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Manila Bulletin
Bernama
In a brief statement, the republic's Defence Ministry said the helicopter landed between Woodlands Ave 12 and Woodlands Dr 75 at about 3.30pm. The ministry said there had been no damage to civilian property or injury to personnel reported, adding that an investigation was ongoing.
Ahirudin Attan, Malay Mail
One must wonder: What will Singapore hijack from Malaysia next? Fortunately, where the F1 is concerned, we are still ahead of Singapore, actually. That's because we have Malaysian teams actually competing in the race!
Bernama
Raju Gopalakrishnan, Reuters
The squeaky clean city of 5.1 million, nicknamed the "nanny state" for its propensity for micromanagement, is fast emerging as one of the world's hottest destinations for wealth -- and the wealthy, who now have casinos and theme parks for play, and seaside mansions and penthouses to stay.
"Hong Kong probably makes great business sense from an investment banker perspective, but I don't think it has invested as much in itself in creating a place for families to live," says Nick Pollard, Asia chief executive of private banker RBS Coutts. "What Singapore has done very well is that it has almost created a whole infrastructure, not just a place to work, but also a place to live, a place to educate your children, a place to have great fun."
Channel NewsAsia
Households will pay lower electricity tariff from October to December. On average they will pay 3.3 per cent less than the previous quarter as the tariff for households will be reduced by 0.79 cents to 23.34 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
STOMP
STOMPer Quintus was driving past an open field in a residential area in Woodlands Avenue 12 when he saw this SAF Apache helicopter crash landing into the field, sending its tail flying about 50 metres away.
See Also: Flash: Apache Down by Senang Diri.
AFP
Singapore said on Thursday it was reviewing government financial processes in the wake of its worst corruption case in 15 years, involving a senior civil servant with a penchant for Italian supercars.
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Measured Musings
李亦筠, 联合早报
今年推出的本地片产量不少，当中有新戏种，也有优秀电影，但相较于外来华语片的票房，本地电影却是凄凄惨惨戚戚。8部本地片中，只有梁智强的《做人》近百万，若不是被婚外情拖累，《做人》铁定破百万。本地电影，少了梁智强，就不行吗?
郭丽娟, 联合早报
如果进一步放宽对方言节目的限制，吕德耀担心必然会影响年轻一代学好双语，毕竟学生要同时学习英语和华语，已有一定的困难。
萧洁盈, 联合早报
对于政府决定不允许R21电影走进组屋区戏院及售卖R21影片光碟，所有受访的公众都表示这在他们预料之内，因为政府一向比较保守，对媒体内容的管制也比较严厉。而大部分公众也对这个决定表示赞同。
Serene Thia, CNNGo
In case you haven't noticed, Singapore's art and civic district has gotten a little livelier over at Queen Street, one of Singapore's oldest streets. The seeds were sown two years ago when the Singapore Art Museum extended its premises and opened its contemporary art wing, 8Q Sam.
Associated Press
The 87-year-old Lee was admitted to Singapore General Hospital late in the day, Channel NewsAsia reported, citing Lee's press secretary, Yeong Yoon Ying. No details were given as to Lee's condition. Calls to Yeong rang unanswered Wednesday.
Esther Ng, Today
Mr Lui said the restrictions would remain as Singapore's dialect policy was based on the need to promote a common Chinese mother tongue.
Yawning Bread
Lim Yuin Chien, Singapore Government, Foreign Policy
The Singapore government does not condone illegal smuggling of sand. We have put in specific and stringent procedures to ensure that sand is extracted legally and in compliance with the environmental laws and regulation of the source countries. To date, all sand vendors have provided valid clearance documentation from the source countries.
Jeff Opdyke, The Sovereign Investor
Singapore’s growth is real. And the government’s effort to push the economy to the next level is working.
Hoe Yeen Nie and Evelyn Lam, Channel NewsAsia
Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
In a move to strengthen the ban on undesirable websites, the Singapore Government will direct internet service providers (ISPs) to provide internet filters to local users.
Chun Han Wong, Dow Jones
Singapore has resisted calls from a government-appointed panel to liberalize parts of its censorship regime, such as ending a symbolic 100-website ban and easing rules on distributing R-rated films, a government minister said Wednesday.
Lai Han-Wei, Straits Times
The symbolic ban on 100 websites will stay to reflect the community's stand against objectionable web content, the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (Mica) said on Wednesday.
Ministry Of Information, Communications And The Arts, Singapore Government
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) agrees with the Censorship Review Committee (CRC) on the fundamental principles that should guide content regulation. MICA accepts most of the recommendations made by the CRC. These are timely recommendations which would help our content regulation policies and standards keep pace with the evolving media landscape and societal changes.
Channel NewsAsia
The government has accepted over 80 per cent of the recommendations made by the Censorship Review Committee. However, The information, communication and the arts ministry (MICA) said it would not allow R-21 films to be screened in the HDB heartland cinemas, or the sale of R-21 videos.
VotingRP
The Reform Party is committed to the introduction of a minimum wage. We also want restrictions on the entry of foreign labour where Singaporeans already have the necessary skills.
Ravi Philemon
It is precisely because the elected officials in a parliamentary democracy forms both the legislature and the executive powers, that vigourous competition of ideas by various parties, becomes absolutely essential. For by voting for competing ideas, the electorate express the kind of future they want for their country.
Netty Ismail, Bloomberg
Government of Singapore Investment Corp., manager of more than $100 billion of reserves, said real estate and private equity in emerging economies will present more rewarding opportunities than equity markets.
Faris, Yahoo!
The Ministry of Communications, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has apologised again for its latest blunder. Although MCYS did not reveal the exact number of volunteers affected by the incident, close to S$9,000 worth of F1 race tickets (30xS$298) was wasted because the tickets were stuck in the mail.
Leong Wee Keat, Today
In what could be the biggest fraud case in the Civil Service, two individuals are suspected to have conspired with several others to cheat the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) of almost $12 million over a two-year period.
郭丽娟, 联合早报
新加坡所建立的制度不是假设没人会贪污，而是确保一旦有人贪污受贿，必会被揭发并面对处罚。内阁资政李光耀昨天在“俄罗斯—新加坡商业论坛”的一场对话会上指出，我国政府所建立起来的廉洁制度，是新加坡的主要优势之一，这让企业家更有信心到这里经商和投资。
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
翁德生, 联合早报
能抛开历史包袱，抛开小眼睛小鼻子心态，则解决所有的新马双边课题指日可待。
李起良, 联合早报
既然政府愿意给予各类补贴，我们当然乐意接受，但希望不要与公积金挂钩。这样我们的受惠就更实际，不用望梅止渴，政府也可避开瓜田李下所可能带来的嫌疑。
Aid Watch
Scwatch
What a comparison and what a shame ….. especially if one is Malaysian.
Conrad Raj, Today
Isn't it time we know how large Singapore's largest sovereign wealth fund is and how well it really did?
Paula Tan, Straits Times
Yang Rui, Today
It seems that the YOG organisers have forgotten about SingPost's five-day only mail delivery service. If most or all of the 400 tickets were delivered late such as was my case, this is a huge amount of money wasted.
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia
The government has not considered holding a by-election in Ang Mo Kio GRC, following the death of fellow MP Dr Balaji Sadasivan, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters. The remaining five MPs will help to look after Cheng San-Seletar ward, said Mr Lee, adding: "I see no difficulty."
Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew Jit Poh
Singapore was severely bruised by the Mat Selamat escape, and with the good gesture from Malaysia now, Singapore's attitude towards the country will change.
John Chan, CNET
Michael Kan, IDG News Service
The Apple Peel 520, a Chinese-developed product that drew the media's attention for being able to turn an iPod Touch into an iPhone-like device, is coming to America.
Yawning Bread
The biggest problem in Singapore is not that our civil servants abuse their power or fail to follow correct procedure — it can happen occasionally, but there is no systemic failure. Instead it is politicians who systematically abuse their power in the making and the legislating of policy.
Nora Caplan-Bricker, Yale Daily News
The University of Warwick in England, for instance, decided not to build an undergraduate campus in Singapore in 2005 after learning that the government would not tolerate being negatively portrayed in academic reports. Johns Hopkins University also closed a research facility in Singapore following a falling out with the country’s government. James Scott, a Sterling Professor of political science who also serves on the board of NUS’s Asian Research Institute, said he is worried Yale could also suffer an embarrassment if it goes ahead with this project but is eventually forced to abandon it if its freedom is constrained.
AFP
A Singapore charity on Tuesday announced the winners of an international art competition to design "happy coffins" to encourage the elderly and dying to celebrate life.
Kevin Lim, Reuters
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC is in no hurry to reduce its stakes in Citigroup and UBS as it believes the worst is over for both lenders, the Business Times reported on Tuesday.
Loh And Behold
Fridae
Despite the prime minister’s promise not to proactively enforce Section 377A which criminalises sex between men, a man is facing charges under the law while another two were convicted last week.
Whirled View
Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, the British educated Chinese lawyer who developed that Southeast Asian underdeveloped city-state into one of the world’s top economies and the regional financial center (and whose authoritarian model of an economically well managed police state - is used as a model by China today) stated years ago that one of the first projects a country should undertake to attract foreign capital to aid in its development was to build a first class airport and high speed roads and establish well regulated and clean transportation (e.g. an efficient and modern subway and taxis with functioning meters) that whisked travelers into the capital. If you’ve ever flown into or out of Singapore, you know what he meant. The investment paid off in spades for that small island state.
The Kent Ridge Common
Political topics in Singapore, quite frankly, enjoy a no-holds barred discussion in NUS.
Singapore Notes
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong's parsimonious one word "No" answer to the obvious query about the link between the perceived payola and the long overdue prisoner extradition speaks volumes.
Fake Bernie Ecclestone
This is not how it’s supposed to go. Race organisers are supposed to grovel and prostrate themselves, after which I extract extraordinary sums from them in return for the honour to host the ultimate event for a number of years determined by me. If they behave.
Musings From the Lion City
Malaysia had already rejected Singapore’s request to extradite Mas Selamat but after 18 months of saying “No,” Malaysia suddenly announced that they will deport him back to Singapore. In the same week when the land deal was made.
A coincidence that has nothing to do with the land deal? I don’t think so.
TrippyFood.com
The infant food truck has only been in operation since mid-September of 2010 according to Simon, Street Hawker’s manager. The truck is small with glass all the way across the business side, giving the impression of a street stall with wheels and leaving no room for doubt that they dish up “Singaporean Home Cooking” as advertised.
林德花, 联合早报
很多人一听到R21的限制级电影，便以有色眼光来看它，其实这类电影绝非大家想象中的那么低级不堪，纯粹以色情暴力取胜。我曾经为了一部由裴勇俊主演的韩国佳片，被迫独自去长江戏院和寂寞的老男人共坐同观，只因为它是R21。最近笔者也去看了《囡囡》，学到的不是性爱技巧，而是香港社会道德的沦落。
CNNGo
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, New York Times
Singapore is eyeing a gigantic farming project in northeast China that could help the small, densely populated city-state diversify its food supplies, while offering export opportunities for its expertise in food safety and investment opportunities for its businesses.
Netty Ismail and Joyce Koh, Bloomberg
Government of Singapore Investment Corp., manager of more than $100 billion of reserves, will be able to more quickly adjust the make-up of its assets and will focus on emerging markets as they outpace developed economies.
The fund, with the approval of the board, will be free to change its asset allocation over the medium term, or within five years, to “respond more flexibly to significant risks or opportunities,” chief investment officer Ng Kok Song said in the annual report yesterday.
Dylan Loh, Channel NewsAsia
Some retailers in malls affected by road closures because of the Singapore Grand Prix have complained that shopper-traffic during the Formula One weekend dipped the worst in the event's three-year run.
This was despite the Circle Line rail network offering shoppers a new access to Marina Bay.
May Wong, Channel NewsAsia
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) said on Monday that it has significantly recovered its losses from the previous year.
No figures were given, but the comment came in its latest annual report for the year ended March.
Costas Paris And P.R. Venkat, Wall Street Journal
The Government of Singapore Investment Corp. said its average rate of return had picked up pace in the year ended March from the previous year as global equities markets rebounded but warned that significant challenges remained ahead.
GIC's portfolio stands close to 270 billion Singapore dollars (US$204.17 billion), according to people familiar with the fund. It is one of the world's biggest sovereign-wealth funds in terms of money managed.
Mok Fei Fei, Channel NewsAsia
The Online Citizen
This time round Mr Lee will be hard-pressed to deploy the same explanation in Dr Balaji’s case. Due to his duties as PM, Mr Lee would already have had less time for constituency work than ordinary MPs; it is thus unlikely the prime minister can be tasked to make up for Dr Balaji’s constituency work.
