Ad : Buy beautiful things at Home-tique
MyAppleMenu | Tomorrow | Reader | Singapore
You are here in the archive: SingaporeSurf > 2009 > August
Yen Feng, Straits Times
'While students in Singapore will not hesitate to read school-related materials, getting them to become life-long readers and to read for pleasure remains an uphill task,' the survey concluded.
Instead of listening to the latest tunes on your iPod, consider trying out an audiobook. You can borrow audiobooks at the public libraries for free. Tweet
The Temasek Review
Much has been written on the economic impact of the uncontrolled influx of foreigners into Singapore. Little is known about the underlying political implications. Tweet
Bhaskaran Kunju, The Temasek Review
PM Lee focused on social cohesion in his National Day Rally and assimilating non-citizens into our population was part of it. Despite our conservative culture, I think we have been tolerant in accepting people of all races, creed and nationality. But if there is a perennial issue of citizens not feeling at home in their own country then there has to be a deeper problem that has not been addressed. Tweet
Andrea Tan, Bloomberg Tweet
Esther Fung, Today
Singapore's wealth management industry, along with its global counterparts, is still assessing the repercussions of a high profile tax-evasion case which involved Switzerland's largest bank, UBS, said industry watchers. Tweet
Kevin Lim, Reuters
The Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC), which manages an estimated $200 billion-plus in assets said it has created the new posts of president (Europe) and president (Americas) to help it improve ties with policymakers. Tweet
Asiya Bakht , Media
Media sources have questioned a research paper from Deutsche Bank that suggested telco giants SingTel and StarHub might launch a joint bid to secure the rights to screen English Premier League (EPL) matches in Singapore for the next three seasons.
This move by the local players, if true, is surely anti-competitive, and goes against Singapore government's aim to be a player in the media business. Tweet
Ignatius Lourdesamy, Housing & Development Board , Straits Times
HDB aims to make public housing affordable for eligible first-time households. These households are generously subsidised for their purchase of new or resale flats. On average, first-time households used 21 per cent and 25 per cent of their monthly income to service their loans on new and resale HDB flats respectively in non-mature estates. These figures are well below the international affordability benchmark of 30 per cent. Tweet
Ngian Lek Choh, National Library Singapore, Straits Times
Recognising that libraries are public spaces catering to the needs of all types of users, we seek Miss Ho's understanding that priority will still need to be given to users to access, browse and use the library resources. Tweet
Ho Lian-yi, New Paper
Adventurer recounts how he was stuck in Woodlands as Swiss Embassy, LTA rush to get paperwork done for car to enter Singapore.
Welcome to Singapore, the land of sorry-i-understand-but-you-still-need-to-fill-up-that-paperwork. Tweet
Teh Joo Lin, Straits Times
Queenstown Remand Prison (QRP) has closed after 44 years and moved to the new prison cluster at Changi which merges all prisons into one cluster complex. Tweet
Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The next phase of the Circle Line – Stages 1 and 2 – will start operations in the first half of 2010. Transport Minister Raymond Lim revealed this at a dialogue session in Bukit Panjang on Sunday. Its exact opening date, however, will only be finalised after engineers complete the necessary tests. Tweet
Kathy Petite, Jakarta Post
Like people say, "too much fun, too little time". That's how it feels when one spends a day on Sentosa Island, Singapore's most-visited playground. And that has nothing to do with age, no. From racing to flying to the top of the highest mountain, it's a fun for all. Tweet
Bernice Han, AFP
Next time you stay in a luxury resort, buy a loaf of bread, open a bank account, sit on a massage chair, grab a sushi or sip a beer anywhere in Asia, check the company's country of origin. Chances are you are dealing with a brand based in Singapore, the affluent city-state that has broken beyond its compact size to become a regional economic powerhouse. Tweet
Imran Ahmed, The Temasek Review
It’s been a slow and somewhat painful process, but the doors surrounding Temasek’s investment performance are gradually being pried open. Tweet
Today In Singapore
Since the eradication of the jury system in Singapore (David Marshall’s prophetic: “The last nail is driven into the coffin of justice”), the defacto position in Singapore courts seems to be that one is guilty until proven innocent, and solicitors appear to be resigned to as much. Tweet
Wild Shores Of Singapore Tweet
Crystal Chan, New Paper
Counsellors told The New Paper that while the majority of parents who go to the tribunal have been abandoned by their children, there is a minority who just want more money. Tweet
Channel NewsAsia Tweet
Channel NewsAsia
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is dangling more carrots to encourage more motorists to switch to off-peak cars. By the end of January next year, motorists can use their off-peak cars on Saturdays and the eves of the five main public holidays. Tweet
The Temasek Review
Instead of the double threat posed by race and religion, a majority of the students polled cited the current economic downturn as having the greatest potential to cause a rift in society. Tweet
Yawning Bread
it seemed to me that in our educators’ minds, sex “education” is not education, but a form of morality instruction or reformative training. Tweet
Tan Kin Lian
This lack of practical experience applies not only to the senior levels of the civil service, but higher up in the chain of command. We have to move away from writing papers to the real issues faced by the people in Singapore. Tweet
The Temasek Review
The temporary market committee which was supposed to oversee the cleanliness of the site was not taken to task. Tweet
James Hosking, Straits Times
Only a week ago, I was watching a light-hearted comedy series, Suburban Shootout, on one of the BBC television channels, when the word "breastfeeding" was clearly beeped out.
I am suspecting BBC was not censored by Singapore censor; it's probably the same feed to multiple countries, some of which have a more stringent censorship requirements than Singapore's. Tweet
Tina Lim, Straits Times
Classifying them as "less-immediate" family than domestic helpers is robbing them of the respect they deserve. Tweet
MIT The Tech
In line with its mission to advance scientific knowledge “that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century,” MIT is working on a new international collaboration that will include aid in overseeing the opening of a new design-based university and an international design center which will both be located in Singapore. Tweet
Imran Ahmed, The Online Citizen
It is time for the government to consider lowering the GST rate in light of how it hurts the poor more than the rich. Tweet
Straits Times Tweet
The Temasek Review
The state media has once again blamed Singaporeans for being selective about jobs in another biased and one-sided article. Tweet
Cris Prystay, Wall Street Journal
Singapore Airlines dominates the survey each year because the company consistently delivers on its brand promise: the airline boasts top-tier service, the latest in-flight entertainment and amenities, and one of the youngest fleets in the sky. Tweet
Alvin Foo, Straits Times
Manufacturing may be on the mend, but Singapore's key services sector still seems sluggish despite the recent stock market rally and property boom. Tweet
Leonard Lim, Straits Times
Delays continue to dog the Sports Hub, with the earliest completion date for the troubled $1.87 billion project at Kallang now understood to be 2013.
