MyAppleMenu | Tomorrow | Reader | Singapore
You are here in the archive: SingaporeSurf > 2009 > January
by Peter Gumbel, Fortune
Regulators shold earn more than bankers — at least that's what several regulators from Europe and asia have been saying at Davos.
by David Yong, Bloomberg
Institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds, may play a bigger role in stabilizing the global financial system as leveraged banks and hedge funds stumble, the Government of Singapore Investment Corp. said.
by Jeffrey Francis, The Star
In a shrinking job market, fresh graduates normally further their studies, but with a declining asset base, too, fewer can do so now.
by Cheow Xin Yi, Today
In the first big retrenchment that comes a week after the government unveiled job-saving measures in its budget, Chartered Semiconductor said it will lay off 600 workers worldwide. The bulk of the job losses, 540, will be in Singapore.
by Groundnotes
Being a PAP MP is a de facto appointment that is ideologically uniform and purely administrative. There is no reason why a competent foreigner with excellent managerial and people skills can't do the job.
I'll go one step further: eliminate the jobs. There is no need for so many MPs. Or cabinet ministers either.
by Choongyong.com
Who foots the bill for the purchase of the screen? Who foots the bill for the electricity to power it?
by Zhao Qianyu, Lianhe Zaobao
by Fiona Chan, Straits Times
A new survey b the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) has found that employers plan to give out less in bonuses this year, with the lowest payments coming from small firms and Unites States-based companies.
by Cowboy Caleb
The poor librarian serving me had to disarm each CD manually and took about 20 minutes to proces everything.
by Ministry Of Manpower, Singapore Government
Employment growth slowed significantly in the fourth quarter of 2008, as the economic enivornment worsened. Preliminary estimates show that total employment grew by 26,900, which is only about half the gains of 55,700 in Q3 2008 and compared to 62,500 in Q4 2007.
Preliminary estimates show that 7,000 workers were retrenched in the fourth quarter of 2008, up substantially from 2,346 in the previous quarter and 1,966 in the same quarter a year ago.
See Also:
Singapore Unemployment Jumps To 2.6 Percent, by The Associated Press.
by Straits Times
Four more mall landloards have said they would pass on at least part of the 40 per cent property tax rebate they are getting from the government to their tenants. But City Developments, Frasers Centrepoint, AsiaMalls and Marina Centre Holdings were unable to say how much of the rebate would be passed on and how it would be distributed.
by Everyday's Life In A Snapshot - For Lesser Mortals Only
For you and me to see, and for corrupted Indonesians and dictators from Zimbabwe, North Korea and Burma to enjoy.
by Steve Burgess, The Tyee
How many red-light districts offer the chance to squeeze actual tomatoes?
by Eileen Hee, The Star
by Aaron Hotfelder, Gadling
Until the buying and selling of kidneys is legalized in other parts of the world, Singapore may find that thousands of desperate kidney-seekers are willing to travel abroad for a new chance at life.
by Prime Sarmiento, IPS
This is thanks mainly to various non-government organisations (NGOs) in Singapore which hold workshops on business management, computer literacy and livelihood training.
by Chinmayi Shalya, Times Of India
"We have given [Singapore Tourism Board] a memorandum, saying we shall stop promoting Singapore and its airline to Indian tourists if the airline does not give travel agents the commission that used to be paid earlier," the Travel Agents' Federation of India (TAFI) vice-chairman Pradip Lulla said.
by Feed Me To The Fish
by Bellygood
I was told I had to try Popeyes. "They only have stores at the airport terminals, but it's better than KFC," they told me.
by Ben Bland, Telegraph
While other governments are focusing solely on fiscal and monetary stimulus packages for their economies, Singapore is also pushing ahead with its sexual stimulus plan as it seeks to shore up its flagging growth prospects.
by Straits Times
Finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has warned that the worst of the credit crunch has yet to come.
by Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
by Mollymeek
by Lim Wei Chean, Straits Times
Tenants of 18 CapitaLand-owned malls will gain from the $41.5 million property tax rebates which Singapore's biggest mall operator stands to get from the government's 40 per cent property tax rebate. CapitaLand Retail chief executive officer Lim Beng Chee said the $41.5 million will translate to about 4 per cent rebate for its tenants.
by Gillian Murdoch, Reuters
Cat lovers in Singapore are campaigning for felines to have the same rights as dogs — a roof over their heads and a safe home.
For decades cats have been banned from Singapore's high-density Housing and Development Board flats, which house more than 80 percent of the 4.6 million population.
by Straits Times
"The fundamentals of the growth model are sound," said finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said. "We should not be less susceptible to global markets. That's our future, that's where our fortunes are tied to."
by John Lui, Straits Times
Prince 1, Singaproe's largest cinema, and its smaller sibling Prince 2 have shut down with no plans to revive them.
Large movie screens, circles and stall seats, and handwritten seat numbers on tickets, these are my memories of watching movies in Singapore.
by Saeed Azhar, Reuters
by Jessica Lim, Straits Times
Nearly 190 hawker stalls have not increased their prices over the past six months, despite escalating costs and dropping sales, a survey released yesterday showed.
by Everyday Blog
by Omkar Sapre and Mithun Roy, Economic Times
Singapore could lose its numerous high-spending Indian travellers, thanks to the zero-commission stance of its national carrier, Singapore Airlines.
by Richard Woo, The Online Citizen
We all live for a time only, but to be able to die peacefully, with dignity and without pain or fuss, can be considered a life achievement.
by Jessica Cheam, Straits Times
Serious house-buyers are getting the flats they want sooner because a group of 'frivoulous' buyers, who used to clog up the queue and wsate everyone's time by rejecting flats offered to them, appear to have dropped out.
by Desmond Ng, New Paper
Now, former SIA Engineering technician jobless despite being cleared of charges.
Shame on you, SIA.
by Yeo Ghim Lay, Straits Times
A temporary traffic diversion to ease congestion at Woodlands Centre Road has now been made permanent. This comes after a four-month trial showed the diversion was successful in reducing traffic jams on the road which has heavy use due to the Woodlands Checkpoint.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
We have had 12 general elections in the last 50 y ears since the PAP first came to power. Laws have been constantly changed not just to ensure that the PAP wins every single time but the opposition's presence in Parliament remains non-existent or miniscule.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
The legitimate use of police powers is effectively hijacked for the purposes of political oppression.
by Reuters
A couple treated open air diners to a 15-minute naked parade in Singapore, triggering both embarrassment and applause for a scene almost unheard of in the conservative city-state.
Police said the couple, a Caucasian man and an ethnic Chinese woman in their 20s, had been arrested and released on bail.
by Sarah Stewart, AFP
"Malaysiakini could only have existed in places like Malaysia, Singapore or Burma, simply because the mainstream press have no credbility," James Chin, a political analyst from the Kuala Lumpur campus of Australia's Monash University, said.
by PN Balji, The Online Citizen
The one thing this Budget lacks is a feel-good factor.
by Ministry of Education, Singapore Government
Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) committee shares preliminary recommendations.
by Javed Sayed, Economic Times
The finance ministry has proposed that a key agreement between India and Singapore be amended to prevent two Singapore government-owned investment entities — Temasek and GIC — from together holding more than 10% equity stake in any publicly-traded Indian company.
If one is to read between the lines, it seems that India is accusing the Singapore government of not acting responsibly.
by Fang Zhi Yuan, The Singapore Enquirer
In spite of the apparent social stability we have now, there exists hidden undercurents of tension and discontent beneath which will erupt eventually when the conditions are ripe.
by Fresh Brainz
I don't have any sophisticated equipment for taking eclipse photos directly, so I used my old solar projection rig to project an image of the Sun onto a piece of card instead.
See Also:
Partial Solar Eclipse In Singapore, by Stormelement.com.
by AFP
Passengers buying tickets for the first "flight" of the wheel said they had no safety concerns.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
SIngapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said the idea behind crafting this year's budget is to have one that deals directly with the economic issues that confront Singapore, instead of having smaller measures every few months.
by Julia Hang, Ministry Of Information, Communicatons And The Arts, Straits Times
Over time, as we enhance our capability and experience, we will explore other objective and accountable online platforms.
by Eugene Wee, New Paper
Blogs like yawningbread.org, wayangparty.com and theonlinecitizen.com have names to them. And Messrs Alex Au, Eugene Yeo and Choo Zheng Xi have earned themselves a growing number of readers.
by The Online Citizen
Despite the government's constant invocation about "staying together", its will-power in maintaining a staunchly anti-welfare stance has ensured that most individuals would be facing this recession starkly alone.
by My Thoughts
Then, not only will protesting be illegal, so will filming it. My God! What's next? Turning your head to glance becomes an offence? Or will reading the placard/banner/t-shirt lead to being indefinitely detained under the ISA?
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
The world's largest observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer, will resume operations on Monday - the first day of the Lunar New Year.
by Ben Bland, Telegraph
The executive director of APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation grouping) has insisted that there will be room for free speech at this year's annual summit in Singapore despite the government signaling that it will toughen its protest laws ahead of the meeting.