Further, the assertion that the rest of the GRC MPs can cover for someone’s duties raises the obvious and uncomfortable question: are an MP’s duties really that important if he’s so dispensable?
Marlon Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Gambling lords have found “creative methods” of laundering billions of pesos generated by their illegal operations in the country, a lawyer of a late suspected jueteng operator said Sunday. The methods range from auctioning off paintings in Singapore to moving funds through the underground “Binondo Central Bank,” Ferdinand Topacio said.
Ho Say Peng, New Asia Republic
Minimum wage laws are a violation of an employer’s property rights.
Singapore Democrat Party
Straits Times
Senior minister of state for foreign affairs Dr Balaji Sadasivan, who was battling colon cancer, died early on Monday morning. He was 55.
徐冠林，南洋理工大学, 联合早报
比较两种根据完全不同方法的排名系统得出的结果，是非常错误和具误导性的，就像比较苹果和榴梿一样。
洪为煊, 联合早报
防恐工作不能是天方夜谭，雷声大雨点小，而是在每一环节上，都须有切实可行的方案。
The Temasek Review
“The stakes in the next general election have never been higher for Singaporeans,” quipped Singapore Democratic Party’s secretary general Dr Chee Soon Juan at the SDP pre-election rally last Saturday which drew a larger than expected crowd of nearly 400 people.
He warns that Singaporeans will have no future in Singapore if the PAP is allowed to remain in power without any opposition to check on it.
Teo Xuanwei, Today
Of all the suggestions made by the Censorship Review Committee (CRC), this was the one that grabbed the headlines.
By a show of hands, the majority of the 150 or so residents in the hall at Fuchun Community Club were against R21 films appearing in heartland cinemas - similar to the CRC's findings in its nationwide survey - and on free-to-air or pay-TV.
Saifulbahri Ismail, Today
Recently, six men impersonated NEA officers and robbed a member of the public. NEA said it took a serious view of the incident and will work with the police to prevent repeat incidents.
Joseph Khoo, Straits Times
While upgrading hawker centres is a good idea, raising rentals simply makes the hawkers' life harder.
In addition, turning over the running of hawker centres to private operators is a bad idea as their main motive will always be to maximise profits. They will bid high to get the right to run the centre and then squeeze the hawkers to recoup their investments.
The government's introduction of middlemen in all sorts of businesses has severely raised the cost of living in Singapore.
Yawning Bread
The cost of poverty-reduction via a minimum-wage scheme is borne by business entities. Firstly, it is economically distorting; secondly, it doesn’t seem to hold the state responsible for the welfare of its people when the cost is passed off to business.
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
While interest has centred on lowering restrictions on R21 movies, acting minister for information, communications and the arts Lui Tuck Yew said it should not divert attention away from the other recommendations made.
"We don't want a particular issue to hijack the attention of everybody and divert it from all the other issues that also bear serious attention,' said Mr Lui.
Shaffiq Alkhatib, Channel NewsAsia
Senior minister of state for trade and industry, S Iswaran, said it's still early to tell if Singapore's contract to organise the Formula One races will be extended beyond 2012.
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
Lay Leng Ang, CNNGo
Wang Zheng, Channel NewsAsia
Retailers in Chinatown said business is down some 60 per cent - citing the F1 as a cause - despite the current period being a peak season for tourists.
But those in the Bugis area said takings have doubled these past two days, with an increase of 20 per cent in crowds.
Associated Press
An opposition party urged Singapore's government to slow the influx of foreign workers at a rare public rally Saturday in the tightly controlled city-state.
About 200 supporters of the Singapore Democratic Party also called for a minimum wage and a lower sales tax to improve living standards for workers.
The Economic Times
India has asked Singapore to open up more services to allow a greater number of Indian professionals access the island nation’s cost accountancy and hospitality sectors. A comprehensive bilateral trade agreement between the two countries is being reviewed. “We want to take advantage of the second review to get more in services and are exploring all possibilities,” a commerce department official told ET.
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
The increase in Indian arrivals has been visible in everyday life but the margin has caught many Singaporeans by surprise. Indians today make up a quarter of the 1.79 million foreigners in Singapore that include PRs and foreign workers.
The Borneo Post
Most of us would not look too kindly on a family dynasty in politics. But do Singaporeans really mind? For almost five decades, it seems that the majority did not mind. It was as if they would tell you — if it works well, who cares!
And seriously, if Singaporeans are happy with their leaders, family dynasty or not, who are we, foreigners, to question their political system! We can criticise and shout aloud from afar but that will sound hollow, at best.
Bernama
Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari was handed over to the republic yesterday after it was decided that he was no longer a security threat to Malaysia.
Home minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the decision was made after discussions between Malaysia and Singapore, besides the security and intelligence agencies as well as the special task force of both countries confirming that Mas Selamat was no longer a threat.
Ministry Of Home Affairs, Singapore Government
Milton Sau, Channel NewsAsia
The Online Citizen
Leong Wee Keat, Today
An application has been filed in the High Court to challenge the legality of Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises gay sex.
Lawyer M Ravi filed the legal action on Friday on behalf of his client Tan Eng Hong, who was charged for allegedly having oral sex with another consenting male.
白士德, 联合早报
所以追根究底，两个国家能否对影响双边合作关系的课题达成协议，还是要看双方领导人如何看待彼此方方面面的合作前景，而以新马两国来说，马国要争取在十年内使人均收入达到高收入国家的水平，就必须和新加坡合作，以吸引更多的外资，并透过新加坡这个区域投资与金融中心向投资者表明它排除障碍，集中精力拼经济的决心。
Theodore Yeo, Straits Times
When we are in a crisis, the Government is free to act swiftly. When manufacturing jobs were lost to China, the Government's response was swift, as was its rapid reaction to the global recession.
Michael Schuman, Time
James Hookway And P.R. Venkat, Wall Street Journal
The Home Ministry said Mas Selamat Kastari is "currently under investigation" and being held under the country's Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial. Malaysian police deported the suspect Friday—nearly 18 months after capturing him in southern Malaysia.
Cherian George, journalism.sg
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, New York Times
The first night race in Formula One history put Singapore on the sport’s map in 2008, and visitors to the 2010 Grand Prix this weekend will find that the city-state has not stopped innovating.
RTTNews
Singapore's manufacturing output growth slowed unexpectedly in August signaling a moderation in the economic growth during the second half of the year as suggested by the central bank.
Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
Singapore on Friday thanked the Malaysian government for repatriating back to the island republic suspected Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist network leader Mas Selamat Kastari who had been detained under Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA) since early last year.
The Star
Jemaah Islamiah member Mas Selamat Kastari has been released from the Internal Security Act and handed over to the Immigration Department for deportation.
Saiful Bahri Ismail, Channel NewsAsia
The National Parks Board (NParks) will be expanding the primary rainforest area at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Angela Lim, Yahoo!
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) wants its 20,000 regular servicemen to be fighting fit and warns that those who are obese and are doing nothing about their shape will get booted out.
Although other military units, like those in the United States and Britain also watch their troops’ waistlines and gauge combat performance, studies have shown that BMI does not accurately reflect whether a person is unfit or carrying excess fat.
Philip Lim, AFP
Readings From A Political Duo-Ble
It is hypocritical for the Singapore’s PAP ruling party to enact legislations prohibiting foreign funding when its GLCs (under the guise of corporationhood) makes political donations in Australia.
Daily Yale News
Though only about 25 Yale professors attended a meeting Wednesday where they could air their concerns about the proposed Yale-NUS College, some faculty are skeptical of the venture.
Kelvin Teo, New Asia Republic
We should be asking ourselves – do we still have the graciousness and good faith as we get sucked into the ranking race? Are rankings becoming our raison d’être that it dictates every decision made at the individual or institutional level?
Chua Chin Leng, My Singapore News
星洲日報
中国青年报
不要总是抱怨社会，说他人对你不公或者资本家剥削。你如果不从内心里感恩，感谢资本家给你一个剥削你的机会，你就永远不会拿两千块钱，成就你一千万块的事业基础。
Chan Whye Chuen, Today
Altogether, I lost 65 minutes that day at the two bus stops. Although this may not be a daily occurrence, it has happened frequently enough.
Yawning Bread
Icarus Flew Too High
Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia
Approximately 45,000 certificates bored sample signatures of the committee chairman and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge instead of the actual ones.
AsiaOne
Singapore has the largest proportion of expatriate high earners compared to 24 countries around the world, says a HSBC survey.
Stephanie Phang, Bloomberg
Singapore’s inflation accelerated to an 18-month high in August as record economic growth in the first half of the year spurred demand for goods and services.
Housing prices, the biggest component of the consumer price index, climbed 3.1 percent from a year earlier in August, and transport costs increased 9 percent. Food prices rose 1.7 percent, today’s report showed.
Faris, Yahoo!
All national servicemen (NSmen) from the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force will now have to undergo a mandatory HIV screening.
However, the new policy has raised some eyebrows over confidentiality, with regard to how information gained on an NSman’s HIV status will be handled.
联合早报
K第一天踏进课室，就微微地吓了一跳。怎么大家都在用广东话讨论问题，这不是写明是英语教学的课程吗？只是“微微地”，而不是大大地吓一跳，因为在这以前，她已经从大学的校园刊物中认识到，广东话教学在香港中文大学里是有不少捍卫者的。
赖诗琳, 联合早报
樟宜机场集团开辟来往组屋区和樟宜机场第三搭客大厦的免费巴士服务，以吸引更多新加坡人到樟宜机场购物。
AFP
The prime pieces of land Singapore will give a Malaysian-led consortium to resolve a long-standing dispute is worth up to S$7 billion (US$5.25 billion), a leading property analyst said.
Lynnley Browning, New York Times
Richard Murphy, a founder of the Tax Justice Network, a British research firm focused on offshore havens, said that amid the changes, “Singapore is where the Swiss can now find the banking secrecy they’ve lost at home.”
“It is my impression that lots of the money that left Switzerland went to Singapore,” said H. David Rosenbloom, a tax lawyer at Caplin Drysdale in Washington.
Richard Hartung, Today
Even though competition and cooperation have worked well in the past, times may have changed. Today more companies appear to put their own interests first. Toy importer Tai Seng, for example, simply told the media that checks on toxicity are "not within our jurisdiction".
If cooperation is no longer as effective in today's sometimes disconnected markets, maybe it's time for an ombudsman that actually has some clout. Rather than companies simply apologising for consumer inconvenience and even financial loss, an ombudsman could compel them to make amends.
Yawning Bread
The sorry thing about the whole affair is that by failing to do propose the ending of censorship and a greater loosening of classification, the committee has contributed to damaging Singapore’s national interests.
Tan Aik Fong, Straits Times
We don't need the Winter Olympics because the summer Olympics has enough sports for Singaporeans to strive for.
This attitude is what's wrong with our school system, and extend to every facade of our life. Instead of asking how we, as a society, can groom every individual to their best of their ability and interest, we pigeon-hole them into what we want them to be. And if you doesn't fit, you go be a low-skilled worker, and we have Work Fare upgrading programmes for you.
Michael Heng, Straits Times
THE Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) dramatic fall by 101 places in university rankings was not surprising given its controversial promotion and tenure exercise which has been carried out since 2007.
The exercise resulted in the departure of many professors who were responsible for NTU's higher ranking prior to 2007.
Evelyn Lau, *Scape, Lim Theam Siew, National Library Board, Straits Times
NLB and *Scape had explored the possibility of setting up this library in *Scape but it did not materialise.
NLB has since identified an alternative site for a new library in the Orchard area, which will be easily accessible. NLB will provide more information when the details are finalised.
黄世泽, 联合早报
事实上，在新加坡的种族平等政策下，马来人证明了他们的能力，与其他民族同等卓越，甚至新加坡国会现任议长正是马来人。今年世界盃，代表新加坡执法的国际球证Shamsul Maidin，也是马来人。在新加坡种族平等制度下，马来人可以爬上世界顶级位置，为马来民族争光，而不是像马来西亚的某些当政者，老是为马来民族出丑。
事实胜于雄辩，种族平等才能为国家带来发展机会，新加坡证明了这点，美国也证明了这点，美国白人为主的选民才选了奥巴马当总统，就像新加坡和马来西亚的前宗主国英国，有名种族歧视得厉害，也不得不委任一名原籍巴基斯坦的穆斯林担任保守党主席兼内阁阁员，这是在英国历史上破天荒的，平等机会才是提升国家实力的唯一道路。马哈迪医生等人不听李光耀的忠告，仍然坚持错误的道路，除了为他们的朋党带来好处，笔者看不出对基层的马来人有什么帮助？
Naomi Lindt, New York Times
Stephen Fisher, a banker with J. P. Morgan and a native Australian, wanted to embrace the tropical climate. He had been in Singapore for a decade, and he missed the outdoor life in Sydney, where he grew up.
