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Claire Huang, Channel NewsAsia
MPA said that as of Monday, there has not been any report of oil patches in the Singapore Strait south of Changi.
Clement Tan, Asian Correspondent
Channel NewsAsia
The Office of the Commissioner of Charitiies (COC) has received complaints of misuse of church funds against City Harvest Church. The COC has informed the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and they are investigating some financial transactions involving several individuals and companies related or connected to the City Harvest Church.
Mohd Jufrie Mahmood, Singapore Democrat Party
Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz
ANTARA
The industrial cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore could disadvantage the Batam, Bintan, Karimun Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a noted businessman said.
Tony Siew, Revelation Is Real
If Malaysian politicians can overcome some past historical baggage about Singapore, perhaps there is much we (Malaysians) can learn from Singapore's development, governance, and above all, its non-corruption culture at all levels.
Gilbert Goh, Transitioning.org
The government needs to realise that the whole civil service is funded by tax payer’s money and they are accountable to the public. Any operational lapses need to be rectified early and if there is a serial defaultor like the MDA, heads must roll so that the public is assured of a serious commitment to provide corruption-free public service.
David Fogarty, New York Times
The government wants the clean-technology sector to become a major pillar of the city-state’s booming economy, which is already a regional center for financial services, petrochemicals, semiconductors, education, shipping and aviation. It has rolled out a series of investments, tax sweeteners and other incentives since 2007 to achieve its goal.
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Deputy prime minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also minister-in-charge of the Civil Service, said public sector wages will dovetail Singapore's economic performance.
Daven Wu , Wallpaper.com
In many ways, Singaporean architecture still suffers a little from the metallic and glass box mentality. If it was good enough for Mies van der Rohe, the thinking goes, it’s good enough for the tropics.
Tony Dawe, Times
When the Grand Prix cameras pan out in a few months, viewers may be surprised by the changes to the city state's skyline.
Bernama
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still of the opinion that the scenic bridge project to replace the causeway connecting Malaysia and Singapore should be pursued.
The former prime minister said it would help ease traffic congestion between Johor Baharu and the island.
Chua Chin Leng, My Singapore News
365days2play's Blog
So, we decided we had to at least visit the railway station before it becomes modernised. I think many Singaporeans do not know that there is good food to be found at the railway station. At least all the friends that I know of are surprised when I tell them that I had some teh tarik, or ayam penyet, or nasi beriyani or satay at the railway station.
CNN
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
For 33 years since that event, there has been fear among Singaporeans because they still don't understand what these people have done wrong..... all they did was aim for better human rights, great equality in society and sociopolitical change no different from today's political activists so how can we be sure that the draconian measures of the past won't be used again to preserve the interests of the ruling elites.
Ben Bland, Asian Correspondent
The problem is not so much the lack of enthusiasm for history, as demonstrated by the NUS students' plan to hold this forum, but a desire by the state and its actors to close down or restrict alternative views of history in order to enhance their legitmacy.
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
For a journalist who has reported the frequent bouts of quarrels in the past 40 years, it represents a milestone.
Singaporean Skeptic
What is the point of spending so much money on research and education when you can't even support a simple thing like academic freedom?
Anthony Lee, Straits Times
Giam Say Khoon, The Sun
Transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the decision to vacate the Tanjong Pagar train station in Singapore was not a hurried one as claimed by the opposition. "Such accusation is baseless. As far as I know, we did not handle the issue in a hurried manner,” Ong told reporters at a Wesak Day celebration here today.
Phare Anderson, Singapore Social and Political Thoughts
My friend who was in the human resource company was telling me that there were PRs from Malaysia who was in Singapore since young and yet need not serve NS. I was told that one of the parent, usually the mothers are Singaporean. Their kids are just PR and they need not serve NS.
Singapore Democrat Party
Why is the PAP so afraid of what the ex-detainee has to say?
台海网
Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia
The oil spill caused by the collision of two vessels at sea on Tuesday has spread to Chek Jawa, a wetland off Changi Point. Clean up operations are still underway at East Coast Park, amid concerns on the damage on coastal wildlife.
STOMP
Bernama
Transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said today the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) land in Singapore has not been developed previously due land use restrictions.
"I think I need to explain this because of the various issues raised in the media and blogs. It may be because they are not clear about the restrictions," he told reporters prior to chairing the weekly cabinet meeting at the ministry Wednesday. He said the land could only be developed for railway matters.
Darius Lim, Ministry of Defence, Today
Mindef informs the public whenever there is a serious incident, or where the incident is likely to be of public interest. Given the nature of this incident, Mindef should have issued a media statement when it occurred.
I disagree. Mindef is not the right party to determine whether the incident is of public interest.
Gerald Giam
It’s bad enough that they took two months to report the first incident, but why couldn’t they report the second incident without being asked?
Warren Masilamony, Singapore Democrat Party
Though there is little evidence to show that the PAP Government holds malicious intent towards Malays, the idea of unfairness is not far-fetched.
It's All About Amelioration
A national identity is created by memories that spur patriotism. An engaged citizen who is given freedom to contribute in shaping its country’s growth and given a listening ear will no doubt create binding ties with the country, filled with memories to cherish.
David Boey, Today
We must remember that many fathers of today's Third-Generation SAF soldiers served NS during the 1970s and 1980s, at a time when rumours of training deaths were rampant.
Tardy defence media management will only promote the longevity of urban myths of cover-ups.
Bernama
Datuk Seri Shahrir Samad, the MP for Johor Baru, said it was "hysterically ridiculous to pretend" that the KTM track, its station and other plots are Malaysian territory when they are actually land leased from Singapore purely for the purposes of the rail service run by KTM Bhd.
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Mergawati Zulfakar, The Star
Under Najib, Malaysia is quite clear about where it is heading. We cannot wait for another 20 years to get things moving forward. Sentimental and emotional reasons alone will not get us anywhere.
Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Jit Poh
I do not agree with the speculation saying that the relocation of the railway station is actually "an effort of the Singapore government to gradually 'drive' Malaysia's sovereignty and rights out of Singapore". I am afraid that there is no single country in the world will allow another sovereign country to forever extend its railway station and immigration checkpoints into its own territory, right?
Martyn See Tong Ming
Former detainee Vincent Cheng has been prohibited from speaking at the NUS History Seminar to be held on June 4th at the National Library. The organiser NUS History Society has apologised to Mr Cheng and offered to read his speech at the event. Over the phone, Cheng told me he was not surprised and is looking forward to speak when another occasion arises. Last year, police harassed the venue owners of a forum I had planned on the 1987 arrests.
Channel NewsAsia
The government has decided to pay civil servants a mid-year Annual Variable Component (AVC) of 0.5 month and a dollar quantum of S$300 in July.
Matthias Chew, Straits Times
As citizen soldiers and taxpayers, we have a right to expect that Mindef will account for all military casualties - whether in training or actual operations -where there are no national security implications.
DPA
Asked why the shootings were not reported earlier, the spokeswoman said it was usual practice for the ministry not to report on military training accidents.
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Four government agencies have been singled out for lapses in the way they've managed their finances.
The latest Public Accounts Committee report issued on Wednesday attributed three main factors to the significant number of audit findings. They are laxity in procurement and contract management, lack of rigour in scrutiny by approving authorities and too light a touch in ministry-statutory board dealings.
Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Jit Poh
The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station had long been disputed by Malaysia and Singapore. After entering Singapore through the Johor-Singapore Causeway, trains from Johor Bahru will continue to advance for about 20km before reaching the station. It is like a sword that stabs in the heart of Singapore, "cutting" it into half. We can understand Singapore's urgency to solve the "heart disease".
Hetty Musfirah, Channel NewsAsia
Parts of Singapore's East Coast beach have been closed to the public after traces of oil from Tuesday's oil spill were found near the shore. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the affected portion stretches 500 metres near the National Sailing Centre.
P.R. Venkat and Gaurav Raghuvanshi, Dow Jones
Singapore's manufacturing output growth unexpectedly accelerated to its fastest pace in 26 years in April on a surge in production by pharmaceuticals companies, putting the economy on a solid footing for a strong expansion in the second quarter.
Mr Wang Says So
It was a cover-up. Exposed by the NSF's relative.
The Long And Winding Road
AFP
P.R. Venkat, Sam Holmes and Costas Paris, Wall Street Journal
Government of Singapore Investment Corp.'s giant real-estate arm GIC Real Estate is considering an initial public offering of its overseas assets in Singapore, a person familiar with the situation said Wednesday. "If the deal happens it would be huge, multi-billion dollars," the person said, adding that GIC Real Estate is talking to bankers about the IPO.
Free Malaysia Today
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua is wondering if the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s swap of six land parcels in Tanjung Pagar for two commercial lots in Singapore is related to the RM363 billion national deficit.
谢燕燕 杨萌, 联合早报
交通部昨晚在回答本报记者的询问时，透露增加的八条新马跨境巴士路线，并表示这些新路线将开放给私人巴士业者申请经营，其中两条路线，预计最早可在今年第三季开始实行。
Fiona Chan, Straits Times
Property owners in Bukit Timah and Upper Bukit Timah will be cheering - and possibly reaping some capital gains - when the Malayan Railway (KTM) station moves from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands next year.
Esther Ng, Today
It was the first time the National Wages Council had received such a request, which came from migrant welfare group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).
But the call for NWC to recommend an increase in the salaries of work permit holders did not get far, as "transient/migrant workers and foreign domestic workers do not fall under the ambit of NWC", the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) told MediaCorp yesterday as it confirmed the receipt of TWC2's letter.