See Also: Singapore Will Allow "Room To Speak" At APEC Summit, by Singabloodypore. The problem is that we have heard this nonsense before. From past experience and with the recent tightening of anti-protest legislation, what will actually happen is the same old authoritarian heavy handed approach of crushing any and all descent.
by mrbrown
by David Sibbet
I can't pretend to understand a different culture from a couple of week visit, but I came away feeling that Singapore is a harbinger of the future. As our challenges rise, the call for more control and order will also rise. We see it in the new mood to regulate business, in response to the excesses of the financial industry. At the same time the life force seeks expression, and people move toward the freedoms. The young in Singapore want more freedom of expression and the government is having to respond. The push and pull feels like a river of life, moving to reconcile Freedom and Constraint. I see the pattern in the way modern architecture is bending material to the flow of light and line. This picture of a walkway at Clark Quay seems to sum it up for me.
by The Star
by Reuters
Prme minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday that the government's S$20.5 billion stimulus package will not immediately lift the country out of a recession, which may possibly last for the whole of 2009.
by Diary Of A Singaporean Mind
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Building on its history of prostitution and triads, this red light district has evolved into a mini United Nations of sorts.
by This Lush Garden Within
I argue that this statement is discriminatory, and against the principles of human rights - that all humans should be equal regardless of race, religion, achievements or wealth. May I also add that this statement is also against the principles of a democracy (which Singapore is supposed to be), as well as against the values of the National Pledge which we make our children recite daily in school. Such a person does not deserve to be an MP at all, because he holds beliefs that advocates social divide distincing lesser and higher mortals based on socio-economic statuses).
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Since Mr Tan has realized his mistake, why wasn't the letter written by him instead? Is Mr Ho trying to tell us indirectly that Mr Tan lacks the language ability to draft a simple letter of apology?
Mr Tan Yong Soon has apologized to the wrong person and Mr Peter Ho has apologized for the wrong reason.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
What does this show about the People's Action Party? It really shows that they have no confidence that they can win people over in a fair and open debate. This very silly move undermines the legitimacy of their own election victories, begging questions as to why they think they cannot afford to act fairly.
It also shows how mean they are, and that there is nothing sincere in their words about opening up.
by Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia
by The Kway Teow Man
The KTM thought the Job Credit scheme is an excellent alternative to a cut in the CPF rate for several reasons.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
The government's tapping on past reserves appears to be a pre-emptive measure that gives it the flexibility to deply its current remaining resources in whatever way it sees fit in the future, rather than as a "last resort" when all other measures have failed. This is a departure from the government's previous position that dipping into reserves is strictly a last resort.
by The Nation
Red shirt protesters who are loyal to ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra called for leaders of Singapore and Burma to boycott the upcoming Asean Summit in Thailand. They rallied in front of both embassies on Friday and submitted petitions to the leaders through representatives of the embassies.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
Public transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT have now said they will not apply for any fare adjustment this year. In fact, they are working with the Public Transport Council (PTC) to pass on savings they will receive from this year's budget to commuters.
by The Online Citizen
by Martyn See, Only "Objective" And "Factual" Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
by Yesterday... Today... Tomorrow
by Wall Street Journal
It's not often that a Singaporean official concedes the limits of the city-state's economic engineering. But the downturn is proving so severe that the finance minister said in yesterday's budget speech that the government's stimulus package "will not get us out of the recession," but rather "help avert an even sharper downturn."
That ought to be a wake-up call for Singapore, where government built a modern metropolis by hoarding its citizens' capital, plowing those savings into designated industries and opening itself up to foreign trade. The government could unleash more productive, sustainable growth by trimming back its public sector and allowing the economy to diversify on its own.
by Teh Jen Lee, New Paper
We go on the trains to find out.
by Michelle Tay, Straits Times
Despite the spectre of the deepest recession in Singapore's history, personal income tax will not be cut this year, said finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Thursday. This surprised many tax experts who were expecting to hear about a direct tax rate cut.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
My analysis of the key highlights of Budget 2009 is that some of the more outstanding measures stand a good chance of succeeding only if the economy does not spiral downwards further, turning a sharp recession into a soft depression. It is therefore imperative that the government comes up with backup plans in case the worst cmes to pass.
by Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
Although the specific steps taken by minister Tharman have generally gone into the right direction (except for the tax cut and rebates) but I think the extend of the budgeted amount is not gong to be big enough to withstand the onslaught of the crisis of confidence as well as the expected huge unemployment we are going to face in the short future.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Budget 2009 is bold and decisive - that is the general feeling of Members of Parliament.
No opposition MPs were interviewed for this report.
by Ben Bland, Telegraph
Having diligently and prudently accumulated two vast sovereign wealth funds, the government has a handsome war-chest with which to help cushion the blows from the global downturn. The government is in a strong position to ease the pain, not just with this budget, but with further measures in future.
by Mariko Oi, BBC News
When times were good, few questions were asked about how the wealth was distributed, or the lack of social safety net.
The next few years could be the biggest test ever faced by the Singapore government.
by Cavalierio
The likes of Tan Yong Soon will always be simultaneously envied and resented. Not because Tan and the elites have succeeded, but because the system that produces them is unjustifiably unfair. And because the system of rewards is based on misguided values.
by Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia
by Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia
by Singapore Government
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
Community initiatives will get a boost in the arm — for every dollar you give to charity this year, you will get back S$2.50 in tax deductions.
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
The government is pushing ahead with plans to develop Singapore into a global city, as well as making it the best home for Singaporeans, and S$4.4 billion has been set aside for this.
The projects include HDB lift upgrading, building of park connectors and upgrading of military facilities. Others are projects previously deferred to lessen pressure ont he overheating construction sector.
by Channel NewsAsia
The government will give S$2.6 billion worth of support for households and community welfare organisations. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam believes this will do more for Singaporeans than a GST rate cut.
by Channel NewsAsia
The government will introduce a Jobs Credit which will encourage businesses to preserve jobs as much as possible in the downturn, said finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in his budget speech to Parliament on Thursday.
"The Jobs Credit that an employer receives will comprise 12 per cent of the first S$2,500 of the wages of each employer who is on the CPF payroll. It will be given in four quarterly payments, with each payment being based on the workers who are with the employer at the time."
by Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia
by Channel NewsAsia
The government has introduced a new initiative to help companies obtain funding amid the current credit crunch. The government will be taking on a major share of the risks of bank lending, although it stops short at taking over the lending business itself.
by Channel NewsAsia
Singapore has taken the unprecedented step of tapping into its past reserves to give it the flexibility of dealing with future uncertainties even as it responds to the current economic downturn.
The two main measures to be funded from past reserves are the Jobs Credit scheme and the Special Risk-Sharing Initiative for bank lending. And these would require $4.9 billion in total.
by Channel NewsAsia
Households will get a 20 per cent personal income tax rebate for Year of Assessment 2009, capped at S$2,000. There will also be 40 per cent property tax rebate for owner-occupied homes in 2009.
The Additional CPF Housing Grant for first time home-buyers will be increased from S$30,000 to S$40,000.
by Channel NewsAsia
In a move to sharpen Singapore's competitiveness, finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the corporate income tax rate will be cut by one percentage point to 17 per cent from the Year of Assessment 2010. Businesses also stand to gain from a 40 per cent property tax rebate for industrial and commercial properties in 2009.
by Shamim Adam and Andrea Tan, Bloomberg
Singapore, suffering its deepest recession since independence, will spend S$20.5 billion to help businesses and workers, finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said today.
The government will cut taxes and increase expenditure on infrastructure, education and healthcare, Shanmugaratnam told Parliament in the nation's budget speech. The spending will result in a deficit equivalent to 6 percent of gross domestic product, he said.
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Bloggers need not go on bended knees to seek attention from the government. Once your blog's viewership has attained a certain critical number, they will be compelled to sit up and pay attention to you. They may not wish to engage you officially, yet they cannot afford to take their eyes off what you are writing especialy when there are a few thousand people reading your blog daily.
by A Long And Arduous Road Of An Entrepreneur
I thought this was ironical that it came from the president of an association supposedly created to 'promote professionalism among the association's members'. How is this professional blogging? In a short 3 days, instead of uniting the local bloggers, I observed more strife.
by The Kway Teow Man
by International Business Times
Hong Kong and Singapore may soon come under increased scrutiny from the US, if incoming president Barack Obama follows through with his pledge to crack down on abusive "tax havens" which "peddle secrecy" and "cloak tax invasino and other miscondut," according to Withers law firm.
by Anthony Chua, Fence In
Singaporeans, and Singaporean bloggers have to understand that such "engagement" through an association can only be a cheap and ineffective replacement to the parliamentary process.
See Also: Japan's Most Exclusive Clubs, by Mark Philips, On The Media. To be a reporter in Japan is to navigate the unique and often troubling system of Press Clubs - known there as Kisha Clubs. With thousands of them attached to everything from government agencies to corporations, many argue that Kisha Clubs foster a dangerously close bond between reporters and those they cover.
by Erin Lyon, CSR Asia
The emergence of Facebook as a tool used by civil society, and often a new kind of civil society that is not 'registered' as a legal entity with a constitution that sets out 'goals and missions' and produces regular research reports but who are simply a group of people with aligned perspectives on often single issues and with respect to single companies, is something which business must come to quickly understand.
by Mohd Farhaan Shah, The Star
Frequent delays in the train service from Danga City Mall to Singapore have left many commuters irate.
by Felix Ng Hong Peow, Today
Town Councils (TCs) are public organisations, and therefore should operate like organisations with greater openess comparable to that of charities, ministries and statutory boards.
by Lin Yanqin, Today
by Fiona Chan, Straits Times
The Singapore economy has lost two of its three engines of growth for now, after its key services sector sputtered to a halt in the fourth quarter last year.
