State of the Nation: Fit for Print Letters in National Education Machinery Series ... Straits Times Forum July 19, 2008 Introduce disincentives to deter small families THE Saturday Special last Saturday ('We'll have more babies if...') featured the effects of our population control policies. It also highlighted the mentality of modern-day married couples who seek to maximise the subjective well-being of their marriage and small family, and reject the need to integrate their Shades of Grey Part 2.5 Much Ado Over Humanity. While the 'rights' debate has been largely 'kept silent' after the initial outburst reported in the local press others have taken headlines. These include the IBAHRI report and a UK author. Let's put the disparate pieces (as the press is wont to do to keep our minds befuddled until the next progress package comes along) together to complete the puzzle .... Both were in More Pay for Ministers The Answer Then .... ?? 'More pay not the answer' SINGAPORE : Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has warned that Singapore could face another round of inflation if companies increase wages to help workers cope with the higher cost of living today. He said this will also affect Singapore’s competitiveness and the ability to create jobs. Mr Tharman was speaking to some 500 workers at the Singapore Industrial and The Illustrious Press Freedom topic again .... "Responding, the minister outlined the Government's attitude: 'The most important attribute is that we want accurate reporting. Because, if the journalists are just writing fiction and are just writing glowing portraits of me that nobody believes, then it is pointless. 'Our attitude towards the press in Singapore is that they are partners in nation-building. 'Our mass media also understand our ERP again? The speed of vehicular movement downtown where the brand new ERP gantries with their very expensive cameras to catch 'recalcitrant' motorists are an abonimation of the common sense when it comes to this form of 'taxation'. How could the case that ERP is not simply for revenue but rather for 'ease of traffic flow for motorists' stand in the CBD area when: 1. The grid system of lights ensures Chicken Relief Why Did The Chicken Cross the Road?? BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a change! The chicken wanted change! JOHN MCCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road. HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little Regards to Mrs. Lee Wishing the Prime Minister's mother a speedy recovery and good health. Of Politics and Economics As the Myanmar crisis mounts there is a lack of voices in ASEAN, perhaps particularly from Singapore when it comes to 'supporting' the military junta's style of governance in Myanmar. Surprisingly there are no more calls of "let them handle it internally" in relation to the Safron Revolution some months ago. Back then, several countries in ASEAN repeatedly refrained from commitment to political Statement The Workers' Party Youth Wing (WPYW) wishes to thank, once again, all participants who attended the inaugural YouthQuake forum on Vote @ 18 on Saturday, 3rd May 2008. A full house with many new and youthful faces is testament to the timeliness and impact of this matter but more so an editorial by Andy Ho of the Straits Times (8 May 2008) perhaps alluding to the WPYW forum (as a public forum - May Day Labour Day, May Day, ..... protests ..... rallies .... dinners .... gatherings ..... public holiday ... continual good news from our friendly local press ... This holiday gave me a chance today to get together with a close friend's family today, May 1st, 2008 ... Ever since I've known Uncle (my friend's dad) he has always having been an open and vocal PAP supporter. Nevertheless Uncle respects Should Countries Trade with Abusive Regimes? Should a First World country like Singapore continue supporting oppressive regimes like Myanmar? And where should we stand on China vis-a-vis Tibet? Do we export arms and ammunition to conflict regions? Are we ready to stand by our beloved crescent moon and five stars on a background of red and white? Internally? Externally? Given our inextricable global position and interactions what do So THIS Is Justice - Part II So the judicial system is letting this go with a fine of $200 and 9 demerit points?What is the message to Singaporeans from this? That it is perfectly alright to cause potential death and mayhem? That we tolerate this kind of behaviour which causes the massive jams which are partly in the first place responsible for all this ERP nonsense to begin with?If Singaporeans are bound by rules of law Democracy: The UK example? Expedient standards? or Freedom of Speech: The UK example? or Freedom of Press: The UK example? or Media Censorship: The UK example? or Speaker's Corner: The UK example? Political expediency and propaganda never cease to amaze! FRIDAY MATTERS 25th April 2008 - The Straits Times Ministerial responsibility: The UK example By Chua Mui Hoong, Senior Writer SINGAPOREANS this week are seized over the issue of Cover Up? Cover Down? In reference to blog published here on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 'Public Firing?' Could the hoo-ha over the MHA / WKS / Mas Selamat case be an effort to blow over the multi-billion dollar loss of Singaporean capital in supposed investments made by Temasek? In my earlier article citing the loss of our money, the source was foreign - The Financial Times. Why would the local press not pick up on Should Singaporean Youth Be Allowed to Vote at 18 YouthQuake The Battle Cry of Singaporean Youths “Should Singaporean Youth Be allowed to vote at 18?” The first YouthQuake forum will be touching on the vote@18 agenda and the details are as followed: Date: 3rd May 2008 (Saturday) Time: 1400 hrs to 1600 hrs. Venue: 216G Syed Alwi Road, #02-03. For more information please contact bernardchen@wp.sg . In order to assist us in the organisation of Public Firing? SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore state investor Temasek, sitting on paper losses of $1.2 billion for its investments in Merrill Lynch and Barclays , is expected to shed more assets and conserve cash to offset its exposure to the ailing western financial sector. Analysts said the sovereign fund, which recently unloaded an Indonesian bank and a Singapore power producer, may choose to consolidate SMRT appeals against $387k penalty Let's see how this letter comes out of the 'chop & change department', if at all, in the press.Dear ST Forum Editor, In reference to this article: http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_218958.html March 21, 2008 SMRT appeals against $387k penalty If it is true that the incident occurred “ … because SMRT workers failed to engage the parking brake of one portion of a maintenance Of Business & Politics in Asia Straits Times (Singapore)March 11, 2008 S'pore firms hope business climate remains stable By Grace Ng & Chia Yan Min SINGAPORE businessmen are holding their breath amid fears that Malaysia's business outlook could become rocky after the ruling coalition's worst election result in 50 years. Rule No.1 in SCUBA Diving ... never hold your breath ... you may suffer from lung over exapansion A Video Tribute to WP All the trials and tribulations the public are unaware of. One fine day it will all be exposed. But will the people care? To all WP supporters: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!! :D The Talent Is Here [?] Taken from the Bangkok Post, 9th September 2007. Sounds applicable in Singapore if not for propaganda and ostrich-like behaviour as well as a propensity for a single party state: "Thai students are capable of much more; they are the victims of an educational system that seems designed to discourage excellence and inspiration, writes FLEMMING WINTHER NIELSEN Realities are taken from general N Day 42 Great show man! Somehow there was some new fresh feeling about this NDP compared with previous years! Great job to all the performers, organizers and cleaners who will have a hell of a time tonight! Finishing off with 'dare to find, dare to find, dare to find ... new ways' is a great way to bring the country forward. Should be the mantra going forward. Wonder if it means 'dare to find new I LOST International Tribunal on Law of the Seas - ITLOS. Dear old Prof. Jayakumar is quite hilarious when he cites, among other things that states selectively choose to adhere to international law and this makes adjudication by ITLOS ineffective ......... well, roughly put anyway. That states should submit themselves to this tribunal is the underlying message. Hearing this on TV last night then Back to Basics for Education Just under 100 (2/3 of 148) Singaporean students left out in the cold by UNSW's shock closure once again demonstrates how restricted Singapore's tertiary education system is. Restricted to Singaporeans who are trying so hard to make it in life but who may have had circumstances stacked against them in their adolescent years. The old arguments can be dredged up again. Better genes, better A Subtle Shift in HR? Recent job ads in the papers, particularly Saturday's recruit sections have been tweaked somewhat in my opinion. Almost gone are the hair raisingly ridiculous requirements of a good and high level degree coupled with half a gajillion years of experience in 5 dozen industries over and above multi-job duties that require sudden travel. Seems almost down to earth now with more realistic So this is justice? Today's Straits Times: "Last October, laws were tightened against employers who put their maid's lives in danger. On conviction, an employer who knowingly allows a maid to endanger herself, or forces a maid into a dangerous situation, can be jailed up to three months and fined up to $250. The employer will also be permanently barred from hiring foreign maids." So ..... forcing a person into a SAFE Scuba Diving? Yes, it is possible. Feel I have to add my share of spiel to the recent scuba diving related accident nonsense that's been raging in the press the previous week. Its not old and it'll happen again. 1. Scuba (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) contains inherent risks like most sports do. The risks levels are increased because of one's dependency on compressed air* in a virtually Temasek, GST, Ministerial Pay Increases Thanks to NMP Ms. Olsen for once again casting the spotlight on Temasek. Your indirect drive for greater transparency and accountability is great! Right down my alley if I may say so please. While there's been almost overly much ado about Temasek given its Shin 'scandal' - I hope this write up is not sub-judice by Thai standards since they are the apparent plaintiffs - it seems that almost Young Men, Old Car = Accident? - SBT 5866 What an auspicious start to the New Year! Greetings to all readers! A most properous and healthy new year to one and all! I'm not sure if it is a misfortune or a small fortune having had the opportunity to witness a great example of driving behaviour in Singapore. SBT 5866 (dark green sedan) was seen turning from Orchard Link into Patterson road at around 6pm on 25th Feb 2007. The young men The Big Picture aka Helicopter View? Wrap up the past month's happenings and perhaps we might get a glimpse toward real governmental policy. 1. Janadas Devan, in an editorial, waxes lyrical about how high wages for top positions should be kept in the public sector, for fear that Singapore will lose top talents. A cursory note on sacrifice is made but the true meaning of the word is played down to look dumb where anything below More Transparency! Great! TODAY, page 7, 28th December 2006 ..... Somebody gotta teach me how to put pictures into my blog. Anyhow, there was a 'full' page ad taken out in today's TODAY. Where Singapore Power announced a surprising drop in electricity surcharges. Great news to kick of the new year if any!! What was more amazing was that the full page ad listed the historical (back to 2001) prices and how there were