Bernama
Transport minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the 'formula' agreed upon by Malaysia and Singapore to develop several pieces of land belonging to Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) in the republic will benefit both countries.
AFP
Salvage operators interviewed by AFP said the spill could potentially be damaging for the environment but the authorities' swift response would significantly lessen the impact.
Le-Min Lim, Bloomberg
Singapore retained its ranking as the Asian city with the best quality of life, while Hong Kong lags rival financial hubs as it struggles with air pollution, according to a survey by Mercer Consulting.
Ooi Kee Beng, Today
In truth, this agreement carries great ramifications for the Malaysian economy, especially where Johor's development is concerned. This is also where Mr Najib's United Malays National Organisation (Umno) has its strongest support.
The Observer Sleeping With Mr Depression & Mr HIV
When was the last time you actually look around you and realize that the people around you are human?
Gerald Giam
By asking people for a seat, you are doing other needy people — who may not have the ability or courage to ask — a favour by reinforcing social norms that able-bodied persons are obliged to give up their seats those who need it more. If these people know that they are going to be asked, they are more likely to pro-actively do it next time.
Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
Anwar said that the terms of agreement between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong were questionable as it was “shrouded in secrecy” and Malaysians were not aware of the real arrangement.
The Pakatan Rakyat defacto leader said that the agreement which was announced yesterday raised concerns that Malaysia is seen to be too “submissive” in catering to Singapore’s demands.
Julie Quek, Channel NewsAsia
A land parcel at the Ophir-Rochor area, which might be up for redevelopment by the Singapore-Malaysian joint venture company, M-S, could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Lim Sue Coan, Sin Chew Daily
Singapore has been taking a different path with Malaysia over the past 45 years since its withdrawal from the Federation of Malaysia on 9 Aug 1965. Singapore relied heavily on the Peninsular of Malaysia in its early days of independence, in terms of water supply, food and goods. But today, perhaps it is Malaysia that is relying on Singapore, particularly in terms of its rich capital.
Yee Kai Pin, Bloomberg
A flotilla of 20 ships was deployed to contain and clean up an oil spill that has moved to within 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of Singapore’s southeastern coast after a collision between a tanker and a bulk carrier.
Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
If yesterday's meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong was any indication, the bland relations between the two countries are now set to enter a new phase.
Jessica Yeo, Channel NewsAsia
Fish farms located in the Ubin-Pasir Ris area are not too worried about the oil spill resulting from the tanker collision off the East Coast of Singapore. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore has given plastic sheets to some 35 fish farm owners to protect the area.
Magnet Moon
Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Government
Our recovery is now strong and broad-based. Employees can look forward to wage increases and bonuses. At the same time, employers, unions and the government must continue to work closely to raise productivity so that wage increases will be sustainable and Singapore businesses remain cost competitive.
See Also: National Wages Council Calls For Sustainable Wage Increases, by S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia.
Yee Kai Pin, Bloomberg
Crude oil was spilled off Singapore’s southeastern coast after the MT Bunga Kelana 3 tanker collided with the MV Waily bulk carrier today, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said in an e-mailed statement.
Free Malaysia Today
Will the swap deal between Malaysia and Singapore regarding Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's (KTMB) land in Tanjung Pagar end up like the Limbang crisis? That’s the question uppermost in the minds of Pakatan Rakyat leaders, said PAS' Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Singapore Democrat Party
Jolly Roger, Singapore Sojourn
Guanyinmiao's Musings
We must challenge our students to think, and not blindly soak up facts; this is the way to get the general populace informed and engaged gradually with our collective history. The NE system is flawed in its plain determination to regularly paint rosy pictures of our history, and selectively prescribe episodes to students.
S Ramesh, Today
Speaking to the media, Mr Lee said the focus was on developing the bilateral relationship at a time of many challenges in an uncertain world.
"It is a matter for rejoicing. It is a good deal. Both sides are happy and this will benefit both sides considerably," said Mr Lee.
Esther Ng, Today
Eugene Tan, Public Transport Council, Helen Lim, Land Transport Authority, Today
The term "Distance Fares" is reflective of a distance-based fare structure.
Bernama
The toll charges at both sides of the Second Link, connecting Tuas here and Tanjung Kupang in Johor, would be reduced significantly, both the leaders said at a joint press conference after the retreat.
Terence Lee, Surveillance & Society
This paper sets out to consider the use of new media technologies in the city-state of Singapore, widely acknowledged as one of the most technologically-advanced and networked societies in the world. Singapore is well-known as a politically censorious and highly-regulated society, which has been subjected to frequent and fierce insults and criticisms by those hailing from liberal democratic traditions. Indeed, much has been said about how the Singapore polity resonates with a climate of fear, which gives rise to the prevalent practice of self-censorship. This paper examines how certain groups in Singapore attempt to employ the Internet to find their voice and seek their desired social, cultural and political ends, and how the regulatory devices adopted by the highly pervasive People Action’s Party (PAP) government respond to and set limits to these online ventures whilst concomitantly pursuing national technological cum economic development strategies. It concludes that the Internet in Singapore is a highly contested space where the art of governmentality, in the forms of information controls and ‘automatic’ modes of regulation, is tried, tested, and subsequently perfected.
(Note: Link goes to a PDF document.)
Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia
It's not just the leaders who're pleased with the move. Residents and businesses in Woodlands are counting on the railway station in the neighbourhood to revive the estate.
May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
Property watchers said the current Malayan Railway station site at Tanjong Pagar offers tremendous opportunities for residential and commercial development. But these will likely take shape only in 2015 or 2016.
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, New York Times
This year, the staging of several homegrown musicals in Mandarin with definite Asian twists is attesting to the local audience’s growing interest for musicals with themes closer to home.
Martyn See Tong Ming
May 21st 2010 marks the 23rd anniversary of the "Marxist Conspiracy" arrests and detention-without-trial of 22 young professionals in Singapore. The following are excerpts of accounts by the ex-detainees in a book published last year entitled That We May Dream Again.
The Long and Winding Road
Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
According to a joint statement on the meeting, a rapid transit system link between Tanjung Puteri in Johor Baharu and Singapore, aimed at enhancing connectivity between the two countries, will be jointly developed. For the convenience of commuters, the rapid transit system link will have a single co-located CIQ facility in Singapore with the exact location to be determined later.
It is targeted that the proposed rapid transit system link will be operational by 2018, and thereafter, Malaysia may consider relocating the KTMB Station from Woodlands to Johor.
Widya Utami and Achmad Sukarsono, Bloomberg
Temasek Holdings Pte. lost a final appeal against an Indonesian ruling that the Singapore state- owned company breached anti-monopoly laws, Indonesia’s Supreme Court said today on its Web site.
Ravi Philemon, The Online Citizen
Will small consumers and households benefit from this downward trend in crude oil prices by seeing a reduction in their electricity bill?
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
The prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore have agreed that the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB station) currently in operation at Tanjong Pagar will be relocated to the Woodlands train checkpoint by 1 July 2011.
Announcing this in a joint statement on Monday in Singapore, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak also agreed that Malaysia would co-locate its railway and Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) to the Woodlands train checkpoint.
鞠欣航, 联合早报
过去，不少外籍大学生在毕业前，都会收到移民与关卡局发放的申请永久居民（PR）的邀请函，但今年因政府收紧移民政策而停止发放。
外籍大学毕业生没有收到PR邀请函，会如何影响他们留在新加坡工作的机会和意愿？
Kevin Lim and Liau Y-Sing, Reuters
DBS Group, Southeast Asia's largest lender, is shrinking its Singapore-based Islamic unit in yet another sign that the city-state's efforts to promote sharia banking is struggling.
Covered In His Blood
Department Of Statistics, Singapore Government
Compared with April 2009, the consumer price index increased by 3.2 per cent in April 2010, owing to higher costs of transport, housing and food. Following higher prices of cars and petrol, transport cost increased by 13.4 per cent.
Excluding accommodation costs, the consumer price index was 3.9 per cent higher in April 2010 compared with the same period a year ago.
(Note: Link goes to a PDF document.)
Accidental Epicurean
I give you three places that really surprised me with their burger offerings.
Jeffrey Chan, Straits Times
Mergawati Zulfakar, The Star
The retreat between prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong today is expected to pave the way for a resolution on the status of KTM Bhd land here.
Malaysian officials are looking forward to a positive response from the Singapore leader on a Malaysian proposal for a new location for the KTM railway station in Tanjung Pagar.
Abdillah Zamzuri
In what was perhaps pure coincidence when I didn’t attend a playback theatre rehearsal earlier today because I couldn’t locate the exact location, I stumbled upon a rustic charm of the old in a modern new Singapore.
Mergawati Zulfakar, Malaysia Star
Both leaders have set the tone for future engagement and hopefully there will be greater collaboration.
Since the leaders' meeting, the exchange of visits between ministers has seen a dramatic increase, another indication that ties may just be moving in the right direction. After the retreat, perhaps more goodwill will prevail and there will be less distrust between the two neighbours.
Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
When the National Wages Council (NWC) unveils its annual wage guidelines on Tuesday, analysts believe it will call for 'modest wage increases' this year. This recommendation, they said, will strike a balance between two forces in the economy that are pulling salary adjustments in opposing directions.
Yawning Bread
It’s all very well for the Law Minister to clarify a conceptual concept, but the bigger issue for Singapore is not addressed: How to justify confidence in the independence of our justice system?