The services sector make sup 70 per cent of the economy, and covers a vast array of businesses including tourism, financial services and education.
by Tavence Kang, Straits Times
This episode was just the tip of the iceberg. Are top civil servants out of touch with the common man? Perhaps or perhaps not, but who are we to judge. That is the role of the Civil Service.
Isn't the civil servant serving the government - which, by extension, the public "we"?
by Tan Lay Pheng, Straits Times
I would like to appeal to Mindef to minimise the destruction of the valuable but fast-disappearing secondary rainforest left in Singapore.
by Deirdre Moss, Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, Straits Times
The act of taking these animals from the wild (endangered or not) is at odds with the letter and spirit of Singapore's Wild Animals & Birds Act, which prohibits the taking of an animal from the wild. The list of injustices throughout the dolphins' ordeal is extensive and heart-rending to those in animal welfare.
See Also: Who Killed Flipper?, by Ric O'Barry and Louie Psihoyos, Salon. If you end the demand for dolphin meat and captive dolphin shows, you end the trade in living and dead dolphins.
by Paul Kedrosky, Infectious Greed
Nothing like playing catchup with downbound economic weakness.
by Feed Me To The Fish
It's time for the PAP government to grow up and not hinder Singaporeans their rights to live the Singapore pledge of "building a democratic society based on justice and equality".
by Terence Lee, The Online Citizen
Religious discussion should be allowed to flourish with less restraint, as this well benefit Singapore society and its people.
Religion is part of the upbringing of many Singaporean, and cannot be simply disregarded or ignored when many of our social issues are being discussed.
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said if the growth estimates for this year materialise, Singapore will see its worst economic performance in decades. As a response to the crisis, Mr Lee said the government's budget, to be announced on Thursday, will not be an ordinary one.
by David Stewart, Running In The Rain
by Jialat Dot Com
by Ben Bland, Asia Sentinel
Across Asia, the going rate for a kidney is usually agreed in the backstreet surgery of some unscrupulous doctor but in Singapore the government will soon be setting the price for this much in-demand organ. A controversial amendment to legalize the payment of compensation to organ donors was put before the Singapore parliament this week and while the health ministry is yet to decide on the upper limit for reimbursement, it is expected to be at least S$50,000.
by Judith Tan, Straits Times
Singapore's primary school education is not in need of a fundamental overhaul, but increasing the confidence of pupils and igniting their interest in learning would be helpful, a new report has concluded.
by Jalelah Abu Baker, Straits Times
For book lovers like Madam Quek, who is paralysed on her left side due to a stroke, the library now goes to their homes with 'Project Deliver Me', a delivery service for the physically challenged launched by the National Library Board on Wednesday.
by Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
Unless we get the main theme and priorities right for tackling this mother of all crisis, we may just end up worsening the situation with some ineffective or even detrimental policies.
by The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
"After I re-read Mr Tan's article, I noticed that he did not really brag about the cost of his holiday and the cooking lessons. However other information he revealed about himself and his family that were unrelated to cooking, left me with the impression that he was a bit boastful and maybe insensitive to (us) lesser mortals. This may naturally lead to unhappiness and even envy especially during difficult times."
by Yaw Shin Leong
In GE2001, when WP first raised the issue about the new poor phenomenon, the PAP regime outright denied of its existence. In 2009, the potential fallout of the new poor phenomenon is right at our doorsteps, ina magnitude far scarier than 2001. The incumbent regime must now take full responsibilities for its initial denials, act fast or face dire consequences.
by A Thing (Or Two) About Holly Jean
Is it just me... or is this sounding more and more like a petty attempt at being elitist and exclusive?
by Sam's Thoughts
The state may distract its people with materialism, so that they would not interfere with its political affairs. But this materialism has made people more class conscious, and it might undermine the state's power in another way.
by Blowin' In The Wind
It is atonishing how a smart government like Singapore's with a reputation for economic acurmen could get things so wrong that it had to change its annual economic forecast only two weeks after making the prediction.
But the government has come out of denial now — and prepared to confront whatever the future holds, no matter how dark and uncertain it seems.
by Mr Wang Says So
The media has news to suggest that the property market is in for a huge dive.
by Baby Boomers
One of my most unforgettable memories of CNY in my kampung was the ritual of gambling.
And, if the economy doesn't drag down the 'integrated' resorts, there may well be a new - and expensive - CNY tradition starting next year.
by Melvin Tan, A Blog Day's Work
The key issue behind the reservations about the ABS is that many bloggers regard cybershpace as their only liberation outlet in a regulated environment and may not be interested to submit even their last bastion of freedom to an "order".
by AFP
The leader of a Singapore opposition party, jailed numerous times for defying local protest laws and for other offences, has posted a video message asking for US president Barack Obama's support.
Chee expressed hope that the United States "will pay more attention to the human rights abuses of the Singapore government and take positive steps to help Singapore join the community of democracies."
by Lee Hui Chieh, Straits Times
The nation's health budget will be raised significantly this year by 'a few hundred million dollars, which will go towards more medical subsidies during the recession, and possibly speed up building projects, health minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed yesterday.
by EDB, Singapore Government
Manufacturing output in December 2008 decreased 13.5% compared with the same month in 2007. The three-month moving average index for December fell 10.7% over the same period in the previous year. (Note: Link goes to PDF document.)
by Singapore Department Of Statistics, Singapore Government
The consumer price index (CPI) in December 2008 declined by 0.6 per cent over November 2008. The decline was attributed largely to lower costs of transport & communication and housing which more than offset higher costs of food and "recreation & others".
Compared with December 2007, the consumer price index in December 2008 increased by 4.3 per cent on account of higher costs of housing and food.
(Note: Link goes to PDF document.)
by Diary Of A Lesser Mortal
There is a reason why people are very angry and it has little to do with Tan Yong Soon learning French cooking... that article was just a spark that lit a fire. There is still plenty of firewood left for many fires to come.
by Everyday's Life In A Snapshot
Today's reporter made his assertion that there was support for Mr Tan based on "posts" online, and did not even cite the source or evidence.
by Harish Pillay
Ah, what an arcane and myopic stand. Never mind that you cannot use their content (paid out of tax dollars), you cannot even link nor frame the site.
Worse, the licensing of content (paid out of tax dollars) to business is not entirely transparent either. For example, the public still does not know why the map data licensing was withdrawn from Streetdirectory.com.
by Singapore Democratic Party
Singaporeans are told that given freedom of speech and assembly, chaos and turmoil would engulf our country. We know that this is untrue. Let us not wait another 50 years to find out how foolish we have been.
by The 'Tao' Of Teoism
Mr Tan did earn his money fairly through his own hard work, merit and effort. So who are we to begrudge how he wants to spend it?
The issue is not the spending, but the apparently flaunting of riches. In a national newspaper no less. Which points to a fundmental issue in Singapore today: the wide income inequality. (After all, if many of us are just as rich or just as poor, this issue may not arises.)
by Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Although we don't have the unlimited fare option, I think the general cleanliness and spacious design of our trains more than make up for it.
by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore's economy may suffer its worst annual contraction on record this year amid a slump in exports, increasing pressure on the government to take steps to help businesses and consumers.
by Rachel Kelly, Channel NewsAsia
Even though 2009 is expected to be a difficult year for the banking sector, industry experts said SIngapore banks do have enough capital to tide them over.
by New Paper
When the Singapore Chefs Association holds its annual lo hei dinner this year, one dish will be noticeably missing. SHark's fin, a near staple at Chinese banquets, will be left out of the menu by the experts at making it.
Ironically, though, the same chefs admit that they will not be able to stop serving the dish to their customers.
by Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Wednesday revised Singapore's GDP growth forecast downwards to -5.0 to -2.0 per cent, lower than previous estimates of -2.0 to +1.0 per cent.
The ministry also revised down its forecast for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in 2009, estimating inflation to remain unchanged or to decline at 1.0 per cent.
See Also:
MTI Revises Forecasts For 2009 GDP Growth To -5.0 To -2.0 Per Cent And CPI Inflation To -1.0 To 0 Per Cent, by Ministry of Trade and Industry, Singapore Government. (Note: Link goes to PDF document.)
by Feed Me To The Fish
Maybe local politicians can learn some humility, sensitivity, sensibility and responsibility from the 44th POTUS.
The question is: why does the government — the PM, the cabinet, the MPs — only care about monetary rewards? The government had talked about remaking jobs; maybe Lee Hsien Loong should spend more time to remake government services as less about monetary rewards.
by Financial Times
As harsh as that looks, the pediction implies that the economy merely give sup the jobs it created in 2008 and a portion of the new jobs in 2007. The reality could be far worse.
by Luzi Ann Javier, Bloomberg
Singapore, facing its worst economic slump in four decades, changed its law to help people avoid bankruptcy as job losses and loan defaults rise.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
Our Attorney-General's Chambers devise ever more ludicrous laws that not only take leave of basic principles of civil rights, but also do not address any issue that vexes the public. They are quick fixes that seek to impale one man and his plans.
by Daphne Maia
How important is it for you to be given a stamp of approval which affirms that you are indeed, a blogger?
by Singularity Industries
My validation as a blogger comes through my own integrity and my audience. Not necessarily through an external body. It works for me, but you will definitely have your own opinion.
by Choo Zheng Xi, The Online Citizen
23 year old amendments to the Legal Profession Act curtailing the Law Society's powers continues to be a hindrance to the perception of the legal profession's independence.
by Choo Zheng Xi, The Online Citizen
Speaking in his personal capacity at the Institute of Policy Studies' (IPS) Singapore Perspectives 2009 seminar, Mr Inderjit Singh said that cheap foreign labor had depressed wages, and this hurt low income Singaporeans the most.
by Channel NewsAsia
In his written reply to a parliament question, acting manpower minister Gan Km Yong said the manpower ministry and the Workforce Development Agency will work with the education institutions to organise job fairs for graduating students.