This has put Singapore's hosting of the 2013 South-east Asia Games in jeopardy. Tweet
The Temasek Review
Veteran opposition leader Mr Chiam See Tong has sounded the Secretary-General of the Reform Party, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam out for forming a joint GRC team to compete in the next general election due by early 2012. Tweet
Ng Lian Cheong, Channel NewsAsia
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has investigated over 500 cases of illegal subletting at private residences so far this year. That's 25 per cent more than the whole of 2008. Tweet
Sgpolitics.net
Amidst all these cosmetic changes, we should ask: Will there any difference in Temasek’s level of accountability and transparency? Tweet
Channel NewsAsia
More frequent and larger increments in the rank allowance for NSmen is among the recommendations put up by the fifth committee set up to Recognise the Contributions of Operationally Ready National Servicemen to Total Defence or RECORD V (Five). Tweet
长沙晚报
8月9日，市委派出23名领导干部，赴新加坡参加“两型社会”建设专题培训班。学习期间，学员们广泛接触了新加坡的方方面面，对新加坡的“两型社会”建设有了零距离的接触和了解，也有了更深刻的体会。他们的学习体会和心得，也许能给读者以启迪。 Tweet
Bernama
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that former Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew did not threaten to go to war if Malaysia did not supply water to the republic.
"If he had done that, I think I would have stopped any further supply," Dr Mahathir said in an article posted in his blog today. Tweet
联合早报
令人欣慰的是，在新的方针中，淡马锡也明确地把自己定性为一个负责任的企业公民，将把部分的回报贡献给社会，促进社会的发展。这是一个庄严的承诺，也是一般国人最关心的问题。 Tweet
Shahid Khan, Today
Why doesn't the SMRT increase the frequency of trains between Tanah Merah and Singapore Expo during peak hours or, better still, allow certain trains on the East-West Line to go straight through to the Expo and on to Changi Airport during the morning peak hours? Tweet
Francis Chan, Straits Times
According to its latest annual report, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) received $29.8 billion in tax for the period April 1 2008 to March 31 this year - a 2.4 per cent rise on the previous financial year. The lion's share came from corporate income tax, which was up 14.3 per cent to $10.6 billion. Tweet
Yawning Bread
Frankly, that action can be reduced to a simple point: The censors want to be able to act in secret. They do not want film viewers to know what scenes or how many minutes have been cut from a film. These public servants do not wish to be transparent and accountable to the public. Tweet
Megawati Wijaya, Asia Times
In a departure from the usual state-sponsored message urging Singaporean couples to have more children, this year's National Day rally addressed the island state's rapidly graying population. As rising health and living costs emerge as a threat to social stability and economic growth, a dramatic demographic shift is driving the government to re-examine its past anti-welfare stance. Tweet
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore’s industrial production unexpectedly surged the most in 16 months in July as pharmaceuticals output jumped and the electronics slump eased, heralding a sustained economic recovery. Tweet
The Temasek Review
Ex-NTUC Income CEO Mr Tan Kin Lian has set up a new consumer association - Financial Services Consumers Association (Fisca) to educate retail investors on saving and investment. Tweet
李静仪, 联合早报
经营轻轨服务的新捷运担心，进出月台的乘客全挤在狭窄走道上，万一不小心，有人被挤落轨道上，后果将不堪设想，它因此要求陆交局在月台装置防护屏。 Tweet
Straits Times
British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is looking to open two of his casual Jamie's Italian eateries here, with the first expected by the end of next year. Tweet
Chin Sau Ho, Ministry of Finance Singapore, Wall Street Journal
You cited Temasek's losses since March last year as warranting greater scrutiny by parliament but omitted other facts disclosed by the government in parliament—that while Temasek's portfolio value had fallen in line with the recent market decline, its annualized returns of 15% (in U.S. dollar terms and excluding capital injections) from the start of the market cycle in 2003 until the trough in November 2008 exceeded relevant market indices, as well as many comparable investment entities internationally.
On Charles Goodyear, what Temasek stated about the mutual agreement not to proceed with the planned CEO succession is no different from typical disclosure by large companies which make senior management changes. Tweet
Tan Chui Hua, Straits Times
The issue of limited study areas should not be solved at the expense of other users with specialised research needs. Tweet
Corrine Ng, Transit Link Pte Ltd, Straits Times
We would like to take this opportunity to share that in Singapore, public bus and train services are provided on a commercial basis. All concessionary fares are effectively cross-subsidised by full-fare paying commuters. Thus, we have to exercise prudence in granting further travel concession beyond the present eligible groups. Tweet
Tuoi Tre, VietNamNet Bridge
The volume of sand exported to Singapore from Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in the first half of 2009 was equivalent to the total exports of the last ten years. Ironically, most of it is shipped under falsely backdated contracts. Tweet
Lim Wei Chean, Straits Times
Some 881,000 visitors came last month, representing a 4.5 per cent drop from the same period a year ago. But this is the 'smallest year-on-year decline this year', said the Singapore Tourism Board on Tuesday. Tweet
Judith Tan, Straits Times Tweet
Yawning Bread
Indeed, the only two Christian leaders who were in the photo were the head of the mainstream Anglican Church and a representative of the Roman Catholic Church. In other words, the real trouble-makers effectively snubbed the council and the meeting with Lee.
Thus, instead of demonstrating that all religions bought into his message, the photo showed all too clearly how the most troublesome ones would still challenge the secular state and its tolerance-promoting message. Tweet
P.R. Venkat and Coastas Paris, Wall Street Journal
Singapore state-owned investment company Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd. remains open to investing in Western banks and may divest from some Singapore companies, senior executives said Tuesday. Tweet
陆一灵, 浙江在线 Tweet
陆元兵, 人民日报
游学归来，新加坡河那泓清静的河水在我脑海中留下了挥之不去的印象。在新加坡期间，我听得最多的是关于水的故事。水，柔韧中透着坚强，当它遇到阻挡时，它就会用自己的温柔把障碍化解于无形中；纵有千般阻隔也挡不住水流奔腾的脚步。新加坡人关于水的故事，充分折射出新加坡人民的性格和特质。 Tweet
Kevin Lim and Neil Chatterjee, Reuters
Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings on Tuesday issued an updated charter that described the fund as an investment firm managed on commercial principles, dropping a reference to its role to improve the city-state's economic base. Tweet
Joyce Koh and Netty Ismail, Bloomberg
Temasek Holdings Pte said it will take a more active role in managing investments as it increases overseas holdings after the value of assets slumped by S$40 billion ($27 billion) last fiscal year.
The review of Temasek’s seven-year-old charter reflects the transformation of the fund from a passive holder of stakes in government-controlled companies to an international investor in companies including Merrill Lynch & Co. and Barclays Plc. Tweet
Ess Aubrey Gabrelyn, Straits Times
The water quality of Singapore's five recreational beaches have stayed 'very good' or 'Good' for whole-body contact activities since the last review, but swimming is still not advised at the Pasir Ris beach. Tweet
胡洁梅, 联合早报
“绿色交通周”开幕仪式现场，竖起的华文告示牌引起议论，数名公众对着华文告示牌看了又看，觉得那些翻译自英文的标语不太准确…… Tweet
The Temasek Review Tweet
Judith Tan, Straits Times
Public hospitals have raised the prices of some generic drugs - including some which treat chronic conditions like diabetes - by as much as 25 per cent a tablet. Tweet
Seah Su Chen, Straits Times
There is little incentive to visit the site as similar contributions can be found elsewhere where there is greater editorial licence, real or perceived.