AFP
Thirteen endangered sea turtles bred in captivity in Japan have been given to a Singapore aquarium to prepare them for release into a natural habitat later this year, scientists said Friday.
P. James, Air Line Pilots Association - Singapore, Straits Times
I know that efforts are being made at all levels to change the mindset and to discourage discrimination based on age, but for this lifelong employment initiative to really take off, all government and government-linked companies must be directed to take the lead and do the right thing.
AFP
The Singapore navy is testing an unmanned underwater vessel capable of detecting and destroying mines as part of its modernisation plans, a report said Saturday.
Sanjay Perera, Today
Mandating too rigidly the parameters for the punishment of a crime is akin to having a computer into which one keys in the details of the crime, and then sees the results churned out instantly.
Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia
Transport minister Raymond Lim has said that not all long bus routes will be phased out or split. Mr Lim reiterated that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is not singling out long bus routes.
Lilian Budianto, The Jakarta Post
Leaders of Indonesia and Singapore, the two leading economies in Southeast Asia, have focused on increasing economic cooperation and boosting growth, but seemingly sidelined crucial talks about an agreement on extradition when they met recently.
Although the plan had been for the agenda to discuss all pressing bilateral issues, an anticipated agreement on extradition sought by Jakarta to bring home corrupt fugitives seeking asylum in Singapore was left out of the talks, Antara news agency reported.
Rosemary Black, New York Daily News
It's billed as a "six-star" columbarium, and the luxurious final resting place at Singapore's Nirvana Memorial Garden lives up to its name.
Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia
The government has identified a fourth site in Mandai for potential development into a nature-based attraction. This was revealed by senior minister of state for trade and industry, S Iswaran, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the River Safari, Asia's first river-themed park.
符祝慧, 联合早报
李资政指出，中国年轻学子到海外学英语已经是一个趋势：“因为中国缺乏学习英语的环境，目前就有约五万名中国学生在新加坡留学。”
The Long and Winding Road
Cris Prystay, Wall Street Journal
When Swiss authorities lifted the veil of banking secrecy—under pressure from the European Union to expose tax dodgers—Singapore stepped in, promoting itself to the world's ultrarich as a discreet place to park cash. Now, the Southeast Asian city-state hopes to persuade them to store their high-priced collectibles here, too.
This week, doors opened to the Singapore FreePort, a super-secure, state-of-the-art facility that operates in its own duty-free zone next to Singapore's Changi Airport. The largest such facility in the world, it provides wealthy collectors with tax-free storage, as well as a place to display and sell their art.
Eric Chua, Straits Times
How can Singapore's media broadcasters resolve this problem to relieve us of the visual misery of having to watch images which are stretched silly.
Many people actually prefer pan-and-scan over letterbox. This is a lost cause, man.
Ira P. Pedrasa, Business World
Our itinerary consisted of visiting what he considers to be some of Singapore’s best eateries: the hawker centers.
Chua Chin Leng, My Singapore News
The Daily Indian
A cloud of apprehension, thanks to the new and upcoming casino culture, can be easily felt across the country.
IE Singapore, Singapore Government
周志坤, 南方日報
Gaurav Raghuvanshi and David Roman, Dow Jones
Singapore's government said Thursday a steep drop in the country's interbank lending rates to all-time lows is not a matter of concern, shrugging off concerns that cheap credit may overheat the already fast-growing economy.
Teh Joo Lin, Straits Times
The five new sentencing options, including one that allows judges to sentence offenders to community work, do not spell a softened approach to crime.
Nor are they intended to remove any moral stigma attached to those who had been sentenced, said law minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.
P.R. Venkat and Gaurav Raghuvanshi, Wall Street Journal
Singapore's economy grew at a faster-than-previously estimated pace in the first quarter, driven by a booming manufacturing sector, but the government warned that developments in the European Union show that downside risks to global growth have intensified.
The trade ministry also warned that excessive asset price inflation in emerging Asia remains a concern and that if investor sentiment were to deteriorate or if more monetary tightening measures are taken by Asian countries, there could be sharp corrections in asset prices.
联合早报
假设新加坡的情形不特殊，那么赛马博彩管理局就有必要研究该如何利用这笔新收入，来集中协助本地的低收入家庭，无论他们的成员是否患有嗜赌问题。
A large portion of the gambling tax income, in my opinion, should also be used to offset the GST, especially for lower-income families.
Lance Lim, Today
It is often easy to narrowly focus on the plight and rights of the individual, but such a stance boldly overlooks the broader implications should our death penalty laws were relaxed. As far as individual rights should be respected and not lightly encroached upon, Singaporeans should appreciate that our strict laws are a necessary deterrent and ensure that, for example, children cannot freely get drugs.
The onus is on those who believe in death penalty to prove that there is a causation between the use of the death penalty and a successful and significant deterrent in crimes. I haven't seen any evidence of that, especially since we can choose other forms of penalties such as life-long prisoning that is at least partially reversible.
Chong Lee Ming, Today
Giving judges the power to decide on whether to hand out capital punishment would lead to judges being labelled based on track records - for example, one might be thought of as being liberal, or conservative, or even inconsistent.
What is this writer saying? That we don't give the judges any rights and responsibilities because somebody may abuse them? What sort of argument is that?
Boxing Hearld
Malaysia are proud to have a wide array of cuisines, with influences from all over. But branding-wise, we falter rather miserably.
Helena Bachmann, Time
In the Chinese Year of the Tiger, two Asian tigers have leapt out of recession to take the top spots in a ranking of the most competitive nations in the world.
Ministry Of Trade And Industry, Singapore Government
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced today that the Singapore economy expanded by 15.5 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the first quarter of 2010. MTI will maintain the GDP growth forecast for 2010 at 7.0 to 9.0 per cent.
The strong momentum seen in the first quarter was broad-based, led by the manufacturing sector which expanded by 32.9 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Except for transport engineering, all other manufacturing clusters showed robust growth. The electronics cluster enjoyed the strongest growth, underpinned by strong global demand for semiconductor chips. The construction sector also grew by 13.7 per cent on a year-on-year basis, reflecting continued growth in public sector construction activities.
(Note: Link goes to a PDF document.)
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
Dee Kay Dot As Gee
Most of the sport talents who we bought over thru this scheme is here for the money. Their heart is with the money, not Singapore.
Can we say this about our ministers and MPs, who, according to our government, will not do this job if they are not paid handsomely? :-)
Pern Yew, Boo-n-Bouquet
What I find ironical is this: while the complaints appear to be piling up, Tiger's financial performance in the last one year has turned the corner.
Teo Chee Hean, Singapore Government
Looking ahead, even as we recover from the economic downturn, preparations are being made to set the stage for Singapore’s next phase of growth. As recommended by the Economic Strategies Committee, our aim is to retain a globally competitive manufacturing sector which will form between 20 and 25 per cent of the economy. Our approach will be multi-pronged. First, we will deepen our manufacturing capabilities in existing and new areas. This includes capturing value in spaces between manufacturing and services. Second, we will foster productivity driven manufacturing growth. Finally, we will further the expansion of our manufacturing industries into overseas markets.
联合早报
当警方逮捕嫌犯之后，没法律规定它须在所设定的时限内完成调查工作，以致遭扣押的嫌犯迟迟无法见到代表律师，这一直是法律界所关注的问题。
刑事程序法典法案昨天在国会提出二读后，这个课题又引起几位议员关注，并在发言时呼吁政府考虑对警方的初始调查工作设下时限。
联合早报
Moving Higher In Souped-up Heuristically Agon Moment
I was alerted to the statement, “The word Peranakan refers to a half-caste in Malay …” made in our local website, the recently changed theme from Uniquely Singapore to Your Singapore – http://www.yoursingapore.com. It has raised the ire of the Peranakan community.
The Gigamole Diaries
Louise Ray, ABC
Does the opening of a new casino necessarily mean that rates of gambling in a community increase?
Mansha Daswani, WorldScreen.com
The MDA said today that the cross-carriage mandate "will allow one retailer to leverage on another retailer's platform to widen the distribution of the former’s channels."
There is a different between "allow one retailer... to widen the distribution" and "force one retailer... to widen the distribution." Did MDA change its position?
Straits Times
If a drunk person confesses to a crime, should his confession be admitted as evidence in court?
Lawyer-MPs who spoke up on the proposed Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) yesterday thought not, and expressed discomfort that an explanatory note in the code indicated otherwise.
Police should never make short-cuts, and the police themselves should come out and say that they don't need this law to make their life easier.
周殊钦 陈能端 林慧慧 吴淑贤 龚慧婷, 联合早报
所谓“保底不封顶”的原则，就是让有能力的学生能够学得更多，但学习有困难或能力比较差的学生，政府希望他不要掉队，能够跟得上也学得快乐。
教育部长兼国防部第二部长黄永宏医生昨天在国会上回应议员针对母语教育政策的提问时，重申母语教育改革的迫切性。他指出，教育部这次成立检讨委员会是为了及时应对本地母语环境的改变，并非为了迎合一部分民众不愿孩子下苦功掌握母语的诉求。
Singapore Democrat Party
Below are the first two of the six replies by Dr Chee that the Straits Times has refused to publish. Read and see for yourselves the real reason why the newspaper censored the letters.
Liu Hongwan, Straits Times
During an election, it is important that Singaporeans make an informed choice, and that we are exposed as much as possible to the viewpoints of all the involved parties so as to make such a choice.