Mr Gan said some of the graduating students could consider continuing with post-graduate studies and defer entering the job market until the situation improves.
by Balderdash
And don't forget a healthy sprinkling of delusions of grandeur.
by Talk Rock
This kind of... association is usually started by those bloggers who tired of their blog read by only their mohter, so want to become more famous. (Note: strong language in this post.)
by Department Of Statistics, Singapore Government
Media monthly household income from work of resident households increase dby 13 per cent from $4,380 in 2007 to $4,950 in 2008. After adjusting for higher consumer price inflation in 2008, media household income saw slower growth in 2008, growing by 6.2 per cent compared with 7.2 per cent in 2007. (Note: Link goes to PDF document.)
by The Star
Reopening the old Customs and Immigration complex to pedestrian traffic can be one solution to the long walk public transport users now endure at the new CIQ.
by Everyday's Life In A Snapshot
It's not a wrong choice of words. It's honest words from a thoroughly arrogant MP. In other words, he just said: "Get out of my elite, uncaring face."
by Misanthropic And Loving It!
Mr Chong, your attempt at humour missed the mark. And since you're an MP for my GRC, who have inexplicably lost $4 million of what is actually public money, we should be chasing you for an answer on where that went instead of blaming Mr Tan for his moment of folly. While Mr Tan is spending his salary, no one can disguise the fact that the $4 million lost is nothing but public money.
by Insane Polygons
If you are not part of the elite, then you must be a lesser mortal.
by Brennan.sg
It's just another clique in the local blogosophere, or even the online world.
by Straits Times
Singapore still needs foreign workers, even in an economic downturn. This is because many of them take on jobs that Singaporeans may not want to do or unable to fill, like in construction and marine, said acting manpower minister Gan Kim Yong.
And this is because government policies with respect to foreign workers and the lack of minimal wages had drove many industries to unsustainability without foreigners, from which there is no simple recoveries.
by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore's population may shrink in the next two years as "sizeable" job losses amid the city - state's deepest recession force 200,000 foreigners to leave, Credit Suisse Group said. About 300,000 jobs may be lost by 2010, two-thirds of which are held by foreigners and permanent residents, economists Cem Karacadag and Kun Lung Wu wrote in a report received today.
by Chia Ti Lik
Morale will never be high when the priorities are wrong. When service in the Home Team is aimed at stifling democratic movements, this essentially mean a betrayal of the nation for the fruits dispensed by a despotic government. The Home Team members will have to face their own consciences and the challenges when they do so.
by Military Life: Memoirs Of A Conscript In The Lion City
I mayb e a salaryman in Singapore Inc and not a member of the Elite Club but I am a Mindef-Reserve status citizen who encountered people dying for a Singapore that celebrates conspicuous consumption by Civil Servants and MPs who feel that, hey, give that man a break, you green-eyed lesser mortals just don't get it!
by IntellAsia.net
The figures show that four-years on, the low-cost airline boom in Asia has failed to live up to its hype.
by Jonathan Burgos, Bloomberg
Singapore's Press Holdings Ltd., the city's biggest newspaper publisher, fell to its lowest in a decade on concern earnings will slump this year as the economic recession crimps consumption and advertising.
by Joyce Teo, Straits Times
Home prices here largely continued to be eroded at the end of last year, according to early indicators.
by The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Mr Charles Chong is entitled to his own opinion and we respect his right to disagree. However, it is totally uncalled for to resort to name-calling and insulting those who choose to see the issue from a different perspective.
It is utterly for a public servant - a MP who is supposed to represent the people in Parliament to lack basic empathy and considerations for the feelings of the man in the street which he has conveniently brush aside as "lesser mortals".
by Blowin' In The Wind
by The Random Adventures Of Jojo
by Think For Me, Singapore
While in less than 24 hours, America will be celebrating a historic moment, our little red dot continues to defy odds by making it less and less tolerable to live here.
by Yaw Shin Leong
To acknowledge verbally that people and businesses both need help in the current economic downturn is a good step in the right direction, but this must also be in sync with its action of freezing, if not reversing hikes in the rents, taxes and charges.
by Cactus Blog
It's an outrage! I won't stand for this sitting down!
by Hamdan Raja Abdullah, The Star
Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said when the bridge project was called off, the government had to build a temporary access road to the complex. He said in doing so, all routes planned from Tanjug Puteri to the city had to be closed and motorists had to travel to the inner ring road to enter the city.
This city intentionally left blank.
by Straits Times
Theissue is a philosophical one and cannot be decided by statistics, law minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday. There are powerful arguments on both sides, and no consensus is in sight. The Singapore government thus has to find its own stand. It has decided to retain the death penalty as it has been effective in controling the drug menace.
If there are indeed powerful arguments on both sides, then I would imagine one will have to err on the side of not killing lives, not doing something that cannot be undone.
by Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia
The Human Organ Transplant Amendment Bill aims to allow compensation to altruistic living organ donors.
by Gerald Giam
This once again shows how the internet has managed to force the government's hand.
by Fang Zhi Yuan, The Singapore Enquirer
Going by the rapid rate at which the new media has evolved over the last few years, the government may have not much time left to keep pace with it. It needs to find ways to engage this growing segment of voters in cyberspace soon before it gets unnerved by a similar political tsunami which hit our neighors' shore not too long ago.
by Aaron Low, Straits Times
Law minister K. Shanmugam on Monday rebutted claims by Law Society president Michael Hwang that Singapore lacks a principled and transparent penal system.
by Straits Times
The Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) and Temasek Holdings outperformed global equity markets in 2008, said finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Parliament on Monday.
'Their overall value has fallen by less than the decline in global equity markets, as they maintain diversified portfolios and had taken precautionary actions early in the crisis to reduce their exposures to the equity markets,' he said in a written reply to a query in Parliament from non-constituency MP Sylvia Lim.
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
If you are reading this, Mr Tan Yong Soon, I sincerely hope you can demonstrate your gaciousness and magnanimity by eating the humble pie to apologize to those whose feelings have been hurt by your ill-timed article.
However, if you continue to choose to remain silent and aloof, you will be remembered rather unfortunately as "The French Cook - 'Le Cordon Tan'" for many years to come. To apologize or not, the choice is yours.
by I Have Succumbed To Peer Pressure
Keep it up, Singaporean bloggers. Staying together, moving ahead and all that jazz.
by Singabloodypore
I am sceptical to say the least.
by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore's government said it will cut the salaries of its top public workers and ministers as a "sharp" recession threatens to increase job losses and hurt lending this year.
The top government salaries, which are linked to economic performance, will fall 12 percent to 20 percent in 2009, and "may be subject to further adjustments given the volatility of the economy," Teo Chee Hean,t he defense minister who's also in charge of the civil service, said in parliament today.
by Straits Times
Top civil servant Tan Yong Soon has been rapped for a travelogue he wrote about his family holiday to Paris to learn cooking French cuisine at the prestigious Le Cordon Belu.
Defence minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also the minister in charge of the civil service, said in Parliament: "What the civil servant in question - Mr Tan - does during his vacation leve is his private decision. However I was disappointed with what he wrote in The Straits Times. The article showed a lack of sensitivity nd was ill-judged. It struck a discordant note during the current difficult economic circumstances when it is especially important to show solidarity and empathy for Singaporeans who are facing uncertainties and hardship."
by Straits Times
Singapore's economy won't recover from the current 'sharp' recession until the second half of 2009, trade and industry minister Lim Hng Kiang said in Parliament on Monday. "There is very little we can do to try and mitigate the impact of such a major decline in external demand," said Mr Lim, during question time.
So money cannot buy us some cushion? So, why is the government collecting and hoarding so much cash from its citizens?
by John Burton, Financial Times
Singapore has signalled that it will adopt a carrot-and-stick approach in dealing with possible public unrest as the city-state enters would could be its worst post-war recesion by increasing spending and tightening laws against political protests.
by Straits Times
EDB said bearish sentiments in the fourth quarter has affected various companies' ability to invest.
by Nelson Benjamin, Meera Vijayan, Gladys Tay and Suan Ong, The Star
The new RM1.3bil Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Baru has been plagued with incessant complaints, including traffic congestion, hassles for pedestrians and poor signages since its opening a month ago.
by The Star
The exodus of businesses from Johor Baru has begun and the blame for the shift is on the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex. Moneychangers, restaurant operators, traders and hawkers in the city's once-busy streets of Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Ngee Heng, Jalan Siew Chin and Jalan Segget are moving out.
by The Star
Traffic congestion at the CIQ can be rectified if the proposed bridge from the complex is continued and extended into the causeway, says former Gerbang Selatan Bersepadu construction director Ng Ah Kow.
by AFP
Singapore's sovereign wealth funds, which have helped bail out troubled global financial institution,could for the first time be tapped to help the ailing domestic economy, a report said Monday.
by Eugene Wee, New Paper
Top civil servants need to have a certain moral authority to go about their work, especially since part of their job entails crafting policies that, while good for the country, may be hard for Singaporeans to swallow. They need to have not only top minds and world-class skills, but they must uphold certain social values that are acceptable to all.
by Centre For Asia Pacific Aviation
Singapore Airlines has quietly tested the environment in Australia to see what response it might expect if it established a locally based airline in its biggest foreign market.
by Jessica Lim and Ang Yiying, Straits Times
Whether in prime Orchrd Road or a suburban mall, small businesses are feeling squeezed by falling receipts on one hand, and non-negotiable rents on the other.