Relevance is about what you do, not what you associate with. Tweet
Jasmine Ho, Straits Times
What is the rationale of building a library that is 13 storeys tall, with state-of-the-art facilities, only to have restrictions, and where most members of the public use only the basement level? Tweet
Singapore Democrats Tweet
IDG News Service
There are no immediate plans to propose a law that would cut off Internet access for Singaporean users who receive repeated warnings from their Internet service providers for downloading pirated music and videos, according to the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). Tweet
The Temasek Review
The dubious backgrounds of the p65 bloggers has cast doubts on the legitimacy and credibility of the site. Tweet
Straits Times
Singapore's inflation rose 1.1 per cent in July from June due mainly to higher housing, transport and communication costs. But compared to a year ago, the consumer price index (CPI) was lower by 0.5 per cent, said the Department of Statistics in a statement on Monday. Tweet
Feed Me To The Fish
In 1965, Lee Kuan Yew cried when a Malaysian Malaysia could not be a reality.
In 2009, a 58-year-old Singaporean choked when he heard that a Singaporean Singapore is just an Aspiration. Tweet
Gerald Giam
The Pledge is neither an aspiration nor an ideology. It is a promise made by all Singaporeans, to their fellow Singaporeans. Tweet
Elysa Chen, New Paper
150 at Speaker's Corner sign petition. Tweet
Loh Choong Chiat, Straits Times
Being appreciative of Singapore's achievements and being critical of the deficiencies are not mutually exclusive. Tweet
Khartini Khalid, on behalf of the P65 bloggers, Straits Times
There is no official party line to toe, and none of us has to seek clearance from any individual before putting up a post on the blogsite.
But is it just an echo chamber? (Or an empty chamber?) We'll be able to tell soon enough. Tweet
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
The PAP refuses to acknowledge that these founding principles and spirit are the key guiding stars of our nation's development. The reason is simple, they could not answer for their deeds for the past 44 years that have deviated away from these core values. Tweet
Blogpastor
But I do wonder about the rightness of taking things further in situations of great oppression and injustice that impoverishes and tramples the general population? Tweet
Tales Over Coffee
Race and religion are major contention points everywhere. There is always some religious persecution and tension. Tweet
Gandhi Ambalam, Singapore Democrats
What we are advocating is a rational and sustainable policy where we strike a balance between having guest workers in Singapore and at the same ensure that our people earn enough to lead meaningful lives so that the benefits of economic grwoth is shared by all. Tweet
Bhaskaran Kunju, The Temasek Review Tweet
周文龙, 联合早报
有人说，新加坡是一个冷气机国家，我们最大的幸福（或成就）就是制造了一个巨大的冷气机，让每个人都能舒适地在冷气房里创作艺术，不用饱受烈日爆晒。
所以，别再怪天气了，即使我们真的把爱丁堡的天气移植新加坡，就会变得艺术了吗？又或者，我们只会躲在那摄氏26度的冷气房里，赞叹窗外美妙的天气，却始终不敢走出大门一步？ Tweet
Channel NewsAsia
The finance ministry said the property gains tax was proposed because of earlier feedback. Speaking at a community event on Sunday, second finance minister Lim Hwee Hua said certain property investors had wanted more certainty regarding the current rules. Tweet
Associated Press
Singapore’s prime minister said in his National Day speech that “aggressive preaching” by religious groups and evangelizing threaten the tiny city-state’s stability.
Lee Hsien Loong, a Buddhist by birth, said his education at the island’s Roman Catholic High School was an example of how different religions can coexist peacefully. Tweet
Straits Times
He is the tall 'botak' (bald) ang moh famously known as Botak Jones. Come this Friday, he will proudly become a Singaporean. Tweet
Butterflies Of Singapore Tweet
阴天倦怠 Tweet
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
Led by the former chief executive of NTUC Income, Mr Tan Kin Lian, the investors were upset that the Singapore authorities were not as effective as the regulators in Hong Kong. “Justice in Hong Kong. Wayang in Singapore”, one of the placards read. “Protect Singaporeans, not banks”, said another. Tweet
The Temasek Review Tweet
An American girl in Singapore
Having to get the government involved so that your children will take care of you just seems to be a giant red flag on his or her parenting skills. Tweet
Celsias
Nestled in this green corner of the country is a place known as Bollywood Veggies . If you’ve heard of the place, you know of its owner Ivy Singh-Lim. And if you’ve heard of Ivy, you know she’s a firecracker-- a local legend. Tweet
Straits Times
Recent online gripes that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) overspent on new platform screen doors for its MRT stations have proven to be far off track. Checks by The Straits Times show that the prices of similar doors overseas are comparable with what the LTA has paid. Tweet
Shoba Narayan, Financial Times
Quietly and without much fanfare, Singapore has experienced a culinary renaissance of sorts. Gifted Singaporean chefs – such as Galvin Lim at Au Jardin, Christina Ee at Broth, Yong Bing Ngen of The Majestic, Jusman So at Sage, Sebastian Ng at Ember, Michael Han of 53, or Devagi Sanmugam at Spice Queen — have blossomed on their own turf. Tweet
Tom Davenport, Harvard Business
Singapore is tiny compared to the United States (and most other countries, for that matter), but that doesn't mean it can't be a model. Barack Obama keeps saying that we need to buckle down and work hard to build an economy based on real production, not hollow financial chicanery. We need a little more social order, and a little less individualism. Singapore has already pulled off both objectives, and continues to provide a good example of good judgment for the United States and the rest of the world. Tweet
Boon Kiat Yeow, Asia Sentinel
Singapore's prosperity and economic progress could not change my feeling that it was a city without a mother tongue or a cultural soul. Perhaps this was the reason why many talented expatriates both from the East and the West come and go, for there is no position that suits them best in terms of cultural soul in Singapore, which belongs neither to East nor West. Tweet
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
The government appears to be telling young Singaporeans that if they want debate, the government will give it to them and if the youngsters want parliamentary democracy, they can have it too – but not necessarily through elections or a two-party system. Tweet
Diane Francis, National Post
The Swiss have been targeted for some time and now Singapore plus others must become the focus. Ending bank secrecy will reap many benefits for the world such as finding out if public officials and politicans are on the take. Tweet
Esther Ng, Today
Indicators may include amount of litter, number of lift breakdowns and defects. Tweet
Tan Kin Lian, Straits Times
After 44 years of independence and prosperity, it is time to review the role of NS. Perhaps we should have a professional army to defend our nation. Tweet
Abdul Gafoor, The Online Citizen Tweet
The Temasek Review
Nothing can be further from the truth. Tweet
Channel NewsAsia Tweet
Channel NewsAsia
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said it has decided not to change the income tax framework with regard to individuals who sell their properties. Tweet
Andre Yeo, New Paper Tweet
Hoe Pei Shan, New Paper
Associate Professor Alan Tan, the vice-dean of Graduate Programmes in NUS Law, insisted it was wrong to say Singaporeans are excluded from most of the scholarships. He said it was necessary to look at the number of recipients in each scholarship category and that the FGS category is, in fact, open to Singaporeans despite the NUS Law website stating otherwise.
There is no cap on the number of Research Scholarships - which are open to Singaporeans - given out yearly. He did not give exact numbers on how many were given out, or how many were awarded to Singaporeans. Tweet
Teo Ser Luck, on behalf of P65 MPs, Straits Times
The beauty of the new media is that it promotes diverse views and interests. Accordingly, tools of engagement must also evolve. Tweet
Singapore Democrats
Our leaders can say the darnedest things and they often do. In just the last few days, some gems have fallen from the mouths of our mighty and ministerial.