Toh Cheng Seong, Straits Times
It would not be wise for content providers to bypass an audience with one of the highest GDP per capita incomes in the world.
Wishful thinking. There are many "content" that is already bypassing Singapore simply because the market is not big enough.
Today
As of May 10, the two casino operators had collected about $70 million in entry levies. Revealing this yesterday, minister for community development, youth and sports Vivian Balakrishnan said it would be "premature to draw conclusions" from such data on casino patronage and its "attendant social impact", as it was still early days yet in their operations.
Guanyinmiao's Musings
The wheels of development must turn; yet, wherever possible, let us progress without losing too much of our valuable heritage and memories.
Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
For years, companies have creamed off a larger share of economic gains - larger than those in other developed countries or industrialising economies in Asia.
As a result, workers get a slice of Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) that is considered unusually small compared with their counterparts' share in those countries.
Patrick Gallahue and Rick Lines, The Guardian
It has to be mentioned that the death penalty for drugs is a violation of international law no matter how infrequently it is carried out. There are numerous treaties and international guidelines that restrict the use of the death penalty and it has long been established by United Nations political bodies that drug offences should not be made capital crimes.
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
There will be no compromise to the government's concept of an Integrated Resort (IR) - that allows only a small proportion for gambling. Senior minister of state for trade and industry, S Iswaran, made this point while addressing a question in Parliament.
Wong Chun Han, The Online Citizen
Singapore Government
Chua Hian Hou, Straits Times
The United States government has expressed concern over the recently introduced amendments to Singapore's pay-TV regulations.
Ang Yiying, Straits Times
This year, 209 companies and schools have pledged to let at least some of their employees go home early on May 27 to have dinner with their families. About 200 companies and schools involving some 100,000 employees signed up each year for 2008 and 2009, and more usually join in unofficially.
Alan Kiong, Straits Times
If SMRT is really serious about performing security checks on its passengers, it should install luggage screening machines like those at airports.
Sudesh Maniar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Straits Times
Ms Wong should appreciate that while we try our best to provide the necessary consular assistance to all Singaporeans, such assistance must be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the country that we are in - in this instance, China. We hope Ms Wong understands that just as Singapore expects all foreign nationals in Singapore to respect our rules and regulations, we are not in a position to break Chinese regulations or ask the Chinese authorities to overlook their own rules to help her.
Gerald Giam
It is amazing that the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) could baldly say that “there’s no incentive for police officers to practise deception”. How did they reach the conclusion that there wouldn’t be such an incentive, when everything is our system is skewed towards securing fast convictions?
Wayson Ma, Today
Commuters will be charged a fare according to total distance travelled, not total distance between destinations.
I agree.
Ho Rui An, The Online Citizen
Neo Chai Chin, Today
Dean Napolitano, Wall Street Journal
Edgar Su, Reuters
Death need not be a grim affair, especially for the living, and at a new columbarium in Singapore, the deceased can depart, rock concert style.
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
A team of 10 Members of Parliament is spearheading efforts to propose changes to the Maintenance of Parents Act to give the law more bite. Among the changes being considered is that of giving the Commissioner of Maintenance of Parents access to housing and salary records of children.
Channel NewsAsia
The Mother Tongue issue will be debated when Parliament sits on Tuesday. Members have filed five questions on the subject for oral answer.
The Online Citizen
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore’s exports rose at the fastest pace since 2005 in April as a recovering global economy lifted shipments by electronic makers.
赖诗琳, 联合早报
多名警官正在接受贪污调查局调查，但由于当局拒绝透露详情，目前不清楚他们所牵涉的案件。
根据一般程序，贪调局介入调查时，除了传召被投诉者问话，也会传召其他人，以了解情况和收集资料，因此被传召录口供的警官不代表一定有嫌疑，可能只是协助调查的证人或向贪调局提供资料。
Low Thia Khiang, Straits Times
I agree the issue is not simple and is sensitive. It reflects the kind of Singapore and Singaporeans we want in the long term, and concerns not just the immediate livelihood of Singaporeans. That was why I spent time researching the issue and did not jump into the fray at the height of public discontent.
However, it is inevitable that if the issue is not resolved satisfactorily, I will have to escalate it to a political level, as I am not convinced of the need and justification for lowering the MTL weighting at the Primary School Leaving Examination.
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Guanyinmiao's Musings
Essentially, the execution of a drug pawn has little significance in addressing the larger drug trafficking issues; conversely, it has disproportionate emotional ramifications on the individual’s family and friends.
Singapore Democrat Party
Democracy can be a pain because it may slow down the decision-making process. But the checks-and-balance and transparency the system provides means that the interests of the people come first, not the ruling elite's. It means that the people have control over where the country is headed.
Moving speedily in a posh and suped-up race car sure beats driving a lumbering and heavy tank. But it won't be much fun when you are headed towards the edge of a cliff and you find that the brakes aren't working and steering wheel has been removed.
Conrad Raj, Today
While the death penalty and other tough measures like caning may seem barbarous to many, I feel as deterrents to serious crimes they have few equals. But why should such sentences be mandatory? It is as if the circumstances leading to every crime are the same. Too many offences here carry a mandatory sentence.
Yes, tough measures are needed to deal with heinous crimes, which includes poisoning the minds and bodies with forbidden drugs, but is the ultimate penalty warranted for every such crime?
Zul Othman, Today
Despite the public consultation phase, the two sides still differ on the clause in the Criminal Procedure Code Bill that covers the admissibility in court of an accused person's statements. While MinLaw maintains that there are sufficient safeguards to protect accused persons, the Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore (ACLS) argues that the bar can be set higher.
As ACLS understands the proposed changes to the rulebook, statements made to police officers (above the rank of sergeant) or to any law enforcement agency can be admitted as evidence in trial even if the accused was, for example, drunk; or not told that he was not obliged to make the statement; or that the statements could be used against him.
Ho Rui An, The Online Citizen
If the inaugural event last year presented a compelling show of solidarity, this year’s Pink Dot brought it farther by conveying a palpable sense of community as 4000 people – almost double the number last year – gathered for what is perhaps the largest show of support for diversity and inclusiveness in Singapore.
Low Mei Mei, Channel NewsAsia
Romania's foreign minister has given the assurance that the authorities in his country have a strong commitment to fully observe the legal procedures in the hit-and-run case involving Dr Silviu Ionescu.
Yours Truly Singapore
Stop blaming Singaporeans’ rising expectations. Stop blaming Singaporeans for your own inadequacies. Start recognising that prices have indeed went out of control.
Smell The Coffee
The cafe was moved hook, line and sinker or should I say planks, tiles and roof to a place that was quite close to the original site.
Ruchika Tulshyan, Global Post
As Singapore waits for the results from its foray into this unknown industry, one thing is for certain. With careful master-planning, the government tries desperately to retain the social mores and law and order it has earned an international reputation for. While it’s still too early to accurately assess the economic and social impact of the resorts, for now all bets are on for the success — at least monetarily — of Singaporean casinos.
Leona Lo
The Khairy Sulaiman arrest reveals age-old faultlines in our media’s understanding (or lack thereof) of transgender women in Singapore. It exposes many unknowns about transgender sex workers in Singapore - and the male customers who use their services. It’s time for the authorities to put aside their personal biases and squeamishness, and reach out to this unique demographic in Singapore.
錢曉慧, BBC
5月15日是國際家庭日，新加坡同志組織「粉紅點」在這天舉行同志集會，呼籲社會尊重同志群體的愛的自由。該活動在新加坡唯一允許示威的芳林公園舉行，有超過4000名同性戀者和家人以及支持同性戀權益的友好人士出席。這是「粉紅點」第二年舉辦集會，去年出席人數約2500人。
Business Times
With race day looming and a full house at stake, some hotels are not so keen on the cards they've been dealt. Several hotels are lobbying for a reduction in the Formula One (F1) levy on hotel room revenue, according to sources, in hopes that it will be further cut from four days to three.
Pritam Singh, The Online Citizen
Shanmugam’s ill-timed remarks a mere week or so before the Court of Appeal’s judgment on 14 May 2010, effectively pulled the rug from under their feet. And thanks to Shanmugam, the Singapore judiciary’s has unfairly come under the spotlight, with doubts cast over whether the Law Minister’s words had any effect on their judgment.
Christopher Shay, Time
Since splitting off from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore has become one of the world's wealthiest countries, and as its importance has grown, so, too, has the country. According to Global Witness, since the 1960s, the island of Singapore has increased its size by 22%, or 130 square kilometers (50 miles), and the country has plans to expand at least another 50 square kilometers (20 miles). This has made Singapore one of the world's biggest importers of sand. After Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam limited or banned sand exports because of the environmental impact of dredging, Singapore has increasingly relied on Cambodia, the report says.
The Online Citizen
The International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) has expressed its deep regret at the decision of the Singapore Court of Appeals to retain the mandatory death penalty for drug offences, a judgment that forecasts the execution of Yong Vui Kong for an offence committed while he was only a teenager.
“Numerous UN human rights monitors have found both the mandatory death penalty generally, and the death penalty for drugs specifically, to violate international human rights law. We regret that the Court has chosen to support a practice that not only violates human rights, but that serves no demonstrable criminal justice purpose.”
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
The judiciary is there to interpret laws enacted, to judge if legislation is constitutional; this is their job. To avoid judicial interpretation, especially in such a narrow context, because of a potential clash with Parliament is not deference; not avoiding it is not judicial activism, but a responsibility of our judges and our courts. Executive interference or not, this "deference" by the Court of Appeals is egregious.