HDB should consider building neighbourhood shops in the 'newer' town centers such as Woodlands and Sengkang so that residents there are not held ransom by the shopping mall giants.
by My Singapore News
Getting approval and permission are the last things in the minds of bloggers.
by The Star
PSA International Pte Ltd anticipates a difficult year ahead for the port industry although it recorded a 7.3% increase in volume last year.
by Singapore Democratic Party
From the enthusiastic response, SDP and its supporters are encouraged to continue our walkabouts and to engage our fellow citizens. This is despite the series of court cases that the actvists are facing for standing up for our rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
by My Singapore News
For those who do not know how to spend or share their wealth, just stand outside a MRT station with a sack of angpows and hand them to the passerbys. No need for any mean testing.
by Blowin' In The Wind
There are so few jobs that the Straits Times didn't publish the usual separate Saturday Recruit supplement yesterday, running the job ads with the other classified sections instead.
by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
In these bad times, the buzzword is save, not spend. It is not the right economic climate to be lavish or to have a luxurious lifestyle.
And even if you do, don't brag about it. :-)
by Dhara Ranasinghe, Reuters
Shopping is a national obsession in Singapore, yet this Lunar New Year retailers are struggling to get the city's usually insatiable shoppers to part with their cash as a cloud of economic gloom hangs over Asia.
by AFP
Singapore's once-roaring oil rig industry has been hit by contract cancellations due to weaker energy demand and as plummeting crude prices dampen exploration.
by AFP
Mobile phone giants are going beyond their traditional role as handset makers by offering entertainment and lifestyle content to help grow revenues amid tough competition, analysts say.
In other words, be more like Apple.
by Alicia Wong, Today
Bit by bit, the blogging community in Singapore is getting more organised. Its latest movie: A bloggers' association — the first in Singapore. The non-profit association aims to raise the profile of bloggers and will promote, protect as well as educate its members, said founder and president Jayne Goh.
See Also:
Association Of Bloggers (Singapore) Revives Kampung Spirit, by EastCoastLife.
by Ho Lian-Yi, New Paper
High rentals push Singapore shop owners to Danga, hoping to draw Singaporean shoppers.
by Tan Kee Lin, Straits Times
by Diana Othman, Esther Tan and Kimberly Spykerman, Straits Times
Over the past three months, lone motorists in malls and office carparks are finding themselves pounced upon by wine sellers. Think of scantily-clad women who hawk certain types of liquor in night spots and picture the same scene in a carpark.
by Groundnotes
These new regulations have been mooted to make the jobs of police officers easier. Let's have regulations that prevent messy protests instead of having to clean them up.
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
It is time for Singaporeans to wake up from the long-held myth that the PAP is responsible for the economic "prosperity" SIngapore has enjoyed over the last 2 decades and only the PAP has the ability to bail us out of the economic woes.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
Investing in the export-oriented sector, neglecting the domestically-oriented sectors.
by Solomon Star
International animal activities are urging the Philippine government to return dolphins exported to them back to the Solomon Islands. There dolphins were sent there to be trained before they are re-exported to Singapore for entertainment purposes.
by Gerald Giam
It makes sense to respond on the platform where the original comment was made in order to reach the right audience.
by Dominique Loh, 938Live
As Singaporeans brace themselves for a difficult year, a strong response to the global recession will be needed in the upcoming budget. This could involve dipping into the carefully-guarded reserves of the country, according to senior minister Goh Chok Tong.
by Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia
Investors whom Channel NewsAsia spoke to said the announcement by MAS holds no surprises and still fails to address certain questions. Most investors also said they would continue to pursue the issue of compensation with their financial institution.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore-Malaysia ties will remain positive under Malaysia's next premier Najib Tun Razak - that is the view of Malaysia's new High Commissioner to Singapore, Hussin Nayan, who has described current ties as excellent.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
With the economic storm worsening, the suffering poor could become a potential source of social unrest even for this orderly society despite the draconian control.
by Michael Tan, Sydney Morning Herald
The recent Australian government announcement is simply protectionist and in sharp contrast to the worldwide trend towards liberalisation of international aviation policies.
by AFP
Singapore's deputy prime minister said the island state, which is hosting a summit of Asia Pacific leaders this year, may further tighten laws against public protests, according to reports.
Wong Kan Seng said police could be granted power to take action before protesters could gather at specific areas such as parliament.
by Reggie J, New Paper
by Selina Lum, Straits Times
The parents of a former full-time national serviceman, comatose for more than three years after an incident in camp, have won their lawsuit against the defence ministry.
by Alvinology
The guy circled in red is said to the son of minister of community development, youth and sports, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan.
by Nicholas Fang and Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
More than half of investors who complained they were mis-sold products linked to the collapsed Lehman Brothers are set to be compensated. 25 per cent of the over 5,300 complaints will receive full settlement, wile 33 per cent will get partial settlement.
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said the situation is gloomier now than at the start of the new year when the growth estimates were announced.
by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
by Straits Times
Singapore's exports fell the most since early 2002 in December as a deepening slump in global economies pared demand for electronics and pharmaceuticals.
by Ephraim Loy, A Writer's Blog
For one, the electoral register to allow citizens to participate in elections has not been opened for scrutiny. Secondly, the final map of electoral boundaries has not been released... I think we should wait for more concrete evidence before jumping to a speculation that elections are round the corner.
by AFP
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is cutting more than 200 flights to Australia, China, Europe and India in response to falling passenger numbers, according to the company and travel agents.
by Kevin Lim, Reuters
Singapore's National Wage Council (NWC) said on Friday unemployment and layoffs will be "substantially higher" this year, and recommended that firms affected by economic downturn institute a wage freeze or wage cuts to stay competitive and save jobs.
See Also:
National Wages Council's Revised Guidelines From 16 January To 30 June 2009, by Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Government.
Government Accepts National Wages Council's Revised Guidelines (16 January 2009 - 30 June 2009), by Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Government.
by Sufian Suderman, Today
"The mpact of the high pressure system is windy conditions across the island as we have been having the past couple of days," said the NEA.
by Li Xueying, Straits Times
Almost a year after he escaped from custody, where is terror fugitive Mas Selamat Kastari? Home affair minister Wong Kan Seng narrowed it to either of two scenarios: one, he is in Singapore and hidden by sympathisers unknown to the authorities, or, two, he has fled the country.
by Hard Hitting In The Lion City
by Wong Kim Hoh, Straits Times
At a media conference to launch the Temasek Foundation two years ago, a foreign journalist asked its chairman Goh Geok Khim a pointed question. Is the outfit - which was set up with a $500 million endownment by Temasek Holdings - an independent philanthropic organisation or a spin machine for the government-linked corporate behemoth?
Two years on, the question still surfaces.
by Bernice Camille V. Bauzon, The Manila Times
Although Singaporeans are "tightening their belts" because of the global economic crisis, there are plenty of opportunities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on the island-state, its ambassador said Thursday.
by Patricia Kowsmann, Wall Street Journal
Singapore has a small-business problem, which could feature big when the country unveils its 2009 budget next week.
Built on the back of cheap credit and government incentives in recent years, the island's small businesses now face a credit drought. Banks, fearful of a rise in non-performing loans as Singapore's recession worsens, are growing cautious.
by Neo Chai Chin, Today
Good turnouts at job fairs but poor job-match mrat disappoints employers.
by Ng Wan Ching, New Paper
It is a little-known fact that there is a way for a kidney patient to legally leap ahead of others in the queue. This can happen if Tan, also known as 'One-Eyed Dragon', had decided to direct who his organs would go to after his death.
Under this scheme, the donor's wishes will be granted, never mind the other rules on donations. This was confirmed by a Ministry of Health spokesman.