So in 2005, when 40 plots of land became available on this resort island 20 minutes from the city center, he snapped one up, paying 3.5 million Singapore dollars (or $2.6 million) for the 7,800-square-foot lot.
Singapore Notes
What is billed as the "Final chapter in a long arrangement" is far from concluded. The hard driving Malaysian negotiating team is steadfastly refusing to pay the development charge, an outlay which Singapore developers are so used to accepting without the slightest murmur of protest.
Khushwant Singh, Straits Times
Organic vegetable farm Bollywood Veggies failed to convince a district court on Wednesday that it should decide on whether the farm had been unfairly prosecuted by the Building Control Authority (BCA).
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Future use of the three land parcels of Malayan Railway land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands and three other parcels in Bukit Timah will be reviewed under the Urban Redevelopment Authority Concept Plan and Master Plan exercises, said the Ministry of National Development (MND).
刘丽仪, 联合早报
本地唯一位于反对党选区内的湿巴刹——大巴窑8巷小贩中心兼巴刹，订于11月间翻新，但超过八成摊主基于临时巴刹的兴建费太高以及地点不佳，不愿付费兴建临时巴刹，宁愿选择休息或退休，使临时巴刹兴建计划告吹。
Huang Shoou Chyuan, My Paper
I hope the authorities will consider implementing a minimum-wage policy. Otherwise, Singapore's gross-domestic-product growth rates would just be meaningless numbers to our urban poor, who are beginning to think that the world is passing them by and that they have become strangers in their own land.
Risen Jayaseelan , The Star
Among the larger projects that could come about as a result of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) are the building of the mass rapid transit (MRT) system and the once-shelved high-speed rail between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Christina Tan And P. Aruna , The Star
Transport minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said Malaysia and Singapore had reached a bilateral agreement to jointly develop the light rail system during a meeting between prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Long.
He said the 1.5km rail system connecting Johor Baru and Woodlands was expected to be completed by 2018 as part of efforts to “increase connectivity” between the two countries.
Gilbert Goh, Transitioning.org
Our country may also be the only few in the world that relies almost entirely on foreigners to run its construction and hospitality sectors due to the cost factor. I have yet to also see how cheaper labour in the construction sector is being translated into affordable housing for the country.
Patrick Barta, Wall Street Journal
Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said a faster appreciation of China's currency would be "helpful" for the region, but cautioned that further pressure from foreign governments might make it harder for Beijing to let the yuan rise.
TheBachelorGirl.com
The allegation of censorship from the government agency of not allowing three new works from Drama Box to be performed in the open may not necessarily be without merit.
Jian Shuo Wang
Obviously, Singapore has a clear strategy to attract and keep the world's best talents. How about China?
Gerald Giam, Straits Times
There is more to democracy than government-led consultation exercises. A democracy not only ensures that citizens are consulted on policies, but gives citizens real bargaining power to affect government decisions.
Jolly Wee, Straits Times
To my fellow Singaporeans, let's continue to enjoy the "sensible" democracy we have in this country and reject the kinds that could do us in as a nation.
Afraid to do what is right, that will do us in.
Low Zi Ping, Straits Times
hese days, many children turn to the Internet a lot, utilising networking, gaming and video-sharing sites. Even if R21 content is not made available in the heartland, users can still access this content through Internet file-sharing networks and other avenues.
Chan Chee Leong, Straits Times
Wages determined by "market forces", which later need supplementing from Workfare, send the message that my job is undeserving of a pay required for basic survival. Will this message erode work ethics? Very likely.
Bernama
An undersea tunnel between Malaysia and Singapore is an option being considered by both countries, transport minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said Tuesday.
He said the tunnel was being considered to realise the rapid transit system (RTS) between Johor Baharu and Woodlands in Singapore as agreed upon by the two countries at their meeting in May.
This Is My Pen
Icarus Flew Too High
You're Entering Cin City
Yawning Bread
Something as critical as fair elections no longer seem to be guided by dispassionate principles, but regularly genuflects to the interests of the powerful. This kind of debasement feeds cynicism that eats into a healthy democracy.
Ion Danker, Yahoo!
Local entertainer Moe Alkaff says Singapore’s rigid education system was one of the “push” factors that led him to migrate with his family to the United States in 2000.
James Gomez, The Online Citizen
Singapore’s façade democracy needs to be challenged if citizens want their political rights – this is what I took away from my one hour conversation with Tan Wah Piow.
Ong Weichong, Eurasia Review
Critical academic freedom is a privilege to be respected, but it cannot be at the expense of national security and social cohesion. Singapore’s historical narrative would be poorer without a more nuanced view of the leftist heritage in its nation-building past. But any attempt to romanticise the actions of violent revolutionaries that claimed the lives of Singapore and Malaysian security personnel and civilians alike would demean the sacrifices of those who gave their all to protect the independence and security of their respective countries.
Eco-Business
Interest in compressed natural gas (CNG) cars has fizzled out after a brief spurt. The trend can be blamed on a number of factors - the languishing car market, a persistent shortage of refuelling facilities, negative publicity over poorly carried out petrol-to-gas conversions and even the uncertainty hanging over the tax break granted to such cars.
Bloomberg
Malaysia’s government is studying the viability of a high-speed rail system to connect greater Kuala Lumpur to Singapore with a traveling time of two hours, according to an exhibition in the capital.
The Temasek Review
The Star
The Singaporeans are wide awake whilst many Malaysians are still asleep.
Now, let us not rest on our laurels, Singapore has foreign reserves of to last it for 68 years at it's current rate of spending vs revenue collected. Malaysia has enough for 7 years!!!! Let them give thanks to Harry Lee. Harry has promised to come back and haunt anyone who squander this huge reserve largely accumulated on his watch.
Tan Kin Lian
Why do we have practices that are so complicated that even those who are supposed to be implementing these decisions are confused? Can we simplify matters for the citizens?
Ng Bee Keow, Straits Times
The tablets were sealed individually in the pack and they were not in our possession for long. It is a waste to throw away all the medicine as it could be used for other patients.
Really? You dare to take medicine that have been circulated among other patients? I know I wouldn't.
Shahrum Sayuthi, New Straits Times
Azman explained that despite the development charges being “substantial”, the project to develop the parcels of land would still be economically viable even if the PCA eventually decided that it needed to be paid by M-S Pte Ltd.
“The matter should not in any way be considered a snag in the agreement that was finalised today,” he said, while stressing the development of the land would proceed as planned, even while the matter was being deliberated by the PCA.
Kevin Lim, Reuters
Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC), the world's fourth largest sovereign wealth fund, on Monday indicated it had further reduced its exposure to Europe to about a quarter of its portfolio.
Bernama
Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to bring the outstanding issue on the development charges payable on Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) land in the city-state that will be jointly developed by both countries, to the international court for arbitration.
It is understood that the development charges, which applied to any business that wants to develop any land in Singapore, will be significant if the three parcels of land are going to be developed. The contention now is that based on the POA entered into, by both countries in 1990, the clause on who should pay the development charges was not clear enough. Singapore interpreted that the company should pay for the development charges but Malaysia said there should be no cost at all.
Bernama
Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday presented his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak a 40-year old photograph of their fathers who were then the prime ministers of their countries as a memento when they met for their bilateral talks here Monday.
The photograph taken in January 1971, showed Lee Kuan Yew with the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the second Malaysian prime minister, together with British Prime Minister Edward Heath and two others on board a British warship, HMS Intrepid.
UNIAN News Agency
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore and Malaysia have settled a land swap agreement for four land parcels in Marina South and two land parcels in the Ophir-Rochor area.
PM Lee added that both countries have different views relating to the development charges payable on the three parcels of POA land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands. Both leaders have agreed to settle this issue amicably through arbitration under the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Dawn Victoria Wee, CNNGo
Coffee shops selling kaya toast are a dime a dozen. However, a coffee shop selling good kaya toast is hard to come by, and will have loyal fans traveling from all parts of Singapore just to savor this tasty treat.
陈文坪, 联合早报
联合国教科文组织不是有个国际儿童节（6月1日）和世界教师节（9月28日）吗？新加坡是一个国际化的都市，也是推崇全球化的国家。如果教师节与儿童节需要重新“定位”的话，以上这两个日期不是更能体现出我国向“国际化”、“全球化”看齐， 还有必要固定在星期五吗？
CPF Board, Singapore Government
The government has decided to further extend the 4% floor rate for interest earned on all SMRA monies for another year until 31 December 2011. Thereafter, interest rates on all CPF account monies will be subject to a minimum rate of 2.5% per annum.
Minister for manpower Mr Gan Kim Yong said, “Despite our strong economic recovery, interest rates have remained low this year. The sharp drop in interest rates at the expiry of the 4% floor rate may impact CPF members who may not have benefited fully from the economic recovery yet. Therefore, the Government has decided to extend the 4% floor rate on SMRA monies for another year.”
Can't have too much bad news right before elections.
Munima Sultana, Financial Express
Migration costs to Singapore have increased by four times in a decade, touching to Tk 700,000 as fat commission by job intermediaries is pushing up expenses, officials and workers said.
Lau Chee Nien, Today
Our current film ratings do not inform consumers if a film released in the cinemas is an edited version.
Yawning Bread
The more one reads our laws, with their sweeping scope and trip-wire presumptions, the scarier everything seems.
Kirsten Han, The Online Citizen
As the government has pointed out, there is actually no shortage of jobs in Singapore. However, what they have constantly overlooked is the fact that many of these jobs pay so little that Singaporeans are simply unable to accept them. The government then brands such Singaporeans as “choosy” and begins to import migrant workers by the truckload to fill these jobs. It all feeds into a vicious cycle.
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
合肥晚报
Channel NewsAsia
The acting information, communications and the arts minister said his ministry is unlikely to agree to all the recommendations made by the Censorship Review Committee in its report issued on Wednesday.
Rasik Sharma, TopNews
AFP
Asia has become the new frontier for large-scale outdoor entertainment complexes thanks to growing affluence in large emerging economies like China, India and Indonesia, and cheaper air travel.
Economic Times
Singapore has invited Indian businesses to collaborate with its local players in sectors like solar power, pharmaceutical and chemicals.
Nelson Benjamin, The Star
Cases of Malaysians being cheated in Singapore have dropped following restrictions by the island republic on foreign workers, including imposing a higher levy and tightening entry rules.
Words Of The Cze
Bernama
On hurtful remarks about Malaysia made by Singapore Minister in an interview with the New York Times, Mohd Puad said Lee was suffering from "amnesia" on the reasons Singapore left Malaysia.
"He (Lee) knows his Malaysian Malaysia agenda would never have succeeded if Singapore was part of the federation," he said.
Gitau Warigi, Daily Nation
Nepotism is by no means genetically African or Arab. Far from it. The fabled John F. Kennedy planted his younger brother, Robert, in his Cabinet as Attorney-General.
Singapore, which certain of our politicians practically drool over in a rather silly way, is quite embarrassingly a family fiefdom. The founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was succeeded in 2004 by his eldest son Lee Hsien Loong. The senior Lee remains in Cabinet as “Senior Minister” – just in case.
Save Vui Kong
Ng Kaijie, The Enquirer
Perhaps a more compelling reason for the drastic drop is this: NTU could have been focusing on the wrong things. If this is true, it cannot afford to stay in its ivory tower and decry unfavourable criteria as baseless whilst mopping up sympathetic ones such as the QS ranking, which used the old criteria.
Bernama
Malaysia does not need any advice from Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew because it has its own way of governing the country which comprises multi-racial people, said former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"We are too different from Singapore and Lee's statement which criticised the system being practised in this country cannot be accepted because Malaysia has adopted a different set of approaches and measures in managing issues involving the cultures and religions of its multi-racial population," he told reporters.
The Temasek Review
Dyah Ayu Wanodyasari, Searching For Utopia
My Singapore News
Under his guidance, the Organising Committee became too careful and tried their best to present as small a budget as possible. They tried to cut corners, lower the quality of the things needed for the game. I think the food for the volunteers was a good example.
Christopher Ong, The Kent Ridge Common
Despite Dr. Balakrishnan providing a breakdown of how the costs were under-budgeted, particularly in the technology sector, many Singaporeans desired even greater detail and transparency in accounting for the cost.
Musings From the Lion City
I applauded Mr. Balakrishnan for taking some responsibility for the YOG as mistakes were made but frankly I doubt that the benefits of the YOG are worth $387 million.
Adam Leo Isidore Tan, Straits Times
The fundamental error in these debates is the treatment of sex as a dirty act, or at least one which should be encountered only after one hits puberty.
Sexual intercourse is a fact, without which there would be no life. At a higher level, sex is an act of intimacy between two lovers; a profound expression of love. Treating sex as taboo, a subject best kept from children, doled out in careful doses and carefully skirted, is detrimental in the long run.