If they had been in a democratic society, they would have been given a good political spanking by the public. But, of course, this is Singapore - land of low falutin ideas where people are seen (working, of course) and not heard. Tweet
Blowin' In The Wind Tweet
Feed Me To The Fish
So the National Pledge is nothing more than a high faluting - pompous; bombastic; haughty; pretentious "aspiration". Tweet
The Online Citizen
The Straits Times published an ad verbatim transcript of the exchanges in Parliament betwen Mr Tharman and MPs. So, why was Mr Tharman’s “public interest” remark edited out of the transcript? Tweet
Wall Street Journal
Temasek has taken baby steps toward more transparency under Ms. Ho. The questions raised in parliament Tuesday show the Singaporean people support those efforts, and want more. Tweet
Leong Sze Hian , The Online Citizen
Why are our judges making callous and unfeeling remarks towards people who’re down and out? Tweet
联合早报
本地每10个家庭中，有8个月入8000元或更少，建屋发展局基于这个比例已覆盖大多数需要经济实惠住房的家庭，不打算提高家庭月入顶限，让月入8000以上的家庭也享有购屋津贴。 Tweet
联合早报
反对党议员刘程强（后港区）昨天在碧山—大巴窑集选区议员再努丁提议国会修改动议后起身发言，虽表示不完全认同他所修改的动议内容，但也承认新加坡确实取得进步。
他参与信约精神的辩论时，指出自己并不认为新加坡已完全落实公民信约中所提出的各项原则，并且也认为人们不应该对信约过度解读。 Tweet
联合早报
在反对党议员詹时中（波东巴西区）眼里，人民行动党政府其实并没时时刻刻对建国元勋拉惹勒南笔下的公民信约的所有原则身体力行。至少反对党选区里的组屋区总是排在最后才得到翻新，已违背了信约中的平等精神。
除了组屋翻新，他昨天在国会上针对维护信约精神的动议发言时，还重提了政府当年原本要让东北线地铁在波东巴西过站不停，以及他在上世纪80年代碰到的连在自己的选区里种棵树，都受到重重干扰为例，批评执政党没公平地对待反对党，以实践信约中所体现的伟大精神。 Tweet
Khairulanwar Zaini, The Online Citizen Tweet
The Temasek Review
Mr Tharman has indeed served his “strategic purpose” well by acting as a shield to block the arrows on behalf of his boss who was the preceding finance minister. Tweet
Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
The prisoner who was beaten and sodomised by his cellmates last year had many opportunities during the period of assault to report them, said senior minister of state (home affairs and law) Ho Peng Kee on Wednesday.
'Unfortunately, for reasons best known to him, he chose to remain silent,' Associate Professor Ho said in Parliament when replying to three MPs who had asked about prison abuse.
Stop blaming the victim, Ho. Tweet
Mr Wang Says So
PRs in Singapore can send their young children to a local primary school, or to an international school. The PRs have the right to choose. If they choose a local primary school, then they enjoy the same priority as Singaporean citizens, in the admissions process. Alternatively, PRs can send their children to an international school in Singapore.
However, Singaporean citizens do not have that option. They are not allowed to send their young children to international schools. Tweet
Lee Siew Hua, Straits Times
Education minister Ng Eng Hen responded in detail to Nominated MP Viswa Sadasivan's motion that the House stay mindful of tenets in Singapore's Pledge when it debates national policies. Tweet
May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
Minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew said on Wednesday the government has been accountable in its actions and has worked towards ensuring that no race is discriminated against in Singapore. He added that what the country has achieved so far is evidence of that. Tweet
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives Tweet
The Online Citizen Tweet
Under the Willow Tree
If Singaporeans want transparency and accountability about Temasek's investments and policy decisions, they have to first demand transparency and accountability from the Singapore government. Tweet
Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
The justice system worked flawlessly in this case, but what this person needs is not a fine nor jailing; what he needs is social assistance to deal with the source of his transgression of the law. The justice system is not the antidote to this problem. Tweet
Military Life: Memoirs of a Conscript in the Lion City
I fear that minister Tharman is telling us we can't handle the truth, and thus it continues to be withheld from us. Tweet
Straits Times
Nominated Member of Parliament Viswa Sadasivan wants Parliament to reaffirm its commitment to the principles enshrined in the National Pledge. In his view, this entails strengthening Singaporeans' sense of citizenship, the fundamentals of democracy and racial and religious unity. He tabled a motion on Tuesday for the House to take into account such principles when debating economic and other national policies. Tweet
May Wong, Channel NewsAsia Tweet
Straits Times
The authorities are studying a new way to pull the plug on unauthorised downloads: terminating Internet access of hardcore pirates who refuse to quit despite repeat warnings. Tweet
Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is putting in place more stringent control measures to ensure the safety of such workers. Tweet
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net Tweet
Investment International
Despite the high cost of living for expatriates in Singapore, and cutbacks in luxury spending due to the recession, most expats want to stay put, the latest international survey from HSBC has found. Tweet
Singapore Democrats Tweet
Netty Ismail and Joyce Koh, Bloomberg
Temasek Holdings Pte’s chief executive officer should “ideally” be Singaporean, the city-state’s finance minister said after the departure last month of U.S.-born Charles “Chip” Goodyear.
Temasek’s board of directors must remain in the control of Singaporeans, Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in Parliament today, adding that the government “would prefer not to restrict” the investment company in its choice of CEO candidate. Goodyear, who would’ve been the first foreign-born CEO of the state-owned investor, quit five months after Temasek named him to take the helm from current chief Ho Ching. Tweet
Jonathan Peeris, Channel NewsAsia
About one in three government tenders are not awarded to the lowest bidders. Second minister for finance Lim Hwee Hua told Parliament on Tuesday that a similar approach is taken in the Best Sourcing Initiative which was launched in 2004. Tweet
Robin Chan, Straits Times
Former chief executive-to-be Mr Charles Goodyear received no goodwill payment for his four months' work at Temasek Holdings the finance minister revealed in Parliament.
But after 25 minutes of grilling, the House emerged none the wiser over what exactly the strategic differences were that led to his sudden departure. Tweet
龙国雄、李白娟, 中国新闻网 Tweet
Kevin Lim and Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters
Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings has set no deadline to find a candidate to replace former CEO-designate Charles "Chip" Goodyear, finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said on Tuesday. Tweet
Chua Hian Hou, Straits Times
The government will pump in $27 million over the next five years to create a super-accurate interactive map of Singapore. When complete, the SG-Space (Singapore Geospatial Collaborative Environment) project will provide authorised users with all kinds of geographical information, from weather forecasts to the location of underground utility pipes to building layouts, senior minister of state for law and home affairs Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee announced at the Map Asia conference on Tuesday.