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
I guess all of this negative publicity is useful after all, compared to the stenography tightrope that their precious mainstream press have to walk.
莫美颜, 联合早报
过去一年来本地出现了5所私人博物馆，使本地活跃的私人博物馆增加到17所。这些博物馆分别由商业机构、非营利团体或个人经营管理。私人博物馆道路崎岖难行，它们要如何排除万难，才得以生存下去？
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
The rising disenchantment in Singapore stems from frustration at being forced to learn – often by memory – a language that they feel is less useful in preparing them for the new high-tech world.
Rachel Zeng
It saddens me deeply that our judiciary remains coldly inhumane. It seemed to me that it is ok for them to remain so because they are merely administrators to carry out what has been written down black and white. No compassion, no considerations of mitigating factors for the marginalised, the misguided ones and the ones who have succumbed to whatever reasons or temptations for them to commit their crimes. Every criminal that appears will just be another figure, just another distant lesser mortal.
Mok Fei Fei, Channel NewsAsia
AsiaOne
Selina Lum, Straits Times
Delivering the verdict, CJ Chan observed that there have been many challenges before the courts regarding the constitutionality of the mandatory death penalty on various grounds in the past, which have all failed. In the present case, he said, all possible arguments on this issue have been raised, considered by the court, and rejected.
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
The government’s lack of transparency in terms of detailed housing data – such as detailed figures on COV levels, costs of constructing public housing – fails to meet this obligation to allow democratic processes and independent actors to participate in policy monitoring. The result is a lack of accountability.
Dee Kay Dot As Gee
If the newspaper quoted him in such a way that would cause wrong impression, his ministry could write a letter to the news agency and clarify the issue on the next day. But nobody from MOE wrote to the newspaper to clarify the issue. Why is that so?
And also, Mr Ng Eng Hen met up with the officials of the Singapore Chinese Teachers’ Union on 5th May 2010. He could have clarified that MOE has no intention of reducing MTL weighting during the meeting. That would clear up all the wrong impression we have since day one. In fact, it would solved all problem. But he didn’t.
Channel NewsAsia
Khairulanwar Zaini, The Online Citizen
The Court of Appeal today has rejected the appeal of Yong Vui Kong and declared that the mandatory death penalty is constitutional.
Kevin Brown, Financial Times
Analysts said the move could have serious consequences for Singapore, which has established itself as the primary window of distribution for new content being produced by regional and international brands, and wants to develop as a centre for Asian programme production.
Straits Times
Dana Kennedy, The Huffington Post
The real surprise was landing in this lively, ultra-modern nation, which feels like a souped-up, Philip K. Dick sci-fi version of the new American Dream. Except it's in Southeast Asia. It's now poised to become a family-friendly tourist destination -- after being known best for a great airport for stopovers en route to somewhere actually exciting.
Neo Chai Chin, Today
Consumers may have cheered when mandatory cross-carriage of pay-television content was announced two months ago, but a regional association representing many content owners now warns that the public are the very ones who would lose out.
The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) also said Singapore's reputation as a regional content centre would "suffer", and its content investment would be at risk - a conclusion the Media Development Authority (MDA) disputed last night as it emphasised its aim of a thriving pay-TV market that best serves customers.
I think Singapore is negotiating from an extremely poor position in this debate: Singapore does not produce content that other people want, and Singapore does not have the market that other people want. The more regulations that MDA throws at the pay TV industry, the less relevant Singapore becomes in the conversation.
Yawning Bread
Yet, instead of working towards common ground, by this kind of messaging, the Workers’ Party is widening faultlines, by stoking communal grievances. This can lead to long-term costs that all of us in this society will have to pay.
Royal Embassy of Cambodia (London), The Online Citizen
Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith dismissed the Global Witness report as politically motivated. “Their reports are always exaggerated far beyond the imagination and attack the Cambodian Government in order to try and bring political benefit to one of the smaller opposition parties,” he said.
我是老师
有些人却不愿接受现实，千方百计做一些令人费解的事情，说一些普罗大众在思想和情绪上无法苟同的言论，搞到全城人心惶惶。
Tales From The ST Forum
By all means tear down this current PSLE grading system and reform it completely. But to call for the current system to be kept and only one single subject weightage to be lowered is an incredibly selfish act. Face it, the world doesn’t revolve around your offspring and the sooner you teach them that the better.
mrbrown, CNNGo
If our MPs know what's good for their political careers, they should swing by the kopitiam and buy us all a round or two as well. We can get pretty riled up by a match, you know. And if they are coming by to shake our hands and kiss our babies, we would also welcome some Farmer brand peanuts to go with our beer.
The Long and Winding Road
It was with a tinge of sadness that I realised that the last of a trio of landmarks that stood at the bottom of the southern slope of Fort Canning Hill has gone the way of two of its former companions.
杨荣发, 联合早报
本地三家德士公司昨天开始在滨海湾金沙综合度假胜地征收3元附加费后，驶入德士站载客的德士明显增加许多，搭客只须等候10分钟就能搭到德士，比先前所需的20分钟少了一半。
詹智慧 新电信，黄淑音 星和, 联合早报
在全球，取得直播权的成本，尤其是运动赛事，已经大幅度上升。新电信与星和正紧密合作，让新加坡人能够以合理的价格观看世界杯所有64场赛事。我们并没有从直播世界杯牟取暴利，这一点本地消费者可以放心。
Flaneurose
The real problem lies in students being taught in an environment that fails to impart the skills of learning independently.
Sebastian Strangio And Vong Sokheng, Phnom Penh Post
Global Witness questioned the extent to which Singapore had taken steps to ensure the transparency of its trade with Cambodia, given Singapore’s apparent awareness of its effects elsewhere in the region.
The statement also said it was “strange” that Singaporean officials were not informed of Cambodia’s sand ban, since the city-state was the primary market for Cambodian sand. It also pointed out that a government agency – the Building and Construction Authority – made a statement to the press after the ban was announced.
Manik Mehta, Bernama
Instead of just wooing Indian companies in India for investments, technology and other expertise, Singapore is now courting the cash-rich Indian diaspora in the US. This could be an eye-opener for Malaysia which could learn a lesson or two from Singapore's strategy.
Leong Sze Hian & Wong Chun Han, The Online Citizen
Netty Ismail, Bloomberg
The Singapore company is making forays into resources as Asian demand increases. Temasek is “very interested” in investing in copper, platinum, iron ore and coking coal, Nagi Hamiyeh, managing director of investments, said in March. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have said demand for commodities is improving and a 6.5 percent drop in prices this year has created a buying opportunity.
Yawning Bread
Regulation, not eradication, should be the answer. Get real, you cannot eradicate commercial sex.
Ambiguity
A trade-off. The certain destruction of one life to prevent the potential decimation of 10, or 100, or 1000, or perhaps only 3. The definite and deliberate murder of one man, to ensure that the possible, because that’s all it is, the probable death of others doesn’t happen. Mr Shanmugam has effectively disguised the mandatory death penalty as a means of prevention, and has justified it by labeling the process a trade.
Sam Ho, Sam's Thoughts
Huang Siyuan, The Epoch Times
According to Falun Gong practitioners in Singapore, close economic and political ties to the Chinese communist regime have prompted the government to deny practitioners their lawful rights of peaceful protest and freedom of speech. Several practitioners have been charged with trumped-up violations, with court hearings set for May 13, 14, and 31.
Kenneth Andrew Jeyaretnam, The Reform Party, Straits Times
Tan Chin Aik, Straits Times
While I do not argue against the tough stance of a death sentence, to have it as a mandatory sentence against a strict liability offence can be most unwise.
Some of the offenders' culpabilities may not be such as to deserve a death penalty, and some of the less culpable ones deserve to have their lives spared and be rehabilitated. They could even possibly rat on the drug lords.
Yaw Shin Leong
It seems that the choice of Minister Ng’s original words were so confusing that even its fellow governmental run feedback mechanism perpetuated a wrong impression to fellow Singaporeans.
Note that normally, when the Singapore press misquoted or misrepresented government ministers words, there is usually a quick reply from the government that is published in the press. In this case, there wasn't any.
Claire Huang, Today
More than a year after one of the worst incidents of food poisoning here in recent years, the man whose Indian rojak was the cause of it all was fined $9,000, the maximum sentence he could have gotten as a first-time offender.
Mayo Martin, Today
Discussions are under way as to how The Esplanade will take over its management, as well as that of the Drama Centre. There are also concerns from the arts community that - under the new management - existing staff of Victoria Theatre and Drama Centre will be retrenched and then invited to reapply for their former positions.
Channel NewsAsia
It is the largest of Singapore's outlying islands and is used exclusively for army training. Now, more than 1,000 mangrove trees on the north-eastern coastline of Pulau Tekong are at risk of falling due to coastal erosion.
To protect the coast and mangroves in the area, the National Parks Board (NParks) will be conducting, for the first time, coastal protection and restoration works at the north-eastern coastline of Pulau Tekong.
Singapore Democrat Party
Guanyinmiao's Musings
It is a pity that we live in a society where mud-slinging is encouraged; where voyeuristic attitudes are allowed to manifest with people snapping away to condemn the slightest mistakes. As we continue to educate our young on the relevant moral values on courtesy and graciousness, should we not begin to view the glass as half-full, and begin to show our appreciation to individuals who do marvellous deeds upon public transportation?