Chen Sen Lenn, Straits Times
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
Observers believe that the authorities – in the face of an approaching general election – are serious about taking restrictive measures to placate widespread public unhappiness.
The Temasek Review
If MCYS choose not to order the termination of service NR1 and NR6, we can therefore conclude without a doubt that there are some hidden agenda behind this shuttle bus issue and the gamblers are just a smoke screen. To add on to the conspiracy theory, we all know that PTC only make their presence known whenever there is a need to explain to the public why the transport operators need to increase their fares. I am sure our reader know if the PTC, being an independent body, actually supports commuters or the transport company.
Bernama
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew not to raise sensitive issues on Malaysia which could threaten stability and racial harmony in this country.
"As a respected Asian statesman, he (Lee) should not issue statements that could hurt the feelings of his neighbours (Malaysians)," he said.
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
While some agreed with the need for a more transparent regulatory process, others said the recommendations offered nothing new.
Some were also sceptical of having a term licensing system.
Ben Bland, Asian Correspondent
The government's plan to use the casinos to bring in big spending foreigners while sparing its citizens the negative consequences of mass market casino gambling will be very hard to pull off.
RTT News
Singapore non-oil domestic exports recorded an unexpected double digit growth in August, after easing in the previous month few months, led by both electronic and non-electronic shipments.
Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Jit Poh
Based on the needs of political and economic realities, it is believed that Singapore will still have demand for Malaysian talents in the next 10 years or longer. It is expected to continue absorbing Malaysian talents because it is easier for Malaysians to adapt to the Singapore society as they have similar cultural background. Also, Singaporeans find it easier to accept Malaysians. In addition, once the Malaysian talents are attracted by the fair policies of Singapore, they will settle down in the country.
Yawning Bread
The worst part of it is that even if the minister’s reply is full of nonsense, or begs more questions, the scripted nature of proceedings means that the member who asked the original question, or any other member, does not rise to press a point home.
Is that because the rules of proceedings do not allow impromptu questions and interjections? Or is that because none of the members in the chamber could see whitewash and nonsense when it was laid out in front them by the minister?
Rachel Lin, Straits Times
Singapore will not actively head out to woo ethnic Malay immigrants, relying instead on scholarships, job opportunities and its meritocracy as pull factors.
'What we cannot do is go overseas and target specific ethnic groups to come to Singapore,' deputy prime minister and minister for home affairs Wong Kan Seng said yesterday.
The Economist
Economic incentives cannot always trump a shift in values. Nor is the self-centred consumerism of the “five C” dream exclusive to the newly industrialised tigers.
Rik Villegas, Saipan Tribune
Anyone can lead a ship that sails in calm weather, but the real leaders are honed in the midst of adversity.
杨贻兴, 联合早报
无可否认，度假胜地中的赌场或多或少会带来一些社会问题，但这些社会问题应该通过群众教育来解决，而非对企业的商业行为作出限制。自家的孩子有问题应该自己管教，而非归咎他人、殃及池鱼。
Tabitha Wang, Today
Singapore's Land Transport Authority has stated that, by 2012, there will be 22 new trains plying the North-South and East-West line. So in two years' time, it announced, waiting time will be reduced to between 2 and 3 minutes, from the current 2.5 and 4.5 minutes.
Good news, but even so, that is still twice as slow as the MTR train system.
南洋視界
Singapore Democrat Party
We have been the party that have made comprehensive alternative proposals for our economy and society that many experts and analysts have supported - the minumum wage is but only one example.
This is what leadership is about: calling the attention of the people to problems before the situation gets out of hand rather jumping on the bandwagon when people start talking about them.
Paul Chan, Straits Times
Could we spend the $1 billion to extend the MRT platforms at all stations on either sides to accommodate more cabins than the current maximum of six?
If we add two extra coaches, we could achieve 33 per cent capacity increase. With three extra coaches, we could reach an extra capacity of 50 per cent.
Ktemoc Konsiders ........
The truth of the root cause for Singapore’s expulsion was in fact LKY the politician. There’s never any doubt LKY was super intelligent, a double starred first class honours from Cambridge. But one can only be too clever by half in a Malayan environment because the style of his assertive and aggressive politicking didn’t go down well with Malay culture and its more genteel style of politics. Tunku was also aware of his covert (though well-known) intention to replace MCA in the Perikatan (the BN’s predecessor coalition).
mrbrown, CNNGo
What casino operator in his right mind would build a casino and a host of other hotel and convention facilities around it only for overseas customers?
And who are we trying to kid, calling them Integrated Resorts, haha!
Augustine Cheah, Today
While mistakes on issues such as housing supply, rail networks, flood alleviation, can be rectified with time and money, over-population is a different situation altogether. It is irreversible, short of shipping the extra people elsewhere.
Tan Nguan Sen, PUB, Straits Times
While we cannot cater for all extreme events, PUB will continue to explore and implement various measures to alleviate flooding in Singapore, within the constraints of cost-effectiveness and competing land use.
Lee Seck Kay, Straits Times
When he was in power, Tun Dr Mahathir did little to ensure equal opportunity for all races; instead of uniting Malaysians, he polarised them, to the detriment of many non-Malays. Blaming Singapore, particularly Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, for the animosity today between the races in Malaysia is an attempt to absolve himself.
Phoebe Low, Singapore Pools, Straits Times
Note that the number of Singapore Pools retail outlets has decreased over the years. "New" Singapore Pools outlets are opened only to replace the ones closed due to expiry of lease or area redevelopment.
Feed Me To The Fish
PM Najib is visiting your son this Sunday to smoke peace pipe on Kereta Tanah Melayu and other donkey problems. I think not nice to talk like that and throw spanner at your own son's work? If father treat son like that, how can people respect the son? We hope PM Najib got heart big enough to ignore your insult and still visit your son this Sunday to do good work.
Liz Shackleton, Screen Daily
Singapore’s Shaw Theatres is set to open the territory’s first digital IMAX screen when it reopens its flagship Lido Cineplex in April next year.
Milton Sau, Channel NewsAsia
The Public Transport Council said the IRs should remain accessible by public transport. This is why public buses are allowed to offer the paid service.
Rachel Kelly, Channel NewsAsia
The recent property-cooling measures are not likely to have a significant impact on the overall property market in Singapore.
Property experts speaking at an industry seminar on Thursday said global economic issues play a larger role, and that property prices will ride on positive economic growth.
Yawning Bread
The members of the committee seemed never to have interrogated their own paternalistic approach, one where there’s the state doing the regulating allegedly for others’ good. They merely recognised that that state can no longer do it alone and the entire report takes the direction of persuading others to join the state so that it becomes less ineffective.
Ministry Of Home Affairs, Singapore Government
Straits Times
Ethnic minority owners should not have problem selling their Housing Board flats because most HDB neighbourhoods have not reached the limits under the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP).
As at September, 86 per cent of 162 HDB neighbourhoods have not hit the EIP limits. Potential flat sellers may face limitations in 14 per cent of neighbourhoods only, said Parliamentary secretary for national development Mohamad Maliki Osman in Parliament on Thursday.
Straits Times
Fewer applications for Singapore Permanent Residence (PR) will be granted this year with the tightening of the immigration criteria introduced since late last year, said deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng in Parliament on Thursday.
The number 'will be noticeably less than that in 2009,' he said in reply to a question from Nominated MP Professor Paulin Tay Straughan, who asked for the number of applications for PR in 2009 and this year, and how many were successful.
The Temasek Review
I have taken the shuttle numerous times and the exterior of the bus say “free shuttle bus to RWS: and not “free shuttle bus to casino”. The only advert on the bus I remember promotes Universal Studios with a nice logo behind the bus.
孙伟伦, 联合早报
两家电信公司新电信和星和表示，它们已提供网上内容过滤服务。新电信更指出，已有逾万名用户订购这项服务，服务向来受用户欢迎。
联合早报
我国推行讲华语运动至今十分成功，因此审查检讨委员会建议适度放宽对方言影片的限制，好让人们有观看方言电影和电视节目的选择。
谢燕燕, 联合早报
新闻、通讯及艺术部审查检讨委员会认为我国有空间放宽方言的使用，对此，受访议员、社团领袖和年轻人认为，放宽方言的使用，能让本地的语言环境变得多姿多彩、百花齐放。
赖诗琳, 联合早报
审查检讨委员会的报告建议增加新的PG13级别，受访的家长、青少年都认为新分级顶多可作为参考，为孩子灌输正确的价值观才是关键。
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
Junaida Mohammed Sharif, Straits Times
Unfortunately, unlike her peers who volunteered, she did not receive a certificate of participation as a token of appreciation. Her teacher told her that he would look into the matter, but it was unlikely that she would get one.
Adrian Houghton, Today
RWS has gone to great expense to provide free transport to all Singaporeans to enjoy these attractions, and should be congratulated on it. Both IRs have created a huge amount of employment opportunities for Singaporeans.
Has anybody thought of the cost savings to the soon-to-be 20,000 staff members that need to get work everyday, never mind the environmental advantage of fitting 50 people on a bus instead of using 13 taxis?
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Why are Permanent Residents (PRs) who are single buying HDB resale flats like nobody’s business?
Gerald Giam
Let’s be very clear: your vote is secret. I will take you through the whole balloting process to see why.
Bernama
A professor said on Wednesday the Malay language as a medium of instruction has never been a hindrance to Malaysia's development and proven for more than 30 years as a language of knowledge that has seen Malaysia achieved success in many areas.
"It is not impossible with the knowledge acquired through sources in the Malay language, for Malaysia to one day surpass other countries including Singapore in several areas including economy," he said through an emailed message to Bernama Wednesday.
Shiyin Chen, Bloomberg
Singapore’s government sees a danger of a property bubble forming and recent measures to cool speculation were designed to pre-empt this.
Nopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters
Singapore's two casinos have breached regulations that prohibit promotional activities aimed at locals and may be penalised by the local regulator, a government minister said in parliament on Wednesday.
"I can't speak for the Casino Regulatory Authority whether they are contemplating any penalties to be imposed. There is a due process. They will make appropriate decisions at the regulatory level."
PortWorld
Shanghai has overtaken Singapore as the world's busiest container port after its container throughput surpassed that of the Southeast Asian port for the first eight months of the year.
Dow Jones
The Monetary Authority of Singapore could intervene to bring down the Singaporean dollar for the second time in a month if the currency rises to S$1.33 to the U.S. dollar, a person familiar with the matter said.
AFP
The Singapore government on Wednesday confessed to underestimating the operating costs at last month's inaugural Youth Olympics, but insisted the benefits it reaped were worth the costs.
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge hailed the Games as exceeding all expectations
RTT News
Singapore retail sales declined less than expected in July. Although at a slower pace, the negative trend in overall retail trade continued, largely led by plunging sales in the auto segment.
Straits Times
Alex Kennedy, The Canadian Press
A government-appointed panel urged Singapore to lift a ban on websites Wednesday, saying that Internet filters are a better way of protecting children from "objectionable content."
Singapore is known for its restrictions on public speech, which the government says are necessary to maintain political stability in the multiethnic, multi-religious city-state. Critics say the laws clamp down dissent.
Hannah Koh, Straits Times
The Censorship Review Committee (CRC) has called for parental empowerment' in regulating their children's exposure to media content, and wants it to be supported by media literacy programmes in schools.
Stephanie Chok, The Online Citizen
It is important to strengthen legislative frameworks so that all workers are protected and overall labour standards (including wage levels) are improved. This is something the “free market” will not resolve on its own, not in a competitive, pro-business environment such as Singapore.
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Singapore Government
Mr Speaker, our action conveys a clear signal to both IR operators to confine promotional efforts for the casinos to tourists only. We will not allow any promotions aimed at Singaporeans, especially in our heartlands. The IR operators have been reminded that they must comply strictly to our rules against casino advertising to locals. These rules will be tightened as necessary in the light of experience.
Censorship Review Committee, Singapore Government
The accelerating digital revolution and Singapore’s changing social and artistic landscape necessitate a mindset change on the key question of who should be primarily responsible for the regulation of media content. In the new media environment, with ever-increasing content streaming through the largely unregulated Internet, existing gate-keeping methods of media regulation will become less effective. Responsibility must shift further over time towards a tripartite collaboration of government, industry and community, with the populace empowered with relevant skills and tools to enhance their ability to make more informed media choices, for themselves and for their children.
Ion Danker, Yahoo!
“Our action conveys clearly to both integrated operators to confine promotional efforts for the casinos (to) tourists only,” said the minister.
“We will not allow any promotions aimed at Singaporeans especially in our heartlands. The integrated resort operators have been reminded that they must comply strictly with our rules against casino advertising to locals.”
Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia
The amount of government-paid maternity leave benefit disbursed rose from S$65 million in FY08 to S$126 million in the last financial year.