What I hope is that the majority of information will be open-source. Unfortunately, I believe this government will charge people money to use this data. Tweet
The Temasek Review Tweet
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
Until our Government realizes that many of its policies may actually work to the detriment of social cohesion, it will not be able to build a strong foundation for social cohesion to grow. Tweet
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
While Mr. Lee Kuan Yew tried his very best to address this touchy issue of Foreign Talent Policy which drew many sarcastic and even talk back remarks in the internet forums (of course SPH would not report on such responses), his son, prime minister Lee, chose to skip this issue altogether. Tweet
Mr Wang Says So
I have no comments on what the PM actually said, because he hardly said anything at all. Tweet
Associated Press Tweet
B.K. Sidhu, Malaysia Star
If Jetstar Asia gets more air planes this year it will like to fly to Ipoh, Sandakan and Tawau from Singapore, says chief executive officer Chong Phit Lian. Tweet
Malaysia Star Tweet
The Temasek Review Tweet
The Online Citizen
A week ago, reports in the mainstream media about the newly-revamped and newly-staffed P65 blog said that “none of the [the writers] are affiliated to the Young PAP”. However, it now surfaces that one of the writers on the blog is a indeed a Young PAP member. Tweet
Christopher Tan, Straits Times
After seven-and-the-half years of excavation, interrupted by a tragic collapse in 2004, tunnelling of the 33.3km Circle Line has finished. Tweet
Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia Tweet
Gerald Giam
By citing this example, what kind of message is PM Lee inadvertently sending? The message I got was that when interests collide, the minorities inevitably end up being the ones who give in. Tweet
Nicholas Lim, Straits Times
In my opinion, a key point was missed. The Baby Bonus scheme is a success as it has stemmed the decline in the number of new births. Tweet
The Age
Singapore's fiscal stimulus package unveiled earlier in 2009 is working and the government won't need to inject additional funds into the economy this year, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said. Tweet
Judith Tan, Straits Times
The government will ramp up resources to develop an integrated, step-down care system to prepare for a rapidly ageing population. This was the main thrust of prime minister Lee Hsien Loong's address on healthcare, one of four key issues in his National Day Rally speech at the University Cultural Centre on Sunday night. Tweet
Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
The saga, he declared, was 'an attempt by a religiously motivated group, who shared a strong religious fervour, to enter civil space, take over an NGO it disapproved of, and impose their agenda'.
The government frowned on this as such as action 'was bound to provoke a push back from groups who held the opposite view, as indeed happened, vocally and stridently.' Tweet
Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Hi there. I'm going back for reservist for the next two weeks. Hence, there will be minimal updates on this website until 30th August, 2009. Tweet
Policy and Economy
The reason health savings accounts are so successful is because they get supply and demand working the way they should. This doesn't occur when someone else (e.g. an insurance company or the government) pays the bill. Tweet
Judith Tan, Straits Times
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans to be prudent in their spending, noting that more have been turning to their MPs for help. 'Some have fallen on tough times, but others have over-stretched themselves,' he said. Tweet
Judith Tan, Straits Times
As the Malay-Muslim community builds itself up to overcome the economic downturn, it must remain engaged with the other races. This reminder came from prime minister Lee Hsien Loong in his Malay speech at the National Day Rally at the University Cultural Centre on Sunday evening. Tweet
Martin Abbugao, AFP Tweet
The Temasek Review
It appears that in the minds of PAP members, only their party has the “divine right” to govern Singapore. Tweet
Marvis Toh, Straits Times
A Sunday Times check with six malls surrounding the new Ion Orchard showed that two have jacked up their parking fees this month. Tweet
Singapore Democrats
The PAP government is devoid of any sense of right or wrong. The moral compass of our nation is tragically lost. Apparently, our stance on Burma is motivated by greed. It is widely documented that Burmese druglords and the corrupt generals continue to launder their loot in Singapore. Many of them come to Singapore's hospitals for treatment. Tweet
Ministry Of Truth
Even those who commend Singapore’s health care system as a model from which other governments could learn concede that it would be very difficult to replicate elsewhere in the world because its a system that has been developed concurrently with the development of the country over a significant period of years against a backdrop of political ’stability’ which is derived, in the main, from a culture of enforced political and social conformity to a degree that would be unthinkable in a Western liberal democracy such as the UK.
The price of an efficient healthcare system in Singapore is a corporatist state that would have fair warmed the cockles of Mussolini’s heart and level of political and social quietism that would have had the pre-Glasnost Kremlin swooning with envy. Tweet
Aileen Chua, Being a Working Mother
I am not surprised that our baby bonus has little impact so far. Tweet
Mr Wang Says So
The tough part is to convince Parliament. As you might have noticed, Parliament can sometimes be both very slow to act, and also quite stupid. Tweet
Business Times
In exporting urban solutions, Singapore companies must not make the mistake of transplanting wholesale the Singapore model.
That word of caution comes indirectly from Low Sin Leng, executive chairman of Sembcorp Industrial Parks. What she says of her company's experience in Vietnam applies to other Singapore companies in other markets. Tweet
Bernice Han, AFP
Wong Kok Fah, one of Singapore's last remaining farmers, can finally see a future for his vegetable business after 30 years of back-breaking work.
Plans by the industrialised city-state to set aside more land for farming to boost food security have given him hope that the fourth generation of the Wong family can continue the business started by his grandfather. Tweet
Roberto Coloma, AFP
Despite Singapore's worst economic slump since independence, the residential property sector is in the midst of a new boom reminiscent of 2007, when the city-state was known as the world's hottest real estate market.
Greed and its twin brother fear are back in play as punters stake out condo launches days before sales open, with some offering blank cheques to pre-book flats, prompting the government to hint it may have to cool things down. Tweet
Sylvia Tan, Fridae
Two short films, both of which are partially funded by Fridae and loosely based on true life incidents of police entrapment of a gay man in one film and 12 gay men in another, have been pulled from the 6th annual Singapore Short Cuts festival which begins tomorrow. Tweet
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Conservative in upbringing and conditioned by strict laws, Singaporeans are moving into a sexual revolution that was unimaginable two decades ago. Tweet
Radha Basu, Straits Times
A record $230 million was given out by the Government in baby bonus payments last year, up from $55 million just five years earlier. But there was no corresponding increase in the number of Singaporean babies born. Tweet
Choo Zheng Xi, Straits Times
It is disappointing that after 21/2 years of poor readership, the P65 Members of Parliament have chosen to cut their losses and minimise their presence on the website they started to engage the public.
An integral part of any public engagement strategy is flexibility. I am surprised that such a large group of MPs was unable to commit more time and effort to generate meaningful online debate. Tweet
Straits Times
Singapore Airlines is offering older staff the option to retire early - the latest in a slew of measures to trim excess manpower and costs. Tweet
Channel NewsAsia
The health ministry (MOH) said the case of a Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 patient is an isolated case. Tweet
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen Tweet
Dee Kay Dot As Gee
I actually find myself ashamed as a Singaporean after reading Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry comments on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s verdict. Tweet
Singapore Democrats Tweet
The Temasek Review
A nation united by apathy and ruled by fear has not achieved Merdeka yet. We have merely exchanged the British colonizers with our own local-bred pests and leeches. Tweet
Heng-Cheong Leong, MyAppleMenu
Sgpolitics.net asked: Why the large discrepancy in value of contracts awarded to ST Electronics for installation of platform doors at SMRT stations and at Taiwan's Neihu Line?