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
The Singapore Police Force is setting up a dedicated security centre at Marina Bay to manage the challenges expected once the integrated resort there has been completed.
by Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia
Two non-gogvernmental organizations (NGOs) have urged more steps be taken for foreign workers affected by the economic crisis to be adequately compensated.
by SoShiok.com
by Associated Press
Singapore retail sales fell in November as the city-state's residents tightened their belts amid the worst recession in decades.
by Elena Chong, Straits Times
Koh Chan Meng, 47, is said to have written words on a low display wall outside the building at the junction of North Bridge Road and Parliament Street on Tuesday and Wednesday.
by Insane Polygons
I think life should be more than about work and contributing to the economy. And that life has got more meaning than work and only work. Don't live your life and base your self image and identity solely on work or eventually you might just fnd that the MM is right and that life without work is death.
by Eugene Yeo and Jeremy Koh, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Public housing should be kept simple, low-cost and easily affordable to the masses.
by Sumathi Bala, Financial Times
Singapore's job market is looking gloomy as the global economic slowdown takes its toll on local industires' hiring.
by Muhammad Cohen, Asia Times
Conceived in prosperity to win a competitive bidding process that attracted the world's top gaming operators and onctracted during a regional construction wvae, Singapore's IRs will be the world's most expensive casino resorts constructed wave, Singapore's IRs will be the world's most expensive casino resorts constructed, costing up to US$6 billion. The global economic downturn, and falling revenue at Macau's casinos, now cast dark shadows over those heady plans.
by Fong Wei Li, UPI
A handful of varsity students are taking on part-time jobs to finance their tuition fees and daily expenses. These students usually come from lower-income families with paretns who are unable to foot the steep bils tagged to a tertiary education.
by Artinfo
French prsident Nicolas Sarkozy said he'd like to share art from the Louvre with Singapore.
by Paul Tay, Singapore Police Force, Straits Times
While we take all calls seroiusly and strive to respond to urgent cases within 15 minutes and non-urgent cases within 30 minutes, there will be unavoidable instances where we are unable to meet our target response times due to abnormally high incident loads.
See Previously: Are Responses Slower Now?, by Yong Sing Wee, Straits Times. Has it come to the point whereby the police take more than 40 minutes to reach the scene of a potentially serious crime as my experience on Sunday has shown?
by Selina Lum, Straits Times
Police on Wednesday arrested a man in his 40s for vandalism, after a signage stone wall outside Parliament House was defaced at lunch hour.
by Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
The Singapore government will roll out public sector projects worth up to S$50 million each in a bid to help the building and construction industry amid the economic downturn.
by Jolovan Wham, The Online Citizen
'Repatriation companies' are businesses that are set up specifically to help employers manage 'troublesome' foreign workers by roughing them up and sending them back to their home countries forcefully. Many employers are more than happy to pay someone to do this since they find it difficult to handle work place disputes and get rid of foreign workers who do not toe the line.
by AFP
Human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Wednesday asked Singapore to make public "comprehensive information" about its use of the death penalty and again urged the government to stop executions.
Singapore's continued use of the death penalty for criminal offences, including drug trafficking, goes against a global trend that has seen several countries abolish capital punishment, Amnesty said in a statement.
by Blowin' In The Wind
Singapore might have even beaten Hong Kong to the top spot if the government played a smaller role in the economy.
by Bryan Caplan, EconLog
Is it possible that Singapore's leaders realize that the standard eugenic policy recommendations are biologiclly informed but economically illiterate?
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
A rare technical glitch has paralysed the mobile data terminals - necessary for call bookings and cashless payments - of hundreds of ComfortDelGro taxis.
by Joy Fang, My Paper
Give tertiary students a break. Allow them to enjoy this period of their life, and let them grow up at their own pace. Because, trust me, they will in due time.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
The whole affair cries out for an investigation.
by Malaysia Waves
Almost all multinationals in Malaysia have their regional headquarters in Singapore. And, in Singapore discimination on Malays is an official policy.
by Military Life: Memoirs Of A Conscript In The Lion City
It's really sad how we've tilted our system of meritcracy to the point where citizenship counts for far less than academic intelligence.
by Porimol Palma, The Daily Star
Several thousand Bangladeshi workers who went to Singapore with valid documents are being forced to return home in small groups as the Singaporean labour supply companies allegedly cheated them by not arranging jobs for months.
by Otterman Speaks...
It was a rare gem of old Singapore squirreled away in the protective bosom, it had seemed, of the nearby cliff.
by Choo Zheng Xi, The Online Citizen
Two external factors bolster the snap election hypothesis. One of these is unpredictable, the other less so.
by Ting Kheng Siong, Channel NewsAsia
The union-led cooperative has pledged not to retrench workers in the next two years and plans to send some 5,000 frontline staff for further training.
by Melanie Lee, Reuters
A Singaporean bureaucrat who wrote about taking his family on an expensive cooking course in France has sparked ire from locals, with some accusing him of extravagance given the city-state is in recession.
by Chen Shiyin, Bloomberg
Singapore Press Holdings Ltd., the city-state's biggest newspaper publisher, fell after saying first-quarter profit dropped on a loss on investments and as an economic slowdown eroded advertising demand.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
If an election is called, and it is not due to greed for power, but instead due to this reading of our economic future, then it is really bad news indeed.
by The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
by The Edge Singapore
If you thought the local property market was fairly close to bottom and it was time to start looking at bargains, think again.
by Michelle Tay, Straits Times
Singapore has again been ranked the world's second freest economy, after long-time rival Hong Kong, which retains the top position for the 15th straight year. The republic scored 87.1 on the Index of Economic Freedom, which is published annually by The Wall Street Journal and American conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation.
by Fang Zhi Yuan, The Singapore Enquirer
While few netizens condemned the violent act and expressed their sympathies for the victim, others gloat about his misfortune openly making Mr Seng and the ruling PAP to which he belongs to the butt of many crass jokes.
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
"My wife crying, my mother crying, my father crying," Delowar said to me when I asked him if he told his family that he was returning to Bangladesh. "Everything I lost," he added. He had sold his land and borrowed from the bank to raise S$9,000 to come to work in Singapore. In the end, he is paid a measly S$600 to bring home with him.
by Groundnotes
Amidst the euphroic headlines and self-congratulatory media fanfare, the fact is MICA's response was a demonstration in fire-fighting - it accepted recommendations for practices that were already happening and that it has absolutely no control over.
by Daphne Maia
What can girls use for self-defense in Singapore?
by Mr Wang Says So
Overall, I think that DIrect School Admission (DSA) is an excellent idea. However, one can also see how the DSA can backfire.
by Fang Zhi Yuan and Jeremy Yau, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Electoral battles are won at the grassroots level and not in internet chatrooms.
by Martyn See, Only "Objective" And "Factual" Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
by Ministry Of Manpower, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Government
Police confirm the arrests of two Singapore citizens, Seelan Palay and Chong Kai Xiong. At about 12 pm, the two entered the premises of the Ministry of Manpower to stage a protest against the non-renewal of the work permits of some Myanmar nationals.
by Theresa Tan, Straits Times
The Housing Board (HDB) will continue building small flats meant for the elderly, known as studio apartments, as these have proven a hit with older Singaporeans.
by Aaron Low, Straits Times
At least 2,000 workers in the electronics sector are expected to lose their jobs by March, said National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) deputy secretary general Halimah Yacob said on Monday morning. This is comparable to the 2,300 jobs lost in the ailing manufacturing sector int he whole of last year.
by Richard Tulloch, The Age
I remember when the Singapore dollar was worth a good deal less than the Australian dollar. Now they're almost the same. So, faced with an unavoidable stopover en route to a modestly paid job, I was determined to do it on a shoestring. I had one rule, though - if luxury was out of the question, my stayhad to be comfortable, interesting and fun. That turned out to be easy to achieve.
by Peter Douglas, Today
In Singapore, individuals are often asked to take reckless chances with their personal information.
by Lin Yanqin, Today
There's no such pressing need for such a ministry in Singapore, argue some women politicians here.
by Chee Wai Lee
What has impressed me about Mr. Tan is his willingnes to engage with people, even with peole he does nto agree with.
by P N Balji, Today
Here's a reality check for those bloggers who want the government to respond to their views. The government will do it on its own terms and in its own turf.
Instead of waiting, I suggest they cast aside this craving for government attention and continue to do what they have been doing all this while.
by Lahem al Nasser, Asharq Alawsat
by Simeon Bennett and Chen Shiyin, Bloomberg
Singapore expects a "challenging year" for tourism in 2009 as the global economic recession curtails consumer spending and holiday plans.
by Adam Majendie, Bloomberg
Singapore's Tippling Club is defying the times, charging S$600 for a two-person dinner of deconstructed food and smoking cocktails that is as much abaret as cuisine.
by Zalhan Mohamed Yusof, New Paper
It's hardly the great outdoors. But, to at least three people who have been camping out below a flyover along Telok Blangah Road, it's home.
by New Paper
Is the question, as New Paper puts it, "how bad are things over there", or is the question, how big a bubble we have over here?
by Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times
Muslims here should not rule out working in the upcoming integrated resorts where there are jobs, as long as it is not in their gaming sections, said minister Yaacob Ibrahim on Sunday.
One has to note, however, that probably almost everything in the non-gaming-section are really in support of the gaming section where presumably the big profits are.
by Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The suspect who poured flammable liquid on Member of Parliament (MP) Seng Han Thong and set him on fire, has ben arrested by police. The man, a resident in Mr Seng's ward and whom the MP has been trying to help, has been in and out of the Institute of Mental Health.
by Jermyn Chow, Straits Times
While MPs can take precautions against mischief-makers, they must remain accessible to their residents and approachable, said prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, after visiting injured MP Seng Han Thong in hospital on Sunday.
by Asha Popatlal and Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia
Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong has been taken to hospital after he was hurt in an incident at Yio Chu Kang Community Club on Sunday morning.
by Kaffein-nated
Being a maid is a shameful thing. But working as a chambermaid is not. Huh?
by Everyday's Life In A Snapshot
It's time the government stop treating Singaporeans as foreign enemies who are out to get them.
by Fang Zhi Yuan, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
A weak economy, coupled with a divided if not disoriented opposition and a timid, pragmatic and conservative electorate means that we can expect few headways made in Singapore's political status quo.
by The Star
People should be allowed to walk from the Immigration checkpoint at the CIQ complex to the Causeway and on to Woodlands in Singapore," said home minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. "I will check the matter as there should be a route for pedestrians."
by Oon Yeoh, ZDNet Asia
All in all, I had wasted well over an hour trying to get onto the internet at Changi.