Land Transport Authority, Singapore Government
Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia
The government has said it is prepared to use the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (CLTPA) for drug trafficking activities.
The CLTPA allows for detention without trial.
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
In the seven months since the opening of the two integrated resorts in Singapore, there have been more than one million visits by locals to the casinos there. This was revealed on Wednesday by community development, youth and sports minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament.
Adeline Chia and Hannah Koh, Straits Times
In a bold suggestion that may raise eyebrows, the panel wants R21 content to be made available on more platforms - at home and in heartland cinemas, the panel has recommended that such films be screened in HDB estates, the videos to be sold in video stores, provided the industry can enforce the restriction of sale to minors.
It also suggests that R21 content be available on subscription TV and video-on-demand with a default parental lock.
Ministry Of Home Affairs, Singapore Government
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia
The Censorship Review Committee has issued its report after nearly a year of deliberations. Among its recommendations are mandatory Internet filters to give parents more control and responsibility over what their children can access online.
The filters would replace the current symbolic ban on 100 websites, but the government should retain the power to ban websites that are seen as a threat to national security, for example, terrorism and extreme racial or religious hate sites.
Straits Times
Replying to questions from several MPs on the YOG budget, Dr Balakrishnan said: 'Our initial budget estimates during the bid phase were inaccurate. This was the first ever Youth Olympic Games. Quite frankly, both the IOC and us were starting from scratch."
'We had underestimated the requirements and cost for several major functional areas in hosting the Games. In fact, the finalised specifications and standards for the YOG events were only determined after we were selected to host the Games."
Ravi Philemon
Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia
Potpouri At Causeway
Lee can rule the island state of Singapore with his own prejudice but not a much diverse and bigger country like Malaysia.
DayDreams
The point that I want to drive home is this – politics is a dirty game.
My Singapore News
Malaysia Kini
Singapore may be smaller, but the problems they faced were definitely more complex, urgent and protracted. If Malaysian politicians were to manage Singapore from day one, I think Singapore would be a city slum today.
We can accuse LKY for being dictatorial. We shall let history be the final judge whether what he did was justifiable. I believe history will be on his side, not Mahathir's.
Eveline Danubrata, Reuters
Singapore is the most expensive city in the Asia-Pacific region for hotel rooms, according to a survey of hotel prices in major destinations across the world.
Mahathir Mohamad
In 1963 Singapore became a part of Malaysia. Despite having promised that the PAP will not participate in Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak politics, Kwan Yew reneged and the PAP tried to displace the MCA in the Alliance by appealing to Chinese sentiments in the Peninsular. Of course the slogan was "Malaysian Malaysia" which implied that the Chinese were not having equal rights with the Malays. If this appeal to Chinese sentiments against the Malays was not racial, I do not know what is racial. But the Peninsular Chinese favoured working with the Malays in UMNO. They totally rejected PAP in 1964.
Whether the PAP admits it or not, the party has always been led and dominated by ethnic Chinese and have won elections principally because of Chinese votes. The others are not even icing on the cake.
AFP
Millions of Asians like Nursiah are spending more to put food on the table as a result of supply disruptions from floods and drought, while changing patterns of consumption are expected to put long-term pressure on prices.
郑景祥, 联合早报
昇菘今年3月份收购了白沙伊萊雅路湿巴刹至今，半年来已经三度向建屋发展局提交湿巴刹的规划建议书。经过多次的商议与协调，昇菘做出让步，只包下三分之一的摊位自己做，其余三分之二的摊位将开放给摊贩来承租。虽然建屋局表示还在评估昇菘的建议书，但昇菘告诉本报，他们私下获得的信息是，建屋局这几天会做出决定，白沙湿巴刹应该会获准以全新的面貌重开。
林慧慧, 联合早报
新加坡是否应立法实行最低工资制来保护低薪工人的课题近来在媒体上引起热议，继工会和政府官员公开表明反对立场之后，巡回大使许通美教授昨天也加入这场辩论，声援最低工资制的支持者。
他说，反对最低工资制的论者认为我们应该让市场力量来调节工人工资水平，但他反驳说市场也有失灵（market failure）的时候。“出现市场失灵情况的时候，难道政府不应干预以便使市场更公平吗？”
The Temasek Review
Bernama
Melissa Chua, Telecom TV
Today
If the service was in violation of the casino rules, why did it take some three months for the CRA to act? Is this also another case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing, given that the LTA had given the go ahead?
As a result of the cessation of the free rides, the bus owners stand to lose heavily on their gamble to buy two dozen new buses to service the routes. And a number of bus drivers may be out of job following the CRA move. Can they claim compensation from the CRA considering that initial approval had been given by the LTA?
Narayana Narayana, Today
Dr Liu's experience in the housing sector may have blinkered him into thinking only of providing accommodation for any increase in numbers.
Dennis Distant, Today
When Singaporeans raised objections to plans to allow casinos to open in Singapore, we were assured they would be integrated resorts with casinos.
That being the case, why have we been told suddenly that Singaporeans who visited the IR in Sentosa using the free shuttle buses provided by Resorts World Sentosa were going there to gamble, not withstanding the $100-per-day levy needed to enter the casino?
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
GDP growth does not benefit ordinary Singaporeans unless the wealth created is shared more equally. We know the standard argument against minimum wage that it is not good for economic growth and job creation. This standard argument does not make sense if your goal is something else, say, enhances social equity, prevent the spread of poverty or raise the quality of life for the people at the bottom.
Zakir Hussain, Straits Times
'The growing disparity and the hardship faced by the lowest 20 per cent of our workers is a threat to our social cohesion and inconsistent with our policy of inclusive growth,' he said at a book launch.
'As a Straits Times correspondent has recently commented, Singapore is a First World country with a Third World wage structure.'
Straits Times
Golden Village's managing director, Mr David Glass, calls the process essentially 'rebuilding without tearing it down'. The idea is to 'take it back to its glory days where everything is quality and nothing is worn out'.
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
Let me get this clear here, Singapore under PAP's rule, has already been engaging race based politics all this while! From the HDB racial quota rule, GRC system to setting up of Merdeki, Sinda, CDAC, all these are race based politics.
PAP has jealousy guarded itself as the only party that could deal with race based politics in Singapore. Anybody who dares to challenge this position would normally face "demolition" from its leaders.
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
The recently-concluded Youth Olympic Games (YOG) tops the list of questions filed by Members of Parliament (MPs) for Wednesday's Parliament sitting. MPs have asked the community development, youth and sports minister for the amount spent on hosting the games, and what contributed to the increase in spending on the YOG.
Singapore Democrat Party
Only a system of checks and balance can prevent the PAP from dragging our country down this dangerous road. Say no to 6.5 million. Our country will suffer irreparable damage if we allow the regime to go ahead with its reckless move.
Eco-business.com
With the world moving to ‘greener’ transport fuels, Singapore is starting to suss out the oil companies and refiners on the potential for them to introduce even cleaner, ultra-low sulphur petrol and diesel grades here, industry sources said.
Tiffany Chuang, The Online Citizen
The PAP prides itself on a brand of pragmatism that, subject to the imperative of economic prosperity, supposedly allows it to adapt fluidly to environmental vicissitudes. However, the PAP government is already showing signs of strain from inevitable ideological and institutional ossification.
Bloomberg
Growth in Southeast Asia may weaken in the next quarter after "robust" expansions, hurt by a slowdown in China and uncertain prospects for the global economy, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said.
The Temasek Review
Maxwell Coopers, Free Malaysia Today
The hardest task is how to convince someone with a history of shared experiences and traditions from another part pf the world, to take up citizenship and yet not remotely expect him to feel the same for his country of birth?
It is no small feat, but something which the Republic is rightly concerned about.
Lisa W. Foderaro, New York Times
Some faculty members have bristled at the notion of joining forces with a government that reins in speech and squelches public demonstrations.
The prospectus outlined assurances that Yale had received from Singapore leaders that “the college upholds the principles of academic freedom and open inquiry, essential core values in higher education of the highest caliber.”
Channel NewsAsia
One of its main attractions was supposed to be a white-water rafting course but, as plans developed, the consortium awarded the tender to build and operate Singapore's new Sports Hub decided the proposed watersports centre at Kallang would do without it, at least initially.
Musings From the Lion City
So I find it very surprising at how surprised the Singapore government is by the response of the PRs! It is almost as if the government is doing some sort of soul-searching on why PRs do not want to be full Singaporeans. This I do not understand.
吴淑贤, 联合早报
建屋发展局推出的剩余组屋反应热烈，平均每个单位近7人争购，反映公众对组屋的需求依旧强劲。
赵琬仪, 联合早报
新加坡人最舍得在国内酒店花钱，客房方面的花费比到亚洲其他城市时高。
联合早报
也总有一些原本就会赌的人因为免费巴士的方便，而受到更大的“鼓励”，甚至为了更常进赌场而宁付一次过一年2000元的入场税。就算后者只是占免费巴士搭客的一小部分，便足以叫有关的选区议员和基层领袖理直气壮的加以反对，当局在得到投诉之后迅速反应不只是为了“政治正确”，而是责无旁贷。
翁启宗, 联合早报
强制他人意愿的手段的确是不可取，但吴资政的发言引起这样的反应，确实让人担忧新加坡政府移民政策是否有成效？
郑再生, 联合早报
自愿作出的选择才是健康的。
Eddie Tee, CNNGo
The first time I told a joke, everyone was looking at each other and wondering if they could laugh. It didn’t fall flat. It’s just that people didn’t know how to react.
Steven E.F. Brown, San Francisco Business Times
Instead, the company will lay off 70 people in Singapore and keep its manufacturing in Livermore. The changes will be done by the end of the fourth quarter.
Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Manpower, Singapore Government
Singapore’s approach therefore is to leave wages determined by market forces – supplemented by orderly wage adjustments in tandem with Singapore’s economic performance through the mechanism of the National Wages Council (NWC).
However, specifically for low skilled, low-wage workers, we’re determined to help them raise their earning capacity by raising their employability. We do so through two Workfare programmes.
Jill Hum, Straits Times
The Underwater World may claim that its new pool exceeds international guidelines. However, these standards are usually basic requirements. It does not take an expert to see that the pool is too small for the dolphins.
Leong Wee Keat , Today
From Oct 18, the Singapore Police Force will stop issuing certificates to non-Singapore citizens to indicate a person has no criminal record during his stay here. Instead, permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners will have to swear before a lawyer or a Commissioner of Oath a statutory declaration, if they wish to migrate elsewhere.
Cheng Shoong Tat, Today
As a Pasir Ris resident, I would like to know whether the HDB has the power to re-possess the premises and re-tender it out to genuine wet market operators.
Sheng Siong should never be allowed to make use of delay tactics to put pressure on the HDB to bend the rules. The HDB must stand firm and Pasir Ris residents must not fall for the delay tactics.
Wong Wee Nam , Sgpolitics.net
National allegiance grows from a deeply ingrained sense of shared heritage and destiny. And this can only come about through generations of participation in shaping one’s own lives in one’s own country.
If we want Singaporeans to have their hearts in Singapore, then we must give them the mental and psychological space to fulfil themselves as co-owners of this country. People do not just fulfil themselves by being mere owners of upgraded HDB flats.
Seet Sok Hwee/Alvina Soh, Channel NewsAsia
Since the termination of the integrated resorts' (IR) free shuttle bus services, two companies are expressing their interest in hiring some of the drivers. However, this solution may not be adequate for the estimated 60 drivers affected by the incident.
RT
Singapore, one of the world's most prosperous and fastest growing economies, is being accused of expanding its coastline with illegally dredged sand from neighboring states.
New Haven Independent
As part of its growth as a global university, especially in Asia, Yale announced plans Monday morning to open a new college in Singapore.
Channel NewsAsia
A majority of Singaporeans agree with the government on many policies but have expressed anxieties over immigration issues. This came through in a telephone survey commissioned by the government feedback channel REACH to gather views on the recent National Day Rally speech by the prime minister.
Life Of A Simple Boy
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
Lim Swee Say, as labor union chief, tells workers to be cheaper, better and faster. Why doesn't he tell landland lords to lower their rents to make Singapore more competitive? Why doesn't he tell Singapore Power to lower its tariffs which are the 2nd highest in the world so that businesses can pay workers more? Making labor cheap and all else expensive works against ordinary Singaporeans especially those in the bottom 20%. The PAP govt says that businesses will flee if a minimum wage is set....we should ask ourselves what good is achieved if we retain a business dependent on cheap labor in Singapore....let it go and make space for businesses that can pay workers more.
Yawning Bread
Under our law, sex in a public place, even nudity visible to the public, is an offence.
Sia Liang Xin, My Paper
Remember, while animals do not speak the same language as us, they certainly can feel the same acute pain as we would.