Here are some guesses that I can put forward to explain the difference, in order of significance:
1. Singapore's platforms have more doors. (Singapore: 4 doors per car, 6 cars per station; Taipei: 2 doors per car, 4 cars per station) (300% difference)
2. Singapore's work is to be performed on existing operating stations, while Taipei's work was performed on not-yet operating, still under construction stations.
3. Singapore's platforms are longer in length. (Singapore: about 140m; Neihu: about 90m) (150% difference)
4. Singapore's work is to be performed on older stations, possibly with older existing technologies.
Given all these, it is not surprising to me that Singapore's work is more expensive. If you count the number of doors per station, it worked out roughly to be equivalent to the difference in cost. Tweet
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
MM Lee is wrong. Why? He uses the fertility rate today (1.28) to explain why we need so many foreign workers in Singapore today. The Singapore workforce today is not build (born) today but more than 30 years ago. You cannot use our low fertility rate today to argue that we need so many workers now because our workforce is today is dependent on the fertility rate 30-40 years ago! Tweet
Clarissa Oon & Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times
Minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Thursday warned Singaporeans of the dangers of closing the country's door to foreign talent.
Without educated foreign residents, Singapore faces the threat of a declining economy with a shrinking labour force, he said in a speech stressing the importance of accepting and embracing them. Tweet
Clarissa Oon & Goh Chin Lian, Straits Times
English will remain Singapore's master language even as the country nurtures more bilingual talents who can do business with China, minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew said on Thursday. 'The command of English is a decisive factor for the career path and promotion prospects of all Singaporeans. Tweet
New Straits Times Tweet
Channel NewsAsia Tweet
Singapore Democrats Tweet
Straits Times
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Thursday said it is now working with IBM Research to tweak the system to enable it to predict traffic flow.
Combine bus and taxi data, and you'd have a pretty good picture. Tweet
DPA
Singapore's film censors cut some scenes from Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy Bruno and restricted it to viewers 21 years old and above (R21), as the film is to hit the cinema screens in the city-state next Thursday. Tweet
Mohammed Hadi, Wall Street Journal
Singapore can sometimes go overboard when sounding the alarm bell. It did, after all, stage an imaginary terrorist attack as part of its National Day parade on Sunday.
Still, the latest word of caution from the government should give investors across Asia pause. When reporting a second-quarter rebound in economic growth, the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Tuesday said there were "few signs of a decisive turnaround in final demand in Singapore's key export markets." Tweet
Straits Times
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has accepted for implementation nine out of the 16 suggestions received on the draft Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2009 during the public consultation exercise held in June. Tweet
Mr Wang Says So
Why should we be surprised then, that some of these individuals will choose to stay on in those foreign countries? After all, Singapore failed to provide for them what these foreign countries were able, and willing, to provide. Tweet
Dee Kay Dot As Gee
Can someone from NDP creative department explain to me why you guys die die must release balloon for National Day? Tweet
The Temasek Review
Though Yeo has been quite disappointing in his carefully drafted replies to Chee, it is a positive development in Singapore’s conservative, if not dour political landscape. Tweet
Jessica Jaganathan, Straits Times
The outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) appears to have peaked, with attendances at clinics dropping off for the first time in weeks. Tweet
Channel NewsAsia Tweet
Ong Dai Lin, Today
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) said it is re-examining the ways it distributes Newater in order to reduce its use of plastic bottles. Tweet
Seah Seng Choon, Case, Straits Times
If tipping is required, tour agents should state it clearly in tour packages. Tweet
Christopher Tan, Straits Times
Two developers which included unconfirmed locations of future MRT stations in their condo advertisements have stopped using the information as a selling point. Tweet
Straits Times
Two plays this month have received unusual advisories from the Media Development Authority (MDA). Tweet
Dennis Chan, Straits Times
Central Provident Fund members will continue to receive 2.5 per cent a year on the savings in their ordinary account for the next three months. Tweet
Straits Times Tweet
Aung Zaw, The Irraawaddy
The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia condemned the verdict, but Singapore, haven of the Than Shwe family and shopping hub for generals’ wives and cronies, took a somewhat hypocritical stance.
The island state actually praised the regime for being lenient with Suu Kyi as opposed to decrying the bizarre trial and entire charade in the first place. Tweet
Serene Luo, Straits Times
Some Singapore Internet users may be experiencing slowdowns on the Information Superhighway, especially when trying to access websites hosted in the United States and Taiwan.
We are still using the term 'Information Superhighway'? Tweet
Mr Wang Says So Tweet
Channel NewsAsia
Half-height platform screen doors will go up at three MRT stations by the end of this year. The first sets of doors were installed at Pasir Ris station on Wednesday. Tweet
The Online Citizen Tweet
Blowin' In The Wind
Singapore's leading newspaper, The Straits Times, has taken to cherrypicking even what the government says about the economy. Tweet
Melissa Tan, Straits Times
Singapore risks 'severe asset inflation' during the economic recovery, a local economist has warned. Tweet
Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
Malaysian police Special Branch (SB) director Datuk Seri Ramli Sha'ari has been conferred Singapore's Meritorious Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Gemilang) by the republic's president for his role in establishing stronger ties between the SB and the Internal Security Department of Singapore (ISD). Tweet
Bernama
Johor Baharu Umno youth division has opposed a Singapore proposal to expand the Johor Causeway as it will not solve the pollution problem in the Johor Straits. Tweet
Today
Her defeat at the 1991 General Election went down as one of the major electoral upsets. And 18 years later, in a rare and candid interview with the latest issue of Petir, a publication of the People's Action Party, it was apparent her "darkest moment in politics" has not left Dr Seet Ai Mee. Tweet
Today
"It is reasonable for people to ask questions, but ultimately the government holds the responsibility for deciding how much to reveal in our best interests." Tweet
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
When it comes to politics, the mainstream press often loves to use the technique of cherry picking to distract readers from the main issues and focus their minds on the nitty gritty details that paint the opposition in a bad light. Tweet
Blowin' In The Wind
In fact, Singapore is not doing well at all by any measure if one looks at the full report on the Economic Survey of Singapore for the second quarter. Tweet
Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's foreign ministry said Ms Suu Kyi did not plan to violate the terms of her house arrest, and the intruder into her house was a person who appears to be of unsound mind. Tweet
Andrea Tan, Bloomberg
Singapore, which allowed six foreign law firms to practice local corporate law in December, will award more licenses as soon as next year if that would help the economy, Law Minister K. Shanmugam said.
“The direction has been set and we don’t intend to turn back,” he said in an interview. The government will review the progress of its liberalization program in the first six months of 2010 and could award more licenses then if the market can “digest them,” he said. Tweet
Military Life: Memoirs of a Conscript in the Lion City
What planet is Xiao FuChun from? Tweet
Luc Citrinot, eTurboNews.com
Despite the fact that AirAsia does not have an airline based in Singapore, the City State is turning now into one of the busiest gateways for the red-and-white, low-cost carrier. Tweet
Xeni Jardin, Boing Boing
The best intentions appear to have gone horribly, double-entendre-ly wrong in a Singapore public service ad campaign which proposes that citizens use hand lotion as a weapon against child sex trafficking. Tweet
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore’s economy expanded more than initially estimated last quarter as manufacturing and services improved, reinforcing the nation’s emergence from its worst recession since independence 44 years ago.