Tom Levitt, The Ecologist
While logging and deforestation has gained global attention the growing sand mining sector is being largely ignored. Fuelled by Singapore’s land and construction demands it is wreaking environmental destruction across south-east Asia.
Channel NewsAsia
The weighting of the Mother Tongue language will not be reduced at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) -- but it will be taught in a new way to meet the dynamic needs of the student population.
Speaking at an hour-long news conference Tuesday at the Istana, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said more resources and teachers will be devoted to the teaching of Mother Tongue languages.
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
Readings From A Political Duo-ble
Mathia Lee, Plans And Preoccupations
I believe our laws cannot be about technicalities. Nor must it fall prey to filmsy childish arguments. I have never come across a sound argument for death penalty to be mandatory — not from a justice point of view, nor from a deterrence point of view.
Readings From A Political Duo-ble
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
We call upon Minister Mah and PAP to take their responsibilities as embedded in the social contract of land reform seriously and fulfill them, instead of trying to shrug it off by using all sorts of flawed reasoning and excuses. We do not expect the ruling party to meddle with the resale market but we hope that HDB could resume its original role by publishing the cost of all new HDB flats and selling them at cost price to first time Singaporean buyers.
Aaron Ng, Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Sure, I recognise the fact that some students have a genuine issue with bilingualism, but that doesn’t mean opening a backdoor for everyone because of a minority of students. Besides, if we have a problem, shouldn’t we solve the problem rather than changing the problem to make the problem easier or removing the problem altogether?
杨松坚, 联合早报
加班多、时间长，难道是本地的工作文化？
AFP
Cambodia is engaged in destructive sand exports to fuel Singapore's rapid expansion despite a supposed government ban on the practice, an environmental watchdog said Tuesday.
London-based Global Witness said Cambodia was making a "mockery of the government's supposed May 2009 ban on sand-dredging", risking devastation to its coasts, endangered species, fish stocks and local livelihoods.
See Also: Shifting Sand: How Singapore's Demand For Cambodian Sand Threatens Ecosystems And Undermines Good Governance, by Global Witness. (Note: Link goes to a PDF document.)
Emma Clark, Telegraph
The thriving economies of Singapore and Hong Kong have created the "ideal" environment for overseas students, according to The Heritage Foundation, an American think tank.
Albert Tye, Straits Times
Prof Hussin also lamented the economic gap between Malays and non-Malays. Why such a comparison along racial lines? Within the Chinese and Indian communities, there are also very diverse groups of different economic and financial status.
Chee Soon Juan, Singapore Democrat Party
Here comes the million-dollar question: Why not remove all doubt by ensuring that suspects have lawyers and/or witnesses present during interrogation? If the evidence is strong enough the suspect may want to voluntarily confess on the advice of his/her lawyer. At the very least, accusations of confession under duress can be eliminated.
Such butchery of due process must be reviewed without which we could be wrongly convicting innocent people and even sentencing them to their deaths. With the mandatory death penalty in play in Singapore, such a review is all the more urgent.
Times They Are A-Changin'
On 1 May 2010, The Straits Times carried a huge report on Minister Lim Swee Say. The Insight team spent a day trailing the labour chief to find out his work schedule. It was quite a nice writeup except for some strange photographs.
Did you notice the two boxes of mandarin oranges on his table?
Today
MND says the policing and enforcement of sand extraction licences is ultimately the responsibility of the source country.
However, Singapore will continue to play its part to ensure that sand is extracted in a legal and environmentally responsible manner.
Spend some money, Singapore government, and do an audit first before making accusations that everything is okay.
Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia
Jessica Yeo & Ting Kheng Siong, Channel NewsAsia
Cabbies are concerned that the queue could get longer once the surcharge kicks in. Many said they'll go to the Integrated Resort for passengers but are worried that there won't be enough area for them to wait.
Magnezium
The first two arguments, therefore, stand on shaky ground. I wouldn't take someone's life if I knew I stood on shaky ground. I don't think I am unique in this respect, either.
SpotlightOnSingapore
Singapore seems to think its prosecution of offenders is flawless, implying the impossibilityof any error in the legal process. Is such a draconian law really an effective deterrent? Judging from the increasing numbers of drug-related offences, I don’t think so.
Groundnotes
Until one can empirically isolate the causal factor for our low levels of drug abuse, one cannot state with any confidence, as Shanmugam does, that it is down to the death penalty.
联合早报
教育部高级政务部长傅海燕说，大家近来对母语课题的反应和讨论，对母语教育来说算是打了一剂强心针，大家的反馈政府都会考虑。“政府一直都在非常细心地聆听，大家的反馈我们都会考虑在内，请大家不要慌张、激动，总理会在短期内针对这个课题发言。“
The Online Citizen
No one would deny that those who find themselves homeless might have made some bad decisions. However, turning them into refugees of society for their mistakes is not the natural or conscionable conclusion of a culture of self reliance.
联合早报
两家公司联手去投标，而制订划一的价格表面上看来是理所当然，但深想一层，这种作法传达出的信息令人担忧。消费者不禁要问，这次的联播是否开启两家付费电视将来在划一收费方面的合作风气？如果是的话，这显然与政府今年初出手干预付费电视市场的目的背道而驰。
All regulations will have unintended consequences. We should be mindful of that, and constraint from having unnecessary regulations.
Ng Zhao Yang, Straits Times
With regard to the point that the British debates did not make the parties' manifestoes clear to the public, televised debates were meant to bring the election to the viewer, and hence it would not be possible to introduce the parties' entire manifestoes in the short time allocated. Instead, the three party leaders spent a considerable amount of time debating issues that were important to the public and had the opportunity to make their stance on these issues very clear.
Tong Jee Cheng, Today
Why not learn from Ikea? If the rebate strategy works, Ikea would not be charging for the carrier bags.
Different people have different objectives and different definitions of "works".
Guanyinmiao's Musings
MOE, instead of seeking ways to address the slide, seems to favour the easy way out. This will not do if we still want our students to excel in the international platforms, with the possibility of greater and stiffer competition.
Teo Xuanwei, Today
The mandatory death penalty for serious drug offences here is a "trade-off" the government makes to protect "thousands of lives" that may be ruined if drugs were freely available, law minister and second home affairs Minister K Shanmugam said yesterday.
"You save one life here, but 10 other lives will be gone. What will your choice be?"
Firstly, are we resorting to treating lost lives as a mere 'trade off'? Secondly, are there even evidence that there is a credible trade-off, especially when compared to alternatives such as life-long imprisonment?
Leong Wee Keat, Today
Are negotiations for an alliance between the Singapore Democratic Alliance and the Reform Party on or off? Depends on which party you ask.
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said it has "no intention" of reducing the importance of the mother tongue subject at the PSLE.
This comes after education minister Ng Eng Hen met with organisers of a petition against proposed changes that could see the subject take on a smaller weighting at the national examinations.
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
4 years ago, Singaporeans voted for a govt that claimed to be world class during their GE campaign - one that is highly competent, honest and pragmatic. Shortly after the elections, they hiked their own salaries which were already the highest in the world. Singaporeans really have to ask themselves if their lives are better today than what it was 4 years ago for the things that the govt has responsibility and control over i.e. housing, transport and healthcare. If you vote the same way in the coming elections, the outcome will the same 4 years from now.
联合早报
马来西亚新闻通讯与文化部长莱士雅丁指出，政府不会向新加坡追讨马来西亚先贤李孝式的一批珍贵文献，不过他对建国先贤的重要文物流失外国，感到难过。
大纪元
Wang Meng Meng, Straits Times
Mr Edward Ying, SingTel's chief of content and media services, said the decision to make a joint bid to Fifa, the world soccer body, was made as far back as a year ago.
Melissa Sim & Melissa Kok, Straits Times
A convicted molester was allowed to return to his family after serving jail time, where he began abusing his daughter again, this time committing the far worse crime of rape, because child protection authorities did not know about the case.
Esther Teo, Straits Times
Sales of small apartments - the so-called mickey mouse flats - skyrocketed last year and are still going strong this year. There were 696 flats of 500 sq ft or less in size sold last year, based on caveats lodged with the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Realis system.
Hetty Musfirah, Channel NewsAsia
The much-touted alliance between the opposition Reform Party and the Singapore Democratic Alliance is off for now. Reform Party leader, Kenneth Jeyaretnam, said this in an interview with MediaCorp, after the party's first annual conference on Saturday evening.
Singapore Recalcitrant
The general election is likely to be still some time away and the oppoosition, especially Mr. Chiam See Tong, should transcend their parochial interests to forge a solid unity and not let down their electoral supporters. If the opposition parties fritter away the present golden opportunity, they may not find a similar opportunity for a long time to come.
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
In a country where oppositional politics is shunned like the plague, the participation of these new opposition members can only be good for the nation in the long run.
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
A list of 11 conditions laid down by the newly formed Reform Party for the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) to consider before the Reform Party joins the alliance has been abandoned after a meeting of the SDA's central executive committee on Friday night.
Yawning Bread
Why can't we imagine a testing regime that is merely designed to find out a child's palette of talents and skills, and then point them to secondary schools that are designed to cater to different abilities?
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
With HDB new flats, resale flats’ prices and Cash Over Valuation (COV), all at record highs now, the eventual zero value HDB flat is like an increasing burden which leaves the HDB tenants (no longer owners?) at the mercy of their HDB landlord.
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Singapore is money rich but asset poor. The former was being pursued relentlessly so that it can pay for the resources that it needs. And oil and raw materials, as well as food, are getting more expensive by the decade.
