan Nair, a former Singapore lawyer who is now a US citizen, to be released on 5,000 dollars bail after more than four days in custody.
Nair's lawyer told reporters outside court that he expects a fresh charge to be laid against his client, without elaborating.
by Straits Times
Road tax for vehicles and special tax for Euro-IV diesel cars are set to go down from July 1, said the Land Transport Authority on Thursday.
by Lee Kuan Yew, Forbes
by A Long And Arduous Road Of An Entrepreneur
Can LTA wake up their idea? They have made taking a cab in Singaproe so difficult and troublesome.
by Arul John, New Paper
"I did not know that our hotel was located in the red-light district of Singapore. I had heard that Singaore had red-light districts and some 'black' areas, but I did not expect the activities to be carried out so openly."
by Kengho Yap, News Release By UncleYap
In court today, Mr Nair was not charged any additional charges.
by The Legal Janitor
by Chee Wai Lee
What aspects of the law protects me from malicious attempts to claim that I had maliciously defamed them instead?
by Liang Dingzi, Today
RWS has taken what maybe viewed as the first step, which is not something to be pooh-poohed. I only wish it was just a one and only step, without exception.
by The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
When it comes to politically-loaded cases, I believe quite a sizeable number of Singaporeans hold the view the judiciary lacks independence and that a powerful few are more equal than others.
by Reporters San Frontieres
Reporters Without Borders today codemned a case brought by the authorities under the Sedition Act against blogger Gopalan Nair, a 58-year-old American lawyer, who criticised the Supreme Court's handling of a defamation case.
"We urged the authortieis to drop charges against Gopalan Nair, who has only exercised his right of free expression. This charge is improper and will add to the intimidation of blogers and internet users who express themselves about Singapore's political life", the worldwide press freedom organisation said.
(Note: This is a press release.)
by Andrew PK Yap, New Sintercom.org
Forget about courtesy and graciousness campaigns.
by Endoh's Dungeon
Singapore had always been staged as the "difficult" party in bilateral debates and I think this anticipated episode is also giving the world the best hint on who's the real delinquent.
by Bernama
The government has decided to do away with the ban on the sale of fuel to foreign-registered vehicles up to 50 km inside the country from its broders with Thailand and Singapore.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
If anything, Lee Hsien Loong's attempts to make his government look moderate (and to "connect" with the people) are now in a thousand piecs with people reminded all over again how nasty and brutish this government can be towards its opponents.
by Rachel Zeng, The Online Citizen
by Singapore Life And Times
Ultimately, it's all a business, not an egalitarian society.
by Mollymeek
Maybe it's just that politics cannot be political. Or, to put it more simply, maybe the idea is that we cannot go against the ruling party just because it doesn't respect our rights.
by mrbrown
Sure we have cabs! Just that almost all of them are On Call!
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
In a large part of the world, and one with which we depend on for our survival and prosperity, there is a broad current of opinion moving inexorably forward. Silly rhetoric by our attorney-general is hardly the right way to cope with change.
by Imedla Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore law minister K Shanmugam said Singapore will wait and see if the Malaysian government can come up with any new evidence to renew Malaysia's claim on Pedra Branca. "My own view is that the international court has ruled, and both countries have said that they accept the ruling... As to what this new evidence is, we'll wait and see," said the Singapore law minister.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's law minister K Shanmugam said it is the duty of all citizens to condemn attacks made on the country's judiciary.
It seems like he is saying that all we need to have an independent and just judiciary is to not say we don't have an indpendent and just judiciary, and to condemn anyone who claim that we don't have an indpendent and just judiciary.
by Judith Tan, Straits Times
The Nielsen Retail Index survey also showed that more Singaporean shoppers are turning to supermarkets for fresh foods.
by Dejavu
If the club doesn't appreciate your money and your business, find somewhere else then.
by ed'sperience
by Noughts
It appears likely that we are going to face a future where both the developers of technology and the people who manage them are going to be foreigners.
by Bernama
AirAsia Tuesday said it would need to step up its frequency to Singapore by at least another four flights daily to stay competitive and keep its rising ocsts, such as increasing fuel prices, at bay.
by Straits Times
Explaining their decision, they said they were unable to file their notices of appeal by the deadline because they could not pay the $2,000 administrative fee.
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
MediaCorp said the effectiveness of a shortwave radio service has diminished over time,w ith changing technology and media consumption habits.
by Straits Times
Singapore is the first country in the Asia Pacific to conclude a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Transport Security Administration (TSA), of the US Department of Homeland Security, to work on the development and enhancement of civil aviation security, said a statement from Ministry of Transport on Tuesday.
I hope this does not translate to more invasion of privacy for passengers.
by Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
The problem with the first headline wasn't exactly the issue of Gopalan Nair being an American citizen but rather, the problem was the original headline was factually wrong.
by Chia Ti Lik
A simple first mention for Gopalan Nair scheduled for 9 am ended at 4.35 pm. For the first time in more than 9 years as a lawyer, I saw a criminal case being handled in this manner.
by Tan Weizhen, Straits Times
Is it the CashCard or the In-vehicle Unit (IU)? It's still a mystery as to what's behind the ERP glitches that plague about 300 drivers a month.
by Timothy Tan, Straits Times
This is disappointing, as even neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia are among the signatories.
by Tan Kin Lian, Today
The comments of your editorial directory about my "strategic errors" arose from a misunderstanding of my purpose, which is to protect the long-term interests of the policyholders.
by Nelson Benjamin, The Star
At the end of the day, much of Johor's economy is still heavily dependent on Singaporeans and it is in our interest to ensur ethey keep on returning to the country whether to eat, shop or even spend a bit on fuel.
by AFP
A California-based blogger who allegedly accused a judge of "prostituting herself" has been arrested and charged in Singapore, his lawyer and a court document said Monday.
According to a court document, Gopalan Nair is charged with insulting justice Belinda Ang Saw Ean last Thursday by sending an email which said she "was throughout prostituting herself during the entire proceedings, by being nothing more than ane employee of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his son and carrying out their orders".
by Feed Me To The Fish
After so many years, I'm happy to note that alternative reports and news are now available on the net.
by Kengho Yap, News Release By Uncle