Singapore’s gross domestic product gained an annualized 20.7 percent last quarter from the previous three months, after shrinking a revised 12.2 percent between January and March, the trade ministry said in a statement today. Second-quarter growth was more than a July 14 estimate of a 20.4 percent expansion, and compares with the median forecast for a 19.2 percent gain in a Bloomberg survey. Tweet
Eugene Yeo, The Temasek Review Tweet
Lee Yan Kit, Straits Times Tweet
Khairulanwar Zaini / Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen Tweet
The Temasek Review
The Singapore government has always proclaimed itself to be the chief architect of the nation’s economic growth, having pegged a portion of their salaries to the yearly GDP growth.
However, when Singapore became the first Asian country to fall into a recession last year, it claimed that it is an “inevitable” consequence of the global financial crisis of which it has “no control” over. Tweet
Matt O'Sullivan, The Age
Singapore Airlines has long had ambitions to fly between Australia and the US but has recently resisted lobbying aggressively for authorities to open the route further amid a severe downturn in travel. It has little interest - in the short-term, at least - in entering a market that has gone from a cosy duopoly to an aggressive four-airline contest in less than a year. Tweet
Crystal Chan, New Paper
Mr Koh said: 'We often dreamt of our grandfather and he kept telling us that people were walking all over him in the park. We took the dream as a sign that we had to act on his last rites.' Tweet
Today Tweet
Straits Times Tweet
Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's environment and water resources minister Yaacob Ibrahim said on Saturday Indonesia needs to do more to tackle the haze problem. Speaking at a charity event, Dr Yaacob said he is disappointed with some of Indonesia's responses to the recent haze. Tweet
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
Today, Singapore citizens have to be sure what exactly is it they are defending. We have to know that we are defending a place that we can call our home, and not some hotel that has been sold out to foreigners in the name of economic growth. Tweet
Mathia Lee ~ Plans and Preoccupations Tweet
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore’s economy is recovering after contracting 6.5 percent in the first half of 2009 from a year earlier, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said.
“We are now in a stronger position,” Lee said in a televised National Day message today. The decline in the first six months was “less bad than we had feared” after an easing in the global recession and government measures helped Singapore’s economy “bounce back” last quarter, he said. Tweet
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
For a large segment that has been badly affected or who is unhappy with unpopular government policies, the enthusiasm has been rather muted. They associate the festivities with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), and even refuse to put up flags. Tweet
Straits Times Tweet
Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
Two ministers on Friday cautioned against calls to reduce employers' access to foreign workers as a way to improve the productivity of the Singapore worker. Tweet
Straits Times Tweet
Mr Wang Says So Tweet
亮亮, 联合早报
离开新加坡一阵，就会想念小贩中心的种种，特别是面薄·干。 Tweet
The Temasek Review
Temasek’s recent gain in its portfolio is due largely to the rebound in the global economy and should not be used to vindicate its over-exposure in the financial markets.
Furthermore, it should not be used to excuse the Temasek’s Board for blunders such as the ill-timed purchase and sale of BOA and Barclays, the dissolution of Australia’s ABC Learning and the investment in the much maligned Shin Corp, none of which it has been held accountable for so far. Tweet
New Paper
When credit card fraud takes place, the finger-pointing game begins. Who is to blame? Banks, consumers, or retailers?
Not us, says the Singapore Retailers Association. Its executive director, Ms Lau Chuen Wei, said: 'The job of a retailer, especially the one at the front line, is indeed onerous. Tweet
Tan Pang Soon, Straits Times
Although I do not agree with price fixing, I prefer a stable market to an evil business cycle.
But, there are other ways to regulate for a stable market besides price fixing. Tweet
P N Balji, Today
His most notable achievement as prime minister was his ability to move Singapore away from one of the most-jealously guarded philosophies of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his "Old Order" welfarism. Tweet
Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia
A survey has shown that more than one in three Singaporeans are dissatisfied with job opportunities for older workers. Other concerns Singaporeans have include housing affordability as well as health costs. Tweet
Ng E-Jay, Sgpolitics.net
It is highly unfortunate that in defending the interests of employers, Mr Yeh has adopted the PAP mindset of regarding Singaporeans as mere economic digits, to be rudely shunted aside and left out in the cold as and when it fits their purposes.
We don't need any government at all if all we are are simply economic digits. Tweet
Kor Kian Beng, Straits Times
Labour leader Josephine Teo wants the government to 're-tune' its foreign worker policy to arrest the declining productivity of Singapore workers. Tweet
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's fourth prime minister could be among the new faces fielded in the next general election due by early 2012, said senior minister Goh Chok Tong on Thursday.
However, he added that prime minister Lee Hsien Loong is now having a more difficult time looking for suitable candidates in their 30s.
PAP would do well to start looking outside their own echo chamber. Tweet
An American girl in Singapore
We walked in the door and saw chocolate everywhere.
Seriously. Everywhere. Tweet
Channel NewsAsia Tweet
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
MM Lee got it wrong. Tweet
Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters
It is too early to say Singapore is seeing a strong, sustained economic recovery, the country's trade minister Lim Hng Kiang said on Thursday. Tweet
Ess Aubrey Gabrelyn, Straits Times
It's back. Smoke haze shrouded Singapore on Thursday morning, with an acrid burning smell hanging in the air. The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit its first moderate level since February on Wednesday. Tweet
Mr Wang Says So Tweet
Chua Peck Lan, Straits Times
While action is being taken against vehicles carrying more passengers than legally allowed, why is it that buses and trains seem packed, especially during peak hours? It does not seem to matter to the authorities - perhaps until an accident results in casualties.
Yes, it's insanely packed, but I don't think the load has exceeded "legal" limits. It will probably be better to argue to lower the legal limits. Tweet
Euromoney
Having announced change and seen it reversed, the net effect on perception of Temasek is likely to be worse than if it had never announced a change at all. Tweet
Leow Si Wan, Straits Times
Crime statistics issued on Wednesday for the first half of the year showed that the number of statutory rape cases involving girls under 14 jumped more than 70 per cent, to 37 cases, compared to the same period last year. Tweet
Gandhi Ambalam, Singapore Democrats
The Jobs Credit scheme obviously cannot help those who are retrenched. For these people how do they survive without income? Tweet
by New Paper
That is the verdict of the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) after a recent random test by The New Paper revealed shocking lapses at stores.
At four out of the five retail outlets, no one bothered to check the signatures on the bills. No one asked why two Chinese women were charging expenses to a credit card bearing an Indian name. Tweet
by Shashank Nigam, SimpliFlying
Alienating your First Class passengers should be the last thing any premium airline should aim to do, and it is a pity that SIA has done just that. Tweet
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
Some 32,000 houses in Singapore will soon be getting installations of fibre-to-the-home in the next few months, which will enable them to get ready for the ultra-high speed broadband network, capable of delivering speeds of one Gigabyte per second and above. Tweet
by Singapore Social And Political Thoughts Tweet
by The Temasek Review
As public servants, both the Temasek Board and the Ministry of Finance are expected to be subjected to public scrutiny. The continuous passing of the “hot potato” from one side to another is making a mockery out of our public institutions. The buck has to stop somewhere. Tweet
by Kelvin Chow, Today
While the news is a blow economically and in terms of sentiment, it also raises the question of the kinds of jobs that Singapore wants to attract and keep - an issue for the high-level Economic Strategies Committee to mull over. Tweet
by 吴静娴, 联合早报
为外国学生提供各种形式的奖学金，对新加坡来说，究竟是得还是失呢？我认为，是小失大得。 Tweet
by The Temasek Review Tweet
by Singapore Social Activist Tweet
by Mrbrown: L'infantile terrible of Singapore
In this day and age when you can turn to the internet and listen to any radio podcast from any where in the world, why would you want to listen to a local DJ trying to sound like an American?