Loh And Behold
Thoughts Of A Cynical Investor
Hannah Koh, Straits Times
Idiots' Collective
This seems to be a running theme in politics, whether in a dictatorship or democracy. Political leaders are experts at convincing themselves that they're doing the right thing for society, either because they really believe it or because they believe that doing the wrong thing is necessary in order to be able to do the right thing later.
Just Rambling
The Temasek Review
M Lukshumayeh, Chua Hin Bee, William Tay, Peter Lim, Today
Free bus services between RWS and HDB heartland areas began operation a few months ago. However, it is astonishing to learn that instead of stepping in from day one, the authority only acted recently after receiving complaints from the public.
The shuttle bus services had been in operation for a while and surely, relevant approvals must have been sought from government agencies by the transport operators and approvals duly given - but perhaps not with the involvement of the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA).
Lee Seck Kay, Straits Times
The authorities' well-meaning stand, however, does not see the wood for the trees. There is more than enough encouragement to gamble in the heartland itself, if only one cares to look. Problem gambling probably has its roots there, and not in the integrated resorts.
Esther Ng, Today
With stricter property rules and property prices still buoyant, some Singaporeans and Malaysians are looking to invest in property in Johor.
Sgpolitics.net
HDB and Sheng Siong should stop the wayang now and return us the wet markets which have until now served the interests of heartlanders and provided a valuable means of livelihood for stall owners.
Seet Sok Hwee & Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia
It seems that the recent termination of free bus rides to Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has not affected retailers located outside the integrated resort.
Jarrod Luo, Singapore Democrat Party
Allen Power
PTI
Addressing some 400 people attending Singapore's Young Sikh Association forum yesterday, Teo reiterated the government stand on foreigners, saying Singaporeans needs to attract foreign professionals and foreign workers.
The Temasek Review
Ng Lian Cheong & Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia
One of the wet markets located in Pasir Ris operated by local supermarket chain Sheng Siong has remained closed for several months.
In a reply to Channel NewsAsia, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said Sheng Siong has submitted several proposals to HDB but they did not meet the stipulated requirements under the lease.
ABC Online
Singapore's ministry of defence says it will cooperate with investigations into how one of its navy vessels snagged an underwater power cable in Darwin.
On Nation And State
Sriram Khé
I am with the younger people demanding openness. But, there is a great deal of truth in Lee's comment that we can't ever sit back and have whatever it is on auto-pilot.
周兆呈, 联合早报
“我们是自己成功的受害者”从政府领导人口中说出来，难免有些复杂的意味。一方面说明政府的成绩，带领国家达致成功的境地，另一方面，已趋此境的民众，对于政府的要求也不再和以前一样，而是有更多超越基本的需要，令政府棘手。说起来好似绕了好几个弯的新鲜提法，除了提醒新加坡人在整体国力强盛的情况下，面对的早已不是贫穷，而是国家发展成功衍生而来的诸多新问题，也刺激人们思考，为什么成功之后的所欲所求，竟然让政府有成为“受害者”的感受。
I Have Succumbed To Peer Pressure.
Leslie P. Norton, Barron's
While the mood in the West is gloomy, with a majority of Americans expecting a double-dip recession, Singapore's government this month moved again to cool speculation in the residential market, with new curbs on the loan-to-value ratios and a boost to the supply of public housing.
Elizabeth Soh, Straits Times
Despite widespread media coverage that the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) shuttle services had stopped running, Singaporeans still turned up at pick-up points across the island on Saturday in the hope of getting a free ride to the integrated resort.
Saifulbahri Ismail, Channel NewsAsia
The National Solidarity Party (NSP) plans to field some 30 candidates in the next general election, to be held before February 2012. This is an increase from the 12 candidates NSP fielded in the last elections.
Dealings with Shadows
Without freedom, “success” means nothing. Sure you can feel safe in your bed at night, but you will never be fulfilled in your soul. Without freedom, people cannot choose right, and therefore cannot sustain it being forced upon them (if what was forced was even right to be begin with).
The Temasek Review
A reader who worked at the MOM told us that the reality on the ground is quite different from what is portrayed in the media.
According to him, about half the work permits and employment passes are given to foreign workers in the construction and shipping industries while the rest are granted to those who are competing directly with Singaporeans for jobs which can otherwise be taken up by them.
郑景祥 王秘, 联合早报
昨天是开斋节，许多家长原本想带孩子乘搭免费巴士到圣淘沙名胜世界欢度假期，但巴士突然在下午2时过后终止，令许多苦候多时的公众怨声载道，大感扫兴。
严孟达, 联合早报
首先这番言论在逻辑上存有明显谬误，但出自一向谨言慎行的新加坡领袖口中，让人难免要怀疑是不是报道失误或是断章取义引起的误解。
白士德, 联合早报
我想新加坡人并非不知足，也不是身在福中不知福，而是以为自己还可以活得更好，因此什么都看不惯，受不了。
人们对眼前的一切有所不满，也是鞭策社会进步的一股动力，因此不算是什么坏事，坏就坏在现实不可能如人们所想象的那样，能让一些人以为只要嘶喊，就能要什么有什么。
Quek Soo Beng, Raymund Koh Joo Guan, Today
Aren't the IRs multiple-service destinations? So why the hang-up about Singaporeans enjoying the free shuttle bus services?
Why then deprive the non-gambling majority of the transport privileges just because some think it is politically correct to "appease" public opinion? But who exactly is the prohibition of shuttle bus services appeasing? Surely not the IR customers or people enjoying the free rides to and from the city.
Tan Nguan Sen, PUB, Straits Times
PUB has worked with partners such as the Singapore Canoe Federation and People's Association to open kayaking centres at Bedok Reservoir, MacRitchie Reservoir, Jurong Lake and Lower Seletar Reservoir. Members of the public can also try their hand at sailing at Marina Barrage.
Seth Mydans, New York Times
“So, when is the last leaf falling?” asked Lee Kuan Yew, the man who made Singapore in his own stern and unsentimental image, nearing his 87th birthday and contemplating age, infirmity and loss.
“I can feel the gradual decline of energy and vitality,” said Mr. Lee, whose “Singapore model” of economic growth and tight social control made him one of the most influential political figures of Asia. “And I mean generally, every year, when you know you are not on the same level as last year. But that’s life.”
DPA
A Singapore Muslim leader called Friday on Muslims to refrain from 'acts of vendetta' when provoked, referring to plans by a Florida minister to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Star
A cartoon character squeezing a nipple and another painted with breasts as its head are part of a controversial campaign in Singapore to prevent breast cancer, reported Sin Chew Daily.
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
The Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park, Singapore's version of London's Hyde Park where people are allowed to make speeches, turned 10 years old on September 1 this year.
Straits Times
The government will take action with the Casino Regulatory Authority to stop the free shuttle bus services provided by operators of the integrated resorts between Housing Board heartlands and its casinos.
Yawning Bread
A hundred censors bloom when the soil is fertile for them to do so. We have a culture of allowing people to act as self-appointed vigilantes when they have no authority over us, or when they do, we get shockingly meek and never challenge them even when they apply that authority inappropriately.
Liau Chuan Yi and Norvin Chan, Asian Correspondent
The most disturbing significance of the arrest is not that the government is flexing its muscle in cyberspace or launching a crackdown on the creative use of language. Rather, it is the fulfillment of an Orwellian prophecy that is truly the heart of the matter - the criminalization of thought-crime has started.
Neo Chai Chin and Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia
In a statement released late on Thursday night, RWS said it was "voluntarily withdrawing its shuttle services in the spirit of collaboration with the Singapore government".
Sentosa Theme Park
Not the gambler who no matter what are going to gamble. They well pay the S$100.00 entry fee. They can take the MRT,Public Bus, Taxi or their own car. It doesn't mater to them they want to gamble their money and do what ever it take to get to the casinos.
Grace Chua, Straits Times
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has raised concerns that the Underwater World's new Dolphin Lagoon is too small for its six dolphins.
Chan Hean Boon, Today
For a government that prides itself on forward-looking policies and a proactive approach, the latest string of anti-speculation measures seem to be more reactive in nature, quite unlike its usual style.
Kent Ridge Common
Interestingly, judging from the contents posted, the blog TheLiberatingTruth, which was responsible for the e-mail reminder, would not have contravened any of the guidelines stated by NTU.
Leong Wee Keat, Today
Putting knowledge into the hands of commuters to enable them to decide on their best travel choices is an area that the Dutch could give Singapore a leg-up in, says Mr Camiel Eurlings, Netherlands minister of transport, public works and water management.
The Temasek Review
The PAP should stop arguing over semantics and finding silly excuses to absolve itself from blame. If PAP leaders have any sense of shame in them left, they should acknowledge their mistakes and offer an unreserved public apology to all Singaporeans instead of dismissing their concerns as mere trivial complaints.
Leong Wee Keat, Today
When contacted, NTU dean of students Lok Tat Seng said: "Every year, we disseminate information on the dos and don'ts of Internet usage as a regular reminder to our students. The new academic year has just started, hence it's an appropriate time to disseminate the guidelines."
NTU did not respond, however, to MediaCorp's queries on why students needed the university's written approval to create Web pages or blogs touching on politics and religion.
赵倩玉, 联合早报
一些地铁站旁的布告板，已从免费张贴改为须付费，现在要在这些布告板张贴广告者，必须先跟代理商接洽，以每天5角钱费用租一块面积如A5纸张般大小的广告栏。
Singapore Democrat Party
The national development minister himself was very clear that 6.5 million was the target. Mr Mah posted an editorial on the PAP's website and unambiguously entitled it "Why we need 6.5 million people". It was not "Why we need 6.5 million people as a planning parameter".
If it is indeed not the government's plan to have the population reach 6.5 million then Mr Mah must, like his cabinet colleague Mr Ng Eng Hen who apologised and withdrew his statement about the weighting of Chinese language in school results, renounce his own statement.
Jeffrey R. Young, Chronicle Of Higher Education
Dozens of freshmen at Singapore Management University spent one evening last week learning how to "wiki," or use the software that lets large numbers of people write and edit class projects online. Though many said experiencing a public editing process similar to that of Wikipedia could prove valuable, some were wary of the collaborative tool, with its public nature and the ability to toss out or revise the work of their classmates.
Why is that so bad? It puts students in the awkward position of having to publicly correct a peer, which can cause the corrected person to lose face.
Cyndi James, National Ledger
One nation is demanding its citizens speak better English. While many in the US believe it should be America demanding better spoken English from its citizens and immigrants, it is the country of Singapore that is demanding better English be spoken.
Today
For a PR to spend 20 to 30 years earning money in Singapore, and then go back to their hometown to retire (and spend the money earned in Singapore), it does no justice to Singapore's economy in the future.
Jon D. Markman, Money Morning
The bottom line is that this is where some of the most exciting growth is occurring in the world. It's not an over-hyped sideshow - it's real, and I hope you are participating.
Christa Yeo and Charlene Fang, CNNGo
Andrea Ong , Chong Zi Liang and Elgin Toh, Straits Times
The government is investigating the provision of free bus rides in Singapore to the two integrated resorts by their operators.
The probe, announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), is to establish that Singaporeans are not targetted and encouraged to go to the casinos at the integrated resorts (IRs).
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
The NSP calls on the government to urgently revise the 6.5 million person population target downwards, and commission an inter-Ministry study with the purpose of accounting to Singaporeans regarding how housing, transport, and social infrastructure can continue to be assured.
Faris, Yahoo!
I don’t envy the huge task facing the government because it is nigh impossible to please all people all the time. But having said that, I urge them to listen to the people and hear what they have to say because, gripe or not, they could be but mere symptoms of a deeper malaise.
Rachel Chang & Rachel Lin, Straits Times
In his statement on Wednesday, Mr Goh's press secretary said 'the figure of 10 per cent which SM gave was only for illustrative purposes. It is not a target, nor is it the case that all PRs who turned down the offer of Singapore citizenship would not have their PR status renewed.'
Milton Sau, Channel NewsAsia
Boon Tat Road, near Shenton Way, was affected at around 10.30am. But the waters subsided within 15 minutes. Low-lying areas in Little India were also affected by the heavy rain which started pouring around 11am. It subsided some two hours later.
胡星, 国际在线
用不客气的做法留住人才，即使有一部分人加入新加坡国籍了，也会变得斤斤计较。正常人都会想，我因为选择了新加坡而放弃自己的国家，那么新加坡要给我什么补偿呢？
Irreligiously
What is even more interesting is that the University wants all its political and religious student bloggers to seek approval from the administration. This is a demand that will be largely dismissed by yours truly, and a handful of other bloggers who are studying on campus. Just like its rules on attire.