The "free" wireless@sg is definitely not free. In fact, it is quite costly, in terms of the things you have to give up.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
The same tools of suppressing political dissent and curtailing free political discourse that existed before are still equally available for use by the government at its own discretion.
by Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
by Mathia Lee
How do you criminalise films (or anything)? When they can be hosted overseas by people overseas.
How can you criminalise civil servants speaking up? When the internet offers wonderful identity cover, of when information could be passed on to people posting from overseas?
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
A high-ranking civil servants'a account about spending RM110,124 for him, his wife and son to learn fine French cooking has blown up in his face.
by AFP
An ailing Singapore retail magnate has received a kidney believed to have come from a convicted ganster hanged on the same day, The Straits Times reported Saturday.
by Channel NewsAsia
The city-state welcomed an estimated 10.1 million visitors last year, down 2.0 percent from 2007, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said. It had aimed to attract 10.8 million visitors during the year.
by Au Waipang, Yawning Bread
The overall conclusion I make is that the government really do not want to do anything progressive. Long live arbitrariness, opacity and nonaccountability!
by Cherian George, Journalism.sg
The government's latest stand on th eFilms Act has fallen short of hopes that documentary films on domestic political themes could be screened as freely as other films in Singapore.
by Martyn See, Only "Objective" And "Factual" Political Films Please, We're Singaporeans
The government's claim that they are "protecting society" by reserving their right to ban films holds no water. A few hundred thousand people have seen 'Singapore Rebel' and 'Zahari's 17 Years' on the internet. I have not receivd a single complaint calling for the removal of these films. The only people who objected to the screening of these films are the government themselves. Whose interests are they really protecting? Singaporeans' or just Lee Kuan Yew's?
by Robin Chan, Straits Times
Media giant MediaCorp has started a cost-cutting drive, which will see the broadcaster shutting down operations and scaling back staff benefits.
by Clarissa Oon, Straits Times
Web content hosts could get some protection when their users are sued for defamation, following a government review of existing laws on the subject.
by Li Xueying, Straits Times
The gag stays: civil servants are stil not allowed to publicly express their personal opinions on government policies. Allowing them to do so would 'compromise the performance of their duty by undermining discipline and trust within the civil service,' said the government.
by Gerald Giam, The Online Citizen
I feel that the government's moves are a positive step forward in engaging citizens and liberalising the political atmosphere. However they are not nearly what is expected of a country at such an advanced stage of its economic development.
by Hasnita Majid, Channel NewsAsia
The Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (AIMS) says it views the government's rejection of nine of its 26 recommendations as a reflection of its cuation in using new media as a platform for discourse.
by Channel NewsAsia
The Singapore government will amend the Films Act to allow for certain types of party political films, which means that political parties and their candidates will be able to use films for internet election advertising during an election. But party political films will have to be factual and objective and not dramatise or present a distorted picture.
by Arthur Sim, Business Times
Reading very closely between the lines of Temasek's mission statement, one can argue that, unlike GIC, Temasek has a social mandate to support businesses.
by Straits Times
Singaporeans are at the bottom of a ranking of retirement income from pensions in the Asia-Pacific region, says the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
by Tan Kin Lian, The Online Citizen
The wages of our lower income workers are inadequate and had stagnated during the past decade. This is due to the absence of a minimum wage policy, a pro-business environment and reliance on market forces.
We need stronger regulations, trade unions and consumer associations to safeguard the interests of workers and consumers in the free market enviornment.
by Fang Zhi Yuan and Lim Siow Kuan, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Is the media serving the interests of the nation or the government? Till Ms Chua answers this question truthfully, no amount of "quality control" instituted by SPH will vindicate its current standing of 141st on the World Press Freedom index.
by The Star
The new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigrtion and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, has regularly been featured in the media but for all the wrong reasons since it started operations on Dec 16 last year.
by Yeo Kia Thye, Civil Aviation Authority Of Singapore, Straits Times
In view of Mr Tan's observation, we will review how to make it easier for non-travellers using Terminal 3 to find such services and facilities easily, without causing clutter or reducing ease of use for arriving travellers.
by Channel NewsAsia
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
by Li Xueying, Straits Times
In a signal that a wave of retrnechments may be on the way, the number of unionised workers who have been asked to go on a shorter work week or to clear their leave has drastically spiked in the past month.
by Derrick Ho, Straits Times
From April, members with unpaid library fines and fees will not be allowed to borrow until they have settled the outstanding amount.
by Reuters
Singapore plans to compel firms to offer re-employment to staff when they reach retirement age and introduce an annuity to help it cope with a rapidly ageing population, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday.
by Straits Times
This is the advice from prime minister Lee Hsien Loong to older and retired Singaporeans, who he said should stay active and engaged as they can still contribute much to the orkforce and community.
See Also:
Speech By Mr Lee Hisen Loong, Prime Minister, At The AARP-Council For Third Age Conference: Reinventing Retirement Asia, by Singapore Government.
by Derrick A. Paulo, Today
The Singapore Flyer management has filed a police report after an information leak resulted in a news report on Wednesday on the sudden resignation of its general manager Steven Yeo.
by Saskia Scholtes and Greg Farrell, Financial Times
Temasek, the Singapore state investment fund, is sitting on significant paper losses related to its stake in Merrill Lynch, the investment bank acquired by Bank of America last week. The state agency's unrealised losses could amount to more than $2bn, excluding any hedges, according to a Financial Times analysis based on publicly available filings.
Some 40 per cent of Temasek's portfolio is in the financial sector, and it has suffered paper losses on other investments, including Barclays, Bank of China and China Construction Bank.
by Lea Salonga, Philippine Daily Inquirer
We arrived at around 1.30 a.m. on New Year's Eve in Singapore, one of my favorite cities for—food!
by Rina Ota, Reuters
The "Museum of Broken Relationships", which opened in Singapore on Wednesday, is a traveling display of items related to failed relationships donated by people who live in the cities the museum has visited.
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
People in Singapore seem to be choosing cheaper ways to travel in these tough economic times. Latest figures from the Land Transport Authority showed that taxis are picking up fewer passengers while MRT trains are carrying more.
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
While I applaud the government for the pay cut, I cannot but be entirely disappointed that, as Mr. Tan Yong Soon, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, has shown, it is only cosmetic.
How else can it be if one is willing to spend thousands on a cooking course on a 5-week holiday and then boast about it in a national newspaper?
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Your words sound empty and hollow to me. Your empathy is shallow and pretentious. Instead of being comforted, I felt belittled, neglected and betrayed by the ruling elite which seems to be living in an ivory tower of their own far detached from reality.
by Helloxiu
I thought Pulau Tekong had only trees and rundown buildings (or rather huts) where the recruits would sleep in.
by Ca-Mie De Souza, Channel NewsAsia
From January 12, Singaproeans heading to the United States must obtain travel authorisation at least three days ahead of their trip.
by Julia Moskin, New York Times
The first hit from any curry noodle soup is visual: steam rising from a glided broth, dotted with urnt-orange oil, flecked with red from driced chilies and brown from warm spices like cinnamon, cumin, black pepper and coriander seed. The next is olfactory, as the perfumes of giner, lemon grass, fresh curry leaves, lime leaves and turmeric kick in.
by Tessa Wong, Straits Times
His sudden exit was among several signs of tension among the Flyer's top management.
by Esther Tan, Straits Times
Johor state immigration director Mohd Nasri Ishak told The Straits Times yesterday that walking on the Causeway - from both directions - was not permitted. But Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said it was not aware of the rule and its officers do not stop people who opt to walk.
by Salma Khalik, Straits Times
Six days since the start of means testing for hospital patients seeking subsidised treatment, more than 90 per cent of those opting for B2- and C-class wards are getting the maximum subsidy.
by The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
by P.S. Suryanarayana, The Hindu
by Chee Soon Juan, Singapore Democratic Party
What the three of you have described is not the rule of law. Rather, it is a system where laws — unjust laws, laws that run contrary to our Constitution, and laws that contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — are used to suppress the rule of law in Singapore.
The truth is that the rule of law must be practised, not merely proclaimed. Saying that we have the rule of law in Singapore does not make it so. If and when the rule of law is entrenched in this country, I assure you that respect will flow not just from the mouths but also from the hearts of the people.
by May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
CapitaCommercial Trust (CCT) has decided not to redevelop the Market Street Car Park into a commercial builing. CCT said the decision was based on the uncertain market outlook and conditions liket ight credit and high redevelopment costs.
by Straits Times
The government will present its budget for the 2009 fiscal year when Parliament sits on Jan 22.