The trouble is that money is not always a solution in times of global resources crisis.
Chen Junyi, Straits Times
I do not think any ethnic group is cleverer than another. But the cultural background of an ethnic group has a significant influence on the aspirations of its members.
颜毓添, 联合早报
一直以盈利为考量的电视机构，再加上一台独大，只会眼睁睁看着创意被牺牲。
Associated Press
Dow Jones
Both companies didn't mention how much they have paid for the broadcast rights.
岳喜源, 巴渝圈
国内的8000余官员到新加坡去学习什么？是学习资本主义的人压迫人人剥削人的资本主义私有化制度吗？还是去学习资本主义的吃喝玩乐的腐朽堕落思想？
Sugita Katyal, Reuters
Visual artist Ming Wong's exhibition at the Singapore Art Museum isn't just about cinema: it's also a peep into the unique hybrid culture of Singapore and its three main ethnic groups -- Chinese, Malay and Indian.
Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia
武洁, 扬子晚报
Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia
Former Romanian Charge d'Affaires to Singapore, Silviu Ionescu, has failed in his attempt to get the arrest warrant issued against him cancelled.
Yawning Bread
Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
While most Singaporeans welcome the move to raise the employers' Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rate, more than half feel the 1 percentage point increase is not enough. This is the finding of a poll of almost 200 people by government feedback unit Reach.
Maurice Arcache, Philippine Daily Inquirer
World-class creations by the world’s most acclaimed chefs -what more could we ask for?
Rupa Damodaran, Business Times
Malaysia's Iskandar Development Region (IDR) can complement Singapore, said Citi, but the US investment bank has raised concerns on the speed of project implementation and their commercial potential. So far, Singapore investors have committed to invest RM2.68 billion in IDR, mostly in the manufacturing sector.
Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, BusinessWeek
Where to find a taste of the old city-state, from Malay stalls to old-fashioned confectioneries.
Ong Dai Lin, Today
Some of their suggestions echoed popular calls that have been rejected time and again by the Government; other proposals may be downright unpopular, admitted the focus group appointed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to review its Concept Plan 2011.
Either way, green transport will have a key role in building a sustainable city, said the 30-member group.
Today
The former charge d'affaires at the Romanian Embassy in Singapore, Silviu Ionescu, asked the Bucharest Court of Appeal on Wednesday to cancel the arrest warrant against him.
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Howard Shaw, Singapore Environment Council, Today
The final decision was for a rebate because the BYOB originated as a voluntary scheme, so a natural progression to an incentive (of offering a rebate) would be more effective in winning the hearts of the public in changing their behaviour.
Maria Almenoar, Straits Times
Commuters and transport experts are up in arms over what they say is the indiscriminate manner in which taxi companies are applying location surcharges.
Their reactions follow an announcement by the six taxi companies that a $3 surcharge would be levied from next week on cab rides from the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) integrated resort. This follows a similar move in January at the other IR, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).
LTA failed to ensure there is real competition when deregulating taxi fares.
Singapore Democrat Party
"You know as well as I do that if I did not consent to your editing, my replies would not be published as has been the case in the past (see here). I had no choice but to agree to your terms before your readers can read my replies. With no other newspaper companies to contend with, you have the monopoly on what you allow Singaporeans to read."
"But I don't have to concur with your censorship. I retain the right to publish on the SDP's website the portions of my reply which you have taken out."
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
A society that refuses to be critical of itself will never have a thriving arts scene.
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
Ben Bland and Yeoh Siew Hoon, Asia Sentinel
analysts believe the local players are mostly gambling relatively small amounts. The casinos need to attract the likes of the big-betting Chinese officials and businessmen who flock to Macau, even if strict Singapore regulations have made it difficult for them to bring in these high rollers.
It also points to a possible increase in social problems down the line. The government vision for the casinos was that they would service mostly foreign players in order to limit the damage on Singaporean society - hence the rather high entry levies for locals.
武汉综合新闻网
Stupid Genius
There might be people who'll take advantage of your kindness, but should we stop helping people who are really in trouble just because of that?
Channel NewsAsia
The Ministry of National Development (MND) plans to set up a new statutory board to raise the professionalism of the real estate agency industry and to better safeguard consumer interest. The proposed statutory board - the Council for Estate Agencies or CEA - will implement a new framework to regulate the industry.
Alastair Su, Gimme Some Truth!
Straits Times
The National Arts Council (NAC) has cut the annual grant given to local theatre company Wild Rice. It will get $170,000 this year, down from $190,000 the year before. It is the lowest annual grant that the company has received from the council. Artistic director Ivan Heng says the council told him funding was cut because its productions promoted alternative lifestyles, were critical of government policies and satirised political leaders.
胡莉珊 胡洁梅, 联合早报
康福德高（Comfort Delgro）、得运德士（Trans-Cab）以及百胜德士（Prime Taxi），在过去两个星期密切留意金沙德士站的情况并加以检讨后决定，凡是周一至周六，傍晚5时到凌晨12时的时段，都会向乘客征收3元的市区附加费。
Singapore Democrat Party
Are Singaporeans somehow less civilised than our British counterparts when it comes to gathering in public to hear opposition politicians' views? Are we more predisposed to behaving in a disorderly manner than the Brits in a public gathering?
The truth is not that the PAP fears public disorder. It knows that the only way that it can continue to "win" elections is to keep Singaporeans ill-informed about the opposition by preventing the SDP from directly reaching out to the public.
Adam Majendie, Bloomberg
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
Eric Ellis, Sydney Morning Herald
Singapore could lose if dodgy deposits were pursued by Indonesian legal authorities, forcing account holders to send their cash elsewhere - say to Hong Kong, Singapore's competitor. And there are influential Indonesians, such as too many of its parliamentarians, who would not welcome an intrusion into their affairs in their weekend bolthole. So the extradition treaty deal does not get done.
But the Gayus case has changed that dynamic.
Kor Kian Beng, Straits Times
A dozen leaders and supporters of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) were charged in court on Wednesday with taking part in an illegal assembly in 2008.
Rachel Zeng
No one should deny patient who is terminally ill the option to end the pain and suffering. No one should expect the patient to accept hospice care and painkillers.
Balderdash
Sam Ho, Sam's thoughts
The continual discourse on sexuality education in Singapore simply reveals our maturity to deal with sex. In a multi-valued Singapore, we appear to be less tolerant of views other than our own.
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
It is one thing to be wary of tyranny of the majority, but arguing for tyranny of the minority is the opposite extreme and both should be avoided if we want a democracy that works, instead of a democracy where obstructionism is an accepted tactic and nothing gets done. Be careful what we wish for.
Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
Iskandar Investment President and Chief Executive Officer Arlida Ariff said Singaporeans, like any typical investors elsewhere, wanted some assurances first from the government before they would want to commit their businesses in the country's southern economic corridor.
Economist
The recent travails of those rival resorts are a reminder that the gambling industry is risky not only for punters but also for investors and the places that host it. Yet Singapore’s timing may be good.
Jessica Yeo, Channel NewsAsia
Bernice Han, AFP
Bloggers like Tay have emerged as gurus on what's good and bad, what's in and out, as food-obsessed Singaporeans follow their illustrated reviews and head for the deepest corners of the island to find a particular stall.
Nilesh Sahita, The Online Citizen
Singapore Democrat Party
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
Hussin Mutalib, Straits Times
After all, government pragmatism has seen meritocracy fine-tuned. The rule barring Malays from sensitive appointments in the Singapore Armed Forces and the adoption of group representation constituencies to prevent qualified Malay candidates from defeat are evidence of this.
That our brand of meritocracy can do with a bit more equitable tweaking is apparent if we reflect on this poser: Why, after 45 long years, have the socio-economic gap between Malays and non-Malays and the jarring absence of Malays in senior positions in the civil service still not been resolved adequately?
To claim that we are a purely meritocracy-based society is to shut one's eyes to the reality. To claim that simply pure meritocracy will work is to be dishonest.
Paul Chan, Straits Times
The real test of this new cooling-off day lies in how the ruling party observes the rules it has set. If the 24-hour window rules were really designed to disadvantage the opposition parties, it may boomerang back against the ruling party and voters may swing against it. Any abuse could cause it to cut both ways.
The question is: if the ruling party and its mainstream media abuse the Cooling Day, will the citizens know? (Hey, the MRT trains still run on time!)
Ratathota.com
Democracy, socio-economic prosperity, and improved quality of life for the masses are complementary not contradictory. Countries that are making social progress are also pushing forward not backward on democratic rights. The socially underprivileged, minorities and women are the worst affected when democratic spaces are closed. Without democracy the police, law and order and the judiciary crumble in the face of arbitrary powers. Attempting to show democracy and social prosperity as contradictory is motivated by the intention to prop up attack dissent, deny accountability and thereby allow graft to multiply.
Yawning Bread
Why does Israel brand all Palestinians alike, and subject them to decades of dehumanising treatment? Why by our media’s silence, are Singaporeans not informed of it? Why do we not hear our own government speak up?
Mariko Oi, BBC News
Singapore currently produces less than 5% of the food it consumes. And so the government wants to encourage entrepreneurs like Mr Cheng to venture into farming so that the country can be more self-sufficient.
Goals set out by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore include raising local production of fish to meet 15% of domestic demand from the current 4%.