Pick up an iPod and check out the thousands (millions?) of podcasts from all over the world via iTunes. The local FM dial is almost useless. Tweet
by L. Tan, Jakarta Post
On this case, David's family has every right to seek closure and recourse for themselves by requesting for a full and complete investigation into their son's tragedy. However in doing so, they have to adhere to the laws of the land, in this case Singaporean law. They shouldn't do so by going public based on allegations and unverified evidence or hearsay from David's friends in the institution. Tweet
by Oikono
Will Singapore’s income inequality reach South American standards someday? Tweet
by Siew Kum Hong
My own suspicion is that the cameras were installed in advance of the upcoming APEC meeting in Singapore. During the IMF-World Bank meeting in Singapore in 2006, there was a public protest at Speaker’s Corner, as well as an attempt to march to the venue of the meeting. The film Speakers Cornered captured the events of that day. I can only surmise that the CCTV cameras are in anticipation of similar incidents. But at what cost to Singapore? Tweet
by Singapore Democrats
Given all that has happened in the last year with and to Mr Wong, perhaps it is not entirely surprising that the minister seems to be adopting a lower profile. Tweet
by Straits Times
Resorts World at Sentosa on Tuesday refuted a report by an investment bank about a possible early opening. Tweet
by Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters Tweet
by Business Times Tweet
by DPA Tweet
by Kimberly Spykerman, Straits Times
The Police MRT unit (PMU) will be beefed up to become the public transport security command, deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng announced on Tuesday morning.
It will work closely with land transport authority and public transport operators to formulate and implement security policies and measures to enhance safety and security of public transport network, he said. Tweet
by The Temasek Review
To reform the obsolete political system which has made us a laughing stock of modern democracies in the free world, we must first boot out the ruling party through the general elections, but without a credible alternative waiting in place, we may have to put up with the status quo for many more years to come. Tweet
by 水中飘流的一片浮萍
新加坡建设赌场,本地人反对的声音似乎都大过赞成的.我也不赞成建赌场,利用人们贪婪好斗的本性,怕是国家花园城市的美名都要被赌桌上污烟瘴气的赌风给污染了. Tweet
by 杨春虹, 海南日报
程文华是和新加坡中厨协会代表团首次到海南的，因为海南鸡饭的缘故，不少第一次到海南的大厨并不觉得这是一个陌生的地方。在首届“海南鸡饭”暨文昌鸡美食研讨会上，两地大厨交流鸡饭厨艺，讨论两地鸡饭的异同或是优劣……省烹饪协会秘书长林俊春说：“‘海南鸡饭’就有如是从海南嫁出去的姑娘，在新加坡落地生根，由土变洋，成了响当当的明星，现在回娘家了。” Tweet
by Wai Moe, The Irrawaddy
Remarks on Burma by Singapore’s Foreign Minister George Yeo have raised eyebrows in Burmese exile circles. In an interview with Singapore’s Online Citizen, Yeo made several wrong statements on Burma, leading to questions about the depth of his knowledge of that country. Tweet
by John Moe, The Online Citizen
Mr Yeo is thoroughly mistaken. Tweet
by Daven Wu, Time
Singaporeans moan that besides shopping, dining and the movies, there's not a lot you can do here. Ignore them. The must-see list for the one-day visitor to Singapore, especially the first-timer, is absorbingly long. Tweet
by Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
Acting minister for information, communications and the arts, Lui Tuck Yew, said on Monday women accounted for only 32 per cent of the university intake and 41 per cent of the polytechnic intake for IT courses, based on 2007 figures.
Speaking at the APEC Digital Economy Forum for Women, he said the group makes up only a third of the country's infocomm manpower and the figure has not improved in the past decade. Tweet
by 中新网 Tweet
by Channel NewsAsia Tweet
by Military Life: Memoirs of a Conscript in the Lion City
The more the ministers talk about social cohesion and integrating foreigners into the warm embrace of Singapore Inc, the more I find their statements contradicting because their words do not match the implementation by Singapore (Govt) Inc. Tweet
by Singapore Democrats
We have laid the foundation and it is sound. We must continue to strengthen this foundation while simultaneously erect the pillars that will allow us to build a party based on our vision and our values, one that Singaporeans will come to respect and cherish. Tweet
by Sgpolitics.net
Clearly the law applies to some and not to all. Tweet
by Channel NewsAsia Tweet
by Gangasudhan, The Temasek Review Tweet
by The Online Citizen Tweet
by The Temasek Review
We started out as a nation of immigrants and now we are being flooded by new migrants. The British colonial government is replaced by another nanny state run by a small exclusive group of elites disconnected with the suffering of the masses. Singapore is still far away from attaining real nationhood. Tweet
by The Hindu
In Singapore, the celebration and promotion of the arts has always moved in tandem with the socio-economic development of the country and its focus on nation building. This connection is pronounced in the metamorphosis of the arts festival. Tweet
by The Temasek Review
The competition for limited vacancies also helps to depress the wages of unskilled blue collar workers. The median salary for the low-income group has remained stagnant for the last decade. Tweet
by Ravi Philemon, The Online Citizen Tweet
by Jarkata Post
David's family and lawyers believe they are facing a massive wall of conspiracy in court proceedings in Singapore. Tweet
by 联合早报
喧闹的荷兰村流光溢彩，觥筹交错，似乎是浅表和短暂的。而在荷兰村组屋里老邻里街坊之间深厚的情谊，体现了人性的美，温暖心扉，却是隽永。 Tweet
by 凤凰网
淡马锡2009年的巨亏让中国不再迷信新加坡国资管理的模式，但这并不代表“神话”被打破了。目前正值苏州工业园成立15周年，是时候反思一下，一直在输出“模式”的新加坡，究竟收益如何？ Tweet
by Straits Times
It is a promotional stunt for Golden Village to mark the screening of the movie 'Moonwalker'. Tweet
by Jakarta Post
Foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda said Friday it was impossible for the government to press the Singaporean government over the country's coroner's inquest into the death of Indonesian student, David Hartanto Wijaya. Tweet
by Sophie Lam, Independent Tweet
by Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
The Goodyear story has highlighted a fundamental weakness in Singapore — particularly in the government — as it becomes a global player: a dire paucity of local entrepreneurs.
After 44 years, this trading hub has failed to produce an entrepreneurial class that can keep up with its world ambitions. Tweet
by Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
Both manpower minister Gan Kim Yong and labour chief Lim Swee Say, in their comments on the latest job figures on Friday, said it was still too early to celebrate. Tweet
by Asha Popatial, Channel NewsAsia Tweet
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.