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Not that it was immoral for him to do so, but to boast about it openly in the papers to ordinary Singaporeans fretting about their livelihoods amidst an economic recession is downright insensitive, callous and arrogant.
by Gilbert Goh, The Online Citizen
The current crisis seems to have hit many PMEs right now. THis group of people is highly qualified and may not benefit from such retraining.
by AC Analysis And Coment
In Singapore, heartland is a term used with disdain, or even disgust.
by Mithun Roy, Economic Times
The cash rich Singapore Airlines is offering discount deals of up to 60%, connecting Mumbai with various South-East Asian cities.
by Patricia Lui, Bloomberg
INvestors should sell Singapore's currency against the dollar, euro and yen as the government will favor depreciation to support exports amid a deepening recession, according to UBS AG.
A weaker currency may help boost exports, although it may also fuel inflation by making imports more expensive.
by Rupert Walker, FinanceAsia.com
Economists fear that the Lion City will fall into the worst recession in its history, while hope rests on a resurgence of intra-regional trade.
by Tan Siang Meng, Straits Times
The present Chinatown has failed in its attempt to attract tourists. It has lost its charm.
by Antara News
88% of Singapore's workforce of tomorrow believe that it is more important to spend time with family than to make a large salary and lots of money.
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
by Jessica Cheam, Straits Times
The number of home buyers defaulting on their home loans for three months or more has risen significantly over the last five years.
by Ngoc Thinh Le, Thanh Nien Daily
The way Singapore chooses the right students to benefit from the subsidy is the most important thing we have to think about.
by Neo Chai Chin, Today
Retrenchment presented software engineer Francis Ong with the opportunity to make a difference in India.
by The Online Citizen
To pose Chua Lee Hoong's question back to herself: The problem with the Straits Times is realiability. To what extent can you trust what you read in print?
by Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
"This is an extremely disturbing development," Singapore said today of reports that Israel has begun ground operations in the Gaza strip in Palestine.
by Wong Wee Nam, Sgpolitics.net
There is no doubt that many Singaporeans are still waiting for Nanny to change their diapers. Until this changes, nothing has changed.
by Jack Wong, The Star
Sarawak will go on a roadshow in Singapore this year to promote Malaysia's Second Home programme.
by Gladys Tay, The Star
The new ruling barring people from walking across the Causeway has not only turned out to be an inconvenience but left some stranded in Singapore.
by The Star
The ugly truth is that Singapore "prospered" from the massacre and suffering of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Korea and Vietnam for decades in the 50s, 60s and 70s by the American and the western "democrcies". The Singapore government have never acknowledge this fact, always insisting that the economic "miracle" was their own ingenuity. As such, the young generation of Singaporean have developed similar arrogance, devoid of any humility and gratitude to those of whose suffering and blood they have now benefited from.
The truth is that Singapore is nothing more than a puppet to the "masters of the world", run as a dictatorship by a single family and their cronies.
by Seth Mydans, New York Times
With just 28 houses in an area the size of three football fields, it is Singapore's last rural hamlet, a forgotten straggler in the rush to modernize this high-rise, high-tech city-state. But apparently not for much longer. Kampong Buangkok is designated by the government for demolition and redevelopment, possibly in the near future. When it is gone, one of the world's most extreme national makeovers will be complete.
by Mollymeek
False and scandalous? Who determines what the truth is?
by Confabulations Galore!, sin
This sort of discipline speaks volumes about the culture of a land.
by Eugene Yeo, The Wayang Party Club Of Singapore
Past accolades were never an ingredient for future successs.
by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Chief justice Chan Sek Keong has reminded Singaporeans that justice can only be rendered according to the law and the Courts' authority must be respected by all.
He warned that the law will not tolerate any attempt by anyone to undermine public confidence in the courts by making false and scandalous allegations.
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Job opportunities, or the lack of it, will be the biggest worry for Singaporeans this year and probably a little beyond. Alredy 10,000 workers have been laid off.
by New Straits Times
Malaysia is stepping up its efforts to attract more tourists from Singapore.
by Syed Umar Ariff, New Straits Times
Two additional train services tailored for Malaysians working in Singapore will begin on Monday, after a dry-run of the service yesterday.
See Also: Rail To JB Mega Mall Starts Mon, by Diana Othman, Straits Times.
by New Straits Times
Motorists from Singapore and Thailand, enterting the country, will not be exempted from the new regulation on the compulsory use of rear seatbelts.
by Lionel Laurent, Forbes
Recession deepens as the export slump infects one of Asia's most advanced economies.
by James Wong, Straits Times
I hope the taxi companies will teach their drivers not to react in such a way and perhaps impose a minimum charge on all taxis taking passengers from the airport.
Maybe Singapore should learn from Hong Kong: built the airport far away from civilisation, so that nobody lives near the airport. :-)
by Mathia Lee
Would the important messages that is uglified by offensive or poor language be ignored? Should we start listening to them, and dignifying the cusses?
by Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
I think there is one point that a lot of bloggers failed to recognize in the discussion (more like rants to me, more often than not) about public transport fares: the government simply does not have the power to force transport companies to lower their fares outside of the annual reviews.
The relationship between the government and the transport companies is based on a contract: in exchange to providing a minimum level of service as stipulated by the government at a fare capped by a formula, the government gave monopoly power to the public transport companies to earn 'reasonable' profits. No where in the contract — at least, publicly — gave government the power to force public transport companies to lower fares outside of the annual review and outside of the formula.
Do you really want a government that changes the rules in the middle of a game? Do you really want a government that goes back on its word, after signing a contract? (Aren't you reminded of a certain government that unilaterally declared an MOU null and void after signing the said MOU?)
Perhaps the government should negotiate for a contract that is more 'favorable' to its citizens for the next annual review. Perhaps haiving for-profit companies provide public transport is a wrong move. But I certainly don't want a government that ignores contracts.
Moreover, after all the rantings by all the bloggers out there, I fail to see a single blogger taking the public transport companies to task in lowering the fares. The power to lower fares lies in the public transport companies, not in the government. At least until the next review in October this year.
by Wild Shores of Singapore
by Chen Shiyin, Bloomberg
Singapore's fourth-quarter private home prices declined 5.7 percent, the steepest drop in a decade, as the global financial crisis and an economic recession deterred buyers.
by Rafiz Hapipi, The Online Citizen
From the way I read it, the canvass barricade serves to do send out the message, "Pay Per View or Keep Off!"
I see no problem having an entertainment event being "pay-per-view," so long as it is not subsidised heavily by the government.
by Jack Sim, 360Perspectives
I feel the only way forward is to make Singapore a timeless zone: one where all our offices, factories, civil service, public transportation, banks, shpping, leisure and entertainment centres run round the clock.
We are not robots. There are deep biological and evolutionary reasons why we wake up in the day and sleep in the night.
by John Burton, Financial Times
Chartered Semiconductor exemplifies the problem facing Singapore's ailing electronics sector after warning that it will suffer its biggest loss in nearly four years when it reports its results for the last quarter of 2008.
by Costronic, The Star
These point to inadequate planning and some might even say it was built with no consideration to the actual users.
by Cheryl Lim, Straits Times
Some locations the visitors felt are cheaper include Taipei, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
by Susan Fogwell, NY International Travel Examiner
Considered one of the most beautiful public gardens in the world, one of the highlights at the botanical gardens are the extensive and diverse orchid pavilions.
by Channel NewsAsia
The Singapore economy is expected to grow between -2.0 per cent and 1.0 per cent in 2009. The forecast by the trade and industry ministry is lower than the -1.0 per cent to 2.0 per cent range forecast in November 2008.
The weaker prognosis for the Singapore economy in 2009 is based on the sharp contraction seen in the fourth quarter of 2008.
See Also: Singapore Cuts Economic Forecast Amid Deepening GLobal Crisis, by Shamim Adam, Bloomberg.
by Phua Hooi Boon, Ministry Of Transort, Straits Times
We explicitly decided not to allow operators to pass on their direct costs, such as fuel and wage costs, or to base their fares on these costs. This is to give operator every incentive to operate efficently, and keep their costs as low as possible. Thus, even though the operators have sought to justify fare increases based on rising fuel prices, the Public Transport Council (PTC) will adjust fares only according to [a] prescribed formula [pegged to Consumer Price Index and Wage Index].
This is why last year, despite a 40 per cent increase in diesel prices, the increase in CPI and WI was only 2.1 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively, leading to an allowable fare adjustment of 3 per cent. As the PTC also made the operators absorb a large part of the increase in transfer rebate, fares went up by only 0.7 per cent in October last year.
by Crystal Chan, New Paper
With tourist arrivals falling, some hotels are now rolling out promotion to lure more local guests.
by Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
by Tan Kin Lian, Public Transport In Singapore
What is the main reason?
by Wild Shores of Singapore
I wonder if the environmental impact had been considered.
by Ng Beng Choo, The Online Citizen
As Singaporeans ring in the new year with celebration, some residents of one area will leave their homes as development moves in on 1 January and demolishes their hosues. The area will then be turned into an aerospace hub.
by DPA
Environment experts are expected to release a climate change report on Singapore this year, highlighting the impact on coastal erosion, water scarcity and higher energy demand, according to a news report Thursday.
by Ng Tze Yong, New Paper
It's the white-collar workers - someone like your retrenched boss - who needs more help in this recession than the poor. That's the view of Mr David Ang, execuive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute.
by Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia
In light of the current economic downturn, the health ministry says it will be implemented with flexibility and compassion.
I wonder when the ministry will withdraw its flexibility and compassion, and whether the withdrawal will be announced.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.