Yaw Shin Leong
Chemical Generation Singapore
Regardless if it is front door, back door or window invitation, opposition members should make do, accept the humility and seize the opportunity to make a difference regardless of the limited voting rights NCMP have compared to a MP. I would still appreciate more opposition members entering parliament; almost like how I welcome Santa Claus squeezing down the chimney bringing cheer and goodies to the House.
Jonathan Peeris, Channel NewsAsia
As the LTA has been assigned to take on the role of Transit Acquirer by the Minister for Transport, it has been mutually agreed that the sale of Transit Link to the LTA would serve the interests of all parties involved.
Channel NewsAsia
In a statement, Mr Lee said the government is determined to progressively strengthen and update its teaching and examination.
The government has noted public responses to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen's recent comments on the weightage of mother tongue at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, New York Times
With Asian economies powering ahead now and many companies relaxing restrictions on travel, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries are stepping up marketing campaigns to attract conventions, trade shows and other big-tent events.
Jema Khan, The Malaysian Insider
In Singapore, the ruling PAP, very much like Umno, feel that they are destined to rule in perpetuity. They too are rather intolerant of political challenges. The difference is that they are realistic and allow individuals to partake in all manner of delicious vices from table top dancing, to pubs and clubs that open to the wee hours of the morning, to the recently opened casinos and prostitutes masquerading as escorts.
The only thing Singapore wants is that these activities are constrained to certain areas or done behind closed doors. So long as you don’t disturb the peace, commit a crime or become an opposition politician, you can pretty much have a carefree existence regardless of race, creed or religion.
联合早报
Straits Times
The first batch of foreign workers who sat a new English literacy test on Monday said it was simple and easy to pass. Called the Service Literacy Test (SLT), it is an assessment administered by the Workforce Development Agency for work permit holders in the hotel, retail and F&B industries.
林诗慧, 联合早报
Robin Low, Boston Experience
I don't really see the point of having "market price" and having public housing as an "appreciating asset" so much that the rich could speculate, only forcing a larger gap between the haves and have-nots.
Dennis Tan, Straits Times
Far from being a 'resounding success', the consensus is that television debates have led to a greater emphasis on style over substance.
Isn't the discovery that all parties emphasised style over substance an interesting data point to decide during election? You mean you prefer that parties that have no substance is able to hide behind party mouthpiece disguised as mainstream media?
Png Eng Huat, Straits Times
If affirmative action is frowned on by minorities themselves, why does the Government insist on keeping the group representation constituency (GRC) system in the political landscape? The GRC system, as propagated by the Government, ensures minority representation. Thus it is an affirmative action policy.
Does it make sense that the minorities in Singapore need affirmative action only to protect their political rights and everything else can be based on meritocracy?
Guanyinmiao's Musings
The safety net we have constructed may be a credible and reliable one; but it is inevitable that individuals and households might unfortunately fall right through the cracks. Right now, focus on helping the people who need assistance, and not waste precious time and resources revolving around fruitless confrontations.
Imran Ahmed, The Grand Moofti Speaks
It is unlikely that an MP who lives in a landed property and only sees the road from her residence gate to her workplace will experience selfish cyclists on footpaths breaking the law or the crowded state of the trains during peak periods. Parliamentary secretaries and state bureaucrats may dutifully report statistics on the average daily number of train commuters or serious accidents involving bicycles but the impact of such numbers is impersonal.
Callan Tham, Trapper's Swamp
For this story to be reported in the manner that it was, Today is the organisation who fail to grasp what professional journalism entails, not AJE. How AJE would respond to such an accusation is their decision; however, I expect both Today and Ms Ho Moon Shin, in the words of Dr Balakrishnan, to "have the courage and the honesty to set the record straight" for propagating this blatant falsehood.
Conrad Raj, Today
Fed up with bad service at restaurants, department stores and service centres, the former newspaper associate editor decided to do something about it by setting up the blog. It logs anecdotes and stories of actual events of bad or good service, experienced by himself, friends or readers of the blog.
See Also: Boo-n-bouquet.
This whole TODAY article is about this one blog, and not a single link to this blog is in sight. Furthermore, the blog's name was spelled wrongly.
Jee Choo Lily Chan-wong, Housing & Development Board, Today
In making her calculations and concluding that HDB flats are not so, Ms Tong may have overlooked the fact that if she did not own her flat, she would have to pay rents for over 26 years. She would also have to face uncertainty in tenancy renewals and volatile rental rates.
Ignatius Lourdesamy, Housing & Development Board, Today
HDB is currently looking into how to further improve on the data we provide and will take Dr Thomas Sim Wai Tat's view into account. We thank him for his suggestion.
Jim Wasserman, Sacramento Bee
For several days now I have seen how the other half lives - in Singapore - and it's enviable, everything that SACOG has been talking about for years in Sacramento.
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
In healthcare funding terms, this is what many countries fear most and try very hard to avoid – that the current generation is paying for older generations and depleting their healthcare funding.
If this trend continues, our current healthcare funding mechanism under the Medisave system may become unsustainable in the future, as the current generation grows older with very little funds left.
Singapore Recalcitrant
One will have to be cynical to believe that there is press freedom in Singapore. This, at best, depends on the charitable whim of the powers that be.
Yawning Bread
Guanyinmiao's Musings
A hard-handed approach by environmentalists in persuading Singaporeans, especially Chinese families, to immediately stop consuming shark’s-fin soup might not be particularly beneficial; given that it is a dish with tremendous cultural significance.
Wong Chun Han, The Online Citizen
The Bali Times
The maker of a documentary about the goings-on between Indonesian men and foreign women holidaying in Bali is to be summoned to the island via Interpol, Bali Police said.
Director Amit Virmani, who lives in Singapore, neither had a permit to work in Indonesia when he made the film nor required permission to film in the country, violations that could see him jailed for up to a year and fined, police have said.
Gary Tippet, The Age
Neither woman wants to deny the seriousness of heroin trafficking, but they say the death penalty is out of all proportion to the crime and punishes not just the executed, but their families - and, in a sense, the future.
''On my last visit to Van, I couldn't understand how I was standing opposite a perfectly healthy person - completely repented and who had transformed into a beautiful young man with a heart filled with much goodness and compassion - and knowing it was the last time I would see him before he would be hung by a noose … deliberately and unrelentingly killed by the state. It didn't make sense,'' says Bronwyn.
Maxwell Coopers, Free Malaysia Today
There is no doubt like democracy, human rights does mean different things to different people.
And what people develop by sheer grit and hard work such as to attain a higher standard of living cannot be divorced from the fact that societies are at liberty or in fact at their very own discretion to choose the models they want.
周兆呈, 联合早报
Yawning Bread
There's something very arbitrary about it, and arbitrary rules are open to abuse and never engender respect. And Parliament is worth nothing if it enjoys no respect.
Ravi Philemon, The Online Citizen
As a volunteer I have neither the capacity nor the resources to fact-check every story thoroughly. Sometimes, the government departments we call to verify certain information, do not even reply to us, which makes fact-checking even more difficult.
Under such circumstances, I together with other individual volunteers, offer whatever assistance we can.
Anuradha Shukla , IDG News Service
Over the past few years, Twitter has grown steadily in popularity among Singaporeans who use this online forum to connect with each other.
星洲日報
國民大學醫學院院長兼國大醫藥中心主任拿督洛曼醫生表示，政府必須採取措施制止剛畢業的醫學系學生，尤其是獲得獎學金的畢業生到國外行醫，他們必須履行在國內實習3年的規定。
Singapore Democrat Party
if ministers and judges need to be paid handsomely in order that they yield not to temptation why can't Madam Letchmi, for similar reasons, be paid adequately?
The controllers of the system certainly know how to make life an extravagant splendour for themselves while they continue to insist on "deterrent sentences" for those who offend out of economic desperation.
This is why the Singapore Democrats insist on introducing just and fair wages for Singaporeans - wages that are commensurate with today's cost of living, wages that would lead workers not into temptation.
Gisela WIlliams, New York Times
About 50 miles from Singapore, yet a world away, Nikoi — encircled by palm trees and soft white sand — is the kind of tropical fantasy that burned-out managers keep a photograph of for their screen savers.
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
A potential asset bubble, especially in property, is causing concern that Singaporeans who have over-paid may be burned should the foreign money leave or another crisis hit the city.
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
The govt has more than enough resources to do this but is limited by ideological belief that 'welfare is a dirty word' and 'subsidies are bad'.....but these subsidies are neccessitated by the huge income gap which is a function of economic policies adopted by the PAP.
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
The government has decided to raise CPF contribution rate by one percentage point. Employer's contribution rate will go up from 14.5 to 15.5 per cent.
Yawning Bread
Families may feel so hardpressed about servicing loans that a feeling of financial insecurity sets in. This especially as Singapore’s economy moves in quite dizzy boom and bust cycles. Your DSR may be an “affordable” 25 percent today, but next year when you lose your job, it’s a different matter.
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
The GRC system is unsustainable and unstable in the long run. I guess when MM Lee talked about having "freak elections results", he understood the risks of the present GRC system.
Funny Little World
“The question is how best to fix this.” Yes, Dr Balakrishnan, that is a good question. A great question. The crucial question. Unfortunately for him, this time he decided the answer was to publicly humiliate a defenseless couple and challenge those who had done good deal more research than he had. Now he’s got grade-A egg all over his face.
So perhaps instead of being worried about the productivity of the average Singaporean, we should be more concerned about the wisdom and productivity of Dr Balakrishnan, who plays a crucial part in our nation’s social welfare system? After all, people’s lives and lifestyles are depending on him.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.