Just My Observation
If the PM finds it so difficult to work with other equally well intentioned politicians, albeit those with differing or neither partisan memberships, to the extent that he very publically declared (in GE2006), smack in the heart of town about his predisposition to : "spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them, to buy my supporters votes, how can I solve this week's problem and forget about next year's challenges..", how then, can it be logically expected that the electorate- the citizens of the republic whom are (quote: "concerned about competition from foreigners for jobs and housing.- ..worried about over-crowding and the cost of living") be expected to accept foreigners wholeheartedly.
Chinese Medicine Journal
Trapper's Swamp
Because if our leaders believe in NS, then it cannot be quantified in such a repulsive and random manner. They have just opened a can of worms, and there is precious little that can be done to reverse it.
Sam Ho, Sam's thoughts
It is ironic that a government that is trying to appear compassionate and promote citizen interaction/dialogue, is itself afraid of feedback. In fact, it trivialises most feedback as complaints and refers to it as a social process, rather than a social reaction to its political shortcomings.
Sgpolitics.net
Clearly the Marina Barrage has not been effective at all in preventing flooding. If anything, flooding has actually increased dramatically after it was put in operation.
Associated Press
As Singapore cements its position as a financial services hub and top regional tourist destination, the government is redoubling efforts to persuade locals to speak standard English. The government insists mastery of English is imperative to raise living standards as the economy shifts to services from manufacturing.
Some worry, however, that the island's unique patois known as Singlish could be lost, and with it an important cultural glue unifying the multiethnic, multi-religious city-state of 5.1 million people.
Eddie Tee, CNNGo
For some, Singapore's Chinatown is seen as nothing more than a tourist attraction. But for others it is where they have come to shop and eat for decades.
郭丽娟, 联合早报
受访学者指出，在这个过程中可能会流失一些新加坡希望留住的人才或优秀的永久居民。
至于受访的永久居民则希望政府不要实行这样的做法。因为他们希望能以目前的身份继续留在新加坡工作，不愿被迫作出国籍选择。
Singapore Democrat Party
Make no mistake, the PAP is doing this for its own sake, not Singapore's. Here's why. The party can cling to power only by ensuring that the GDP continues to grow. A decline in our economy would not allow the autocrats to continue peddling the propaganda that Singaporeans must sacrifice their political rights for economic grwoth.
Eunice Goh, Today
PRs who earn more than $150,000 a year contribute to the economy, so why not let them remain as PRs and we benefit from their tax contributions? If we force them to choose, they will probably move to Hong Kong or Taiwan and commute to Singapore.
Sim Cher Huey, Straits Times
When Marina Reservoir was announced, it was presented as an exciting venue for water sports, especially non-polluting paddling sports like kayaking. After it was opened, paddlers who had long enjoyed its waters on their private kayaks were banned from it.
Cheam Tze Hui, SingTel, Straits Times
Food fuels me to talk...
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Replying to Channel NewsAsia queries, REACH said the immigration issue accounted for 30 per cent of the overall discussion on its various channels, such as the discussion forum, Facebook, email and over the telephone.
The Edge
Singapore’s November 3G spectrum auction paves way for fourth mobile telephony operator but new entrant unlikely as market already saturated, says Citigroup.
“Given the small size of the Singapore market and saturation levels, it would be very difficult for any new player to profitably come in at such a late stage and build relevant infrastructure,” says Citi.
AFP
Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said more Asian nations will be inclined to forge trade pacts with Taiwan if it secures such a deal with his city-state first, Taiwanese media said Tuesday.
Lee, in an interview with the Taipei-based China Times, said the two sides hope to sort out details for the planned deal within "the next few months."
Abitare
Christopher Ong, Kent Ridge Common
In this world whereby merit and performance is the only true barometer of success, perhaps the Singaporean student has much to benefit from the foreign student.
In an alternate perspective, rather than arguing that they provide extra competition for places, perhaps there is much to thank for this learning experience.
Elaine Ee-Meyers, CNNGo
If the thought of traipsing round dusty galleries for hours makes you swoon, head for these small Singapore museums -- history, culture and fun, without the foot ache.
潘星华, 联合早报
为庆祝新加坡与中国建交20周年，国家文物局将在新加坡河畔树立邓小平纪念碑，纪念邓小平于1978年到访新加坡，开启中国和新加坡两国正式交往的大门。
Hannah Koh, Straits Times
In the latest annual assessment of water quality at Singapore beaches, the Pasir Ris stretch again got a 'fair' grading while the other five popular recreational beaches passed with flying colours.
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
Kevin Lim, Reuters
Winnie Teo, Straits Times
While the new cooling measures will stabilise the property market in the long run, there remains the question of whether the CPF is still meant to be a source of retirement income when we need it.
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Senior minister Goh Chok Tong said some PRs will be approached to become citizens and if they don't do so, their status will not be renewed.
The Online Citizen
If indeed the government was “caught by surprise”, one then would have to question how this happened, given that senior ministers had highlighted it as a major issue even prior to 2007 and 2008.
Did the government take its eyes off the radar? How else could it have been “caught by surprise” by the surge in the number of immigrants?
Tan Yi Han, Straits Times
The Singapore government has been lauded for its far-sightedness, and I hope that we take the future energy crisis threat seriously.
Last but not least, air-conditioners are a drain on taxpayers' money. Rather than spending money on superficial improvements such as air-conditioned bus interchanges, why not invest in a more efficient public transport network?
Evelyn Choo, Channel NewsAsia
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
The more you think beyond yourself and your own problems, the more you will understand how PAP policies have left a large segment of Singaporeans behind in their system. The more you care about your fellow Singaporeans, the harder it is for you to accept the lopsided policies implemented by the PAP govt.
Elaine Ee-Meyers, CNNGo
Over the last few years, groups like Five-O have quietly grown from sporadic meetings of friends to official hobby groups, evidence that cycling has become a way of life for many Singaporeans. Night cycling in particular has built a strong appeal -- the beauty and thrill of cycling through or alongside the jungle at night, the lack of traffic on the roads, the cool air and that irreplaceable free-wheeling feeling that you own the route you ride on.
Rajiv Chaudhry, The Online Citizen
By continuing to allow businesses to freely employ such workers, the economy suffers twin disadvantages; first of not putting sufficient pressure on firms to innovate and raise productivity and more seriously, by placing a glass ceiling on the wages of the bottom 20% of Singaporean workers.
蔡永伟, 联合早报
Geek Is The New Black
So are we in danger of becoming Pauline Hansons with this rising tide of hysteria over foreign workers coming in to steal our jobs, our homes, our childrens' places in schools?
Andrew Batt, Property Report
Singapore’s attempts to cool the property market will have limited impact on the luxury sector, according to Edmund Cheng, Deputy Chairman of developer Wing Tai Holidays.
Singapore Democrat Party
If this dangerous 6.5-million experiment fails, it will be too late. We, the ordinary folks, will be the ones paying for the mess.
The ministers who live in their Gurkha-guarded homes, far removed from the daily stresses that they place upon us, will not be affected. They will ask us to "bear with it" like the prime minister did in his ND Rally.
联合早报
对于地铁这样投资和维持成本庞大的工具，则必须有更实际的要求，人们至少必须接受地铁一定程度的拥挤。地铁网络的不断完善也将鼓励更多国人利用地铁，包括驾车人士，地铁的繁忙反映出一个大都会的脉搏。地铁若是出现载客量不足的情况才是更值得国人担忧的问题，因此国人目前对地铁拥挤的投诉不完全是一件坏事。
My Life In Singapore
Chan Yeow Chuan, Straits Times
While it is wise to invest for our future needs, the use of property as a vehicle for investment is not fair in land-scarce Singapore.
Terry Huang, 自由時報
台灣最近的「華語」、「國語」之爭，居然是由馬英九個人拍板為「國語」！看看新加坡、看看台灣，到底是哪邊民主、哪邊專制？
Singapore 2025
Thanks to a number of PAP policies, Singapore’s low to middle income earners stand smack in the middle of a particularly precarious situation. Although they live in a first-world country, they draw third-world wages. In retirement, they struggle to make ends meet thanks to high transport costs and other basic commitments.
Andrew Loh, The Online Citizen
There are many things SM Goh could do and many questions he could ask of his government, if he were truly concerned about the needy.
But will he?
My Queenstown
Planning for what was to become Singapore's first satellite estate, Queenstown, began in 1953. A total size of 465 ha was earmarked by the British government through acquisition by the Commission of Land since 1926 for town improvement and extension.
AFP
The image-conscious airline, which is consistently ranked by passengers as one of the world's best, took action after some cabin crew were found to have discussed confidential job issues on Facebook.
李慧敏, 联合早报
外来人口问题并非一夜之间出现，多年前已有许多征兆，但人们的疑虑都被忽略。现在问题变得广泛而又深层，需要决策者“耐心”地剖析。以表面方式解决问题，砸钱建设更多设施，或大派红包，相信仍没深入到问题的本质。
AFP
All political parties in Singapore are reporting increased youth involvement as the country prepares for its next general elections, which are only due by February 2012 but are widely expected to be held much earlier.
Despite getting into occasional trouble with media censors and police, young Singaporeans have indeed become more critical of the PAP on social networking sites, blogs, and websites like theonlinecitizen.com and temasekreview.com.
Bryan Huang, Straits Times
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has warned its students not to make statements or comments about people and organisations based on rumours or face action which includes having their privilege to use the university Internet system withdrawn.
Hau Boon Lai, The Star
So when Lee tells Plate that he had talked three ministers out of quitting the Cabinet within six months of Goh Chok Tong taking over as Singapore’s second Prime Minister in 1990, there was no follow-up on who those ministers were and why this account differed from the conventional wisdom that Goh was popularly chosen by his colleagues to lead them.
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia
Senior minister Goh Chok Tong has asked Singaporeans to view problems such as overcrowding in trains and increasing property prices in perspective, and remember those who are less fortunate.
Singapore Kopi Tok
We are all Singaporeans who have done NS or will do NS and lau peng should not be bitter towards the our sons and nephews. We should just be bitter towards the PAP.
flaneurose
郭丽娟, 联合早报
我不禁要问移民课题究竟要谈多久，才能谈出个春天呢？
Today
National Servicemen have benefitted from the policies implemented from time to time, to recognise their contributions to the defence of Singapore. This was explained by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).
Associate Professor Khoo said that NSmen who had completed their NS obligations had "benefited from the peace and prosperity that they've helped create".
Toh Yong Chuan, Ministry of Home Affairs, Straits Times
He was arrested for posting public comments that could incite violence and lead to public disorder and a breach of peace, such as his call to burn a government minister. He was not arrested for his views or comments on the YOG. This point seemed to have been lost in the report.
Lily Wong Jee Choo, Housing & Development Board, Straits Times
The measure to disallow the concurrent ownership of private properties and non-subsidised HDB flats during the minimum occupation period introduced on Monday applies to local and overseas private properties.
David Choo, Straits Times
Yawning Bread
A significant number of Singaporeans, maybe even a majority, are not up in arms over the issue, even if they are uneasy over specific aspects of it.
Feed Me To The Fish
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Singapore workers had only a 1.4 per cent per annum real wage increase from 2001 to 2009, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Market Q1 2010 report. After the last two years of negative real wage growth, and current inflation running at 3.1 per cent in July, workers may end up with a consecutive third year of negative wage increase.
So, what really is all this record economic growth for? Who is benefiting from it?
Channel NewsAsia
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has said it will look at requests of those affected by the new changes to resale flat applications on a case-by-case basis.
Seah Chiang Nee, The Star
As Singapore’s infrastructure groans under the weight of a five million plus population – more than a third of them foreigners – there’s rising resentment against the island state’s immigrant policy.
Tom Clougherty, Adamsmith.org
The biggest challenge for healthcare reformers now is controlling costs – and the most effective way to do that is to rely far less on insurance and far more on direct payment. That would have the added benefit of giving people an incentive to take better care of themselves, something else that is going to be crucial as the relative burden of ‘lifestyle diseases’ rises.
V. Phani Kumar, MarketWatch
The biting restrictions that Singapore introduced earlier this week to cool the city's property prices will likely affect credit growth at the city's lenders and restrict their share gains.
赵琬仪, 联合早报
地铁东北线今年7月的每日平均乘客量逼近40万人次，达39万5344人次，比去年增加了21.5%。目前，东北线从实龙岗至多美歌路段在早上和傍晚的繁忙时段车厢特别拥挤。
Patricia Lui, Bloomberg
Singapore’s dollar retreated from a record high on speculation the central bank will intervene to slow the pace of the currency’s gains.
Utopia8787
The people do understand the rationale behind the policies, but the PM do not understand the rationale behind the unhappiness.
Angela Lim, Yahoo!
Some Nanyang Technology University (NTU) undergraduates are trading academic electives for cash, with course places being traded for as much as three-figure sums.
A quick scan on NTU’s online public messaging folder for students revealed a number of posts by students who wanted to sell their course places, and interested buyers who were willing to pay for them at the start of each semester this year in January and August.
Joseph B. Atkins, Labor South
Singapore Democrat Party
This must be the only ruling party that touts its popularity at every opportunity but goes to absurd lengths to make sure that the process is as unfair as possible for the opposition.
Win Thin, TheStreet.com
Singapore's purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in weaker than expected in August at 49.4, vs. 52.2 in July, signaling contraction in the city-state's manufacturing sector. This will feed into worries that global growth is still slowing, even though the macroeconomic outlook for Asia remains the strongest among the emerging-market regions.
Leong Wee Keat, Today
The LTA reiterated that the upgrading of the signalling system - which will start next year after a public tender is called - is a complex exercise which involves the replacement of systems on trains; along tracks at stations as well as at depot and operations control centres.
LTA acting chief executive Lim Bok Ngam also noted that there is no signalling system that can be bought off the shelf. Said Mr Lim: "Everything has to be customised."
Tan Nguan Sen, PUB, Straits Times
Wherever feasible, PUB will quicken the implementation and completion of these works. But, for some low-lying areas, effective flood alleviation projects can be undertaken only in conjunction with the area's redevelopment in the future when the entire area is raised.
SpotlightOnSingapore
The Online Citizen
It’s been 12 years since Mr Shanmugam’s speech in Parliament, highlighting the concerns of S’poreans.
Has the Government listened?
Or is it hell-bent on pushing ahead with its open-door policy in the name of economic growth even as those like Mr Shanmugam and many others continue to raise a myriad of issues of concerns – conerns which the government does not seem to be addressing – or indeed, as the PM has shown, sidestepped altogether?
S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore's next General Election is not due till February 2012. But the country's Elections Department has appointed its logistics contractors, ST Synthesis and SingTel, to carry out some site visits.
Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia
For home owners who started the resale application process weeks ago, the changes to dual home ownership came as a shock. They could be penalised thousands of dollars should they back out of the deal now.
Land Transport Authority, Singapore Government
To further improve train frequencies, the signalling system for the NSEWL will undergo a major upgrading programme from 2011. This upgrade will allow trains to run at intervals of 100 seconds at peak periods, compared to the existing intervals of 120 seconds.
Given the complexity of upgrading the signalling system on a line that is in operation, the improved signalling system will be completed in stages, with works on the North-South Line expected to be completed first in about six years, followed by the East-West Line about two years later.
Yahoo!
Several Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew members have landed in hot soup after posting ”inappropriate” work-related messages on their personal Facebook accounts.
Saeed Azhar and Wendy Mock, Reuters
The first round bidding for Carrefour assets has drawn more than 10 bidders, including European and Asian retailers, private equity firms and local players, sources familiar with the auction said. The asset auction has also attracted regional players like Dairy Farm (DAIR.SI) which owns Giant and Cold Storage chains in Southeast Asia, which have submitted bids, the sources said.
华尔街日报中文网
据知情人士周四透露，新加坡NTUC FairPrice和牛奶国际控股公司(Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd., D01.SG, 简称：牛奶国际)已出价竞购法国零售商家乐福(Carrefour S.A.)在新加坡和马来西亚的资产。
Kevin Lim, Reuters
Although both casinos have yet to complete all their attractions, which include what will be the world's largest oceanarium, they have already created new business for hoteliers and taxi drivers.
Singapore Notes
Well, it looks like the cowardly option was chosen and Singaporeans were seduced by "asset enchancement" and other political ploys along the way. The day of reckoning has come, and that nest egg is as good as Humpty Dumpty after the fall. And judging by the reactions to latest measures to "stabilise the booming property market", both speculators and genuine upgraders are being burned (metaphorically! metaphorically!) by half baked policy making.
联合早报
公教中学、圣尼各拉女校和新加坡女子中学将合办直通车课程，受访的三校校友都对母校办直通车表示欢迎，不过一些圣尼各拉女校和新加坡女中校友对消息感到惊讶，他们认为学校存在文化差异，对三校的合作感到不解。
陈锦柏, 联合早报
Laura Bly, USA Today
The JetBlue flight attendant turned reality star wannabe may have generated buzz for his slide to freedom a few weeks ago, but the twisting, 40-foot-high version at Singapore's Changi Airport looks a heck of a lot more fun.
Gillian Koh, Institute of Policy Studies, Today
As governance challenges grow more complex, processes of government-citizen engagement will have to be strengthened so that political consensus can be negotiated and re-negotiated day-to-day around what Singaporeans feel are important to them.
Jeremy Au Yong, Straits Times
The man behind the 'burn the minister' comments on Facebook wants to contest the next general election and is joining the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
Denis Edward, Today
Poly graduates who have completed the O-level exam could be in a more competitive position when they apply to enter these universities.
Tan Tien Li, Straits Times
The new policies do not help home owners like me who have an existing HDB housing loan to service. We are not speculators but we are being penalised in the Government's bid to stabilise the booming property market.
Bhas Kunju, Straits Times
StarHub and M1, both of which faced shortages a few weeks ago and also employed a waiting list, have rectified their problems. They have begun selling the phones on the spot.
Chua Suntong, The Online Citizen
Goh Meng Seng, Singapore Alternatives
Like many Singaporeans, NSP is shocked to learn that the PAP is only giving due recognition to present NSmen while ignoring those past NSmen who have contributed to the safety and stability of this country.
It is easy for the ruling party to say that it is not just about the money. However, the exclusion of those NSmen in Mindef Reserve from such rewarding system has hurt their feelings more than the mere $9000 in question.
Singaporean Skeptic
My only concern is that too little is being done and that it could be too late. Other things that should be done to reduce the burden on citizens is to quickly build more flats, create more restrictions for PRs for purchasing public housing, slowly restricting the amount of CPF money you can use to buy housing, raise bank rates and do a serious rethink on our foreign talent policy.
Food fuels me to talk...
Ngo Menghak, ABS CBN
Among the countries classified as Repressive are China, Egypt, Iran, Singapore, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
Don't Sue Me
Working for nothing is slavery, and working for peanuts is exploitation.
Senang Diri
If you receive a gift with the price tag still stuck on it, there’s a high chance that knowing the gift’s dollar value will cloud your attitude towards your well-wisher.
My Very Lo Soh Long Winded Page
It is a fallacy to state that Singapore's unique circumstances require us to have a "strong government". Every country exists in a unique situation, and each requires not only "strong", but also responsible and good governments to lead them to progress and prosperity.
Alison Tudor, Wall Street Journal
French retailer Carrefour SA will collect first-round bids for its assets in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia on Wednesday in a deal valued at roughly $1 billion, a person familiar with the situation said.
Geek Is The New Black
I could go on picking his speech apart but let me sum it up. It held N-O-T-H-I-N-G of interest to me as an ordinary citizen. No mention or acknowledgement was given towards the very real fears and dreams of Singaporeans. Nothing substantial about managing the cost of living or base wages. Not a peep about how the government realizes how certain policies may have not worked and are looking to address them. Not even a blush on the Orchard Road floods debacle nor an apology the very-real on the ground anti sentiment towards the recently concluded YOG.
Singapore Short Stories
Leesjuanpat World
My Queenstown
Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen
Leow Si Wan, Straits Times
From 2013, some 2,000 Normal (Academic) students can skip their fifth year - during which they have to take the O-levels - and enter the polytechnics here directly through two options.
Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) has decided to push back the implementation date for the cross-carrying of Pay-TV content to the first quarter of next year following feedback from industry players.
Yawning Bread
We’ve been adding a lot of humans to produce that 15 percent GDP growth. Our productivity growth (i.e. increase in output per person) might be close to zero or even negative.
If productivity has not grown, then one could argue that we have not become richer per capita. We’ve just treaded water while becoming more crowded.
Military Life: Memoirs of a Conscript in the Lion City
This $9,000 award basically doesn't go enough to address the inequalities between male citizens and foreigners/female citizens. To add insult to injury, old NSmen are all left out totally in the cold. I for one don't need the $9,000 as it's not enough to even pay for the interest costs I incurred on funding my own home. The bigger issue is how does the country recognise the role we play in protecting Singapore for all residents regardless of whether they are citizens, permanent residents or transient foreign workers?
Shamim Adam, Bloomberg
Singapore’s economy will probably grow at a faster pace than previously forecast this year as manufacturers boost output and consumers increase spending, a central bank survey showed.
Singapore Democrat Party
Filmmaker and human rights campaigner Mr Seelan Palay has submitted a video to the Media Development Authority (MDA) for rating as required under the law. The video is an interview of Singapore's former solicitor-general (SG) Mr Francis Seow.
Mr Seelan had submitted the film last year. The agency now wants to know the purpose of Mr Seelan producing the film and whether the video is accurate.
The Mind Game
Singapore Notes
All the new measures to "reduce speculation and short-term investment" simply confirm that the humble HDB flat is no longer the accommodation of necessity for the masses, but another poker chip in the casino of Singapore Inc. Entry fee is substantially higher than $100, it's two full years of national service, currently valued at $9K. In case you have any doubt about National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan's sincerity to solve the long term housing problems, read his lips: "If you ask me whether it has got anything to do with the elections, the answer is yes. Everything has to do with the elections."
Sam Ho, Sam's Thoughts
With this selective (re)allocation of money, we might as well tell the government, "If you don't want to give, just say so la!"
This is conditional love from a state that tries to appear to be compassionate and understanding. If you are truly compassionate, abolish mandatory death penalty for starters.
刘丽仪, 联合早报
新加坡和马来西亚跨境巴士服务的本地四条新路线经营者确定，其中星运旅游（TranStar）经营的两条往返新山和樟宜机场，以及圣淘沙名胜世界的路线，后天起投入服务。
联合早报
团结党秘书长吴明盛发表文告说，国家发展部长马宝山去年底说屋价还是人们负担得起的，新移民的涌入不是导致转售价上涨的主要因素，但短短几个月后，政府却推出强有力的降温措施来抑制房市的投机炒作。
Tan Kin Lian
"It is not just overcrowded trains/buses S'poreans have to endure. The entire infrastructure is bursting at the seam."
Under The Willow Tree
Singaporean Skeptic
What happened to Lee Kuan Yew's old slogan of a 'Malaysian Malaysia'? I thought the PAP was above the racial politics of UMNO and left the Malaysian Federation on this principle.
How is maintaining a Chinese dominated majority in Singapore no different from having a buminputra policy in Malaysia? The PAP should realise that the biggest divider of Singapore is not ethnicity but nationality.
Big Talk Singapore (大话新加坡)
My general impression about this move, “大选到，要送礼，要送大，想一想，不舍得，有条件，变小小。”
Kenny Chee and Rachel Chan, My Paper
Musings From the Lion City
At the rate we are going, it will soon be 3 to 1 as the rise in the number of foreigners continued to outpace that of Singaporeans.
In short, these are numbers most Singaporeans will not be happy about.
The Anti Neo-Democracy Theorist
Is the government then in a conundrum – on one hand the government cannot admit that the market is out of reach for most young couples due to excessive speculative behavior (often from abroad) because it would mean telling young Singaporeans the honeymoon has ended after 40 years of independence. On the other hand, the government cannot overcool the market, because the housing market generates much needed revenue for the state and its ancillary operations.
Diary of A Singaporean Mind
Singapore's immigration policy has never been about benefits for the citizens. It is a policy driven by business demand for labor from China & India and the PAP's fixation with high GDP growth. Now at this late hour with the elections coming and voters who have woken up to what the PAP govt has done, the PM tries to reframe the entire thing as something done for the benefit of citizens. This is ridiculous.
Chi Han-Hsuan, Today
The government shouldn't be discouraging HDB owners with excess cash from buying private property as a safe, long-term investment in their nest egg. Rather, it should be imposing restrictions on foreigners buying private residential properties.
Yin Poh Leng, Today
SpotlightOnSingapore
As though public feedback will make any difference when policies have already been set.
Feed Me To The Fish
As a prime minister, he made a mockery of nation building by paying himself millions, almost five (or is it four) times Obama's salary. Now he is demeaning NSmen by moneytising their contribution to national service.
mrbrown: L'infantile Terrible Of Singapore
If everyone followed the DPP's thinking, then every driver can just buzz a cyclist (drive very close) or graze his tires, as long as the fella doesn't fall down and die.
The Temasek Review
Again, without any apology another U-Turn is made surreptiously under the guise of wisdom to take “early corrective actions” now – when it is already too late.
AFP
Singapore's population crossed five million this year and more than a third of the total are foreigners, the statistics department said Tuesday.
Singapore, which polls well in global surveys for quality of life, is also showing symptoms of urban stress, with rush-hour traffic gridlock, packed subway trains and recent cases of flash floods in some areas.
Goh Meng Seng, National Solidarity Party
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